An: Yae!!! My reviewers haven't died!!! happy happy happy dance I was sooo afraid after posting the 8th chapter that you'd all just poofed out of existence. Your reviews are a great encouragement to me. I appreciate them so very much! In fact I got a really scary one that I'm still wondering if it's a compliment or complaint
There's a good, very citrusy bordering on lemon fic I've been obsessed with. I'm not all about lemons, but she writes Battousai sooo well! It's called Black Devotion, by Violet Goddess. The tree was inspired by this fic, but NOT ripped off of it! I hadn't read this fic for months when I thought of the tree incident. The tree was merely convenient for S/M smut. I don't feel I ripped it off. Gomen Nasai to anyone who thinks otherwise.
Disclaimer- If I owned any of the RK bishies, it wouldn't even be nearly as cool as it is. I am a baka gaishin who can't spell most Japanese words, and merely attempts to write the awesomeness of rk. I put in the Japanese word bank on request of somebody's review. Thanks for letting me know!
Itachi- Weasel
Taishou- Captain
Shimatta- Damn it.
Baka- Idiot
Ahou- Ass
Bokken- Wooden sword used for training.
Furo- Bath.
Edo- Essentially Tokyo
Buffybot76- The 9th chapter wouldn't have been up without you. I owe you soooo much! You stinkin rock!
Misao sat miserably while Saitou was given his temporary title and rank. He had just been promoted of sorts to the captain of the Kyoto precinct. All of his things would have to be transferred to the new office, and there was tons of paperwork to be done about the former Captains death. Saitou and Misao would be sent up there to investigate, as soon as all of the political things were taken care.
Misao was hurt that through all of this Saitou was practically ignoring her. Saitou had been the one to initiate their kiss shared at the tree. And now he was giving her the cold shoulder, like she didn't even exist. It hurt. It hurt exactly the way Aoshi used to treat her. Misao was tired of it.
"Tell the captain that I'm going back to the house, when he's done, he can meet me there to discuss the details of our mission" Misao told one of the subordinate police officers. And slammed the door on the way out.
Misao made her way up the hill to the little house, sword in its box and raging. She reached th house quickly, her temper fuming, and pulled the sword out of its box. She could try to practice with it. She'd seen Aoshi do it a thousand times. If she just copied his form, she could master it without the arrogant asshole.
She swung, the weight of the blade pleasing to her. It was as if it had been made for her, an extension of her arm.
an extension of your very soul her thoughts reminded her, bringing back alluring memories of Saitou.
If he really "had eyes for her" then why would he push her away? He was being so cold and distanc-y. The realization of Heartache paralyzed her. How could Misao have invested herself into that selfish jerk only for him to turn around and-.…Wait. Misao didn't HAVE feelings for Saitou! Did she?
Liar Her mind screamed You've practically thrown yourself at him several times. You're just lucky that he's man enough to be honorable with you
Misao winced as the blade sliced her hand. It was a big gash, just light bleeding. She slashed again.
He was probably giving into lust when he kissed you. He doesn't really want you. He just wants to use you and be done with it
Hack. Stab. Slash.
Honestly Misao, if Aoshi didn't want you, what makes you think that Saitou would?
She swung the sword faster, harder, anything to make her mind stop thinking. And then she felt a pair of strong hands grab her wrist. The sword hung in the air.
"What are you doing Itachi?" Saitou asked her, firmly holding on to her.
"Practicing" Misao snapped, trying to take her wrist back. Saitou snatched the sword from her and grabbed her hand.
"Cutting yourself more likely" Saitou told her, taking her hand, palms up, showing her the gashes. Saitou tossed the sword behind him and Misao gasped. That was HER sword!…… That was currently lying perfectly face down in the dirt. Damn him.
"How-" Misao asked, amazed, when she saw Saitou rip a piece of her Obi.
"HEY! What the He-"
"Quiet" Saitou ordered, taking the piece and wrapping her hand expertly.
"OOOoooohhh. Damn you! First you ignore me and now you rip my new clothing! What is WITH YOU?" Misao demanded snatching her hand back and finishing the tie herself.
"What the hell are you bantering on about?" Saitou asked her, irritated by her attitude.
"YOU! You and your jerky arrogant way of dealing with everything!" Misao snapped.
Saitou simply stared at her.
"And- and you don't even know what I'm talking about!" Misao cried, lip trembling as she fought back the tears, anger apparent.
Saitou's eyes widened as he watched her eyes water.
"Itachi" Saitou began, feeling his stomach clench at her tears.
