The characters in the story don't belong to me. Just borrowing them for a
little escapade so lay off with the lawyer's letters.
Sorry I took so long. Anyway, before getting on with the story, I would like to share something with the readers of 'Sleeping with the wolf'. Just now on the bus, I had a shocking revelation. Take a good look at Saitoh Hajime. Take away the sinister lines on his face and add a pair of glasses. Grow his hair longer and tie it loosely behind leaving the fringe. Doesn't he look like Clow Reed from CCS? It's mind-boggling. I was trying to imagine him as Tokio sees him in the story and…the image was…wow.
Chapter7
Kaoru looked at the stacks of paper and documents on her desk and felt a wave of hopelessness swept over her. The wedding would be in two weeks and there was still such a lot of work left. She leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes. Kenshin would be flying in tomorrow in the morning and later in the afternoon, they have to try out the wedding costumes. Their schedule was packed tight what with the wedding preparations and the nitpicking details that came with the merger of their clans.
Well, at least, she thought wryly, she got her own way in the choice of a church wedding over a Shinto one. She couldn't bear the hours that would go into the wearing of the wedding kimono, much less the whole of the ceremony. It would probably kill her. Two weeks more and all these extra work would be over. Two weeks and she would be married. And her groom would be here tomorrow. She felt her heart lighten at the thought.
Opening her eyes, she stared at the paperwork in front of her with distaste. Reluctantly, she reached for the report on the annual income of her hotel chains. Just then, the phone rang. She pressed the speaker.
"Yes?"
"Mistress Kaoru, Usui of Kobe is here. He said he had some matters to discuss with you."
"Oh really?" Her eyes lit up with anticipation. Distraction from paperwork! Just for this, she might consider not torturing him overmuch before killing him.
"How many people did he bring?"
"Two bodyguards, not armed."
"Send them up. Get Aoshi to bring them in."
And here she was wondering when that sly old fox would make his move. He could not possibly sit back and do nothing in the face of Shinzuku and HongXing's alliance. It would be amusing to see the expression on his face when he realised he had miscalculated sorely her actions. There came a knock on the door.
"Come in," She sat back with her elbows on the desk, fingertips to fingertips. Aoshi came in first and crossed the room silently to stand beside the desk. Behind him was Usui, followed by his two bodyguards. Seeing Kaoru seated behind the heavy study desk with no intention of getting up, Usui frowned. Without preamble, he said, "Have you lost all manners in your years with Jineh? Is this how you greet your godfather?"
Kaoru raised an eyebrow. So this was the way he wanted to play. Kaoru laughed coldly inside but kept her face impassive. Deliberately ignoring his questions, she waved a hand to the chair in front of her desk. "Please, take a seat."
Appeased, he sat down and looked carefully at the woman opposite him. He had not seen her in ten years and in these ten years, she had only grown more beautiful. The cunning and cruelty she displayed at Jineh's birthday party had drawn him. Even now, looking at her and remembering that day, he felt a stirring in his groin. If all went well today, soon, he would have her with him, beneath him. But first, the rumours that had been going around about Shinzuku and HongXing's alliance through the marriage of the two leaders must be settled.
"You did very well, Kaoru. Killing Jineh within the deadline. I am most pleased with you." he began, his tone condescending.
Kaoru did not bother to hide her amusement and contempt any more. Did this man still think he could control her? He was severely deluded.
"Killing Jineh was because he deserved to be killed. I didn't kill him for you."
Usui was taken aback but he recovered quickly. "Nevertheless, he's dead. You are now the leader of Shinzuku. When we merge, I would be able to control the whole of Japan."
"And you are so certain I would pass over the reins of power to you?" Kaoru stared at Usui for a moment before breaking out in laughter. Cold, mocking laughter that rang in the room making Usui feel more and more uneasy. "Stop your laughter!" he barked out.
