Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Under the Covers ❯ Contact ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1: Contact

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Disclaimer: I don't own these wonderful characters, but I do the storyline. You can try to sue me, but I don't have much.

Warning: Cussing, perverseness, and attempt at humor.

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A week. It had been a week since he was sent to this hell-hole, and he was no more thrilled with the assignment than he was when he first received it. He popped a TUMS™ to soothe his heartburn as he walked into the building, and came to the conclusion that he would have to seek anger management if he wanted to keep the lining of his esophagus.

"Fruit flavored my ass," the cop growled as he gnawed on the chalky tablet. He stalked into the bar with every intention of murdering the idiot who thought that he would be perfect for this assignment, when the sound of unfamiliar laughter stopped him in his tracks. No one was supposed to be here yet besides Katsu and himself because of before-opening inventory. The man snuck into the room and came up behind a tall, slender man with hair that defied all laws of gravity. From what Saitou could see, the man had a good build to him, a pair of black leather pants that hung low on his hips accented his firm little ass, and the red button-down was left open and the sleeves rolled back. The outfit was topped with a red bandana, and Saitou assumed it was to keep that odd-looking hairstyle out of his eyes. So far, the man seemed to be quite a specimen of masculine perfection.

Katsu had his back to the two men, but spun around with a glass in his hand. "Oh shit! Fujita you scared the hell out of me!" Katsu yelled at the stoic man, and the stranger turned to see what his friend was so upset about. Saitou found himself staring into astonished chocolate eyes, eyes that he had only seen once before in a colorless picture . . . Zanza. Finally, for the first time, Saitou came face-to-face with his assignment, and even he had to admit that the photograph didn't do the kid justice. His chest was bare underneath the red shirt, showing off a toned, tanned chest, and, for some odd reason, the officer found himself fascinated with the boy's bellybutton.

"Hey Katsu, you didn't tell me you got a boyfriend. Won't Crispy Critter get a little angry when he finds out you're sneakin' your beau in here before opening?" Laughing eyes studied the older man in front of him. Zanza couldn't believe that someone so evil looking could practically drip with sex appeal. Was he attracted? Damn straight! Was he jealous of the timid little bartender? You bet your ass!

"Well, you don't have to worry about me getting into trouble. This is Fujita Gorou, he's the new bartender. Of course you would know this if you didn't skip out last week. I'm surprised that Freak Show hasn't fired you yet." Katsu should have known not to go on a tangent after telling his friend that Fujita was open game to anyone at the moment. The way the young man looked at the mysterious stranger told Katsu that the tall youth was definitely attracted. Hell, the kid looked like he wanted to rape the man right then and there.

"Hello Fujita, I'm Zanza." Spiky held his hand out for Saitou to shake, which he did, although he didn't want to. He really didn't like the way the kid was looking at him . . . like he was dinner.

"Pleasured," Saitou said curtly.

"Not yet, but I can arrange that." Oh so the kid was a cocky one, was he?

"Listen Rooster-head, I'm not a babysitter." That caused the youngster to frown slightly. "Come back when you grow up kid." With that, Saitou stepped behind the bar and started to gather ashtrays.

"What's wrong old man? Your decrepit ass can't handle a young guy like me?" The stoic bartender turned and looked at the youth and arched a dark eyebrow. Man that guy was damn sexy.

"You're forgetting something kid . . . with age comes experience. So, it would more likely be you not being able to handle me." Zanza licked his lips with anticipation.

"There is only one way to find out . . . so, your place or mine?" The cop rolled his eyes. This assignment was going to drive him insane.

"We'll decide that when you hit puberty. Now if you would be so kind as to excuse me, I have work to do." Zanza scowled at the parting man's retreating back. This was going to be a harder mission than he thought to carry out. He had no idea the cop would be so . . . appealing. He was going to have to remind himself to keep his distance. Only if that damn officer wasn't so tempting!

"So, how many sets are you guys planning to do tonight?" Zanza was brought back to the present time and place by the sound of Katsu's voice.

"Two I think. Did you get signed up for your classes for next semester?" The taller man knew that his quiet friend was going to the local art school, hoping to start his own manga series.

"Yeah, it's a pretty rough schedule too. I'm really glad that Creepy hired Fujita. I know that he isn't the most friendly guy, but he's good at what he does. Not to mention that he's the employee's version of security. So I guess I really can't complain about his attitude too much." Katsu grinned. "And let's not forget, he's easy on the eyes."

