Chapter Nine
"Why are you hanging around Moron? Did you learn nothing earlier."
"Just 'cuz." In honesty, Sano had absolutely no idea why he was there provoking the further attentions of the man.
He knew he wanted to see who was sent although whether for the chick's protection or Saitoh's he didn't know. While Saitoh was the most capable, and something he'd never admit out loud admirable, man he knew, he was severely lacking when it came to the opposite sex. Not to sound perverted, but Saitoh, in the eyes of a chick of course, was hot or sexy. Take your pick. It was his attitude that was off-putting.
Not that the man seemed to mind at all. Sano would like to think that he just hadn't met someone worth is attention yet.
They had a strange relationship to say the least. For all the name calling and distain Saitoh really didn't think Sano was a moron. Or Sano hoped anyway. He was always pushing the younger man to do better and shoving him away from harmful things. It was a strange combination of an aloof older brother and a driving father.
Heh, just so long as he keeps his nose out of my love life, Sano snickered to himself earning a sharp, piercing glance. Sharper than usual. Sano considered that then grinned like a fool. The great Wolf was nervous! This was great. Too bad Kamatari wimped out, for look what he was missing!
"So, ready to meet your blushing bride?" Sano teased.
"Hn."
"That's not an answer it's a noise. So out with it."
"This is a mission. While your sex-crazed, hormone-driven mind cannot seem to comprehend that fact I had no trouble understanding."
"Are you at least hoping she's attractive?" Sano pressed and Saitoh stiffened. Following the older man's keen gaze Sano stifled a giggle of surprise. This was about to get very interesting, and most likely hilarious. Kamatari wouldn't be pleased to get this second-hand!
"You." Tokio said stopping just shy of a yard. Her eyes were fixed on Saitoh, but Megumi, who was hanging off on hip like an oversized ornament, waved at Sano.
"This is the best they have?" Saitoh said cuttingly.
Tokio gave a nasty smirk, "Hardly, but I doubt the Battousai would make a good wife."
"I don't know because he looks pretty girly to me." Sano snickered, but shut up when dual looks were shot his way. "Hey, that doesn't mean he's not a great guy or whatever!" Sano said defensively.
"I don't know if we can live with you for however long it takes." Tokio groaned rolling her eyes expressively. Sano smirked and remarked, "Now you know what drives me to drink."
"If you don't think you can do it then send someone who can." Saitoh said shortly.
Tokio released Megumi and she jumped on Sano. He hoisted her up on his back and said in a conspirator whisper, "So, who do you think will lose this testy display of who can be the bigger ass?"
"Sano," Megumi chided, "Put your money where your mouth is."
He choked in surprised and realized that he was in some serious trouble. If she'd been picking up stuff like that and spewing it out at random… shit! He was so dead. Maybe if he were lucky Tokio would be so busy with her cold husband that she wouldn't remember. Not bloody likely. He was doomed, utterly doomed.
"Okay then, I'll bet you a penny Saitoh comes out on top. I've never seen a man so harsh and focused. You taking me up?"
She gave a devilish smile and remarked, "You're on Rooster head. Mister Wolf doesn't stand a chance against Mommy. You'll see."
Ah the confidence of youth. Then why did Sano suddenly feel like he'd been duped and was now ready to pay up? If a six year old could outsmart him no wonder his money floated out of his grasp.
Memo to myself: stop gambling because it's not paying off. He chuckled a bit at that. Swearing off gambling was like Saitoh saying no to a cigarette. Not going to happen anytime soon, if ever.
"I never said that I wouldn't or couldn't do it. I just didn't envision myself living with you." Tokio retorted, "But even your caustic attitude won't make a difference. You need to learn to respect a woman on a mission. Otherwise, all I have to say is these boots are made for walking."
"And they're going to walk all over you." Megumi chimed in and suddenly Sano realized that maybe he wasn't the only bad influence on the child.
"Hn." Saitoh remarked narrowing his eyes so that they were almost slits. "Why the child."
"You think I'm going to let her out of my sight while I'm gone? Besides, it will look more authentic considering our ages. You're what? In your late thirties by now, and I'm in my early thirties."
