Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Separate Lives ❯ chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 10

"What the hell are you doing here?" Aoshi demanded, slipping into the hall to confront the cop.

"Looking for you, obviously," Saitou said handing over the sheath containing Aoshi's kodachis. "I didn't come all this way for the purpose of interrupting your playtime with the kitsune," he said drolly, ignoring Aoshi's murderous glare. "There's a situation and I want a trustworthy man with your skills to get the information I need to arrest the top scum and make it stick this time."

Aoshi's anger faded and his expression became one of mild interest. "And you're not taking this on personally because---"

"Because I'm known there, obviously." He lit a cigarette. "I've lost three good men already. Each were excellent at undercover work and gathering information, but something or someone gave them away."

Aoshi leaned back against the door. "You want me to do what, exactly?"

"We know some of the lower scum of the organization. I can point you in their direction and how you work your way to the top is entirely up to you. You'll be granted full immunity should you need to do anything unorthodox to get results."

Aoshi nodded then smirked. "I take it there's a fee if I succeed?"

"And a decent burial if you don't." Saitou said.

"I'll succeed."

"That's why I'm here. Make your farewells to the kitsune and meet me downstairs in two minutes." He called called to Aoshi when the ninja opened the door to go back into the room. "Make it five minutes."

Megumi was dressing when Aoshi re-entered the room and he slipped up behind her placing his hands over hers to stop her. He kissed her neck, slid his hands inside her opened kimono and allowed his fingers to roam freely. His blood raced when she leaned into his touch and moaned. He continued, gliding his hands downward, stroking her in the places he knew that would affect her the most. He held her close when she collapsed back against him then turned her around to give her a lingering kiss.

She tried untying his yukata but he stopped her. "I have to go. Saitou needs me to help him with a case."

"Oh," Megumi said, pulling the edges of her kimono together as coldness trickled though her replacing the lovely heat Aoshi had aroused. She bit her lower lip when Aoshi tilted her chin up with his fingertips.

"This is the last thing I wanted to have happen, but he wouldn't have come if it wasn't important."

"You don't need to explain to me."

"But I want to." He smiled and brushed his fingers through the hair framing her face. "I don't know how long this job will take but I'll get through it as quickly as I can."

"All right." Megumi placed her had on his, her heart lurching at the sudden feeling that he was in great danger. "Please be careful."

"You don't need to worry about me."

"I can't help it."

Aoshi pulled her to him and hugged her tightly telling himself that this was the type of thing he wanted to spare her. He didn't want her to worry about him and he didn't want to place her or Kae in any type of danger. This was exactly why things could not go beyond this point. And he knew now that it was fortunate Saitou appeared when he did before he had the chance to profess the foolish sentiment that had been clouding his mind.

He pulled back; forcing his emotions back to the dark place he'd spent a lifetime constructing. "I have to go."

Megumi tied her kimono shut then put on her tabi and geta and watched as Aoshi finished dressing. By the time he was through the soft glow in his eyes had been replaced by the icy fierceness that once terrified her. Why was it that every good thing in her life was countered by something negative so soon after?

She followed him to the door, calling his name as he opened it.

"I--" I love you, her heart cried. "I-wish you luck."

He nodded and reached out to touch her cheek, the leather of his fingerless glove cold against her skin.

"Don't worry. Hug Kae for me." He gave her a swift kiss then left.

****

"Seven minutes, fifteen seconds," Saitou said, slipping his pocket watch back into his jacket. Smirking at the ninja's scowl he led the way out of the inn thorough a rear entrance. "I notice you didn't take time to wash. I suppose smelling like you just stepped out of a whorehouse in Shimabara might prove beneficial as far as your cover goes." He lit a cigarette once they'd gotten outside. "So, is she any good?"

Aoshi's eyes glittered dangerously and he grabbed the cop's arm. "Your wife is fond of the current arrangement of your face, is she not?"

The wolf smirked and slipped out of Aoshi's grip. "Tokio adores me and who can blame her?" He tossed the cigarette away, his own eyes taking on a feral amber gleam. "The one I'm after is Sakamoto Kurogane who slithered out of the woodwork when Enishi Yukoshiro disappeared. He's taken over the criminal element in Yokohama by the process of elimination-eliminating all who pose any threat. He's into everything--extortion, counterfeiting, illegal arms, opium-but his hands never quite get dirty enough for an arrest to stick.

"Rumor has it that he had some tie to the Shishio organization, a loose one, but apparently he knew that Shishio had planned as far as destroying Japan. Kurogane seems to be a thug with big dreams but something tells me he's sharper than anyone will ever know. At the very least he has minions in unsuspected places which is how my men got killed."

"But won't they be suspicious of any newcomers?"

"Probably, but it's known that you were in with Shishio at the end. "

"Then it must also be known that I've been leading a very quiet life since. Not many hardened killers spend their time meditating."

Saitou smirked. "True, but I've known quite a few who quietly bided their time until they could wreck havoc once again-Yukishiro being a prime example."

Aoshi nodded.

****

Saitou growled at the desk officer to open the nearest holding cell once he'd dragged Aoshi into the station in Yokohama. He shoved Aoshi inside and slammed the cell door shut. "You should have stopped to visit your whore sooner and saved me the trouble of backtracking to Tokyo."

"Fuck you."

Saitou smirked. "I'm not as good as the one you just got. I know from experience that she's hot and tight in all the right places."

Aoshi charged the door and spit. Saitou sidestepped but an officer passing behind him wasn't as observant.

Saitou laughed. "Now you've gone an assaulted an officer on top of everything else. Tsk. Tsk." He strode away laughing as the officer in question wiped his face and shot Aoshi a glare that fairly shouted the retribution he had planned.