Chapter 7

This is bad.

This is really bad.

Kyuzo Bitstu, the Junsacho, Sergeant Kyuzo Bitstu, stood in the shadows of the underground alley.

Oh yes, they were stood in position, the meeting place prior to all missions, as it always has been, and always will be. Because it was the last place Kyuzo could head count everyone as safe, before the mission started.

Then, your were all for one, and one for all, with the knowledge that this could be your last hour.

Because of this, Kyuzo insisted on the meeting place, before heading out. Just encase he lost one of his men, he wanted the comfort that he had at least sent them 'into battle' with pride and the thumbs up.

Luckily, he hadn't lost anyone in years, as from experience, came planed perfection.

Which had just been thrown down the drain.

All his plans had been thrown up in the air, dropped on the floor and stamped on by a crowd of unplanned people.

I don't like this one bit.

In all the years he had known Shishi, she had not been late for ANYTHING. Not even for the morning coffee meeting, the most tedious tradition in the world. And she was there.

But she wasn't here.

"Junsacho, what are your orders sir?" Kyuzo delayed answering, still wondering the same thing. What now?

What could have happened?

Where could she be?

He saw himself, with his own dark eyes the fire burning in her amber eyes, lust for the fight.

So why wasn't she here?

An image of Saito running out of the complex entered his mind from this morning. He looked furious.

He couldn't have…no. he may be her master, but he is her father. He wouldn't…

"Sir? What are you orders?" Kyuzo gave a throaty grunt, telling his men to back off while he thought. But, then came a voice he couldn't ignore. Despite that he wanted to…

"Where is 'shi?" Kyuzo opened his eyes from his self thought, and looked directly into two red orbs, and a ghost white mask. His chilling voice got to him, even now, but he answered.

"Officer Goro is missing and unaccounted for Hakukakotai." Kyuzo ran a hand through his brown hair, troubled by the night's events. He put a lot of pressure on Shishi's shoulders, which she took for granted no doubt. He needed her for more than just her sword.

In this mission, she was to be the 'main man', the first in and the last out. Her sword was going to be the blade to capture the operative that might have information about the recent copy-cat Shinsengumi killings.

"Then I am not here." Kyuzo snapped his head up.

"Wait." He caught him just before the mysterious warrior could blend back into the shadows.

"'shi is missing. And Shishi is the appointed force of this mission. Without her, there is no mission. Unless you wish to quickly give the attack role to someone else, and rush this?"

Damn him.

Damn that mask wearing ex-fugitive for knowing all the right buttons to press. Because if he rushed this mission, then he would most likely lose one, if not more than one of his men in the process. And that was if they even captured the target. That was just the way it was in the underground, commonly called the underworld of Japan.

"It seems my hand is being forced." Kyuzo looked to his old friend Toshiro, the cunning Ninja who although he couldn't see, he knew he was there. Probably right behind him too. "Toshiro, I want you to blue mark the target. I don't want him even taking a piss without my knowing. Full reports on his movement. We haven't finished with him yet."

"Hai." The soft croaky voice whispered like a ghostly echo, before vanishing. He was gone.

"Tsuruko."

"Hai Junsacho?" his left hand Samurai of the late Shinsengumi, his only desire atonement, bowed his head and waited for orders. He was far more submissive than any other samurai he'd met. But of course, all the others didn't take the guilt of many on his shoulders.

"I want you to go back to home base and report the situation to the Kin. He will relay it to the higher ups."

"Hai." And silently, the blur of white robes vanished into the shadowed alley and out of sight.

"And you can-"

"Locate Shishi." Hakukakotai then turned his back to the Junsacho, and faced the dark wall of the alley. Kyuzo didn't say anything. He knew that although he liked this kid because of Shishi, he couldn't quite figure him out. Or more importantly, seem to get him to follow orders. He gave the impression that he never followed orders, and he wasn't about to start now. Kyuzo then blinked, and shook his head with a chilling shudder.

Hakukakotai had gone, and he had watched how he left. It still made him feel 'creeped out' every time he watched that.

Oh Shishi… Kyuzo looked up at the pitch sky. What happened to you, my little scarlet angel…

Back at the police station.

Tsuruko silently slipped back into the police station, unseen by any of his 'colleges' as he scaled the stars in the dimmed halls. All the candles were lit, but most of the wax had melted away with the late hour.

Before the hired samurai could even step into the same hallway as Kin, the 'memo boy' as they called him, a tall figure he knew all too well stood in his way. Tsuruko bowed his head, despite the bitter taste that picked his tongue in his presence.

They may work together, but for very different reasons.

"Keishicho."

"I would prefer, from you at least, Hijime sama."

