Chapter Eighteen
Soujirou checked the urge to look around. The presence at his back was hardly friendly, but he could tolerate it. After all, he had higher standing; Shinomori wouldn't try something so blatantly obvious. Not with the forethought on the repercussions of his actions. The man was cautious about things like that. It was a trait that Soujirou was rather grateful for.
"Stalking me will get you nowhere." He addressed his unseen follower lightly. He didn't really expect a reply, and he didn't get one. The hostile gaze disappeared.
Soujirou grinned a bit wider. That was a point in his corner. Not that he was keeping score exactly. He wasn't sure what to think exactly. Aoshi had brought him in to watch Misao in the beginning. Yet ever since that mission that the Shinsengumi man Saitoh soured he had disappeared. Then he shows up in the last place on Earth Soujirou ever expected.
"Sou where'd you go? I thought we were going to the mall! That was at least fifteen minutes ago." Misao growled impatiently. No doubt she wanted to go browse the movie store. He was rather surprised the first time when she declined visiting Abercrombie and Banana Republic and made a beeline for the Suncoast. Apparently she would watch practically anything, but she especially loved old westerns. The girl was full of quirks.
"Ah, sorry. I had something to take care of real quick. I'm ready whenever you are." He said with a wide smile and rubbed the back of his head.
She shoved him, "I don't know if I am now. You took so long…"
"Very funny Misao." He chided, "We do need to go. My new manga was just released this week."
She made a face, "How can you read that junk?"
"How can you read Zane Grey or Louie L'amour?"
She blew a raspberry and ran ahead. He shook his head ruefully. She certainly had a very obvious, if effective, way of changing the subject when she wasn't winning.
"I won't hurt her the way you have, if that's what you are worried about Mister Shinomori." Soujirou addressed the shadow pacing him, "She was gravely disappointed when you left for a job with that drug dealer. Then you appear here unharmed and acting like nothing has happened. She doesn't understand."
"Do you?"
"No." He admitted and considered, "But I don't care either. Our contract has been terminated since that night when you broke it."
"Yet you continue."
"For Misao's sake. I wouldn't just abandon her like that." Soujirou retorted with a slight edge to his voice. He didn't say it, but his tone implied all there was to be said. 'I won't abandon her like you did. I won't break her heart like you did. I won't make the same mistakes that you did.'
"She is a strong young woman."
"Much stronger than you or I." Soujirou agreed. He nodded let his bangs fall in his face, "But unlike us she has fragile feelings and an idealistic approach to the world. We are a pair of jaded fools."
"Perhaps."
Maybe that would keep the man away this time. Soujirou was rather surprised he didn't ask any personal questions. He was expecting: What is your relationship? Well, that and some other things.
The rest of the trip to the mall was uneventful. It was a fairly nice day, which was good because Shishio didn't trust Soujirou with a car. Really, just because he ran into a ditch when being chased by some law enforcement didn't mean he couldn't do some good, defensive driving too. If the steer wheel hadn't locked up he wouldn't have skidded anyway.
They had just visited the food court and armed themselves with some Orange Julius and Cinnabuns when Misao suddenly stopped and stared across the aisle way. Soujirou tensed when he felt it, long before he saw what had caught her attention.
"Is that the guy…"
"Yes."
"The one who was fighting with the Battousai."
He nodded silently trying to decide if they should retreat or bluff it out. It was unlikely the man would remember them from before. Unlikely but still quite possible.
Grabbing Misao's arm he pulled her down to sit on a bench. She gave a startled yelp, but quickly muffled it. Her emerald eyes slid over towards the dangerous man.
The child, who Soujirou hadn't noticed before but immediately recognized, said something that made the sharp gaze drop down. The lean man listened then looked up with narrowed, searching eyes. They flickered towards the pair, but moved on.
"Did he spot us?" Misao whispered, unconsciously pressing closer.