Kaoru continued for a while before stopping. She looked at Usui, a faint smile still on her face but her eyes were calculating.
"Are you optimistic or just plain naïve? Do you honestly think that after having tasted freedom and power, I would just give it up at a snap of your finger?" she paused, "It's been ten years, Usui. I am no longer the girl I was."
"No, that was not what I meant. It would be an equal partnership. You and me, Shinzuku and Kobe, allies," Usui protested. She had definitely changed, he saw that now. But that wildness was what attracted him.
"A partnership. And how do you propose we begin our partnership?" a mysterious smile played at her lips as she threw the question Kenshin had once asked her at him.
"Marriage. You and I. It would strenghtened the ties between Kobe and Shinzuku and be more binding than any contract,"Usui concluded, trying to contain his glee at the way things are turning out for him.
"Marriage?" she repeated, deliberately drawing out her answer, toying with him. "I'm afraid I can't agree to your proposal," she enjoyed the sudden change in his expression. "I've already accepted the proposal of Himura Kenshin of HongXing. Haven't you received the wedding invitation? How remiss of me to have forgotten you. I would like to extend my personal invitation to you now. Please remember to come."
"You bitch!" Kaoru's contempt and her taunting caused Usui to lose his control. He launched himself at her but was brought up shortly by a gun pointed at him. Seeing their boss under threat, his two bodyguards rushed forward. Without moving his eyes away from Usui, Aoshi lashed out a kick at the first guard, knocking him back into his partner behind him. The two fell down in a heap. They got up but were now too wary to get closer.
Kaoru stood up and faced Usui. "You are a fool, Usui. Marriage to you would bring me nothing that I could not get on my own. Killing you would serve the same purpose and I've wanted to do that for a long time." She watched the colour drained away from his face and felt a sense of satisfaction. Now he knew what it felt like to lose control of one's life, to be a puppet living at the whim of another person. "But I won't kill you today. I'm getting married in two weeks and I don't want to see any blood before that. Now, get out."
Outside the door, two of her people came in and escorted them out, roughly. Usui turned and shot one last glare at Kaoru before leaving.
Kaoru returned to her seat. "Thank you, Aoshi." He nodded his head in acknowledgement. Kaoru smiled to herself, a genuine smile as she sat down. He never changed. Idly, she wondered if there was anything in the world that have the power to change or affect him in some ways. Something to melt his icy façade. Oh well, forget Aoshi's problem. She had something else to think about now.
From the looks of Usui, he would not let the matter rest. She did not expect him to anyway. Should she warn Kenshin? She grinned wickedly. Nah, it would be a good warm-up for him and also a chance for her to observe how he dealt with such matters and assess his strength. It would be an interesting two weeks in Japan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Police Headquarter
The superintendant looked over the personal file of one of his best officer. Makimachi Misao, unit leader. Twenty-five years old with six years of experience in the field. Graduated top in her year at the training academy. A dedicated officer who won the respect of her colleagues through her never-say-die attitude. Reckless and impatient was her superiors' opinion of her. But she got the job done, was the grudging comment on the side. He smiled. She sounded like the perfect person for the job he had in mind. Then his eyes rested on a little nugget of information beside the column on marital status. Single mother. Hmm. Then he shrugged. Her personal life was none of his business as long as it did not interfere with her duties.
There came a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and a crisp, clear voice snapped out,"Makimachi Misao reporting, sir,"
Ok. Chapter7 is finally done. The next chapter may be the wedding already but that's a tentative thing. As for Hiko's story, I have an interesting angle but I can't find enough information so….
And thanks for all the readers who actually read my stories. Thanks to all the reviewers who took the time to help review my stories. Chibi-buta, Kenshin was not listening to Shishio. He agreed to marry Kaoru because he wanted to. Although Shishio was not the leader anymore, he still had some influence in the clan. Over there, they placed a great deal on respect for the seniors. Typed the whole chapter at one sitting and my butt is hurting now. Show your appreciation for my pains with more reviews!
Sorry I took so long. Anyway, before getting on with the story, I would like to share something with the readers of 'Sleeping with the wolf'. Just now on the bus, I had a shocking revelation. Take a good look at Saitoh Hajime. Take away the sinister lines on his face and add a pair of glasses. Grow his hair longer and tie it loosely behind leaving the fringe. Doesn't he look like Clow Reed from CCS? It's mind-boggling. I was trying to imagine him as Tokio sees him in the story and…the image was…wow.
Chapter7
Kaoru looked at the stacks of paper and documents on her desk and felt a wave of hopelessness swept over her. The wedding would be in two weeks and there was still such a lot of work left. She leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes. Kenshin would be flying in tomorrow in the morning and later in the afternoon, they have to try out the wedding costumes. Their schedule was packed tight what with the wedding preparations and the nitpicking details that came with the merger of their clans.
Well, at least, she thought wryly, she got her own way in the choice of a church wedding over a Shinto one. She couldn't bear the hours that would go into the wearing of the wedding kimono, much less the whole of the ceremony. It would probably kill her. Two weeks more and all these extra work would be over. Two weeks and she would be married. And her groom would be here tomorrow. She felt her heart lighten at the thought.
Opening her eyes, she stared at the paperwork in front of her with distaste. Reluctantly, she reached for the report on the annual income of her hotel chains. Just then, the phone rang. She pressed the speaker.
"Yes?"
"Mistress Kaoru, Usui of Kobe is here. He said he had some matters to discuss with you."
"Oh really?" Her eyes lit up with anticipation. Distraction from paperwork! Just for this, she might consider not torturing him overmuch before killing him.
"How many people did he bring?"
"Two bodyguards, not armed."
"Send them up. Get Aoshi to bring them in."
And here she was wondering when that sly old fox would make his move. He could not possibly sit back and do nothing in the face of Shinzuku and HongXing's alliance. It would be amusing to see the expression on his face when he realised he had miscalculated sorely her actions. There came a knock on the door.
"Come in," She sat back with her elbows on the desk, fingertips to fingertips. Aoshi came in first and crossed the room silently to stand beside the desk. Behind him was Usui, followed by his two bodyguards. Seeing Kaoru seated behind the heavy study desk with no intention of getting up, Usui frowned. Without preamble, he said, "Have you lost all manners in your years with Jineh? Is this how you greet your godfather?"
Kaoru raised an eyebrow. So this was the way he wanted to play. Kaoru laughed coldly inside but kept her face impassive. Deliberately ignoring his questions, she waved a hand to the chair in front of her desk. "Please, take a seat."
Appeased, he sat down and looked carefully at the woman opposite him. He had not seen her in ten years and in these ten years, she had only grown more beautiful. The cunning and cruelty she displayed at Jineh's birthday party had drawn him. Even now, looking at her and remembering that day, he felt a stirring in his groin. If all went well today, soon, he would have her with him, beneath him. But first, the rumours that had been going around about Shinzuku and HongXing's alliance through the marriage of the two leaders must be settled.
"You did very well, Kaoru. Killing Jineh within the deadline. I am most pleased with you." he began, his tone condescending.
Kaoru did not bother to hide her amusement and contempt any more. Did this man still think he could control her? He was severely deluded.
"Killing Jineh was because he deserved to be killed. I didn't kill him for you."
Usui was taken aback but he recovered quickly. "Nevertheless, he's dead. You are now the leader of Shinzuku. When we merge, I would be able to control the whole of Japan."
"And you are so certain I would pass over the reins of power to you?" Kaoru stared at Usui for a moment before breaking out in laughter. Cold, mocking laughter that rang in the room making Usui feel more and more uneasy. "Stop your laughter!" he barked out.
Kaoru continued for a while before stopping. She looked at Usui, a faint smile still on her face but her eyes were calculating.
"Are you optimistic or just plain naïve? Do you honestly think that after having tasted freedom and power, I would just give it up at a snap of your finger?" she paused, "It's been ten years, Usui. I am no longer the girl I was."
"No, that was not what I meant. It would be an equal partnership. You and me, Shinzuku and Kobe, allies," Usui protested. She had definitely changed, he saw that now. But that wildness was what attracted him.
"A partnership. And how do you propose we begin our partnership?" a mysterious smile played at her lips as she threw the question Kenshin had once asked her at him.
"Marriage. You and I. It would strenghtened the ties between Kobe and Shinzuku and be more binding than any contract,"Usui concluded, trying to contain his glee at the way things are turning out for him.
"Marriage?" she repeated, deliberately drawing out her answer, toying with him. "I'm afraid I can't agree to your proposal," she enjoyed the sudden change in his expression. "I've already accepted the proposal of Himura Kenshin of HongXing. Haven't you received the wedding invitation? How remiss of me to have forgotten you. I would like to extend my personal invitation to you now. Please remember to come."
"You bitch!" Kaoru's contempt and her taunting caused Usui to lose his control. He launched himself at her but was brought up shortly by a gun pointed at him. Seeing their boss under threat, his two bodyguards rushed forward. Without moving his eyes away from Usui, Aoshi lashed out a kick at the first guard, knocking him back into his partner behind him. The two fell down in a heap. They got up but were now too wary to get closer.
Kaoru stood up and faced Usui. "You are a fool, Usui. Marriage to you would bring me nothing that I could not get on my own. Killing you would serve the same purpose and I've wanted to do that for a long time." She watched the colour drained away from his face and felt a sense of satisfaction. Now he knew what it felt like to lose control of one's life, to be a puppet living at the whim of another person. "But I won't kill you today. I'm getting married in two weeks and I don't want to see any blood before that. Now, get out."
Outside the door, two of her people came in and escorted them out, roughly. Usui turned and shot one last glare at Kaoru before leaving.
Kaoru returned to her seat. "Thank you, Aoshi." He nodded his head in acknowledgement. Kaoru smiled to herself, a genuine smile as she sat down. He never changed. Idly, she wondered if there was anything in the world that have the power to change or affect him in some ways. Something to melt his icy façade. Oh well, forget Aoshi's problem. She had something else to think about now.
From the looks of Usui, he would not let the matter rest. She did not expect him to anyway. Should she warn Kenshin? She grinned wickedly. Nah, it would be a good warm-up for him and also a chance for her to observe how he dealt with such matters and assess his strength. It would be an interesting two weeks in Japan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Police Headquarter
The superintendant looked over the personal file of one of his best officer. Makimachi Misao, unit leader. Twenty-five years old with six years of experience in the field. Graduated top in her year at the training academy. A dedicated officer who won the respect of her colleagues through her never-say-die attitude. Reckless and impatient was her superiors' opinion of her. But she got the job done, was the grudging comment on the side. He smiled. She sounded like the perfect person for the job he had in mind. Then his eyes rested on a little nugget of information beside the column on marital status. Single mother. Hmm. Then he shrugged. Her personal life was none of his business as long as it did not interfere with her duties.
There came a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and a crisp, clear voice snapped out,"Makimachi Misao reporting, sir,"
Ok. Chapter7 is finally done. The next chapter may be the wedding already but that's a tentative thing. As for Hiko's story, I have an interesting angle but I can't find enough information so….
And thanks for all the readers who actually read my stories. Thanks to all the reviewers who took the time to help review my stories. Chibi-buta, Kenshin was not listening to Shishio. He agreed to marry Kaoru because he wanted to. Although Shishio was not the leader anymore, he still had some influence in the clan. Over there, they placed a great deal on respect for the seniors. Typed the whole chapter at one sitting and my butt is hurting now. Show your appreciation for my pains with more reviews!
