Chapter 14

By Crystal

Author's Notes: Gah, I might not be updating too much this week cause of all the projects...God darn it. And my oral presentation. *curses* Anyhow...I hope you enjoy this chapter!

*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*

Kenshin opened the shoji leading to Toshiko and Soujiro's room, when he was able to see inside, his eyes bulged out and his mouth was wide open. Soujiro's eyes snapped open at the sound of the shoji opening and was staring at Kenshin with his usual Tenken smile. "Ohayou, Himura-san." Soujiro said softly, still holding the now peacefully sleeping Toshiko in his arms.

"...Ohayou, Soujiro. How was your night?" Kenshin asked, still looking at the way Soujiro was holding onto Toshiko. He shouldn't be too surprised, since Soujiro was holding her the same way as yesterday when she was crying, but he still was.

The Tenken stood up softly and walked over to Toshiko's futon and laid her down, and looked up at Kenshin, "It was okay. I got a few hours of sleep."

Kenshin nodded, "Want to go outside for a breath of fresh air?" Soujiro nodded and followed him outside, closing the shoji behind him.

Normally, everyone was going to be awake within an hour. But...today wasn't exactly what you'd call normal. Yahiko had slept after midnight, Kaoru-dono has slept at around three, Toshiko had probably just fallen asleep when he started reading Tomoe's journal, and who knows what time Sano and Megumi-dono fell asleep.

Kenshin sighed and earned a glance from Soujiro, "What are you sighing at, Himura-san?"

Kenshin looked at the rising sun coming up, "Nothing really much. Just thinking about how Toshiko had forgiven me. It means a lot to me, you know?" Kenshin said, a smile playing softly on his face. "It means a lot..."

Soujiro looked at the Hitokiri Battousai, "I know what you mean... Because... she too, has understood my past. She was the first one to do so. And she thought of me as her best friend, which means a lot to me too. Toshiko... She never cared about my past much, she only wanted to know. After I told her my past, I was afraid that she'd be less friendly, but it was quite the opposite. She was more... friendly."

He looked amusingly at the once Shishio Makoto's right hand man and said jokingly, "That looked more than what best friends did in your rooms."

Soujiro blushed, "Himura-san..." He paused, "Why are you talking like this right now? No 'sessha', or 'de gozaru'?"

Battousai looked even more amused after Soujiro blushed, "I don't know... Don't try to change the topic here, Soujiro." Kenshin gave a smirk.

"You're not acting like yourself." Soujiro said, unsuccessfully trying to change the topic. He didn't feel too comfortable with that topic Himura-san was bringing up.

Battousai raised an eyebrow, "Soujiro... Is that better, de gozaru?" He asked.

"Hai, hai, Himura-san." Soujiro was going to ask another question when out come a sleepy Kaoru.

"Ohayou, Kenshin, Seta-san." Kaoru was trying to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"Ohayou Kamiya-san." "Ohayou, Kaoru-dono." Soujiro and Kenshin said at the same time.

"Anyways Kenshin, I'm going to cook breakfast, you two carry on with your conversation." Kaoru walked towards to kitchen until...

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin said panicky, "Why don't you and Soujiro have a talk, de gozaru yo? I'll cook breakfast today!" He practically cringed when Kaoru raised her eyebrow in suspicion, and relaxed when she nodded.

Kaoru headed towards the bath house, "I'll be taking a bath, be out in a moment. Seta-san, would you mind waking up Yahiko-chan and Toshiko please?"

"Hai, hai, Kamiya-san." Soujiro replied and when she was out of earshot, looked at Kenshin and tilted his head. "Himura-san, do you like to cook?"

Kenshin said very quietly, "Do not eat Kaoru-dono. It is poisonous, de gozaru." And looked at Soujiro weirdly as the Tenken laughed quietly. "Sessha is serious, de gozaru." Soujiro still couldn't stop laughing at soon got Kenshin to laugh to.

