Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Amber Horizons ❯ Chapter 8: Arrival In Tokyo ( Chapter 8 )

Title: Amber Horizons

Authors: Buffybot76 and profiler120

Email: buffybot76@hotmail.com & profiler120@hotmail.com

Rating: R

Pairing: Saitou/Misao

Disclaimer: Any and all characters belong to Watsuki-sensei. We own nothing but the plot of this fic. We also do this not for profit, but to show my appreciation for the wonderful anime/manga that is Rurouni Kenshin. Please don't sue.

Summary: Leaving the Aoyia was a life changing event. Waking up at a shrine many months later after wandering was another. But encountering Saitou Hajime after several years would prove to be earth shattering.

Distribution: Fanfiction.net, Mediaminer.org and my Yahoo group For the Love of Misao, a group for alternate Misao pairings!

Author's note: This is a collaboration between myself (Buffybot76) and my friend (profiler120). Please go easy on us and please, no flames.

Chapter 8: Arrival in Tokyo

Nearly two days after the bandit attack, Saitou and Misao made it to Tokyo. Misao--despite her liking to the out-of-doors--had been ecstatic at finally reaching their destination. She was practically bouncing, she was so happy. When they had reached the police headquarters, Saitou had instructed Misao to go on ahead to the Kamiya dojo. It seemed he had plenty of paperwork to tend to as well as a report to file concerning the bandits that had ambushed them.

Misao hadn't complained. She was actually anticipating her visit to her friends' dojo for it had been far too long since she had last seen them. She made her way across town at a hurried pace to insure she made it there as soon as possible. She intended on asking Kaoru's permission to stay at the dojo until she had completed her mission. She was just approaching the building, when she heard loud, boisterous laughter that could only be attributed to Sanosuke. Her lips quirked up into a smile. Despite the annoying factor that she typically chalked him up to be, she was genuinely glad to see him, and everyone else at the dojo. Most notably Kaoru.

She came up finally within sight of the dojo and momentarily paused. There was Sano, and with him was Himura Kenshin and someone else. His hair was dark and short. She might almost have called the mob unruly except as she got closer she could see he was impeccably well dressed. Casual western style clothes hung from his frame. He was shorter than Sano but taller than Kenshin, but not physically more built than either.

For a few seconds she stood in confusion wondering why the young man looked so familiar when it struck her. He was at the raid with Saitou! What was his name? She thought, but couldn't remember and then determined it didn't matter. She again headed onward straight toward the loud male group standing out front. Kenshin spotted her before the others and he smiled pleasantly.

"Misao-dono?" Kenshin's ever polite voice belied his surprised expression as he moved to meet her approach.

"Himura!" Misao exclaimed as she rushed up to tackle the red-headed rurouni in a tight hug, which he returned whole-heartedly.

They maintained the embrace for a moment before the exaggerated cough caught their attention and they broke away to turn and face a grinning Sagara Sanosuke.The other young man was standing to the side of Sano with an odd expression on his face as he observed the friendly embrace that Kenshin and Misao had just shared.

"Gettin' awful friendly there, eh Kenshin? What about ol' Jou-chan?" Sano teased. Misao shot him a dirty look.

"Shut up, rooster head!" Misao growled as she withdrew from Kenshin's arms, a slight blush tinting both their cheeks.

"Who's he?" She pointedly asked.

Sano grinned. "Koji. Misao."

Misao made an annoyed face at the sloppy introduction, but the beaming young guy at Sano's side didn't seem to mind the slightest. She wouldn't have thought much of him at all had she not noticed Himura seemed a bit more reserved than usual. Although she wasn't sure she wasn't just imagining it, Himura was hard to read sometimes. She didn't imagine however the way Koji's eyes roved blatantly over her frame in a way that made her shiver inside. It was a total male appraisal.

