Don't Say it With Flowers!
By Starhopper
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my sketchbooks and DVDs. Everything else belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki and many other respected businessmen who make RK available to the masses.
Even with Saitou's appearance, dinner's still going . . . wanna join them?
Hope this will tide you starving readers over!
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- Say it With a Celebration Part 6: Celebrate the Aroma of Nicotine
Sano felt every muscle in his body tense to their elastic breaking point as that familiar insult was blown through the smoke of the wolf's cigarette. He also felt Megumi's palm against his chest in an effort to soothe his nerves.
Without turning around, the "hatchling" took a deep breath, gulped down his saucer of sake, and upon swallowing, growled, "Saitou." Twisting his torso in the direction of the drifting nicotine cloud, Sanosuke eyed the cop warily and moved to stand up, but halted as his fox's fingers wound tighter into his gi and yanked him down with a pleading look in her eyes.
Smiling down at her, a smile that curved to a cocky grin, he patted her hands and whispered "Daijoubou, Megitsune," and tried once more to face Saitou.
Try being the operative word.
With another great yank, he was flat on his butt and Megumi was patting his head.
"I'm on a break," she informed him with a grin.
"Since when?" he asked her seriously with innocent looking eyes.
But Megumi waved him off and ignored his stupid question. "And I DO NOT want to fix that damn hand of yours when I'm trying to relax." She told him in a demanding harsh whisper that was becoming of her . . . or so Sano thought.
"If Saitou wasn't here, I'd carry you off right now Fox," his mouth curled into a little boy's clever grin with a twenty-something's male mind.
The battle won, Sanosuke settled back into a more comfortable position in front of his food, an arm around Megumi's shoulder in claim of her as one worthy of his protection. Though it was truly the other way around.
Meanwhile Misao was trying to swallow her rice as she bore witness to how Sano let himself be held back by this woman. No, not held back, but pacified. And he wasn't the only one as she took note of how Kaoru was lightly massaging Himura's sword hand from where it was braced with splayed, twitching fingers against the tatami. Taking stock of her affect on Aoshi, she turned to find her boyfriend sipping at his tea with (seemingly) disinterest at the silent exchange between the old enemies. However, she knew the gears were turning in his head, those ones reserved for calculating missions and escape routes, and judging by how he had her pulled into his side, he was ready to save her if a fight broke out.
But of course, no fight was to ensue with loved ones in the room, realized ones at that for Himura. And Sanosuke wouldn't want to lose face as the mature man Megumi had fallen in love with and had accepted a marriage proposal from.
Saitou had to make the first move.
And he did so with the grace and cold beauty that made him deadly.
"What a warm welcome I've received," Saitou bent low in a bow of respect, mocking his former enemies. The sound of freshly shined shoes clacking against the wood floor assaulted their ears as the wolf made his way into the dining area.
"Well, what can ya expect when you insult a man?" Sano coughed over his shoulder.
The crackle of burning paper and nicotine crushing together in a chunk of ash filled the silence as the cop took a long drag of his cigarette before he replied curtly, "I see no man in here,"
Sanosuke's body went entirely rigid before he cracked his knuckles on the hand that was resting on his fiancée's shoulder. Megumi grimaced at the annoying sound.
"Well," Saitou blew yet another ribbon of smoke to weave into the cloud hanging over their heads. "Maybe with the exception of Shinomori over there," It seemed it was the first time Saitou had taken note of all the guests seated at the table, obviously celebrating. "And there's the weasel . . . and Battousai. So, that's what going on,"
"What do you mean 'going on'?" Yahiko spoke up, taking a break from trying to calm Tsubame down. "We're enjoying a well-earned celebration,"
"Of how pathetic your lives are?"
"No, that you so rudely interrupted," Kaoru growled low beneath her breath just as the policeman made his guess. "Now if you wouldn't mind,"
"What wouldn't I mind . . . Tanuki?"
With a raise of her brow, Misao noted how the redness of rage rose from the floor up and overtook her friend before Kaoru shook, jumped up, and threatened a punch to Saitou's left shoulder . . .
. . . Which was easily caught by the skillful hands of the ex-hitokiri who had finally lifted his head and exposed his eyes. They were at a strange slant, serious yet still purple with no amber undertones alighting the corners. He turned to look up at the policeman with the Kamiya Master's fist tightly clutched in his fingers.
"Sessha isn't surprised to know you survived," he started at a deadly calm pace, "Then again, he knew you had something to do with the placement of the Juppongatana members in the higher ranks of Meiji Government,"
Kaoru blinked at the wide smile Saitou formed as the Battousai's distinct assassin's tone drew itself into full fury at that last word. Kenshin himself was blinking rapidly at how fast the anger had risen, confused that the battle started some twelve years ago had yet to end. He had to find a way to resist the urge to battou-jutsu the Shinsengumi captain; even it was with the blunt edge of the sakabatou. Anything to erase the smug look the policeman wore with pride at being able to infuriate the rurouni past his vows of peace.
