Chapter Nineteen
The petite redhead gave a slightly nervous smile and fidgeted. Was there really a reason they had to take the bus? Not that he had any problem with the bus per se…
It was just some of the people who rode public transportation made his skin crawl. Like his instincts were screaming that something was terribly wrong with them and to run and weren't they on America's Most Wanted or something?
He would have edged closer to his companion when that man started with wandering hands—something he put a quick end to—but he really didn't want to look like a baby. Not that it mattered. Hiko would still label him a child and treat him as such.
Why did he tolerate it again?
Oh yeah. Duty. Duty and respect and a sense of gratefulness.
"Master,"
"What is it." At least he dropped his charming nickname. How considerate.
"I don't think this is the best idea, that I don't." Kenshin said honestly letting a tiny bit of disapproval filter through.
Hiko stared down at him huffily, "What do you know?"
Was that supposed to be rhetorical?
Kenshin thought so, but this had to be said: "I don't think Saitoh will enjoy your intrusion, that I don't. Also, you doing this is rather selfish and jealous. It makes you look bad." There. Simply put. He couldn't get in trouble for the truth, could he? Better sandwich it between some non-offensive material, "They are on a mission, that they are. It is risky and dangerous to set up a meeting like this I think."
"You know what. You're right." Hiko acknowledge slowly then narrowed his eyes, "Thinking will get you in trouble. I advise that you stop. Not that you'd listen to me anyway. After all, you're still going out with Stapler Girl."
"Miss Kaoru is a very nice woman." Kenshin defended.
"If you like being mauled."
"Miss Tokio has done a few things to you as I remember, that she has." Kenshin remarked. "There was that time that she…"
Hiko waved a hand cutting him off and scowled, "Which is precisely why I need to do this."
Whoosh, was that Hiko-logic flying overhead?
Kenshin shook his head ruefully. The man was hard to keep up with. At least they had set up a rather neutral place to meet: A dog park.
What could go wrong there? Aside from the fact that this was utterly ridiculous, but if it put Hiko's mind to rest then it would be worth it. Kenshin didn't like to see the man in such a state. He was usually so unpersonal and standoffish. Jealousy didn't suit him very well. Then again, Hiko never did well with tact.
"Kenny!" Megumi hollered waving. He winced. Even with a baseball cap to cover his long, red hair and the baggy clothing he felt exposed. There was absolutely no reason that he had any business here with them. Well, none except that both Hiko and Tokio insisted that he be there.
The girl and dog raced up. Sissy was looking much better than the day he had taken her to the vet. Clean, happy, healthy, and somewhat sassy, the little mutt was a bit more personable. Too personable for Saitoh's liking, if his avoidance was any clue.
Kenshin bent down to accept the pair's greeting while Hiko strode ahead. Saitoh was leaning under a tree, smoking as usual, half hidden in the shadows. The end of his butt glowed, flashed as he flicked off ash, then returned to where his mouth was. This wasn't going to be a pleasant afternoon.
"I don't like him." Megumi whispered in Kenshin's ear pointing to Hiko's broad back. He was carrying the child piggyback with the dog carefully following to make sure the girl was fine and unhurt. "Do you think Mommy and Mister Wolf would make a good couple?"
Kenshin stumbled. Now where in the world had she gotten a hold of that terminology?
"That is a curious thought Miss Megumi, that it is. Why do you think that?" He prodded cautiously. This he had to hear.
"I don't know. Kamatari said it to Sano in the mall the other day before Mister Wolf showed up." Megumi shrugged, uncomprehending, "Mister Wolf makes a good daddy though."
"Sure he would." Hiko sneered breaking in. Kenshin frowned, opened his mouth, then decided to shut up. Who was to say Saitoh wasn't a good father figure? Just because the two of them had some murky issues that didn't affect the man's parenting skills. Or the fact that Megumi liked him a lot.
"He's really nice to Sissy. He takes her out to play in the backyard while he smokes on the porch. Mommy won't let him smoke inside. Why does he smoke if it's so bad for him? Tar lungs sound really yucky." She frowned considering and crossed her arms, "Lungs are for breathing. They can't do their job if they're gunked up."
"He smokes because he's a weak man who cannot deal with stress. He needs drugs to sooth him." Hiko snorted and Kenshin protested only be to be cut off, "Nicotine is a drug. An addictive drug might I add."
"What's nico--?" Megumi stumbled over the unfamiliar word.
"A drug for the weak." Hiko clarified, "It is in tobacco, which are in cigarettes."
"So drinking is good for you?" Megumi asked scrunching up her face.