"Damn easy. Look at that tight little ass. I want him, and I'm used to getting what I want." Zanza studied the man as he moved with a fluid grace through the bar. He was almost like a wolf hunting his prey. The young man had often heard that a wolf's favorite meal consisted of chicken, and wasn't a rooster a chicken after all.

"Zanza." The sound of that deep voice brought him back to himself. He turned to see Shishio standing there with a very serious expression and Katsu nowhere to be found.

"Yes sir." That man was so creepy that it made the youngster want to piss himself every time he saw the man.

"Don't forget, you are to get that skinny little nothing to be comfortable with you. I don't think sexual harassment is the key here." Zanza looked back over at the quiet man before nodding his head. He really hated to lie to the wolf, but what choice did he have. If only there was some way to get out of it, he would, but for now he would just have to do what he was hired to do.

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The band had finished their first set, and was putting up their equipment for a break. Misaou and Yahiko had already left the stage, leaving the two guitarists.

"So, do you have a plan?" Zanza turned and looked at the band's bass player, Shinomori Aoshi. Aoshi was probably the last person anybody would expect to see in a band with his cool, distant demeanor and his regal grace, but damn could that man wail on a guitar. The older man had this mysterious heir about him that attracted attention, ebony hair that always seemed to fall just so into enigmatic gray-blue eyes that were as cold as steel, and full lips that seemed to be in a perpetual frown. There was no denying that Aoshi was a looker, yet the young rooster-head didn't find himself attracted. Maybe it was because he had known the man for so long, after all they had been ordered to work on this assignment together.

"I think so. I just hope I can pull this one off. He seems to be a little too perceptive for his own good." The other man snorted disdainfully.

"Sanosuke, this is serious," Aoshi whispered harshly, which caused the younger man to chuckle.

"Gee Aoshi, yer startin' to sound just like him." That earned him a scowl.

"Remember, do whatever is necessary to carry out this assignment. Tie him to your bed if you have to. The boss is counting on you." Aoshi moved closer to the young man as a tall, slender woman walked by. The stoic man had completely turned his head to watch her.

"I had no idea that you were such a kink, Shinomori." Sanosuke (a.k.a. Zanza) noticed that his band mate was no longer paying attention to anything he was saying, but staring at a very attractive woman flirting with the lupine bartender, who was NOT flirting back in any way, shape, or form. In fact, he looked like he could care less if the woman would turn into a giant, mucus-sucking alien. Sanosuke shook his head . . . that man was hopeless. Apparently he didn't have a social bone in his body . . . or a sexual one for that matter.

"Megumi," Aoshi sighed.

"You know her name?" Sanosuke fought the urge not to laugh. The man looked absolutely dumb struck.

"I've heard it in passing. She's here almost every weekend, unless she has a medical school exam." At that Sanosuke did laugh.

"Man, you even know that she's in med. school. You do got it bad for the little fox. Why don't you go talk to her?" Aoshi's face paled at the suggestion.

"I don't think that would be a wise idea." Aoshi watched as she whispered in the bartender's ear. The man's eyebrows knit together in concentration before he shrugged indifferently.

"Go on, ask for her number." Sanosuke nudged his friend.

"Sano . . ." the other man warned. They both turned to see the lady laughing at something Fujita had said. Golden eyes met Sano's stare and held him frozen to that spot. Fox-lady said something, causing a smirk to grace the normally firm lips. Sano felt jealousy rip through him. It wasn't fair that the woman was able to bring out this side of the stoic man. So, needless to say, Sano was totally caught off guard when the infuriating wolf winked at him before saying something to Katsu and going outside. Sano practically tripped over his feet trying to get out the door.

Aoshi watched in mild amusement as the kid followed the man like an obedient puppy. He was so caught up in the scene that he failed to notice a presence beside him. He turned when he heard someone clearing their throat daintily to see the pretty little fox.

"Hello. My name is Megumi." She grabbed Aoshi's hand and produced a Sharpie and wrote something on the top of the strong hand. "And this is my number. I have to go to the library tomorrow for group research, but I should be home around four. Talk to you later." With that, she walked off, leaving Aoshi wide-eyed and mouth opening and closing like a fish.

