Title: Amber Horizons
Authors: Buffybot76 and profiler120
Email: buffybot76@hotmail.com & profiler120@hotmail.com
Rating: R
Pairing: Saitou/Misao
Disclaimer: Any and all characters belong to Watsuki-sensei. We own nothing but the plot of this fic. We also do this not for profit, but to show my appreciation for the wonderful anime/manga that is Rurouni Kenshin. Please don't sue.
Summary: Leaving the Aoyia was a life changing event. Waking up at a shrine many months later after wandering was another. But encountering Saitou Hajime after several years would prove to be earth shattering.
Author's note: This is a collaboration between myself (Buffybot76) and my friend (profiler120). Please go easy on us and please, no flames.
Responses: Myself and profiler120 want to thank all the lovely people who have reviewed our fic. We thank you for the comments and encouragement.
silverstarfy: Thanks so much! Yes, our little Misao is definitlely acting different, but I find her more fun this way! As for Tokio, more will be revealed in time, so just sit tight, this is going to be a long and wild ride.
Hi-iam: Glad you approve so far.
Devil1: Yes I do love the alternate pairings. Profiler120 was a big Aoshi/Misao shipper till I got my claws into her *giggles* Glad I got your attention.
Hikage Kitsune: Thank you for reviewing, hopefully more will come soon.
spongbob: Thanks
jezzjamer: Thank you so much! Your review was both lovely and helpful! Sorry about the female ninja thing was unbelievable, we tried our best.
Shiori-sama: Glad to see you like it! Thank you.
Chapter 3: Rude Awakenings
Saitou reached calmly for the cigarettes on the corner of his desk, quietly lighting one. He certainly needed it after that girl had wracked his nerves like she had. Who would have thought that little creature could be so... enthralling when she wanted to? He shifted slightly turning his gaze to the folder on his desk. Interrogations were underway by his junior officers. He'd only been interested in Daiani, but he knew already the case was solved and he just had to wrap up the loose ends. Mainly the women themselves...as well as one little itachi girl.
Leave it to her to faint just when he wanted her attention, he thought, bitterly recalling how she'd slumped in his arms. He didn't need this kind of aggrevation, but that didn't stop him from craving it. He sat there anxiously, hardly aware he was doing nothing when paperwork still needed to be filed. Just waiting for her to wake. Yep, the little weasel was now nicely ensconced in one of the cells just down the hall from his office. It had been entirely due to procedure of course. It was expected. She *had* been found within the compound of a notorious group of assassins after all.
The fact that it would irritate the hell out of her was also a nice motivator.
After she had passed out on him, he had taken her to the nearest doctor to be examined. Just to be sure she hadn't sustained anything life-threatening. He had brought her back here after he had been told by the doctor that she wasn't suffering from any broken bones or internal injuries. All that seemed wrong with the weasel now was she was badly bruised and scratched up in various body parts....and she still hadn't regained consciousness.
Now he was impatiently waiting for her to wake up so that he could get the answer to the question that had been nagging him since he had recognized her ki out on the psuedo-battlefield. Just what the hell had she been doing there? Just as he began to count off the possible reasons for the girl to have been at the shrine, a knock came at the door.
It opened before he could extend invitation to reveal an anxious looking Koji. "Sir, the girl you brought in....she is coming around. You said you wanted to be informed immediately when that hap -- "
He was interruped by Saitou pushing past him as he exited his office to stride down the hall leading to the cell that held one Makimachi Misao.
Finally! He'd been waiting- his pace slowed. He *had* been waiting. Now she was even interupting is work, he thought airily. He continued on toward her cell, the guard sliding the door open and he stepped in, cigarette in hand. She was lying on the cot that was set against the far wall of the cell. When he'd lain her there earlier, she'd been on her back. Sometime between then and now she must have twisted so that she was now lying facedown on the thin mattress.
Her eyes were still closed, dark lashes laying against pale cheeks, limbs sprawled out as she slept. Her carefree innocence was a stark contrast to the seductive female he'd discovered lurked behind that capricious personality. The thought made him lick his lips, something he'd been sporadically doing whenever he'd thought of her since he'd brought her back here.
