AN: My brain is officially mush. I write this at that nasty intermediate point between midterms and finals, where teachers cram as much assignments as they possibly can between the two, and then murder you during finals for studying. Totally NOT fun I have 7 papers, 2 books as well as an exam to study for…. All before finals hit. This is a shorter update, a teaser before I go into the final chapters where I can devote the sufficient time, effort, and energy to write the battle scenes. Hope you enjoy!
Forgot to give my typical thanks last time-
To Vampmistress76, and Deadlydiva08, who have inspired me all along and kicked my writers block. Special thanks to hajimenokizu who made the last chapter possible as well. Go love on them and read their fan fiction!
Saitou's name- It's been two years since I've taken any Japanese so I'm surprised I remember as much as I do. It hurt my head to try and translate, so I'm not sure if I did it correctly or not. Besides, Tokio Hajime sounds so better than Tokio Saitou. shrug My lazyness is exemplified
I own nothing! Nothing you hear? Watsuki sensei is responsible for everything, and I have nothing of value to give to lawsuits.
Css- snickers
Me- Shuddup!
Shimatta damn it
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The blubbering filth led him to a doorway. He pushed a few buttons on the wall and a noise like metal upon metal rose. Saitou didn't flinch under the sound, but gritted his teeth, clenching his jaw. The hallway door, actually disguised as a shouji door, slid open. Kanryuu had several booby traps with in his house. In the open hallway stood a gilded metal box, lined with strips of metal grafted to the frame. Saitou waited until the pathetic excuse for a man stepped into the cage, and it held his weight. Examining the wheels and pulleys while holding his sword into the man's back, he deemed it safe enough. Stepping in he waited as the man, whimpering, blood still streaming down his shirt, hit the buttons.
"If you've got an ambush waiting for me, Worm, your end won't be swift. I will be sure to make your death slow and painful, after I slay your comrades. Cut by cut" Saitou said unnecessarily digging his sword into the man's back to prove his point. The man cried, sobbing. Saitou sneered at the worm of a man, and waited as the pulley creaked. The ropes started moving and Saitou, impressed, felt the cage moving down.
Saitou became lost in his thoughts, still aware of the man, but filled with an odd sense of worry. Tokio was on his mind, burnt sienna eyes burning a hole in his soul that held a soft place for one ocean green eyed weasel. It didn't matter. He couldn't pursue things with Misao. He had merely prolonged her fight with Shinomori. Honor bound fighting amongst the clan itself, he could not, in just conscience, as a man of the revolution, interfere with. She would undoubtably get herself hurt, possibly killed with her stubbornness, if she was even alive now. The thought of coming across her bloodied body, in the wreck and fire of the aftermath, left Saitou feeling quesy.
Misao was alive. He was convinced of it. It would do more good for her to be used as a hostage and leverage over Saitou than for her to be killed….assuming she didn't do anything stupid along the way. His mind went back to the fight. She would live, and she would have to face Shinomori again. Although it was hard to see Shinomori spilling her blood, Saitou wouldn't put it past the man. He'd allowed his comrades to fall, allowed himself to be taken and used by Shishio of all the sick and twisted people to try and avenge them, fighting and nearly killing Okina in the process. He lived with Misao….and let her go off and nearly get herself killed trying to defend the honor of the Oniwabanshuu. He was not to be underestimated and if she got him mad enough he'd probably hurt her. Misao would never allow her self to be taken freely. Her stubbornness would get her hurt or killed and Saitou could not allow that fight to happen. That was a situation he would have to ponder over.
Green ocean eyes haunted him, only to be replaced by burnt sienna. Saitou shook his head, sword digging into the man's back again. Where was Tokio now? Was she safe? Saitou scowled. She was probably having a thrill in the countryside with her lover, on Saitou's tab more than likely. Tokio knew all of his connections having entertained them when he was home as well as housing some of them for certain operations. Saitou's grip tightened on his katana. Despite his confused feelings, the thought of Tokio in the arms of another left a bitter twisted taste in his mouth. How dare she. She was supposed to be faithful. The daughter of a samurai….her honor was no more valuable than his lineage.