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He hated weekends the most. Why? Because that is when most of the people packed themselves into the club, and he, Saitou Hajime, would have to serve them and be pleasant. How he loathed being pleasant. At least there was one good thing about this, it was easy to keep an eye on his assignment due to the fact that he was the lead guitarist in the club's band. So since he was on stage and in the spotlight, Saitou's job was considerably easier. So the logical thing to do is when the band took a break between sets, Saitou also took his break . . . not to mention that he was in desperate need of a cigarette. He was standing in the back alleyway, lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drawl. His distressed nerves began to calm and he leaned against the brick wall of the building as he blew out a puff of smoke.

"Don't you know that shit will kill ya?" Saitou turned around to see the kid with some goofy little grin on his face and a glass of scotch in his hand.

"Well we can suffer, die, and go to hell together after my lungs and your liver shut down." Zanza chuckled.

"You certainly have a way with words." Saitou shrugged. "So, just how old are you?"

"Old enough."

"Smart ass." Saitou did chuckle at that.

"Point being . . ."

"None really. Just that you have a real attitude problem." Saitou blew smoke in the boy's face.

"I really don't care what your opinion of me may be."

"I'm just trying to have a conversation!" Damn was the older man absolutely infuriating. Sano took a few deep breaths, trying to control the urge to knock the guy in next week.

"Ahou," Saitou murmured under his breath as he takes another drawl of his cigarette.

"Okay, let's try this question: Where are you from? I know you're not from Tokyo. You have an accent." Sano took a drink of the scotch.

"Maybe you are the one with the accent," Saitou said smugly.

"Temee . . . just answer the damn question." The kid was so amusing when he was angry.

"Kyoto."

"Wow, just like Battousai. You two don't know each other do you?" Speak of the devil and he shall appear Saitou thought as a demur, amber-eyed redhead with a cross-shaped scar walked toward them. Even though he was short, he still looked quite formidable with his long red hair pulled back into a low ponytail with a few strands falling in those cold, golden eyes. He was wearing a pair of dark jeans, a dark green t-shirt and a leather jacket to ward off the night's chill.

"Zanza, Aoshi is looking for you. You better hurry inside before you anger him." The boy nodded and rushed back inside.

"See ya later cricket face!" he called over his shoulder as he disappeared through the door.

"Ahou ga." Saitou looked down at the redhead standing in front of him. "What the hell has happened to you?"

"One moment." The redhead dropped his head, balled his fist, and punched himself as hard as he could in the face. While most people would have been shocked at such a sight, Saitou took the last drag off his cigarette and threw it down like it was any other day. The redhead looks back up at the taller man, violet eyes gleaming with innocence and a disgustingly sweet smile on his face. "How are you Saitou?"

"Is all that really necessary, Himura? And I thought you hated being called Battousai." Saitou straightened so he could further look down at his contact.

"Well, it's the only way I know how do it, and I don't like being called Battousai. I had to have an undercover name didn't I, Gorou?" Their conversation halted as the back door opened and a young waitress in a too short denim dress and threw a couple bags of garbage in the dumpster.

"Good evening Miss Karou," the redhead said in a nice tone. The girl looked around and then looked at the two men standing in front of her and narrowed her sky blue eyes.

"What's with the 'Miss Karou'? Good evening? Do you have a fever? You're never this nice. I think you should see a doctor." With that, the girl walked briskly back into the club.

"Lady trouble?" Saitou chuckled as the redhead deflated at the girl's cold tone.

"That's the problem with being Battousai, no one likes him. Except maybe Zanza, and he likes everybody . . . especially you." The redhead started laughing merrily as he remembered the scene he walked in on.

"Kenshin," the cop growled. "I believe you are supposed to tell me the story on this kid, not grate on my nerves."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." Kenshin reached into his jacket pocket and produced a disk for the taller man. "This has all the information about Zanza and this case on it. You know Saitou, this is the first time we worked together since the Purgatory incident."

"I am perfectly aware of that!" The dark-haired man grabbed the disk out of Kenshin's hands.

"You know Saitou, I think that you need to relax a little. Maybe get laid or something. You know, they say that sex is a good stress relief." Kenshin let out a big guffaw as Saitou's eyes widened and a slight blush crossed his cheeks.

"Since when did you talk like a hentai?" Not many things in life surprised Saitou, but Himura Kenshin talking about sex was just unheard of.

"Sorry, being around here starts to rub off after awhile." The redhead smiled briefly before hauling off and punching Saitou.

"What the fuck?" The older man grabbed Kenshin by the jacket and slammed him a few good times against the brick building. "Are you trying to get me to kill you? You sick little fuck!" Kenshin looked back at Saitou, golden eyes glowing.

"Arigato." The redhead pushed Saitou off and straightened his jacket. "You seem like one of the very few that is able to piss me off. I can see that you still can be considered the Wolf of Mibu."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Saitou smirked and opened the door. "After you. It's not very often that one is in the presence of the Battousai himself."

"You are a gentleman and a scholar." The two men walked into the bar.

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"Finally," a very tired, rumpled Saitou said to himself as he stuck his key in his new apartment door. As he turned the key, he swore to himself that he would own his own house one day, no more moving around with these crazy assignments. This was the reason his wife left him wasn't it? Because he was never home. Never there when she needed him. He supposed it was true, but wasn't she supposed to be there through better or worse? "Fuck that," he said as he entered his cold, sparsely furnished apartment, not realizing he was being watched.

"Hi neighbor!" Saitou ground his teeth together at the sound of that voice. This new development was certainly going to make his job easier, but it didn't necessarily mean he was happy about it.

"Ahou, what a pleasant surprise. I thought all cocks slept in the henhouse." Saitou was really too tired to deal with him right now.

"I am currently without a henhouse to sleep in. How 'bout you let me sleep in yours? I bet it is a tight fit, but that's the way I like it." Sanosuke stepped further outside his door and walked closer to the cop. He had no idea the older man had rented the apartment across from his. Today was his lucky day.

"Sorry ahou, but I have a date with a very large, very comfortable bed. Goodnight." Saitou turned to walk into his apartment when he felt a light touch trail down his arm.

"It's morning, temee. Have breakfast with me. It's nothing much but a couple of biscuits from the American diner on the corner, but they're good." The young man leaned against the doorframe, preventing the older man from slamming the door in his face. "Doesn't the big, bad wolf eat? Come on, it's just a little breakfast."

Normally Saitou would just shove the kid out of the way. Someone acting in such a way usually ate at his nerves. For some inexplicable reason, Saitou found himself throwing his jacket into the apartment and shutting the door. Perhaps he really was hungry. He very rarely got to eat regularly. He also knew he was lying to himself. What it really was, was the way the ahou was leaning on the door with a sexy grace, the way his ridiculous hair was hanging in his face, the way the white silk pajama pants were hanging a little too low on his hips, and most of all, it was the phrase Himura had said to him earlier that kept repeating his mind. 'Maybe get laid or something.'

"Great," Sano cheered as he opened he lead the old man to his apartment. He could feel himself get excited as he felt the heat of the other man's body behind him. He knew that he shouldn't mix business with pleasure, but this time he couldn't help himself. Granted it would make his job a little more difficult, but maybe after he got the man out of his system, he could concentrate on the assignment and not the way the man's ass looked in those jeans.

"Evil? Evil my ass," Saitou murmured as he studied the tatooed kanji on the boy's back between his shoulder blades.

"What, you don't like?" Sano turned his head to see the tatoo over his shoulder.

"Tatoos are not practical." Saitou watched as the boy walked behind him and shut and locked his door.

"I didn't get it to be practical. I got it because I liked it." Sano smiled and put his arm around Saitou's shoulders. "This way my good man. This will be the best breakfast sandwich that you will ever eat."

"You're touching me," Saitou stated dryly.

"You bet your ass." That little punk had the nerve to wink at him.

"Ahou, your arm." The kid sighed but removed the limb in fear of losing it. Saitou removed his shoes at the door before they walked into the small kitchen, surprisingly clean, and the smell of breakfast assailed Saitou's senses and his stomach growled loudly.

"See, you were hungry. Now aren't you glad I asked you over?" Saitou arched an eyebrow.

"I am perfectly capable of getting breakfast on my own." Though his voice was rough, the older man sat at the table. Sano just smiled.

"So, what's your poison?" Saitou looked at the kid like he had grown two heads. "I thought I would be the bartender for a change."

"Milk will be fine, that is if you have any that is not outdated." Sano chuckled and checked the refrigerator.

"Milk does a body good, and you must drink a lot." Sano turned quickly around when he heard the strangest sound. Saitou was . . . laughing! Not a low chuckle, not an indifferent snort, but a loud, sincere guffaw! The man was laughing so hard that tears were coming to his eyes.

"Ahou that has got to be the absolutely worst pickup line I have ever heard." The man was short of breath, but continued to laugh. "Damn I must be tired." Sano blushed, but grinned.

