Chapter Twenty One
Tokio frowned as she stared at the man's back.
There was something wrong with this picture, so very wrong.
"Saitoh."
"Hm?"
Okay, aliens must have abducted the man, took out part of his frontal lobe, and returned him for being ornery. It was the only plausible reason for him to be so… pleasant.
"You're going to take the dogs for a walk."
"I have the leashes in my hand and the mutts hooked up." He reminded and she scowled. Maybe more of that frontal lobe should have been removed. "I believe that would indicate that I am taking them. One could also assume it would be for a walk, since that is what most people do with dogs."
"I know that. But you're not most people, and you hate those dogs." She thought that over, "Not that it's anything new. You seem to hate most things."
He ignored her. Wow, no caustic response. There was something really wrong. She wanted to find out what it was because it was bothering her.
The only thing that had happened recently was Hiko. Was Saitoh worried about Hiko? No, that didn't ring true. Saitoh didn't seem to be worried about anything, let alone Hiko. If the two went at it then it would be tit-for-tat. Yet it had to be something related. The time was too coincidental.
"Tell me." She demanded snatching the dogs' leashes. The pair looked at her mildly, used to the actions of the strange humans they lived with. "Tell me why you're acting like this."
"It is none of your business." He replied coldly with narrowed eyes. It was a look that would make grown men wet themselves with fear, but she wasn't daunted. She had seen it enough before, albeit not directed at her, but that was of no matter.
She felt safe enough, and it wasn't just her bold nature. Instinctively she knew he wouldn't hurt her. It wasn't because she was his partner or because of Hiko and Kenshin's relation. It wasn't Megumi. He simply wouldn't do it. The logical part of her insisted that it went against his permanent set of rules that he lived by, but the more whimsical part read into it a bit more. Okay, a lot more.
"Remember that talk we had at the beginning? I should have put honesty in the rules I guess. I can't make you tell me, but I'd appreciate it if you told me. It's disconcerting for you to be so—non-caustic and pleasant. It's grossly out of character and I'd like to at least know why."
He gave her a flat stare in response.
This wasn't going to work.
"Let's walk then."
"Megumi."
"Is at a friend's house so you can't use her as an excuse." Tokio said firmly taking a step forward. The dogs were eager to be off and they tugged gently on the end of their leads. "So let's walk."
"You were not invited."
Stubborn man.
"Being invited my walk my own dogs? I don't think I need to ask permission for that." She retorted lightly, grabbing his sleeve. He glared, but didn't jerk it back, probably not wanting to look petty. An interesting sentiment all things considered. Which left her one option: "Please will you walk with me."
She was surprised when he nodded.
The two walked at a fairly fast pace in silence. The dogs sniffed and ranged at the end of their leads.
"You know, you're a very complicated man. You seem so simple, probably because you lock everything away, out of sight. You're a private kind of person and I can respect that, but you can share some things. I promise that this curious on-looker won't make undue judgments or poke fun."
No response.
She gave a slight, frustrated sigh. How ridiculous was this? Hiko would probably laugh and say the man was hopeless. Which reminded her…
"You went to school with Hiko."
Twitch. Ah, a response. So maybe it was Hiko that was bothering him.
"You don't like him and he certainly doesn't like you." She added for good measure. Well, that much was more than obvious when you saw them together.
"I could guess all day why, but I'd say you resent his ego and he resents your attitude. Did you call him a moron by any chance?"
"He is a moron." Saitoh stated.
"I take that as a yes."
Poking around wasn't getting her anywhere in a hurry.
"Why do you dislike him? Don't say it's because he's a moron. I think he's a moron sometimes. Besides, you call everyone that." Except me, she thought to herself. He had never called her one. She didn't know if that was a compliment or she just hadn't done something stupid enough to warrant that swift declaration.
"It is history." He offered after a short pause. "It does not pertain to our current mission."
"Uh-huh. Okay, does it bother you that Hiko and I are together?"
That look. The look that said, 'I thought you were intelligent.'
