All The Time in the World

Lexi: Part two, here ya go! And thanks to any and all reviewers—check out my livejournal (link in bio) for your responses!

Saito: At least she doesn't make US do them anymore.

Misao: That was FUN!

Saito: That was HELL.

Lexi: Oh, shut up…now on with the character torture! I mean angst!

.x.x.x.x.

Megumi stuck her head into the room that Misao was staying in at the clinic. "Misao-chan? Misao-chan, are you…? …Oh…" She spied Misao listlessly leaning against the wall in the corner, hair hiding her eyes.

Saito tapped Megumi on the shoulder, causing her to jump. "Takani? Is she…?"

Once her heart rate normalized, the doctor shook her head. "I'm sorry."

He lowered his head. "…I see…"

Misao dropped to the floor and pulled in her knees, hugging them to herself.

Never before in his life had Saito felt so utterly useless.

And then…HE came in.

And the moment of uselessness passed.

Saito growled at the ninja, glaring and unconsciously moving himself closer to Misao, who hadn't noticed either man's entrance. Megumi did the same, glaring with all her might at one Shinomori Aoshi, who was currently acting like a block of refrigerated tofu. The young girl chose just now to look up, and seeing who had joined them, went deathly pale.

The uber-super-dee-duper-death-glare-of-doom-and-the-apocalypse that Saito was sporting intensified. "…SHINOMORI…"

"…Aa…" A hand went to the hilt of a kodachi.

Observing this, Megumi rushed to kneel next to Misao. "Misao-chan…are you all right?"

The young ninja's breath was erratic and shallow. "M-M-Megumi…" She clutched at the older woman's hand.

Saito didn't so much as glance at them as he stepped forward towards Aoshi, growling like a wild wolf. "SHINOMORI…"

"Shh…it's OK, Misao-chan…he won't touch you…it's all right…"

Misao buried her head in her knees and huddled in the corner.

The wolf gripped the hilt of his katana until his knuckles turned white, his whole body shaking with barely suppressed anger. "You…you bastard…"

"Misao-chan…it's all right…no one's going to do anything to you…"

Only sobs answered her.

Aoshi lowered his head and took a deep breath. "…I…did something…yes, I suppose I did…" His eyes avoided Misao's trembling form at all costs.

The elder man glared with more hatred than previously thought possible one human could feel towards another. "You did more than SOMETHING, Shinomori!" The sound of his katana ringing out of its sheath was deafening. "You KNOW what you did, you bastard! So why don't you ADMIT IT?"

"Please, listen to me, Misao-chan…"

He winced slightly. "I…it was…I mean…"

Saito snarled and slammed him up against the nearest wall, katana at his throat. "Yes, SHINOMORI…speak now, or never again…" His glare had turned into a frightening, crazed grin.

"Misao-chan!"

Aoshi stared at him coldly, not missing a beat. "I. Raped. Misao. Yes, I admit it, wolf." He pulled out his kodachis at shoved Saito away.

His glare passed all previous. "So you FINALLY admit it?" Almost as a reflex, he assumed the gatotsu stance. "You slimy, filthy BASTARD!"

"MISAO-CHAN!"

The younger simply stared coldly back. "I do." The thrust came quickly after, obviously with the intention of making Aoshi-kabobs, but Aoshi dodged it with ease and sliced his own kodachis downwards. "That's right, Saito…kill me…then you'll be a MURDERER in Misao's eyes…" His own eyes showed no hint of emotion.

Saito blocked, practically insane in his hatred. "Then so be it, Shinomori…as long as you're DEAD!" He thrust again, and the battle truly began.

"I…I can't stop remembering…Megumi…"

"It's all right…it's all right…"

"I…I'm not clean…anymore…"

"Shh…no, you're clean…you're FINE, Misao-chan…you're safe…"

Aoshi fell backwards, breathing heavily. "…She'll…sh-she'll hate you…"

Saito's eyes were blank. "I don't care…as long as…" He leveled his katana into the gatotsu stance once again. "…As long as YOU'RE not around to hurt her, SHINOMORI!"

The onmitsu assumed his stance for his own attack. "I'll take you down with me, Saito."

A glare was his reply. "I'd LOVE to see you try…"

"N-No…I…I'm not…"

"Shh…it's all right…you're beautiful…you're untainted…sky, remember? You're sky…"

Misao suddenly raised her head. "WHY? WHY AOSHI-SAMA? WHYYYY?" she screamed hysterically.