A stream of smoke settled itself on the air above the Kenshin before Saitou replied to the Battousai's inference.
"It is hard to wound a Wolf of Mibu. Harder still to kill him under falling rubble." Another puff on the cigarette and the insults flew in the direction of the chicken-head sitting somewhere behind him. "It proves one's ignorance to think otherwise,"
"THAT'S IT!" Sanosuke jumped out of Megumi's arms and slammed his left fist into the floor the way Anji had taught him those many months ago. Naturally, the floorboards were reduced to a fine dust cloud that quickly dissipated with his advance on the cocky cop. "Ya got somethin' to say, say it to my face!"
Smoothly, Saitou turned on his heel to address the man who was literally breathing down his neck. "Was I talking to you?"
"Ya are now!" Sanosuke roared slamming his right fist into his open left palm. "To think I even felt sorry that you might've died . . . eh, let's go!"
"Sanosuke!" Megumi's voice rose above the frightened "kowaii"s emanating from a shaking Tsubame, as well as the cursing from her consoler Yahiko in Sanosuke's direction to knock off the strutting and sit back down. No, it was her voice, reproaching, commanding.
Sano's dangerously slit brown eyes slid to the left to see his fiancée approaching them, but he held a hand out to hold her at bay. "Iie, Megitsune. Not this time," he growled as his gaze traveled back to Saitou's face. After all, this was his chance to show her how he could protect her from a mutual threat in-person. There would be no tales to tell save for how he had reacted in the presence of a danger like this wolf.
"Maybe you should listen to the doctor," the cop's yellow eyes grazed the shiny new band of gold around Megumi's fourth finger and flitted back up to the ex-gangster. "Or should I say fiancée?"
The men in the room cringed as similar memories dodged in and out of their brains when their significant others had been referred to in such a menacing tone. Aoshi was already unconsciously pulling Misao closer to his side ready to run.
"Aoshi," she wheezed in a protest that fell on deaf ears. Her own went popped as Kenshin thumped the sheath of his sword on the floor, and then let it freely clatter on the ground.
"Saitou, Sano," the redhead called out to them through a haze of months and forgotten feelings of revenge. "Stop this silliness at once, de gozaru ka." The rich boom of tenor in the lowest syllables was enough to call anyone out of a warrior's confusion. And the two men in question were of no exception. The slick taste of condescendence in his best friend's voice stung Sano to the core.
Again Saitou grinned and Kenshin's knuckles turned white where he staunchly held them at his sides. Before he could make a lunge, Kaoru's hands wrapped themselves around his fist and she pressed herself into his side. "And if you have to fight," she continued for him with a small smile. "Leave this house," casting a reproving look over at what used to be Sanosuke's seat, the Kamiya master shook her head and called forth some tears. "I don't want to spend my first anniversary dinner fixing the dojo."
"Aa, Sessha doesn't wish for that either," her boyfriend soothed with the visible relaxation of his shoulder muscles through the gi.
Saitou closed his eyes and tipped his hat, flashing them all a very fake smile rounded by the cigarette that was already half-burnt. "And with that, I bid you all goodnight." Clicking his heels, he gave a bow mocking the polite nature of the action and tried to walk by the fuming men blocking his path.
"NANI?!" was the general consensus of the diners as far as Aoshi could generalize judging from the pause in both breath and movement that each person took.
"I did not come here," the cop in question turned to face Kenshin full on, "to settle disputes born in the fires of Kyoto," a turn of his heel and he was watching the young, bristling fighter intensely with a predatory glint in his yellow eyes. "Nor did I return to test your fighting skills . . . hatchling," a smug smile played upon his lips as Sano forced himself to remain calm at the insult.
"Then what did you come here for?" Yahiko demanded with a jump, holding his shinai in a sparring position, apparently assuming that he was left out of the Saitou's 'addressing' list for a reason.
"Onegai, put that weapon away before you embarrass yourself kid," Saitou's smirk grew even larger with the satisfaction of riling the youngest member of Battousai's pathetic troupe.
"You have no logical reason to challenge me." Aoshi reasoned sedately over the lip of his teacup.
"For those ahou who weren't listening, I did not come here to start or end a fight," Saitou all but growled in irritation as he once again tried to leave the dojo. "My presence was called by the law of this present Meiji era. We've had complaints," he seemed to shift his closed eyes in the direction of the newly engaged couple, "Keep it down." And with that he easily sidestepped Sanosuke's imposing figure and stepped out the door.
"Na-Nani?" Misao squeaked as she got up to watch Saitou's form be swallowed by the fresh darkness of the new night. Turning back to the rest of the group, including a stoically pouting boyfriend, she chirped, "What was that all about?"