Kenshin was appalled. This wasn't something you talked to a six-year-old about! Out of all the subjects to cover. Couldn't they have decided on crayons verses finger paints?
"Drinking is a social activity."
"You don't go out very often except with Mommy."
"It also makes sure I am mellow."
"So you're a big meanie without it?" Megumi scratched the dog's ears and sighed in mock frustration, "Does it sooth your nerves then too?"
"Master likes the taste…"
"Are you encouraging my child to drink alcohol? Because that's the only thing he seems to like the taste of." Tokio asked coolly.
"No, no! Nothing like that Miss Tokio." Kenshin assured peaceably. The woman had some sharp hearing. Besides, that wasn't what he was doing! He was going to add that Hiko was a responsible adult and that alcohol wasn't for little girls.
Tokio ignored his answer and turned to Hiko with her hands on her hips. "What was so important that you had to pull this asinine stunt?"
Suddenly Hiko didn't quite seem to know how to start. Kenshin mentally groaned. You would think the man would at least have some sort of speech planned out in his head. Going in blind was the worst thing you could do with Tokio. She'd tear him apart if he didn't come up with something good.
"A superior needs to know what his employees are doing." He said pointedly, his ebony eyes slid over to glance at Saitoh. Kenshin's violet eyes flicked over in response. The wolf was leaning against the trunk motionless.
"Sure. That's a load of bull. Mind telling me why or shall I guess? I'm usually pretty good at playing hot or cold, but you already know that."
"You're being nasty." Hiko pointed out even and sat down.
Kenshin blinked. Sat… down…? Either the man was actually willing to make some compromises or… Or what? Why would he relinquish his power-related height so easily? It was an unparalleled event in the world of Hiko. Giving an inch must be killing him.
"Yes, I am. I'm not happy in the slightest," Tokio glanced toward Megumi and tempered her tone, "With your reckless behavior."
Hiko glanced towards Saitoh again. The golden eyes glittered back.
Kenshin felt this suicidal urge to go up and distract the dangerous man so his Master could speak freely. He mercilessly slaughtered it, bled it, and hung it up to dry in the smokehouse. That was a thought that needed to stay dead.
Megumi didn't seem to have such inhibitions.
She and Sissy pranced up, and she tugged at him. He looked down with a deadpan expression, glanced at Tokio, the Hiko, with a sneer in place, and then he nodded. Megumi squealed and Sissy barked before the pair tore off towards the small playground with the lean man following.
Tokio's didn't turn, but her voice dropped into frigid temperatures, "What is so all-fire important that you have to do something like this?"
Hiko licked his lips uncomfortably and Kenshin nervously backed up. He wasn't sure he wanted to witness this. Maybe going to help watch Megumi would have been the better choice. This looked like it was about to get very, very ugly and out of character. Probably for both combatants.
"Tokio." Hiko began then hesitated unsure. Tokio's expression softened slightly when she realized this wasn't going to be the usual shouting match. She waited patiently for what he was going to say, "I apologize."
Kenshin's jaw dropped.
"For what."
"You're pushing it woman." Hiko growled and she crossed her arms retorting, "If you're going to apologize do it properly, not halfassed. Say, I apologize for doing "this" and "this", it was inconsiderate of me and I will try to refrain from such behavior in the future."
"Tokio." He warned again and she sighed.
"Apology for the unknown accepted. I will just stretch it to cover today at least." She smiled then furrowed her brow, "You want to say more, I can tell. Nothing has stopped you before, so I'm not sure what's got your tongue now."
"I don't like him."
"Who?"
"Your "husband.""
Tokio stared, "Are you actually jealous?"
"Absolutely not." Hiko retorted and jerked back. Interpersonal relationships were never his specialty, and his lean towards narcissism certainly wasn't helping. This must be torturing his big and bad ego unbearably. Surely Tokio saw it?
"Thank you for being honest, without being sarcastic or mean about it." She said softly and wrapped herself around his waist loosely. Kenshin decided this might be a very good time to step away.
He wandered towards the playground. The thing about those two was that they were rather open, just not nearly so nice about it usually. Spats were common. Screaming and throwing were also rather frequent. Quiet admissions and apologizing? The world must have stopped turning in appreciation for the unnatural event, if only for a second.
"Battousai."
"Saitoh."
The two sat in silence watching Megumi trying to encourage her dog to go down the small slide. The child and dog ended up going down together in one big pile of limbs and noise. They landed in the dirt at the bottom.
"Anything new?" Kenshin asked quietly. Hiko had insisted that Kenshin stay away. To let Tokio relax a little, he said.
