Chapter 2: A Proper Thank You

Oh boy…

Sano stared back at the beauty he never thought he'd see again and gulped. Of all the people and all the circumstances, why did he have to meet this guy again only when he'd got into trouble? He watched the recognition in Kenshin's eyes and felt kind of honoured that he remembered him.

The stunned face of his new teacher faded a little and turned into a kind smile, "So you're Sanosuke Sagara, it's nice to meet you again." He said, bowing polity.

"Yeah...heh, small world isn't it?" Sano grinned nervously.

He was still in shock himself at seeing him here. So Kenshin Himura was going to be his class form teacher for the year huh? Weird, he doesn't seem old enough to be a teacher, maybe he's a gifted 18 year old or something? That made him older than him, which felt even weirder to be calling him teacher, although it was a nice idea, in a cute kind of way. He was all smiles again though, just like he was that night. Sano had never thought he'd get another chance to see him again, and now this! It really was a small world…not that he was complaining.

"That it is, I had no idea that you were a student the other night though." He said, as he turned and walked back to his desk.

Sano watched him walk, his once flowing hair now tied back in loose ponytail. "Well, no offence, but I gotta say I'm surprised you're a teacher." He said, before the pause in his reply became too obvious, "I kinda thought you were student." he replied, taking his movements as a hint and followed him, sitting down in the wooden chair opposite his own.

Kenshin smiled at him as he sat down, "I actually get that quite a lot." Sano smiled back at him, you could do nothing else but smile at that cute face. This was a nice little conversation beginning.

"So you must be the one that was expelled from your last college?" came the innocent question.

Sano almost fell off his chair. So much for a pleasant conversation. "Ah, haha, yeah, that was-" he paused when he saw Kenshin remove a file from one of his draws and open the front page, skimming through the words,

"Constantly fighting with other students, breaking property, inappropriate language in front of teachers and…" Kenshin stopped, brought the file closer to his face as if reading it when it was bigger would make a difference, raised his eyebrows and looked up at him, "…letting a greyhound loose in a teachers house for giving you a low grade?"

Sano looked up at him guiltily. Every point he had picked out Sano sunk further and further into his chair. "Heh…err, yeah, I did that a while back." He couldn't look him in the eyes any longer and looked away. For such an un-intimidating person, Kenshin sure knew how to make you feel guilty. Maybe it was because you didn't want to see a look of disappointment across that pretty face.

Sano risked an ashamed look at youthful redhead, and saw a slight smile on his lips as he continued reading all the things that had piled up that had resulted in his expulsion from his last college. After a short silence, he looked up from the file, "Certainly creative aren't you?" he smiled at him.

Sano smiled back nervously, not quite sure what to make of him as a teacher yet, he seemed too smiley, too gorgeous and too happy to take him seriously. Sano found his heart beating fast just sitting here, knowing they were alone. This was ridiculous! He didn't even the know the guy and he'd been sitting with him for only a few minutes and he felt like a school kid with his first crush!

After a moment, Kenshin put the file back down on his desk and looked across at him. "I'd rather not have to give you one of those boring lectures I'm sure you've heard before, I expect you already know what I would say anyway, but just for the record as I am supposed to do something, I'll just say one thing that I will."

Sano looked at him sheepishly, noticing those little extra few words he put at the end of his sentence which was seriously cute, but tried to push that thought to the back of his mind for the moment as he was technically here to be told off, not enjoying the 'view'.

Kenshin looked at him softly, "You know not to do it again right?" His eyes had narrowed a little, but he was still smiling gently, and Sano's sheepish face smiled back.

"No problem."

Funny, out of all the lectures he'd had in the past, this was the first one where he truly felt like he would listen and try and loosen up a bit on the fights. For Kenshin Himura, he'd become a monk if he had too!…..that could be quite comical. Sano blinked out of his thoughts when he noticed Kenshin looking at him strangely, before he suddenly looked away shyly when he noticed him.

"Sorry I…" he began, before smiling timidly and looking back, "I just wanted to say thank you for the other night."

So, things weren't alright that night after all, but jeez, this was going to be a weird situation if he found out he only did that because he 'liked' him, "Sure thing," Sano replied, waving it off with his hand, "Do it all the time."

"Oh."

Was that a disappointed tone in that 'oh'? Indeed, Kenshin did look a little taken-a-back. Great, now he upset the guy, but why would he have upset him by saying he did that for everyone? Not that he did, but he couldn't let him find that out.

The atmosphere suddenly became very heavy when neither of them knew what to say next, and were sitting in an uncomfortable silence. Sanosuke wanted to ask him what was going on that night, but it wasn't his business to pry into. Still, as he looked at that pretty face, he wanted to know more about him. He wanted to know how he got that scar on his cheek, what he liked to have for breakfast in the mornings, what address that guy he was with in club lived at so he could go and beat him up, what side of the bed he liked to sleep…on—WHOA!

"Um, well I've got to get things organised for my class, would you mind rounding them all up from the common room and getting them to class for me?" he smiled a little ineptly.