"Sessha suspects only Saitou knows for certain de gozaru na," Kenshin replied to no one in particular with a wistful lilt in his-rapidly sweetening voice.
* * *
Crossing the dirt road that ran between the dojo and the river, Saitou picked up his pace and assumed a stately walk that guarded him from question by passer-by while at the same time kept up a friendly outward appearance. He was merely a police officer out for a nightly round out to protect the innocent from injustice.
Before he realized where his feet had taken him, the old Shinsengumi captain found himself on the bridge leading into downtown Edo. Yellowed eyes surveyed the area for any signs of a spy or follower from the dojo, though he reassured himself that he had left the group in an extreme state of discomfort, sufficiently staying them from any type of pursuit. After all, how could they attack him in the soft state they had assumed? That was just one difference to add to the multitude he shared with those people. His relationship was disconnected from his past just as the friendly officer Fujita Goro was completely separated from Haijime Saitou.
Regardless of how he felt about hiding his past to protect his family from the fires that consumed it, he had a job to do. And unfortunately he was now commanded by the very imperial dogs that had hunted a wolf down with the Battousai during the Revolution . .
As he reached in his pocket to withdraw the list, Saitou was graced with a thought that sparked and went out like the glow of a freshly lit cigarette. Perhaps Battousai was protecting his own future by assuming that new – but the possible revelation was snuffed out as he unfolded the paper with the new governor's cultured hand-written directions.
By the light of his match, Saitou could make out the characters for Himura Kenshin, Kamiya Kaoru, Myojin Yahiko, Sagara Sanosuke, Shinomori Aoshi, Makimachi Misao, and Takani Megumi lining the left side of the paper and the instructions to look out for them written on the right. Trailing his eyes over the commands he'd received, he balled the paper into a crumpled mess and was about to throw it over the edge of the bridge when he was assaulted by the memories of the meeting earlier that day:
"You've found them then?"
"Yes, and they've gathered together for the time being . . . "
"What of Himura?"
A snort, "Living the peaceful life," What an innocent attempt it was too.
"And that ninja?"
"Shinomori," arms folded across his chest. "has sworn to atone for his sins."
"The women from the Aoiya,"
"Strangely enough," Battousai's woman, the weasel, "they are under the protection of the very same men you speak of."
"Ah," the anonymous official smiled knowingly. "That's good then,"
Foolish is the word.
"Zanza, Kanryuu's opium producer?"
"Also in the care of one another." It was fact enough that Battousai attracted the destitute of society like maggots to a carcass.
The governor turned his back to the policeman and assumed a position in front of his grand office window. "These people saved this country from Makoto Shishio,"
Saitou noted how his own part in stopping the madman was conveniently forgotten.
Which was a very good thing. Eras would bleed together in his family's blood if that news got out.
"They could save it again,"
Another snort. The hell they could. Just with the same amount of luck that this man could anticipate an Aku-Soku-San if Saitou so felt inclined to slay one more Imperialist at that very moment.
"Information aside I want you, Fujita-san, to keep a close eye on them."
Saitou narrowed his already closed eyes and moved his left foot out, bending his right knee in warning.
However, his chance was lost when the State official turned back and striding over, proffered an envelope to a wolf of Mibu.
"These people are your responsibility now. Guard them."
Saitou growled out loud, "Guard them."
Back in the blackness of the evening he crushed the paper in his fist with a vengeance. He suddenly tossed the list in the air and with a smile, fisted his hand and punched it into the river. At the splash, he started walking again to his precinct.
"Shinsengumi don't need to be told what to do,"
His eyes flashed amber under the cap he was forced to wear by the lapdogs of the era.
"Least of all by an Imperialist."
* * *
Whatever lightning flash of Battousai that had overtaken his soul from the moment Kaoru seemed threatened had faded back into the Rurouni with the wolf's exit, much to his love's relief.
The woman in his thoughts reassured him of her existence with a gentle tug on the back of his gi. "Hopefully now we'll all be able to settle down and finish our dinner." Her fingers trailed up his spine to the fluff of his ponytail and gave it a yank to break the uneasy stillness that had settled in the room. "Come on Kenshin,"
Kenshin's resulting yelp of surprise brought everyone out of their bewilderment and threatened to send all into fits of laughter over the insanity of the past moments. Including Aoshi, who snickered as Misao rejoined him from a long watch out of the doorway of the living area.
"Just as curious as ever, eh Itachi?" he questioned when he caught her chin as she settled herself on the floor.
"You know me Aoshi," she cooed stealing a quick kiss that she thought was completely stolen until she heard Yahiko and saw Tsubame blush.
"Oi, I thought you had had enough of that," the young samurai reprimanded, and the rest of the group joined him in casting reproving, (albeit fake) frowns at the close couple.