"The morons say that Shishio is quite aware of who I am and whom I work for. Soujirou Seta saw me…" He paused then sighed slightly with irritation, "Inthemall."
"Oh." Kenshin wasn't going to ask. He wasn't. His world was all upside down. Maybe taking those sleeping pills were giving him vivid dreams and he was in one and he would wake up to normalcy.
"They do not appear to know where I live, with the exception of Usui, yet I fully expect him to keep his information to himself. He is trying to kill Shishio. The pathetic dog." Saitoh snorted, then seemed to realize whom he was talking to and took a long drag. At least the world wasn't suddenly an opium dream for just Kenshin. Misery loves company.
Kenshin glanced over at Megumi and frowned. Saitoh had already moved towards the stranger who was trying to retrieve his dog.
"Mingling, ya stupid mutt! Get yer ass bac' her'." The tall, gangly man was desperately trying to retrieve a little, fluffy creature. It reminded Kenshin of a gremlin. The fluffy, non-mutated kind.
The dog yapped and raced up to Sissy who placed herself between Megumi and the stranger, ignoring the little furball. She snarled at the man with long, blond hair deep in her throat with her fur bristled.
"Shi', don' let that beast get meh. 'M jus' tryin' to get stupid Mingling. Nice doggie. Be good doggie." The man said slowly keeping his one eye fixed on the snarling dog. He reached down to grab the smaller, hyper dog. She apparently had other ideas because she raced up to Megumi waving a plumy tail and begging to be picked up.
"You're cute." Megumi told the dog and picked her up. "Hey mister. What kind of dog is she?"
"Wha? Oh, she's a puffball, er, wha did Yumi call it…?" He scratched his chin noticing Saitoh and Kenshin for the first time. "'Ey, ain't ya… oh shit!"
"That would be a correct assumption." Saitoh remarked coolly, "Battousai, get the child out of the way."
Megumi looked up at him and stepped back automatically. Kenshin placed himself between her and the pair. Sissy stepped behind him. Great, now he was protecting the dogs too. This was mildly embarrassing, but he wasn't going to insist that Saitoh switch places with him.
"'Ey, watcha doin' now?" Chou, a member of the Ten Swords, said warily. His hands were lingering inside his clothing. "I ain' startin' nothin'."
"You recognized us. That is more than enough." Saitoh said coldly stepping forward, "You saw us talking."
"It is kinda odd to see ya with a kid, 'nd talkin' to the Battousai." Chou said then clapped a hand over his mouth when he realized that he was self-incriminating.
"Do you have a weapon?"
"Of course. I am not a moron. I always carry a weapon, just not my katana." Saitoh shot back with distain.
"You should turn yourself into the authorities, that you should." Kenshin encouraged. Chou ignored him. Damn his short, unassuming personality. Well, he wasn't going to 'go Battousai' over such a little thing. He would just protect Megumi and let Saitoh do as he would. This could get ugly. Something had to. Finally!
Needless to say, Chou didn't have a prayer.
"Hn." Saitoh growled. By then Tokio and Hiko had come over. The four adults, one child, and two dogs stood over the fallen man staring.
"Another mess of yours for me to clean up. We might as well be back in school." Hiko snorted.
Tokio stared between them with narrowed eyes, "You know each other."
"You never asked." Saitoh pointed out while Hiko took his usual high-handed approach, "You didn't need to know."
"Megumi?" Tokio said ignoring the pair. Kenshin wanted to slap his forehead. Could they have been any more stupid? He didn't claim to know anything about women, but after several years of observing Tokio and his recent experiences with Kaoru told him they were in the doghouse.
"Yes Mommy?"
"Who's your new friend?"
"The mister on the ground said her name is Mingling."
"Aww, shi'. Yumi will kill meh." He moaned, "I hat' that mutt. Why'd I hav' ta take it out to "play?" It ain' fair."
"Jail security is rather tight." Hiko sneered, "You'll be alive for quite awhile."
Tokio ignored both of them, "Well, I think Mingling should come home with us. What do you think? Since her owner is going to jail."
Megumi nodded, "Like Sano?"
"Yes, but," Tokio looked down blandly, "He'll stay there for awhile. For his own protection."
"Yea'. Thanks fer remindin' meh."
Saitoh looked between the new dog, Sissy, Megumi, Tokio, and Chou. He frowned and narrowed his eyes to slits.
"No. No more drooling animals." He said firmly.
Tokio smiled sweetly, "Would you like to take dear little Mingling to the vet to have her euthanized then?"
