Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Separate Lives ❯ chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

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Chapter 12

Aoshi's anger reverberated in his chest when his assailant pressed him harder against

the wall with the length of his body. It was quite evident what the bastard had on his

mind but if he thought he'd get away with it, let alone remain alive he was sadly

mistaken.

Shifting his weight, tensing his muscles, Aoshi prepared to attack.

"Having a problem with my prisoner, Kojiro?" Saitou asked, lighting the lantern on the

wall.

"No, Inspector Fujita," the officer said, stepping away form Aoshi, his own back still

turned towards his superior as he fumbled with the buttons his trousers.

Aoshi wiped the trickle of blood from his neck with the back of his hand and watched

Saitou's burning amber eyes impale the younger cop. "I belief your shift is over

Kojiro."

"Hai," he said, looking away, walking past Saitou as quickly as possible.

Saitou pulled the cell door closed while remaining outside so as not to arouse

suspicion in the two prisoners housed in cells further down. A slip of paper fluttered

inside the cell when he moved his hand from the door and Aoshi placed his foot over

it.

"You going to stand there and watch me all night?"

" Of course. You have such a pretty face," Saitou shot back. He lit a cigarette and

made it a point to blow the smoke in Aoshi's direction. "So when did the fling with the

kitsune start? I figured you'd be sleeping with that little weasel girl by now. She

certainly was hot for you."

"Don't you ever shut up?"

Saitou flicked his cigarette to the floor and crushed it with the heel of his boot. "Not

when there are luscious women to discuss. So which is better in bed? I imagine the

itachi was a treat the first time, so fresh and untried. Then again the kitsune looks

experienced. She does have a nice mouth‑‑‑" He broke off when Aoshi reached

through the bars and grabbed him by the collar.

"Shut up."

Saitou smirked, grabbed Aoshi's wrist and squeezed, hitting the muscles just right so

that the death grip loosened. He backed away and blew out the lantern. "I might be

heading back to Kyoto soon, maybe I'll stop by the Aoiya, grab a meal and of course

a nice sweet, young dessert...ö

Aoshi hit the cell bars, sending more plaster bits flying as Saitou strode away laughing.

With great effort he reminded himself that this was part of the act between them. Still

it made his blood boil almost enough to forget why he was here.

Taking a deep breath, Aoshi retrieved the note the Wolf had slipped him then sat back

against the wall. So the Lotus Inn and its ajacent Tea Room was the place to meet

Yamoto KuroganeÆs best customer. He shredded the note then disposed of it in a a

small crack between the wall and floor then settled back and closed his eyes.

Saitou went to his office and read the note Shinomori managed to slip into his jacket

when he'd grabbed him through the cell bars. He smirked then burned it after lighting

a cigarette. So Kurogane's men had gotten the brilliant idea to ambush him. Well, it

certainly took them long enough to pick up on the timetable that should have been

obvious to anyone with even a scrap of intelligence. There'd been a chance they'd see

through the obvious set up to draw them furhter out as might the departmental leak,

but it was a chance he'd been willing to take to get this case over with before anyone

else died a needless death.

Needless death. He must be getting soft in his old age, or worse, on the verge of

becoming as emasculated as the Battousai.

He shook off a chill then snuffed out his cigarette then headed home to the room he

rented, wishing very much this case would end so he could get back home.

* * * *

Aoshi was released for "lack of evidence" early the next morning and headed for the

fringes of Yokohama's seedier side. He got breakfast then visited a few shops

inquiring here and there on places to stay for a man who wanted something decent but

not overly crowded or full of too many curious eyes. As he expected more than one

person recommended the Lotus Inn. He checked in to one of the most expensive

rooms and paid a month in advance then went to the Tea Room for a light meal and a

bit of observation.

* * * *

Kyoto

Okina read the letter from Oguni‑san a second time his frown becoming more

pronounced.

She has been quite distracted and beside herself since your Okashira left her in

Tokyo the night of the festival. She has said that he had important business to attend

to but she didn't have or possibly refused to give me any details.

This distraction has begun to affect her work and I fear that it is having an affect on

her relationship with her son. If you have any way to contact young Shinomori I ask

that you do so and see that he send some word to Megumi as soon as he is able.

Okina set the letter on Aoshi's desk and paced in front of the window. He couldn't

contact him not knowing exactly where he was or what sort of thing Saitou had gotten

him involved in and he wouldn't say anything to Oguni since the mission was

obviously an assignment fit only for a secretive ninja.

But Aoshi's lack of contact wasn't what bothered him it was the reaction of the

Takani woman to his absence that he had to ponder. It explained a quite a bit and

with Oguni‑san's letter it confirmed the suspicion that had been brewing in his mind

for quite some time.

Aoshi had clearly fallen in love, but would he allow himself the luxury of acting upon

the feelings he was so accustomed to burying from the world and himself?

And if not could anything be done to force his hand?

Aizu

Megumi anxiously waited for Dr. Oguni to return with the mail as she'd been doing for

a week. She doubted that her answer would arrive quickly and more importantly she

doubted that she'd have the courage to open it at all. The little bell tinkled in the outer

office and she poked her head out of her inner office door.

"Ah it's only you, Oguni‑san. I thought we had an unscheduled patient."

"Only an unscheduled letter for you from Tokyo," he said handing it to her.

"I wonder who this can be from," Megumi said staring at the handwriting.She couldn't

tell if it had been addressed by a man or woman.

"You'll need to open it to find out," the older doctor quipped before going to his own

office with the remaining mail.

I suppose I do have to open it, Megumi thought, doing her best to bolster her courage,

praying with all her might that Kaoru was the to respond to her letter asking how they

were all getting on with the baby and by the way, she had a patient who'd named his

son Kenji because he was a "strong second son." It wasn't any of her business of

course but it seemed a little odd and she wondered.

Biting her lower lip Megumi forced herself to open the letter.

How kind of you to write. Kenshin and I are happier than I ever thought we could

be since Kenji came into our lives! He is the sweetest child ever, he hardly cries

and sleeps like an angel‑‑‑most of the night.

It's funny you should ask about his name because I thought I had Kenshin convinced

that we should name him Takeshi. But then when he told me that Master Hiko had

though the name Kenji would be perfect if he'd had a son of his own how could I

refuse? Especially when he wrote it out and I realized that I'd mistaken the Kanji

and that our Kenji's name means Sword Path, though I think it's nicer sounding as

Path of the Sword. It's fitting don't you think? I see Kenji following Kenshin's path

of nonviolence and sacrifice.....

Breathing a sigh of relief Megumi folded the letter then stuck it in the folds of her obi.

Then again, a tiny voice within her said. You know how Kaoru is. What if he told

Kaoru that nonsense about Hiko to spare any sort of childish tantrum from her?

What if he sensed the truth about Kaemon and this is his way of letting you know

that he knows.....

Megumi placed her hand on her waist, where the letter rested. Though she knew it

was her imagination she felt as though the thing were burning her, telling her that her

sinful deception had been found out and that there would soon be hell to pay...

She blinked back a frightened tear and peered out the window wishing that she could

run far away. She did run, straight to the temple. She dropped her coin in the offering

box, rang the bell and prayed with all her might. Hurry back to me, Aoshi. I need

your strength.

Yokohama

"The little merchandise sample you sent me was rather impressive," the man called

Daewo said, settling back in the cushy western style chair, a cup of sake laden tea

cradled in his beefy hands.

Aoshi gave him a cool appraising look. "It was a sample of finer things to come‑‑at

prices that are sure to please you."

Daewo's eyes narrowed. "And how is it that you can offer such bargains that haven't

been available in this marketplace before?"

Aoshi shrugged his broad shoulders. "I have better connections, more reliable

suppliers and the fact that I have long established import partnerships to support my

lifestyle allows me the luxury of selling some items at or below cost‑‑‑but only to

those customers whose long term business I can count on."

The man said nothing and Aoshi stood. "If you're not interested that's quite all right. I

have other appointments this this evening‑‑‑"

Daewo leapt to his feet and grabbed Aoshi's arm.

Aoshi stared down at the smaller man and Daewo let go as though afraid of getting

slapped‑‑or worse.

"Don't be hasty Shinomori‑san. Surely you can understand my hesitation when

something that seems too good to be true appears out of the blue."

Aoshi sat down again, his elbows resting on the padded arms of the chair his long

fingers steepled before him. "I'm an understanding man but also a practical man,

Daewo‑san. Surely you can understand my own hesitation at not wanting to do

business with someone who doubts my sincerity, especially since I have a certain

reputation in certain circles."

Daewo licked his thin lips and swallowed back the rest of his sake‑laced tea.

The corners of Aoshi's mouth lifted ever so slightly at his companion's valiant effort

to contain the flicker of fear he felt at the reference to his more violent activities of

recent years.

"I am also an honorable man, Daewo‑san and I frown upon dishonorable intentions in

anyone I do business with. If you choose to ally yourself with my concerns then all

others must be pushed to the way side."

Daewo swallowed. "But Shinomori‑san we are both businessmen. Surely you can't

expect me to turn my back on all of my suppliers. I require a great many‑‑‑"

Aoshi held up his hand for silence. "I do not liek to repeat myself but I will do so‑‑this

once." He stood and loked down at Daewo. "I told you that I have a great many

contacts and suppliers of my own. I can provide any merchandise or service you

require."

* * * *

Yamoto Kurogane slammed his fist into the nearest wall upon reading the note that

had just been delivered. He cursed then spun to skewer his subordinates. "You lost

another client? How many does this make? Four in the past month?"

He whipped out a dagger and pressed it to Okashi's throat. "If you weren't married to

my sister you;d have been dead weeks ago."

Okashi trembled, inadvertently drawing his own blood. He swalloed hard, tried to lick

hsi dry lips. "I apologize Kurogane‑sama, but it couldn;t be helped. This Shinomori is

undercutting us at every turn. I don't see hoe the man can expect to make a profit in

arms or opium or protection. It jsut doesn't make sense."

Kurogane slid the blade making a thin red line down his brother‑in‑law's neck. "It

makes perfect sense if you'd taken the time to learn that Shinomori is Oniwabanshuu

and that he worked for Takeda Kanryuu. Who knows how much he managed to steal

from the Bukufu and Kanryuu before they fell? Not to mention how much he might

have gotten from the Shishio organization once that fell apart. He must have millions

stashed away to live off of. This is just a hobby to pass the time for him, but it's my

livlihood he's screwing with."

"I‑I didn't know."

Kurogane's eyes narrowed further and he traced a matching bloody line doen the

other side of Okashi's neck. "And to add insult to my injury, you've let that bastard

Fujita shut down our gambling on the east side."

"I‑I. I've been wanting to get him but I've been sidetracked withteh Shinomori

business. I can fix it. I can stop Fujita."

Kurogane lowered the knife, rubbed the blood on Okashi's jacket front. "How?"

:When he had us in jail, I watched him. He's a precise little bastard. I know what he

does and when. I can take him out. Just give me a little time."

"You have fifteen hours to succeed or my sister will be a grieving widow."