((AN: The next chunk. This chapter is so freacking filled with dialogue. There's so much to explain. I'll probably be writing another story explaining Saitou's trip in Nagoya and alittle bit of the background info. We're delving straight to the matter of the bad guy here, gomen for the cliffhangers but it was neccesary. ))
Aoshi couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had travelled days to reach here to find his beloved green eyed tenshi and return with her to the Aoiya. He hadn't stopped along the way, because all he could think of was seeing her face. Those green eyes and that beuatiful smile and her voice calling his name. And she was in the arms of another man. One Saitou Hajime, one HATED police officer and ex 3rd captain of the Shinsengumi, Saitou Hajime. Aoshi sneered and reached for his kodachi. How dare he touch her!
Saitou gold eyes did not miss the ex Okashira's reach for his Kodachi, or the sneer that marred his usually cold and dull features. Pushing Itachi aside he knew there would be trouble.
"Itachi….this will have to wait." Saitou told her, gently but firmly untangling her hands from his uniform. Misao wiped her tears away blinking in confusion.
Saitou turned, fixing those golden eyes on the ex okashira. His grip hardened on his katana, feeling the hatred in Aoshi's ki. He looked back at Itachi, her jade eyes wide with confusion. Aoshi would answer to him. He was responsible for her, at the very least.
"If you've got a problem Shinomori I'm more than willing to settle this now." Saitou challenged walking forward.
Aoshi came to meet him, both Kodachi drawn and a look sheer hatred chiselled on his hardened features. Saitou smirked, flowing into a Gatotsu form.
Misao blinked, and then realized to her horror what was going on.
"No!" She cried sprinting between the two.
Kenshin eyed the situation eyes wide with alarm. What was going on here? First Misao had fought Aoshi….Her "Aoshi sama" with all she'd had, and now she was running into the arms of Saitou Hajime? Blinking away his confusion he felt the spike in Aoshi's ki rise.
"Get into the house, Koneko….and take Yahiko with you" Kenshin ordered, amethyst eyes narrowing as the two walked forward to meet each other.
"Demo-" Kaoru cried eyeing the situation, stunned.
"Now" Kenshin ordered, cutting her off as he drew his sword.
Misao ran to the middle stopping the fight before he even had a chance. Kenshin eyed her. Aoshi wouldn't risk harming her, but Saitou…
"Enough!" Misao cried. "You heard Kaoru! There will be no bloodshed in this dojo!" She told the two holding her position in between them.
Aoshi sheathed his kodachi. "You are right Misao mine, fighting resolves nothing" Aoshi said, ice blue eyes glaring at Saitou menacingly.
"Arigatou…" Misao said softly thanking him. Saitou ground his teeth, jaw clenched. That manipulative ass hole! Trying to get on Itachi's good side was he? What the hell was he doing here anyways? Saitou had only sent him the letter a few days ago requesting for his assistance. Saitou sheathed his sword, practically fuming. It was Aoshi's turn to smirk.
Kenshin regarded the two, eyes narrowed. Their ki had not dropped, despite swords being sheathed. Whatever was going on Kenshin was going to get to the bottom of this.
"Why are you here Saitou? " Kenshin pressed, hand still to his sword.
"Typical Battousai. Still playing the clueless idiot? Take a look around Japan. Gangs are rallying, fights have even broken out into the streets, Loyalties are being questioned and local authorities have become corrupt. One specific gang is gaining in hierarchy" Saitou replied.
"You have no business with Battousai" Aoshi replied, as Kenshin came to stand beside him.
"The hell I don't. He has my parolee lingering about his dojo along with the fact that most of the problem started with him in the first place. " Saitou replied, eyeing Misao, who had come to stand beside him.
"WHAT?" Aoshi demanded, anger flaring again, as he reached for his kodachi.
"I'm working for the Meiji police department in Kyoto seeing as how I left the Aoiya for good" Misao replied simply.
Kenshin's eyes widened. Misao was working for…for Saitou? Aoshi choked, spluttering his rage. Kenshin held out his arm.
"Wait" He told Shinomori, knowing Saitou was merely toying with the Okashira to get him to do something stupid.
"What problem would that be Saitou?" Kenshin retorted, not trusting the amber eyed wolf for a second.
" Don't play stupid Battousai. You've left too many loose ends in Japan to not know what I'm talking about." Saitou told him.
Kenshin's eyes widened.
"Yes. Now you understand" Saitou told him, smirking as he lit up a cigarette.
