PRETTY BOYS
Story by QueenYokozuna

[scenes 15-18]


(15) EXT.  SHISHIO ESTATE (GARDEN) -- AFTERNOON

We pan across a grean ocean of neatly-trimmed lawn surrounded by lush 
flowery trees and bushes.

In the BG lies the derivative, nouveau-riche grandeur of Shishio's 
mansion.

In the FG we see a long white table decked out with an A-to-Z gamut of 
cakes, finger foods, and what-have-you.

Strewn around the garden are about a dozen round tables covered with 
lacy white cloth.  Already half of them are occupied by guests, which 
are made up mainly of men in crisp suits and women in stylish cocktail 
dresses and smocks.  Waiters in snappy uniforms come and go between the 
tables, serving tea.

We see Saitou and Sanosuke come up from the side, strolling together 
across the lawn, hands stuck in their coat pockets.

		SANO:
		(with a wee grin)
		Woah, looks like your partner got an invite, too.

Saitou looks in the direction of Sano's waggling right eyebrow.  By the 
nearest table stand Kenshin and Soujiro, engaged in cheerful chit-chat. 

		SAITOU:
		(smirks)
		Hn.

		SANO:
		(waving)
		Soujiro, hey!

Soujiro and Kenshin turn to look.

		KENSHIN:
		(pleasantly surprised)
		Oro?

		SOUJIRO:
		(braces flashing)
		Hi there, Sanosuke!  You look great!

		SANO:
		Heh, so do you! 

Soujiro is wearing a preppy, long-sleeve ivory shirt buttoned right up 
to the collar, an open powder-blue vest, dark blue riding pants, and 
riding boots.  Kenshin is in his usual suit and navy blue jacket.

Saitou and Sano walk up to the other pair, the younger man three full 
strides ahead of the older one.

		SANO:
		(amiably, to Himura)
		Hiya.

		KENSHIN:
		(just as amiably)
		Hello.

		SANO:
		(to Soujiro, fingering the tiny, metallic blue 
		Hello Kitty dangling from his left earring)
		Been riding again?

		SOUJIRO:
		(nods, beaming)
		I just put on a little exhibition for Mr. 
		Himura, as a matter of fact.

Saitou finally reaches the trio.

		KENSHIN:
		(smiling)
		I wasn't expecting to see you here at all, Saitou.

		SAITOU:
		Hn.

		SOUJIRO:
		(friendly)
		Good afternoon, Mr. Saitou.

Saitou nods curtly in return.

		SANO:
		(rubbing his vest-ed tummy)
		Damn I'm starving.  C'mon y'all, the food's 
		over on the other side.

		SAITOU:
		You go ahead.

		KENSHIN:
		Aa.  We'll just follow you two shortly.

		SANO:
		'Kay, suit yourself.
		(parts with his pea coat to hang on the back 
		of the nearest chair)
		Let's get us some sweets, Soujiro.

		SOUJIRO:
		(weaves fingers with Sano's)
		Be glad to.
		(bows shortly to Kenshin and Saitou)
		Excuse us!

The two boys then saunter away, leaving the two older men to look on 
and follow their every movement with attentive, sticky peepers.

Full shot of the boys' backsides -- tight, snug, and full underneath 
their tight pants.

Saitou and Kenshin swap glances that speak of flowery thoughts, but no 
uttered word passes between them.  Just a knowing smile from the short 
redhead, and a knowing smirk from the tall man.

		SAITOU:
		(eyes now skimming the crowd)
		So where /is/ our infamous host?

		KENSHIN:
		Inside.  Seta says he rarely goes out to see 
		anyone anymore, since the freak accident?  
		Doesn't want to be seen all bandaged-up, I suppose.

		SAITOU:
		Then why throw a party like this in the first place?

		KENSHIN:
		This wasn't Shishio's idea.  It was Houji's, I think.

		SAITOU:
		Houji.
		(snorts)
		Again.

		KENSHIN:
		Again?

		SAITOU:
		Never mind.
		(crosses arms)
		How long have you been here?

		KENSHIN:
		Since morning.  Seta has been very helpful and 
		cooperative, that he has.

		SAITOU:
		Uh-huh?