"What's that?" Megumi asked.
Kenshin opened his mouth, but there was no stopping the woman. Oh she was pissed.
"Killed." Hiko supplemented helpfully.
Megumi stared wide-eyed and turned her wrath on the hapless Saitoh.
"No! You can't kill her. What did she ever do to you?" Megumi asked clutching the funny looking little brown and white dog. "That's cruel and mean! I won't let you. You're a mean man. If you do that I'll never talk to you again!"
Kenshin winced.
"Kenny, tell him!" Megumi pleaded turning tearful eyes on him. He felt himself melt and panic simultaneously.
"Eh," He stared at Saitoh with wide lavender eyes wondering if he should pick a fight. The last time he had Tokio had chewed him up and down. It wasn't that he was afraid to fight. It was still something unresolved between them after all, yet he wasn't too terribly enthused about started it in a dog park with so many innocents around. He knew quite well that once they started nothing would stop them. There was no Kanyruu this time.
"Fine, keep it." Saitoh snorted and stalked off towards the parking lot.
"Heh, chicken. All fer a lil' girl's tears." Chou snickered.
Megumi ran up and decked him in the side. Kenshin chuckled, "Miss Megumi is very persuasive, that she is." Chou moaned in response.
"That was very manipulative." Hiko observed, "The man hates dogs. He was probably bitten one too many times."
"Don't think you're getting off that easy." Tokio accused, making no move to clear the notion that she set Mingling's impromptu adoption up to get back at Saitoh. "Don't contact me again unless you have something important to say."
"What? Woman, I thought I did say something important!"
"Yes, for an instant. Then you ruined it with your typical male behavior." She spat and stalked off stiff legged with child and dogs in tow.
Kenshin felt the tension drain out of him. Did it have to really be World War Three whenever he was stuck in the middle? Why couldn't he just be a neutral country?
A/N: It's offical: work is sucking up my free time and energy. However since Eevee likes eating and dsl and cable she needs to work 30 hours. Sorry it's late. It was half done on Sunday, but then I had to go to bed. Even now I'm doing this at 2 am. Mingling is a Chinese Crested, the furry variety. Only Fyyrrose would get why exactly, but hehe, poor Saitoh.
Fyyrrose: yes, I'm 20 now. Now I can say 'those teenagers' without being tech. hypocritical. Heh, you didn't think I was going to kill my little Souji-baby, did you? I was going to cheat, but I thought I might go the legal route first. Sorry about the people you live with and have to be around ^__^; Hey, no killing Misao. Speaking of manga, your box should get there sometime this week (and my SDK should get here by friday *dances*). So Aoshi reminds you of Susumu? But see, the difference is I *like* Aoshi. I haven't decided what exactly to do with Susumu just yet in HS. *starts laughing* I warned you about the fluff. When I'm quiet for over a half hour it's not a good thing... Go eat some Guinea pigs... I wonder what hamsters taste like. The dwarfs would fit nicely on a shiskabob. G-ma has used fake beef. It was funnier then heck to see the family's reaction. To fool me? I would know. My body can't break down certain proteins anymore. It would tell me that I was eating red meat. And Raven, when I said I forgot how psychotic Soujirou was... I meant it *runs*. But now I know why I shouldn't have been allowed near the Son of God stuff.
MissBehavin: Kamatari wanted to see what Sou knew ^__~ Know your enemy. Soujirou was going to tell Shishio anyway. Smart boy. Yes, so how was Hiko's visit? Anything like you imagined? Yes, well, Hijikata and Susumu being dragged along shopping with Okita "distracting" them. *starts laughing* He did? No, I know pretty much how everyone died, that's it *starts laughing* Manner of death, why, date, age. @__@ Far more than I ever cared to. Work is evil. I got my English paper back X__X I'll be lucky if it's a B. Work is already interferring *sigh* but school's almost over.
Wistful-Eyes: It's... interesting. Hamsters are evil and the birds like to bite me. It's weird, I'd fearlessly shove pills down a bulldog's throat, but I'm terrifed to giving hamsters liquid meds. Sort of a triangle for S/M/A, but maybe not in a traditional sense, because Aoshi isn't interested in Misao that way. As for the story, we'll see! I promise. When I'm not feeling so swamped -__-'
kakashi-fan: Aoshi/Misao *sweatdrop* doesn't work for me. Which doesn't mean I won't use it, I have. But I've also done Sano/Misao and Aoshi/Megumi. Pretty much the only pairing I don't mess with is k/k. Sorry. It will be Saitoh/Tokio eventually. And, yeah, Sano/Meg... not happening.