"Sure thing." Sano said, getting up from the chair before he got carried away in his day dreams.

As he walked to the door however, he glanced back. He watched his beautiful teacher for a moment, looking busy with papers, a slight frown to his eyes as he tried to remember where he had put the new assignment for his next lecture. The warm, early autumn breeze softly floated through the open window, ruffling the ends of his tied back hair, making him brush a strand of it out his eyes. The way he was sitting directly in front the window made the golden sunlight filtering through leave rays of light around his frame, Kenshin completely unaware that he looked like someone that had come out of a dream.

Man he looks gorgeous.

"Is something the matter Sanosuke?" came the question from a curiously blinking Kenshin, as Sano suddenly realised he was staring straight back at him.

"Ohhh-err…" he stuttered, suddenly blushing at beginning caught out, "Yeah…how old are you?"

Kenshin's eyes went wide for a moment at the abrupt form of the question, but he soon smiled again. Sanosuke was obviously just a very straightforward and direct person. "I'm 25."

"25!" Sano exclaimed loudly, causing a small "Oro!" to escape the sudden surprised Kenshin. Sano stared at him with wide eyes, "Really?" he said, a little gob smacked. So much for his gifted 18 year old theory.

Kenshin smiled again, "I get that a lot too."

And so, the first day of Sanosuke's strange new college life began. Most of the students stayed on campus, but he lived in a tiny flat on the outskirts of town. His parents divorced when he was a kid and in exchange for his mother raising him, his father was to pay any bills needed for his education, which included accommodation. He needed to work to live though, which is why he had the part time evening job at Heaven. That always sounded so strange saying that. "Where do you work?" "I work in Heaven." That always left people with a bewildered expression on their faces telling them that.

Sano wandered into the lunch hall at 12pm after spending the whole morning being introduced to various people, filling in forms, getting lost around the massive building, and eventually joining in for half a lesson at 11.15. He was looking forward to the lesson after lunch however, because that would be his first Ancient Japanese History lesson with his favourite redhead, and had decided then and there he was very lucky to have chosen that subject as one of his college subjects, form teacher and a class teacher, he'd get to see as much of him as he could. As Sano stood in the lunch line, his left hand shoved in his pocket, the other holding a tray at his side, he smirked to himself.

Man, he'd really gotten smitten over this guy.

"Oh great, you're not still here are you?"

Sano turned to his right to see a boy standing next to him with a familiar spiky haired head glaring up at him, "Oh it's you," Sano said calmly, "Yahiko wasn't it? Sorry about the punch earlier."

"Don't act so casual with me!" the younger boy shouted angrily, a nice purple bruise having formed around his left cheek, "And that punch was nothing! I barely even felt it!"

"Yahiko stop showing off, you were out cold for two hours!"

Yahiko flinched and swiftly turned his glare to face his best friend, although sometimes he wondered why he put the word 'best' in front of it.

"Whose side are you on Kaoru?"

Ignoring Yahiko and pushing past him, flickering the large indigo ribbon in her hair in his face, Kaoru stood next to Sano, holding out her hand, "Hi there! Sorry about earlier, Yahiko didn't want to go back to college today and he was trying to escape. I'm Kaoru Kamiya, nice to meet you!" she smiled.

Sano nodded back at her, shaking her hand, "Sanosuke Sagara."

"What class are you in?"

"Ke- Mr Himura's."

Kaoru grinned happily, "Oh you're in our class then!" she clasped her hands together and you could almost see the love hearts floating about her head, "Have you meet Kenshin yet? Don't you think he's just wonderful?"

Sano stared at her, "Kenshin? A bit relaxed isn't it?"

"He doesn't like us calling him Mr Himura." Yahiko joined in, "So everyone just calls him Kenshin. He's a cool teacher, I had him last year."

"Oh." So he got to call him Kenshin did he? Good, because he was bound to slip up and call him that anyway. Sano suddenly frowned, "Wait a minute, did you say you had him last year?"

"Yeah that's right."

"Despite how he might look," Kaoru said, "Yahiko is actually really bright and was brought up a year, skipping his first year of college."

"Yeah," Yahiko smirked, crossing his arms, "so you gotta do what I tell ya to cos I'm obviously better than you."

Before Sano could retort back to that however, a cheerful voice rang out behind them, "Now now Yahiko, didn't Mr Shinomori say something about getting an ego?"

The three of them turned to see Kenshin standing behind them, another smile on his face as he held onto a tray of food. Sano almost felt like laughing, if it wasn't for the fact he knew he was a teacher, Kenshin looked exactly like a regular student, the several-sizes-too-big burgundy coloured jumper he was wearing falling half way over his hands.

"Oh yeah, he did." Yahiko laughed embarrassingly, rubbing the back of his head.

Kenshin nodded at them politely, but when his eyes fell on Sano, a small smile reached his lips as well. Turning away to head back to his office to eat his lunch, Kaoru suddenly seemed to spring into life.

"Oh Kenshin! Can we sit with you during lunch today again?" shouted Kaoru's hopeful voice after him.

Kenshin stopped and looked over his shoulder, "I'm sorry Miss Kaoru, but I have some work to be doing this lunchtime, that I do."

Her face fell, "Oh…ok then."

As he wandered off out of sight through the crowds of other students, Sano turned to Yahiko, "You have lunch with him too?" he asked surprised.

"He usually sits with the students during lunch, I don't think the other teachers like him too much cos he's so laid back with us."

Kaoru sighed deeply, a love-struck look on her face as she stared into the direction he'd long since disappeared from.

Sano stared down at her, "….well it's obvious who you have a crush on." he stated blankly, waving a hand in front of her large admiring eyes, admitting to himself though if it wasn't for the fact they were in a crowed lunch hall he would have been doing the exact same thing.

"Her and the other half of the female population." Yahiko said quietly.

"Why half?" Sano inquired, as a bored looking man the other side of the canteen filled up several bowls of rice for them.

"Cos the girls who don't like Kenshin all go for Aoshi Shinomori. He's the English Language teacher. Oh yeah, and a word of warning," Yahiko added, taking three apples from one of the fruit bowls, "When you meet a girl called Misao, don't mention him in front of her."

"Why not?"

"Cos she'll beat you up for mentioning him without her permission. She's scarily obsessed with him. She even failed last year on purpose so she could repeat it again just to be near him, she's completely insane!"

"She also happens to be our friend so stop bad mouthing her!" Kaoru demanded, who had finally snapped out of her day dream of Kenshin and returned to reality.

Sano closed his eyes for a moment to try and remember this, "So lemme get this straight, you were brought up a year, this Misao girl was brought down a year, and youuu…" he said, motioning towards Kaoru, who opened her mouth to answer but Yahiko got there first.

"She's just ugly!"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

Sano glared at them once again as they began to tear at each other, oblivious to the people around them telling them to be careful, just as they knocked someones food tray out their hands.

What a weird bunch of friends.

Sanosuke had ended up sitting with these two during lunch, after pouring a glass of water over Yahiko's head to calm him down. He didn't know anyone else here, so he might as well stick with them for now.

Having grabbed another toothpick, milling it over between his teeth, Sano headed back towards the common room to hang out in until Kenshin's lesson after lunch. Sano found himself smiling once again at the thought of his little teacher, and almost forgot to stop when a group of students appeared round a corner in front of him. Moving out the way before turning down that same corridor, Sano suddenly choked on his toothpick before bringing his hand to his mouth to take it out quickly, as he stared down at the man he'd just been day dreaming about.

"Kenshin!" he exclaimed, who he'd nearly ran into, "Sorry I didn't see…" Sano trailed off as he looked down at him. His eyes weren't the same happy and innocent eyes they had been earlier on, they were narrow, staring at the floor to one side avoiding eye contact.

"Hello Sanosuke." He said bluntly, before moving to one side and continuing walking.

Sano turned around and watched him go, holding some books to his chest as he hurriedly headed off down the corridor. "What was that?" he asked himself, concerned for the lack of happiness that usually seemed to follow him.

Frowning but not quite knowing what he could do, he decided he'd see if he could do anything later for him, and turned back around continue to the common room. He had only taken three steps though before he stopped, quickly ducked behind an open door, and peered cautiously round the side.

Out of Kenshin's office, closing the door behind him as he leant back against it, stood a certain man he couldn't believe was actually here. He stood there for a minute, before a sickening smile reached his lips, and he turned down the opposite direction to Kenshin. As he disappeared, Sanosuke found his fists clenching in anger. What was he doing here? What was he doing in Kenshin's office? Kenshin had gone there to work during lunch, he was fine then but just now he looked so upset about something. The sickening smile on that guys face, the distressed one on Kenshin's…..what was he…

…What is Saito doing here?

Sanosuke kept a close eye on Kenshin after that. In his lesson after lunch Kenshin was back smiling again, but these smiles didn't reach his eyes like the ones he'd seen this morning. After that he didn't see him for the rest of the day, but he couldn't pay attention to any other classes. All he could see was Kenshin's smiling face, then the panicked one he had witnessed just before he saw Saito. Who was this guy? And what was he doing wandering around the college? If he found out he was a teacher here, then he prayed for the guys own health he didn't have him in any classes. He was dressed fairly teacherish, a plain black suit, a strict teacher perhaps. But after memorising his name he would have thought he would have spotted it in the list of teachers he'd been given this morning on who teaches what and where.

Sano pondered this as he walked towards the main doors heading home at the end of the day. Most other students were heading up to their rooms, while others clambered into their cars to head to their shared houses for the night. Sano was lucky to live alone, he didn't do sharing, he liked his privacy too much. It was hardly a big place, in fact it was more like a bedsit, but it suited him just fine. It was about a 40 minute walk to get back, so walking through the half empty car park, he headed on back home.

"Would you like a lift home?"

Pausing, Sano looked back to his left to the little red Honda Civic he's just passed to see the drivers window rolled down. There looking up at him was Kenshin, yet another smile on his face, but this close up, Sano could see a sadness in his eyes. It was a silent plee for someone to keep him company, and Sano wondered if he had been waiting for him. He hadn't seen him come out in front of him, which meant had he really just been sitting there? The look in his eyes told Sano that something was wrong, but he didn't want to tell him, just that he needed someone for a little while.

"Thanks." he replied, and to see the true smile that reached Kenshin's eyes at that reply was worth it itself. Sano wandered round the other side of the car, opening the door and sitting down inside. When he actually shut the door however, his hand stayed on the handle as he suddenly realised what kind of situation he'd just put himself in.

He'd just got in Kenshin's car….alone…again…and right next to each other.

Gulping, he turned his head to see Kenshin staring at him with that wistful expression again, and just as before, he quickly looked away, making himself look busy putting the keys in the ignition as if he hadn't been doing anything.

Sano let out a quiet puff of air as he stared out the front windscreen, the engine starting up. Walking it may be 40 minutes, but the 10 minutes in the car would be the longest 10 minutes of his life.

Actually, make that 20 minutes.

Damn traffic….can't they see I'm nervous enough as it is! Sano cursed at the amount of cars on the street that was blocking his way home.

He was being torn between two different feelings sitting alone with Kenshin in his car. First of all, he was as nervous as hell being so close to him. He'd decided he agreed with his earlier thought when he was talking with Kenshin in his office that yes, he did have a crush on him…a very, very…very big crush on him, and being this close was driving him nuts! The second feeling however, was still concentrating on how sad Kenshin had looked earlier, still wondering what was going on. As he peered across at Kenshin, who was sitting there leaning one arm on the crook of the window looking entirely bored as he waited for the traffic to move, Sano wondered if now would be the best time to ask him what was going on in the club that night. They weren't going anywhere with this traffic, so he couldn't escape if he asked.

"Er…Kenshin?"

Kenshin looked up from leaning on the window, "Yes?"

"I know it's…none of my business…" Sano began, not entirely sure how he was going to phrase this, "…but I was just wonderi—"

"Ah it's moving!" Kenshin suddenly exclaimed, as the cars around them seemed to disappear down the road, and they started on the last bit of their journey again.

The moment had come and gone, and Sano resorted back to staring out the window. He was kinda glad they'd got going again, he suddenly felt rude for even thinking of interfering.

It was only a few more minutes, and as Sano directed him down various little streets, they came to the tall row of apartments that housed Sanosuke's home. Kenshin pulled up just outside and switched off the engine, the low rumble coming to a stop and silence filling the air again.

"Which one is yours?" Kenshin asked, leaning forward to get a better look out the windscreen.

"The top one, it's got a good view over Tokyo but…it is kinda small."

The street itself wasn't that good, piles of rubbish dotted about the pavements, water drains that desperately needed draining, and graffiti on every wall you could possibly see. The large building where Sano's own apartment was in was very dull, gravel grey walls and a broken glass door.

Kenshin looked worried.

Sano noticed this and laughed, "Oh don't worry, it's better than it looks trust me!"

Kenshin looked at him, but the smile on his face said it was alright, so Kenshin smiled back. Sano suddenly felt rooted to his seat. They were facing each other in a very small space, and as the two of them realised how close they were, both looked away at the same time.

"Well, err…thanks for the lift! It's real nice of ya." Sanosuke said, nervousness obvious on his face.

"You're welcome."

Grabbing his rucksack from by his feet and opening the car door, Sano climbed out and turned back around, leaning down slightly so he could see inside the car, "If you follow the road out you shou—"

Sano's eyes went wide and he froze.

Kenshin was kissing him!

He was too stunned to move a single muscle, let alone kiss him back, but his eyes were wide and staring at the now blurry face so close to his. Kenshin had leant across the passenger seat to get close enough, and now his eyes were closed, a faint blush on his cheeks as he kept his lips pressed against Sanosuke's for just a little bit longer. Sano's heart beat loudly against his chest…Kenshin was…Kenshin was….

He felt faint.

Kenshin's lips were soft and warm against his own, but before his brain could really get in to the situation, Kenshin pulled away, facing back out the windscreen so as not to look at him in the eye. Sano stayed leaned over for a minute in total shock, before moving slowly to stand up straight, eyes just as wide as they had been before.

Kenshin smiled shyly, that blush even redder than it had been just now, "That's a proper thank you for the other night." He said gently, and without another word, he leant back over to shut the passenger door, started up the engine, and drove down the dishevelled street and out of sight.

A few moments later and Sano found he could move his body again, his breath having caught in his throat, and the deepest blush he'd ever had on his cheeks. Breathing in short, sharp breaths as his heart rate began to return to normal, he slowly raised a finger to his lips, wanting to feel more of what he'd just been given, and unbelieving that it had just happened. Slowly lowering his arm again, he stared out into the street, eyes not looking at anything but the image of Kenshin's blushing face burned into his mind.

"…I need a cold shower."

The Next Morning….

Kenshin wandered down the maze of corridors heading to his office, holding another armful of books as he went. He walked slowly, head lowered, the buzz of morning students laughing and talking falling deaf on his ears as his mind was lost in dejected thoughts.

He couldn't stop him.

Saito, he…

Kenshin closed his eyes briefly to push back the thought of what Saito had done when he had found him waiting for him last night after dropping Sanosuke off home. He couldn't do anything, he couldn't stop him. He'd just have to learn to live with it and get on in life.

Unlocking his office door and walking inside, Kenshin dumped his books on his desk and went to open his window, letting some air in the stuffy office after being closed up for so many hours. Walking back round the other side of his desk with his back to the door, Kenshin picked up some of the books he'd placed there and flipped through them, seeing which ones he would need for today's lectures and assignments, ignoring the pain at his lower back. However his eyes wandered up to the sword hanging above his window, the polished silver sheath glimmering softly. His eyes saddened…maybe if he had that at home…perhaps he could have used it again…

'Knock knock'

Kenshin glanced to his door then back to his books, "Come in." he said, and the door opened. Kenshin noticed the faint giggling of girls outside his door as the person who had knocked walked in.

He turned around, and couldn't conceal the "Oro!" that escape him.

The previous night…

Kenshin walked into the oak walled elevator and turned, pressing the black and silver button that had the number 5 on it, the metal doors sliding shut. Leaning back against one of the side railings as the elevator made its way up to his apartment, Kenshin closed his eyes and sighed softly.

What was he doing? Kissing a student? One he'd barely known for only a few hours at that. But…Sanosuke Sagara…was he really just grateful to him for that night? Is that the only reason he had kissed him? Kenshin shook his head at his own thought, that was ridiculous. He'd never gone around kissing people just to thank them for things before. Kenshin smiled softly, a very small blush colouring the tops of his cheeks. He'd wanted to kiss him, saying it was a thank you was only to conceal the real reason. But was the real reason because he'd saved him from Saito that night anyway?

After Saito had suggested 'that', Kenshin was up and ready to leave, but Saito had pulled him back again, gripping his arm tightly. It was then that Sanosuke had come running over. Kenshin had prayed that he'd leave them alone, even though he wanted nothing more than to get out of there, he didn't want an innocent stranger to be involved in this. But Sanosuke had been persistent, and Kenshin could tell in Saito's tone of voice that if he didn't stop this 'polite' argument, then…Saito could…Kenshin had to stop it, so he looked up, putting the best smile on his face that he could, saying everything was fine.

He remembered how Sanosuke had stared at him, as he too stared back into those deep chocolate eyes. He saw such a determination there, and for a moment, Kenshin almost couldn't keep the blush back. This young man didn't even know him, but the look in his eyes; it was like he wanted to do anything to make sure he was okay.

He assured him that he was fine, but he had noticed his eyes move to his hand that was clasped to the seat. No matter how much Kenshin had tried to hide it, he still gave away that he needed to get out of there.

But just like Sanosuke, Saito was being just as stubborn as usual and not backing down. He'd been lucky the bouncers had come over…or he'd hate to think what would have happened to Sanosuke. When he had asked him what his name was, Kenshin felt no harm in telling him. After all, they were very unlikely to ever meet again, so it wouldn't be dangerous to him to know his name.

He had thought that really would have been the last time he'd see him, who would have known that a few days later he would be teaching that same young man in his class. He couldn't help himself, as soon as he had seen him, Kenshin's heart rate had shot up. At the time he had thought it was just the overwhelming thanks he wanted to give him for saving him that night…but now…

He had kissed him. Did he really feel something for him so quickly? But he was a teacher, and Sano was a student, did he just make a massive mistake by kissing him?

Kenshin sighed again, peering up at the electronic red letters of the number 5 appearing above the door. Well, whatever the feelings was, he'd have to squash it as soon as possible, he didn't want Sanosuke to ever find out about…

"Saito."

As the elevator doors opened, Kenshin found himself staring at a man standing by his apartment door, cigarette in hand, waiting for him.

"You're late." Saito said, taking a long drag of his cigarette and blowing it out through his nose, "Where have you been?"

Kenshin paused for a moment before walking through the open doors, shutting behind him as the rumble of the elevator returning to the ground floor slowly disappeared. "I just dropped a student off home, that is all." He said, eyes cautious of the man standing before him.

Saito took another drag of his cigarette and turned to look at it, "Oh dear, it would seem I need to throw this away now, you wouldn't be so kind as to let me in your home so I can dispose of it would you?"

Kenshin's eyes narrowed.

It's not like he had a choice.

He walked towards him, not taking his eyes of the seemingly calm man as he passed him, taking his door keys from his pocket. A few moments later the door was open, Kenshin taking his shoes off by the door and letting Saito walk in, those narrow eyes not leaving his form.

Saito had been here many a time before and headed to the kitchen, stubbing the butt of his cigarette out in the bottom of the sink, before running the water to get rid of the rest of it.

"What are you doing here Saito?" Kenshin asked, standing in the second doorway between the kitchen and the lounge.

Saito looked over at him and smiled, "What? No offer of tea? Even a little Sake?" came the sarcastic comment, as Kenshin scowled lightly and turned around, heading through his lounge.

"Perhaps if you would reduce the payment I would be able to afford to get you some Sake for your next visit." He said, turning around and watching Saito through the kitchen doorway, waiting for him to come in and sit down as he always did.

Saito chuckled lightly, "That's a good comeback." He said, walking through the doorway and kneeling down at the glass coffee table.

Kenshin watched him for a moment, wary of his every move, before kneeling down opposite him. There was something different about him in this visit. He seemed to be secretly smirking all the time. What is he thinking?

"Now then," Saito began, resting his clasped hands on the table, "The reason I had come to you this time was after hearing at lunch today that you could not afford to pay me this month, you actually caught me in a good mood. I was feeling generous, so I had come by to tell you that I would be happy to wait until the end of this week for your payment." He paused, and Kenshin frowned suspiciously. "That was until however…" Saito added darkly, "…that you did not show up back here on time." Saito looked across at him, eyes almost smirking on their own.

Kenshin scowled back at him, "As I said before, I was merely taking a student back home."

"Why?" came Saito's immediate question, "I do not recall ever telling you that you were allowed to be home late from work."

Kenshin paused, trying to read where this was going, "I have done nothing for you threaten me with…please tell me what it is you have come here for?"

Saito closed his eyes for a moment, taking a breath, and smiling disturbingly, "I was going to let you off until Friday for the payment, but now you've made me annoyed, so I think…'another'…form of payment is required." He opened his eyes at the stressed word and looked directly into Kenshin's worried eyes.

"….what kind of payment did you have in mind?" Kenshin asked, not entirely sure he wanted to know the answer.

Saito closed his eyes again, before slowly standing up. Kenshin immediately got up, defensive to the man he had never trusted.

"If you recall that evening a few nights before…I believe I had suggested something to you that I was most happily to except as payment if you could not reach your quota for the month."

Saito took a step aside of the coffee table, intent on walking towards Kenshin. Kenshin took a step back, eyes suddenly wide. What Saito had suggested that night, was something Kenshin would never, ever, concede to do.

"And as I said then also, I will find another way to pay you, your suggestion is not something I am willing to do."

Saito had continued to walk towards him, and Kenshin found himself backed up against a bookcase, looking up at the man towering above him.

Saito leant down, so his little cornered mouse could see the intention in his eyes, "I don't remember saying anything about you being willing…"

Kenshin only had time to widen his eyes in panic before Saito grabbed his chin forcefully, one arm wrapping itself tightly around his arms and waist trapping him, pulling him towards him and crushing his mouth down on his own, the split second of shock enough for Saito to evaded his mouth with his tongue.

Kenshin couldn't move. His arms were trapped and his chin was being held so tightly Saito was almost strangling him. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to use his smallness to his advantage by slipping down to get out of this death grip, but Saito saw his escape move and twisted one of his arms behind his back. Kenshin yelped as a sharp pain flew up his arm through his shoulder, but Saito through him back hard against the bookcase, several books falling from the top shelf. He leaned in close as Kenshin continued to struggle, but Saito just pulled his arm up further, causing Kenshin to grit his teeth to stop a louder cry to escape him.

Saito chuckled, "Call this your punishment for disobeying me. You said you would come straight home after work, but you didn't. You humiliated me by making me wait another half an hour just to tell you I was going to do you a favour."

"Eurhh," Kenshin groaned quietly through his clenched teeth, "Ever heard of a phone?" Kenshin snapped back, causing the sickening smirk on Saito's face to disappear and replaced by a fearsome one of fury.

Grabbing Kenshin's ponytail half way up, he yanked him away from the wall and threw him through the nearby door that was Kenshin's bedroom. As Saito shut the door behind him, Kenshin, who had fallen on his bed, scrambled over to his bedside phone.

Anyone else Kenshin could fend himself off…but Saito…

"Hold it!"

Just as Kenshin picked up the receiver, Saito had flipped him over on his front, holding one arm above his head, his legs across his own immobilising his whole body. His hand with the phone in was being held by the wrist, stopping him from dialling.

Saito tutted to himself, "Now now Kenshin, you know what happens if you call the police." Saito said softly, speaking into Kenshin's left ear as Kenshin tried to breath from the pillow his head was being pushed into, "If you go to the police, then before they get their hands on me, I'll burn down every place you've ever visited, kill every person you've ever spoken too." Kenshin's arm that was trying to get the phone to his ear stopped struggling, "Every person you know will die…" Saito smirked, "…especially that student you dropped off this afternoon, let's see now, what was his name again?…Oh yes, Sanosuke Sagara wasn't it?"

Kenshin's eyes went wide. How did he know Sano's name? Saito saw this reaction and smiled sickeningly. He squeezed Kenshin's wrist hard, making him flinch and drop the phone he was holding.

"I don't I like the idea of you being with that brat that insulted me that evening…" Saito said, pushing himself down on top of Kenshin's back. Kenshin took a sharp intake of breath at what he felt at the base of his spine, eyes wide, he found himself beginning to panic. Saito sneered in his ear, "...so I think I need to remind you of how big of a favour I'm doing for you in the long run." Kenshin closed his eyes. He knew exactly what Saito was going to say next, "If you don't do as I say…then I'll tell 'them' where you are, you know that. I think the Boss might like to know where his little escapee got to after all these years don't you think?"

"You use that same bribery tactic every time you want something from me Saito." Kenshin growled.

Saito smirked, "Of course I do…" he slowly licked the outer of Kenshin's left ear, making him squirm underneath him, "…because I know you can do nothing but comply." He whispered.

Kenshin could feel his heart rate quicken, this was Saito, and as much as he hated to admit it, there was nothing he could do to stop this. What he said was right. If he didn't do as he said, not only would he tell them, those people from his past, where he was…but he really would hurt so many people just out of spitefulness.

"There must be another way I can pay you?" Kenshin said hopefully trying to keep the desperation out his voice, having stopped any struggle and lying still on the bed, Saito's weight above him.

"No." Saito replied bluntly, "It's nice to have that extra amount of money from you every month…" Saito moved one hand to take the hair tie out of Kenshin's hair, pulling it slowly down letting the red waterfall cascade over his shoulders, "…but you've grown into a very beautiful young man over the years, so I'm sure it will be nice to have some fun with you too."

Kenshin's hand that was pinned above his head clutched onto the edges of his pillow. He couldn't do anything, he couldn't-do-anything! He let his eyes fall shut, unable to do anything but pray this would be over with as soon as possible, burying his face into the pillow, his body tense with what he knew would come.

He felt Saito's weight shift above him as he moved down to straddle the backs of his thighs. A cold hand ran up underneath his overly large jumper, feeling the soft skin hiding beneath it. Moving his hand around underneath, Saito pushed the jumper up a little further to expose the delicate, pale skin of his back. Kenshin kept his eyes firmly closed, not moving. If there wasn't anything he could do to stop him, then he was damn well going to be as difficult as he could be by not co-operating and refusing to move or make any noise. Hopefully Saito might get bored if he didn't react and stop.

Saito's hand found its way a little lower to Kenshin's belt buckle, swift fingers undoing the clasp and threading it through, throwing it behind him to the floor. He leered down at his obedient little puppy, leaning down and wrapping one arm around his waist.

"Kneel up." He said in his ear, but Kenshin didn't move.

Already knowing that he wouldn't comply, Saito used the arm around him to yank him upwards abruptly, catching him off guard as he fell back a little, half kneeling, half sitting in Saito's lap. Kenshin caught the other hand that had gone for his groin in the confusion and dug his fingernails in harshly, causing Saito to snap his arm back hissing through his teeth.

Grabbing Kenshin by his loose hair, he thrust him forward hard, his head smashing against one of the metal bars of the bed's headrest, and Kenshin fell forward back down to the bed, head spinning.

"You fool," Saito growled, as Kenshin held his head with both hands, his world spinning behind his eyes. Saito once again grabbed Kenshin's hair and pulled hard to one side, making him turn over on to his back, "I'm having you and you can't do anything to stop me." He snarled, crawling on top of him and hooking his fingers under Kenshin's waistband, snapping his trousers and boxers down away from his small body in one quick swoop.

Kenshin tried to look up at the man who was touching him in places that made him want to flinch away and hide, but every time he opened his eyes, all that met him was a blurry image of the man assaulting him. He felt something thick and warm trickle down his forehead, and a shaky hand wiped it away, the obscured colour of red on his hands. He didn't realise how hard Saito had smashed his head against that bar, and a wave of nausea suddenly washed over him, his body trying to give in to the blackness that wanted to consume him.

He could feel his eyes rolling to the back of his head as suddenly another pain shot through his body, this time starting from much lower down, burning up his spine like a match being struck. He could feel his body moving back and forth, his head hitting one of the metal bars of his bed in the exact spot Saito had smashed him against, over and over and over again, making it feel as though pain was coming from every direction. A heat wave seemed to rush over him, his breaths coming in small desperate gasps, foreign hands violating his shaken form, and the blood dripping from his head injury seeping into the pillowcase.

"That's a good boy…" came a panting voice, and as one last explosion of pain coursed through his body, Kenshin passed out.

It was the faint murmur of running water that he thought awoke him, and Kenshin slowly opened his eyes to the darkness of his room. He was facing on his front, head resting to one side on the pillowcase, dry blood causing strands of his ruffled hair to stick together. He lay there, un-moving, staring at his bed side clock with dead eyes, the thought process of reading the time '10.14pm' slowly entering his tired mind. He lay there, still, his breathing quiet as he closed his eyes, willing the throbbing pain in his head to go away…and the even worse throbbing pain in between his legs to go first.

Saito had actually gone through with it…even though he'd passed out…he still…

That wave of nausea returned, but this time not because he'd been knocked out. Swallowing hard to keep it at bay, Kenshin slowly brought one hand up to his face and covered it; trying to push away what memories he did have of the last evening away from his mind.