Sano choked. How old was the Wolf anyway? Now that would be priceless if she could weasel it out of him. The young man hadn't ever really heard anything personal about the lean, dangerous man that insisted on putting up barriers. He didn't know something as mundane as Saitoh's favorite color even.
"Thirty five." Saitoh admitted grudgingly and Tokio gave a small smile, "Thirty two. Not too bad a match then."
"Aw, a bonding session." Sano smirked. His mind didn't usually fly to such matchmaking tendencies, but he couldn't help noticing that not only did they look a nice couple, in more than one way. They also we well matched in wit and sharp tongues. Ouch. Sano could testify to that.
"Shut up." Megumi said rapping him on the head lightly, "You're interrupting. That's rude."
"Bossy little thing aren't you? Just like your mother." Sano earned two poisoned glares and an amused smirk for that comment. He slid Megumi down and frowned, "Well, I'm off."
"You actually going to earn some money?" Tokio said in revenge and he made a gesture over his heart, "I'm hurt! You think so little of my economical prowess."
"Exactly the opposite. I'm sure you took Mooching 101 in high school and got an A plus." Tokio replied breezily.
He waved a hand over his shoulder, all his fears laid to rest. In fact, he was regretting he would miss all the fireworks. Maybe Megumi could be introduced to a little thing called gossip.
Kamatari materialized out of some tucked away corner with a bag slung over his slight shoulder. He cocked an inquisitive eye at Sano.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm ready okay? I just wanted to make sure Saitoh didn't totally turn his bride into a mass of quivering jello. You and I know he's gentle as a lamb when it suits him, but have you ever seen him with a woman?" Kamatari gave a guarded look, "Me neither. But it's cool."
"How's that?"
"Oh, just our favorite lawyer is giving the Wolf tit-for-tat." Sano said nonchalantly. Kamatari followed to his dorm and Sano invited him in after second. They would be partners in this after all. No need for trust games, but a bit of common courtesy might go a ways. "Apparently Tokio is posing as his wife and Meg is supposedly his kid. Isn't that great? You missed it. She even got him to admit something personal. Damn, I've been trying to do that since… well, forever."
"Uh-huh, forever." Sano rolled his eyes at that little smart interjection, "But you're right, I missed out. You can hang around him; he at least likes you. Me, well, let's just say I'll be feeling the blunt of his wrath every time I so much as breath."
"It's not like he didn't beat me within an inch of my life too." Sano complained good-natured. "I'm just a bit more hardy. Don't be jealous, that's no way for us to get along right?"
Kamatari rewarded his efforts with a faint smile.
"So you're taking this serious finally?" He inquired suddenly sunny. Sano eyed him with reserves. No male had mood swings like those.
He shoved all sorts of weird, personal thoughts out of his head and ran a hand through his spiky, brown hair, "Sure, why wouldn't I? Wouldn't want to fuck this up right?"
"No, definitely wouldn't want to fuck this up." Kamatari echoed vaguely as the two made their way out. Sano locked the door and shrugged. "Ready?"
"Let's rock and roll."
A/N: *grins* it's nice to have a ton of pre-made chapters for this. I can just pop 'em up. And yes, I know that I'm supposed to update BSR today, but I really should eat breakfast and do homework so I'll slap it up thursday morning [early; like 4:30 am] before I got out of town.
MissBehavin: First off, let me say this: BEWARE. Good Lord, fyyrrose has gotten ahold of PMK and is preparing an arsenial -__- How do I know? Because she keeps giving me updates and I now know [between her and SL] who 'Puppy-chan' is and what the poor guy looks like. It'd be much easier if I didn't have dial up, then I could see it myself. Wow, this showed up a bit, er, late. Sorry. Yes, another little quirk for the ferr- er, weasel ^^ So what does this say for Sano? I'm not sure I want to know, but what exactly is a PITA? I gather its not a nice insult... *starts laughing* Oh yes, Soujirou could kick his tail so hard, but when has that ever stopped the man from his goals? Shoot, sledgehammer might work a tiny bit better! Or not O__O Actually, it depends on if you can swing one. Oh, and guess what? Mwahaha, South beware because here I come for Spring Break! Savannah ^________^ Do you read manga? Raenef in Demon Diary did EXACTLY what I wanted to do since I first saw Ecilpse. Geez, I have such romantic impulses
-__-
"Why are you hanging around Moron? Did you learn nothing earlier."