The petite redhead gave a slightly nervous smile and fidgeted. Was there really a reason they had to take the bus? Not that he had any problem with the bus per se…
It was just some of the people who rode public transportation made his skin crawl. Like his instincts were screaming that something was terribly wrong with them and to run and weren't they on America's Most Wanted or something?
He would have edged closer to his companion when that man started with wandering hands—something he put a quick end to—but he really didn't want to look like a baby. Not that it mattered. Hiko would still label him a child and treat him as such.
Why did he tolerate it again?
Oh yeah. Duty. Duty and respect and a sense of gratefulness.
"Master,"
"What is it." At least he dropped his charming nickname. How considerate.
"I don't think this is the best idea, that I don't." Kenshin said honestly letting a tiny bit of disapproval filter through.
Hiko stared down at him huffily, "What do you know?"
Was that supposed to be rhetorical?
Kenshin thought so, but this had to be said: "I don't think Saitoh will enjoy your intrusion, that I don't. Also, you doing this is rather selfish and jealous. It makes you look bad." There. Simply put. He couldn't get in trouble for the truth, could he? Better sandwich it between some non-offensive material, "They are on a mission, that they are. It is risky and dangerous to set up a meeting like this I think."
"You know what. You're right." Hiko acknowledge slowly then narrowed his eyes, "Thinking will get you in trouble. I advise that you stop. Not that you'd listen to me anyway. After all, you're still going out with Stapler Girl."
"Miss Kaoru is a very nice woman." Kenshin defended.
"If you like being mauled."
"Miss Tokio has done a few things to you as I remember, that she has." Kenshin remarked. "There was that time that she…"
Hiko waved a hand cutting him off and scowled, "Which is precisely why I need to do this."
Whoosh, was that Hiko-logic flying overhead?
Kenshin shook his head ruefully. The man was hard to keep up with. At least they had set up a rather neutral place to meet: A dog park.
What could go wrong there? Aside from the fact that this was utterly ridiculous, but if it put Hiko's mind to rest then it would be worth it. Kenshin didn't like to see the man in such a state. He was usually so unpersonal and standoffish. Jealousy didn't suit him very well. Then again, Hiko never did well with tact.
"Kenny!" Megumi hollered waving. He winced. Even with a baseball cap to cover his long, red hair and the baggy clothing he felt exposed. There was absolutely no reason that he had any business here with them. Well, none except that both Hiko and Tokio insisted that he be there.
The girl and dog raced up. Sissy was looking much better than the day he had taken her to the vet. Clean, happy, healthy, and somewhat sassy, the little mutt was a bit more personable. Too personable for Saitoh's liking, if his avoidance was any clue.
Kenshin bent down to accept the pair's greeting while Hiko strode ahead. Saitoh was leaning under a tree, smoking as usual, half hidden in the shadows. The end of his butt glowed, flashed as he flicked off ash, then returned to where his mouth was. This wasn't going to be a pleasant afternoon.
"I don't like him." Megumi whispered in Kenshin's ear pointing to Hiko's broad back. He was carrying the child piggyback with the dog carefully following to make sure the girl was fine and unhurt. "Do you think Mommy and Mister Wolf would make a good couple?"
Kenshin stumbled. Now where in the world had she gotten a hold of that terminology?
"That is a curious thought Miss Megumi, that it is. Why do you think that?" He prodded cautiously. This he had to hear.
"I don't know. Kamatari said it to Sano in the mall the other day before Mister Wolf showed up." Megumi shrugged, uncomprehending, "Mister Wolf makes a good daddy though."
"Sure he would." Hiko sneered breaking in. Kenshin frowned, opened his mouth, then decided to shut up. Who was to say Saitoh wasn't a good father figure? Just because the two of them had some murky issues that didn't affect the man's parenting skills. Or the fact that Megumi liked him a lot.
"He's really nice to Sissy. He takes her out to play in the backyard while he smokes on the porch. Mommy won't let him smoke inside. Why does he smoke if it's so bad for him? Tar lungs sound really yucky." She frowned considering and crossed her arms, "Lungs are for breathing. They can't do their job if they're gunked up."
"He smokes because he's a weak man who cannot deal with stress. He needs drugs to sooth him." Hiko snorted and Kenshin protested only be to be cut off, "Nicotine is a drug. An addictive drug might I add."
"What's nico--?" Megumi stumbled over the unfamiliar word.
"A drug for the weak." Hiko clarified, "It is in tobacco, which are in cigarettes."
"So drinking is good for you?" Megumi asked scrunching up her face.
