I'll Disclaim later, this is getting good. I can't wait to see what happens next! Do you know?
This is also a space. A space separates things.
"Saitou-san, I cannot believe that you could have forgotten so soon? Here let me call my maid to bring the file…I have maps, sworn testimonies, and even some descriptions that would make a lonely sailor blush. You have had one of those as well, I think, Portuguese, wasn't he? Let my maid bring the file."
"I don't need to see any lies you have concocted. Your guilt is as plain as your bastard's red hair. Tell me where to find your lover. Tell me where the Battousai is or there will be sad and serious consequences for you."
"Worse than yours? After what I know becomes public knowledge? Unlike you, I have hard proofs. There goes your career, your wife, what little is left of your honor. Since you can't kill yourself, I imagine your next career would be sweeping up dung. Or of course, you could take your considerable skills and turn professional, I suppose. You certainly would make good money in such a small specialty market. Oh please, don't get up! My maid would probably hear the noise and come to investigate and then where would we be. Have some more tea and calm down."
"I am going to destroy your life."
"You can try Hebi-san (Mr. Snake –Auth.). Come ahead on, I will take one snake with me at least. Of course, after my sudden demise, everything I know becomes public property. Also, the terrified and tragic letter I have left my husband should cause a lovely little war between our countries, don't you think? How do you think Japan will fare, I wonder?"
"What letter?"
"Oh, the one where I inform my husband and government of your attempts to blackmail me into giving you information on my country to pass to your superiors. Of your threats of violence against me and my innocent child. Threats made by a man who likes to be tied down and rode hard: by more than one rider at a time; I've heard. I've got some samples of the leather goods. You have nice taste in tanners. At least that one I met had a nice ass. Did you pay him in cash or was it a barter sort of deal?"
"How did you come upon this supposed information?"
"I have something you don't –they're called friends. People like me and are willing to do me favors. When I got first wind of your questions I brought them in. My sources cover all of these islands and two continents. You think that you have covered your tracks well, but I know what rocks to look under for snakes."
Saitou just stared into her eyes for a long moment. His glare had made strong men give up without touching their blades. This woman never flinched; she just looked back at him with those odd eyes –clear as water, flecked with black, green, brown, and gold. He would have to burn her to the ground to destroy her, still he needed to find out where she had this famous "File" of hers first or she would take Japan with her to hell.
"Is all this worth your life?"
"Is it worth yours? When you play for high stakes nobody leaves the table till the last card falls. What else do you have in your hand except spite and rumor?"
"I have a red ace to show your husband when I arrest Himura. That would help me win the deal, ne? I have also played poker in my time, Lady."
"There are about seven nasty jokes I could make right now, but you have to speak English to get them. You don't, do you? No? Too bad. To get back on the subject, I thought the reason for your charming visit was that you couldn't find Mr. Himura? How do you intend to arrest someone you can't find?"
"You were just one source yourself, Lady. There are other leads to be followed."
"Well go ahead on and chase those leads. Leave me and mine out of your plans for Kenshin. Whatever plans those are."
"I plan to kill him."
"Then how would you use him against me? Dead men don't give very good testimony in court. And if he kills you, then you lose your gamble and I still walk free. You've boxed yourself into a corner, Hebi-san, and I have nothing to fear from you."
"I won't lose. And a red head on a spike is a very convincing piece of evidence for a jealous husband and a sniggering public. Even if it isn't proved as a fact, the rumor will dog your son's life."
"Don't threaten my child in any way. Or I will crush your head beneath my heel, hebi. Come on, "I'm your huckleberry," as a dentist friend of mine used to say."
"I am not afraid of you." He reached for his tea cup with a steady hand, proud of his control.
"Yes you are, I think." Georgina said, laying her hand upon his.
He wasn't ready, didn't have any protection from her. Her ki swept through him like a storm, blowing away all of the screens he hid behind. He never knew, never thought, that a woman would possess the power of a trained sword master. Especially not a foreign woman. She could not extend it beyond her as Hiko or he could, but her touch was the conduit into his soul. She saw it all. The shrieking thing in his soul fled before her, and she walked around inside his head as if it was a garden. He tried to fight back. He saw glimpses, saw the truth about her and The Battousai; saw her love for her husband and her son. But she was too strong for him to control when he was caught so unready.
She was a trained fighter. He saw through her eyes. The swearing, bleeding kidnapper clutching his slashed arm. The Sergeant whom she had already once wounded brought down with vicious blows. The Lieutenant who had betrayed her lying on the floor, unable to breathe, her watching him die until Himura had begged the man's life of her. Her agreement, but not without malicious damage being done to both men for their sin of laying hands upon an "American citizen." She could destroy him right now and he would not be able to raise a hand in his defense. She had killed before. - A bearded man lay screaming in an alley, a knife blade broken in his chest. Her saw her kick the blade in and watch him die without pleasure, but unrepentant. She could finish it for him now. "Please kill me." Saitou thought to her. "Please make it stop. The burning." He felt her... sorrow?
"No."
She was sitting across from him, hands back in her lap. Saitou was unsure if the last words had been spoken out loud or not, just that he felt empty and oddly, a little lonely. His demon was still in hiding and he wasn't used to the silence. He took a sip from the cup he held in his hand.
"What are you, a witch? A female demon warrior?"
"Just a woman, with a woman's weakness and strength. After you've made a man, it's hard to fear one. I am sorry for your pain, I don't know if I could bear it myself. But do not ask me to end it for you, Ookami-chan, I won't."
In his own head, Saitou heard Hiko's voice." You were a mad dog; I had either to kill you or let you be. And I'm too sentimental for my own good…My Ookami-chan, you are so pretty. And so sore." "Are you too sentimental to kill me, Georgina?"
"Perhaps. You strike out of fear to frighten others, Hebi-san, I heard your rattle. You are not dangerous to one who doesn't fear you, why should you die for that? Besides, salvation is possible, even under a damp rock. If someone loves you enough to go digging for you down there in the dark. You have two people who love you enough, or had two, until you drove the man away with your madness. The woman you hold far from you to keep her from seeing the thing that I kicked away from me there in your soul. You should let her try to help, instead of feeding the flames with your playmates."
"I don't need your advice whore. I know the truth about you and the Battousai now. Don't even try to deny it."
"I won't now. I was his pillow as you say. He was my pillow as well. My choice. My gamble and I won. You won't take my treasure from me. I'm sorry about what has happened to you and for what you continue to allow happen. I would help you if I could, but you will not accept my help, I see that. Please accept my forgiveness for your behavior and I ask yours as well for my invasion."
She stood up from the chair and bowed very low and politely before him. She had exposed her neck and back to any attacks he cared to make, bowing before him as one warrior to another. Trusting in his own warrior's honor, the thing which his demon tried the hardest to take away. He would not allow it to happen. He stood and bowed in return.
"I have never received forgiveness, Lady, but I will accept your apology and give you my own. I am sorry to have insulted you so and to have threatened those whom you hold dear. It is finished; I will be leaving now."
"You have never received forgiveness because you have never thought to ask, Ookami-chan. Please don't go, there are things still to be said between us. My maid is approaching, be careful…Have another cookie?"
Scythe195 thank you for the kind review. The story I had in preparation with Saitou and Hiko is a tough nut to crack. I'm glad that you're enjoying this one. Isn't Georgina just so butch!