"Just 'cuz." In honesty, Sano had absolutely no idea why he was there provoking the further attentions of the man.
He knew he wanted to see who was sent although whether for the chick's protection or Saitoh's he didn't know. While Saitoh was the most capable, and something he'd never admit out loud admirable, man he knew, he was severely lacking when it came to the opposite sex. Not to sound perverted, but Saitoh, in the eyes of a chick of course, was hot or sexy. Take your pick. It was his attitude that was off-putting.
Not that the man seemed to mind at all. Sano would like to think that he just hadn't met someone worth is attention yet.
They had a strange relationship to say the least. For all the name calling and distain Saitoh really didn't think Sano was a moron. Or Sano hoped anyway. He was always pushing the younger man to do better and shoving him away from harmful things. It was a strange combination of an aloof older brother and a driving father.
Heh, just so long as he keeps his nose out of my love life, Sano snickered to himself earning a sharp, piercing glance. Sharper than usual. Sano considered that then grinned like a fool. The great Wolf was nervous! This was great. Too bad Kamatari wimped out, for look what he was missing!
"So, ready to meet your blushing bride?" Sano teased.
"Hn."
"That's not an answer it's a noise. So out with it."
"This is a mission. While your sex-crazed, hormone-driven mind cannot seem to comprehend that fact I had no trouble understanding."
"Are you at least hoping she's attractive?" Sano pressed and Saitoh stiffened. Following the older man's keen gaze Sano stifled a giggle of surprise. This was about to get very interesting, and most likely hilarious. Kamatari wouldn't be pleased to get this second-hand!
"You." Tokio said stopping just shy of a yard. Her eyes were fixed on Saitoh, but Megumi, who was hanging off on hip like an oversized ornament, waved at Sano.
"This is the best they have?" Saitoh said cuttingly.
Tokio gave a nasty smirk, "Hardly, but I doubt the Battousai would make a good wife."
"I don't know because he looks pretty girly to me." Sano snickered, but shut up when dual looks were shot his way. "Hey, that doesn't mean he's not a great guy or whatever!" Sano said defensively.
"I don't know if we can live with you for however long it takes." Tokio groaned rolling her eyes expressively. Sano smirked and remarked, "Now you know what drives me to drink."
"If you don't think you can do it then send someone who can." Saitoh said shortly.
Tokio released Megumi and she jumped on Sano. He hoisted her up on his back and said in a conspirator whisper, "So, who do you think will lose this testy display of who can be the bigger ass?"
"Sano," Megumi chided, "Put your money where your mouth is."
He choked in surprised and realized that he was in some serious trouble. If she'd been picking up stuff like that and spewing it out at random… shit! He was so dead. Maybe if he were lucky Tokio would be so busy with her cold husband that she wouldn't remember. Not bloody likely. He was doomed, utterly doomed.
"Okay then, I'll bet you a penny Saitoh comes out on top. I've never seen a man so harsh and focused. You taking me up?"
She gave a devilish smile and remarked, "You're on Rooster head. Mister Wolf doesn't stand a chance against Mommy. You'll see."
Ah the confidence of youth. Then why did Sano suddenly feel like he'd been duped and was now ready to pay up? If a six year old could outsmart him no wonder his money floated out of his grasp.
Memo to myself: stop gambling because it's not paying off. He chuckled a bit at that. Swearing off gambling was like Saitoh saying no to a cigarette. Not going to happen anytime soon, if ever.
"I never said that I wouldn't or couldn't do it. I just didn't envision myself living with you." Tokio retorted, "But even your caustic attitude won't make a difference. You need to learn to respect a woman on a mission. Otherwise, all I have to say is these boots are made for walking."
"And they're going to walk all over you." Megumi chimed in and suddenly Sano realized that maybe he wasn't the only bad influence on the child.
"Hn." Saitoh remarked narrowing his eyes so that they were almost slits. "Why the child."
"You think I'm going to let her out of my sight while I'm gone? Besides, it will look more authentic considering our ages. You're what? In your late thirties by now, and I'm in my early thirties."