		KENSHIN:
		He's introduced me to a few guests here who knew 
		Takeda and Shinomori.  I've already drawn most 
		of the info we needed.

		SAITOU:
		Good.

		KENSHIN:
		What did you get out of Sagara?

		SAITOU:
		Plenty.  And a clear motive as far as Shinomori 
		to boot.

		KENSHIN:
		(nodding thoughtfully)
		Seems like those boys have confirmed our suspicion.

		SAITOU:
		Aa.  All evidence point to Shinomori, at any rate.  
		Consider this case closed.

		KENSHIN:
		(sighs)
		I certainly hope so.

A WAITER comes up to them just then, bearing a little white tea set in 
a silver tray.

		WAITER:
		(bows)
		Would you gentlemen like some tea now?

		SAITOU:
		(tersely)
		No.

		KENSHIN:
		(shakes head politely)
		A little later, perhaps.  Thank you.

The Waiter exits.

		(OS) FAT MAN breaking into a *high-pitched* chuckle.

Saitou and Kenshin turn in the direction of the gratuitously loud 
laughter.

By another table a fair distance away from them stand Sano and Soujiro, 
in the company of three middle-aged men in suits.  Two of them are busy 
shooting the breeze with Soujiro, and the third, the chuckling Fat Man, 
with Sano.  Fat Man packs a sizable potbelly.

Sano is leaning back against the back of a chair, his hands gripping 
the top of the backrest.  Fat Man, who's about a head shorter than 
Sano, is standing just a foot or so away before him.  Fat Man has a 
little china plate in hand, filled to capacity with small, pastel-
colored cake slices.

CU of Saitou's eyes narrowing.
	
		SAITOU:
		(stonily)
		You know that man?

		KENSHIN:
		I presume you mean the large one?

		SAITOU:
		Aa.

		KENSHIN:
		No.
		(shrugs)
		He must be an Uncle.

We shift back to Sano and the presumed Uncle, from Saitou and Kenshin's 
POV.

Fat Man erupts into a loud, *high-pitched* chuckle once again, 
apparently humored by the last utterance out of Sano.

From out of nowhere comes Cho in a violet suit, striding over to the 
scene.  Animosity is spelled out all over his mean scowl.  He gives Fat 
Man a tap on the shoulder to get his attention, then growls out a cuss 
or two to his face.  Fat Man shoots him a huffy leer, and growls out a 
sue or two in return.

Sano breaks up the little growling exchange by grabbing Cho by the arm.  
He pulls the blond to himself, and whispers right to his ear.

Appeased now, or at least it seems like it, Cho gives Sano a little 
nod.

With a smile, then, Sano gives Cho a grateful pat on the cheek, and 
then a dismissing pat on the back.  Cho walks away, his pale cheeks 
flushing pink.

Sano and Fat Man resume interacting.

Cho catches sight of Saitou and Kenshin, and promptly stomps his way 
towards them.

		CHO:
		(stopping before the two men)
		Are you two here for the tea, or to spy on 
		Mr. Shishio?

		KENSHIN:
		(smiles, scratching at his head)
		Why, hello yourself.

		SAITOU:
		(flatly, to Cho)
		Who's the jolly rich pig?

		CHO:
		You mean /Ozeki/?
		(seethes)
		Some fucking new Uncle.  A prick from head to 
		hoof, that swollen pervert.  Dunno how the kid 
		could stand that guy anyway.

		SAITOU:
		(almost aloofly)
		What does it concern you who he could stand 
		or not?

		CHO:
		(heatedly)
		I'm his bodyguard, I'm suppose'to watch over his 
		ass, and I don't feel all damn right with that 
		ugly piggy getting anywhere near my boy's ass.

And faster than the rush of adrenaline Cho zips his way past the two 
men.

		KENSHIN:
		(with a lopsided smile)
		Taking his job too personally, I think.

Saitou turns back to Sano and Fat Man, in time to see the corpulent 
Uncle putting a morsel of iced cake into the boy's mouth.  Sano 
willingly lets the proffered cake slip in between his lips.  Along the 
way, Fat Man slides a forefinger inside Sano's mouth, and Sano sucks 
off the icing on that stubby finger without passion, yet without 
protest either.  Fat Man then slides out his finger, his mouth hanging 
open in apparent orgasmic enjoyment.

