Fic; On the Wrong Track, pt12
Hello! :D I'm still alive, and with another update of On the Wrong Track! :) I must apologise for the amount of time it has taken; I've fallen out of the fandom and inspiration hasn't struck for ages. I am, however, determined to see this through; it's just gonna take a while. Anyway, enjoy! Sorry it's a bit short, but I'm already half-way done with the next part so hopefully it won't take too long! :)
Thanks for reading! :D
Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin
Title: On the Wrong Track, pt12
Pairing: Kenshin/Battousai x Kaoru, slight Tomoe x Kenshin
Rating: PG-13, so far. might push it to a NC-17, but doesn't seem likely at the moment.
Genre: AU/AR/Fantasy/Romance/Adventure
Part 12
Sagara Sanosuke was not a happy camper. He rarely was, because sleeping outside with only a thin layer of fabric shielding you from rain and winds shouldn’t make anyone comfortable and therefore, not happy either. But this time it wasn’t an issue of camping in the wilderness or in the City’s alleys; this time he was actually using an expression to describe his mood without the use of profanity.
Why? He thought it made him seem smarter, utilizing idioms instead of some good old-fashioned cussing.
But alas, that was not the point he was trying to make. Not that Kenshin cared, either way.
“Look, I’ve told you already! I’ve just met the girl a couple of times! I only know her name, and that she’s got a brother, but that’s all! I have no idea where she could be!”
He watched as his friend sighed at the end of his rather agitated reply, rubbing his temples. I swear Missy, if I get out of this alive you owe me big. Real fucking big. I’ve just spent the last few minutes lying to Battousai! Battousai!
Before he could start thinking of possible ways his friend would deal with him if he ever found out the truth, Kenshin interrupted with an impatient sort of growl. Had he been any less of a man, he’d been scared. He wasn’t though; intimidated, yes, but not scared.
He hoped he looked as confident as it sounded in his head.
“Abe Mai or Abe Kenji is a fake identity. One of them, or both, have been following me around. Watching me. Do I really need to tell you how dangerous that is? How much could be destroyed, if even the smallest thing was revealed?” he spoke, voice calm and steady but Sano could easily detect the danger lurking in those golden eyes. Groaning, he let his head fall to the desk’s surface with a heavy, loud ‘thud’.
A few moments of silence passed before Kenshin spoke up again, the sound of wood creaking and leather groaning indicating he was finally taking a seat. Who knew such a short, pretty-looking guy could be so intimidating with his few inches and feet? Sano did.
“You haven’t been answering my questions truthfully Sano, I know this. You’re way too easy to read. However, I have a question I think you can answer without compromising your Missy’s safety.”
He was glad all he could see was the dark surface of the desk, because he was sure there was a rather annoying smirk to go with the equally annoying tone of voice. “Shoot.”
“Why did you run from me - taking such an early train - when you know I can catch you this easily?”
Sano grinned, despite the situation, and looked up to meet curious golden eyes. “I didn’t want to deal with you when you found out Missy had escaped so easily. I bet the hotel room will never look the same, huh?”
And despite the situation, Kenshin laughed. Because Sano knew, that somehow, he understood. Missy was under his protection, and for reasons not to be told, he couldn’t answer truthfully. Although he knew how dangerous it was for certain things to be discovered about Kenshin, he was equally sure that Kaoru would never expose anything she found. Besides, she hadn’t come close to the secrets Kenshin guarded with his life yet, and Sano would make sure - damn sure - she’d know what to stay away from. He just needed to get out of this office, and find her without Kenshin picking up the trail.
The sound of knocking broke the silence that had settled between them and as Kenshin called them in, Sano leaned back in his chair and sighed. Now what?
“Inspector Himura, there is a young boy requesting to speak with Sagara,” a woman said from the doorway, almost making the blood freeze in his veins. Keeping a straight face under Kenshin’s suspicious glare, Sano focused on the woman as she waited for a reply. He recognized her as the dark-haired receptionist that had a peculiar interest in stickers; he spotted several bright, sparkling ones on the otherwise boring brown folders she was clutching nervously to her chest.
“Send him up, if you will, miss,” Kenshin said, a smirk tugging at his lips. Panic was slowly creeping up Sano’s spine; who was it? Was it Kaoru? No, she couldn’t be that stupid, right? But perhaps she was coming to play the concerned little brother? If so, what an idiot! The receptionist left, closing the door with a click. Sano swallowed.
It seemed like hours passed as they waited in silence for the young boy to arrive, the clock ticking annoyingly slow. He tried to look at anything but Kenshin, twiddling nervously with a toothpick he’d removed from his pockets before biting onto it and swirling it around in his mouth. A bad habit, but something to occupy himself with.
“Sano!” a voice exclaimed the moment the door swung open with a bang, nearly making him jump five feet in the air. Staring blankly into the face of none other than Yahiko-chan, Sano wondered how many years of his life had just been taken away.
“What the hell?! What are YOU doing here?!” he shouted, relieved beyond belief to not find Missy strolling into Himura’s office.
“Hello to you too,” Yahiko snapped, crossing his arms. “I’m here coz I need your help you big idiot.”
Rolling his eyes, he found himself relaxing. Just a little bit. “You always do brat. Now what is it this time?”
The serious look in the boy’s eyes worried him. Has something happened?
“My sister came to me a while ago, rushing off to meet someone. I think she’s in trouble.”
Oh shit - this just can’t get any worse, can it? Damnit Missy; what have you done now?!
“Your sister, you say? I’m sorry to hear it, boy, but rest assured the L.E will do everything in our power to help, alright?”
Right, he’d forgotten about that. Kenshin.
Sano met Yahiko’s wide eyes with a horrified look of his own.
Fuck that saying is jinxed!
oOo
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