A Meji Cop Story

Chapter Two

Kenshin and Saitou sat in the chairs with their mouths hanging open. They were shocked which was hard thing to accomplish with these two veterans; all their years on the force had given them a natural mask; allowing them to present a façade to the outside world. Kenshin's was his happy easy-going nothing really bother's him attitude, while Saitou decided to display a visage of wry humor and cynicism toward life. Of course, to Kenshin, it didn't seem much of a mask in his opinion. He glanced at his old rival who was fumbling to put one his fancy cigarettes in his mouth. Kenshin would have laughed if he hadn't felt the same way himself.

Shishio Makoto was no laughing matter.

Saitou's hand was shaking as he pulled out the cigarette, the hell with quitting. He let out a curse when he noticed that he had snapped it in half. "Damnit." He rubbed a hand over his ashen face. Saitou glared out one amber eye toward Yamagata. "I thought Shishio Makoto was dead."

Yamagata Aritomo, head of Japan's Nation Defense Council, rubbed the back of his neck where a heated flush was slowly inching up toward his face. He sat down. "Well, about that particular rumor: Shishio Makoto is not dead."

"We fucking well know that now," snarled Saitou. "How the hell did you people mess this one up?"

Kenshin with a lot less coarse language was able to make his displeasure known, too. "I should have known that something like this would happen." He nodded as Saitou's burning eyes. "I asked myself a dozen times why would the government call off our operation right when we were about to make our move." He regarded Yamagata silently with probing violet eyes. "So, why did you call off our operation?"

Yamagata coughed and then cleared his throat. He would have preferred to confront Saitou's ire than Kenshin's quiet countenance. "Operation Psycho Cop was put together to bring our rouge-operative back or to assassinate him. However, after the operation began some of the other high ranking officials decided that maybe we could use Shishio Makoto in another part of the governmental branch." He picked up his glass of water gulping down a generous amount. "Your mission to terminate him was terminated instead. We sent in new investigators to bring Shishio Makoto to us, but he caught on quickly and killed the men sent. Therefore, we decided quietly to erase him; however, it wasn't as easy as we planned. We thought we had Shishio trapped in a hotel; we set fire to it, but he managed to escape; the only known information about him is he has been horribly burned. We are unable to confirm or deny those reports."

Saitou began to laugh uproariously. It wasn't a funny chortle joke, but a more sinister maniacal laugh. Finally, his laughter abated, "You dumb shits. We had Shishio Makoto cornered like a rat; he had no escape. Nonetheless, our protective government thinks they can rehabilitate a murderous monster and calls us back. And then after failing not only in rehabilitating him, you failed to kill him." He threw his hands up. "What a world to live in when the psychopaths walk freely on the stupidity of our government."

Kenshin quietly agreed with Saitou. Sometimes it was a good thing to have Saitou around; he could agree with what was being said without ever uttering a word. "Operation Psycho Cop was a bust and now you want us to fix the mess you made of it."

"Yes," said Yamagata switching from Saitou's ire to Kenshin's calm air. "Because our previous mission did not function as planned, we circulated the news around that Shishio was dead. And for a while he was dead; we didn't hear any news of him until several months ago. One of our own operatives discovered that someone was recruiting several of the worse criminals of Japan." He glanced at each officer. "Senkaku is only the tip of the iceberg; we know Shishio has something ruthless planned, but we don't know what it is. We need to stop him before he launches his attack on us."

"So, where does Kamiya Kaoru fit into this," asked Kenshin.

Yamagata leaned forward his forearms resting gently on the faux wood tabletop. "We believe that through her connections with Senkaku and the Shuei Gumi, she may have overheard some comments or knows something about the whereabouts of Shishio Makoto. All we need is to get one of you men inside the dojo and pry her secrets out of her."

Saitou snorted. "Why do you need one of us to do it? Why can't you have some rookie from the department to snuggle up with her and get her to disclose all her secrets to him?"

"We tried," replied Yamagata. "However, her protector Sagara Sanosuke can smell cop a mile away and we've never even gotten one cop close to her because of him." He gave the two detectives a smirk. "However, we could get one of you close to her without Sanosuke being aware of your chosen profession. To be blunt neither one of you smell cop nor look cop. Kenshin, you often resemble a lost waif and Saitou you look like you should be on Interpol's Most Wanted list."

Saitou let a satisfied smirk tug at his thin lips.

"Thanks," replied Kenshin dipping his redhead. "I think."

"However," continued Yamagata, "since Saitou knows more about Senkaku and has the attitude that would be in sync with Sagara's we want you to be the cop on the inside."

Kenshin frowned. "So, I would be the one to go to Kyoto?"

Yamagata nodded.

"But wouldn't that seem strange to the precinct," asked Kenshin. "If you want to keep it quiet shouldn't you have Saitou remain in Kyoto and I infiltrate the Kamiya stronghold."

"We thought about that," responded Kawaji before Yamagata could answer. "However, Himura-san we have to get by Sagara. You look too friendly and he may be instantly suspicious of you, while Saitou doesn't have a regular cop's aura. Also, you are well-known to the other cops in this area, so they may unintentionally blow your cover."

"Fine," said Saitou. "I agree with this plan, however, I don't want to get close to Shishio Makoto again and have the government pull us back." He pinned them with an amber stare.

Yamagata nodded his head. "I understand your feelings on Shishio Makoto and trust me when I say that relieving you of duty is the last thing we want. You are our last hope. If you fail, then Japan will have to call in outside forces to handle this matter. We don't want to do that."