"Himura-san, you go cook breakfast first, I'll join you after I wake up Yahiko-kun and Toshiko." And headed towards the way Kenshin and him came. The day was great so far.

Kaoru had forgotten that Kenshin had returned to his goofy rurouni side early in the morning because of the lack of sleep, but she was now gaping along Yahiko and Sanosuke at how he was talking to Toshiko and Soujiro as they were old friends. Toshiko seemed happy, same with Kenshin, and of course... Soujiro... he was ALWAYS happy, or he seemed always happy.

Toshiko was already joking along with Kenshin like nothing had happened yesterday, Soujiro was listening and adding something once in a while, Kenshin's amethyst eyes had come back without a trace of his amber ones, and the three of them... well, were gaping at the other three like stupid idiots.

At last, Toshiko had looked at them, "What's wrong, Kaoru-san, Sano-san, Yahiko-kun?"

Kaoru opened and closed her mouth a few times, successfully looking like an idiot until she said, "You're not mad at Kenshin anymore, Toshiko-chan?"

"Ohh, that's what you three are looking at. No, I'm not mad at my brother-in-law anymore." She smiled brightly and brought Kenshin's mind to wander again. She noticed the faraway looks in Kenshin's eyes and waved her hands in his face a few times and shouted his name at least six times until Soujiro grabbed him by the shoulders lightly and shook him.

"Wha...?" Kenshin asked, slightly confused.

Toshiko gave Kenshin a raised eyebrow, "It's not nice to zoom out when someone is talking about you, Kenshin."

"Aa... Sessha is sorry, de gozaru." Kenshin smiled and turned to Kaoru, Sano and Yahiko. "And Toshiko and sessha talked last night, or rather this morning. We got it all figured out, de gozaru."

All conversations were cut off when a knock was heard, coming from the dojo gates. Kenshin sensed who's ki it was immediately, "Saitoh..."

Soujiro groaned, "Saitoh Hajime, that cop?" Kenshin nodded and caused another groan from Soujiro, "I don't like him."

"Neither does sessha." Kenshin replied and stood up to open the door when everyone came, he looked at them surprised.

"Kenshin, we're coming with you." Kaoru said impatiently, "Hurry up and open the gates."

When they got to the gates, Saitoh was not surprised to see a whole group of people greeting him, and he saw the Tenken. "Good, looks like I don't have to look anymore. Battousai, Tenken. I have something to discuss with you."

"I thought you were dead." Sano spat, he despised the cop. Overly self-centred bastard.

Kenshin replied, "Sano, I told you Saitoh was too stubborn to die, the only thing he's going to die from is from a sword wound."

"Fish face, what the hell do you need help with again?" Sano ignored Kenshin.

"Sagara-san... I think Saitoh-san has a good reason with wanting to talk with Kenshin and Soujiro." Toshiko spoke up quietly, she clearly didn't like Saitoh too well, her eyes showed, but there must be a good reason the 3rd Squad Captain of the Shinsengumi would ask former enemies to chat with. It was obviously important.

Saitoh's amber eyes looked at Toshiko, "And who might you be, young lady?"

"Yukishiro... Toshiko." She felt Saitoh's eyes bore into hers, but she didn't look away.

Saitoh looked thoughtful, "Yukishiro...sounds familiar." And another minute passed like this until, "Oh right... Battousai's wife." And smirked at Kenshin's flaring ki. "So you must be her younger sister. Surely, ahou, this young woman is smarter than you."

Sano gritted his teeth and his fists were clenching and unclenching, but before he could say any profanities, Soujiro spoke up, "Saitoh-san, would you mind speaking with all of us here? I'm sure Himura-san's friends would like to know what you're saying too."

"No." Saitoh replied, "Top secret. Now are you going to speak with me?" Saitoh asked as he took another smoke. Kaoru's nose wrinkled at the smell but kept her mouth shut.