Misao eyed the three of them, not understanding.
"What?" Misao frowned. "Who?"
Aoshi's grip on his kodachi hardened. His knuckles white, his eyes turned a deep azure.
"Takeda Kanryuu" He snarled.
"The same" Saitou replied his tone equally matched in fury.
Misao's knees buckled. Takeda Kanryuu, the crime lord, and opium dealer of the underworld. The person who had taken her beloved Aoshi sama, and her friends away from her. Misao's tears came again, but Misao couldn't feel them. She felt cold…numb all over.
"Itachi" Saitou whispered, having read the filework on the incident to know what had happened and who had suffered.
"Hai" Misao whispered numbly.
"Now is not the time for your tears" Saitou told her, offering his hand.
Nodding Misao wipped her face and took it.
"We should go inside and talk then" Kenshin said, torn between inviting Saitou into his home and needing to know the details.
"Aah" Aoshi agreed, sheathing his kodachi, eyes never losing their cold look. Trenchcoat sweeping, he moved inside, where Kaoru waited with the door open.
She closed the door after Kenshin entered. Saitou sneered. Typical women. She obviously hadn't forgiven him for tricking her in their first encounter. Saitou smirked wolfishly in remembrance of the start of the Kyoto incident. That had been a good fight. Misao opened the shouji door for him.
"Arigatou" Saitou murmured rather coldly, removing his shoes, and sitting. Misao went to go help Kaoru with the sake and the tea.
"Where is he?" Aoshi snarled finally after a tense silence.
"First things first we should hear this from the beginning that we should" Kenshin said, sitting contemplatively.
"It's a waste of time" Aoshi snapped.
"There is nothing that can be done tonight Aoshi san. We need all of the information Saitou can provide" Kenshin replied. "You know as well as I do that we can do nothing if we don't understand the situation."
"If you're done now with your childish antics I'll explain it" Saitou interupted, irritated by the time Shinomori was wasting by being obstinate.
" It all started with a fight in the market place in the streets of Kyoto. Misao was accused of selling information and opium to foreigners and was called a whore. "
Aoshi's jaw clenched. He hadn't known the specified accusations. So they were about him, and Misao had paid the price for it. Shame washed of Aoshi in waves as he listened in silence.
"Misao fought well enough. The thugs challenged her to a duel….in a temple no less…." Saitou paused, molten fire burning in his amber orbs.
"And?" Kenshin asked, knowing the wolf was reliving some memory of the past.
"And Misao accepted. She was attacked and killed a few of the men in an alley. I found her and took her to the Aoiya. Later she ran away from home, and met them 3 days from her first fight at the temple and succeeded in killing their leader, but not before she'd been sliced with a poison tipped blade."
Kenshin's eyes widened.
"Tetrodoxin. From a pufferfish." Saitou answered, knowing the question in Battousai's eyes.
"Who did this?" Aoshi asked.
"The fugu gang, whose origins were based in Nagoya. They used poison tipped weapons, particularily pufferfish poison. It's almost a cult in their beliefs. They see it as the strongest living from the posion, and the weak don't"
Aoshi gripped his kodachi, eyes ablaze in silent fury.
"Obviously enough she lived through it. Not many do." Saitou continued on. "And seeing as how she'd been tossed out of her own home and disowned by her family to defend the honour of the Oniwabanshuu, I took pity on her and offered her a position under my direct supervision." Saitou replied.
Aoshi's hand went to his kodachi. "How dare you. You have no idea the pain we suffered from her loss. We thought she was dead or worse"
"Is it any less than the truth Shinomori? You disowned her and abandoned her. Then you left her in a cell for a week without even bothering to see if she'd turned up. That's not tough love. That's Criminal." Saitou retorted amber eyes narrowing.
"Did you expect me to release her?" Saitou pressed. "She still had to pay for her crimes, the same as anyone else does. However her courage was something to be admired, and so I offered her a place in the kyoto precinct, Is that ANY less than what happened?"
Aoshi said nothing, jaw clenched.
"I thought not. The captain of Kyoto was murdered, on the way from Nagoya to Tokyo. I was comisioned the new captain of the Kyoto precinct. With all of the street fighting and rumours flying, I decided to look into the death and investigation of him. It was too convienent. I was met by a messenger that my death would be on the road. "
Kaoru grabbed Misao's arm as she entered the kitchen.
"What were you THINKING? Running to Saitou like that?" Kaoru scolded in a harsh whisper. "He could've killed you!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"Kaoru" Misao tolled her, eyes rolling. "I work for him"
"What?!" Kaoru exclaimed. "Why?"
"Because I was disowned by my owen family" Misao spat, the dull swift pain still there.
"But-Okina would never…"
"I was challenged as Okashira and fought in a battle, and was thus disowned and thrown in jail. Saitou gave me a job and I've been travelling with him ever since" Misao replied.
"I….I'm sorry Misao…But how could Aoshi just leave you?"
"Aoshi has never cared for ME. He's been cold ever since he left. He never loved me. He never could. Takeda Kanryuu won when he fought Aoshi. Don't you see? He took his soul!" Misao cried, wiping tears she knew were streaming down her face.
"Oh Misao.." Kaoru told her, embracing her friend.
Misao pushed her away. "No. We have to prepare the drinks" She told her wipping her tears.
"I'll prepare the tea." Misao told Kaoru. "I know how he likes it" She said, reffering to Aoshi and making a face. May he choke on it she thought darkly.
No more was said between the two of them, Kaoru hurt for her dear friend and Misao lost in the memories of her friends, and of one she had stopped loving long ago.
Kaoru passed her a tray, and they both went out into the common room. Misao served Aoshi coldly, as Kaoru served Kenshin and Saitou sake.
"OYEEE" A voice was heard outside.
Saitou bristled, knowing who it was. A sneer marred his features his hand on his sword.
Kenshin and Kaoru both looked up.
"I'll get him and explain the situation" Kaoru told him with a smile.
Kenshin nodded. "Do continue Saitou"
Saitou sipped his sake.
"Me, Misao and a former officer left early. Little did I know that he himself was a spy." Saitou said irritated. Misao's eyes widened.
"Orusen san was a spy?" She exclaimed.
Saitou nodded. "A damn good one. I knew I couldn't trust volunteers. Too many hours were spent within that office. He knew everything and eventually gained access to all sorts of information on cases. He helped Takeda on several levels masking his presence from us until now." Saitou said, tone dangerously flat.
"Whaddya mean I'M NOT ALLOWED IN?! Move Jou chan!" The voice from outside cried. The sound of a bokken snapping could be heard and a scuffle followed by a scream. Sanosuke crashed through the shouji door, landing with at the feett of the now standing Mibu wolf.
"YOU!" Sanosuke cried, getting to his feet.
Saitou rolled his eyes "Chee. Street trash again is it?"
Sanosuke growled, fists up. "Anytime you want to go, we can take this outside. I'd love to show you a few new tricks I've learned." Sanosuke said through clenched teeth, glaring at Saitou.
"Sanosuke. That is Enough that it is!" Kenshin ordered.
Sanosuke glared one last vehement look at the wolf and sat near Kenshin, grabbing the bottle of sake and drinking straight from the ceramic glass.
Aoshi regarded Sanosuke with a look of disgust, and Saitou ignored him, settling back to his seat.
"Tori Atama" Misao acknowledged flippantly, yanking the bottle from him.
"OYEE WHATS THE- Itachi? What are you doin here?" Sanosuke asked her, surprise replacing his anger. Misao set the bottle down and Sano grabbed it again.
"I work with Saitou now for the Kyoto precinct." Misao replied slyly.
Sanosuke choked on the sake.
"You WHAT?" He asked, coughing.
"IN either case" Saitou interrupted irritated to no end by the blathering idiot.
"Sano hush" Kenshin ordered.
Sano muttered something incoherant. Saitou rolled his eyes but continued.
"We travelled through the forests between Kyoto and Nagoya and stopped for the night. Orusen was butchered while walking in the woods. A hired swordsman and I fought, and between that and that damned smiling brat interfering Misao had left."
"Soujiro?" Kenshin asked, eyes widening.
Misao glared at Saitou. He was twisting the story to suite his own ends. He had angered her and she had run away was the truth….bastard. She said nothing regarding the wolf icily as she sat between him and Aoshi. Deciding to spite him she scooted closer to Aoshi. She didn't miss the twitch Saitou couldn't hide.
"Yes." Saitou continued "and we were attacked by bandits. I was forced to send Soujiro on after Misao while I took care of the bandits who were actually hired mercenaries, combing the forests for merchants. Soujiro found her and apparently she made it here, while I fought off groups of them"
"Eventually I was forced back to a temple…." Saitou paused, the same fury entering his eyes.
"and?" Misao asked, wanting to hear what happened.
"I fought off their leaders, killing them, but being tired cold and hungry as hell I was injured and passed out at the temple. I awoke to Soujiro and we left for Nagoya. There I discovered through my own means that Takeda Kanryuu was behind it all."
"I don't understand." Kenshin said. "Takeda Kanryuu had left the country"
"He left to keep us from following him.He stayed there a year, just long enough to keep us from suspecting and He arrived 6 months ago smuggled on a ship….and re took his authority of the underworld, continuing his dealings in Opium which only seemed to have stregthened since his visit to europe and selling of illegal weapons under the guise of the fugu gang."
"Further more he was the one selling information to foreigners.This is why Misao was accused of dealing with Opium at Kyoto because he had started up the trade again and the Oniwabanshuu had been connected to it before. So they assumed they once again had gotten involved."
"So he knew that you would get involved from the start?" Kenshin summed up from Saitou explanation.
Saitou nodded, face grim, eyes alight with fury.
"We were played. Everything planned. Then Soujiro.." Misao started, unable to finish.
Saitou nodded. "Rurouni my ass. I knew he was lying. Since Battousai ruined his emotional block months before, he can't conceal all of his emotions. That was no surprise. The real tragedy is that I had no idea Takeda had entrenched himself so deeply within the meiji police. The entire system will have to be changed because of the weight of this case" Saitou said regretfully.
"This is all well and good but where's Takeda now?" Sano interrupted, fish bone sticking out of his mouth.
Saitou said nothing sipping his sake.
Kenshin did his best to be patient. Saitou was drawing every ounce of agony and hatred out of this that he could.
"Where is HE?" Aoshi snapped, loosing his patience. Misao jumped, startled by his anger. Azure eyes lost their icy edge as he stared at his prized green eyed tenshi and the way she stared at him in fright.
"Sumimasen, Misao mine. Where is Takeda Kanryuu now?" Aoshi pressed, standing.
Saitou smiled cruely folding his gloved hands together.
Kenshin eyed him, wondering if he would actually give the information.
"Well?" Kenshin asked.
"Right under our very noses." Saitou replied, giving Kenshin a look.
" Not here in Tokyo" Kenshin's eyes widened. "Surely he couldn't have-"
"He's underground at the same place he was when we found him. The place has been abandoned, but we never thought to check underneath the house, the grounds having been scowered and over 1000 pounds of opium discovered, we left it be thinking it was finished. " Saitou finished eyes darkened in their anger.
Aoshi headed for the door.
"No. Aoshi don't go! you don't understand" Kenshin told him, getting to his feet.
"NO Battousai, you don't understand. He took everything" Aoshi replied.
Saitou stood. "And you let him. If you so much as breathe without my permission Shinomori I will arrest you" Saitou said calmly.
"You still owe me Shinomori. Or has the word of a Oniwabanshuu become so worthless?" Saitou mocked.
Aoshi drew his kodachi. "Damn you!" He challenged.
"ENOUGH!" Misao stood, blocking his way.
Aoshi eyed her coldly. "Has he so tainted your innocense that you defend him?"
Misao's jade eyes burned. "He has shown me the truth Shinomori." Misao said coldly.
" and he has given me opportunity time and time again.You would do well not to speak ill of him. If not for him needing you, I would arrest you here and now" Misao told him, in a cold detached voice. His trenchcoat wipped behind him as he left, fury trembling from his form.
Misao sighed.
"He's leaving? You're just going to let him go?" Sano demanded.
"He won't act alone." Misao replied. "He'll go and sulk and meditate at the temple for a while. And then he will come back here and listen like the good dog that he is" Misao replied eyes cold.
"That's a tad bit harsh Itachi" Saitou told her smirking as he spulled out a cigarette.
"He is nothing without the one who plays his strings. He'll return" Misao replied. "I'm tired" She said looking to Saitou.
"Indeed." Saitou replied, eyes gleaming wickedly. He was proud of itachi
"It has been a very long week. We shall take our leave of your dojo Battousai. Tomorrow morning we'll reconvein and come up with a strategy."
"You will not take Misao dono by force" He told Saitou flatly.
"I have not forced anything upon her. Itachi has made her choices like a grown women all by herself, Battousai. I am a hard man but not so cruel as to bend her to my will. I am a married man after all" He said with a sneer.
"Misao dono I ask that you would excuse us for a moment" Kenshin asked her.
Misao frowned but nodded.
"Do not think that I trust you so easily with one of my friends Saitou. I see your bitterness and cynicism has aleady gotten to her spirit. Where is your wife? " Kenshin whispered.
Saitou smirked. "She ran off with someone a few months ago and left me a note. I have already made my decision Battousai. I am a married man. However, what is between Misao and I is non of your concern. Should you intefere we will finish what we started so long ago" Saitou told him, eyes flickering with battle lust as he waited.
"Should you touch her-" Kenshin started, amethyst eyes aflame.
"But what if she wants to be touched?" Saitou couldn't help but add, as he walked out the shouji door.
Kenshin glared, watching the two leave. It started to rain, Kenshin finally noticing that the sky was gray.
"This does not bode well" He whispered.
He turned to see Kaoru nearly choking Sano.
"YOU BAKA TORI ATAMA, YOU RUINED THE DOOR!" She screamed.
Kenshin sighed. Misao dono, be safe he prayed.
Misao felt the rain on her head and looked up. "Great" She muttered. "Just what we need"
"The rain is good for Edo." Saitou replied deliberately referring the state as such, eyes calm. " It cleanses"
Misao stared at him. His yellow eyes were straight forward, no nasty smirks marred his features he even almost had a smile on his face as he stared out at the country side. He's beautiful her thoughts betrayed her, and her face flushing. Here was just Saitou, not Saitou of the shinsengumi, not Saitou the police officer, just plain Saitou Hajime. Misao treasured the moment, knowing that few had seen him like this ever.
It had just started to sink in what all had happened over the past few weeks. So much had changed. It felt like she'd grown years in the matter of weeks she'd been away from home. She smiled as she remembered the pain of leaving that morning from the Aoiya. She had thought she would sit in jail the rest of her life, that all of her adventures were done and gone. Saitou had saved her. Time and time again he had saved her. Finally he had come back to her like she promised and kept Aoshi at bay. She couldn't help but smile. So much had been accomplished.
"Itachi?" His voice cut through her musings.
"Hai?" She replied eyes bright.
"You were standing there. We need to reach an inn quickly before we're both soaked to the bone." He told her.
Misao nodded and drew closer to the wolf. She could feel tensuion between them and frowned. Their relationship had only seemed to become that much more complicated. Sure he had embraced her and taunted the others using her to bait them, but that didn't mean he wanted her. Before his trip to Nagoya Saitou had strongly hinted something more than just a physical need. Now he seemed old, timeless and wise and at the same time so far beyond her tiny grasps.
Aoshi arriving had only seemed to further complicate her feelings. It was like her past was coming back to haunt her. He had confessed his love for her, but she didn't want him anymore. He didn't really love her. He loved the part of her that was subservient. He wanted her to become a proper girl. He wouldn't even accept that she wanted to be a ninja. She eyed the wolf soberly. She wanted him. For all his bitterness and sarcasm, and nasty remarks, he made up for it with his charms and his kiss. He was clever, witty, surprisingly sweet at times…He brought her to life. He pushed her beyond her limits. This man challenged her, something Aoshi could never do.
"Saitou….what am I to you?" Misao asked, tired of the games. He would tell her here and now or not at all.
Golden eyes fixed their stare to her jade orbs. Misao gazed calmly back at him, hiding her apprehension with her calm demeanor.
"Itachi…..this isn't the best of time to be-"
"Why are you avoiding the question?" Misao interrupted, unable to help the hurt from entering her tone.
"Itachi…"
"Misao" Misao corrected.
"Misao, whatever it is between us….it's strong. I've felt lust, and what I thought was a shallow attempt at love, and I cannot put my finger on which ours lies in.I can't lie to you. I'm interested. But I am a married man Misao. You must understand that. I cannot sacrifice my beliefs, Aku Zoku Zan. If I do this it makes me no better than the evil I claim to be set apart from. I've thought long and hard over this. We can't be as we are now." Saitou told her, knowing it would crush her.
The tears came and left in her eyes.
"I understand." She whispered, choking trying to keep from sobbing.
"You're lying" Saitou observed, yellow eyes calm. He couldn't give in to her.
"SO what if I am!" Misao cried, eyes alight with fury and pain.
"What's it to you?" She murmured, wiping the rain from her face along with the tears.
He drew her into his arms before she could protest. She was pressed against his rain slickened officer uniform, and she fought to struggle away from his touch.
"You've no idea what it means to me" He whispered regretfully, holding her close. His yellow eyes were full of sorrow. She'd never seen Saitou like this. It hurt her to look at him.
Felling the tears again, Misao burried her head into his chest.
It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair!