Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Trick or Treat ❯ Waiting for Dawn ( Chapter 7 )

Authors' Ramble;

Hello! I'm still alive! I'd like to thank all of you who have read my little foray into fan fiction; especially those who've reviewed, your comments and praise mean a lot! Thanks for sticking with me, hope I don't disappoint. Having said that I have to say this is not a terribly interesting (nor long) chapter, though necessary.

 

 

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Saitou smirked as he headed back to the police station. This had turned out to be quite a pleasant evening after all. He lit a cigarette and replayed the recent events in his mind.

 

(Flashback-earlier that evening)

 

Saitou prowled the darkened streets of Tokyo. He'd managed to avoid being assigned to that asinine western costume festival. Just what the hell playing dress up like a bunch of children had to do with the deceased he couldn't fathom. / Ridiculous Western ideas. / He caught the sound of faint whistling and the `clack clack' of sandals approaching. He stepped back into the shadowed opening of an alley. A young woman soon came into view. She was quite tall and graceful but seemed a little too well dressed for this part of town. Ruffians' Row was where lazy, annoying freeloaders like the ahou lived, not pretty young…wait a minute. Is that… / The ahou? /

Saitou stared in shock as he caught a good look at the womans' profile. There was no mistaking it; he'd recognize that brash rooster head no matter what he was wearing. He'd just never expected to see him dressed like that! And looking so… good too.

A sly smile slowly spread across his mouth. This was just too good not to take advantage of. Either there was a side to the fighter Saitou had never suspected or he'd gone to that ridiculous costume event. He slunk quietly out of the alley and followed the young man, undetected.

 

When the two thugs dragged Sano into an alley he'd been only mildly concerned. He knew firsthand the fighters' strength and expected the ex-gangster to come waltzing out momentarily. However, when after half a minute or so no bodies came flying out of the alley, he began to wonder whether or not he should step in.

 

“PHUGGIN BIDTH!”

“NO! Get the fuck off me!” / Ahou! / That decided it.

He crept into the darkness, unnoticed by the group ahead of him. / Ah, so there were two more. / His musings were cut short when the young man was knocked unconscious. He mentally sighed in mild annoyance. / When is he going to learn some defense? /

“Get that damn kimono off her so we can play with our new `friend'.”

Saitous' eyes narrowed in anger. He stepped forward. “I don't think so.” His voice was cold fury.

 

Dispatching the would-be rapists was ridiculously quick. He wiped his katana off and sheathed it. A pained moan drew his attention and he went to help the young man up. As Sano calmed down from his initial panic at Saitous' touch, he studied the young fighter. Even with his eyes slightly out of focus he looked… stunning. The colors of the kimono set off his golden skin perfectly and the kohl accented the deep brown eyes. His normally spiky locks hung softly around his face, probably for the first time in his life. Saitou idly wondered how he'd gotten them to stay down.

 

(End flashback)

 

Frankly, Saitou had been impressed. He wouldn't have thought such a robust young man would've been able to pull off this look, but the rooster had managed it quite well. Actually, now that he thought about it, he kind of looked like that pet transvestite of Shishios'. He grimaced at the thought of the ahou prancing about like that simpering freak.

 

At any rate he had found himself helping the injured young man back home, feigning ignorance of his actual identity. He decided to wait to spring the knowledge that he knew who “Suki” really was on the foolish boy for another time. Preferably in front of his friends at the dojo. He'd have the loudmouthed youngster sputtering in anger and embarrassment in record time. Rooster baiting was one of his favorite, and easiest to accomplish, pastimes. It hardly took any effort on his part for him to have the fighter riled up, face flushed, and panting in agitation. Granted, he'd rather have him flushed and panting underneath him but doubted that was going to happen any time soon. He wasn't sure the young mans' inclination even leaned that way, although he had his suspicions. He'd done a little investigating into Sanos' background (for that Kyoto business) and he hadn't found evidence of any past lovers, either male or female. In fact, there wasn't any indication he'd ever had anything more than a drinking/gambling (or in Taes' case, mooching) relationship with anyone. Even the people he was close to; that fool Himura, the Kamiya chit, that anarchistic painter, seemed to be more like siblings than anything romantic. He strongly suspected Sagara was a virgin, although how that could've happened he couldn't fathom.

/ The boy is a walking wet dream. That he managed to survive this long with his virginity intact is a minor miracle. /

 

Really, his intent had been to simply escort the troublesome brat back to his home, dress his injury, torture him at a later date about his previously unknown fashion sense and that would've been the end of it. Maybe call him Sano-chan occasionally. Offer to buy him a new obi.

But that was before the foolish boy had given himself away tonight.

 

He'd been surprised at the look Sano had given him. Not the nervous “Kami, please don't let him recognize me” look that he expected, but a long, lingering, appraising stare. More than one, actually. He especially liked the goofy little grin on the roosters' face when he'd caught him staring at his mouth. / Probably wasn't even aware he was grinning, the silly twit. /

He'd definitely been amused by the copious amount of blushing the ahou did. / I should get him to blush more often. / He looked so…cute with his cheeks stained pink and that look of horrified embarrassment on his face, like he couldn't believe he'd just said/done that. He smiled slightly as he remembered Sano pressed against him, nose in his neck. From his appalled expression on the porch, he certainly hadn't meant to sniff him. He wondered if he realized he'd also made a little “mmm” noise too when he'd done that.

 

That had certainly solidified Saitous' suspicions; the boy did lean that way… and was seemingly oblivious to it. / No surprise, he's oblivious to just about everything. / The question was what to do now that he was sure about Sanos' inclination?

It was no secret the boy had a fixation on him. Sagara could deny it all he wanted but Saitou knew that by the time he'd left Kyoto Himura was no longer foremost in his mind. He'd been far too upset over Saitous' supposed death for someone who hated him. Still, he was positive that the ahou had never thought about him that way, at least not consciously. The embarrassment of being caught in a dress combined with Saitou treating him nicely had probably kept him off balance enough for his subconscious desires to peek through. / I always suspected there was more there than just the desire to beat me in a fight. Nobody is that single minded. / Saitou wouldn't have put up with the ahous' obnoxious behavior all this time if he hadn't thought that might be the case, no matter how beautiful the ex-gangster was.

Saitou was certain he could steer Sanos' reactions in the direction he wanted now that he wouldn't have to skirt around the question of his attraction. Saitou knew just what buttons to push to keep the rooster acting on impulse. Sagara acted on impulse most of the time, it would be best to not give him time to think. / Pfft. Like he ever thinks. / In fact, he was probably kicking himself right now for agreeing to go to the station tomorrow. / I hope he's getting his beauty sleep. /

 

He sped up his pace, eager to get back to his office. He had some… preparations… to make before Sukis' visit tomorrow morning. Normally any of the junior officers could (and would) take care of witness statements, but this particular case was going to receive his, personal, attention. Oh yes, Saitou was looking forward to the morning reports. He smirked; for once the tedious paperwork should prove to be quite…entertaining.

 

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Yet more authors' notes and reviewer responses;

Okay, it's been a looong couple of months. Between holiday stress, evil mother-in-laws, pet surgery, a shredded tire, the flu-from-hell, sewage line work, and a butt load of snow (40 inches at the moment and still counting) I'm exhausted. I've hardly had a moment to myself.

I'm really sorry for the utter crap this chapter is, I know it sucks. No matter what I did it just wouldn't flow right. I swear the next one is waaaay better. Really.

 

 

Yukiko-angel, Dragoninuyokai, Beysie, Magda; Thanks to you all for reading and reviewing. So glad you are enjoying it!