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Chapter 7 - Encounters
"What are we going to do, Hotohori-sama?" Nuriko whispered urgently. "We must escape and locate the others. What resources do we possess?" Nuriko was reasonably certain that the ropes they had tied him with wouldn't stand up long under his strength, but just getting untied was the least of their problems. "I think I could break these ropes if I tried, Heikka, but how do we get out of here once I do? And what about Amiboshi-kun and Suboshi-kun? We can't leave them here." "I agree," replied Hotohori. "I think-" he cut himself off sharply as Soi entered the tent, carrying two steaming bowls. She gave them a frigid, measuring look, then placed the bowls in front of them. "If I untie you two so you can eat, will you behave yourselves?" she asked mockingly. "Or shall I feed you myself?" "That will not be necessary," said Hotohori in his deep, majestic voice. "We will behave ourselves, as you put it." Soi smirked and knelt behind Hotohori to untie the ropes around his arms. Nuriko shot him an intense, questioning look, but he shook his head minutely, but sharply. The strong Seishi settled back slightly, nodding his intention to obey. A moment later, Hotohori was rubbing his freed wrists gratefully while Soi moved on to Nuriko's bonds. With infinite grace, as though he were not the prisoner of a man who had tried to take over his country, and sitting on the floor in a tent, he raised his chopsticks in one hand, and the bowl in the other. When Nuriko was free, he did the same, shooting a haughty glance through his long lashes at Soi. Soi sat near the door, smirking superiorly and ignoring the Suzaku Seishi's attempts to out-regal her. Little was said throughout their primitive meal. When the Seishi had finished, Soi efficiently rebound them again. Hotohori suffered the treatment in silence, trying to remember anything he knew about rope escape tactics. Unfortunately, his knowledge in that area was woefully lacking. He had simply never needed to know something like that. Even that brief period with the Mt. Leikkaku bandits had given him few opportunities to explore the practical aspects of being tied up, and he certainly hadn't had a chance to attempt to develop escape tactics. Given that Nuriko was strong enough to break the ropes anyway, however, he didn't worry too much about it. When Soi had given their bonds a final tug - which elicited a grunt from Nuriko, who glared balefully at her as the woman crossed to the exit - she took the bowls and left without another word. Nuriko milked the baleful glare for all it was worth, then turned his violet gaze to Hotohori again. "What were you about to say, Hotohori-sama?" he said adoringly, as though the interruption had never occurred. Hotohori was startled for a moment and was forced to think back for a few seconds before he could recall. "Ah, yes. I was going to say, I think we should attempt to include Suboshi and Amiboshi in any escape plans we may have. In fact, it may be best to simply wait until they come to us with information. We have no idea where we are, or how to get back to the city. Hopefully Suboshi and Amiboshi will be able to find out, and then we will be able to escape." "I suppose that's best, Hotohori-sama," Nuriko said. Then he rolled his eyes skyward. "But I'm going to be incredibly *bored* until then!"
Kenshin, Chichiri, and Chiriko walked down the busy Tokyo street, headed for the main police station. Tasuki, Sanosuke, Kaoru, and Yahiko had been recruited to search for Hotohori and Nuriko, though no one was particularly confident that they would be found. Chichiri felt the truth he feared in his heart: that the Emperor and his companion had run afoul of the Seiryuu Seishi. With that in mind, Mitsukake and Megumi had remained behind at the Kamiya dojo both to hold down the fort in case anyone wandered there, and so that they would be in an easily-locatable place in case anyone got hurt. The group chosen to locate Saitou had been picked for purely practical reasons. Kenshin was obvious: someone from this world had had to go, because they were the only ones who knew their way around. Chiriko had elected to go, since he was the youngest and most defenseless and therefore most vulnerable to attack from the Seiryuu Seishi, and because Saitou had seemed to take a liking to him. Chichiri had been chosen to go because, in the absence of Tamahome and Hotohori, he seemed to have fallen into the role of the leader of the Suzaku Seishi. He ferverently hoped that *that* situation wouldn't persist for much longer. They arrived at the police station with Kenshin leading the way. The diminutive swordsman walked up to the imposing building without hesitation, smiling gaily at the police officers he passed. More than a few met his gaze and quickly looked away, flushing in what looked like embarrassment. Inside the building, Kenshin cheerily hailed a man in a more elaborate blue uniform than the rest. "Kawaji-dono! May I speak to you for a moment de gozaru ka?" The man was as short as Kenshin himself, with a round face and a small moustache. His face twisted with an odd combination of irritation and hope when he caught sight of the Rurouni. He approached the trio quickly, sparing only disinterested glances at Chichiri and Chiriko. "Himura-san! Have you agreed to-" "Anou, sumane, Kawaji-dono," Kenshin interrupted apologetically. "I haven't come to talk to you about that. However, what I have come about is just as important - maybe more so de gozaru." Kawaji looked taken aback by that, as though he couldn't imagine what could be more important than whatever he'd been referring to. "Well," he said slowly. "Anything that important… Uh, I'll offer whatever help I am capable of, of course, Himura-san." "Actually, if you could only tell me where Saitou Hajime is, we probably won't have to bother you any further about it de gozaru." Now Kawaji seemed to smell a rat. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You *want* to find Saitou Hajime?" "Hai de gozaru." Chichiri decided to hurry things along, so he nodded in agreement. This, unfortunately, only seemed to attract the short police chief's attention and he turned a glare on the Seishi. "And who are these people, Himura-san?" "Anou, they are related to the little problem at hand de gozaru, but it's not important who they are right now de gozaru." Kawaji shifted his glare to Kenshin again. "Oh, now it's a 'little' problem, is it? Well, if you say it's not important, Himura-san, I have no choice but to believe you," he said in exaggeratedly polite language. He shook his head and seemed to mentally throw up his hands in disgust. "Saitou Hajime should be patrolling the west end of the city today, but what do I know? I have no idea what goes through that blasted man's head, and I certainly don't seem to be able to *control* what he does." "I suspect," Chiriko said brightly, if not particularly wisely, "that few can control Saitou-san's actions." He bowed deeply, a cute figure in his Chinese robes. "Arigatou gozaimashita, Kawaji-san. You have been a great help." Kawaji grunted, but made a little bow back, as though he couldn't restrain the impulse, then he turned back to Kenshin. "Is there anything else I can help you with today, Himura-san?" "No thank you, Kawaji-dono. Though, if Saitou *does* come back, please tell him we are looking for him, and that it is somewhat urgent de gozaru yo." "I'll be sure to. Good day, Himura-san." "Good day, Kawaji-dono." They left the police station, feeling vaguely lucky to have escaped. Kenshin turned west and they started heading down a side street towards the area where Kawaji had told them Saitou could be found. They hadn't gone more than five steps, however, before a disturbingly familiar voice floated out of a nearby alley towards them. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Battousai. I hear that you are looking for me?" Kenshin's stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes bugged out of his head. "Oro?" The lanky figure of Saitou Hajime emerged languidly from the alley, flicking a lit cigarette onto the ground. "Wipe that stupid look off your face. I said, 'I hear you're looking for me'." "Where did you hear that no da?" "I happened to overhear your discussion on the subject last night." "Nani?!" exclaimed Chichiri and Kenshin simultaneously. "You were watching us last night, Saitou-san?" asked Chiriko innocently. "It's a good thing Sano didn't come with us de gozaru," said Kenshin. "He would have pounded you into the ground for this de gozaru." Saitou smirked. "He would have *tried*." | |
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|Chapter 1| |Chapter 2| |Chapter 3| |Chapter 4| |Chapter 5| |Chapter 6| |Chapter 7| |