"Kaoru-dono, please finish breakfast. Soujiro, Saitoh and I have something to talk about. We will be back in a few hours." Kenshin and Soujiro were following Saitoh out the gates when Kaoru said.

"Why don't you three talk here in the dojo?"

Saitoh just shook his head, "Kamiya, it's top secret, even though I know when you're close to hearing range, I don't want to take the risk." And continued walking.

Soujiro turned around and said, "Ja ne, Toshiko." And gave her a smile, which she returned worriedly. "I'll be fine."

"Aa... Come back soon, Soujiro."

* * * * *

Once they got to the police station, Saitoh had gotten immediately to the point. "Battousai, some messengers from the Juppon Gatana are recreating the group." Soujiro and Kenshin's eyes widened slightly.

"Saitoh-san, I would like to know why you called me here, surely, you wouldn't be trusting me. I am, after, Shishio-san's right hand man and the former Tenken." Soujiro said.

"Tenken, I'm afraid I have to trust you. I can't do this because they know I was against Shishio Makoto in the past, same with Battousai. I need you to be a spy. We have no idea where their base is, but they're finding all the old members of the Juppon Gatana. I have already talked to Chou and Kamatari, they are already in the group as highest member. Their next target is Shishio's right hand man, which is you."

Soujiro shook his head disbelievingly, "Kamatari-san, would go against Juppon Gatana?"

Saitoh took a smoke, "It's because Kamatari thinks Shishio is not the boss, that's why she agreed. I have already gotten Chou to tell them to search for you two weeks after he gets in the group, which is only six days away. I need an answer from you by tomorrow. And do not tell anybody. I mean ANYBODY, or you're going to put them in grave danger. Battousai will help you cover up."

Kenshin looked down with his bangs covering his whole face, 'this is not going to be easy on Soujiro, me or Toshiko. Soujiro will have to lie to Toshiko to not get her in danger, so will I... But... Toshiko will be heart broken.' He took a deep breath. "I think Soujiro will come up with an answer within a day." He stood up, was going to exit the room when he was startled by Soujiro's answer.

"Himura-san, Saitoh-san, I don't need a day. I'll do this. For everyone's sake." Soujiro took a deep breath, "Let's go, Himura-san."

As they got outside, Kenshin was looking at Soujiro, "You're not thinking of joining the Juppon Gatana, are you?"

"Well, I have to, don't I?" He asked, emotionlessly, his Tenken smile back, his hand ready on his katana. "I am, after all, being a spy, aren't I?" He heard Himura-san sigh a sigh of relief and he gave a weak smile, "I'm not going back, don't worry. Just promise me... Whatever happens, take care of Toshiko. I'm leaving the dojo in four days."

"I'll promise you that, but how are you going to say this to Toshiko?" Kenshin asked, "I don't want you hurting her."

Soujiro looked at him, "It's the only way, Himura-san. If I hurt her, she might forget me, which is better. Since I might never come back, there's the possibility I'm not coming back. Even though I'm strong, it's not impossible to die. I'm going to leave in four days, then you and Saitoh, on the seventh day tell them I joined the Juppon Gatana. Don't let anyone know anything. You heard Saitoh-san, if anyone knows, which includes Kamiya-san, Sagara-san, Yahiko-kun, you're putting them in danger. It's good right now, the only ones in danger on this mission is Saitoh-san, you, me, Chou and Kamatari-san. Leave it that way. I don't want anyone I know dying on me."

Kenshin could only nod, Toshiko was going to get really hurt by this. But he knew, deep inside, it was better for her, so she won't ask questions.

Author's Notes: Finally finished! This is kind of a short chapter since I'm really tired, sorry guys. Anyhow, chapter 15 WILL be posted probably on Friday? I hope. I have lots of homework and projects, but I'll try writing as much as I can. Oyasumi!

Shoji - Traditional Japanese door
Ohayou - Good morning
Ahou - moron