Pouting as her boyfriend completely withdrew his hand from its hold on her waist, Misao cast a searing gaze in Yahiko's direction accompanied with the words, "Ooh, you little brat, wait until this dinner is over,"
"I'll be long gone by then I-ta-chi," the boy enunciated each syllable clearly and cheekily as he lent the waitress his hand to help her up. "Tsubame wants to take a walk,"
"A-Aa," the girl nodded her head, accepting the calloused palm of the sword student who hoisted her up a little too eagerly. Bouncing off his chest, Tsubame's face rivaled the beet red of the vegetables spread out on the table.
Sanosuke immediately chuckled, "And when's the wedding Yahiko . . . chan?" and was almost instantly slapped with a playful paw from Megumi.
He turned his head to her and shot her a confused look. "What? Don't I get my revenge on him for blackmailing us?"
A roll of his beloved's eyes was his only response.
"CHAN?!" Yahiko was bristling; the shinai still clenched in his fist was being raised in a challenge to the ex-gangster. "You dare bring up the past from that party a year or two ago?" But with a small shake of Tsubame's head, he relented and slipped it back into the strap along his back. "C'mon Tsubame, I'll walk you home,"
"H-Hai!" And with that a fuming Yahiko stalked out of the room with the prim little steps of his friend trailing behind him. At the doorway, she bowed to the other couples, politely saying thank-you before a hand found her left one and rudely dragged her off into the night, muttering something about how all power had been lost as far as the chicken-head was concerned.
"Well, this sure has been one eventful evening," Misao started, ending in a yawn that Aoshi was quick to tap closed in a cute gesture of affection and resulted in the locking of tender gazes.
"Kenshin, you look tense," Kaoru's grip on his hair loosened and her fingers found the nape of his neck and began to gently knead the knot forming at either side of his spine from holding his shoulders so taught and on guard.
"Iie," the Rurouni tried to shake her massage free, but surrendered with a blush as they both took their seats once more.
"Yes, one that I'm very willing to sleep-off," Megumi added while still standing at Sanosuke's side, palming his shoulder in an effort to get his attention. She let her voice drop so that it appeared she was merely whispering the "Verrry willing,"
"Oh," It took a moment, but soon realization dawned on the fighter's face, and he winked at her. He moved to address the rest of the couples, coughing to draw them out of their separate romantic interludes. "I think it's best we call it night, ne?"
When the attention he sought for was not given, Sanosuke grabbed the hand that was curved over his shoulder with his right and spun on his heel to face her, a wide grin playing on his lips. "I don't think they'll miss us Kits-"
Hot lips crushing his sufficiently derailed the twenty-year-old's train of thought.
It was completely obvious Aoshi and Misao or Kenshin and Kaoru would not miss them. In fact, judging from how close the Oniwaban members were getting, they wouldn't even realize the fox and the chicken had left. As for the Rurouni and his Kasshin Master, well . . . nothing could separate them and from the closed eyes of Kenshin, they didn't want it to.
"I agree," she nodded in a sexy growl that promised a very eventful night to be had if he would just shut up and leave the room.
And being the good future-husband he was, Sano did not argue.
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A/N: Well, I was planning to get the Ken/Kao sweet moment (i.e., the FUTON part) in but the Saitou part took longer than I anticipated. However, I wanted to convey how each character felt about the wolf, Sano in particular. While I'm not opposed to Slash, I draw the line with Saitou and Sano. There's more of a father/son, teacher/unwilling student relationship in that the cop actually wants Sanosuke to work on all aspects of his fighting abilities just so he can have a fair fight with the much more experienced Shinsengumi captain. And Sano does just this to prove with an adolescent pride that he can. He was also deeply affected by the 'death' of Saitou in Kyoto, but he didn't commiserate over it, like he had lost someone he loved. It was more of 'aw shucks, I can't fight with you anymore!' kinda thing.
Also, I'd like to add to any "Saitou hates Kenshin, so why'd he help him?" ney-sayers that in the Movie, Saitou does just this. Watch closely next time, you'd be surprised what you can read into that movie from how Mr. Wolfie-boy acts.
Argh, when did this turn into a rant?! Anyways, I just wanted to explain a few things and promise you all that cute fluff is a comin, so please keep a toothbrush handy to prevent cavities. And I realize that I focus an AWFUL lot of my time on Sano/Meg, but they're my favorite couple (well, favorite couple to write for at least), but I'm moving away from them (only innuendo next time for them, no separate chapter [I'm thinking you all can figure out what happened . . . they're engaged now . . . ] ) but plenty of Ken/Kao. I have a theory revolving around Ken and Tomoe and how he sleeps when he's a Rurouni. For those of you who remember the "Say it Without the Dono" chapter . . . Ken overcomes his feelings of inadequacy to sleep like normal people in the upcoming chapter.
Does it please the wonderful readers? Or is this humble author losing it?
Please REVIEW and let me know and as always, thanks so much for reading!