"You can't even call me by my REAL NAME! All you do is lead me on! You say things- and then do things for me- and then turn me away as if I don't even EXIST. You drop me like a doll as soon as it's convenient. You're as cold as Aoshi!" Misao cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.
One moment, he was standing, gazing at her. The next moment, he was right in front of her, and she was staring deeply into the amber depths of the Mibu wolf. His gaze penetrated hers, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"I'm not as cold as he is, Misao." Saitou whispered quietly, her name rolling off his lips. Misao stood speechless.
"I think you of all people would know that" He told her, never looking away from her. Misao eyed his thin lips as a blush spread cross her cheeks; he was on one knee, leaning a bit to meet her eye to eye. Misao leaned forward, wondering if he would accept her. She was dying to feel, to taste those silky lips on her. His lips met hers in the middle, and he crushed her to him.
Twigs snapped, and Saitou was once again aware. Saitou pushed her away, pulling her behind him and pulling out his sword. Misao took a small breath as she eyed the stranger.
"Are you Fujita Gorou, formally known as Saitou Hajime?" The man who had somehow snuck up on them (not so much Saitou as Itachi) was wearing a nondescript straw hat, and a dark blue haori (AN: wait....isn't that the girls jacket?) and white Hakama. A dark blue cloth covered up half his face, and his hair was clipped short and black. The only clear thing you could see were his hazel brown eyes.
"I am" Saitou replied, sword out and ready to attack if necessary.
"This is a warning from my master, do not leave Kyoto." He told Saitou, and bowed.
"And if I should?"
"You will most surely die" The man replied, and made his way through the forests, surrounding the house.
Saitou sighed and sheathed his sword. Running his gloved fingers through his messy bangs, he pulled out a cigarette, and lit up.
"Saitou….what does this mean?" Misao asked him, in a small voice.
"It means that whoever murdered the captain doesn't want us out of Kyoto to discover who exactly murdered the captain. It also means that this someone is pretty damn powerful to be able to threaten ME" Saitou muttered to her through his cigarette.
Misao frowned. "Are there more powerful people?" Misao asked suddenly, green eyes filled with wonder and worry.
Saitou eyed her, eyes glowing amber in amusement, as a smirk graced his features. He stroked her head, which only caused the girl to tense and glare at him, irritated by being treated like a child.
"I was only the third captain of the Shinsengumi. Battousai, or your beloved Aoshi sama, aren't even the strongest men alive in Japan. Whoever it is, is awfully damn sure of themselves that we won't make it to the capitol. This is all the more reason to get to the capitol as soon as we can" Saitou told her.
Misao trembled. " How are we going to make it to the capitol?"
"Very Carefully. I'm assuming that they won't throw their most powerful units at us, just a lot of worthless mercenaries and hired hands. They probably think the warning and all of the paperwork at the office will stop me. Baka ahous….So, I need to train you on how to handle several swordsman, and various other opponents, at once." Saitou told her.
"Oooh? Is that ALL? And here I thought this was going to be difficult. ARE YOU CRAZY?" Misao cried.
"I've been accused of it" Saitou whispered to her, yellow eyes gleaming, predatorily, as he stalked around her.
Misao took a huge breath trying not to be so damn mesmerized by the expression on his face. She wanted him. Pure and simple. Maybe it was lust; maybe it was her trying to overcome her childish infatuation with Aoshi. Maybe….maybe it was more than all of that. But she could no longer deny it. She was afraid though. Terrified. She couldn't handle more pain, on top of her heartache.
She was still deeply wounded by her "beloved Aoshi" and her so called family. They hadn't even come to ask about her. They would've left her in jail. Aoshi had made it fairly clear that she wasn't welcome at home, when they'd spoken at the graves.
"Let's get to work Itachi" Saitou told her handing her the sword, and flicking his cigarette away.
"Hai" Misao told him, dreading what she knew she was getting herself into.
Misao saw the sky, a beautiful orange. It was purple and orange and blue and red all at once. The sun burned a brilliant gold that reflected in her jade depths. She was flying, sailing, as her tears came. It was beautiful. She hit the ground hard. Harder than she had within the past 3 hours and cried out of impact. Her sword never flew from her hands as she skidded, rolling for what must have been the thousandth time, today. She had various bruises and scratches from her "instructor". He wasn't even using a REAL sword against her damn him!
Getting to her feet with a curse, she struggled to stand, groaning at the pain in her limbs. Saitou stood, cigarette in one hand, bokken in the other.
"That all you've got Itachi? Show me you deserve to wield a sword!" Saitou demanded, flowing into his defensive stance.
With a cry Misao, launched herself forward, determined to hit him, to scratch the bastard. To feel the warmth of his blood on her fingers. She would kill him this time. She would-
Fly. Flying was always so beautiful. The one true time Misao felt graceful was through the air. The of course she would land painfully again. Gasping for breath, sword still in hand she rose, wobbly, to her feet. Her eyes a brilliant jade, gasping for breath. She wiped the blood dribbling down her chin, hair dirty with sweat and dust.
He hadn't even explained the point of the exercise, just told her to come at him as fast as she could. It was a game to him, an amusement to push her to her breaking point. Was that the purpose of this exercise? To break her? It sure as hell seemed so.
"Tired already Itachi?" Saitou taunted, golden eyes gleaming almost orange in the fading light, as he stood smugly. This would be her last charge. Her ki was fading fast and she used her adrenaline to fuel her. She launched herself forward again, ushering whatever speed and energy she had left.
This time Saitou deflected her sword, rather than attack, aiming for her shoulder. Itachi brought up her sword quickly realizing that he'd break her collarbone if she didn't. The sword's crashed together, a small chip, made in the bokken, where her sword met his.
Saitou grinned, proud that she was learning quickly. She was a brilliant pupil, her years in martial arts greatly helping her swordsmanship form. He applied pressure, wanting to see how she would react. She cried out in pain and fury and redoubled her efforts to drive him back.
Saitou slowly (At least for him) brought his sword under and around her parry. Realization quickly flashed in her eyes. She responded again with a grunt, parrying and foiled his sword away, lunging in for the kill green eyes ablaze in her battle lust.
Saitou grinned, and sacrificed his bokken, her sword slicing through it swiftly.
"Enough" Saitou told her, smirking proudly. Misao dropped the sword, falling to her knees trying to catch her breath. Saitou towered above her, eyes gleaming at her in silent approval.
"You did well Itachi. We'll call it a night and continue tomorrow with training." Saitou told her, going inside as he chucked the remaining bokken piece to the floor.
Misao fell backwards, staring at the last remains of daylight, chest heaving as she assessed the damage. Bruises scattered her body. She could feel them forming. Her muscles hurt, from their strain, her arms shaking from effort. It had taken sheer will to continue the last hour of training. Her pride wouldn't allow her to fall. Not without something to show for it. She had finally gotten that damned bokken. Someday she would make Saitou pay. He would teach her everything. She refused to let him out of her sights without him teaching her.
So planning on a long-term arrangement are we? Her mind taunted.
No….well….Perhaps. The thought of adventuring with Saitou did have its appeal. She would never be bored, and his company was proving interesting enough. She could learn so many things from him. Realization swept through her. She was eager to learn things from him. She had never felt this way about anyone, and it excited her to know, that aside from sheer sexual attraction and tension, she was drawn to Saitou Hajime.
The fact that he was married once again posed a problem. She had to put her foot down. She would befriend him, but their relationship could go no further. He was married to Tokio, and had seemed perfectly happy when he had told them during the shishio incident.
Obviously she wasn't too thrilled her mind offered.
Misao gasped, flushing at her thoughts. She had no right to be judging Saitou's wife, whom she'd never met before, and knew nothing about the situation. Was Saitou hurting? Underneath his mask of arrogance, and male ego, was the wolf hurting, and longing, the way she had for Aoshi. The thought was enough to sober Misao up, and she sat up, albeit painfully, making her way towards the furo.
She drew the bath, heating up the fire by adding more wood and retreated to her room to grab herself some clean clothing. Laundry would have to be done tomorrow, Misao decided firmly. She wanted to wash and repair her tattered clothing. She could even offer to wash Saitou's clothing.
WHO are you kidding? He has a wife for that!
A wife currently missing in action, Misao mused. Saitou probably didn't have that many uniforms. The offer would certainly be appreciated. Perhaps she could befriend Hajime after all. The thought of taming the mibu wolf brought a smile to her face, followed by a light blush. She erupted into giggles at the thought of Saitou with one of those ridiculous foreign collars on his neck, that she had seen foreigners so often bestow upon their pets. She entered the bath with a splash and enjoyed the warm water, sighing in pleasure. This would indeed be an eventful trip to edo
(An: Wonder if anybody reads these anyways….Anywho sorry that this chapter was shorter than the others. But STAY TUNED! The kenshin-gumi will be making their cameo in this fic as well )