Kenshin was appalled. This wasn't something you talked to a six-year-old about! Out of all the subjects to cover. Couldn't they have decided on crayons verses finger paints?
"Drinking is a social activity."
"You don't go out very often except with Mommy."
"It also makes sure I am mellow."
"So you're a big meanie without it?" Megumi scratched the dog's ears and sighed in mock frustration, "Does it sooth your nerves then too?"
"Master likes the taste…"
"Are you encouraging my child to drink alcohol? Because that's the only thing he seems to like the taste of." Tokio asked coolly.
"No, no! Nothing like that Miss Tokio." Kenshin assured peaceably. The woman had some sharp hearing. Besides, that wasn't what he was doing! He was going to add that Hiko was a responsible adult and that alcohol wasn't for little girls.
Tokio ignored his answer and turned to Hiko with her hands on her hips. "What was so important that you had to pull this asinine stunt?"
Suddenly Hiko didn't quite seem to know how to start. Kenshin mentally groaned. You would think the man would at least have some sort of speech planned out in his head. Going in blind was the worst thing you could do with Tokio. She'd tear him apart if he didn't come up with something good.
"A superior needs to know what his employees are doing." He said pointedly, his ebony eyes slid over to glance at Saitoh. Kenshin's violet eyes flicked over in response. The wolf was leaning against the trunk motionless.
"Sure. That's a load of bull. Mind telling me why or shall I guess? I'm usually pretty good at playing hot or cold, but you already know that."
"You're being nasty." Hiko pointed out even and sat down.
Kenshin blinked. Sat… down…? Either the man was actually willing to make some compromises or… Or what? Why would he relinquish his power-related height so easily? It was an unparalleled event in the world of Hiko. Giving an inch must be killing him.
"Yes, I am. I'm not happy in the slightest," Tokio glanced toward Megumi and tempered her tone, "With your reckless behavior."
Hiko glanced towards Saitoh again. The golden eyes glittered back.
Kenshin felt this suicidal urge to go up and distract the dangerous man so his Master could speak freely. He mercilessly slaughtered it, bled it, and hung it up to dry in the smokehouse. That was a thought that needed to stay dead.
Megumi didn't seem to have such inhibitions.
She and Sissy pranced up, and she tugged at him. He looked down with a deadpan expression, glanced at Tokio, the Hiko, with a sneer in place, and then he nodded. Megumi squealed and Sissy barked before the pair tore off towards the small playground with the lean man following.
Tokio's didn't turn, but her voice dropped into frigid temperatures, "What is so all-fire important that you have to do something like this?"
Hiko licked his lips uncomfortably and Kenshin nervously backed up. He wasn't sure he wanted to witness this. Maybe going to help watch Megumi would have been the better choice. This looked like it was about to get very, very ugly and out of character. Probably for both combatants.
"Tokio." Hiko began then hesitated unsure. Tokio's expression softened slightly when she realized this wasn't going to be the usual shouting match. She waited patiently for what he was going to say, "I apologize."
Kenshin's jaw dropped.
"For what."
"You're pushing it woman." Hiko growled and she crossed her arms retorting, "If you're going to apologize do it properly, not halfassed. Say, I apologize for doing "this" and "this", it was inconsiderate of me and I will try to refrain from such behavior in the future."
"Tokio." He warned again and she sighed.
"Apology for the unknown accepted. I will just stretch it to cover today at least." She smiled then furrowed her brow, "You want to say more, I can tell. Nothing has stopped you before, so I'm not sure what's got your tongue now."
"I don't like him."
"Who?"
"Your "husband.""
Tokio stared, "Are you actually jealous?"
"Absolutely not." Hiko retorted and jerked back. Interpersonal relationships were never his specialty, and his lean towards narcissism certainly wasn't helping. This must be torturing his big and bad ego unbearably. Surely Tokio saw it?
"Thank you for being honest, without being sarcastic or mean about it." She said softly and wrapped herself around his waist loosely. Kenshin decided this might be a very good time to step away.
He wandered towards the playground. The thing about those two was that they were rather open, just not nearly so nice about it usually. Spats were common. Screaming and throwing were also rather frequent. Quiet admissions and apologizing? The world must have stopped turning in appreciation for the unnatural event, if only for a second.
"Battousai."
"Saitoh."
The two sat in silence watching Megumi trying to encourage her dog to go down the small slide. The child and dog ended up going down together in one big pile of limbs and noise. They landed in the dirt at the bottom.
"Anything new?" Kenshin asked quietly. Hiko had insisted that Kenshin stay away. To let Tokio relax a little, he said.