By Starhopper
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my sketchbooks and DVDs. Everything else belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki and many other respected businessmen who make RK available to the masses.
Even with Saitou's appearance, dinner's still going . . . wanna join them?
Hope this will tide you starving readers over!
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- Say it With a Celebration Part 6: Celebrate the Aroma of Nicotine
Sano felt every muscle in his body tense to their elastic breaking point as that familiar insult was blown through the smoke of the wolf's cigarette. He also felt Megumi's palm against his chest in an effort to soothe his nerves.
Without turning around, the "hatchling" took a deep breath, gulped down his saucer of sake, and upon swallowing, growled, "Saitou." Twisting his torso in the direction of the drifting nicotine cloud, Sanosuke eyed the cop warily and moved to stand up, but halted as his fox's fingers wound tighter into his gi and yanked him down with a pleading look in her eyes.
Smiling down at her, a smile that curved to a cocky grin, he patted her hands and whispered "Daijoubou, Megitsune," and tried once more to face Saitou.
Try being the operative word.
With another great yank, he was flat on his butt and Megumi was patting his head.
"I'm on a break," she informed him with a grin.
"Since when?" he asked her seriously with innocent looking eyes.
But Megumi waved him off and ignored his stupid question. "And I DO NOT want to fix that damn hand of yours when I'm trying to relax." She told him in a demanding harsh whisper that was becoming of her . . . or so Sano thought.
"If Saitou wasn't here, I'd carry you off right now Fox," his mouth curled into a little boy's clever grin with a twenty-something's male mind.
The battle won, Sanosuke settled back into a more comfortable position in front of his food, an arm around Megumi's shoulder in claim of her as one worthy of his protection. Though it was truly the other way around.
Meanwhile Misao was trying to swallow her rice as she bore witness to how Sano let himself be held back by this woman. No, not held back, but pacified. And he wasn't the only one as she took note of how Kaoru was lightly massaging Himura's sword hand from where it was braced with splayed, twitching fingers against the tatami. Taking stock of her affect on Aoshi, she turned to find her boyfriend sipping at his tea with (seemingly) disinterest at the silent exchange between the old enemies. However, she knew the gears were turning in his head, those ones reserved for calculating missions and escape routes, and judging by how he had her pulled into his side, he was ready to save her if a fight broke out.
But of course, no fight was to ensue with loved ones in the room, realized ones at that for Himura. And Sanosuke wouldn't want to lose face as the mature man Megumi had fallen in love with and had accepted a marriage proposal from.
Saitou had to make the first move.
And he did so with the grace and cold beauty that made him deadly.
"What a warm welcome I've received," Saitou bent low in a bow of respect, mocking his former enemies. The sound of freshly shined shoes clacking against the wood floor assaulted their ears as the wolf made his way into the dining area.
"Well, what can ya expect when you insult a man?" Sano coughed over his shoulder.
The crackle of burning paper and nicotine crushing together in a chunk of ash filled the silence as the cop took a long drag of his cigarette before he replied curtly, "I see no man in here,"
Sanosuke's body went entirely rigid before he cracked his knuckles on the hand that was resting on his fiancée's shoulder. Megumi grimaced at the annoying sound.
"Well," Saitou blew yet another ribbon of smoke to weave into the cloud hanging over their heads. "Maybe with the exception of Shinomori over there," It seemed it was the first time Saitou had taken note of all the guests seated at the table, obviously celebrating. "And there's the weasel . . . and Battousai. So, that's what going on,"
"What do you mean 'going on'?" Yahiko spoke up, taking a break from trying to calm Tsubame down. "We're enjoying a well-earned celebration,"
"Of how pathetic your lives are?"
"No, that you so rudely interrupted," Kaoru growled low beneath her breath just as the policeman made his guess. "Now if you wouldn't mind,"
"What wouldn't I mind . . . Tanuki?"
With a raise of her brow, Misao noted how the redness of rage rose from the floor up and overtook her friend before Kaoru shook, jumped up, and threatened a punch to Saitou's left shoulder . . .
. . . Which was easily caught by the skillful hands of the ex-hitokiri who had finally lifted his head and exposed his eyes. They were at a strange slant, serious yet still purple with no amber undertones alighting the corners. He turned to look up at the policeman with the Kamiya Master's fist tightly clutched in his fingers.
"Sessha isn't surprised to know you survived," he started at a deadly calm pace, "Then again, he knew you had something to do with the placement of the Juppongatana members in the higher ranks of Meiji Government,"
Kaoru blinked at the wide smile Saitou formed as the Battousai's distinct assassin's tone drew itself into full fury at that last word. Kenshin himself was blinking rapidly at how fast the anger had risen, confused that the battle started some twelve years ago had yet to end. He had to find a way to resist the urge to battou-jutsu the Shinsengumi captain; even it was with the blunt edge of the sakabatou. Anything to erase the smug look the policeman wore with pride at being able to infuriate the rurouni past his vows of peace.