The cage came to a screeching halt, and the Saitou prodded the worm forward. The man opened the door, and led the way down the hallway.
"Which way is it from here?" Saitou asked him.
"D-down the hall on your right" he mumbled.
"Are you lying to me?" Saitou asked him, bringing his katana to the man's neck.
"N-nooo…!" He moaned.
"You realize that I can tell if you're lying" Saitou informed him, golden eyes gleaning harshly.
"It's down the hall on your right. Keep walking. You'll fine Takeda through there." He blubbered.
"Run worm, I'll give you 30 seconds before I follow…." He said harshly.
The man sprinted from the room terrified for his life.
Saitou smirked. Fool. He had more important things to do. Walking down the hall he opened his senses….something in the wall, ducking at the corner of the hallway, he concealed his ki. Aoshi burst forward, evidence of fire burns, and dirt covering him, clothing shredded. Someone else was with him. Saitou smirked and waited. Aoshi stepped forward and Saitou took out his slower companion, not even bothering looking at him. Saitou was on Aoshi, sword at his throat before the ex okashira could so much as move.
"Morning, Shinomori. Did you think you could just wander down Kanryuu's hallways undetected? Next time you feel like being careless stay home and out of my way" Saitou told him callously.
Azure eyes narrowed, hatred firmly within their depths. Saitou let his sword drop and eyed their clothing. Saitou looked down to see the man he'd decked, and grinned, reveling in the moment. The grin disappeared as Sano looked up with singed rooster hair, wondering what had hit him.
"Oh great. You brought the AHOU with you?" Saitou exclaimed, rolling his eyes.
"I didn't BRING him, he followed me here!" Aoshi exclaimed empathetically voice revealing the depth of frustration Aoshi must have endured. Saitou smirked.
"Oyee.. what the hell? You act like I'm some damned green rookie. I can fight just as well as you, and someone's gotta be here to keep you two in line, seeing as how Kenshin's not here"
Both men stopped in their tracks and turned, bodies tight as anger coursed through them. Azure and golden eyes fixed themselves upon Sano with such a look of hatred that Sano, for once, was speechless.
"Know this Ahou, "Saitou said as he walked forward, Aoshi following behind him. Saitou was on Sano in a blink of an eye, slamming him against the wall, choking him with a single hand.
"If you EVER mention Battousai in my presence again I will not heisitate to crush your windpipe. If you so much as pass gas without me ordering you to do so I will gut you here and now. You're here because you were stupid enough to stumble upon us, but this is MY operation. If you mess this up I will see to it that you are tortured and rot in the worst dungeon I can possibly find. Do I make myself clear?" Saitou asked him, squeezing his neck.
Sano glared fiercely back at the man, deciding that now was as good a time as ever for the wolf to get a taste of his Futae no Kimiwami. Sano grabbed at the arm, squeezing it. Saitou's yellow eyes widened and released him before he could break Saitou's sword arm. Swearing amiably, Saitou drew his sword. Aoshi beat him to it, kodachi at Sano's neck.
"For once," Aoshi said, azure eyed twinkling in amusement as a small grin graced his features "I agree with Saitou. If you jeopardize this mission you will not only have Saitou, but the Oniwabanshuu's wrath to deal with as well. Tread very carefully Zanza" Aoshi turned on his heel, following after Saitou who'd already taken off.
"Oyee…God damn it! Wait up!" Sano cried, following after them.
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(earlier)
Misao struggled to breath, as she was face to face with Saitou's wife.
"Tea will be brought in shortly for you." Soujiro told them, closing the shouji door. Misao didn't have to move to hear the clicking that meant somehow, they were locking the door. The room they had them in was small, with no windows. There were probably 6 tatami mats spread about the floor and a coffee table. Books lined the walls, but Misao got the impression that they were more for show than anything else.
