Soujiro

"Kamatari-chan, if you don't hurry, I'm going to leave without you, you know." Soujiro said playfully, tapping his fingers on the wheel of the car.

Kamatari glared at him from under heavy eyelashes. "That would be very rude of you." He said as he adjusted his hat, coquettishly tilting his head to see himself from all angles. After yet another cursory glance at himself in the rearview mirror, he finally got into the front seat of the car and Soujiro pressed on the gas, pulling onto the street.

As he drove, he continued tapping his fingers, not even noticing he was doing it. It wasn't until Kamatari put a gloved hand over his to stop the jerky rhythm that he realized. "Is something bothering you, Soujiro-kun?" he asked quietly.

Soujiro smiled, not taking his eyes off the road. "Oh no. Not at all." He said lightly. "You didn't forget anything?" he inquired.

"Nope!" Kamatari said. "Not a thing. I brought my new dresses, that new perfume I got shipped in from Paris, some alcohol to liven things up…"

With a laugh, Soujiro made a smooth turn. "And?"

"And what?"

"What else did you bring?"

"You mean makeup? I brought that, don't worry."

"I mean weapons, Kamatari-chan."

Kamatari laughed. "I'm just teasing. Yes, I brought weapons." He shook his head with a pout. "Sheesh. Men. All they ever think about is weapons this, weapons that. I bet you didn't even notice the-"

"New hat, shoes and shade of eyeshadow you have on today?" finished Soujiro with a slight smirk. "I'm pretty sure that's a new perfume too, but since I haven't been around for a while, I might be mistaken." He smiled, taking his eyes off the road for a second and looking at Kamatari. "Those things rather suit you."

"Oh you." Said Kamatari with a laugh, waving a delicately gloved hand. In the same tone, he continued, looking at the rearview mirror. "We're being followed, you know. Undercover police, it seems. I've seen that cutie driving before in uniform." He shook his head a little, adjusting his hat while at the same time looking back at the car following them. "Oh really. Don't they ever get tired of this?"

Soujiro put a hand on the already rising Kamatari's shoulder. "Don't." he said. "Let's not draw attention to ourselves by starting a shootout in the middle of the city." Kamatari pouted again but sat down and did not reach for the machine gun hidden in his viola case on the backseat. Soujiro smiled deviously and jerked the wheel, sending the car screeching and careening into a side alley.

"Jeez, Soujiro-kun! Don't do that so suddenly! My hat almost fell off!"

"Sorry, sorry, Kamatari-chan. Won't do it agai- Oh, wait, never mind." he answered with a laugh and almost immediately repeated the maneuver, ending up on another busy street. Cars honked and blared as he wove in and out of traffic, finally settling into one lane. "Are they still following us, Kamatari-chan?" he asked.

"Hmph." Kamatari huffed. "I won't look."

Soujiro smiled with annoyance but leaned out of the window to get a look. "Not anymore, it seems." He said. "That's good."

**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**o**

At lunchtime, Soujiro and Kamatari left their quarters for the dining car to meet the rest of the team. The first one they noticed was Sawagejou Chou, the 'broom-head' as Kamatari so aptly described him. "Over here, yo!" he called.

As the two sat down, Yukyuzan Anji gave a slight bow. "Good afternoon." He said.

"Where's the other guy?" asked Chou. "I thought ya said he'd be showin' up too."

Kamatari shrugged. "I don't know." He said. "I thought he'd be with you."

Soujiro smiled. "How very rude of him." He said. "I suppose he'll send one of his subordinates." He laughed.

Chou clicked his tongue. "Asshole. Pissin' me off, yo."

Anji shrugged wordlessly.

The four men sank into silence, sitting around the table, until a waiter came by. "Would you like to order anything, gentlemen?" his eyes flicked to Kamatari. "And lady?" Kamatari tittered behind his hand as Anji ordered a glass of water, Chou tried to order a glass of whiskey and another glass of beer but was shushed by Soujiro as the waiter looked horrified. "Sir! That's illegal!"

Kamatari ordered a coffee for himself and a glass of milk for (a very offended) Chou – and Soujiro ordered tea. "With lots of milk and sugar, please." He said with a winning smile. Chou clicked his tongue and muttered something about 'girly drinks'.

As they waited for their drinks, Anji spoke. "So what do we do now that this fifth man is not showing up?"

Chou shrugged. "Well, I'll be fucked if I know." He muttered.

"Language please." Said Soujiro.

"Aw shut up, pansy." He muttered.

"Soujiro-kun can kick your Southern ass and you know it, Chou-kun!" Kamatari butted in.

"My question still stands." Anji said firmly but quietly.

Soujiro shrugged with a smile. "I would quote Chou-san, but in the presence of a lady…" Kamatari began to giggle.

"Your drinks, sirs and madam." The waiter reappeared, setting the cups down. He folded his tray under his arm. "Anything else I can get you?"

"No, thank you." Soujiro smiled again.

"Please enjoy your drinks."

Chou clicked his tongue again, several times, but chugged his milk anyway, clutching at his head afterwards. "Oww…! Shit, it's cold, it's so goddamn cold…" he groaned.

"Ha! Dumbass." Said Kamatari, sipping at his coffee.

Anji wordlessly drank his water, watching a quiet Soujiro from under his eyebrows. As a smile spread over Soujiro's lips, Anji drew Kamatari and Chou's attention away from bickering and onto Soujiro by speaking. "What is it?"

Soujiro raised an eyebrow. "Our elusive fifth man has left us a message." He said, sipping at his tea and gesturing at the saucer underneath the teacup. A single round sheet of paper lay underneath where the teacup was set, invisible until the cup was lifted. With gentle fingers, he lifted it out and began to read aloud. "Dear Mr. Seta." He read. "Please excuse my rudeness, but for reasons that will become apparent later, neither I, nor my subordinates have come to meet you in person. In the matter concerning Mr. Heishin – Mr. Houji has informed me that he will radio you tonight. Once more, please excuse my rudeness." Soujiro finished reading and laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, what a man, really."

Kamatari slowly tapped his fingers and Chou stopped clutching at his head. Anji's facial expression did not change but for an eyebrow lifting for half a centimeter. Then Chou shrugged. "I still think he's an asshole." He said.