Sano choked. How old was the Wolf anyway? Now that would be priceless if she could weasel it out of him. The young man hadn't ever really heard anything personal about the lean, dangerous man that insisted on putting up barriers. He didn't know something as mundane as Saitoh's favorite color even.
"Thirty five." Saitoh admitted grudgingly and Tokio gave a small smile, "Thirty two. Not too bad a match then."
"Aw, a bonding session." Sano smirked. His mind didn't usually fly to such matchmaking tendencies, but he couldn't help noticing that not only did they look a nice couple, in more than one way. They also we well matched in wit and sharp tongues. Ouch. Sano could testify to that.
"Shut up." Megumi said rapping him on the head lightly, "You're interrupting. That's rude."
"Bossy little thing aren't you? Just like your mother." Sano earned two poisoned glares and an amused smirk for that comment. He slid Megumi down and frowned, "Well, I'm off."
"You actually going to earn some money?" Tokio said in revenge and he made a gesture over his heart, "I'm hurt! You think so little of my economical prowess."
"Exactly the opposite. I'm sure you took Mooching 101 in high school and got an A plus." Tokio replied breezily.
He waved a hand over his shoulder, all his fears laid to rest. In fact, he was regretting he would miss all the fireworks. Maybe Megumi could be introduced to a little thing called gossip.
Kamatari materialized out of some tucked away corner with a bag slung over his slight shoulder. He cocked an inquisitive eye at Sano.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm ready okay? I just wanted to make sure Saitoh didn't totally turn his bride into a mass of quivering jello. You and I know he's gentle as a lamb when it suits him, but have you ever seen him with a woman?" Kamatari gave a guarded look, "Me neither. But it's cool."
"How's that?"
"Oh, just our favorite lawyer is giving the Wolf tit-for-tat." Sano said nonchalantly. Kamatari followed to his dorm and Sano invited him in after second. They would be partners in this after all. No need for trust games, but a bit of common courtesy might go a ways. "Apparently Tokio is posing as his wife and Meg is supposedly his kid. Isn't that great? You missed it. She even got him to admit something personal. Damn, I've been trying to do that since… well, forever."
"Uh-huh, forever." Sano rolled his eyes at that little smart interjection, "But you're right, I missed out. You can hang around him; he at least likes you. Me, well, let's just say I'll be feeling the blunt of his wrath every time I so much as breath."
"It's not like he didn't beat me within an inch of my life too." Sano complained good-natured. "I'm just a bit more hardy. Don't be jealous, that's no way for us to get along right?"
Kamatari rewarded his efforts with a faint smile.
"So you're taking this serious finally?" He inquired suddenly sunny. Sano eyed him with reserves. No male had mood swings like those.
He shoved all sorts of weird, personal thoughts out of his head and ran a hand through his spiky, brown hair, "Sure, why wouldn't I? Wouldn't want to fuck this up right?"
"No, definitely wouldn't want to fuck this up." Kamatari echoed vaguely as the two made their way out. Sano locked the door and shrugged. "Ready?"
"Let's rock and roll."
A/N: *grins* it's nice to have a ton of pre-made chapters for this. I can just pop 'em up. And yes, I know that I'm supposed to update BSR today, but I really should eat breakfast and do homework so I'll slap it up thursday morning [early; like 4:30 am] before I got out of town.
MissBehavin: First off, let me say this: BEWARE. Good Lord, fyyrrose has gotten ahold of PMK and is preparing an arsenial -__- How do I know? Because she keeps giving me updates and I now know [between her and SL] who 'Puppy-chan' is and what the poor guy looks like. It'd be much easier if I didn't have dial up, then I could see it myself. Wow, this showed up a bit, er, late. Sorry. Yes, another little quirk for the ferr- er, weasel ^^ So what does this say for Sano? I'm not sure I want to know, but what exactly is a PITA? I gather its not a nice insult... *starts laughing* Oh yes, Soujirou could kick his tail so hard, but when has that ever stopped the man from his goals? Shoot, sledgehammer might work a tiny bit better! Or not O__O Actually, it depends on if you can swing one. Oh, and guess what? Mwahaha, South beware because here I come for Spring Break! Savannah ^________^ Do you read manga? Raenef in Demon Diary did EXACTLY what I wanted to do since I first saw Ecilpse. Geez, I have such romantic impulses
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