Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Under the Covers ❯ The Assignment ( Prologue )

Prologue: The Assignment

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Disclaimer: I don't own RK a much as I would like to.

Warnings: Bad language. Also I would like to say that this an A/U…you have been warned.

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Saito Hajime slammed the door to his office as he stormed in. He was angry…well more liked pissed. Scratch that, he was fucking livid!! He couldn't remember the last time he was this angry. Actually that wasn't entirely true either. The last time he was this angry is when he walked in on his wife fucking another man, his former partner of all people, in the middle of his library; damn whore.

But this…this was much worse. This was something he couldn't rid himself of. He couldn't pick up and leave this time. Why? Because it was his job. The assignment was a complete and total waste of time, but his superiors had threatened to take his badge away if he didn't take the assignment.

He picked up the darts laying on his desk and started throwing them at a picture of his boss that hung on his wall…already bearing many holes of his rage. He hissed in pain as he threw one a little too hard. He jerked up his shirt to examine the bandage on his left side where he was stabbed on his last assignment. He was lucky that the idiot hadn't hit anything vital, but it was taking a hella long time to heal. Which was partially his fault. It wasn't in the most convenient place to begin with, and when he was in a blind rage he tended to forget that it was there, so he usually ended up stretching the stitches past their limits and tearing his skin. Like now for instance. He let out a string of nasty curses as he proceeded to change the now bloodied bandage.

"Hey Saitou!" The cop turned and growled at the broom head that walked through his door. "Man, maybe we should get you some rabies shots or somethin'. You look like you're 'bout to foam at the mouth."

"What do you want now Chou?" The blond officer ignored the older man's acidic mood and took a seat at Saitou's desk.

"I heard about your new assignment. So, you have a baby-sitting job this time. I would like to see how you pull it off without the sucker knowing you're doin' it." Chou leaned back in his chair as he placed his feet on Saitou's desk.

"I fail to see the point of this mission. If the kid didn't want to be in danger, he shouldn't be hanging out in gang-banger clubs. Not to mention, Himura has been in that area for almost a year now, so I don't know why I have to go." Saitou knocked Chou's feet off his desk as he picked up the folder with the black and white picture of his "assignment."

The kid was barely legal, as witnessed by his smooth skin, innocent dark eyes, and goofy smile. Saitou, however, did have to admit that the kid was the type that turned heads, both male and female. Which was probably the problem…he drew too much attention. But why couldn't that infuriating redhead take care of this one. He was already there. And what kind of name was Zanza anyway?

Saitou Hajime had a very bad feeling about all this.

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Cold, amber eyes scanned the crowd, watching as young bodies moved and swayed in time with the music blaring through the speakers. It seemed that even on a weeknight the club Rurouni was a very popular spot. Saitou shook his head as he fought his way through the crowd. He was too old for this shit and, by the looks on the patrons' faces, they agreed whole heartily. Then again, the club did place an ad for bartenders with 'experience.' Someone as old as Saitou would most definitely have experience. Not that he thought himself as old mind you, it was just that he had a good ten or fifteen years on most of the people in the club.

At age 35, it would have been considerably more beneficial if he looked younger than his age, like a certain redhead that would remain nameless, but alas, not everyone could be as lucky. It confounded the policeman to no end how the before mentioned redhead managed to never age. Even Hiko, the man that the little drip studied under, seemed to be frozen in time, not looking a day over twenty five when he was a good ten years older than Saitou. Baffling to say the least. Oh well, he decided that he better not dwell on that subject as he approached the bar.

"What'll it be?" The bartender shouted over the noise of the crowd. Saitou could easily see why they had this man bartending. He had shoulder length ebony hair kept out of his eyes with a green bandana, enigmatic eyes that were a combination of gray, blue, and violet, and a friendly smile that made the older man want to puke. Yes, he was quite friendly and personable, which meant that he would have to work extra hard to land the job himself. He so loathed being friendly, but that's the breaks.

"My name is Fujita Gorou, I'm here for an interview," the man shouted above the awful din referred to as music. He was starting to hate this assignment more than ever, which was a pretty difficult thing to do. The young man studied Saitou's appearance. The older man had tried to fit in as much as possible. Ditching the normal suit and tie required by his job as detective, he opted for a pair of worn out jeans and a black t-shirt that was probably a size or two too small, which accented his lean frame. He topped the outfit off with a pair of his S.W.A.T. uniform boots. He felt like a total idiot; completely out of his comfort zone. Finally the boy's gaze made it back to his face.

"Oh yeah, Mr. Shishio has been expecting you. If you would just follow me please." The young man opened the bar gate for Saitou and led him through a door behind the bar. "By the way, my name is Katsuhiro, but most people call me Katsu, it's a pleasure meeting you. I hope you get the job, it's been pretty rough getting some help around here, especially someone who won't take shit off nobody. You seem to fit that description."

"Thanks, I think." Katsu just laughed. Yep, Saitou was going to definitely hate this mission. They stopped in front of a large wooden door.

"Mr. Shishio, Mr. Fujita is here for his interview," Katsu announced through the intercom mounted on the wall.

"Very well, tell him to come on in Katsu, and get back to work." There was something in that voice that Saitou didn't like, but he had yet to place it. The officer walked into the nicely furnished office, apprehensive of what he might find. His amber gaze studied the room around him before it landed on a demonic looking man with burn scars covering the greater part of his body. That wasn't what made the policeman uneasy, it was the man's eerie red eyes. They held no compassion, no human feeling in them. There was no sanity at all found in their bloody depths. Yet, there was something strangely familiar about them.

"Mr. Shishio, it is a pleasure to meet you." Saitou offered his best smile, which wasn't a very good one. Hell, what do you expect? The Wolf of Mibu doesn't smile. Not like he ever had a reason.

"Okay, drop the shit Fujita. I don't need another pussy working for me. As you have seen, I already have one. I need a man who can be a dickhead when need be, and from the looks of things your not comfortable being friendly." Sinister lips quirked up into a knowing smirk, and Saitou's fake smile fell from his face.

"Yeah, I guess you can say that." What kind of psycho would want a man like Saitou working with the public?

"So, what happened to your last job at…the Wolf Pack? Your application says that you were 'let go' a good month before it burnt down." The police officer found it rather odd that the man was not the least bid apprehensive about the fact he had been "fired."

"I didn't take any shit and inadvertently broke some punks wrist," Saitou stated without emotion.

"Just his wrist?" Those red eyes danced with wicked amusement.

"Fine, I broke the little fucker's arm in three different places and gave him a concussion." The psycho started laughing maniacally at the cop's confession.

"Great! You're just what I need. I've had problems with these young gang members harassing my employees. Looks like you have found yourself a job." The man stood and offered a gloved hand to the amber-eyed man.

"Arigato sir. When do I start?" The man across from him thought for a moment before turning his gaze back to the detective.

"Can you start tonight?"

"Why the hell not." Katsu was called back to the room with instructions to show Saitou the "ropes."

As he left the room, Saitou felt a cold chill work its way down his spine.

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I know this is short, but my first chapter usually is. This is only my second RK fic, so be gentle. I may post my first one soon, but right now I'll concentrate on this one. Don't forget to review.

Laters,

siren_circe