"Not Wolf?" Tsuruko retorted, despite himself, and almost choked on the heavy cloud of smoke exhaled directly into his face. These two men never saw eye to eye. Never. Not even in the 'old days'. Especially not now. Tsuruko at least had shame. This man, did not.

Saito chuckled snarkily, and smirked in another drag of his cigarette.

"If it pleases you." He chuckled again at the obvious contempt this man held for him. He had to admit, when he found out that that fool Bitstu brought old Fujiwara Tsuruko back into the game, he had been pleasantly surprised. At first he hoped for a new partner with the same agenda as himself, only to be quickly reminded of the spineless 'compassion' and 'remorse' this man held for life. He always was a disappointment to the Shogunate.

Tsuruko tried to side step him, holding tight to his sabre by his side for comfort, eyeing up the katana Saito held with pride on his hip. Saito had permission, simply because he would break the rules if he didn't. Tsuruko obeyed, so he was given a sabre just like everyone else.

And Saito always reminded him of that. "So, where is my obedient little mutt going at this hour?"

"I am not-"

"Where?" Tsuruko bit his tongue at the interruption. It would be far less painful just to tell him what he wanted and get him out of his hair.

"To Kin."

"The relay boy? Why?" Saito was interested now. He pretended to be fully engrossed with adjusting his own white gloves, as Tsuruko continued.

"Our mission was called off."

"Ha. Let me guess. Bitstu bit off more than he could chew again?" he loved teasing that underdog in Tsuruko's presence. It always made him bristle up. For some reason, the mongrel had grown a loyalty to that man, stronger than to his own Shogunate vow of Aku Soku

Zan. It disgusted him.

"No. we withdrew from battle, as we were but a sheath without a blade." Saito knew exactly what he was talking about. Their main man, or 'hit man', was mission. Probably drunk. Saito rolled his eyes. "Hakukakotai is probably going to find her as we speak." At that, Saito visibly faltered.

"She?" He spat. "Shishi!"he knew it to be true, even before Tsuruko nodded.

He hated that damn boy. Hakuka-whatever his name is had been popping up in the shadows following her around everywhere for a few years now. Sometimes he caught her smirking down at him at an alleyway, having their own silent conversation with their fingers and body language. And others…she didn't even know she was being followed. Either that, or she didn't acknowledge him. He hated that damn boy. Because ever since that child came onto the scene, Shishi had become more engrossed with self training, and…

Training with himinstead of with me.

But what he really wanted to say, was spending time with him, and not with me.

"Yes Keishicho. She failed to make an appearance, and so Hakukakotai has gone to investigate her wherea-"

Saito shoved him out the way, storming down the stairs and out the police complex.

That was the last straw.

First she ran away.

Then she took her pay so he couldn't trace her.

Then she stays somewhere he couldn't find her, after checking every inn and housing area he could think of.

And now she goes missing!

Shishi NEVER goes missing when there is a mission to be done.

Aku Soku Zan.

She lived by that vow as vigilantly as he did.

There could only be a very important reason for her not being on that mission.

An image of her body, lying somewhere on the ground, battered, bleeding, cold and lifeless in a dingy little street corner somewhere haunted his mind as he sped through the streets. He heard unrecognisable voice cackling over her body, abusing her in ways that made the bile in his stomach lurch for liberty.

Any number of men he had made enemies of could be doing any number of things to her. Because of him.

My fault…SHISHI!

He increased his speed, going to one place. Only one.

His vision in the darkness as keen as ever.

A wolf never forgets his sight, or his smell.

Or even his old hunting grounds.

Saito grabbed the wooden doors with vigour, and threw them open. He then bounded inside, not caring if he woke everyone on the street up as he forced his way into one room. Only one.

"Battōsai." Saito panted heavily. It was then he realised how hard and how fast he had run here. His lungs were heavy, his ribs ached and his legs burned with sudden exertion.

Slower than he would have liked, a mass of red hair raised from the pillow and violet eyes looked to him sleepily.

"Oh, hello Keishicho. This is quote the surprise visit, that it is." Kenshin chuckled, rubbing his eyes adorably before sitting up in his pale sleeping yukata. He then chuckled, only to look up into wide, frenzied amber eyes. "Saito." His cheery tone vanished, deepened, and became very serious. He was fully alert now, and raising to his feet.

"Where (pant). Cant find (pant). Missing (pant)."

"Calm yourself Saito." Kenshin lifted his Sakabato from under the blanket, and shoved it down the belt of his yukata. Saito took a deep breath, and didn't care for composure like he usually would.

Would you care how icy cool you looked when your mind was plagued with visions of your daughter being raped and murdered?

"Shishi, is-"

"Asleep."

Saito felt like he had been punched in the face.

"…she's…asleep? You mean she's here!" Amber eyes widened madly, half furious, half overjoyed that he finally found her.