Aoshi staggered slightly at the sudden outburst, no idea what to say. "…"

The other growled, still in his stance. "Look at her, Shinomori…look what you've DONE…"

Tears poured down Misao's face in rivers. "WH-WHY WOULD YOU D-DO THAT T-T-TO ME?"

Megumi fruitlessly tried to calm Misao down, holding her wrists tightly. "M-Misao-chan…hush…quiet…"

Aoshi looked away and swallowed hard. "…I-I…I don't…I don't know…"

The cop snarled at him. "You're PATHETIC, Shinomori…you deserve death more than anyone I've ever met."

Misao struggled against Megumi. "TELL ME! GODDAMMIT, I NEED TO KNOW! TELL ME, YOU BASTARD!" she cried frantically.

"I-I…I don't…" His eyes narrowed and he balled his fists. "…I WAS JEALOUS!"

Saito's eyes also narrowed. "I should kill you right now, scum…another breath of air is too good for you!" He settled more firmly into his stance.

Misao simply pulled herself into a ball and sobbed, while Megumi tried (and failed) to comfort her.

"ZEROSHIKI!"

"Ngh…" Aoshi tried to dodge it, but his trenchcoat got caught and torn. "FOOL! Kodachi nito ryuu, kaiten kenbu!"

Saito's eyes darted left and right, trying to find the real Aoshi. "…Hell…"

"HA!" The two small swords came swinging in, the wielder coldly expressionless as always.

The older man spun and blocked it, pushing him back slightly. "It's not…so easy to sneak up…behind me, Shinomori…" One eye was slightly narrowed, and he was breathing heavily from the effort.

Aoshi's eyes froze even more. "Nor I." His other sword swung around, slicing at Saito's shoulder, who threw himself backwards in an attempt to dodge.

Saito hissed at the long wound the kodachi made in his shoulder. "Tch…I swear, you shall DIE, Shinomori!"

"M-Misao-chan…please, you MUST calm down…"

"N-NO…!"

The ex-Oniwabanshu leader took a defensive stance. "TRY it."

"Misao-chan…please, PLEASE calm down…y-you're scaring me…please…"

Saito snarled, then thrust forward with everything he had. "DIE, SHINOMORI!"

"Too slow, Saito!" he cried, dodging it.

The katana slashed sideways. "You forgot the second part, idiot!"

Aoshi's eyes widened slightly. "What…?"

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Megumi jumped slightly, staring. "M-Misao-chan?"

Saito froze an inch from killing Aoshi. "…" He turned to look at Misao. "…I-itachi?"

Misao sobbed into Megumi's sleeve. "D-don't…k-k-kill him…"

Aoshi's eyes widened more. "Wh…WHAT?"

Meanwhile, Saito's eyes narrowed. "I MUST kill him, Misao! For what he DID to you, he shall PERISH BY MY BLADE!"

She shook her head wordlessly, ignoring Megumi's attempts to comfort her, tears pouring down.

Saito growled, frustrated. "But…WHY? WHY DO YOU NOT WANT HIM DEAD, MISAO? He HAS to die!"

Her bangs hid her face. "Dying…gives him an escape…I want him to live…w-with all this…guilt…"

Aoshi's eyes started to narrow again. "I KNEW it could not be pity that you felt…"

The other snarled and shoved him back against the wall. "You have NO RIGHT to speak to her, Shinomori! NONE!"

He glared back but didn't speak.

Megumi nodded slowly. "…Yes…I agree with Misao…he should have to live with what he did…"

The girl dissolved into tears on the doctor's shoulder.

Saito smirked slightly and bitterly. "Good…you've finally learned to hold your tongue..."

Icy eyes met his. "And you will as well…" The man shoved a kodachi through Saito's abdomen, about the level of his liver.

Time seemed to slow, until Misao began screaming again. "N-NO!"

Saito's eyes widened slowly and his mouth fell open in shock. "N-ngh…gh…"

Megumi's hand flew over her mouth. "…O-oh…dear Kami, no…" Her face paled past white.

He gripped at the sword, breathing heavily. "…Y-You…you bast…ard…" Saito coughed, and a line of blood trickled down his chin.

Aoshi coldly yanked out the sword. "Die."

Tears dripped silently down Megumi's face. "…N-no…that didn't…j-just happen…"

Saito crashed to his knees and started coughing up blood. "…Y-you…b-bastard…"

Misao was having trouble breathing normally. "H-how…WH-WHY?"