"Then what do you want us to do?" asked Kenshin.

ooooooooooooooooorrrooooooooooooooooo

Kaoru went into her closet and pulled out her light blue and lavender kimono. She sighed as got ready to tend her shop; usually it would have been a joyful, peaceful time for her, but not since her enslavement. She had been forced to live with a freeloading fist-for-hire and nasty brat whom they were trying to pass off as her brother.

In the beginning she had been able to fight off the Shuei Gumi and their attempts to abduct her on numerous occasions. She had fought off all their futile attempts, but they had finally got her using the boy, Yahiko, whom they claimed was her brother. When she saw his bruised and abused appearance, her heart tugged at her. She had no choice but to acquiesce to them and remove the boy from their influence.

The Shuei Gumi had won due to her large heart. Her mother told her that she would get into trouble having such a large heart in modern Japan. She should have paid more attention to her mother's lessons. Maybe she would have been able to refuse the Shuei Gumi's pathetic attempts to drag her into their illegal activities.

"Stop moping, Jou-chan," said a rude voice from her doorway. "It's time to take care of the shop." He pointed to his bare wrist; "Time is money."

"Get the hell out of my room Sanosuke," growled Kaoru. "I deserve some privacy in my own home."

Sanosuke smirked at her. "Trust me, little sister, you haven't got anything I haven't seen before--"

Kaoru growled.

"--and in massive quantities, too." He finished saying.

Kaoru snorted, pushing past the arrogant self-imposed bodyguard. "Let's go."

"You lead I follow," muttered Sanosuke.

I'd like to lead him off this planet, thought Kaoru as she picked up her gait. The man has been nothing but a nuisance since the Shuei Gumi decided he would be her "bodyguard." If only there was a way I could...no it's not going to do me any good thinking in 'if onlys.' I have to do something...but what?

"Oi Kaoru," called a young voice. "Hurry up."

Kaoru glanced up to see Yahiko standing near the gate with his training shinai strapped firmly to his small back. He was dressed properly this time, wearing his yellow and green hakama and gi. "I'm moving as quickly as possible in this kimono. Why don't you try wearing the kimono next time and see how fast you can move."

"Demo Oneesama," sneered Yahiko. "I'm only thinking of helping you. If you would move faster, than the less time your beautiful skin would be out in this harsh unsympathetic sun."

"I can tell you greatly care about me," retorted Kaoru. "It's not every brother who cares if their sister has applied sun block."

"Shut up; both of you just shut up," said Sanosuke. "Snipe at each other in the shop; it's too damn hot out here for your bickering."

Yahiko stuck his tongue out at Sanosuke. "Look who's talking...the King of Bickering. You take having fights to a whole new level."

"Tame!!" Sanosuke raised a fist. "You damned brat."

"You lame-ass goon," replied Yahiko, his body braced for impact.

Kaoru quickly moved between the two. "Stop it, right now; I'm already late shop, so let's go. I don't want to give those idiots at the Shuei Gumi reasons to meet with me again."

Sanosuke gave a curt nod and mouthed to Yahiko: One day soon...he motioned between the two of them.

In return, Yahiko dragged this thumb across his throat in a cutting gesture.

Kaoru opened the gate. "And no gesturing either!"

oooooooooooooooooorrrooooooooooooooooo

Kawaji glanced around the area guardedly before he spoke into this walkie-talkie. "She's late. She is usually not this late. Are you sure she wasn't waylaid by the Shuei Gumi?"

"No," came the garbled response. "The lookout spotted her moving from her dojo. She should make a connection with our man in five minutes."

"The hell!" screamed Saitou over the walkie-talkies. "Why the hell should I wear this outfit? What the fuck is wrong with this town?"

A loud snicker came over the secured airway. "Saitou you look great in that traditional hakama and gi. I envy that you get to wear it."

Saitou snapped out another harsh expletive at the voice.

"Now, now, Saitou, I don't believe people in the Meji era spoke such words."

"Then you should study your history more Battousai," retorted Saitou.

Kenshin smiled and shrugged at the looks he received at the nickname. "Yeah, the legendary fighter was an ancestor of mine; don't let Saitou's naming of me awe you." Kenshin slanted a look at his rival. "Saitou probably didn't tell anyone that not only is he named after the third captain of the Shinsen Gumi Saitou Hajime--he's a descendant of him, too."

Heads swiveled toward Saitou giving him a speculative glance.

Saitou growled; the inquiring heads swiftly returned to their business.

Kenshin choked back his laughter. "To answer your question Saitou--about what you're wearing--the town of Shimatachi has deep roots in the Meji era, they have passed a city ordinance that all people operating in the city must use the Meji dress code when on the street. Call it ambiance. Visitors are not expected to comply; however, we want to you to blend in."

"So you're telling me that I have to dress in this ridiculous style because this town can't let go of the Meji era?" Saitou let out a growl. "This is bullshit!"

"Hmm, I believe you gave up smoking too soon, Saitou."

"I can't believe that you can laugh at such a thing, Battousai, if it wasn't for our damn government we wouldn't have to partake in this farce. Damnit we had Shishio!"

Kenshin's violet eyes darkened. "I know Saitou, I know. However, since we are civil servants we clean up our country's mess."

"Yeah, we're goddamn custodians of justice," Saitou muttered. "Let's get this charade started."

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End. Ch. 2. Created [03/30/02] and Finished [11/23/03]. This isn't where I planned to end this chapter, but I didn't want it to be too long. Please send all comments, question, criticisms, and flames to me at pmchivashotmail.com. Shishou M.

Warnings from the Afterlife:

Ack! I had this chapter sitting with me for a year and didn't even post it. I didn't know, I didn't know.

::starts sobbing::: Okay, I feel better, now. :-)

I use to have () for my scene breakers, but now Fanfiction.net won't allow me to use them.