A stream of smoke settled itself on the air above the Kenshin before Saitou replied to the Battousai's inference.
"It is hard to wound a Wolf of Mibu. Harder still to kill him under falling rubble." Another puff on the cigarette and the insults flew in the direction of the chicken-head sitting somewhere behind him. "It proves one's ignorance to think otherwise,"
"THAT'S IT!" Sanosuke jumped out of Megumi's arms and slammed his left fist into the floor the way Anji had taught him those many months ago. Naturally, the floorboards were reduced to a fine dust cloud that quickly dissipated with his advance on the cocky cop. "Ya got somethin' to say, say it to my face!"
Smoothly, Saitou turned on his heel to address the man who was literally breathing down his neck. "Was I talking to you?"
"Ya are now!" Sanosuke roared slamming his right fist into his open left palm. "To think I even felt sorry that you might've died . . . eh, let's go!"
"Sanosuke!" Megumi's voice rose above the frightened "kowaii"s emanating from a shaking Tsubame, as well as the cursing from her consoler Yahiko in Sanosuke's direction to knock off the strutting and sit back down. No, it was her voice, reproaching, commanding.
Sano's dangerously slit brown eyes slid to the left to see his fiancée approaching them, but he held a hand out to hold her at bay. "Iie, Megitsune. Not this time," he growled as his gaze traveled back to Saitou's face. After all, this was his chance to show her how he could protect her from a mutual threat in-person. There would be no tales to tell save for how he had reacted in the presence of a danger like this wolf.
"Maybe you should listen to the doctor," the cop's yellow eyes grazed the shiny new band of gold around Megumi's fourth finger and flitted back up to the ex-gangster. "Or should I say fiancée?"
The men in the room cringed as similar memories dodged in and out of their brains when their significant others had been referred to in such a menacing tone. Aoshi was already unconsciously pulling Misao closer to his side ready to run.
"Aoshi," she wheezed in a protest that fell on deaf ears. Her own went popped as Kenshin thumped the sheath of his sword on the floor, and then let it freely clatter on the ground.
"Saitou, Sano," the redhead called out to them through a haze of months and forgotten feelings of revenge. "Stop this silliness at once, de gozaru ka." The rich boom of tenor in the lowest syllables was enough to call anyone out of a warrior's confusion. And the two men in question were of no exception. The slick taste of condescendence in his best friend's voice stung Sano to the core.
Again Saitou grinned and Kenshin's knuckles turned white where he staunchly held them at his sides. Before he could make a lunge, Kaoru's hands wrapped themselves around his fist and she pressed herself into his side. "And if you have to fight," she continued for him with a small smile. "Leave this house," casting a reproving look over at what used to be Sanosuke's seat, the Kamiya master shook her head and called forth some tears. "I don't want to spend my first anniversary dinner fixing the dojo."
"Aa, Sessha doesn't wish for that either," her boyfriend soothed with the visible relaxation of his shoulder muscles through the gi.
Saitou closed his eyes and tipped his hat, flashing them all a very fake smile rounded by the cigarette that was already half-burnt. "And with that, I bid you all goodnight." Clicking his heels, he gave a bow mocking the polite nature of the action and tried to walk by the fuming men blocking his path.
"NANI?!" was the general consensus of the diners as far as Aoshi could generalize judging from the pause in both breath and movement that each person took.
"I did not come here," the cop in question turned to face Kenshin full on, "to settle disputes born in the fires of Kyoto," a turn of his heel and he was watching the young, bristling fighter intensely with a predatory glint in his yellow eyes. "Nor did I return to test your fighting skills . . . hatchling," a smug smile played upon his lips as Sano forced himself to remain calm at the insult.
"Then what did you come here for?" Yahiko demanded with a jump, holding his shinai in a sparring position, apparently assuming that he was left out of the Saitou's 'addressing' list for a reason.
"Onegai, put that weapon away before you embarrass yourself kid," Saitou's smirk grew even larger with the satisfaction of riling the youngest member of Battousai's pathetic troupe.
"You have no logical reason to challenge me." Aoshi reasoned sedately over the lip of his teacup.
"For those ahou who weren't listening, I did not come here to start or end a fight," Saitou all but growled in irritation as he once again tried to leave the dojo. "My presence was called by the law of this present Meiji era. We've had complaints," he seemed to shift his closed eyes in the direction of the newly engaged couple, "Keep it down." And with that he easily sidestepped Sanosuke's imposing figure and stepped out the door.
"Na-Nani?" Misao squeaked as she got up to watch Saitou's form be swallowed by the fresh darkness of the new night. Turning back to the rest of the group, including a stoically pouting boyfriend, she chirped, "What was that all about?"