"There is no way out of here" Tokio replied softly. "I've tried"
"Maim, I'm a trained ninja, I'm sure that-"
"I know full and well who you are, Makimachi san. I've been given stories from the guards that will visit every now and then." She said softly, her tone dangerously neutral.
Misao felt the shivers go down her spine. Did she know about her and Saitou? Misao scoffed at herself. There was nothing for her to know.
"I don't say that to upset you, May I call you Misao, Makimachi san?" She asked softly. Misao took a seat at the opposite side of the coffee table, not underestimating this woman for an instant. Despite her play of fraility, this woman knew a great deal more than she let on.
"Yes, that's fine" Misao responded, wondering why Soujiro had left her in the company of Tokio. Did he know as well? Could he have been spying on them in the woods?
"As you know, I am Tokio, the wife of Saitou. I do not expect to live very much longer, as my usefulness to Kanryuu will end when my husband appears. I need you to hear my story though…perhaps to understand…but also to relay it to him, so that…so that he knows the truth…I- Saitou is a good man. He deserves that much…"
Her tone waivered when she called him husband.
"Don't be so quick to discount your life. He'll more than likely use you as a hostage and-"
Tokio smirked….something she must've picked up from her wolfish husband. Cold burnt sienna eyes met hers in a cynical expression that seemed to think Misao was naïve at best.
"Don't play with me Misao san. My husband's a police officer. I am the proud daughter of a samurai. I know exactly what card I'm dealt and played as a hostage. Kanryuu will keep me alive only to watch Saitou squirm. Poor man…" Tokio's eyes softened as her hands fiddled with a handkerchief.
"I know you work for my husband. I also know what you're dying to ask. Why? Why did I leave him?" Tokio's eyes were replaced with the cold but elegant look she'd had when Misao had first arrived.
"Why then?" Misao asked, hating that this women was as cold and calculating as her husband. "Why leave a wolf of Mibu, knowing the dangers that it held?"
"I never loved him the way he deserved. I was the daughter of a samurai, and he was some peasant who'd been given nobility by his rank in the Shinsengumi." She said, in a factual way.
"I always felt he never deserved me. Arrogant, I know. The gods have dealt with me for it. I had a lover before I met Saitou. He was a nobleman and there was something romantic about it being kept a secret. Men may have their loves affairs with Geisha, but we women must be unwavering in our faithfulness." Tokio's tone was scoffing and sarcastic.
"Having my own honor to defend and abstain, I left him, accepting the marriage my father had for me. Saitou was a cold, and hard man, but gentle only with me. He is a good man, but I never loved him." She continued, fingers wringing the handkerchief by now.
The door clicked. Misao frowned. She clenched her firsts reaching for her kunai; maybe she could overtake this person and get past the door.
"That would be unwise Misao, these servants and better trained then my father's men" Tokio said softly.
Misao glared. This docile woman was so complacent to accept her sentence. Misao wasn't about to give up, but she would accept the tea. Perhaps it would calm her with this unnerving woman.
The tea tray was place on the table along with a few sweets and rice cakes. Tokio thanked the man, and the door shut again. She served both Misao and herself elegantly, having been brought up the daughter of a samurai. She was probably trained in etiquette and bowing. It saddened as well as disgusted Misao that women were raised like this. It also gave her a chance to appreciate the upbringing she had, even if her family didn't.
"Saitou did his best, but our marriage was neither hot nor cold. There's nothing worse than mediocrity, Misao san. It's enough to drive one mad. And mad I was driven, forced in my own way, to stay at home, holding tea ceremonies for the local ladies who gossiped about my illegitimate heir of a husband."
Misao's eyes widened. Saitou's lineage? Did his family not want him either?
"You see Misao san, I wasn't allowed to leave the grounds without escort, for fear that I would be hunted by Saitou's enemies."
Misao's look gave away her thoughts and Tokio continued.
" I don't question the precautions he took. It showed that he cared for me. But rather than accepting the escorts I refused pridefully, and confined myself to the house. It might as well have drove me mad. I came to hate my husband, playing charades with him when he would come home, hating him in my bed and my house, my kingdom if you will that he invaded when he would return."
Misao was shocked as she sipped her tea. Saitou's wife hated him…her heart hurt for her golden eyed wolf. How could she tell this to him?
"Shocked, Misao san? Hatred is so much easier than love. It became harder to fake his return joyously. I became tired of staying at home, tired of my gilded cage and prison. Finally when I was on the brink of my sanity, my lover came. His wife had died of tuberculosis, and he was desperate and grieving. My heart soared as I took him to my marriage bed that night, and showed him how I'd missed him. We ran away that night, refusing to stay in that godforsaken house any longer." She finished softly.
Misao didn't hide the anger she felt at the woman. How dare she do that to Saitou! This woman had agreed to step into an arranged marriage. She had cheated upon Saitou, who provided her with every lap of luxury possible. She was beautiful, and given every hope of a future with Saitou. And he loved her. Despite the unreturned feelings and the coldness she felt off of Saitou, she knew that he loved his wife desperately. She remembered him describing her on their trip to Kyoto.
"I can understand your anger, Misao san. But I could not live in a life without love, I refused to play the hand I was dealt, and so I disregarded my honor, the gods and all else who stood in my way. Now I will die. The gods have forseen it." She said softly.
"Why wouldn't you tell him yourself?" Misao demanded, angered by this woman's cowardice.
Tokio appeared shocked. Silence answered Misao's question.
" How do you expect me to tell him this? He loved you, damn it!" Misao cried slamming her tea cup forcefully as she stood.
Tokio cowered under Misao's anger.
"What do you want me to say to him? Oh Saitou by the way the life you thought you were living was a complete and total LIE" She went on.
"This will destroy him. Damn you where do you get the right to do this to him? How dare you! You are a true coward! You claim to have honor and a better lineage but you are not better than the rats on the street" Misao challenged.
Tokio sat silent, appauled by Misao's outrage.
"I do not have to defend myself to you." She replied simply, burnt sienna eyes reveiling the docile woman's anger. So she hadn't anticipated Misao to do this. Good. She deserved someone to give her grief. This wasn't just a lover's tale. This was someone's life she was ruining and asking Misao to play fiddle along with her tune.
"I have learnt my lesson the hard way. I understand now that what I did was wrong, but I do not regret my course of action. My lover was murdered before my very eyes, cut down by Kanryuu's swordsmen. I was taken hostage by him, and left here to ponder my fate."
" I deserve the sentence I am given….but tell him. Tell him it wasn't his fault" Her voice cracked as tears came to her eyes, making Misao's heart break as the woman displayed a fractured image of her true emotions.
"Tell him the truth. He needs to know it, in order to move on with his life" Tokio continued, controlling her emotions once again.
"Move on? This will ruin him! This will utterly destroy him." Misao exclaimed.
"YOU were his life don't you see? He came to see you as his REFUGE!" She cried, outraged.
Tokio smiled. "You do not know my husband, as well as you think you do, young Makimachi. He has a reserve of strength, a core, deep within him. He survived the revolution and he will survive this ordeal, but not without help" Tokio took a sip of her tea.
Misao's thunderstruck look curdled as she guessed at what the subtle woman was implying. Misao slammed her tea cup down. This woman would not challenge Saitou's honor. Not after what she'd done.
"Know this" Misao's eyes burst into Jade fire as she walked around the table and eyed the cold woman.
"I don't care what you think of me, or what you know. Your husband was faithful to you to the end. There was never a we, me and Saitou. I admit that I desired it, but he refused, honor bound to YOU despite your own unfaithfulness" Her cold voice scared even herself.
Tokio cowered under her anger.
"You admit you have a desire for him then?" She said coldly. Then her burnt sienna eyes lit with a cruel sparkle.
"You love him" She said, twisting the words, poisoning them.
Jade eyes glared their hatred. This woman was cruel and calculating. Saitou was cruel and calculating only in his work. She was the true snake of the relationship.
"You say nothing, but your eyes tell me everything. You wear your emotions like you do your clothing and your heriatge, plain and simple." Tokio snapped.
"You have no honor left to question mine Mi'lady" Misao said condescendingly.
"You know nothing of my life" Tokio replied.
"And you know nothing of mine" Misao snapped. "despite your frailty, and your willingness to die, I will not go down without a fight." Misao snapped.
"How youthful of you, to not accept the will of the gods." Tokio responded.
"I don't fall when I'm tripped, I don't give when I'm spent, I don't dance when I told, and I certainly don't submit to someone stupid enough to claim the will of the gods is for their blood."
"Maybe the gods want your blood, but my will is my own and I will not give it so freely"
"Now you can help me search the room, or you can sit there and do nothing and allow your death to come anyways. I care very little which you choose" She told the woman, as she started to throw books to the floor, searching for a keystone, or a secret passage.
Tokio sat while Misao have managed to pull off the wall paper searching through the framework. Cement.
"Shimatta" Misao swore. She had knocked the bookcases over, searching for some way out. There was no hidden doorway through this room. The reason they choose it.
"See? I told you." Tokio said simply, obviously disgusted by the mess about her.
"I'm not giving up" Misao said, stepping on the downed bookcase trying to reach the roof to see if that too was cement based. Tokio sat doing nothing, while watching Misao squirm.
"Are you seriously going to just sit there?" Misao asked frustrated by this alarming woman. "You're taller than me. Give me a hand!" Misao demanded.
"I've already told you, there's no point in fighting the gods." Tokio replied simply. After trying to stack the coffee table upon the bookshelf and crashing miserably, forming bruises on top of bruises, Misao gave up on the roof. She managed to find a hairpin amongst her belongings and went to work to see if she could strip the door to get to the lock.
"It is nearly sunrise, they will be here soon to feed us, or perhaps kill us." Tokio informed her.
Misao glared at her docile cellmate, and worked harder trying to use her kunai to chip away at the cement lining the door. Kanryuu had been prepared for them right down to the last detail. Damn him! She'd blunted two of her kunai, attempting and only managed to scratch the service. Misao could hear the footsteps down the hall and tried harder.
The door clicked, sending Misao barreling into the bookcase, wind temporarily knocked out of her.
"Well, well, what have we here? Trying to escape?"
The man had to be Kanryuu as Misao looked up at him. He had beady black eyes, a sharp nose and greasy hair. He was skin and bones and pale, a mouth much too big for his face. Probably because he consumed too much, Misao thought harshly. She struggled to get to her feet. She would kill this man. Kunai flung out.
"KANSETSU TOBIKUNA-ahhg" Misao cried, struggling against Kanryuu's grasp against her neck. She hadn't been quick enough.
"Do that again, insect, and I will be forced to swat you. Your Oniwaban tricks won't work here. Soujiro?" The boy appeared behind Kanryuu.
"Hai, Kanryuu sama?" Soujiro asked eagerly as he watched Kanryuu nearly strangle Misao.
She struggled in his grip, arms trying to pry his hands from her neck. She was becoming dizzy. Not good. Her eyes turned to jade fire as she struggled against him, she would not let this man kill her so easily.
"Take her along with us, I shall take Tokio" Kanryuu let her drop to the floor as Misao gasped and coughed for air.
"Hajime san will be most thrilled with his guests" Soujiro responded cheerfully, grabbing Misao harshly by the shoulder, katana at her neck.
"Most assuredly" Kanryuu added wickedly, his shrill laughter filling the halls, and Misao with the dread of what was to come.