Misao felt Kenshin tense beside her and cast a sideways glance at him. She was taken aback when she noticed that the rurouni's normally polite smile was completely absent. Instead, his lips were turned down in a frown of disapproval. Disapproval of what, Misao didn't know, but it was obvious that he was displeased with something. She then noticed that his eyes, which were usually a friendly violet hue, was now narrowed and held a tinge of amber to them. Misao's eyes widened a bit when she realized just what--or rather who--Kenshin's gaze was trained on. Whether he sensed her gaze or not he suddenly peered over at her and smiled, which she instantly returned.

"So her name is Misao, eh? How old is that girl anyway?"

She glanced over to see Sano shrug. "Don't know. 18, maybe 19, never asked. Why?"

She met Koji's stare right on, watching him as his gaze traveled over her intently. His eyes raked across her chest in a way that make her shiver, but nothing like what Saitou did to her. Nothing at all. It was a creepy, tingly feeling that made her want to hide behind Himura just to guard herself from it.

"Nice looking girl," he commented. "Bit slight on the frame though- she got breasts under there?"

Misao clenched her fist as Koji broke into amused laughter. Sano joined in, albeit his laugh sounded a bit forced. How dare he!? She felt an angry flush creep over her cheeks. She was thankful Kenshin didn't seem to share in the amusement at her expense.

"Oro?!" The indignance in Kenshin's voice matched that in his eyes as he gave another disapproving glare, this time at both Koji and Sano. "Koji-san, I must ask you not to make such degrading remarks about Misao-dono, that I do."

The younger male seemed, for a moment, wary but then it faded under a pleasant smile. "Of course, I apolgize Misao-san. Just kidding around, eh Sano?"

"Right," Sano said, giving his friend an odd look. "Come on Kenshin. Misao didn't mind, did ya weasel girl?"

"Of course I mind, you stupid rooster head!" She snapped. Tempted as she was she couldn't think of some suitable insult to fling back at him and had to settle for looking offended, crossing her arms over her chest huffily.

"Ah...aheh...uh, sorry." was Sano's oh-so-intelligent reply. Deciding the best bet was to divert the suddenly uncomfortable conversation, Sano turned back to Koji. "Well Koji, guess we'd better get going if we're gonna get to the pub before it gets too crowded."

Koji spoke not a word, simply nodded his agreement, his eyes raking over Misao's form once more. In response, Kenshin stepped slightly in front of her, obscuring her from the young man's gaze. Sano hastily reached out and grabbed Koji by the collar of his shirt, hauling the young man with him as he waved goodbye to a fuming Kenshin and Misao as he practically shoved Koji out the gate.

After the duo had left, Kenshin's anger seemed to flow out of him and his shoulders lost their tenseness. He turned to face Misao then, a look of shame in his eyes that a guest of his would be so outright rude to his friend.

"Misao-dono, I am terribly sorry for the things Koji-san said. I offer my humblest apologizies, that I do."

She brushed it off with a wave of her hand, mind already turning to other things. Or it seemed to be. "I had such a great trip!" She began and launched into all the little details.

Kenshin felt his eyes widen as she filled him in about her time during her wandering, including the episode with the ninjas at the Nozomi shrine and the encounter with Saitou. Though it seemed at times she was leaving something out. They entered the dojo and sat down at the dining table just as she was starting on how she had returned to the Aoiya after having missed the others so much only to have Saitou show up needing her help on a mission. Which brought her to why she was here. She needed a place to stay while in Tokyo.

"So Himura, where is Kaoru-san? I was hoping that I could ask her if it was okay for me to stay here." Misao asked, looking about as if she expected Kaoru to pop into the kitchen any second.

Kenshin smiled slightly and shook his head. "Kaoru-dono is not here, Misao-dono. She and Yahiko have gone to visit relatives in Nara, that they have. I do not expect them back for at least two weeks, that I do not."

Misao's face crumpled and her shoulders slumped. "Oh." she said faintly.

