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Preys	By : kamorgana Category: Rurouni Kenshin > General Views: 5568 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. I don�t own Rurouni Kenshin. The characters belong to Watsuki, but the plots, ideas, OCs and text are *mine*.
Preys
Chapter 8: Old acquaintances

Saitoh stopped on the threshold of Takagi�s office. She had left the door open. She was finishing applying some gloss on her lips, a brush and make-up laying over the mess of files on her desk.
�Kondo obtained the order,� she announced, still looking at the mirror she hold in her left hand. She clapped it shut.
�Stop staring at me like that,� she ordered, gathering her accessories.
�You don�t know how I�m staring at you.�
�I feel how you�re staring at me.� She put everything back in her handbag and finally lifted her eyes. �What are you doing here?�
�Checking if you were all right after the havoc of this morning?� he proposed nonchalantly.
�Very funny. If you want to cover me with sarcasms, why don�t you wait *after* the press conference? I�m sure that you can pick some ideas from the journalists.�
�Not so easy being the boss.�
�I guess that�s why you refused,� she countered suavely.
Satisfied by her shot and too tired to engage in a longer argument, she asked again: �So? Why are you here?�
�Shinomori is phoning to Seta�s shrink, and I remembered that you didn�t answer my question yesterday. About you and Sanjo Tsubame.�
In other words, he was bored and decided to have a little fun, pissing her off, she corrected mentally.
�Why should I? It has nothing to do with her murder.�
�Yukishiro is not the only one having personal problems with this case, obviously.�
Her eyes took the color of iron, as always when she was furious. �Come in and close the door.�
She waited for him to comply and sit down. How she hated him right now! For his gall, for the way he made her unnerved while he was so in control�
�Now listen to me, Saitoh. I�m going to answer partly to your questions. Did I know Tsubame? Yes. Did I like her? No. Did I hate her? No. So my only personal involvement in that case is that a good friend of mine, and if you dare to insinuate anything else I swear that I�m going for my gun; a good friend of mine lost a loved one. I�m sad for him, but this is not enough to affect me.�
He raised dubiously a brow. That did it for her. She didn�t bother to hide her feelings anymore.
�I�m really tired of your attitude. Nobody thinks that you�re going to collapse; don�t feel compelled to be a bigger bitch so you can prove you aren�t. I have a shaken team to rule, the most fearsome murderer back in the streets, the media are going to crucify me, and I lost a friend, too, isn�t that enough? I still can play your mind games, but I don�t need your personal attacks. Is that what you wanted me to say? Give me a break.�
He stood up slowly. �I don�t like you, Takagi. I never did.�
�Oh, that breaks my heart. I didn�t realize. Don�t you have something new?�
�Actually��
He bent, smirking, and brushed his lips to hers, in a lingering kiss which sent a thousand, a million shivers down her spine. She responded immediately, propping herself on her palms, lifting from her chair to receive it fully until they parted, conscious that they couldn�t keep this kiss light any longer.
�...I think that I found a way to make things better,� he whispered tentatively.
She murmured, gazing into his eyes: �It won�t solve anything��
�Maybe not. Who cares?� He traced slowly the sideline of her neck with one forefinger.
Somebody knocked on the door. He sat back on the chair and she managed to gather enough voice from her contracted throat to sound normal. �Come in.�
Aoshi appeared. �I settled things with the detention center. We can meet Seta in one hour,� he told Saitoh.
�Perfect. Let�s go now.��
Tokio felt uncomfortable as Aoshi�s icy deep gaze rested on her. �I�ll be there when you�re back. Hopefully alive.�
At last alone, she took her head in her hands. If Saitoh wanted her to lose her mind, he definitely had a way.
***
There was one thing that Saitoh appreciated in Shinomori. He was silent. And one that he didn�t. He couldn�t smoke in his car.
As the profiler was driving towards the psychiatric detention facility were Seta had been transferred, Saitoh was thinking of Takagi, and one of his dear little friends could have helped him to cope.
There were enough reasons not to lay a finger on her. There were rules: no sleeping with a suspect, witness, colleague, and above all a superior. Order had to be respected. Work was sacred. Nothing should come in the way of duty. In spite of all this, he behaved no better than Sagara, who had humped half of the female cops of the city. Moreover she was right: although they both realized and accepted now that part of their antagonism relied on a mutual physical attraction, giving in to it wouldn�t change anything, because that wasn�t the heart of the problem.
He had to come back to a professional attitude. He could before. Now, he was unable to erase what he had seen in her eyes at the hospital. Pure want. Overwhelming, unadulterated, matching his in intensity. He clenched his teeth. He couldn�t help to go after her, to taunt her, making her feel as vulnerable as he could, so he could allow himself to surrender to his own weakness, to his desire. He was hunting her. A wolf never let his prey escape. She was the prey now.