"Sessha suspects only Saitou knows for certain de gozaru na," Kenshin replied to no one in particular with a wistful lilt in his-rapidly sweetening voice.
* * *
Crossing the dirt road that ran between the dojo and the river, Saitou picked up his pace and assumed a stately walk that guarded him from question by passer-by while at the same time kept up a friendly outward appearance. He was merely a police officer out for a nightly round out to protect the innocent from injustice.
Before he realized where his feet had taken him, the old Shinsengumi captain found himself on the bridge leading into downtown Edo. Yellowed eyes surveyed the area for any signs of a spy or follower from the dojo, though he reassured himself that he had left the group in an extreme state of discomfort, sufficiently staying them from any type of pursuit. After all, how could they attack him in the soft state they had assumed? That was just one difference to add to the multitude he shared with those people. His relationship was disconnected from his past just as the friendly officer Fujita Goro was completely separated from Haijime Saitou.
Regardless of how he felt about hiding his past to protect his family from the fires that consumed it, he had a job to do. And unfortunately he was now commanded by the very imperial dogs that had hunted a wolf down with the Battousai during the Revolution . .
As he reached in his pocket to withdraw the list, Saitou was graced with a thought that sparked and went out like the glow of a freshly lit cigarette. Perhaps Battousai was protecting his own future by assuming that new – but the possible revelation was snuffed out as he unfolded the paper with the new governor's cultured hand-written directions.
By the light of his match, Saitou could make out the characters for Himura Kenshin, Kamiya Kaoru, Myojin Yahiko, Sagara Sanosuke, Shinomori Aoshi, Makimachi Misao, and Takani Megumi lining the left side of the paper and the instructions to look out for them written on the right. Trailing his eyes over the commands he'd received, he balled the paper into a crumpled mess and was about to throw it over the edge of the bridge when he was assaulted by the memories of the meeting earlier that day:
"You've found them then?"
"Yes, and they've gathered together for the time being . . . "
"What of Himura?"
A snort, "Living the peaceful life," What an innocent attempt it was too.
"And that ninja?"
"Shinomori," arms folded across his chest. "has sworn to atone for his sins."
"The women from the Aoiya,"
"Strangely enough," Battousai's woman, the weasel, "they are under the protection of the very same men you speak of."
"Ah," the anonymous official smiled knowingly. "That's good then,"
Foolish is the word.
"Zanza, Kanryuu's opium producer?"
"Also in the care of one another." It was fact enough that Battousai attracted the destitute of society like maggots to a carcass.
The governor turned his back to the policeman and assumed a position in front of his grand office window. "These people saved this country from Makoto Shishio,"
Saitou noted how his own part in stopping the madman was conveniently forgotten.
Which was a very good thing. Eras would bleed together in his family's blood if that news got out.
"They could save it again,"
Another snort. The hell they could. Just with the same amount of luck that this man could anticipate an Aku-Soku-San if Saitou so felt inclined to slay one more Imperialist at that very moment.
"Information aside I want you, Fujita-san, to keep a close eye on them."
Saitou narrowed his already closed eyes and moved his left foot out, bending his right knee in warning.
However, his chance was lost when the State official turned back and striding over, proffered an envelope to a wolf of Mibu.
"These people are your responsibility now. Guard them."
Saitou growled out loud, "Guard them."
Back in the blackness of the evening he crushed the paper in his fist with a vengeance. He suddenly tossed the list in the air and with a smile, fisted his hand and punched it into the river. At the splash, he started walking again to his precinct.
"Shinsengumi don't need to be told what to do,"
His eyes flashed amber under the cap he was forced to wear by the lapdogs of the era.
"Least of all by an Imperialist."
* * *
Whatever lightning flash of Battousai that had overtaken his soul from the moment Kaoru seemed threatened had faded back into the Rurouni with the wolf's exit, much to his love's relief.
The woman in his thoughts reassured him of her existence with a gentle tug on the back of his gi. "Hopefully now we'll all be able to settle down and finish our dinner." Her fingers trailed up his spine to the fluff of his ponytail and gave it a yank to break the uneasy stillness that had settled in the room. "Come on Kenshin,"
Kenshin's resulting yelp of surprise brought everyone out of their bewilderment and threatened to send all into fits of laughter over the insanity of the past moments. Including Aoshi, who snickered as Misao rejoined him from a long watch out of the doorway of the living area.
"Just as curious as ever, eh Itachi?" he questioned when he caught her chin as she settled herself on the floor.
"You know me Aoshi," she cooed stealing a quick kiss that she thought was completely stolen until she heard Yahiko and saw Tsubame blush.
"Oi, I thought you had had enough of that," the young samurai reprimanded, and the rest of the group joined him in casting reproving, (albeit fake) frowns at the close couple.