Aoshi kicked the dying man aside. " 'Why', Misao-chan? I had to."

She shook her head, eyes wide. "N-no…you didn't…"

The other man hit the floor, eyes closed tightly in pain. "…M…Misao…"

Misao stared in horror as Aoshi advanced, dropping to one knee and stroking her cheek gently. "Don't cry, Misao-chan…it doesn't suit you at all…"

She jerked away. "DON'T COME NEAR ME!" The kunoichi clutched at Megumi, who launched herself backwards and held Misao to her.

"DON'T TOUCH HER, SHINOMORI!"

Saito tried to push himself up. "…Stay…away from…Misao…Shinomori…" He gripped his gaping wound, refusing to die. "…Honorless…coward…"

Aoshi pulled back from Misao and stood, gazing at him emotionlessly. "You aren't dead yet, Saito?"

He growled, and more blood dripped down. "…Not…a-as long…as you're…alive…"

The kodachi emotionlessly stabbed Saito again, just to the left. "Misao would only hate you more if I died and you lived…"

"G-get me away, M-Megumi…"

Saito fell back, gritting his teeth in pain. "I…won't…die, yet…you…you're coming w-with…me…" He shakily reached for his katana.

"S-SANOSUKE! SANO! SAAAANOOOOOSUUUUUKEEEE!"

"WHAT IS IT, MEGUMI?"

Aoshi turned from Saito to gaze coldly at the newcomer. "…Aa…Sagara…"

During Aoshi's distraction, Saito tried again to reach his katana. "…Misao…run…get…g-get away…"

Sano's eyes narrowed viciously. "You BASTARD!" He rushed forward.

Aoshi gave a cold smirk. "Not the best thing to do unarmed, Sagara…" The man stepped easily to the right.

The younger turned and his right fist headed straight at the abdomen of the other man, intending to Futae No Kiwami him to hell and back. But Aoshi only gave another cold smirk. "…Fool…" He easily dodged it, then sent the first kodachi through Sano's shoulder and into the wall, successfully pinning him.

Sano's mouth opened reflexively and blood flew out. Megumi's hands flew over her mouth, stifling her scream.

Meanwhile, having horribly failed to reclaim his katana, Saito tried to crawl over to Misao. "…Itachi…" His body was wracked with a coughing fit, and Misao only cried harder.

Aoshi gave a bitter laugh. "Such a fool…" He slammed his other kodachi through the tori-atama's other shoulder.

Sanosuke's eyes fluttered close. "D-dammit…s-sorry, Meg-gitsune…"

"SANOOOOOOO!" she screamed in horror.

Saito painfully pulled himself into a sitting position, breathing hard. "…D-damn you…Shinomori…d-don't you…dare…die, Sagara…"

The younger cracked an eye and yanked the kodachi out of his left shoulder. "Wasn't…p-planning on it…"

Aoshi grabbed the hilt of the other and pulled it out furiously. "Aa…pathetic…" He turned back to Megumi and Misao, still smirking. Misao shrunk back and winced.

The wounded wolf growled weakly at Aoshi. "Come…no closer, Shinomori…"

He sliced the man's sword arm open from elbow to wrist. "Die, won't you?"

Saito groaned in agony. "…Y-you…honorless…scum…" His vision began to swim.

Megumi threw herself in front of Misao, brandishing a tanto. "GET AWAY, SHINOMORI!"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "A tanto, Miss Takani?"

She trembled with fury, tears streaking down both her cheeks. "Y-yes, a tanto…j-just…get away, st-stay AWAY!" She glanced over at Sano and sobbed harder. "GET AWAY, YOU BASTARD!"

Aoshi neatly plucked the tanto out of her hands and threw it aside. "Move, Takani." Megumi launched herself at him and bit into his arm with all she had. He shook her off and flung her across the room. "Foolish…"

As she hit the floor, dazed, Sanosuke gave a wordless yell of rage. "BASTARD!" The man tried to drag himself over to her. "M…Megumi…"

Saito breathed heavily. "…R-run…Misao…"

Misao was frozen with fright as Aoshi gently embraced her and lifted her into his arms. "My sweet…why should you run…?" She jerked violently in his arms, crying.

The wolf growled, trying his hardest to stay away from the light. "D-DAMN YOU, SHINOMORI!" He grabbed at his katana with his last strength and staggered to his feet. "…Put…Misao…DOWN…" Saito leaned his injured left fist against the wall to steady himself.