Shishio was his prey too, although in another, safer way. Criminals were predators to the citizens. Cops were predators to criminals. He would hunt him down and make sure that he wouldn�t escape his fate. This case had haunted him for years. He had felt helpless. He had never before, never since. He was young then. Now, he was ready. It wouldn�t take that long to catch him this time.
Noticing Shinomori�s sideways glance at him, he smirked.
�Trying to read my thoughts?�
The man didn�t answer. Saitoh smirked again.
***
The first thing coming to Saitoh�s mind was that Seta didn�t change a bit in ten years. He had still the same round face and innocent, large green-hazel eyes. He entered the parlor with a shiny smile at the two cops.
�Saitoh-san! Hisashiburi desu ne!!!! And Shinomori-san!� He let out an amused laugh. �I was waiting for somebody to come, of course, but I didn�t dream of such important people!�
Shinomori was still keeping his mouth shut. Saitoh raised a brow mockingly.
�The news was quite interesting this morning. So the Mayor�s niece was �slaughtered�. What a loss for the city�s social scene and the local charity organizations! And a prostitute has been killed in a strange way last week, as far as I recall. It was in the newspapers, just a few lines by the end... They also said that Tokio-san was going to give a press conference later? Oh, I guess that�s why she isn�t here�.That�s too bad.�
�Seta, you don�t have to put on your show for us. We know what you are.�
�Ara? Saitoh-san, this is not very friendly. I think that�s why you made a very bad impression, during the trial.�
�You pretend to know something about this.�
The young man turned to Aoshi.
�Shishio-san is not somebody you get rid of easily. He�s very strong.�
�Shishio?� Saitoh asked disdainfully.
�Ah, Saitoh-san, you know, you won�t trick me like this. It isn�t funny.� He smiled maliciously. �So I won�t talk to you, or to you, Shinomori-san. If Tokio-san doesn�t come here, I�m afraid that there�s nothing more I can say. She can make me very talkative, as you know. Guards, the interview is over! Goodbye, see you soon!�
They watched him leave the parlor in silence.
�We came too early,� Saitoh stated afterwards.
�After the press conference, it would have been too late. At least we learnt something. He knew that Shishio is alive.�
�Didn�t he try his luck? I�d tend to say that he just guessed everything, and had some twisted fun.�
�Possible. We�ll have to get Takagi-san here to confirm.�
The cop pinched his lips. �You aren�t serious.�
�Why not, there�s nothing to loose.�
�No way.�
�Do you have a good reason to refuse?�
Fugitively, an image of Takagi during the briefing appeared in Saitoh�s mind. �He obviously wants to play with us, and with her, since he holds her responsible for his imprisonment.�
�Am I supposed to believe that you care and want to spare her?�
Saitoh remembered suddenly why he didn�t like shrinks. Always complicating simple situations. �She won�t stand the pressure. She�ll collapse, and the result will be giving this bastard some fun, plus more disorder in the team. We have to be efficient and organized now.�
�You should trust her a little more. She�ll never collapse under professional pressure.�
Saitoh didn�t like either the way Shinomori had insisted on one word. He went to the door. �I guess they finished preparing the documents I asked about Seta.�
Aoshi followed his new �partner�, aware that he�d have to play the referee during the next meeting. Knowing Tokio, she would be adamant to go, even more as soon as Saitoh showed his lack of trust in her. And he knew what the decision would be. She was the boss.
***
*9.00 PM*
Tokio was home a bit late and she quickly put the drinks and the sushi she ordered on the table. She had just played on one of her old Sade CD, hoping that the smooth voice and rhythm would soothe her, when somebody knocked on her door.
�Come in!� she welcomed as she opened it, relieved that it was the one she was waiting for.
Aoshi gave her two bottles of wine without a word.
�Thanks. Shrinks always know what people need. Meg has another autopsy to complete, so she�ll be a little late.�
He followed her to the living room, sat on the couch, and took some tea from the pot she had prepared for him.
�Perfect. I couldn�t get to see you alone today, and I wanted to talk to you.�
Curling on her favorite leather armchair, she sent him a cautious glance. �Are we going to have a session, doctor?�
He opened a bottle of red wine, poured her a glass, and gave it to her before answering.
�As your friend, I�m concerned.�
She gave him a warm smile. Aoshi was always so cold, and serious in his way of speaking, that most people wouldn�t realize that he was genuinely worried about her.
�Thanks. Frankly, the last 48 hours were not easy to cope with, but I think I�m fine.�
�You did well at the press conference.�
�I know that when there�s bad news, people use to shoot the messenger. I was prepared.�
�You said that there was a mistake in the identification of Shishio? Conclusion of your meeting with Kondo and Hiko?�
She sighed. �With the current situation, I couldn�t lie to the section about it. Although I hesitated, trust is too important. Going public is something else. We all agreed that the population had to be warned that Shishio is probably wandering in the streets again. It would have been criminal not to. But the way the truth has been hidden could hurt only innocents. We agreed on that too.�
�How did Kondo take the news? He didn�t know, did he?�
�Definitely not. And he didn�t take it well at all. For a second I thought he was going to have a stroke. But let�s face it. Kamiya is dead. Okina is retired and sick. Kawaji is already under investigation for corruption, and faces years of prison. Even if we found a legal way to sue him for what he did, you know what a�..sleazy weasel he is. He would reject the blame on Kamiya, who can�t defend himself anymore, or on Okina. It wouldn�t be fair: I really think that except Kawaji, nobody had afterthoughts about it. Sometimes it�s better to leave the past sleep�even though some people have a different opinion.�
It was a euphemism. When she had told the team about Shishio, everything had gone out of control. The ones who didn�t know had begun to yell. Makimachi had been out of herself with righteous anger. Sagara�s heated reaction had caused Megumi and Saitoh to league for a while against him, before bickering at each other again between the sarcasms they sent to the ex-thug. Kitaoka himself had gone into one of his rare, but fanatic diatribes against politicians. Everybody had a diverging opinion about what to do, and it took Tokio almost an hour to calm them down, to have them accept her order not to tell a soul and that *she* had to decide what to do with the powers in place. The only one who, after a feral, furious roar, had been sensible about the whole matter was�
�I expected a worse reaction from Yukishiro. You have a good grip on him.� Aoshi had followed her train of thought. The way he could read people so easily was creepy sometimes.
�I hope so. He�s a good cop. Yet I was a little afraid to put Makimachi on the front line��
�I told you that your analysis was good. Yukishiro reacts differently when it comes to women. He isn�t always able to control his temper or his rage against criminals, but his urge to protect women is stronger than that. I don�t see him crossing the line. And Makimachi is��
Tokio was surprised at her friend�s hesitation. Aoshi never spoke without every single word ready in his mind.
��Innocent. She is strong but has a pure soul. I think that after you, she is the most likely able to keep him in line.�
She gave him a look.
�Didn�t you realize that he links you strongly to Yukishiro Tomoe? He sees you more as a big sister than as a boss. It gives you quite a power over him.�
The ringing phone prevented her from answering.
�Takagi�Mother!� Her smile faded away as she was listening, her tone turning bitter and sarcastic. �Oh, I�m sorry for you�..Yes, I hope to see you next time you�re back to Japan. Bye.�
She lit a cigarette and crossed Aoshi�s eyes. �Don�t say a word. I�m an adult. I�m used to that.�
�Smokers don�t realize how revealing their habit can be.�
�Aoshi!�
�You know you won�t be able to smoke when you meet Seta.�
�I told you that I could do it. He�s locked. And you�ll be there. If you�re less analytic and more supportive than right now, I�ll be fine.�
�Saitoh will be there too.�
�What is that supposed to mean?� She could have slapped herself for asking.
The hint of a smile played on Aoshi�s lips. �He isn�t very good for your balance. When I entered your office this afternoon, the sexual tension between you was at a level I rarely saw before. You tried to hide it well, but you can�t control it anymore.�
�Tell me something that I don�t know,� she sighed, hiding her face in her hands. She couldn�t believe she was admitting it to Aoshi. She barely accepted it herself.
�He won�t hurt you,� he said, solemn.
She stared at him, astonished. The bell rang. Megumi.
She welcomed her friend, who was also bringing two bottles of wine.
�Anybody in the mood to get drunk? I�m not talking to you, Mr. Right,� the doctor greeted.
Aoshi glared at her, but he wasn�t really angry. Meg had that habit to bicker at people� although it had become worse lately. He had to talk to her, but not tonight.
Tokio laughed. �Six bottles for two. We can get something out of that.�
�Yes, it�s more in Hiko�s capacities�.� Megumi went pale and apologized. �Sorry, honey. It isn�t the moment�.�
Tokio smiled soothingly at her. �No offense taken. I swear. Why does everybody think it�s a touchy matter?�
��Because after him, your relationships have been limited to flings.� Aoshi lifted his hands, in a rare defensive gesture. �I was just explaining.�
Tokio poured a glass of white wine for Megumi and refilled his cup of tea.
�Meg, if it�s about us leaving together after the identification today, we just had a talk at his place. He is my friend,� she announced calmly. �He�s shaken. But he�s dealing with it his own way.�
�Let�s hope he won�t have a hangover tomorrow, for Okita�s funeral.� Megumi knew the way Hiko used to �deal with�.
�He *never* has a hangover,� Tokio countered. �OK, let�s forget about all this and go for a toast.�
�I have one,� Megumi proposed. �It isn�t about forgetting, but I think it�s appropriate. To old friends and foes.�
Aoshi almost smiled again as Tokio choked on her wine. Meg was sure blunt. That made her interesting in the first place.
To be continued�..

Author�s notes:

Just in case: Hisashiburi desu: long time, no see (polite form).

Thanks to Mara and Firuze for their encouragements and comments. I can�t say how much I owe you two!

Next chapter: Tokio meets Soujiro. Saitoh isn�t thrilled with the result. Okita�s funeral stirs up some emotions, it will have some consequences later�
- 7
- 8
- 9
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