Soujirou reluctantly maintained the remaining distance. He wanted to assure her, but hanging all over her wasn't exactly a way he think she'd enjoy or tolerate. She might not smack or throw her hot cinnamon bun at him, but she really didn't have to. He wasn't sure she knew that.
"I don't think we were what he was looking for." Soujirou replied. He wasn't going to lie. They had most certainly been spotted. How could they have not been? "See? He's looking over there…"
Misao frowned, "That's that guy who dresses like a girl."
Soujirou had to admit that there was only one person he knew like that. Sure enough, Kamatari was decked out as usual, even in such a public place, and he had some poor sucker in tow carrying boxes.
Soujirou almost felt sorry for the grunt. He had gone shopping with Kamatari before.
"Maybe we should just go." She suggested brushing crumbs off her lap as she stood up.
He frowned and protested, "But we haven't been to Suncoast yet. I know you want to go." They had stopped in Brentanos first thing because his paper had covered her rock. In fact, his purchases were securely dangling from his left hand.
"I think we should just go. Who knows who else might show up." She persisted.
"You're not—you're worried about that guy, aren't you?"
"A little." She admitted, "He gives me the creeps."
Soujirou couldn't resist, "More than Usui?"
She made a gagging sound, "Yuck! I tell you there is something really wrong with that guy! He must makes my skin want to crawl away and hide in some corner."
"You would look funny without skin."
"Disgusting." Misao retorted with her nose crinkled in disgust, "I'd be all muscles and bone."
"But no fat?"
She placed her hands on her hips in mock severity and thundered, "Are you calling me fat Smiley? I'll have you know that I'm petite and slender and perfect. Plus, I don't pour junk down my throat like some people do."
"You look perfect." He remarked sincerely and she flushed. He wasn't sure why since he was only telling the truth.
Battling away her embarrassment, she shot off the counter tease a few moments too late, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! So what does that say about your eyesight?"
"That I have 20/20 vision and beauty radar?" He suggested earning around punch to the shoulder.
As they exited the mall he glanced over his shoulder. Kamatari was speaking to that dangerous man. Kamatari was speaking to Hajime Saitoh. An interesting thing.
It was possible that the cross-dresser was simply being his friendly, out going self, but if so why pick someone who was so obviously dangerous?
It all seemed to tie back into the child.
Didn't Usui mention that the family that moved into that vacant house had a child? A little girl who was elementary school age. It was a huge leap of logic to assume that a Shinsengumi member had moved in with his family right under their noses, yet it was also something that Usui would find irresistibly ironic. That he knew the threat was there, hinted at it, and yet he did nothing to aid or provide more than a clue.
"Could you hang on a sec.?" Misao asked pointing to a small gas station. Before he could asked she mouthed, "Girl stuff." And dashed in.
He loitered in front thinking of nothing in particular. Ideas were rolling around in his head, but his thoughts seemed determined to circle back to Misao. Where did he stand with her now that Aoshi had reentered the picture? She had locked him out of the bathroom for a good five hours then she came out like nothing was wrong being her happy, cheery self with the quick temper.
"Good hunting?" Kamatari asked with amusement in his lit voice. His conquests were firmly in the grip of the spiky haired man beside him.
Soujirou held up the bag.
"Uggh, books. Sou, darling, you need to buy some new clothing. Really, the way you're dressed at the moment makes you look like a suit. You should try wearing jeans some time or a sloppy sweatshirt. Like Sano here." He said jerking his head towards the now glowering youth, "Although, he doesn't take very good care of his clothing."
"I have better things to do than my laundry." The man grumbled low in his throat. Even though his words were offensive his tone said something else. Soujirou wondered what sort of tie they had. It was almost like a relationship.
Misao bounded out and stopped short with an annoyed frown.
"Have you met Kamatari yet?" Soujirou asked. He didn't think he had introduced the two of them before. Kamatari had been rather elusive since he returned when called. It might be interesting to see what he had been up to.
"We have met Sou." Kamatari grinned good-natured and dodged the flying bag. He picked it up and tossed it back underhanded. "Miss Misao had a bit of a mix up when she first saw me. Naturally I had to correct her."