"Well, I think I owe this to you. I'm not sure why I do, and maybe I'm being stupid, but this is the way I feel. Hiko and I have been seeing each other off and on for about seven years now. My first husband and I were married in name, but little else. I suppose him being a doctor and me being a lawyer left little time for a true relationship." She paused considering how to word her things properly, "I hadn't seen Megumi since she was four. He didn't particularly want me to and I had little interest, thinking that it was better. I guess I was ashamed for what I'd do and who she was."
"Then he was murdered."
Tokio blinked in surprise, "Yes, murdered. I never asked Megumi how she ended up in your care. Is there something I should know?"
She peered at his face. He stared back.
"I see. I can't say I really loved the man that way, and I can't hold anything against you for killing him. In some twisted, perverse way I should be thanking you for making me realize how precious my daughter is. She would have grown up without a mother." Tokio uttered those last words softly so her voice wouldn't crack. So close. Just so close. The thought was unbearable. To think of Megumi having her first date, getting her driver's license, graduation high school, going away to college for the first time, and all without her mother.
She knuckled an eye harshly as it tried to water and gave an apologetic smile. Saitoh had told her the first day that he hated sniffling women. Truth told she did too. Part of her was rebelling right now. Telling her to turn off the water works and suck it up.
Sissy, maybe sensing something amiss, scooted closer to her legs, almost tripping Tokio up.
He still didn't say anything, but she could feel those eyes on her. How could anyone not?
"She's Hiko's daughter, but I think you've probably figured that out. It's not too hard if you see them together."
He made a noise that she assumed was agreement.
"What must you think of me now? Probably a cold bitch who ignores the sanctity of marriage in favor of chemistry and forsakes her daughter for the sake of convenience."
He stopped abruptly, "Hardly."
She gave a short, mirthless laugh, "You should because that's what I am."
He dragged her around sharply and she suddenly felt like a pendulant child being scolded for sulkiness. She even half-expected a slap. What she received was far more frightening.
"You are degrading yourself." He snapped, furious. She quelled, but he was hanging onto her arm almost painfully hard. She could imagine the flesh underneath darkening under the pressure. "Work out your self-worth issues after this is over. Until then I will hear no further talk of that nature. I need a sound, capable partner. You said you would not be a burden. Prove it."
"Thanks for the wake up call. Sorry to soil your perfect little world with some honesty." She snarled back, trying to wretch her arm out of his vice-grip. Rather than letting her go, he swung her a few feet.
"That was not a "wake up call," it was an order."
"Fine, an order! Yes sir! Are you happy now? Shall I bow down and lick your hand like the dogs?"
Tokio was suddenly off balance as both Saitoh and the dogs reacted to the figure that materialized from between two townhouses. Sissy growled, but Mingling threw herself onto the figure.
"Lover's spat?" Kamatari asked lightly, frowning. He glanced around uneasily.
"You…"
"—Shouldn't be here. I know it. Believe me do I know it." Kamatari said urgently. He was occasionally a bit too light-hearted and carefree for her taste, but when he was acting like this she knew something was wrong. If he wasn't even going to try to pretend things were alright.
"What is it?"
Kamatari licked his lips and glanced around again, "Shoot, I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't I shouldn't. If Sou found out… or worse, that slimeball Usui… shoot." He straightened suddenly and said, "They know. All about you guys, where you are, your names, everything. The only thing they don't know about is Hiko and the Battousai." He ran his fingers through his hair, "Dang, and Shinomori. Just be careful. Maybe you should, I don't know, abort the mission since your cover is blown."
"You should not have contacted us." Saitoh berated harshly.
"What did you want me to do? Send Sano? News for you, he's being watched too. Plus, what do you think he'll do if he thinks Megumi is in danger?" Kamatari absently petted Mingling, who had snuggled against his chest.
"He'd run right over." Tokio whispered.
"Exactly. The boy's got his own style, but that brand of loyalty will do no favors. He'll be butchered."
Saitoh handed Mingling's leash over to Kamatari, "Take it back. Use it as your excuse."