"S-Sano…Sanosuke…I-I'm sorry…I can't…I can't beat h-him for y-you…"

"It's…all right, Megitsune…d-don't worry…"

Aoshi adjusted Misao so she was held in one arm. "…You're so beautiful, Misao…" With the other hand, he stroked back her hair softly.

Misao shuddered violently.

"S-Sano…you're in…s-so much p-pain…"

"Nah…I'm fine…helps business, right? Well…it would…"

Saito snarled and started limping towards them. "Shi…nomori…p-put…her d-down…NOW!" He nearly fell, but managed to right himself.

Aoshi gave a cold smirk. "All right…" Placing Misao gently on the ground, he proceeded to run Saito through the chest.

"…I-I'm so…s-so sorry, Sanosuke…"

"Shinomori's a twisted guy…"

Saito tried to smirk back at him, only managing a twisted grimace, then walked into the blade so it went more through him. "…I-idiot…" He weakly lifted his katana and positioned it over the other man's heart. "…Now…d-die…"

"…He deserves…HELL! B-BURN IN HELL, SH-SHINOMORI AOSHI!"

Aoshi pulled the katana out of the cop's hand and threw it away, jerking the kodachi out with a sideways motion. "You."

Misao's eyes went impossibly wide in pure terror and she screamed hysterically.

He crashed to his knees, vision going black. "O…ki…ta…" The last wolf fell forward to the floor, not moving.

"SAITO!" Sano yelled, eyes wide. "SHINOMORI, YOU BASTARD!"

Aoshi coldly tossed aside the blood-soaked kodachi and turned back to Misao, who desperately crawled backwards. She hit the wall and bit her lip hard. He gently stroked her cheek. "Why are you trying to leave, my Misao?"

"S-Sano…I-I can…use th-that k-kodachi…"

"I can't reach…"

"N-no…but…I c-can."

Misao jerked her head away and curled into a ball.

He knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her. "Do not be afraid, my Misao…everything will be fine now…"

She tried to get away. "D-don't TOUCH me!"

Aoshi gave an icy smirk. "Still thinking about the wolf? Well, you won't have to…he's gone, my Misao…and now you're TRULY mine…"

The girl shook her head desperately. "N-no…NO! DON'T!"

Suddenly Aoshi whipped around and snatched the kodachi from Megumi, blade first. "That was stupid, Takani…I heard you the whole time…" Swiftly he plowed his fist into her stomach. "…Goodnight…"

She coughed once, and then crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Sanosuke's eyes widened. "MEGUMI!"

Misao's eyes also widened. "N-no…NO…"

He smirked coldly, and then turned back to Misao. "Come, my angel…surely you aren't afraid of me…?" Gently he placed a hand on her head.

She jerked her head away, tears pouring. "D-don't touch me, you b-bastard…"

Aoshi's eyes were emotionless. "I thought you loved me, my Misao…" He gently tugged on her braid. "…Don't you, still…?"

HER eyes were wild. "G-get away…"

He smirked. "No, I don't believe I shall…" Aoshi picked her up into his arms again.

Misao screwed her eyes shut, leaning away from him. "…N-no…"

Aoshi kissed her tenderly. "Don't be afraid, my Misao…"

She turned her head violently. "S-stop…"

He only kissed her again and placed her on the floor. "Stay here, Misao-koi…" He turned to advance on Sano, who was trying to move Megumi away. Misao collapsed and wiped her lips viciously with the back of her hand.

Sanosuke held Megumi closely to him. "Sh-Shinomori…don't t-touch her…"

Coldly Aoshi stabbed both kodachis through the back of Megumi's shoulder and into Sano's.

His eyes went wide. "G-gh…"

Megumi's eyes jerked open and her lips parted in pain. "…Nn…"

Aoshi yanked out the kodachis and slowly backed up, assuming a stance. Tightly, Sano hugged Megumi to him.

He didn't relax his stance, but Aoshi raised an eyebrow. "You think that will save her, Sagara?"

Megumi buried her face in Sano's shoulder, sobbing hysterically. Sano just tightened his arm around her. "Maybe…or at least…stall…for some time…"

She shivered violently. "…I-I'm…so afraid, S-Sano…"

"You should be, Takani." Aoshi's eyes were completely expressionless.

Sano turned her away. "Don't touch her, Shinomori!"