Misao made to rise from the table, her eyes displaying her disappointment. Kenshin smiled lightly as he too rose from the table before speaking. "Ano, I am sure that Kaoru-dono would not mind if you stayed here."

Misao blinked, then her cheerful smile reappaear as she happily leaped over to engulf the red-haired rurouni in a tight hug. "Yay! Thanks Himura! You're the best!"

It was during this joyful embrace that Saitou appeared at the entrace to the dojo. Kenshin watched Saitou's eyes narrow slightly on them and was quick to set Misao about her feet, not wanting to give the man the wrong impression. He cleared his throat in the doorway, drawing Misao's attention.

She perked up as she spotted him. "Is it time yet? Kaoru isn't here so... I don't really have anything to do. Not even Yahiko is here to argue with and there's no way I'm hanging out with that rooster head!"

Saitou's displeasure vanished and a quirk appeared upon his lips. Whatever comment he'd been about to make was forestalled however as Kenshin's movement drew his eye away from her.

"Am I to understand that you will be sharing the house with the Battousai, alone?"

Misao blinked innocently. "What's wrong with that?"

Saitou turned a cold glare toward Kenshin wordlessly. The rurouni quietly cleared his throat before responding to Misao's question. "Misao-dono, it would seem Saitou does not trust you to my care alone, that it does."

Misao's eyes widened slightly. "What?! Are you crazy or something? Himura would never let anything happen to me. Besides, I can take of myself, despite what you think, Saitou!" she exclaimed, shooting the man an incredulous look.

Saitou's jaw tensed and he once again glared at the rurouni. Kenshin looked from the former Shinsen-gumi captain and his young ninja friend before addressing the latter. "Misao-dono, I will have to prepare dinner soon, that I will. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to go fetch some water?"

Misao looked about ready to argue, her face was flushed from anger. But after seeing the pleading expression in Kenshin's eyes she opted for nodding and then leaving the room. As she walked past Saitou, Kenshin noticed that she made sure to avoid any contact what-so-ever with the man.

After Misao left, neither man spoke for a moment. Finally, Kenshin broke the silence with one question. "What is going on here, Saitou?"

A glower appeared on the older man's face, eyes narrowing slightly. "Shinomori is letting me borrow the weasel girl, that's all you need to know."

"If Misao-dono is to stay under this roof, then I need to know more than that Saitou."

Saitou ignored him a moment instead searching his pockets and producing a cigarette. Kenshin waited patiently while Saitou lit it, puffing. After a lengthy pause he turned back to Kenshin. "You don't need to know anything," he replied breezily. "Weasel girl is in my care and I will see to her."

"I respectfully disagree, that I do." Kenshin stated, his voice still calm though it was obvious he was becoming irritated. "There is something going on or else you would not have reacted so at the news of Misao-dono staying here in Kaoru-dono's absence."

"Are you hinting that I've developed a liking to the little weasel?" Saitou practically sneered.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed on Saitou. "Maybe." He said in a low suspicious tone.

"I promised Shinomori I'd watch her." Saitou said simply, his eyes practically glowing.

Saitou promised he was going to watch Misao? Since when were Aoshi and Saitou getting along amiably? For that matter why on earth had Saitou consented to watching her when the man he remembered would have sooner declared her a nuisance and left her behind? What exactly was he missing here?

Just as he raised his head to address Saitou and breach the subject he found his guest was gone. He walked to the door and watched the stoic officer walk away without so much as a backward glance.

"Himura?"

Kenshin turned, smiling when he found Misao behind him. He watched as she cast her eyes about, wondering that she seemed to be searching so avidly. They were both behaving unusually.

"Where did Saitou go?"

"Saitou left, that he did." Kenshin replied, then gave Misao a searching glance. "Misao-dono...is there something I should know about you and Saitou?"

She froze, going completely tense. Her eyes locked with his. "N-no. Like what?"

"Like why you and he are acting so strangely. I could not get any answers from Saitou, so I thought that perhaps you could enlighten me."