"The morons say that Shishio is quite aware of who I am and whom I work for. Soujirou Seta saw me…" He paused then sighed slightly with irritation, "Inthemall."
"Oh." Kenshin wasn't going to ask. He wasn't. His world was all upside down. Maybe taking those sleeping pills were giving him vivid dreams and he was in one and he would wake up to normalcy.
"They do not appear to know where I live, with the exception of Usui, yet I fully expect him to keep his information to himself. He is trying to kill Shishio. The pathetic dog." Saitoh snorted, then seemed to realize whom he was talking to and took a long drag. At least the world wasn't suddenly an opium dream for just Kenshin. Misery loves company.
Kenshin glanced over at Megumi and frowned. Saitoh had already moved towards the stranger who was trying to retrieve his dog.
"Mingling, ya stupid mutt! Get yer ass bac' her'." The tall, gangly man was desperately trying to retrieve a little, fluffy creature. It reminded Kenshin of a gremlin. The fluffy, non-mutated kind.
The dog yapped and raced up to Sissy who placed herself between Megumi and the stranger, ignoring the little furball. She snarled at the man with long, blond hair deep in her throat with her fur bristled.
"Shi', don' let that beast get meh. 'M jus' tryin' to get stupid Mingling. Nice doggie. Be good doggie." The man said slowly keeping his one eye fixed on the snarling dog. He reached down to grab the smaller, hyper dog. She apparently had other ideas because she raced up to Megumi waving a plumy tail and begging to be picked up.
"You're cute." Megumi told the dog and picked her up. "Hey mister. What kind of dog is she?"
"Wha? Oh, she's a puffball, er, wha did Yumi call it…?" He scratched his chin noticing Saitoh and Kenshin for the first time. "'Ey, ain't ya… oh shit!"
"That would be a correct assumption." Saitoh remarked coolly, "Battousai, get the child out of the way."
Megumi looked up at him and stepped back automatically. Kenshin placed himself between her and the pair. Sissy stepped behind him. Great, now he was protecting the dogs too. This was mildly embarrassing, but he wasn't going to insist that Saitoh switch places with him.
"'Ey, watcha doin' now?" Chou, a member of the Ten Swords, said warily. His hands were lingering inside his clothing. "I ain' startin' nothin'."
"You recognized us. That is more than enough." Saitoh said coldly stepping forward, "You saw us talking."
"It is kinda odd to see ya with a kid, 'nd talkin' to the Battousai." Chou said then clapped a hand over his mouth when he realized that he was self-incriminating.
"Do you have a weapon?"
"Of course. I am not a moron. I always carry a weapon, just not my katana." Saitoh shot back with distain.
"You should turn yourself into the authorities, that you should." Kenshin encouraged. Chou ignored him. Damn his short, unassuming personality. Well, he wasn't going to 'go Battousai' over such a little thing. He would just protect Megumi and let Saitoh do as he would. This could get ugly. Something had to. Finally!
Needless to say, Chou didn't have a prayer.
"Hn." Saitoh growled. By then Tokio and Hiko had come over. The four adults, one child, and two dogs stood over the fallen man staring.
"Another mess of yours for me to clean up. We might as well be back in school." Hiko snorted.
Tokio stared between them with narrowed eyes, "You know each other."
"You never asked." Saitoh pointed out while Hiko took his usual high-handed approach, "You didn't need to know."
"Megumi?" Tokio said ignoring the pair. Kenshin wanted to slap his forehead. Could they have been any more stupid? He didn't claim to know anything about women, but after several years of observing Tokio and his recent experiences with Kaoru told him they were in the doghouse.
"Yes Mommy?"
"Who's your new friend?"
"The mister on the ground said her name is Mingling."
"Aww, shi'. Yumi will kill meh." He moaned, "I hat' that mutt. Why'd I hav' ta take it out to "play?" It ain' fair."
"Jail security is rather tight." Hiko sneered, "You'll be alive for quite awhile."
Tokio ignored both of them, "Well, I think Mingling should come home with us. What do you think? Since her owner is going to jail."
Megumi nodded, "Like Sano?"
"Yes, but," Tokio looked down blandly, "He'll stay there for awhile. For his own protection."
"Yea'. Thanks fer remindin' meh."
Saitoh looked between the new dog, Sissy, Megumi, Tokio, and Chou. He frowned and narrowed his eyes to slits.
"No. No more drooling animals." He said firmly.
Tokio smiled sweetly, "Would you like to take dear little Mingling to the vet to have her euthanized then?"
"What's that?" Megumi asked.
Kenshin opened his mouth, but there was no stopping the woman. Oh she was pissed.
"Killed." Hiko supplemented helpfully.
Megumi stared wide-eyed and turned her wrath on the hapless Saitoh.
"No! You can't kill her. What did she ever do to you?" Megumi asked clutching the funny looking little brown and white dog. "That's cruel and mean! I won't let you. You're a mean man. If you do that I'll never talk to you again!"
Kenshin winced.
"Kenny, tell him!" Megumi pleaded turning tearful eyes on him. He felt himself melt and panic simultaneously.
"Eh," He stared at Saitoh with wide lavender eyes wondering if he should pick a fight. The last time he had Tokio had chewed him up and down. It wasn't that he was afraid to fight. It was still something unresolved between them after all, yet he wasn't too terribly enthused about started it in a dog park with so many innocents around. He knew quite well that once they started nothing would stop them. There was no Kanyruu this time.
"Fine, keep it." Saitoh snorted and stalked off towards the parking lot.
"Heh, chicken. All fer a lil' girl's tears." Chou snickered.
Megumi ran up and decked him in the side. Kenshin chuckled, "Miss Megumi is very persuasive, that she is." Chou moaned in response.
"That was very manipulative." Hiko observed, "The man hates dogs. He was probably bitten one too many times."
"Don't think you're getting off that easy." Tokio accused, making no move to clear the notion that she set Mingling's impromptu adoption up to get back at Saitoh. "Don't contact me again unless you have something important to say."
"What? Woman, I thought I did say something important!"
"Yes, for an instant. Then you ruined it with your typical male behavior." She spat and stalked off stiff legged with child and dogs in tow.
Kenshin felt the tension drain out of him. Did it have to really be World War Three whenever he was stuck in the middle? Why couldn't he just be a neutral country?
A/N: It's offical: work is sucking up my free time and energy. However since Eevee likes eating and dsl and cable she needs to work 30 hours. Sorry it's late. It was half done on Sunday, but then I had to go to bed. Even now I'm doing this at 2 am. Mingling is a Chinese Crested, the furry variety. Only Fyyrrose would get why exactly, but hehe, poor Saitoh.
Fyyrrose: yes, I'm 20 now. Now I can say 'those teenagers' without being tech. hypocritical. Heh, you didn't think I was going to kill my little Souji-baby, did you? I was going to cheat, but I thought I might go the legal route first. Sorry about the people you live with and have to be around ^__^; Hey, no killing Misao. Speaking of manga, your box should get there sometime this week (and my SDK should get here by friday *dances*). So Aoshi reminds you of Susumu? But see, the difference is I *like* Aoshi. I haven't decided what exactly to do with Susumu just yet in HS. *starts laughing* I warned you about the fluff. When I'm quiet for over a half hour it's not a good thing... Go eat some Guinea pigs... I wonder what hamsters taste like. The dwarfs would fit nicely on a shiskabob. G-ma has used fake beef. It was funnier then heck to see the family's reaction. To fool me? I would know. My body can't break down certain proteins anymore. It would tell me that I was eating red meat. And Raven, when I said I forgot how psychotic Soujirou was... I meant it *runs*. But now I know why I shouldn't have been allowed near the Son of God stuff.
MissBehavin: Kamatari wanted to see what Sou knew ^__~ Know your enemy. Soujirou was going to tell Shishio anyway. Smart boy. Yes, so how was Hiko's visit? Anything like you imagined? Yes, well, Hijikata and Susumu being dragged along shopping with Okita "distracting" them. *starts laughing* He did? No, I know pretty much how everyone died, that's it *starts laughing* Manner of death, why, date, age. @__@ Far more than I ever cared to. Work is evil. I got my English paper back X__X I'll be lucky if it's a B. Work is already interferring *sigh* but school's almost over.
Wistful-Eyes: It's... interesting. Hamsters are evil and the birds like to bite me. It's weird, I'd fearlessly shove pills down a bulldog's throat, but I'm terrifed to giving hamsters liquid meds. Sort of a triangle for S/M/A, but maybe not in a traditional sense, because Aoshi isn't interested in Misao that way. As for the story, we'll see! I promise. When I'm not feeling so swamped -__-'
kakashi-fan: Aoshi/Misao *sweatdrop* doesn't work for me. Which doesn't mean I won't use it, I have. But I've also done Sano/Misao and Aoshi/Megumi. Pretty much the only pairing I don't mess with is k/k. Sorry. It will be Saitoh/Tokio eventually. And, yeah, Sano/Meg... not happening.