Ruroni-chan: Okay will keep this opening short! I know it's been a while since I posted, but this is in celebration for all you who have spring break coming, have already had spring break, are getting out of finals soon.

Twilight-kun: LIKE ME!!!! (dancing the Chacha in the back)

Gerry-sama: Yeah we'll beat him up while your reading

Ruroni-chan: (Rolls eyes) Okay… Getting back to what I was saying… Those of you finishing finals, starting finals or heaven forbid still have another month of school left. KNOW THIS!!! It's almost over! Now then… Read, Review, and Enjoy!

FYI: I am looking for a Fullmetal Alchemist fan who is willing to edit my other story. Sorry for having to put this here but I'm desperate.

Four horses pulled the large black carriage in front of the closed gates of the Ikeda manor. Only the driver and a man in white riding on the very back as though he were asleep could be seen as the carriage was slowly pulled into the driveway. Ikeda Toshimi was waiting at the front steps as it came to a stop and the man in white hopped off the back. The man in white stood there watching Toshimi as the carriage door opened and a tall police officer climbed out, followed by a short, red haired man.

"Lieutenant Fujita Goro," Ikeda said happily, "I wasn't expecting you to come and visit."

Saito put on the friendly police officer face, "Well, Ikeda-san, I heard about your son's birthday and came to visit as soon as I could get away from the office." He gestured to the two other men, "Allow me to introduce my associates, Himura Kenshin, and Sanosuke Sagara. They are helping me with a few things today."

Toshimi had paled, "It's a pleasure to meet you gentlemen." He didn't bow to them, "What, may I ask, are you helping Fujita-san with?"

"That's privileged information, Ikeda-san," Saito said before either of them could say anything. "If you have the time we'd like to have a word with you."

Toshimi smiled and nodded, "Of course, anything for the police." He led them upstairs to his office. The two oddly matched men followed, the taller one leaned against the wall next to the door and the shorter slowly went around the room inspecting the sword cases, "Himura-san, you are a sword admirer?"

Himura turned to him and smiled, "That I am, Ikeda-san you've got quite a collection. Is that the sword of Maruchi Gensai?"

"You knew Maruchi-san?" Ikeda said, avoiding the question.

"No, but this one has seen many pictures, and the one thing they have in common is the details in those sheaths." Himura didn't look in Toshimi's direction, he just continued to look at the swords in the cases, "That must be Harada Obata's sword set; you even have the dagger that was stolen from him six months before he was killed in battle."

"You've seen pictures of Harada-san as well?" Ikeda smoothly avoided that question as well.

Kenshin just smiled. Saito, however, was not amused, "Shouldn't those swords be in the hands of the government or the hands of the owners' families?"

Ikeda smiled, "Don't worry yourself, Fujita-san, they are all replicas." Even Sano could see the lie in that.

Saito sighed, "Do you know a young lady by the name of Hiraru, Ikeda-san?"

Ikeda was pouring gin when Saito asked. He paused before answering, "There was a young woman by that name at my son's party, why?"

"She's gone missing," Saito said simply.

Ikeda sipped his drink, "She left in the middle of the event, if she hadn't thanked me for letting her enjoy the party with us I wouldn't have noticed her leave."

"That's funny," Saito countered, "because my reports say she never left."

Ikeda's eyebrows raised, "That is odd, I know she's not here, there's no way she could have been here unnoticed for three days."

Sano let out a low growl, "Asshole…"

Ikeda shot a look at him, "Excuse me?"

Sano growled again, and rolled his eyes. Saito shot him a glare, "Shut up, Rooster Head, I'm handling this."

Sano glared right back, "Not fast enough, the longer we wait the less likely we'll find her." He turned to Ikeda, "I called you an asshole. We know Hiraru's here, just tell us what the hell you've done with her."

Ikeda glared at him, "I will thank you to watch your language, boy, and I should have figured falsely accusing someone would be in your understanding of manners. You Sagaras always were rude, vulgar, boorish cavemen. You, that idiot captain, and that bitch, you're all lying, cheating bastards." Toshimi practically spat at Sano.

Sano was across the room lifting Toshimi by his fine suit, "Watch what you say, you piece of shit."

Saito pulled Sano off Toshimi, sending the older man falling to the ground. "Stupid Rooster," Saito snarled, then lifted Toshimi by his throat, "You just called someone a bitch, who exactly are you talking about?" His face was surprisingly calm, for how much anger was radiating from him.

"None of your damned business, you crooked cop," Ikeda managed to spit out.

Now it was Kenshin's turn to speak, this he said with a polite smile on his face, "Ikeda-san, I suggest you tell us, before Fujita-san looses his temper." He dropped his smile to glare at Ikeda, "After all, he is the most controlled of us."

"I don't know her real name, she said she was Akata-Kojima Hiraru, but she looks like Sagara Sozo. She tried to steal from me! I had a right to protect myself! She attacked me!" His eyes were wide with fear, "Look at what she did to my head." He pointed to a small wound on his head.

Saito put him down, "Where is she?"

"I had my men put her downstairs, I was just going to hold her until a police officer could pick her up," Ikeda stammered in excuse.

Saito gave him a cold look, "Well, I am a police officer, aren't you glad you told me about her? Take us 'downstairs'." Saito pushed Ikeda towards the door.

The older man swallowed and did as told, taking them down staircase after staircase until they were in the basement. He pulled a hidden door open and gestured towards it, "She's in there."

Saito glared, "Really?"

Ikeda shrunk away from him, whimpering. Kenshin stepped forward, "Fujita-san, why don't you stay here with Ikeda, Sano and I will go in. If she's not there you can always beat the information out of him." Ikeda whimpered again.

"Go," Saito snarled.

Kenshin nodded and led Sanosuke into the room. Nothing could have prepared them for what was tied up in a locked cage.

Ruroni-chan: (points one finger up in the air) CLIFF HANGER!!!! Aren't I evil?

Twilight-kun: You know their going to kill you right?

Ruroni-chan: Don't you still have a few last finals coming up?

Twilight-kun: ACK!!! Must Cram!

Gerry-sama: The readers can relax. I have the next chapter already and will edit next time I have a break between work. You know what I want in return though… (Grins evilly)

O.O… (We all bow to Gerry-sama and hand over all the white chocolate in the world)

Ruroni-chan: Remember readers the more of you who review the more I remember to pester Gerry-sama, and the sooner I get the chapters. Soooo…. REVIEW!!!!!