		KENSHIN:
		(OS)
		I'm getting some canapés, Saitou.  Would you 
		like some?

CU of Saitou's filthy-dark scowl.

		SAITOU:
		(disdainful)
		Anything without pork.


(16) EXT.  SHISHIO ESTATE (GARDEN) -- A LITTLE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON

At a table sit Saitou and Sanosuke on one arc, and Kenshin and Soujiro 
on the arc across.  Saitou has taken off his trench coat, which now 
hangs from the back of his chair.

The table is a colorful sprinkling of: canapés, tiny sandwiches, 
bonbons, biscuits, and a selection of petit fours, served in little 
white china plates.  Majority of them are still untouched.  In the 
center sits a little white tea kettle.

Kenshin and Soujiro are drinking tea, absorbed in pleasant dialogue.  
By the palpable smiles on their faces, it's rather obvious they're 
enjoying each other's company.  And lost in a little world of their 
own, it even seems.

Meanwhile, Saitou and Sano are munching on sugary fruit tarts, the 
general tone of their own conversation though far from sweet.

		SANO:
		(huffed-up)
		Well sorry for trying to get to know you better, 
		guess I forgot the only one allowed here to stick 
		their nose in someone else's personal life is /you/.
		(stuffs half a tart into his mouth and gruffly 
		chews away)

		SAITOU:
		(grunts before taking a bite of his own tart)
		If you want to know me better you can start by 
		refraining from /trying/ to get to know me better.

		SANO:
		(brows furrowed)
		What's so big a deal 'bout telling me where you 
		live anyways?  It's not like I'm planning on 
		coming over or something.

		SAITOU:
		Then why must you know?

		SANO:
		Like I said, I'm just trying to get to know you 
		better.

		SAITOU:
		And like I said, you won't get anywhere by trying.

		SANO:
		(surly)
		Some date you are.

		SAITOU:
		/Date/?
		(snorts)
		
		SANO:
		Jerk.

The grumbling Sano diverts his attention to his filled tea cup, 
snatching a teaspoon from out of nowhere.  In his impetuous haste, 
however, he inadvertently drops the teaspoon to the grass.

Muttering curses, he swoops down to pick up the silver item from under 
the table.  Just before he sits back up, though:

		SANO:
		(softly, eyes doubling in size)
		Holy cow.

Under the table, from Sano's POV, we clap eyes on Kenshin and Soujiro 
slowly, apparently, rubbing their legs against each other.

Sano's eyes make their ascent, and nearly pop out their sockets at the 
sight that seizes them next: Soujiro has his hand placed over Kenshin's 
own, which is -- if our eyes aren't deceiving us -- cupped right over 
Soujiro's crotch.

Incidentally, Kenshin's cupped hand is moving in a deliberate massage.

		SANO:
		(gasping, eyes t_______h_______i_______s wide)
		Wh-What the fffeck...?!

		SAITOU:
		(OS)
		Anything of interest down there?

Startled stunned and dumb-struck Sano springs back up, flashing Saitou 
a brilliant, innocent, I-didn't-see-anything smile.

		SANO:
		(nearly stammering)
		Nothing.
		(delicately places the retrieved teaspoon onto 
		the table)
		I was just...you know...  Tying my boots.
		(chuckles like an idiot)

		SAITOU:
		(stoically)
		Aa.

The man pops the last bit of tart into his mouth, before giving his tea 
a calm stir.

Sano glances over awkwardly to the pair across the table.  Kenshin and 
Soujiro appear utterly rapt in conversation, faces glowing and blooming 
with signs of infatuation.  Eherm.

Just as he wrenches his gaze away from the couple, Sano catches the 
slight tremble of Kenshin's fingers around his tea cup.

His mouth snapping shut, Sano turns to the man beside him for 
distraction.  Saitou is now wiping his mouth spic and span with his 
table napkin.

Sano observes him absently for a moment, before:

		SANO:
		(cracking an encompassing grin)
		Hey, I got somethin' to show you.

Saitou puts his napkin aside onto the table, casting Sano a sidelong 
glance as if to dead-pan, "What is it /now/?"

		SANO:
		(pumped-up)
		Cho's got this real amazing sword collection, man, 
		you oughtta check it out.

