Chapter Eleven
Kenshin relaxed when the stranger disappeared from sight. Megumi had turned around and he thought she might be muttering to herself about nosy neighbors.
Sinking back into his hiding place he wondered how he ended up in this mess. Well, he didn't really have to wonder. The cause could be summed up in one word: Hiko.
He thought back to that fun trip:
'Stupid student I have a task for you.'
'Yes Master?'
'I want you to watch over Tokio and Megumi during their mission. I don't trust those Shinsengumi.'
'B-but Master!'
'What, not good enough? Do as you are told boy!'
'Master, if Miss Tokio catches me… and I'm not a spy. What about my missions?'
'You leaving things like that to people with enough brainpower to think about them.'
Kenshin groaned. He needed to learn to say no. One simple word that would save him a ton of trouble and grief.
He was certain this had less to do with the pair's safety and more to do with the fact that Hiko was a jealous man. And the two of them hadn't exactly parted on civil terms. In fact, if Miss Kaoru hadn't shoved him in there it might have gotten a whole lot uglier. He was actually surprised Tokio had told Hiko about his daughter at all. He must have really said something to piss her off.
"This unworthy one is an idiot, that he is." Kenshin muttered to himself. It would be bad if Tokio found him out here, but it would be far worse if Saitoh did. The unfinished business between them would be sparked and that was the last thing that was needed. A deadly fight in Shishio's backyard was hardly wise. In fact, it was downright stupid.
"You're even more of an idiot to be caught." Tokio stated and he almost fell out of the tree. She watched as he regained his balance.
"I…"
"You were sent by Hiko to spy, weren't you? As you can see we have a happy," Eyes narrowing, "Healthy," Voice dropping, "Home."
"That you do." Kenshin didn't comment on the stranger lurking at the fence. "Saitoh is a fine husband."
Her eyed him sharply, "He's certainly no worse than what I've been dealing with for the past seven years."
Touché.
Oh yes, Hiko was in some deep stuff now. Especially if Tokio was saying she preferred Saitoh's company at the moment.
Try a different tact then.
"Would you permit this unworthy one to keep watch at least?" That was as close to begging as he was going to get. Maybe he should ask Megumi about those puppy-eyes. As much as he wanted to stay in his Master's good graces, he wanted to make sure they were safe as well. Saitoh was competent, but he was hardly compassionate or sympathetic. Something Kenshin had to learn over time at a great price.
Tokio sighed, "How much do you know about this? It's not like we're here all alone."
"Saitoh just returned the van, that he did."
"That's true, but not entirely valid. Just because he's not here doesn't mean there aren't others around. The Shinsengumi are far more equip to handle these things than we are. They already have an inside man." Tokio said slowly. The way she said it made him think that it was one of Megumi's former caretakers.
"Then you are safe, but I would feel better if you allowed me to stay in my spare time." I might have lots of that, Kenshin thought to himself. Hiko was most likely going to want a detailed report, and while Kenshin didn't want to lie he certainly wasn't going to report their conversation word-for-word. That would be disastrous!
"Mommy!" Megumi came running around the house with something in her arms. Whatever it was looked worse for wear. Paws were dangling limply and the head lolled. Megumi skidded to a halt with tearful eyes, "Kenny? Mommy! These mean boys were kicking this puppy. He looks really bad!"
Before Tokio could move Kenshin had knelt down to examine the canine. He noticed right away that there were burn marks over the poor thing's slight, frail body and that deep gashes that looked like they had been inflicted by a knife were gouged in its sides. The fur might have been a light gray color, or it might just be all the soot and dirty that coated the little beast. Floppy ears were nicked and the tail had been unnaturally bobbed, probably with a rubber band.
"Where are those boys?" Tokio asked grimly as her dark eyes swept over the pained canine.
"They ran away when I yelled at them." Megumi said simply.
Tokio sighed heavily, "Megumi please don't do things like that! You always seem to forget you are a little girl. Not everyone is as nice as Sano or Kamatari. There are lots of bad people out there."
"But they were hurting him!" Megumi protested hotly and Tokio engulfed her in a hug. "How can I stop bad things if I'm just a quiet, little girl? It was like that bad man by the back fence. I told him if he didn't go away Daddy would shoot him."
"Daddy?" "What bad man?"
Megumi sighed in exasperation and with a typical child's rational decided to spell it out for the slow adults.
"Mommy and Mr. Wolf asked me to call him Daddy while we stay here." She informed Kenshin and he choked. The thought of Saitoh as a father was daunting to say the least. Megumi calling him Daddy was just plain mind-blowing. But it did make sense since they were supposed to be a family.
She turned to Tokio, shifting the dog so that it wasn't caught in between their bodies and said earnestly, "You were putting away the dishes and this bad man was out back. I wouldn't have gone over, but my ball bounced away from me."
"What did he look like?" Tokio said hugging the child closer.
"He was really tall and skinny, almost like Daddy. He had a bandanna tied around his eyes like he couldn't see or something, but he didn't have a cane." Megumi paused gathering her thoughts, "Black hair and a mustache. I don't remember, but he was a bad man!"
"Kenshin." Tokio said sharply, "Were you planning to tell me about this? Now I see why you were so eager to stay. I need to know these things. That was one of Shishio's men, one of his more dangerous ones and he was in my backyard with my daughter. I know your abilities are phenomenal, but would you risk her life on that?"
Kenshin winced, "No Miss Tokio; I would not."
"He went away." Megumi said with proud determination, "He was trying to ask things, but I just told him to leave."
"Good idea." Tokio muttered and looked at her daughter. The dog in the girl's arms squirmed and whimpered. She gently took the creature and asked, "Can you run it to the vet? I think Megumi just got herself a dog."
"Certainly Miss Tokio." Kenshin said accepting the light bundle gracefully. He considered for a moment before adding, "I will be back later since you haven't forbidden me. Please inform Saitoh so that he doesn't take my intrusion the wrong way."
"I might just do that." Tokio said with a half smile, "But I must warn you, we've been married for half a day and he still doesn't listen to me."
A/N: Honey, I'm home! Okay, after a s- bus ride and feeling rather homicidal about the stupid dsl I rehooked up dial up so I could upload this for y'all! Don't say I don't do things for you guys.
Wistful-Eyes: My, my, aren't we a little blood thirsty?
MissBehavin: Which scares you more? Kamatari doing an inside job or Sano as his back up? Usui isn't the brightest bulb I'm afraid. Cats and ferrets are the ones that attack. Dogs are nice (mostly). Tokio has my best wishes with her endeavor!
Fyyrrose: You need to stay away from angrybee. He is all fem. except for the voice, I swear! Even putting his hair up didn't help. Even going psycho and knocking Tetsu through a wall didn't change it. I'll get to 15 okay? As soon as the blankity blank beep @#$@#% DSL works.
Kenshin relaxed when the stranger disappeared from sight. Megumi had turned around and he thought she might be muttering to herself about nosy neighbors.
Sinking back into his hiding place he wondered how he ended up in this mess. Well, he didn't really have to wonder. The cause could be summed up in one word: Hiko.
He thought back to that fun trip:
'Stupid student I have a task for you.'
'Yes Master?'
'I want you to watch over Tokio and Megumi during their mission. I don't trust those Shinsengumi.'
'B-but Master!'
'What, not good enough? Do as you are told boy!'
'Master, if Miss Tokio catches me… and I'm not a spy. What about my missions?'
'You leaving things like that to people with enough brainpower to think about them.'
Kenshin groaned. He needed to learn to say no. One simple word that would save him a ton of trouble and grief.
He was certain this had less to do with the pair's safety and more to do with the fact that Hiko was a jealous man. And the two of them hadn't exactly parted on civil terms. In fact, if Miss Kaoru hadn't shoved him in there it might have gotten a whole lot uglier. He was actually surprised Tokio had told Hiko about his daughter at all. He must have really said something to piss her off.
"This unworthy one is an idiot, that he is." Kenshin muttered to himself. It would be bad if Tokio found him out here, but it would be far worse if Saitoh did. The unfinished business between them would be sparked and that was the last thing that was needed. A deadly fight in Shishio's backyard was hardly wise. In fact, it was downright stupid.
"You're even more of an idiot to be caught." Tokio stated and he almost fell out of the tree. She watched as he regained his balance.
"I…"
"You were sent by Hiko to spy, weren't you? As you can see we have a happy," Eyes narrowing, "Healthy," Voice dropping, "Home."
"That you do." Kenshin didn't comment on the stranger lurking at the fence. "Saitoh is a fine husband."
Her eyed him sharply, "He's certainly no worse than what I've been dealing with for the past seven years."
Touché.
Oh yes, Hiko was in some deep stuff now. Especially if Tokio was saying she preferred Saitoh's company at the moment.
Try a different tact then.
"Would you permit this unworthy one to keep watch at least?" That was as close to begging as he was going to get. Maybe he should ask Megumi about those puppy-eyes. As much as he wanted to stay in his Master's good graces, he wanted to make sure they were safe as well. Saitoh was competent, but he was hardly compassionate or sympathetic. Something Kenshin had to learn over time at a great price.
Tokio sighed, "How much do you know about this? It's not like we're here all alone."
"Saitoh just returned the van, that he did."
"That's true, but not entirely valid. Just because he's not here doesn't mean there aren't others around. The Shinsengumi are far more equip to handle these things than we are. They already have an inside man." Tokio said slowly. The way she said it made him think that it was one of Megumi's former caretakers.
"Then you are safe, but I would feel better if you allowed me to stay in my spare time." I might have lots of that, Kenshin thought to himself. Hiko was most likely going to want a detailed report, and while Kenshin didn't want to lie he certainly wasn't going to report their conversation word-for-word. That would be disastrous!
"Mommy!" Megumi came running around the house with something in her arms. Whatever it was looked worse for wear. Paws were dangling limply and the head lolled. Megumi skidded to a halt with tearful eyes, "Kenny? Mommy! These mean boys were kicking this puppy. He looks really bad!"
Before Tokio could move Kenshin had knelt down to examine the canine. He noticed right away that there were burn marks over the poor thing's slight, frail body and that deep gashes that looked like they had been inflicted by a knife were gouged in its sides. The fur might have been a light gray color, or it might just be all the soot and dirty that coated the little beast. Floppy ears were nicked and the tail had been unnaturally bobbed, probably with a rubber band.
"Where are those boys?" Tokio asked grimly as her dark eyes swept over the pained canine.
"They ran away when I yelled at them." Megumi said simply.
Tokio sighed heavily, "Megumi please don't do things like that! You always seem to forget you are a little girl. Not everyone is as nice as Sano or Kamatari. There are lots of bad people out there."
"But they were hurting him!" Megumi protested hotly and Tokio engulfed her in a hug. "How can I stop bad things if I'm just a quiet, little girl? It was like that bad man by the back fence. I told him if he didn't go away Daddy would shoot him."
"Daddy?" "What bad man?"
Megumi sighed in exasperation and with a typical child's rational decided to spell it out for the slow adults.
"Mommy and Mr. Wolf asked me to call him Daddy while we stay here." She informed Kenshin and he choked. The thought of Saitoh as a father was daunting to say the least. Megumi calling him Daddy was just plain mind-blowing. But it did make sense since they were supposed to be a family.
She turned to Tokio, shifting the dog so that it wasn't caught in between their bodies and said earnestly, "You were putting away the dishes and this bad man was out back. I wouldn't have gone over, but my ball bounced away from me."
"What did he look like?" Tokio said hugging the child closer.
"He was really tall and skinny, almost like Daddy. He had a bandanna tied around his eyes like he couldn't see or something, but he didn't have a cane." Megumi paused gathering her thoughts, "Black hair and a mustache. I don't remember, but he was a bad man!"
"Kenshin." Tokio said sharply, "Were you planning to tell me about this? Now I see why you were so eager to stay. I need to know these things. That was one of Shishio's men, one of his more dangerous ones and he was in my backyard with my daughter. I know your abilities are phenomenal, but would you risk her life on that?"
Kenshin winced, "No Miss Tokio; I would not."
"He went away." Megumi said with proud determination, "He was trying to ask things, but I just told him to leave."
"Good idea." Tokio muttered and looked at her daughter. The dog in the girl's arms squirmed and whimpered. She gently took the creature and asked, "Can you run it to the vet? I think Megumi just got herself a dog."
"Certainly Miss Tokio." Kenshin said accepting the light bundle gracefully. He considered for a moment before adding, "I will be back later since you haven't forbidden me. Please inform Saitoh so that he doesn't take my intrusion the wrong way."
"I might just do that." Tokio said with a half smile, "But I must warn you, we've been married for half a day and he still doesn't listen to me."
A/N: Honey, I'm home! Okay, after a s- bus ride and feeling rather homicidal about the stupid dsl I rehooked up dial up so I could upload this for y'all! Don't say I don't do things for you guys.
Wistful-Eyes: My, my, aren't we a little blood thirsty?
MissBehavin: Which scares you more? Kamatari doing an inside job or Sano as his back up? Usui isn't the brightest bulb I'm afraid. Cats and ferrets are the ones that attack. Dogs are nice (mostly). Tokio has my best wishes with her endeavor!
Fyyrrose: You need to stay away from angrybee. He is all fem. except for the voice, I swear! Even putting his hair up didn't help. Even going psycho and knocking Tetsu through a wall didn't change it. I'll get to 15 okay? As soon as the blankity blank beep @#$@#% DSL works.