"Yumi loves this little thing." Kamatari commented hazily, "She'll be happy to see it back I guess. Treats this dang dog better than most humans."
"Mingling is worth more than most humans." Tokio remarked, slightly bitter. She bit her tongue. She would not start another fight.
When Kamatari was gone Tokio bottled up her worries.
"You should leave."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you deaf?"
"Are you an asshole?"
"You are no longer vital to this mission. I will continue on as previously planned."
"The hell you will! Maybe you're the deaf one, because I specifically heard Kamatari say that they knew who you are. You're a target now, just as much as I am."
"I am aware of that." He informed her crisply and gave a side-look, "Yet unlike you, I do not have a daughter to protect and care for. Also, I am more than capable of taking care of myself in dangerous situations." The next part was only implied: And I feel no need to take care of you.
"You're so eager to get rid of me, aren't you? Practically a dream come true for you. You know that Megumi adores you? God only knows why. She still young, but she'll learn soon enough how men behave and what they think with half the time."
"That is not my concern. If I recall it is the course of action defined from before." He replied coolly and lit a cigarette. Flicking his wrist sharply, in one violent motion, he snuffled the match and tossed it aside.
"Yes, but obviously the circumstances had changed! Are all men related to mules? Can't you see past your ideals and plans?" She snapped and Sissy growled looking between them.
He glanced over at her, "Do not act any more foolish than you already have Tokio. This is not a matter of discussion."
"What's that supposed to mean? I get the fact that you're a man of action and apparently words don't factor into the equation. I hope you choke on that pride!" She screamed and whirled. Slamming her feet on the pavement sent painful shudders up her legs. It felt good. Pain suited the mood she was in. What she really wanted to do was inflicted some pain. Especially on one certain person.
Sissy's guard hairs were raised and she snarled at shadows, picking up on the mood.
Which is why when a person stepped out in front of them the dog lunged. The sudden movement caught Tokio off guard. With a small hiss of pain from the rope burns the leash left, she leaped to grab it.
With a calm backhand the dog went flying and Tokio realized that she was in quite a bit of trouble.
Tokio frowned as she stared at the man's back.
There was something wrong with this picture, so very wrong.
"Saitoh."
"Hm?"
Okay, aliens must have abducted the man, took out part of his frontal lobe, and returned him for being ornery. It was the only plausible reason for him to be so… pleasant.
"You're going to take the dogs for a walk."
"I have the leashes in my hand and the mutts hooked up." He reminded and she scowled. Maybe more of that frontal lobe should have been removed. "I believe that would indicate that I am taking them. One could also assume it would be for a walk, since that is what most people do with dogs."
"I know that. But you're not most people, and you hate those dogs." She thought that over, "Not that it's anything new. You seem to hate most things."
He ignored her. Wow, no caustic response. There was something really wrong. She wanted to find out what it was because it was bothering her.
The only thing that had happened recently was Hiko. Was Saitoh worried about Hiko? No, that didn't ring true. Saitoh didn't seem to be worried about anything, let alone Hiko. If the two went at it then it would be tit-for-tat. Yet it had to be something related. The time was too coincidental.
"Tell me." She demanded snatching the dogs' leashes. The pair looked at her mildly, used to the actions of the strange humans they lived with. "Tell me why you're acting like this."
"It is none of your business." He replied coldly with narrowed eyes. It was a look that would make grown men wet themselves with fear, but she wasn't daunted. She had seen it enough before, albeit not directed at her, but that was of no matter.
She felt safe enough, and it wasn't just her bold nature. Instinctively she knew he wouldn't hurt her. It wasn't because she was his partner or because of Hiko and Kenshin's relation. It wasn't Megumi. He simply wouldn't do it. The logical part of her insisted that it went against his permanent set of rules that he lived by, but the more whimsical part read into it a bit more. Okay, a lot more.
"Remember that talk we had at the beginning? I should have put honesty in the rules I guess. I can't make you tell me, but I'd appreciate it if you told me. It's disconcerting for you to be so—non-caustic and pleasant. It's grossly out of character and I'd like to at least know why."
He gave her a flat stare in response.
This wasn't going to work.
"Let's walk then."
"Megumi."
"Is at a friend's house so you can't use her as an excuse." Tokio said firmly taking a step forward. The dogs were eager to be off and they tugged gently on the end of their leads. "So let's walk."
"You were not invited."
Stubborn man.
"Being invited my walk my own dogs? I don't think I need to ask permission for that." She retorted lightly, grabbing his sleeve. He glared, but didn't jerk it back, probably not wanting to look petty. An interesting sentiment all things considered. Which left her one option: "Please will you walk with me."
She was surprised when he nodded.
The two walked at a fairly fast pace in silence. The dogs sniffed and ranged at the end of their leads.
"You know, you're a very complicated man. You seem so simple, probably because you lock everything away, out of sight. You're a private kind of person and I can respect that, but you can share some things. I promise that this curious on-looker won't make undue judgments or poke fun."
No response.
She gave a slight, frustrated sigh. How ridiculous was this? Hiko would probably laugh and say the man was hopeless. Which reminded her…
"You went to school with Hiko."
Twitch. Ah, a response. So maybe it was Hiko that was bothering him.
"You don't like him and he certainly doesn't like you." She added for good measure. Well, that much was more than obvious when you saw them together.
"I could guess all day why, but I'd say you resent his ego and he resents your attitude. Did you call him a moron by any chance?"
"He is a moron." Saitoh stated.
"I take that as a yes."
Poking around wasn't getting her anywhere in a hurry.
"Why do you dislike him? Don't say it's because he's a moron. I think he's a moron sometimes. Besides, you call everyone that." Except me, she thought to herself. He had never called her one. She didn't know if that was a compliment or she just hadn't done something stupid enough to warrant that swift declaration.
"It is history." He offered after a short pause. "It does not pertain to our current mission."
"Uh-huh. Okay, does it bother you that Hiko and I are together?"
That look. The look that said, 'I thought you were intelligent.'
"Well, I think I owe this to you. I'm not sure why I do, and maybe I'm being stupid, but this is the way I feel. Hiko and I have been seeing each other off and on for about seven years now. My first husband and I were married in name, but little else. I suppose him being a doctor and me being a lawyer left little time for a true relationship." She paused considering how to word her things properly, "I hadn't seen Megumi since she was four. He didn't particularly want me to and I had little interest, thinking that it was better. I guess I was ashamed for what I'd do and who she was."
"Then he was murdered."
Tokio blinked in surprise, "Yes, murdered. I never asked Megumi how she ended up in your care. Is there something I should know?"
She peered at his face. He stared back.
"I see. I can't say I really loved the man that way, and I can't hold anything against you for killing him. In some twisted, perverse way I should be thanking you for making me realize how precious my daughter is. She would have grown up without a mother." Tokio uttered those last words softly so her voice wouldn't crack. So close. Just so close. The thought was unbearable. To think of Megumi having her first date, getting her driver's license, graduation high school, going away to college for the first time, and all without her mother.
She knuckled an eye harshly as it tried to water and gave an apologetic smile. Saitoh had told her the first day that he hated sniffling women. Truth told she did too. Part of her was rebelling right now. Telling her to turn off the water works and suck it up.
Sissy, maybe sensing something amiss, scooted closer to her legs, almost tripping Tokio up.
He still didn't say anything, but she could feel those eyes on her. How could anyone not?
"She's Hiko's daughter, but I think you've probably figured that out. It's not too hard if you see them together."
He made a noise that she assumed was agreement.
"What must you think of me now? Probably a cold bitch who ignores the sanctity of marriage in favor of chemistry and forsakes her daughter for the sake of convenience."
He stopped abruptly, "Hardly."
She gave a short, mirthless laugh, "You should because that's what I am."
He dragged her around sharply and she suddenly felt like a pendulant child being scolded for sulkiness. She even half-expected a slap. What she received was far more frightening.