"I guess you're right. But did it work?" That caused the older man to chuckle some more.

"No." The kid's disappointment was evident as the smile slid from his face and his eyes dulled. "I guess that means you just have to try harder." Saitou wasn't sure why he gave the kid such advise, but as soon as the rooster-head's face lit back up with joy, he wasn't inclined to care too much.

"Well, let's eat!" Saitou watched in amusement as the rooster-head began eating like that biscuit was his last meal.

*********

"You know what you need?" Sano spoke up about an hour later as he sit on the couch while Saitou in the floor leaning against the piece of furniture, watching the morning news to Saitou's insistence.

"A muzzle for you?" Saitou didn't even bother to look away from the television screen as he said this.

"NO! Temee." Sano bopped the older man on the back of the head.

"Ahou . . ." the older man warned.

"A massage. You are waaaay too tense. Sit tight." Before Saitou even had a chance to respond, the kid disappeared back into the depths of his apartment. The older man shrugged indifferently and turned his attention back to the footage of a gas station robbery. He was so absorbed with the carnage of broken glass, overturned food stands, and body bags that he really didn't pay attention to the rooster returning until the kid stood in front of him, and the television.

"Now what are you doing?" Saitou looked up from his place on the floor to meet the rooster-head's eyes.

"Come on, I'm going to make you feel good." Sano grabbed the older man by the arm, pulled him to his feet, and led him through the apartment to the bedroom. Saitou expected the cliched candles and satin sheets, but what he found was the blinds pulled with soft lamplight and plain black, cotton sheets. Nothing remarkable. Simple.

"Why are we back here?" Saitou looked back over his shoulder and shot the kid a glare.

"See, I told you that ya were too tense. Now strip and lay down on yer stomach." Sano walked up behind the officer and untucked the dark tee.

"The hell?" Warm hands traveled up his chest, pulling the shirt up, and, surprisingly, he raised his arms to allow it to be removed. The hands trailed back down the smooth plains of his chest before resting on the front button of his jeans.

"Relax," the younger man whispered in his ear, his warm breath causing shivers to race down his spine. The button of his jeans was quickly undone and the zipper was even faster in falling. Why was he letting this kid strip him? Why wasn't he stopping him?

He was brought from his thoughts by the sound of his pants dropping to the floor. There the proud Saitou Hajime stood in the middle of a stranger's bedroom in nothing but his boxer shorts. Needless to say, it was one of the most humiliating experiences of his life.

"Now just go lay on yer stomach and I'll make you feel all better." Saitou further surprised himself when he actually followed the request and laid his long body on the bed. 'This is all part of the assignment, it will go no further,' Saitou repeated to himself over and over.

The bed sagged with the weight of another body, but it didn't prepare the older man for the rooster-head straddling his hips. He heard a snap and the smell of cinnamon drifted through the room. He dropped his head into his arms. This was just great, he was going to smell like a candy store. But when strong, warm hands began to rub the tense muscles in his back, he failed to care if he smelled like a fish dock. He had to hand it to the kid, he had talented hands.

A low moan caused Sano to smirk. So the copper liked that did he? The man was incredibly tense the kid noticed as he worked on a particularly stubborn knot around the man's spine. A small whimper made it passed tight lips as Sano worked lower to the muscles just above that firm rear that the kid had become so fascinated with in the past few hours. Strong, calloused hands gripped the pillows as the soreness was willed away by skilled hands. It had to be one of the most erotic images Sano had seen to date. He could feel himself harden as the man groaned, loud and low. It was all he could do to keep from thrusting his arousal into that delectable rump under him. Instead, he continued his work. A few moments later, the sound of deep breathing caused the young man to stop and look up from the hard muscled plain of the man's back to his face. That old fart was asleep! So much for a seduction attempt.

Sano's face softened as he looked at the policeman in his bed. He looked to peaceful . . . something he wasn't when awake. Poor man must be exhausted. Sano got off of Saitou's back and grabbed the blanket that rested at the foot of the bed before crawling in the bed beside his assignment and covering them both.

"I wish I could hate you, temee, but I think I'm fallin' for ya instead. I can't do that. I have a job to do." With that, Sano wrapped an arm around the man and nuzzled his nose into the strong neck. The smell of cinnamon and Saitou lulled him to sleep.

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Okay that is the second chapter. Liked it, hated it? Let me know.

Laters,

sirencirce






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