Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Amber Horizons ❯ Chapter 11: Stake Out - Day One ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Amber Horizons
- Chapter 11 -




Stake Out - Day One




Saitou looked up as someone dropped yet another file onto his desk. He spared his visitor a passing glance as they just as quickly high tailed it out, leaving him alone again. He needed to concentrate and figure out how he wanted to manage from this point forward and he couldn't. That damn girl was distracting him and she wasn't even in the area!


He sighed heavily, reaching for his cigarettes. By now she should've met up with Koji. He briefly wondered if she would flirt as outrageously with her new partner as she had with the Battousai or if she reserved such shows for him alone. While typically something being reserved for him might cause him some delight, Misao's plays for his attention were not welcome when handled that way. He frowned and reached the flip open the new folder.


Another witness. A young woman - Honda Ayame - injured in an attack. She'd been moved to the next town over. There was an unexpected and unwanted trip he would have to make within the week. He also had to handle Koji and Misao's reports, handle the rest of his paper work and manage the other four cases he was working on. One of which was a gruesome murder from the west end of Tokyo. He yawned. It was too early for this stuff, that or he was getting too old, he thought with a grin.


Once more, his mind wandered back to Misao and how she was handling her assignment with Koji. The grin immediately faded. Shaking his head in attempts to dispell all irrational thought concerning the weasel and her little games, Saitou began setting up all he would need for the trip he would be taking within a few days.


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


Inside of the shabby cabin that was to be their 'base of operation', Misao sat, staring in abject boredom out of the window that faced the target area they would be staking out. She scowled darkly as her 'partner' once again starting humming that infernal tune!


It was three notes! *Three*! Arranged in the most annoying pattern he could manage, and he didn't even seem to notice how much it was irking her! Or... she thought grouchily, he just doesn't care. She was beginning to suspect the later of her choices. It continued on for almost an hour until Misao felt her nerves snap. Rounding on Koji, she threw him her most intimidating glare. To her dismay, he suddenly abandoned the humming and started crooning.


She turned away from the window where she was watching their target with wide eyes. There was no way he was actually singing - the guy - . . .


"Shut up!" She exclaimed. "Stop for Kami's sake, you're going to give us away or something!"


Koji stopped, grinning mischeviously back at her.


"And don't smile! It creeps me out." Misao retorted, turning back to the window.


There came a soft sigh from behind followed by shuffling before Koji came to stand beside her. She could feel his eyes on her, boring into the top of her head as he stared down at her. She really didn't like it. At all. Finally having had enough of this, she looked up, glaring daggars. "*What*?!"


"Sorry."


She blinked.


"What?" She breathed.


"Sorry," he replied, nonchalantly, turning his gaze up and over her out the window. "About before."


She blinked again. There was nothing quite like a casual apology, she thought, somewhat irritably.


"Well you should be," she grumbled. If he thought she was forgiving him that easily, he had better think again. "You didn't even know me...still don't know me, but yet you felt obligated to make such a statement."


Koji bowed his head slightly, heaving a sigh before looking back at her. "You're right. I didn't know you. That's the problem."


*What* is he *talking* about? she thought, totally flabbergasted by the way this conversation was going. "What problem are you talking about?"


She couldn't be sure, but she was almost certain that his face held the hint of a blush before he turned back to the window. "The problem is that I didn't know you when I made that comment....but I wanted to. I dealt with the situation badly, and I'm sorry for that."


Misao felt her eyes widen in surprise. He sounded so....sincere. Was it possible that he actually *meant* what he said? Glancing back out the window for a moment, Misao thought it over before nodding her head once in resolution.


"Apology accepted."


There was a moment of silence in the small cabin before Koji replied, "Arigatou, Misao. I am greatful."


Misao huffed, blushing a bit at all this attention. "Never mind that, let's get back to work. We have a mission to accomplish." she muttered, and with that said, both went back to watching the old mill in the distance.


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


"Shut up, shut up, *shut up*!" Misao snapped. "How many times do I have to say it!"