She mumbled, eyes fluttering. She was going to wake. She groaned lowly, pulling one arm up to scratch her forehead. Her eyes blinked open and she, with some effort, started pushing herself up from the cot. She certainly was at home, wasn't she? Now that he thought about it, he should've brought some water to help her along in the waking process. If only to see her leap out of that bed, sputtering angrily.
She was such a leisurely thing, he thought watching her slowly rise, sitting back on her knees rubbing her eyes like a child. She was full of little contradictions, wasn't she? He hastily pulled his cigarette to his mouth to avoid licking his lips again. How the hell was he going to break that unpleasant habit?
Finding himself suddenly very impatient he stepped foward and reached out snagging the back of her uniform top and snatching her straight up to her feet.
"Kyyyah!"
She whirled out of his grip, but he caught her grimace as she did so. He'd expected her to be in pain. A look of surprise flashed in Misao's eyes as they landed on Saitou's familiar frame. What was *he* doing here? And just where the hell was *here* anyway? Glancing around quickly, she took in her surroundings and gasped. A jail cell?! No! He wouldn't! Holding back a grimace of pain, Misao shot a glare back toward Saitou.
"You arrested me?!"
He scoffed. "Really? Is it that obvious?"
She turned a scowl at him. "I demand to know what I am doing here! This is... this is... injustice!" She pouted as she frantically thought of something to say. "That's what it is!" She motioned dramatically, despite her own wincing. The girl had no common sense, he thought.
"Sit down," he ordered, not surprised when he was ignored.
She continued on, but he'd lost what exactly her point was, or even what she was talking about. Something akin to the Oniwanbanshuu code of conduct? He frowned, puffing on his cigarette again, tempted to bite clear through it in frustration.
"Sit," he growled, leaning forward just slightly and pushing her one shoulder. She, in a dramatic show, lost her balance and tottered over, falling onto her cot.
She looked up with a glare. "Oh you are just asking for it!"
He grinned. "Oh yeah?"
He was tempted to ask just what it was she thought he was 'asking' for but cut the thought off. Business first, pleasure later. That comment seemed to take on a whole new meaning. He quickly squashed that thought too.
"What were you doing up at the Nozoumi Shrine?"
Blinking in surprise at his question, Misao felt a wave of sorrow engulf her as memories quickly surfaced. Memories of the good friend that she now remembered she had lost.
She remembered so clearly that first day how Sachi had been there offering her tea and smiling. She hadn't felt truly welcome anywhere in a long time before that. Not since she'd left the Aoiya. After that first day together they'd been inseparable. She and Sachi trained together, shared memories and secrets with one another...just like true sisters. She'd finally been able to confide in someone about the entire Aoshi affair and how much that had all hurt her in the past. Talking about it had helped dramatically and she'd finally healed some of those old wounds here with Sachi's help. Misao had even taught the other girl to throw kunai. That had been one of their funnest times together, watching Sachi miss the target time and again before breaking into laughter and Sachi throwing a fit.
And the final moment...when she had held her dear friend's head in her lap. As the pain inflicted from the vicious beating she and Sachi had endured wracked her body. A lone tear snaked its way down Misao's cheek as the name of her best friend passed her lips.
"Sachi..."
Reigning in her grief, Misao swiped at the tear and forced herself to focus on Saitou's question. His inquiry was a valid one after all. He deserved to know what she had been doing there, albeit, unknowingly, in a nest of deadly killers. Especially if she was going to be arrested, she thought irritably. She hadn't even done anything. She felt anger and resentment begin to surge forth as she remembered she was sitting in the middle of a jal cell with Saitou Hajime questioning her motives and innocence.
"It's not what you think, Saitou." She declared vehemenantly.
"Oh? You know what I'm thinking?" He replied a bit sarcastically.
"What? When did I say that?" Misao demanded, before shaking her head in annoyance. Continuing, she said, "Anyway, that's not important, don't change the subject!"
"Then do tell, what you were doing in the shrine, weasel?" Saitou prompted once again.
"Well Saitou, if you must know, I was there as a visitor." Misao began, she bit her lip as she continued. "I was there for almost two months, they seemed perfectly normal to me." She shrugged. "Until today of course."