Pouting as her boyfriend completely withdrew his hand from its hold on her waist, Misao cast a searing gaze in Yahiko's direction accompanied with the words, "Ooh, you little brat, wait until this dinner is over,"
"I'll be long gone by then I-ta-chi," the boy enunciated each syllable clearly and cheekily as he lent the waitress his hand to help her up. "Tsubame wants to take a walk,"
"A-Aa," the girl nodded her head, accepting the calloused palm of the sword student who hoisted her up a little too eagerly. Bouncing off his chest, Tsubame's face rivaled the beet red of the vegetables spread out on the table.
Sanosuke immediately chuckled, "And when's the wedding Yahiko . . . chan?" and was almost instantly slapped with a playful paw from Megumi.
He turned his head to her and shot her a confused look. "What? Don't I get my revenge on him for blackmailing us?"
A roll of his beloved's eyes was his only response.
"CHAN?!" Yahiko was bristling; the shinai still clenched in his fist was being raised in a challenge to the ex-gangster. "You dare bring up the past from that party a year or two ago?" But with a small shake of Tsubame's head, he relented and slipped it back into the strap along his back. "C'mon Tsubame, I'll walk you home,"
"H-Hai!" And with that a fuming Yahiko stalked out of the room with the prim little steps of his friend trailing behind him. At the doorway, she bowed to the other couples, politely saying thank-you before a hand found her left one and rudely dragged her off into the night, muttering something about how all power had been lost as far as the chicken-head was concerned.
"Well, this sure has been one eventful evening," Misao started, ending in a yawn that Aoshi was quick to tap closed in a cute gesture of affection and resulted in the locking of tender gazes.
"Kenshin, you look tense," Kaoru's grip on his hair loosened and her fingers found the nape of his neck and began to gently knead the knot forming at either side of his spine from holding his shoulders so taught and on guard.
"Iie," the Rurouni tried to shake her massage free, but surrendered with a blush as they both took their seats once more.
"Yes, one that I'm very willing to sleep-off," Megumi added while still standing at Sanosuke's side, palming his shoulder in an effort to get his attention. She let her voice drop so that it appeared she was merely whispering the "Verrry willing,"
"Oh," It took a moment, but soon realization dawned on the fighter's face, and he winked at her. He moved to address the rest of the couples, coughing to draw them out of their separate romantic interludes. "I think it's best we call it night, ne?"
When the attention he sought for was not given, Sanosuke grabbed the hand that was curved over his shoulder with his right and spun on his heel to face her, a wide grin playing on his lips. "I don't think they'll miss us Kits-"
Hot lips crushing his sufficiently derailed the twenty-year-old's train of thought.
It was completely obvious Aoshi and Misao or Kenshin and Kaoru would not miss them. In fact, judging from how close the Oniwaban members were getting, they wouldn't even realize the fox and the chicken had left. As for the Rurouni and his Kasshin Master, well . . . nothing could separate them and from the closed eyes of Kenshin, they didn't want it to.
"I agree," she nodded in a sexy growl that promised a very eventful night to be had if he would just shut up and leave the room.
And being the good future-husband he was, Sano did not argue.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
A/N: Well, I was planning to get the Ken/Kao sweet moment (i.e., the FUTON part) in but the Saitou part took longer than I anticipated. However, I wanted to convey how each character felt about the wolf, Sano in particular. While I'm not opposed to Slash, I draw the line with Saitou and Sano. There's more of a father/son, teacher/unwilling student relationship in that the cop actually wants Sanosuke to work on all aspects of his fighting abilities just so he can have a fair fight with the much more experienced Shinsengumi captain. And Sano does just this to prove with an adolescent pride that he can. He was also deeply affected by the 'death' of Saitou in Kyoto, but he didn't commiserate over it, like he had lost someone he loved. It was more of 'aw shucks, I can't fight with you anymore!' kinda thing.
Also, I'd like to add to any "Saitou hates Kenshin, so why'd he help him?" ney-sayers that in the Movie, Saitou does just this. Watch closely next time, you'd be surprised what you can read into that movie from how Mr. Wolfie-boy acts.
Argh, when did this turn into a rant?! Anyways, I just wanted to explain a few things and promise you all that cute fluff is a comin, so please keep a toothbrush handy to prevent cavities. And I realize that I focus an AWFUL lot of my time on Sano/Meg, but they're my favorite couple (well, favorite couple to write for at least), but I'm moving away from them (only innuendo next time for them, no separate chapter [I'm thinking you all can figure out what happened . . . they're engaged now . . . ] ) but plenty of Ken/Kao. I have a theory revolving around Ken and Tomoe and how he sleeps when he's a Rurouni. For those of you who remember the "Say it Without the Dono" chapter . . . Ken overcomes his feelings of inadequacy to sleep like normal people in the upcoming chapter.
Does it please the wonderful readers? Or is this humble author losing it?
Please REVIEW and let me know and as always, thanks so much for reading!