"That was more than I wanted to see." Sano grumbled again making the boxes and bags tremble. At the same time Misao blurted out red in the face with mortification and anger, "You didn't have to flash me! Telling would have been nice!"
"Ah, but what's the fun in that? If I had told you, would you have believed me without proof? After all, how many men do you know that dress up like women by choice and then parade it?" Kamatari chided putting his index finger to his lips, which were curled up smugly at the edges. Then he turned to his companion, "You could see a lot more than that if you wanted to."
"That's it. I'm not your slave, your whipping boy, your sex toy, or your maid!" The one called Sano bellowed tossing packages everywhere. He balled up his fists challengingly, "Fight me."
"Ah, but I would have to use my chain, now wouldn't I? I know you're fists are quite dangerous."
Soujirou opened his mouth to say something when Misao jumped fearlessly in between the pair. She was bristled and ready to tear into both at the same time. Not an unusual state for her to be in. Just something she usually didn't unleash on strangers.
"You two can't brawl right here! What are you? Go find a bar or something!"
"Hey Weasel, you need to chill out. I wasn't going to hurt the little punk or anything. He just pisses me off. A lot. And now that I think about it you're kind of annoying too." Sano protested.
"He wouldn't hurt me. He loved me far too much for that." Kamatari smirked and picked up a Limited bag carefully righting the contents.
"Sure I do. I would love to beat your smart mouth down if I could." The young man snapped shoving his hands deep in his pockets and looking away.
Kamatari gave a half smile at his companion's antics before turning to Soujirou, "May I speak to you in private?"
Soujirou looked over at Misao and Sano who were engaged in a hot argument about the newly acquired animal nicknames.
"Yes, we should talk."
"You were at the mall. You saw that man too, didn't you? The one that lost his daughter. Luckily she seemed to know I love kids and stuck around. I hate when you see things on the news about kids being kidnapped and murdered, or when you hear Amber Alert on the local radio. Anyway, off track, sorry Sou. What do you think about him? He seems… off. I don't know him, but it seems like I should."
The younger boy furrowed his brow slightly wondering how much he could trust the one he considered an older brother. His loyalty was to Shishio first and foremost, yet he was allowed other loyalties as well, wasn't he?
"Hajime Saitoh, know assassin as well as a leader of the Shinsengumi organization. They're like an underground police. They act without permission from local or federal enforcement by their own set of rules. It usually lands them in trouble because of that."
"Hmm. I suppose the man could have just been shopping with his family." Kamatari muttered pensively.
"That is possible." Soujirou agreed leaving his suspicions unvoiced.
"I'll keep an eye out then. Unfortunately I do tend to stand out in a crowd no matter what I do. He'll be able to recognize me more than easily enough if we meet again."
"It might be nothing."
"That's what I like to hear! Who needs worries?" Kamatari exclaimed with an exuberant out stretch of his arms. He flipped his hair and walked back to gather his shopping. "Shishio can handle anything that is thrown at him. We should be the same for his sake."
"Yes, be strong." Soujirou said to himself as the enthused cross-dresser went back to torment the other two.
Still, he would have to tell Shishio about his findings.
A/N: Freakin' work! I was only supposed to work 3 hours today not 8.5!!! Now, instead of writing I have to do my homework -___-' *sigh* I think I'll cut back to updating once a week until the middle of May (when I finish school.) So update next Sunday!
Reviewers:
Regards to the review that showed up in my mailbox, but maybe was removed? (or just didn't show up): Thank you for reading. We all know Saitoh's really in denial and that he loves the little vixen ^__^ And you're right, he does care since she's still alive *in the prequel to this he saves her* Kamatari can be refered to as either ^^;; Her works. *sigh* I don't hate Hiko exactly. His characterization changes from story to story. Currently he's playing the obsticle between S & T. And no! It's only a flame if I choose to acknowledge it as such, ne? I enjoy when people give me some opinion and constructive crit.