She smiled and shifted. "It's just weird, hanging out with Saitou, that's all. Maybe we aren't... used to each other yet. Like I said... weird." She desperately hoped he'd accept and ask no more questions she didn't want to answer.

Kenshin hesitated, uncertain of her reply. Finally he seemed to give up as his suspicious look was replaced with the polite rurouni smile once more. "I understand Misao-dono, that I do."

And with that, he turned from the grateful young ninja and began to prepare dinner.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Saitou eyed the path in front of him wearily, hardly noticing. His mind was plagued at the moment with a nagging question that--to him--seemed unanswerable.

Why had the thought of the weasel girl staying at the dojo alone with Battousai bothered him so much? Actually, if truth be told, it still bothered him. But why? Saitou allowed a low growl of frustration as he fished a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. It wasn't that inappropriate. He doubted Battousai was going to hurt her, but the very idea. A young girl like Misao living, unattended, with *him* especially of all people. He frowned.

He doubted Battousai had half the ideas that he himself had floating around his head if he had Misao living unattended with him, but he didn't want to dwell on that. His thoughts were turning entirely too much toward Misao lately anyway, especially in capacities he thought were... inappropriate.

Taking a draw from his cigarette, Saitou exhaled the wisps of smoke which swirled in the air briefly before disappating. He needed his mind on the upcoming mission he had planned. Of course, said mission involved the weasel girl and that brought his thoughts right back to the original problem. He began to think that perhaps the weasel hadn't been the right choice for this assignment after all.

He chucked the cigarette stub away as he finally made it to headquarters. He knew that Koji wasn't working tonight, and thought it might not be such a bad idea to call him in to brief him on his next assignment. Knowing the rookie, he would more than likely be at one of the pubs in town. On second thought, the ahou would more than likely be drunk off his ass by now and it would be futile to discuss anything with him.

So decided, Saitou entered the building and made his way to his office. There was bound to be paperwork of some sort that could get his mind off of the thoughts of a certain weasel girl, a deserted dojo and that blasted Battousai.

*~*~*~*~*~*

A chorus of voices distrubed the stillness of the night. The tavern was full as ever, from one side of the room with men in varying states of drunkedness. Those were the only types you found this late. No one batted an eye as a loud round of laughter rose above the din of voices. The gambling table was always the loudest.

Koji sat, watching the game absently. Beside him Sano was grinning from ear to ear convinced 'luck was on his side tonight for sure!' Koji smirked as Sano lost yet another round and his stack of money got smaller. That was all that had been happening since he'd sat down there. As a small, dark haired female approached handing Sano another drink he was suddenly reminded of that female. That girl... Misao.

She was a cute one, albeit a bit mouthy. Aside from that time with Saitou though, he'd only seen her once. He wondered briefly if it was coincidential he should see her again. That aside - who was she? How did she know Sano anyway?

He recalled how he had caught sight of her that one time during the raid on that shrine. He had been sent to inform Saitou that all of the ninja had been rounded up. What he had seen had him rubbing his eyes in disbelief. The young girl the other ninja had been beating when they had arrived was now in his commander's arms. Well, more like wrapped around him, and they had been locked in a heated kiss that had had Koji shifting uncomfortably where he stood. Needless to say, Koji had not interrupted.

"Sano." Koji called, but failed to get his friends attention. "Sano." He called again, hardly surprised his friend had, again, not heard him.

Determining verbal communication was impossible among this noise he elbowed him in the ribs. Sano whipped toward him with a glare. "I'm trying to win here, it'd better be good!"

Koji frowned. "You're not winning anything, let's get out of here. Besides I want to head to that other place across town, the girls are prettier."

It was a good enough excuse. During the time they walked from here to there he could question Sano about the girl. Maybe he'd get lucky and find a cute little thing that reminded him of her. That kiss she'd laid on Saitou was a sweet memory, one he'd like to live through personally.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

TBC....