"You are degrading yourself." He snapped, furious. She quelled, but he was hanging onto her arm almost painfully hard. She could imagine the flesh underneath darkening under the pressure. "Work out your self-worth issues after this is over. Until then I will hear no further talk of that nature. I need a sound, capable partner. You said you would not be a burden. Prove it."
"Thanks for the wake up call. Sorry to soil your perfect little world with some honesty." She snarled back, trying to wretch her arm out of his vice-grip. Rather than letting her go, he swung her a few feet.
"That was not a "wake up call," it was an order."
"Fine, an order! Yes sir! Are you happy now? Shall I bow down and lick your hand like the dogs?"
Tokio was suddenly off balance as both Saitoh and the dogs reacted to the figure that materialized from between two townhouses. Sissy growled, but Mingling threw herself onto the figure.
"Lover's spat?" Kamatari asked lightly, frowning. He glanced around uneasily.
"You…"
"—Shouldn't be here. I know it. Believe me do I know it." Kamatari said urgently. He was occasionally a bit too light-hearted and carefree for her taste, but when he was acting like this she knew something was wrong. If he wasn't even going to try to pretend things were alright.
"What is it?"
Kamatari licked his lips and glanced around again, "Shoot, I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't I shouldn't. If Sou found out… or worse, that slimeball Usui… shoot." He straightened suddenly and said, "They know. All about you guys, where you are, your names, everything. The only thing they don't know about is Hiko and the Battousai." He ran his fingers through his hair, "Dang, and Shinomori. Just be careful. Maybe you should, I don't know, abort the mission since your cover is blown."
"You should not have contacted us." Saitoh berated harshly.
"What did you want me to do? Send Sano? News for you, he's being watched too. Plus, what do you think he'll do if he thinks Megumi is in danger?" Kamatari absently petted Mingling, who had snuggled against his chest.
"He'd run right over." Tokio whispered.
"Exactly. The boy's got his own style, but that brand of loyalty will do no favors. He'll be butchered."
Saitoh handed Mingling's leash over to Kamatari, "Take it back. Use it as your excuse."
"Yumi loves this little thing." Kamatari commented hazily, "She'll be happy to see it back I guess. Treats this dang dog better than most humans."
"Mingling is worth more than most humans." Tokio remarked, slightly bitter. She bit her tongue. She would not start another fight.
When Kamatari was gone Tokio bottled up her worries.
"You should leave."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you deaf?"
"Are you an asshole?"
"You are no longer vital to this mission. I will continue on as previously planned."
"The hell you will! Maybe you're the deaf one, because I specifically heard Kamatari say that they knew who you are. You're a target now, just as much as I am."
"I am aware of that." He informed her crisply and gave a side-look, "Yet unlike you, I do not have a daughter to protect and care for. Also, I am more than capable of taking care of myself in dangerous situations." The next part was only implied: And I feel no need to take care of you.
"You're so eager to get rid of me, aren't you? Practically a dream come true for you. You know that Megumi adores you? God only knows why. She still young, but she'll learn soon enough how men behave and what they think with half the time."
"That is not my concern. If I recall it is the course of action defined from before." He replied coolly and lit a cigarette. Flicking his wrist sharply, in one violent motion, he snuffled the match and tossed it aside.
"Yes, but obviously the circumstances had changed! Are all men related to mules? Can't you see past your ideals and plans?" She snapped and Sissy growled looking between them.
He glanced over at her, "Do not act any more foolish than you already have Tokio. This is not a matter of discussion."
"What's that supposed to mean? I get the fact that you're a man of action and apparently words don't factor into the equation. I hope you choke on that pride!" She screamed and whirled. Slamming her feet on the pavement sent painful shudders up her legs. It felt good. Pain suited the mood she was in. What she really wanted to do was inflicted some pain. Especially on one certain person.
Sissy's guard hairs were raised and she snarled at shadows, picking up on the mood.
Which is why when a person stepped out in front of them the dog lunged. The sudden movement caught Tokio off guard. With a small hiss of pain from the rope burns the leash left, she leaped to grab it.
With a calm backhand the dog went flying and Tokio realized that she was in quite a bit of trouble.