Saitou stepped back a pace, plucking the cigarette out of his mouth allowing it to drop from his fingers only to disappear beneath his bootheel as he extinguished it. Misao watched this in annoyance, then rolled her eyes as she watched him reach for another one and began to light it. He stepped back leaning his frame against the wall with a sigh, releasing a wispy trail of smoke from his mouth.
"Uhuh." Saitou replied absently. He arched an eyebrow as he brought his cigarette back up to his lips to take another long puff.
Misao, now beyond the point of mere annoyance, shot to her feet and stomped over to him. He remained still, eyes impassively watching her as she reached up and snatched the cigarette right out of his mouth.
"Are you even listening to me, Saitou?!?" Misao raged as she broke the cigarette in half and threw it on the cell floor, then proceeded to stomp on it for emphasis.
Saitou's lips twitched as he glanced down for a moment at the decimated cigarette, then raised his eyes to meet Misao's angry glare. "Now really, weasel, was that necessary?" When Misao only growled at him in reply, Saitou smirked. "I mean, what kind of ninja are you? You mean to say you were their guest for two *whole* months and never suspected a thing?"
"Gah!" The outburst was followed immediately by Misao literally throwing herself at Saitou, her hands clenching themselves in the front of his uniform as she pulled, forcing him to bend down so that their faces were mere inches apart. "Just what are you getting at, Saitou?!"
With his cigarette absent, he found his tongue raking over his lips again. He raised a hand dropping it to her slim little waist and yanked her forward, flush against his body, watching her cheeks turn crimson in response. She sputtered, her mouth falling open slightly. Had... had she been this close to him before? Why was she suddenly remembering... her tongue against his lips? Her face turned impossibly redder as she tensed even further in his arms.
Seem familiar, minx?" he drawled, watching in amusement as her eyes widened. Try as she might, Misao could not seem to utter a complete sentence. "Saitou, what....why are you....what's going on?!" This was entirely too familiar. Her arms around him, her lips against his - she... she'd kissed him!? And he'd let her?! What was he thinking allowing her to behave so foolishly?
Misao regained control of her normal motor functions finally, and using the hands that she had previously used to pull him to her, she now pushed him away. "What the hell's wrong with you?! Aren't you supposed to be married?!"
The hand grasping her waist suddenly fell away and she moved back, startled at the dark look in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak again when the door suddenly slid open once more and there stood Aoshi. Misao nearly leapt away from Saitou still feeling too close as though Aoshi would *know* just by looking at them what she'd done.
"Aoshi-sama," she breathed, startled at the sight of him.
She stepped back uneasily at the intense stare he was giving her. It was the "Look out Misao, you are in for a lecture" look. Why, oh *why* had Saitou sent for Aoshi? He was the last person she needed to see at this moment. She felt her cheeks redden. Her whole 'growing up' trip was ruined when Aoshi found out how she'd gotten involved at the shrine! Embarassment for her poor judgement spilled forth. Aside from that, who did he think he was calling Aoshi here?! She would've gotten around to visiting the Aoyia and Aoshi. Eventually. She didn't a baby-sitter!
Saitou noticed Misao's reddened cheeks and decided that he wanted to know just how red her face could get. Pushing away from the wall, he turned to the visitor.
"Shinomori," he acknowledged with a hint of a smirk playing across his lips. "I see you've finally arrived to retrieve your pet weasel."
Aoshi met his gaze evenly. "Aa," he replied tonelessly.
"W-What?! Hey! I'm not his pet!" Misao screeched, He cocked a grin at her and she gave him her best death glare promising a pummeling if she ever got her hands on him. And maybe him restrained. He stepped past Aoshi wordlessly and left. She turned her angry gaze to Aoshi, and suddenly frowned. Oh... she'd forgotten about him. He didn't look so happy with her. She had a bad feeling this wasn't going to go well.