He gave an icy glare. "Quit trying to stall…and die…"

Unnoticed by the preoccupied ninja, Misao pulled out a kunai and moved across the room, then stabbing it into the back of Aoshi's neck. "D-die…y-you b-b-bastard…" She started crying; yanking the kunai out and stabbing it back in several times, before pulling it out for good, sticky with blood. She fell to her knees, sobbing hysterically. Slowly Aoshi's eyes widened, and he crumpled to the floor, quite dead.

Sano held Megumi's head firmly to him. "D-don't look…f-fox…"

Misao's eyes closed and she turned the kunai in to face her heart, pressing the tip gently down. "And now…I…see death…and I embrace it…with honor…just like…YOU'D want me to…Hajime…"

Megumi yanked her head out of his grasp and gazed in horror at Misao. "N-NO!"

But the kunai was already buried in Misao's chest, and her blood was slowly staining the material of her shinobi outfit.

The doctor gave a scream and clutched at Sano, whose eyes widened in disbelief. "DAMMIT!"

Several minutes passed before the remaining two dared to move again.

Sano slowly got up, holding his right shoulder. "She's…gone…isn't she…" It came as a statement.

Megumi buried her face into her palms. "…S-Sano…th-they're…all d-dead…" Her body shuddered violently.

He shook his head disbelievingly, gently pulling Megumi into his arms and holding her securely. "What…what a nightmare…I can't believe it…"

"M-Misao-chan…th-the stupid cop…and…damned…Shinomori…all gone…" She gripped his coat tightly with both of her hands.

The man ran a hand through her hair. "Go 'head 'n' cry…" Though he said this firmly, he was fighting back tears himself.

She burst into sobs obligingly, thoroughly soaking his jacket. "Sano-s-suke…"

The number of tears Sano shed as well shall remain a mystery…but let's just say it was more than one.

Megumi fiercely wiped away her own. "W-well…at least Misao-chan…is with Saito-san n-now…and…that's what sh-she wanted…"

He lowered his head and gave a twisted grin. "Yeah…I guess you're right…"

.x.x.x.x.

"HAJIME! WAIT UP!" Misao cried happily, running top speed along the clouds.

Saito laughed along with Okita, dressed in his full Shinsengumi regalia, as well as looking much younger. "Just run faster, itachi!"

Okita smiled. "You're so mean, Saito-san! I'll wait even if he won't, Misao-chan!"

Misao grinned and ran a little faster. "You're so COLD, Hajime!" She gave him a full-on flying glomp that nearly caused him to topple over.

"Ah, and you love me for it, right?" He smirked.

The first captain grinned and sparkled. "Aaaw…you two are so cute…" He skipped a little away. "Well, I'll be seeing you later! I'm off to haunt Tokyo!" He whistled a cheerful tune and disappeared.

Misao grinned. "Biya, Okita!" Happily, she gave Saito a kiss. "…Always…" She paused, her grin fading slightly. "Hajime…are you…mad, that I followed you?"

He sighed, and then grinned again. "Partially…but how can I stay mad when I'm able to see you again…?" Saito placed her down and hugged her to him.

Her grin returned. "And now…it's forever, ne, Hajime?"

Saito smirked. "That's right…and don't you dare get sick of me, because I won't leave…"

Misao giggled happily and huggled (yes, huggled) him. "I don't WANT you to…"

The wolf's smirk widened. "Good…and now…" He lifted her into his arms bridal-style. "…You can't call me old anymore…"

She grinned back. "And YOU can't call me young…" She kissed him briefly. "I love you, Hajime…"

He kissed her back. "And I love you, Misao…for eternity and beyond…"

Misao closed her eyes and snuggled him. "Forever…"

Saito laughed and started walking away with her. "…WELL…where to, my angel? Care to meet the other captains of the Shinsengumi? I'm sure they'd love to see you…"

She smiled. "All right…after all, we have all the time in the world…"

.x.x.x.x.

Lexi: THE END! Finally!

Saito Fangirls: I can't believe you KILLED WOLFIE! (Death glares)

Aoshi Fangirls: I can't believe he ACTUALLY DID rape Misao! And THEN you KILLED him, TOO! (Death glares)

Sano Fangirls: And WHAT was with all that shoulder stabbing? (Death glares)

Kenshin Fangirls: KENSHIN wasn't even IN this! (Death glares)

Gay Angst Police: (Hold up badges) Sorry, but you don't have a license for making Saito an angsty straight. He must be an angsty gay or not angsty at all. (Death glares)

Lexi: O.O ACK! (Runs away top-speed) REVIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEW!