What can I say other than…sorry for the wait!

~ Sosoru

Chapter Thirty One

The room was dark and rank. The place wasn't fit to be a prison cell, much less a restaurant, but it's where he had wanted to meet. I guess I should have been grateful I was granted an audience to begin with. Saitou was a hard man to get a hold of, especially when he did not want to be contacted. However, I am a most resourceful person.

Still, the place was a shithole. If I had not been confident in my skills, I wouldn't have set foot in the neighborhood, much less the sad excuse of an establishment it was within. I had dressed down considerably. I didn't want to stand out, so I opted for plain red sweatpants and black hooded sweatshirt. My hair was pulled back into a braid and tucked under a baseball cap with a Burberry pattern. Well, I had to attempt a touch of class.

I had ordered a coke, but Kami knew I was not drinking out of that glass. It was hot, so I rolled up the sleeves to my sweatshirt. The man was really taking his sweet time. He's probably watching me this very moment like a creepy old pervert or something. It was after that thought I saw him step out from the shadows, his cigarette hanging impossibly from his mouth. His thin lips turned up into a smile as my own had formed a bit of a frown. He was an oddly handsome man. Not my type, but handsome none-the-less. He didn't have a sly look about him. No, his look was more of cunning, daring and intelligent, like a grey wolf carefully contemplating how to best take down a bison.

He took the seat in front of me and placed him arms on the table.

"So, Kamiya," he began, "You've finally started to put the pieces of the puzzle together?"

"I must say I am ashamed it took me so long," I replied.

"If you were a covert your performance would be quite mediocre. But for a soft American, you did quite well," Saitou mused.

I knew he was trying to bait me with his taunt. I also knew he'd likely win the match if I let my anger get the best of me. Swallowing hard, I let his comment slide.

"I know why you hate Kenshin, or at least I know the reason he gave. I can tell there is something more…as the nature of your relationship would garner more than a mere spat over a doxy," I said, and despite my previous thought, I took a swig from the glass.

"Indeed, there is more. Much more…" Saitou asked, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"How much more?" I asked.

"Hmmm, where did Kenshin leave off?" he asked.

"The two of you fighting on the front lawn over Becky," I said with a chuckle, remembering the tale.

"Ah, so convenient of him to leave off there," Saitou said, his tone even.

"Please, do not leave me in the dark. Explain." I encouraged my companion.

"Well, this doxy, as you called her, was indeed just a girlfriend. Unfortunately, she had big eyes and a bigger mouth," he said with a smirk. "All she needed was a little liquor and she was spilling her guts. Mind you, it all seemed fairly harmless to her."

A quite drunk Becky stumbled over to the bar, which was located in the basement of Kenshin's frat house, and attempted to pour herself another shot of Tequila. She had missed her mark and if it were not for Kenshin's steady hand, more would have gotten on the floor. Taking the bottle and the shot glass from her, he downed the liquid and then gently guided her to the couch.

"Awww, why you drink my drink, Keeeensheeen? What kind of name is Keeeeensheeeen anyway?" Her words were slurred and her movements were sloppy. Kenshin did not like women sloppy drunk. He wanted the ladies, and he used to term loosely, to remember every detail of him banging her brains out. But, he discovered that Bex was a bit of a bimbette. Actually, she was a skank-o-rama, but she also was a good lay and full of information. And he would pump her for all she was worth.

"It's Japanese, Becky. Did you ask Saitou a question like that?" He baited her. Mentioned Saitou always sent her into a bitch-fit.

Suddenly, she shot her head up and looked at him with eyes seeming intensified with all the heavy purple eyeliner surrounding them.

"Saitou…he's a pig..."

"I know, babes."

Kenshin leaned back and pulled her on top of him, her head resting on his firm chest.

"And he hangs with those lames…"

"What lames?"

"The ones I told you about before. They have a lot of money, but I know they're up to no good."

"Did they do anything to you?" he gently pressed, making sure it sounded like he was interested in her and not just the information she provided.

"Not really…other than they offered me money to do things with them!" Becky pulled herself up just a second, her feathered bang flapping wildly as the sleeve of her top fell off her shoulder more than it was meant to. "I mean, do I look like some kind of whore?"

"Of course not, Bex," he said smoothly.

She lowered herself back down onto him. "But, I know they're totally pushin' weight from outta state. It's so obvious…"

"Bex!" Kenshin feigned dismay, "Do you really think you should tell me that?"

"Oh, Kenshin," she muttered, kissing his lips softly. "Like, I totally trust you."

The red-haired man kissed the woman on top of him with a slow, measured pace that quickly increased. Her heart raced as she knew what was to come. In one smooth motion, she was relieved of her tank top and tube top combo. Kenshin grabbed a full breast as he slid out of his own shirt to complete his task for the evening.

The next morning, Aoshi spied Kenshin in the kitchen, scrambling some eggs and frying bacon. This caused him to raise a brow, for Kenshin rarely ate such an American meal. Moving further, he noticed two plates set on the little kitchenette set. Now, Aoshi raised the other brow.

"You let someone stay until the morning?" He asked.

"Yes," Kenshin said flatly.

"Who?" Aoshi probed.

"Becky." Was the answer.

"Becky? Are you fucking out of your mind, dude? This is hellacious! It's bad enough you slept with her once, but to bring her here again? Are you trying to get Saitou to kill you?"

"Aoshi, are you my friend or are you my mother? Geez, shut the fuck up. She's downstairs getting decent," Kenshin said in a voice much calmer than her was feeling.

"Kenshin, the girl is bad news," Aoshi said in a hushed tone as he set himself next to his friend.

"The girl has ample talents, and she sings like a canary," Kenshin said with a smile.

Aoishi's anger turned quickly to curiosity. "She knows stuff?"

"The airhead knows so much and gives it up so easy, I sometimes wonder if it's not a set-up," Kenshin said as he turned off the heat and poured some scrambled eggs onto each plate.

"How are you getting the info from her?" the dark-haired man asked.

"I get her drunk, I fuck her brains out…treat her like I respect her…"

"I know that last one is so hard for you," Aoshi teased.

"You have no idea. Hey, you want some of this bacon?" Kenshin asked, handing his friend a piece of rather charred meat. Aoshi turned up his nose.

"No thanks. Food poisoning is not what I need right now," the taller man teased.

"You think she won't like it? I tried really hard to cook this stuff right," Kenshin said, sounding slightly disappointed. "I don't usually have trouble cooking, but I'm still getting used to American tastes in food."

"You could have made miso soup and rolled omelets," Aoshi offered while investigating what he suspected were scrambled eggs. "Or some natto."

Kenshin smacked himself on the forehead. "Why didn't I think of an omelet? Geez, I'm totally turning into a Val. I gotta finish getting this info out of this girl before she ruins me."

Just then, the object of their conversation shuffled with bare feet into the kitchen. Becky wore the shirt Kenshin was wearing the previous evening, her shapely legs on full display. She had rolled up the sleeves and bit and buttoned it only to cover the most important parts of her chest. The blonde's hair was charmingly disheveled and her smile was a little mischievous. Aoishi at that moment saw what Saitou had once seen. As long as the woman didn't speak, she was hot stuff. But, she did talk. A lot. And it would be to both his and Kenshin's benefit.

"Good morning," Kenshin beamed, pushing the plate of food towards her as she sat down at the little plain wood table.

Becky smiled back, but it quickly faded as she looked at the food that was offered to her. Aoshi tried to restrain his mirth as Kenshin looked on, offended.

"Um, did you make this…yourself?" Becky asked, touching the eggs with her fingers. They were still a little soft and runny. "That was very sweet…but…"

"Oh, forget it. Last time I try to do something nice," Kenshin said with a huff, taking the paper plate away from the woman and depositing it in the trash. Now Aoshi laughed heartily and Becky had the good grace to look ashamed.

"Oh, Kenshin, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Perhaps we can make breakfast together. I'll show you," and then Becky quickly rose from her seat and began to pull food-stuff from the refrigerator. Not used to seeing this side of the ditz, Kenshin looked on with interest, as did his friend. "Oh yes, this cheese will do. Ew! Throw out this milk! GROSSSS! How long has that been in there?"

Becky continued her raiding until there was a goodly pile of food on the counter. She ordered Aoshi to place the skillet Kenshin had used in the dishwasher and to bring her a clean one. He obeyed and presented the woman with a griddle.

"You like to cook," Kenshin stated, a little taken back.

"It's one of my favorite things," Becky said with a smile. She broke some eggs and dumped their contents into the same bowl Kenshin had used. "You are not used to cooking breakfast?" Kenshin shook his head in the negative. "Saitou was not good at it, either."

There was a brief silence. Kenshin did not quite know what to do at the moment. For the first time since he met her, Kenshin saw Becky as more than just a pretty face and someone to use for information. He quite liked this side of her. Aoshi sat back and watched the emotions play over his friend's face. While the more compassionate of the two, he was also the more logical one. Now was not the time to lose sight of the goal.

"Hey, Bex, you mind me asking you a question?" Aoshi probed.

"No," Becky responded as she whisked some salt and pepper with the egg. She had just started to add some diced green bell pepper.

"Why did you and Saitou hit splitsville?"

Kenshin glared at his friend as Becky paused, startled by his question.

"He was a jerk," was her answer. She continued to whisk the egg, with more fervor than before.

"Was that all?"

"What does it matter to you?"

"Well, it seems you're becoming a part of the house. Kenshin bringing a girl here more than once must mean something. And, if you're going to be a part of this house, you're gonna have to trust us. We know Saitou is a jerk, but you had to know that when you got with him," Aoshi continued, hoping to get the reaction he desired from the girl. "You can tell us."

Becky looked blankly at the eggs as she poured them slowly onto the hot griddle. Kenshin was nearly ablaze with his intense anger. How dare Aoshi take that kind of risk? The girl slowly stirred the eggs and without looking at either man, she said, "I did not want to be involved with someone dealing drugs. I mean, you wouldn't believe who he's working with. It's crazy!"

Kenshin's brow arched with surprise and Aoshi again had to refrain from laughing. The girl was just too damn easy. Both young men made a mental note to not let this girl hear or see ANYTHING she should not. After the wonderful meal of egg and information the men had, the canary left and they sat together and contemplated the turn of events.

"To think…I didn't have to get her drunk," Kenshin said, amazed.

"You must be losing your touch, Bro, to have to sink to that level," Aoshi teased.

"Oh, come on. Who would have thought she'd be that dumb to say that stuff willingly. I mean…the names! The dates! We're going to have a field day with this!" Kenshin exclaimed.

"And what of Becky?" Aoshi asked.

"What about her?

"You truly are a dog."

I sipped from my drink, which was getting a tad warm. I sat for a moment, digesting Saitou's story. It was quite interesting how he and Kenshin became bitter rivals. Using an ex for information was good reason, but if it were me, I would have been more pissed at the snake than the snake charmer. In either case, I had a new piece of information which to work with.

"The information he obtained from Becky, he used to take control of quite a bit of our turf. In the great scheme of things, it was probably a minor offense, but it set us on our paths. In addition to that, it led us both to realize the game O'Nelly was playing with us. The woman almost started a Yakuza war, but O'Nelly was smart enough to know how to play the cards and kept both our factions at bay.

By this time, the heir to the Yokoshira Yakuza throne was growing into a little fucking tyrant. He was not pleased with how the drugs were being distributed and how he had to play nice with a rival for the pharmaceutical goods. Still, he tolerated O'Nelly until very recently."

"Does this have anything to do with Sanosuke?" I quizzed.

"Good girl. There's hope for you yet!"

"Sano knew shit was going to hit the fan, so he got out while he could. He would speak against neither O'Nelly nor Enishi. If Tomoe's brother kills too many people, the trail will eventually lead to him. But is Sano talks, Enishi will have no choice," I deduced.

"Bin-go," replied Saitou.

I sat back in my seat and considered what I had just learned very carefully. Megumi, Kenshin, Sanosuke, Aoishi, Missy and Tomoe…every last one of them were at risk. I couldn't risk Kenshin going to jail and being stripped of his license to practice law. And Missy, she was so innocent in all this. Damn, I really need to re-evaluate my taste in men, I thought.

"What do I do, Saitou?" I was truly at a loss.

"Do what should have been done years ago; kill Enishi," Saitou said casually.

"Kill? I cannot kill anyone," I half-whispered, half-yelled. Was he out of his mind?

"Well, you come up with a better fucking idea then. How do you send him to trial when he owns half the city? If you manage to get to trial, how will you live long enough to see he is convicted? And jail? He'll live like a king among his many minions and endless money," Saitou said, his anger simmering just below the surface.

"Relax, Saitou. Think about it. What's better than killing someone?" I asked.

A dark brow arched in curiosity. "You torture them, of course."

"Oh, there is hope for you yet," I laughed.

Ok, that's all for now people. I promise it will take me less than a year to post the next chapter. Thanks for sticking around all this time. Make sure you leave a review!