"So," Misao brightened, backing away once more. "How've you been?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Saitou sank into his chair and leaned back, chuckling a bit as he relished the outraged look that had appeared on his weasel's face at his comment. Wait a minute. His weasel? Where the hell had that come from?! Closing his eyes, Saitou raked his right hand through his hair in frusteration. He peered around impatiently. Where were his cigarettes? He finally reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved one. It was really too bad she was so caught up on Shinomori - perhaps more of her lack of sense.
He wondered, and then doubted Shinomori had any idea such a lusty little creature was hidden behind those innocent eyes. He grinned again. That aside, what had just happened in there? He had acted like a complete and utter fool, with that little scene right before Shinomori had arrived. When he'd pulled the little mi -- no, weasel, against him, he'd meant to tease her a bit, maybe cause her a little blush and just enjoy her general discomfort. But then, when he had her held against him, her soft curves crushed against him, he'd found himself not wanting to let her go.
*He* wasn't supposed to be the one in discomfort, damn it, he thought irritably. But then she had uttered those words: "Aren't you supposed to be married?!" and the entire moment was lost.
Shinomori's timing couldn't have been better. The last thing he wanted was to discuss Tokio. With anyone, let alone the bouncy ninja girl that had an uncanny knack for causing him all sorts of emotional chaos. Just then a knock came to his office door for the second time in the past thirty minutes. He grunted and the person on the other side apparently took it as an enter cue because the door opened and a head popped in.
"Sir?"
He glared, spotting the annoying little runt he'd wanted to chastize earlier. "Get in here, Koji."
The young man scrambled to obey his orders, stepping in and standing before him. He was cleanly dressed in his uniform, but something about Koji always ticked him off, and it there was more to it than that ever present cocky smile of his. Perhaps it was something about those hazel and gold flecked eyes of his that almost seemed sinister. He put the thought aside.
"Tell me Koji, how long have you been with the police department now?"
Koji shifted to a more confident stance. "Seven months sir."
"Would you care to explain then why it is you are daydreaming instead of keeping ready for the signal while on a mission?" His tone was cold and unforgiving.
"Well, it was almost ten minutes early."
"I will not allow my men to peddle excuses. You were not ready, clearly you were unprepared for such a task." Saitou continued. "Furthermore your handling of your sword in regards to the girl was abominable. She should never had such an opportunity."
"*My* handling of the girl?" the young man scoffed arrogantly. "It seemed you were letting her do a hell of a lot more handling than I did!"
Saitou stood, feeling his entire body tighten with tension at the remark. "Watch it, whelp. Don't let your mouth drag you into something you can't handle."
"Yes, *sir*." Koji grudgingly mumbled, lowering his eyes, which still held an indignant look.
Saitou scowled, dismissing him. He didn't like that kid at all. He had no respect for authority. He needed a thorough ass kicking, he thought bitterly sitting back down. Saitou peered back down at the papers on his desk. This case had been an odd one. Apparently the female group hadn't been an 'assassin' organization in the traditional sense, rather they were a group of young women following the teachings of an embittered young woman still living in the past.
It had turned out that Daiani, Mutsuko Daniani's father had been a prominent member of the Taiga Clan. During the Bakumatsu there had been an ideological split in the Clan and one half went to battle while the other half had split off, vowing not to fight. Mutsuko, Daiani's father had been one of the fighting leaders, and was marred in the battle - he'd survived but been embittered for the rest of his life until he was ultimately killed some years later by an unknown assailant.
The woman, Daiani, had spent her entire childhood being regaled in stories about the traitorous members of the "Taiga". It apparently had effected her a great deal considering she'd launched this female group for the sole purpose for killing off those 'traitourous' men that had ruined her father's life. The others had, apparently, just been drawn in.
So that was it. Case closed. Saitou thought as he exhaled, expelling the last draw of his cigarette that he had just extenguished. The smoke wafting up to disappear above his head. Closing the folder before him, he leaned back in his chair so that he could stretch his long legs out beneath his desk.
He let out a long, relieved breath. The troublesome case was over, but a bigger problem had dropped into his lap. The long awaited return of the weasel girl at the Aoiya was no doubt going to change his working relationship with the Oniwanbanshuu. He would, undoubtedly, be working with her at some point given she was a member of the said group. He felt a grin perk at the corners of his lips. Work had never promised to be as interesting as it did now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TBC.....
Authors: Buffybot76 and profiler120
Email: buffybot76@hotmail.com & profiler120@hotmail.com
Rating: R
Pairing: Saitou/Misao
Disclaimer: Any and all characters belong to Watsuki-sensei. We own nothing but the plot of this fic. We also do this not for profit, but to show my appreciation for the wonderful anime/manga that is Rurouni Kenshin. Please don't sue.
Summary: Leaving the Aoyia was a life changing event. Waking up at a shrine many months later after wandering was another. But encountering Saitou Hajime after several years would prove to be earth shattering.
Author's note: This is a collaboration between myself (Buffybot76) and my friend (profiler120). Please go easy on us and please, no flames.
Responses: Myself and profiler120 want to thank all the lovely people who have reviewed our fic. We thank you for the comments and encouragement.
silverstarfy: Thanks so much! Yes, our little Misao is definitlely acting different, but I find her more fun this way! As for Tokio, more will be revealed in time, so just sit tight, this is going to be a long and wild ride.
Hi-iam: Glad you approve so far.
Devil1: Yes I do love the alternate pairings. Profiler120 was a big Aoshi/Misao shipper till I got my claws into her *giggles* Glad I got your attention.
Hikage Kitsune: Thank you for reviewing, hopefully more will come soon.
spongbob: Thanks
jezzjamer: Thank you so much! Your review was both lovely and helpful! Sorry about the female ninja thing was unbelievable, we tried our best.
Shiori-sama: Glad to see you like it! Thank you.
Chapter 3: Rude Awakenings
Saitou reached calmly for the cigarettes on the corner of his desk, quietly lighting one. He certainly needed it after that girl had wracked his nerves like she had. Who would have thought that little creature could be so... enthralling when she wanted to? He shifted slightly turning his gaze to the folder on his desk. Interrogations were underway by his junior officers. He'd only been interested in Daiani, but he knew already the case was solved and he just had to wrap up the loose ends. Mainly the women themselves...as well as one little itachi girl.
Leave it to her to faint just when he wanted her attention, he thought, bitterly recalling how she'd slumped in his arms. He didn't need this kind of aggrevation, but that didn't stop him from craving it. He sat there anxiously, hardly aware he was doing nothing when paperwork still needed to be filed. Just waiting for her to wake. Yep, the little weasel was now nicely ensconced in one of the cells just down the hall from his office. It had been entirely due to procedure of course. It was expected. She *had* been found within the compound of a notorious group of assassins after all.
The fact that it would irritate the hell out of her was also a nice motivator.
After she had passed out on him, he had taken her to the nearest doctor to be examined. Just to be sure she hadn't sustained anything life-threatening. He had brought her back here after he had been told by the doctor that she wasn't suffering from any broken bones or internal injuries. All that seemed wrong with the weasel now was she was badly bruised and scratched up in various body parts....and she still hadn't regained consciousness.
Now he was impatiently waiting for her to wake up so that he could get the answer to the question that had been nagging him since he had recognized her ki out on the psuedo-battlefield. Just what the hell had she been doing there? Just as he began to count off the possible reasons for the girl to have been at the shrine, a knock came at the door.
It opened before he could extend invitation to reveal an anxious looking Koji. "Sir, the girl you brought in....she is coming around. You said you wanted to be informed immediately when that hap -- "
He was interruped by Saitou pushing past him as he exited his office to stride down the hall leading to the cell that held one Makimachi Misao.
Finally! He'd been waiting- his pace slowed. He *had* been waiting. Now she was even interupting is work, he thought airily. He continued on toward her cell, the guard sliding the door open and he stepped in, cigarette in hand. She was lying on the cot that was set against the far wall of the cell. When he'd lain her there earlier, she'd been on her back. Sometime between then and now she must have twisted so that she was now lying facedown on the thin mattress.
Her eyes were still closed, dark lashes laying against pale cheeks, limbs sprawled out as she slept. Her carefree innocence was a stark contrast to the seductive female he'd discovered lurked behind that capricious personality. The thought made him lick his lips, something he'd been sporadically doing whenever he'd thought of her since he'd brought her back here.
She mumbled, eyes fluttering. She was going to wake. She groaned lowly, pulling one arm up to scratch her forehead. Her eyes blinked open and she, with some effort, started pushing herself up from the cot. She certainly was at home, wasn't she? Now that he thought about it, he should've brought some water to help her along in the waking process. If only to see her leap out of that bed, sputtering angrily.
She was such a leisurely thing, he thought watching her slowly rise, sitting back on her knees rubbing her eyes like a child. She was full of little contradictions, wasn't she? He hastily pulled his cigarette to his mouth to avoid licking his lips again. How the hell was he going to break that unpleasant habit?
Finding himself suddenly very impatient he stepped foward and reached out snagging the back of her uniform top and snatching her straight up to her feet.
"Kyyyah!"
She whirled out of his grip, but he caught her grimace as she did so. He'd expected her to be in pain. A look of surprise flashed in Misao's eyes as they landed on Saitou's familiar frame. What was *he* doing here? And just where the hell was *here* anyway? Glancing around quickly, she took in her surroundings and gasped. A jail cell?! No! He wouldn't! Holding back a grimace of pain, Misao shot a glare back toward Saitou.
"You arrested me?!"
He scoffed. "Really? Is it that obvious?"
She turned a scowl at him. "I demand to know what I am doing here! This is... this is... injustice!" She pouted as she frantically thought of something to say. "That's what it is!" She motioned dramatically, despite her own wincing. The girl had no common sense, he thought.
"Sit down," he ordered, not surprised when he was ignored.
She continued on, but he'd lost what exactly her point was, or even what she was talking about. Something akin to the Oniwanbanshuu code of conduct? He frowned, puffing on his cigarette again, tempted to bite clear through it in frustration.
"Sit," he growled, leaning forward just slightly and pushing her one shoulder. She, in a dramatic show, lost her balance and tottered over, falling onto her cot.
She looked up with a glare. "Oh you are just asking for it!"
He grinned. "Oh yeah?"
He was tempted to ask just what it was she thought he was 'asking' for but cut the thought off. Business first, pleasure later. That comment seemed to take on a whole new meaning. He quickly squashed that thought too.
"What were you doing up at the Nozoumi Shrine?"
Blinking in surprise at his question, Misao felt a wave of sorrow engulf her as memories quickly surfaced. Memories of the good friend that she now remembered she had lost.
She remembered so clearly that first day how Sachi had been there offering her tea and smiling. She hadn't felt truly welcome anywhere in a long time before that. Not since she'd left the Aoiya. After that first day together they'd been inseparable. She and Sachi trained together, shared memories and secrets with one another...just like true sisters. She'd finally been able to confide in someone about the entire Aoshi affair and how much that had all hurt her in the past. Talking about it had helped dramatically and she'd finally healed some of those old wounds here with Sachi's help. Misao had even taught the other girl to throw kunai. That had been one of their funnest times together, watching Sachi miss the target time and again before breaking into laughter and Sachi throwing a fit.
And the final moment...when she had held her dear friend's head in her lap. As the pain inflicted from the vicious beating she and Sachi had endured wracked her body. A lone tear snaked its way down Misao's cheek as the name of her best friend passed her lips.
"Sachi..."
Reigning in her grief, Misao swiped at the tear and forced herself to focus on Saitou's question. His inquiry was a valid one after all. He deserved to know what she had been doing there, albeit, unknowingly, in a nest of deadly killers. Especially if she was going to be arrested, she thought irritably. She hadn't even done anything. She felt anger and resentment begin to surge forth as she remembered she was sitting in the middle of a jal cell with Saitou Hajime questioning her motives and innocence.
"It's not what you think, Saitou." She declared vehemenantly.
"Oh? You know what I'm thinking?" He replied a bit sarcastically.
"What? When did I say that?" Misao demanded, before shaking her head in annoyance. Continuing, she said, "Anyway, that's not important, don't change the subject!"
"Then do tell, what you were doing in the shrine, weasel?" Saitou prompted once again.
"Well Saitou, if you must know, I was there as a visitor." Misao began, she bit her lip as she continued. "I was there for almost two months, they seemed perfectly normal to me." She shrugged. "Until today of course."
Saitou stepped back a pace, plucking the cigarette out of his mouth allowing it to drop from his fingers only to disappear beneath his bootheel as he extinguished it. Misao watched this in annoyance, then rolled her eyes as she watched him reach for another one and began to light it. He stepped back leaning his frame against the wall with a sigh, releasing a wispy trail of smoke from his mouth.
"Uhuh." Saitou replied absently. He arched an eyebrow as he brought his cigarette back up to his lips to take another long puff.
Misao, now beyond the point of mere annoyance, shot to her feet and stomped over to him. He remained still, eyes impassively watching her as she reached up and snatched the cigarette right out of his mouth.
"Are you even listening to me, Saitou?!?" Misao raged as she broke the cigarette in half and threw it on the cell floor, then proceeded to stomp on it for emphasis.
Saitou's lips twitched as he glanced down for a moment at the decimated cigarette, then raised his eyes to meet Misao's angry glare. "Now really, weasel, was that necessary?" When Misao only growled at him in reply, Saitou smirked. "I mean, what kind of ninja are you? You mean to say you were their guest for two *whole* months and never suspected a thing?"
"Gah!" The outburst was followed immediately by Misao literally throwing herself at Saitou, her hands clenching themselves in the front of his uniform as she pulled, forcing him to bend down so that their faces were mere inches apart. "Just what are you getting at, Saitou?!"
With his cigarette absent, he found his tongue raking over his lips again. He raised a hand dropping it to her slim little waist and yanked her forward, flush against his body, watching her cheeks turn crimson in response. She sputtered, her mouth falling open slightly. Had... had she been this close to him before? Why was she suddenly remembering... her tongue against his lips? Her face turned impossibly redder as she tensed even further in his arms.
Seem familiar, minx?" he drawled, watching in amusement as her eyes widened. Try as she might, Misao could not seem to utter a complete sentence. "Saitou, what....why are you....what's going on?!" This was entirely too familiar. Her arms around him, her lips against his - she... she'd kissed him!? And he'd let her?! What was he thinking allowing her to behave so foolishly?
Misao regained control of her normal motor functions finally, and using the hands that she had previously used to pull him to her, she now pushed him away. "What the hell's wrong with you?! Aren't you supposed to be married?!"
The hand grasping her waist suddenly fell away and she moved back, startled at the dark look in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak again when the door suddenly slid open once more and there stood Aoshi. Misao nearly leapt away from Saitou still feeling too close as though Aoshi would *know* just by looking at them what she'd done.
"Aoshi-sama," she breathed, startled at the sight of him.
She stepped back uneasily at the intense stare he was giving her. It was the "Look out Misao, you are in for a lecture" look. Why, oh *why* had Saitou sent for Aoshi? He was the last person she needed to see at this moment. She felt her cheeks redden. Her whole 'growing up' trip was ruined when Aoshi found out how she'd gotten involved at the shrine! Embarassment for her poor judgement spilled forth. Aside from that, who did he think he was calling Aoshi here?! She would've gotten around to visiting the Aoyia and Aoshi. Eventually. She didn't a baby-sitter!
Saitou noticed Misao's reddened cheeks and decided that he wanted to know just how red her face could get. Pushing away from the wall, he turned to the visitor.
"Shinomori," he acknowledged with a hint of a smirk playing across his lips. "I see you've finally arrived to retrieve your pet weasel."
Aoshi met his gaze evenly. "Aa," he replied tonelessly.
"W-What?! Hey! I'm not his pet!" Misao screeched, He cocked a grin at her and she gave him her best death glare promising a pummeling if she ever got her hands on him. And maybe him restrained. He stepped past Aoshi wordlessly and left. She turned her angry gaze to Aoshi, and suddenly frowned. Oh... she'd forgotten about him. He didn't look so happy with her. She had a bad feeling this wasn't going to go well.
"So," Misao brightened, backing away once more. "How've you been?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Saitou sank into his chair and leaned back, chuckling a bit as he relished the outraged look that had appeared on his weasel's face at his comment. Wait a minute. His weasel? Where the hell had that come from?! Closing his eyes, Saitou raked his right hand through his hair in frusteration. He peered around impatiently. Where were his cigarettes? He finally reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved one. It was really too bad she was so caught up on Shinomori - perhaps more of her lack of sense.
He wondered, and then doubted Shinomori had any idea such a lusty little creature was hidden behind those innocent eyes. He grinned again. That aside, what had just happened in there? He had acted like a complete and utter fool, with that little scene right before Shinomori had arrived. When he'd pulled the little mi -- no, weasel, against him, he'd meant to tease her a bit, maybe cause her a little blush and just enjoy her general discomfort. But then, when he had her held against him, her soft curves crushed against him, he'd found himself not wanting to let her go.
*He* wasn't supposed to be the one in discomfort, damn it, he thought irritably. But then she had uttered those words: "Aren't you supposed to be married?!" and the entire moment was lost.
Shinomori's timing couldn't have been better. The last thing he wanted was to discuss Tokio. With anyone, let alone the bouncy ninja girl that had an uncanny knack for causing him all sorts of emotional chaos. Just then a knock came to his office door for the second time in the past thirty minutes. He grunted and the person on the other side apparently took it as an enter cue because the door opened and a head popped in.
"Sir?"
He glared, spotting the annoying little runt he'd wanted to chastize earlier. "Get in here, Koji."
The young man scrambled to obey his orders, stepping in and standing before him. He was cleanly dressed in his uniform, but something about Koji always ticked him off, and it there was more to it than that ever present cocky smile of his. Perhaps it was something about those hazel and gold flecked eyes of his that almost seemed sinister. He put the thought aside.
"Tell me Koji, how long have you been with the police department now?"
Koji shifted to a more confident stance. "Seven months sir."
"Would you care to explain then why it is you are daydreaming instead of keeping ready for the signal while on a mission?" His tone was cold and unforgiving.
"Well, it was almost ten minutes early."
"I will not allow my men to peddle excuses. You were not ready, clearly you were unprepared for such a task." Saitou continued. "Furthermore your handling of your sword in regards to the girl was abominable. She should never had such an opportunity."
"*My* handling of the girl?" the young man scoffed arrogantly. "It seemed you were letting her do a hell of a lot more handling than I did!"
Saitou stood, feeling his entire body tighten with tension at the remark. "Watch it, whelp. Don't let your mouth drag you into something you can't handle."
"Yes, *sir*." Koji grudgingly mumbled, lowering his eyes, which still held an indignant look.
Saitou scowled, dismissing him. He didn't like that kid at all. He had no respect for authority. He needed a thorough ass kicking, he thought bitterly sitting back down. Saitou peered back down at the papers on his desk. This case had been an odd one. Apparently the female group hadn't been an 'assassin' organization in the traditional sense, rather they were a group of young women following the teachings of an embittered young woman still living in the past.
It had turned out that Daiani, Mutsuko Daniani's father had been a prominent member of the Taiga Clan. During the Bakumatsu there had been an ideological split in the Clan and one half went to battle while the other half had split off, vowing not to fight. Mutsuko, Daiani's father had been one of the fighting leaders, and was marred in the battle - he'd survived but been embittered for the rest of his life until he was ultimately killed some years later by an unknown assailant.
The woman, Daiani, had spent her entire childhood being regaled in stories about the traitorous members of the "Taiga". It apparently had effected her a great deal considering she'd launched this female group for the sole purpose for killing off those 'traitourous' men that had ruined her father's life. The others had, apparently, just been drawn in.
So that was it. Case closed. Saitou thought as he exhaled, expelling the last draw of his cigarette that he had just extenguished. The smoke wafting up to disappear above his head. Closing the folder before him, he leaned back in his chair so that he could stretch his long legs out beneath his desk.
He let out a long, relieved breath. The troublesome case was over, but a bigger problem had dropped into his lap. The long awaited return of the weasel girl at the Aoiya was no doubt going to change his working relationship with the Oniwanbanshuu. He would, undoubtedly, be working with her at some point given she was a member of the said group. He felt a grin perk at the corners of his lips. Work had never promised to be as interesting as it did now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TBC.....