Koji looked up from where he sat, leaning in his flimsy western chair. It was a nice wooden piece but cheap. He tilted back on two legs once more, ceasing to hum.


"Oh," he grinned. "Sorry, I keep forgetting you don't like it when I hum."


"No you don't, you're trying to annoy me. What kind of police officer are you anyway? Does your boss know you're a loser?" She cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow.


His grin vanished as he set the chair back on all four legs and stood. "Who's a loser?"


She waved him off, dismissing him. "Go get lunch or something. I'm hungry and you're not doing anything."


His mouth twisted into a frown, and his stare seemed to intensify as his eyes narrowed but he backed off, stepping out and leaving her alone.


"Weirdo..." she murmured turning to look back out the window.


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


Koji grumbled as he grudgingly made his way to town to pick up supplies.


She calls *me* a loser?! He thought bitterly as he chucked a pebble into the nearby shrubs. That little bitch! She doesn't even know me yet, but still she passes judgement. I'm not a weirdo. I'm just as good as Fujita Goro.. Better even. Feh, I'll show her I'm not a weirdo!


Koji continued walking, lost in his thoughts, convinced that Misao was somehow comparing him to the older man and finding him lacking. It irritated him to no end. Ever since he'd lain eyes on her at the shrine, he'd thought.... well, he'd wanted her. Then later, he witnessed her crawling all over his boss and it had irked him severely. How had a pompous ass like *him* gotten someone like *her*?


He'd been surprised to see her again at the dojo when he'd stopped by with Sano to visit Sano's friend there, so surprised in fact that he'd opened his big mouth and said the worst thing he could've possibly said. He had to fix it somehow. She'd accepted his apology, that was a start. But he still had a long way to go before he had her full confidence, then perhaps if he played his cards right, he'd have her full affections as well...


He grinned, a hint of malice to his counteneance. Then there could be no denying it. No one could look down on him again, and certainly not that damn annoying, overbearing Fujita Goro. He squirmed with delight as he thought of the little ninja crawling all over him and Fujita gritting his teeth in jealousy and displeasure. It was too good. It was... intensely satisfying. He determined it would happen. He would make it happen.


The day had suddenly gotten a lot brighter.


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


Saitou stared down at his papers, trying to determine what was what. Some half-wit had come in his office and opened the windows and mother nature had rearranged his office. Or, at least his paper work, he thought irritably. Off handedly he realized Misao would be coming soon. She had actually plagued him most of the day. From thoughts of Kenshin to Koji and everything in between Misao had scarcely left his mind. The little minx just wouldn't leave him alone, physically or mentally. Finally gaining some semblance of order with the paperwork, Saitou leaned back in his chair to await Misao's arrival.


Misao grumbled, stretching her arms over her head. This job sucked. Why did she have to sit around with that annoying Koji guy anyway? She walked along the dirt path, stifling another yawn. She was tired and she had barely done anything all day except yell at her idiot 'partner'.


The hour or so she'd had to herself while he was off gathering lunch had been great. Of course, it had also been boring. It was however useful. It had proved she liked Koji being around more than she liked being alone.


He'd come back bearing food. That was the up-point. The corresponding bad point, he was suddenly very talkative and very friendly. Not a good kind of friendly, but not a perverted kind of friendly. It was... odd. The guy was doing everything but batting his eyelashes at her. The thought caused her to laugh.


So Koji was flirting with her. Great.


What a guy magnet she was. Somehow she didn't feel she'd accomplished anything. Koji reminded her distinctly of something you didn't want to get on your hands cause it was slimy.


She continued to make her way to headquarters, easily putting Koji out of her mind for the moment. She had a report to file. When she arrived, she knocked on Saitou's office door once. Without waiting for an invitation, Misao sighed and opening the door, stepped inside. Saitou's piercing gaze swung in her direction, pinning her with those golden orbs. Misao felt a tingle run along her spine, but shook it off. It was then that Misao realized she had no idea as to what Saitou expected from her in terms of a report. She stood there awkwardly for a moment until she saw his lips twist into a smirk.


"Well?" He asked.


"Well what?"


"Where's the report?"


"Well... that's the thing."


"The thing?" His grin only got wider.


"Yeah... the thing." She said. "I don't remember what kind of report I'm supposed to be giving you."


A moment of silence passed and then another. She glanced back at Saitou to see his head rested on one hand, his shoulders shaking in silent mirth.


Was... Was he laughing at her?


"H-hey!" She exclaimed, though it did little to deter him; he continued to laugh silently.


It dawned on Misao then, as she stood there glaring at him, that Saitou should laugh more. He was already handsome, there was no doubt in her mind of that. But just this simple act caused such a drastic change in his face it was.... startling. He appeared years younger as the lines on his face practically disappeared, becoming non-existent. Hajime Saitou was, by all means, a strikingly handsome man.


Just as she was thinking on this, his humor vanished as his eyes rose to meet hers once more.


"Half-wit," he murmured. "You were supposed to write it. This is an official project, weasel."


She flustered and felt her cheeks burn. Like she had time to be writing down the paltry events of her day with that moron Koji. She opened her mouth to say just that when the door behind her swept open


"Here's my report, sir."


Misao watched with a deepening frown as Koji handed over a set of papers and then her 'partner' turned and left without so much as a glance at her. She might have been standing outside on the other side of the window or something!


Jerk.


She turned her attention back to Saitou only to see him still staring at her.


"Oh shut up! The only reason *he* has a report is because the lazy bum didn't do *anything* all day!"


Saitou frowned. "Are you saying my officers are slacking, weasel?"


She leaned forward, hands on her hips. "That's *exactly* what I'm saying."


Saitou reclined back in his chair, bringing his arms up to rest behind his head as he stared at Misao for a moment. The silence was maddening however, and Misao felt her already strained nerves reach their limit. With a growl and a dramatic spin on her heel she flounced out of the office. Her mind was whirling. How did she always end up in these awful situations? Couldn't anyone - she blinked coming to a halt as she walked straight into another person.


She apologized without thinking, as though automatic reflex before taking a closer look at her. She appeared to be a mere ordinary townswoman, with the notable exception of the elegantly wrapped package in her hands. The woman excused her and walked on by and Misao thought nothing further of it. Except that perhaps it was odd to see such a woman in a police station.


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


Saitou was in mid-puff on his cigarette when the door opened again revealing another unwanted visitor. Hadn't he had enough of those today? His eyes caught sharply however on the defined lines of a refined kimono and he groaned. Not again. Eyes closing briefly, Saitou exhaled the smoke he had just inhaled before speaking.


"Well, what brings you here, Mayaka-san?" As if I didn't already know. Saitou added silently as he eyed the pretty young woman in the door way.


Soft brown eyes quickly lit up in a way that had Saitou inwardly cringing and wishing that he had remained silent. Sighing, he realized that his day had just gone from bad to worse.


"Oh, Fujita-san, I was cooking a batch of tea cakes earlier and suddenly realized that I had made entirely too many. Of course, I then thought of you and wondered if you would like to share a few with me." Mayaka gushed cheerfully, and held out the parcel of little cakes in her hands.


Shidou Mayaka - the woman in front of him was a well learned lesson. Be very careful how you handle rescued women. He'd rescued her some months ago and in a show of gentlemanly politeness, he'd done all he could to treat her gently. Unfortunately the girl had gone head over heels insane and apparently convinced herself she loved him.


She wasn't unpleasant. She was nice to look at - sweet, curvy figure, pretty smile, long beautiful hair. When dressed up he'd found the little street urchin was quite a beauty. Sometimes her overly suggestive ploys did strike a chord with him, but he didn't want to encourage her anymore than necessary.


Sleeping with her was out of the question. It didn't stop her from trying, although he wasn't quite sure what she was trying *for*. Did she want to marry him or sleep with him? He didn't have the first clue what she wanted from him.


She was nothing, he realized, like Misao. Not the least bit. Feminine and soft - despite her background she was polite and dainty. The differences between the two were glaring.


"No, thank you. It was kind of you to come all this way, however." He cursed the fact his attempts to pawn her off on Koji were unsuccessful.


He found himself subjected to a dramatic pout put as the woman's shoulder's slumped slightly in disappointment. Then, in the next moment, she was smiling again.


"I understand that you're very busy, Fujita-san. I'll just leave these with you then and I'll make something else tomorrow for us to share tomorrow." the young woman gushed as she lay her carefully wrapped treats on the Wolf's desk.


Without another word, she turned and swept from his office quickly, the scent of sakura blossoms lingering a moment longer before fading away. With a groan, Saitou leaned back in his chair, bringing a hand up to rub his eyes wearily. Thank Kami she's gone, he thought. Taking a deep breath, letting it escape his thin lips with a whoosh, he sat back up straight and picked up the file that Koji had dropped off. The day wasn't quite over yet....best get back to work.


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

Misao's steps became more sluggish as she neared the dojo. Things had seemed to changed between herself and Himura since last night. He hadn't said anything about her blatantly flirting with him in front of Saitou during their night out, but she knew he had noticed it.


How could he not notice it? She couldn't have been more obvious. Well, okay, maybe she could have, but what would have been the point? She got her point across. Or... she thought she did. She didn't really know what the point was. Only that Saitou was there, he hated Kenshin, and she had this undeniable urge to make him notice her. What better way than to make use of Himura?


She paused. That sounded bad. She wasn't actually *using* him... Er... was she? She approached the dojo, stepping inside the gate. Himura didn't seem to be around so she headed in, pausing inside the doorway with a sigh. She was about to turn off and head to her room when the scent of food caught her. Himura was cooking!


She couldn't repress the tingle the scent of food sent straight to her belly. Wow, was she hungry! Being ticked off at Koji really worked up an appetite. She let her nose lead her to the kitchen.


The moment he caught sight of her, he spoke. "Hello Misao-dono. How was your day today?"


She smiled. How was he so cheerful all the time? He seemed to exude good-natured emotions that it was hard sometimes to remember that he was once the feared manslayer - Hitokiri Battousai.


"It went okay, I guess." she murmured, plopping herself down on one of the cushions positioned at the table and began playing with the hem of her outfit.


Kenshin turned to her, noticing her tone of voice. "Is something wrong, Misao-dono? You sound as if you have had a good day, that you do."


Sighing softly, Misao looked up into her friend's violet eyes. "I'm sorry, Himura. About....about last night. With the flirting and the.....well, with the way I acted. It was...inexcusable." she bowed her head once more, finding it unbearable to continue maintaining eye contact.


Silence filled the room as the rurouni stood, staring wide-eyed at the young woman before him. Her apology had startled him...there had really been no need for one. The flirting hadn't been what bothered him so much as the identity of the *person* she had been trying to make jealous by doing so. Hajime Saitou. Kenshin shook his head slightly, what was Misao thinking? Deciding that it wasn't his place to interfere, Kenshin stepped over to kneel beside Misao. Reaching out, he cupped her chin gently, tilting her head up so that their eyes met.


"Misao-dono, there is no need to apologize. And although I disapprove of what is going on between you and Saitou, I will not interfere, that I will not. In the end, it will be your decision, that it will." Kenshin said softly, smiling the rurouni smile that always managed to put Misao at ease.


A small smile crept to Misao's lips and leaned in to give Kenshin a hug, offering her thanks and her appreciation for his friendship. "Thanks, Himura."


Drawing back from the embrace, Kenshin nodded, then turned back to the feast he had been preparing. Some of the tension had been resolved, yet Misao still felt bad for what she had done. She supposed she would just have to really make it up to Himura by cooking breakfast before she left for the mill in the morning. Misao smiled slightly wondering why she couldn't have fallen for a guy like Kenshin instead of... No, she told herself. She wouldn't think about that right now. She would *not* analyze her feelings for Saitou and the implications that they implied. Sighing softly, Misao rose from the table and went to wash up for dinner.