Then it was just fury. "Get her. Now."

"I would, but she isn't a little…incapacitated at the moment. That she is." Kenshin was so relieved this was about Shishi, and not something that required his sword. He would go if he was needed of course, but how unfair on Miss Kaoru would it be to just vanish in the middle of the night without telling her…especially after he promised her…

"What do you mean!" Saito snapped immediately, ignoring the hushing gestures Kenshin was making with his hands desperately. Saito could only think she had been in a battle, and laid injured somewhere in the Aoiya.

"Well, it seems my old master met her in the street and took the time to treat her at one of those quaint little sake bars towards the town centre. I apologise Saito, but my master does love his sake. And it appears Shishi does too." Kenshin chuckled, but froze solid as the furious glare radiating bloody murder at him made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His hands went clammy too.

"Shishi can handle her drink!" Saito spat, as if trying to defend her for some reason. "I should know! I taught her how!" Saito grit his teeth together.

My, dear Saito seems to be just as mixed up without Shishi, as she is without him, that he is. Kenshin chuckled, and raised an apologetic hand to him.

"I am sure you have taught her a number of things, but she is obviously intoxicated. She even lost her hat somehow."

"Where?"

"I don't know where she lost it but-"

"Shishi. Where is Shishi?" It was then Kenshin sighed and lowered to sit back on the futon.

"Safe, here. But I don't think she is quite ready to face you, that she is not."

"I don't care. Where is she?" Saito was at the end of his fast tearing leash, fangs snarling and the scent of blood tickling his acute nostrils. He wanted his daughter, and he wanted her now.

"I could let you see her, but she will not be able to talk to you. She is passed out, that she is." Kenshin once again got to his feet, and led the rabid wolf to his cub.

At least, that is how Kenshin amused himself at the situation. He didn't care to share that imagery with his old rival-come-friend. At least, not until he told Saito that he actually considered him a friend, first. That would overjoy him, he was sure.

When they arrived outside of her new room, Kenshin looked up at Saito over his shoulder. For the briefest of moments, Kenshin saw into those amber eyes and saw a great devotion that he never thought he would ever see in those eyes.

And he doubted Shishi had been privy to those emotions in him either.

A shame really, if she had, perhaps she could have found peace with him instead of this conflict.

It seemed, both father and daughter were as clueless as the other.

The daughter wanted her father's love, and the father wanted to give it to her. But he didn't know how, and she didn't know if he even did because of this. Poor child.

After an annoyed grumble brought him back from his musings, Kenshin quietly slid open the door, and stepped aside to allow Saito a better view.

Thank Kami.

Shishi was laid there, on the futon, for the first time in her life, sleeping like a log. Her long wild chaotic tendrils fanned around her face, her limbs everywhere, her cheeks a little flushed, and her breathing steady.

Yes, she was definitely drunk. If she was sober, she would have been sat there looking at the door and expecting him from the first moment he opened the front doors.

Saito leaned against the slid doors, allowing a fleeting expression of relief crease over his features, before he schooled them again.

Kenshin shook his head when Saito opened the doors, and walked straight in.

"Saito." He whispered. "I don't think-"

"I am her father and I will decide what is best for her, Battōsai." Saito spat, scooping her and her sword up, before turning to leave.

But Kenshin stood in the doorway, a sad expression on his face.

"If you do this, she will hate you." Saito froze, but refused to give in. He was a wolf with a bone, not about to let it go. Especially when the said bone was as precious to him as his daughter. He took another step, but Kenshin began again. "She is angry with you. Leaving her alone will allow her to calm herself enough to listen to you I the future. If you simply take her from what little sanctuary she has found for self reflection, her fury will increase ten fold and you will have to deal with the brunt of all of it. It will be very unlikely that she forgive you for it. Ever."

Saito looked away. He was right, but he didn't care.

All he knew, was that he finally had his daughter back in his arms, and he wasn't about to put her down.

"Fine." Saito moved over to the futon, and laid her down. He then sat against the wall like he always did, and watched her as she slept. "But I will be here when she wakes up."

Kenshin groaned. But he knew that was the best he could do for her. Saito wasn't about to give anymore leeway that he already has. The fact he didn't threaten him with disembowelment if he didn't move out of his way was a miracle in itself. So he nodded, and left them to it.

Maybe things won't go to pot when Shishi wakes up to find her father there, watching her. Maybe she won't slap him again and tell him to shove it. And maybe, just maybe, Saito won't talk to her like a piece of trash or naughty little child who is incapable of doing anything without him, making her feel low about herself and force her to come with him.

Who am I kidding? I bet I know the exact moment Shishi wakes up, from the sounds of swords clashing throughout the Aoiya.

It was bound to happen, he knew. I better go warn Kaoru and Misao about yet another guest to have joined us…