centeruChapter Six/u/center
p
Hiko stared at his girlfriend waiting for a reaction. He really, really didn't want her to do this. It wasn't that he was just jealous, or that the lucky fellow who she would be partnered with would get what he'd always wanted. This was dangerous, and not playing around. She was a lawyer. Of course, she had basic training, but that wasn't enough. Yet he was screwed if he made any implication that she couldn't handle it.
p
Damn if I do, damn if I don't, he mused to himself.
p
He usually didn't have problems like these. He was a man who made up his mind and stuck with it. While not exactly a slow learner, he was rather set in his ways. It took a long time for him to recognize that Tokio was sometimes not so steady. How could she be? She wasn't him.
p
Just don't do anything to shove her away, he reminded himself. Past experience dictated that if he forbid or disapproved of it she was ninety-nine percent more likely to do the opposite. Vexing, very vexing.
p
After a short pause of considering his statement, Tokio looked up with that guarded look. Hiko hated that look. It never meant any good. Even worse, it meant she was actually considering the mission.
p
"Go on." She said neutrally.
p
"This is seriously a threat to national security. We have partnered up with in Shinsengumi on this," He gave a wry smile at that. He wasn't sure what sort of connection she had with that group, but she always gave a start whenever someone mentioned them. He didn't like secrets, and one way or another he'd find out hers. "Your partner, or rather husband, is one of their top agents. Not as good as me of course, but he knows his stuff."
p
"This entails?"
p
Damn, he hated when she went into two-word mode. The signs weren't adding up prettily; she was seriously considering this. He just didn't know how to dissuade her of such a foolish notion without it backfiring in his face.
p
"What did I just tell you?" He growled falling back on his arrogant behavior subconsciously. It wasn't something he controlled, and he didn't even realize that he did it sometimes. "You'll be his wife. That's your job."
p
"Undercover then."
p
"Yes, you will play homemaker in a situation where you can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity." Hiko said, not wanting to fill in the details. He shoe tapped the thick carpet soundlessly, but he didn't let his fidgeting show. Weakness wasn't something you wanted Tokio to see. As a lawyer she spotted, used, and killed weakness. As a woman she was worse.
p
She thought about this for a moment, "What better cover than a wife who stays home to clean house, huh. No one would even suspect it."
p
"Exactly."
p
"What a bunch of bullshit. Must have been thought up by a bunch of guys."
p
Hiko was hurt. It was a flawless plan!
p
She continued on, "Of course housewives are suspect. They're the nosiest creatures on Earth. Locked in their little box houses with nothing to do for most of their day until they go insane with boredom. Then they take to spying on neighbors for lack of anything else to do. Then again, we're dealing with a man. Maybe it has merit."
p
"I fail…" He started indignantly, but she switched tactics and subjects on him suddenly. Tactics being that she was suddenly draped over his shoulder is a familiar manner and subjects being what came out of her mouth next.
p
"You don't want me to do this. Why don't you just admit it? Are you afraid that I'll be a target… or that my husband will catch my eye."
He grabbed her wrist so she couldn't back out of range and looked her in the eye making sure a smirk was firmly in place on his face, "Whoever said that?"
p
It was a low blow and the hurt on her face tore into him, but he had a thing for being right. It had gotten him in a fair share of trouble before and today seemed to be no exception. Except that this time was the worse thing he could have done.
p
She jerked back her hand and said coldly, "I see. Well, since you don't care about me then at least show some concern for your child."
p
bA/N:/b LMAO, you guys can't kill me X__X I know it was super short and a nasty cliffie, but it was fyyrrose's idea! And writing from Hiko's POV is EVIL.
p
iMy public, formal apology to Fyyrrose and Seta-sama (hmm, since I'm older than him should I stoop so low?): I, Eevee, do apology for the tasteless use of a faded and forgotten nickname (damn it, why did you remember it and what it stood for?) against Seta-sama. To call him FK (Freaky Kid), a nickname concocted last summer, is inexcusably derogatory. For which I have decided to call him MUY (Mentally Unstable Youth) instead. And if anyone protests I point to the nickname FKB (F-ing Kimono Boy), which is slur in every letter. For good measures I also apologize for calling Kanna CC (Creepy Child) and will now refer to her as, well, CC. Sincerely sorry (lay it on thick, oh yeah) I have offended anyone with my slight. Hey! You should be honored that he merited a nickname... shutting up now./i
p
uReviwers:/u
p
bWistful-Eyes:/b Too bad for who? LOL. Sano just can't make up his mind, can he? As for your thought, that would explain many things about Hoji (I keep thinking about hooking vamp. Hoji with a Mancatcher, he'd like that X__X). Hot lips yes. I bet it would be quite interesting ^^;;;; Probably painful too, but you know, you take what you're given if it's quite possibly for the last time ^__^ And geez don't I sound chipper about that?
p
bFyyrrose:/b LMAO, well, Alex would be this strange mixture between Kaoru and Kamatari... Mom would be this Tokio... Dad would be a mix between Aoshi and Saitoh... Jack would be Okina! No, I'm kidding. He'd be like Chou ^___^ My family can be hell, but at least I don't have to put up with them all the time. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. I got a warning for a out headlight once. And all that crap with the registration. Hey, you came up with Seta's power to raise the dead, is it my fault that I used it against Hiko? Besides, you made a jab at him in Cat Fight too. Hey, I'm working on it. *grumbles*. I never said there was. I like Malcolm in the Middle better though. Dewy ^^ Sano as backup, yes, like a bull in a pen. I can see him turning off his pagers because it upsets his throwing concentration at the die tables X__X
p
bMissBehavin:/b Yes, they were seeing the other side for a moment there. Yes, and poking the Wolf doesn't go over too well either. Yup, and such a lovely reaction huh. Sano's too fun to manipulate!
p
beriesalia:/b Sano will get some more =] I feel bad for what I did to the poor boy in Drifter. Mwahaha, and Kamatari is just flat out fun ^__~
p
Hiko stared at his girlfriend waiting for a reaction. He really, really didn't want her to do this. It wasn't that he was just jealous, or that the lucky fellow who she would be partnered with would get what he'd always wanted. This was dangerous, and not playing around. She was a lawyer. Of course, she had basic training, but that wasn't enough. Yet he was screwed if he made any implication that she couldn't handle it.
p
Damn if I do, damn if I don't, he mused to himself.
p
He usually didn't have problems like these. He was a man who made up his mind and stuck with it. While not exactly a slow learner, he was rather set in his ways. It took a long time for him to recognize that Tokio was sometimes not so steady. How could she be? She wasn't him.
p
Just don't do anything to shove her away, he reminded himself. Past experience dictated that if he forbid or disapproved of it she was ninety-nine percent more likely to do the opposite. Vexing, very vexing.
p
After a short pause of considering his statement, Tokio looked up with that guarded look. Hiko hated that look. It never meant any good. Even worse, it meant she was actually considering the mission.
p
"Go on." She said neutrally.
p
"This is seriously a threat to national security. We have partnered up with in Shinsengumi on this," He gave a wry smile at that. He wasn't sure what sort of connection she had with that group, but she always gave a start whenever someone mentioned them. He didn't like secrets, and one way or another he'd find out hers. "Your partner, or rather husband, is one of their top agents. Not as good as me of course, but he knows his stuff."
p
"This entails?"
p
Damn, he hated when she went into two-word mode. The signs weren't adding up prettily; she was seriously considering this. He just didn't know how to dissuade her of such a foolish notion without it backfiring in his face.
p
"What did I just tell you?" He growled falling back on his arrogant behavior subconsciously. It wasn't something he controlled, and he didn't even realize that he did it sometimes. "You'll be his wife. That's your job."
p
"Undercover then."
p
"Yes, you will play homemaker in a situation where you can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity." Hiko said, not wanting to fill in the details. He shoe tapped the thick carpet soundlessly, but he didn't let his fidgeting show. Weakness wasn't something you wanted Tokio to see. As a lawyer she spotted, used, and killed weakness. As a woman she was worse.