The running water of the shower, that he now he realised had been what had awoken him, stopped, and Kenshin let his arm fall loosely over the side of the bed, uncaring, as he stared lifelessly back out to the wall, his eyes dull in the darkness.

Saito soon entered his vision after coming out from the bathroom, his black suit trousers from earlier back on, his shirt and jacket flung over his shoulder, hair dripping wet. He saw Kenshin's emotionless expression and smirked, placing a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. Walking over to the other side of the bed, Saito sat down, Kenshin's back to him, and turned on the small bedside lamp, letting the faint amount of light fill that corner of the room. He sat there and put on his shirt, doing the buttons up half way.

He turned over to smile at the broken soul laid out before him, the covers barely coming up to his waist, as he lay there naked, bruises starting to form around his hips. His long red hair lay in a tangled mess across the pillows, his breathing slow and deadly quiet. Saito moved across and gently brushed away his hair from his face, which still lay against the pillow unmoving, staring at the wall ahead of him. He traced a finger over one line of his scar and down to his neck, and he lent down, tenderly licking a trail of dry blood that followed his jaw line.

Kenshin didn't even blink, didn't even flinch, he didn't care.

"You can never escape from me." Saito whispered in his ear, "You're my little puppet on a string Kenshin…your very life belongs to me." Saito breathed in the scent of Kenshin's blood before licking his lips, sitting up straight and getting up off the bed, pulling his jacket over his shoulders.

He walked over to the door that led back to the lounge and stopped, turning back around to take another look at his handiwork. Saito took a drag of his cigarette, his eyes gleaming, "If you find you cannot pay me again…I am more than happy to except this as payment."

With that he turned and left, leaving Kenshin alone, cold, and falling further and further into depression. When he heard the front door close, Kenshin barely noticed the tears that started to fall from his eyes, dripping off his nose and cheeks as he laid there, his heart as well as everything else aching, having to except the awful truth of what had happened and the truth of Saito's words.

His little puppet on a string eh? Yeah…he knew…he knew the truth…Saito's puppet on a string. He'd never be able to escape from him, because no matter how much he'd want it….how much he'd desperately want it…there was no way he was ever going to cut those strings.

Kenshin slowly raised both hands to his face, to hide the ashamed tears that flowed, and curling up in a small, cowering ball, wished…of all things…

That Sano was here.

Present time…back in Kenshin's office…

"Oro!" Kenshin exclaimed, eyes wide at the large bouquet of red and white flowers that was suddenly in his face.

He peered up over them to see Sanosuke standing the other side of them, face blushing and threatening to punch the students who had followed him all the way to Kenshin's office and refusing to leave him alone as he did this.

"Sanosuke? What…?" Kenshin began, as Sano gave up on the students determined to watch and sighed, turning around to face Kenshin again.

Peering down at the smaller red head, looking at the wide violet eyes staring up at him, Sano closed his eyes as to not make the blush on his face even more apparent, "Well...you know, I was thinking about this last night and well…guys, don't normally go around kissing other guys as thanks, and so…I guessed that you maybe…might…like me...so, I thought, maybe we could…well, you know, we could be…so I…" Sano sighed and gave up on his explanation, ignoring the wolf whistles from the aggravating people outside trying to peer in, and just held out the flowers to Kenshin's hand, "…I got you some flowers?"

As Kenshin stared at Sano, the voices from outside the open door continued.

"Whooo hoo!"

"The new guys gay!"

"I wanna see I wanna see!"

"Stop shoving!"

A low growl escaped Sanosuke's throat and with his left foot, hooked it around the edge of the open door and slammed it shut, knocking some poor girl back into the crowd causing a dominos effect of falling students to pile up outside.

At last they were alone, and Sano knew he must look so nervous. Blushing was something he'd never done until he'd met Kenshin. He wasn't used to it and didn't know how to act. "Err yeah…I, don't really know the kind of things you like yet…but you can't really go wrong with flowers." He laughed nervously.

He peered down at him, and Kenshin was still staring at him, eyes still wide. He peered at the flowers that were being passed to him, and an overwhelming emotion seemed to pass through his eyes. Taking the flowers, Kenshin placed them to one side on his desk, and not saying a word, took a step towards him, leant up on his tip toes to gain some extra height, and kissed him, wrapping his arms around Sano's neck and not letting go.

Sano's eyes were wide again at the once again unexpected kiss, but also for another reason. This wasn't the same kind of kiss he'd given him yesterday, a sweet and tender kiss on the lips, this time, Kenshin almost seemed urgent, a desperate kiss. His tongue swept across the inside of Sano's mouth, pressing his body as close to his as he could get, one hand buried in the back of his hair, the other grasping onto his shirt. After the initial shock had faded, Sano wrapped his arms around Kenshin's waist and his eyes closed, kissing him back deeply, relishing in this feeling of having that once in a life time beauty he'd seen a few days before locked in his arms.

If he hadn't been so lost in his love for him, he would have noticed the small tear that escaped Kenshin's eye, falling down his cheek and landing quietly on Sano's shoulder, disappearing into the fabric, along with any lingering thoughts he had of Saito Hajime.

To Be Continued…