Fyyrrose: Okay, you do that. I didn't know if she was a typical teen and thinks books are "dorky" LOL. Of all the words to call Count D *shakes head* I need to go to the mall on the 14th of May for sdk, cotcs, vampire game, dd *grins*, and the next PSoH. :( I was hoping I would get some online gc for my b-day but I forgot that they're going to Israel! Eck, that's not a place I'd be going right now. Who? Sano. I said nothing.It's like you constructing Hei/Shin out of nothing ^_________^ *hands over bleach* Here, and you probably used it on something Heisuke-related so I guess it's my fault you're out. Besides, is that so nasty of a picture? The war on Parentism! Nah, that doesn't work so well. Yes, people are really that stupid IRL. In Italy I watched General Hospital (I wouldn't watch Guiding Lights or Days of Our Lives) and I watch Passions at work on my break (not by choice. It's already on with someone else watching it).
MissBehavin: Kinda like Aoshi and shopping, huh? Or Hijikata and shopping :) He didn't lose her; she purposely walked off. I've seen that so many times @__@ That's when you return the wayward child to their own- er, guardian. *sigh* Saitoh isn't Mr. Romantic, is he? That's okay, Tokio's tough (and very patient) although at the moment she just wants to be on friendly terms ^__^ Things change? Ducking is good. Not opening your mouth in the first place is better!
Wistful-Eyes: I love dogs. I want more. I have three already. Rabbits are nice. I used to have rabbits... and snakes... and fish... and I still have 6 cats but they don't live with me anymore. I work at a pet store so I get to play with rodents and birds ^__^ And other peoples' puppies! Meggy is being typical for her age-- she's testing what she can get away with. She just doesn't realize that little 6 yr olds are fresh meat for sickos. Hiko-ness coming next chapter. Mwahaha.
kakashi-fan: Oh yes, there will be some fireworks then! Mwhaha... and the thought of Hiko/Tokio is yucky to most of us (I'm immune as the author ^^.)
Soujirou checked the urge to look around. The presence at his back was hardly friendly, but he could tolerate it. After all, he had higher standing; Shinomori wouldn't try something so blatantly obvious. Not with the forethought on the repercussions of his actions. The man was cautious about things like that. It was a trait that Soujirou was rather grateful for.
"Stalking me will get you nowhere." He addressed his unseen follower lightly. He didn't really expect a reply, and he didn't get one. The hostile gaze disappeared.
Soujirou grinned a bit wider. That was a point in his corner. Not that he was keeping score exactly. He wasn't sure what to think exactly. Aoshi had brought him in to watch Misao in the beginning. Yet ever since that mission that the Shinsengumi man Saitoh soured he had disappeared. Then he shows up in the last place on Earth Soujirou ever expected.
"Sou where'd you go? I thought we were going to the mall! That was at least fifteen minutes ago." Misao growled impatiently. No doubt she wanted to go browse the movie store. He was rather surprised the first time when she declined visiting Abercrombie and Banana Republic and made a beeline for the Suncoast. Apparently she would watch practically anything, but she especially loved old westerns. The girl was full of quirks.
"Ah, sorry. I had something to take care of real quick. I'm ready whenever you are." He said with a wide smile and rubbed the back of his head.
She shoved him, "I don't know if I am now. You took so long…"
"Very funny Misao." He chided, "We do need to go. My new manga was just released this week."
She made a face, "How can you read that junk?"
"How can you read Zane Grey or Louie L'amour?"
She blew a raspberry and ran ahead. He shook his head ruefully. She certainly had a very obvious, if effective, way of changing the subject when she wasn't winning.
"I won't hurt her the way you have, if that's what you are worried about Mister Shinomori." Soujirou addressed the shadow pacing him, "She was gravely disappointed when you left for a job with that drug dealer. Then you appear here unharmed and acting like nothing has happened. She doesn't understand."
"Do you?"
"No." He admitted and considered, "But I don't care either. Our contract has been terminated since that night when you broke it."
"Yet you continue."
"For Misao's sake. I wouldn't just abandon her like that." Soujirou retorted with a slight edge to his voice. He didn't say it, but his tone implied all there was to be said. 'I won't abandon her like you did. I won't break her heart like you did. I won't make the same mistakes that you did.'
"She is a strong young woman."
"Much stronger than you or I." Soujirou agreed. He nodded let his bangs fall in his face, "But unlike us she has fragile feelings and an idealistic approach to the world. We are a pair of jaded fools."
"Perhaps."
Maybe that would keep the man away this time. Soujirou was rather surprised he didn't ask any personal questions. He was expecting: What is your relationship? Well, that and some other things.
The rest of the trip to the mall was uneventful. It was a fairly nice day, which was good because Shishio didn't trust Soujirou with a car. Really, just because he ran into a ditch when being chased by some law enforcement didn't mean he couldn't do some good, defensive driving too. If the steer wheel hadn't locked up he wouldn't have skidded anyway.
They had just visited the food court and armed themselves with some Orange Julius and Cinnabuns when Misao suddenly stopped and stared across the aisle way. Soujirou tensed when he felt it, long before he saw what had caught her attention.
"Is that the guy…"
"Yes."
"The one who was fighting with the Battousai."
He nodded silently trying to decide if they should retreat or bluff it out. It was unlikely the man would remember them from before. Unlikely but still quite possible.
Grabbing Misao's arm he pulled her down to sit on a bench. She gave a startled yelp, but quickly muffled it. Her emerald eyes slid over towards the dangerous man.
The child, who Soujirou hadn't noticed before but immediately recognized, said something that made the sharp gaze drop down. The lean man listened then looked up with narrowed, searching eyes. They flickered towards the pair, but moved on.
"Did he spot us?" Misao whispered, unconsciously pressing closer.
Soujirou reluctantly maintained the remaining distance. He wanted to assure her, but hanging all over her wasn't exactly a way he think she'd enjoy or tolerate. She might not smack or throw her hot cinnamon bun at him, but she really didn't have to. He wasn't sure she knew that.
"I don't think we were what he was looking for." Soujirou replied. He wasn't going to lie. They had most certainly been spotted. How could they have not been? "See? He's looking over there…"
Misao frowned, "That's that guy who dresses like a girl."
Soujirou had to admit that there was only one person he knew like that. Sure enough, Kamatari was decked out as usual, even in such a public place, and he had some poor sucker in tow carrying boxes.
Soujirou almost felt sorry for the grunt. He had gone shopping with Kamatari before.
"Maybe we should just go." She suggested brushing crumbs off her lap as she stood up.
He frowned and protested, "But we haven't been to Suncoast yet. I know you want to go." They had stopped in Brentanos first thing because his paper had covered her rock. In fact, his purchases were securely dangling from his left hand.
"I think we should just go. Who knows who else might show up." She persisted.
"You're not—you're worried about that guy, aren't you?"
"A little." She admitted, "He gives me the creeps."
Soujirou couldn't resist, "More than Usui?"
She made a gagging sound, "Yuck! I tell you there is something really wrong with that guy! He must makes my skin want to crawl away and hide in some corner."
"You would look funny without skin."
"Disgusting." Misao retorted with her nose crinkled in disgust, "I'd be all muscles and bone."
"But no fat?"
She placed her hands on her hips in mock severity and thundered, "Are you calling me fat Smiley? I'll have you know that I'm petite and slender and perfect. Plus, I don't pour junk down my throat like some people do."
"You look perfect." He remarked sincerely and she flushed. He wasn't sure why since he was only telling the truth.
Battling away her embarrassment, she shot off the counter tease a few moments too late, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! So what does that say about your eyesight?"
"That I have 20/20 vision and beauty radar?" He suggested earning around punch to the shoulder.
As they exited the mall he glanced over his shoulder. Kamatari was speaking to that dangerous man. Kamatari was speaking to Hajime Saitoh. An interesting thing.
It was possible that the cross-dresser was simply being his friendly, out going self, but if so why pick someone who was so obviously dangerous?
It all seemed to tie back into the child.
Didn't Usui mention that the family that moved into that vacant house had a child? A little girl who was elementary school age. It was a huge leap of logic to assume that a Shinsengumi member had moved in with his family right under their noses, yet it was also something that Usui would find irresistibly ironic. That he knew the threat was there, hinted at it, and yet he did nothing to aid or provide more than a clue.
"Could you hang on a sec.?" Misao asked pointing to a small gas station. Before he could asked she mouthed, "Girl stuff." And dashed in.
He loitered in front thinking of nothing in particular. Ideas were rolling around in his head, but his thoughts seemed determined to circle back to Misao. Where did he stand with her now that Aoshi had reentered the picture? She had locked him out of the bathroom for a good five hours then she came out like nothing was wrong being her happy, cheery self with the quick temper.
"Good hunting?" Kamatari asked with amusement in his lit voice. His conquests were firmly in the grip of the spiky haired man beside him.
Soujirou held up the bag.
"Uggh, books. Sou, darling, you need to buy some new clothing. Really, the way you're dressed at the moment makes you look like a suit. You should try wearing jeans some time or a sloppy sweatshirt. Like Sano here." He said jerking his head towards the now glowering youth, "Although, he doesn't take very good care of his clothing."
"I have better things to do than my laundry." The man grumbled low in his throat. Even though his words were offensive his tone said something else. Soujirou wondered what sort of tie they had. It was almost like a relationship.
Misao bounded out and stopped short with an annoyed frown.
"Have you met Kamatari yet?" Soujirou asked. He didn't think he had introduced the two of them before. Kamatari had been rather elusive since he returned when called. It might be interesting to see what he had been up to.
"We have met Sou." Kamatari grinned good-natured and dodged the flying bag. He picked it up and tossed it back underhanded. "Miss Misao had a bit of a mix up when she first saw me. Naturally I had to correct her."
"That was more than I wanted to see." Sano grumbled again making the boxes and bags tremble. At the same time Misao blurted out red in the face with mortification and anger, "You didn't have to flash me! Telling would have been nice!"
"Ah, but what's the fun in that? If I had told you, would you have believed me without proof? After all, how many men do you know that dress up like women by choice and then parade it?" Kamatari chided putting his index finger to his lips, which were curled up smugly at the edges. Then he turned to his companion, "You could see a lot more than that if you wanted to."
"That's it. I'm not your slave, your whipping boy, your sex toy, or your maid!" The one called Sano bellowed tossing packages everywhere. He balled up his fists challengingly, "Fight me."
"Ah, but I would have to use my chain, now wouldn't I? I know you're fists are quite dangerous."
Soujirou opened his mouth to say something when Misao jumped fearlessly in between the pair. She was bristled and ready to tear into both at the same time. Not an unusual state for her to be in. Just something she usually didn't unleash on strangers.
"You two can't brawl right here! What are you? Go find a bar or something!"
"Hey Weasel, you need to chill out. I wasn't going to hurt the little punk or anything. He just pisses me off. A lot. And now that I think about it you're kind of annoying too." Sano protested.
"He wouldn't hurt me. He loved me far too much for that." Kamatari smirked and picked up a Limited bag carefully righting the contents.
"Sure I do. I would love to beat your smart mouth down if I could." The young man snapped shoving his hands deep in his pockets and looking away.
Kamatari gave a half smile at his companion's antics before turning to Soujirou, "May I speak to you in private?"
Soujirou looked over at Misao and Sano who were engaged in a hot argument about the newly acquired animal nicknames.
"Yes, we should talk."
"You were at the mall. You saw that man too, didn't you? The one that lost his daughter. Luckily she seemed to know I love kids and stuck around. I hate when you see things on the news about kids being kidnapped and murdered, or when you hear Amber Alert on the local radio. Anyway, off track, sorry Sou. What do you think about him? He seems… off. I don't know him, but it seems like I should."
The younger boy furrowed his brow slightly wondering how much he could trust the one he considered an older brother. His loyalty was to Shishio first and foremost, yet he was allowed other loyalties as well, wasn't he?
"Hajime Saitoh, know assassin as well as a leader of the Shinsengumi organization. They're like an underground police. They act without permission from local or federal enforcement by their own set of rules. It usually lands them in trouble because of that."
"Hmm. I suppose the man could have just been shopping with his family." Kamatari muttered pensively.
"That is possible." Soujirou agreed leaving his suspicions unvoiced.
"I'll keep an eye out then. Unfortunately I do tend to stand out in a crowd no matter what I do. He'll be able to recognize me more than easily enough if we meet again."
"It might be nothing."
"That's what I like to hear! Who needs worries?" Kamatari exclaimed with an exuberant out stretch of his arms. He flipped his hair and walked back to gather his shopping. "Shishio can handle anything that is thrown at him. We should be the same for his sake."
"Yes, be strong." Soujirou said to himself as the enthused cross-dresser went back to torment the other two.
Still, he would have to tell Shishio about his findings.
A/N: Freakin' work! I was only supposed to work 3 hours today not 8.5!!! Now, instead of writing I have to do my homework -___-' *sigh* I think I'll cut back to updating once a week until the middle of May (when I finish school.) So update next Sunday!
Reviewers:
Regards to the review that showed up in my mailbox, but maybe was removed? (or just didn't show up): Thank you for reading. We all know Saitoh's really in denial and that he loves the little vixen ^__^ And you're right, he does care since she's still alive *in the prequel to this he saves her* Kamatari can be refered to as either ^^;; Her works. *sigh* I don't hate Hiko exactly. His characterization changes from story to story. Currently he's playing the obsticle between S & T. And no! It's only a flame if I choose to acknowledge it as such, ne? I enjoy when people give me some opinion and constructive crit.
Fyyrrose: Okay, you do that. I didn't know if she was a typical teen and thinks books are "dorky" LOL. Of all the words to call Count D *shakes head* I need to go to the mall on the 14th of May for sdk, cotcs, vampire game, dd *grins*, and the next PSoH. :( I was hoping I would get some online gc for my b-day but I forgot that they're going to Israel! Eck, that's not a place I'd be going right now. Who? Sano. I said nothing.It's like you constructing Hei/Shin out of nothing ^_________^ *hands over bleach* Here, and you probably used it on something Heisuke-related so I guess it's my fault you're out. Besides, is that so nasty of a picture? The war on Parentism! Nah, that doesn't work so well. Yes, people are really that stupid IRL. In Italy I watched General Hospital (I wouldn't watch Guiding Lights or Days of Our Lives) and I watch Passions at work on my break (not by choice. It's already on with someone else watching it).
MissBehavin: Kinda like Aoshi and shopping, huh? Or Hijikata and shopping :) He didn't lose her; she purposely walked off. I've seen that so many times @__@ That's when you return the wayward child to their own- er, guardian. *sigh* Saitoh isn't Mr. Romantic, is he? That's okay, Tokio's tough (and very patient) although at the moment she just wants to be on friendly terms ^__^ Things change? Ducking is good. Not opening your mouth in the first place is better!
Wistful-Eyes: I love dogs. I want more. I have three already. Rabbits are nice. I used to have rabbits... and snakes... and fish... and I still have 6 cats but they don't live with me anymore. I work at a pet store so I get to play with rodents and birds ^__^ And other peoples' puppies! Meggy is being typical for her age-- she's testing what she can get away with. She just doesn't realize that little 6 yr olds are fresh meat for sickos. Hiko-ness coming next chapter. Mwahaha.
kakashi-fan: Oh yes, there will be some fireworks then! Mwhaha... and the thought of Hiko/Tokio is yucky to most of us (I'm immune as the author ^^.)