p
She thought about this for a moment, "What better cover than a wife who stays home to clean house, huh. No one would even suspect it."
p
"Exactly."
p
"What a bunch of bullshit. Must have been thought up by a bunch of guys."
p
Hiko was hurt. It was a flawless plan!
p
She continued on, "Of course housewives are suspect. They're the nosiest creatures on Earth. Locked in their little box houses with nothing to do for most of their day until they go insane with boredom. Then they take to spying on neighbors for lack of anything else to do. Then again, we're dealing with a man. Maybe it has merit."
p
"I fail…" He started indignantly, but she switched tactics and subjects on him suddenly. Tactics being that she was suddenly draped over his shoulder is a familiar manner and subjects being what came out of her mouth next.
p
"You don't want me to do this. Why don't you just admit it? Are you afraid that I'll be a target… or that my husband will catch my eye."
He grabbed her wrist so she couldn't back out of range and looked her in the eye making sure a smirk was firmly in place on his face, "Whoever said that?"
p
It was a low blow and the hurt on her face tore into him, but he had a thing for being right. It had gotten him in a fair share of trouble before and today seemed to be no exception. Except that this time was the worse thing he could have done.
p
She jerked back her hand and said coldly, "I see. Well, since you don't care about me then at least show some concern for your child."
p
bA/N:/b LMAO, you guys can't kill me X__X I know it was super short and a nasty cliffie, but it was fyyrrose's idea! And writing from Hiko's POV is EVIL.
p
iMy public, formal apology to Fyyrrose and Seta-sama (hmm, since I'm older than him should I stoop so low?): I, Eevee, do apology for the tasteless use of a faded and forgotten nickname (damn it, why did you remember it and what it stood for?) against Seta-sama. To call him FK (Freaky Kid), a nickname concocted last summer, is inexcusably derogatory. For which I have decided to call him MUY (Mentally Unstable Youth) instead. And if anyone protests I point to the nickname FKB (F-ing Kimono Boy), which is slur in every letter. For good measures I also apologize for calling Kanna CC (Creepy Child) and will now refer to her as, well, CC. Sincerely sorry (lay it on thick, oh yeah) I have offended anyone with my slight. Hey! You should be honored that he merited a nickname... shutting up now./i
p
uReviwers:/u
p
bWistful-Eyes:/b Too bad for who? LOL. Sano just can't make up his mind, can he? As for your thought, that would explain many things about Hoji (I keep thinking about hooking vamp. Hoji with a Mancatcher, he'd like that X__X). Hot lips yes. I bet it would be quite interesting ^^;;;; Probably painful too, but you know, you take what you're given if it's quite possibly for the last time ^__^ And geez don't I sound chipper about that?
p
bFyyrrose:/b LMAO, well, Alex would be this strange mixture between Kaoru and Kamatari... Mom would be this Tokio... Dad would be a mix between Aoshi and Saitoh... Jack would be Okina! No, I'm kidding. He'd be like Chou ^___^ My family can be hell, but at least I don't have to put up with them all the time. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. I got a warning for a out headlight once. And all that crap with the registration. Hey, you came up with Seta's power to raise the dead, is it my fault that I used it against Hiko? Besides, you made a jab at him in Cat Fight too. Hey, I'm working on it. *grumbles*. I never said there was. I like Malcolm in the Middle better though. Dewy ^^ Sano as backup, yes, like a bull in a pen. I can see him turning off his pagers because it upsets his throwing concentration at the die tables X__X
p
bMissBehavin:/b Yes, they were seeing the other side for a moment there. Yes, and poking the Wolf doesn't go over too well either. Yup, and such a lovely reaction huh. Sano's too fun to manipulate!
p
beriesalia:/b Sano will get some more =] I feel bad for what I did to the poor boy in Drifter. Mwahaha, and Kamatari is just flat out fun ^__~