		SAITOU:
		(with half-interest)
		Your bodyguard collects swords?

		SANO:
		Yeah, he's a frustrated swordsman or something.  
		Anyways they're all pretty neat.  You'll like 
		'em, trust me.  C'mon, it's inside the house.

		SAITOU:
		In that mansion?

		SANO:
		(starts to stand)
		Yeah.

		SAITOU:
		(as excited as a vegetable)
		Aa.
		(starts to stand up himself)
		Better than sitting here with these two, I suppose.

		SANO:
		(with a thousand-megawatt grin)
		Great.

With nary a glance back, the two head off towards the mansion.

An elephant may come crashing down their table from heaven, for all we 
know, and Kenshin and Soujiro won't likely even notice it.


(17) INT.  SHISHIO'S MANSION -- AFTERNOON

Saitou and Sanosuke enter a fairly largish chamber.  Tall, wide glass 
cabinets line up the walls, parading an arsenal of swords of all shapes 
and sizes.  There are four square, glass-top display tables, likewise, 
placed equidistant from each other on the checker-tiled floor.

Saitou takes a leisurely roam about the room, regarding every sword 
with cool yet quite-impressed eyes.

		SANO:
		See?
		(proudly)
		What did I tell ya.  Cho's got a pretty cool 
		collection, huh?

		SAITOU:
		(stopping to peer through a cabinet)
		Hn.  Not bad.

		SANO:
		(OS)
		That's my favorite, look.

Saitou turns in the direction of Sano's pointing finger and sees: a 
gigantic, long gray sword, with a long, thick wooden handle, resting 
atop one of the cabinets. 

		SAITOU:
		Hmm.  A horse-cutting sword.  Zanbatou.

		SANO:
		Yep.  Awesome, huh?

		SAITOU:
		(apathetic)
		I suppose.

		SANO:
		Hah, it'd take a real man to use a weapon that 
		humongous.

		SAITOU:
		Hn.  You don't judge a /real man/ by the size 
		of his weapon.
		(turns back to the cabinet before him)
		I'd rather go for this.

Sano draws near, and sees the long, thin, glimmering sword Saitou's 
referring to.

		SANO:
		Yeah that'd suit you alright.
		(smirking)
		It's long, it's thin, look at that deadly tip...  
		Heh.

Which in turn causes Saitou to snort.  He rests a hand on the side of 
the wooden frame, leaning slightly forward to take a closer inspection 
of the weapon.

From out of the blue, Sano reaches his fingers out to brush two of the 
four long errant strands before Saitou's face.

Caught just a tad by surprise, Saitou tilts his cool face up to the 
boy.

		SANO:
		(simpering, trying his best to brush the 
		strands back)
		Why d'you keep 'em hanging like this, anyways?

In one swift, impromptu motion, Saitou takes a firm grip of the wrist 
by his face and straightens up before the young man.  Sano lets out a 
breath-pinching gasp in surprise.

They stare ridiculously long into each other's eyes.

CU of Sano's chocolate pair, full of awe and anticipation.

CU of Saitou's golden pair, full of intensity and hunger.

Saitou pulls Sano into himself by the small of the back, then locks him 
in a rough, man-to-man kiss.

Sano's arms wind themselves about Saitou's torso, pressing the older 
man against himself.

Saitou drives Sano back against a cabinet, and as they carry on their 
none-too-gentle locking of lips, they start to grind and mash and crush 
their hips against each other.

CU of thighs rubbing together.  Of Saitou's eagle-clawed grip of Sano's 
right shoulder.  Of Sano's fists clenching as he embraces Saitou 
tighter.  Of open mouths sealed fast in passion.

Saitou breaks the kiss off, hauling Sano by the shoulders away from the 
cabinet.

With both men panting, Saitou then shoves Sano to lie back on the 
nearest table, and then engages him in another kiss as he raises a leg 
up onto the table top, straddling the boy and grinding mashing crushing 
his hips once more against his.

Sano's hands coast down to Saitou's buttocks, cupping their firm 
roundness.

After a not-so-short while, Saitou severs the oral bond between him and 
Sano.

The serene hum of air-conditioning is drowned out by the loud, tedious 
breathing of the two men.

Saitou stares down at the panting young man underneath him, wiping his 
mouth with the back of his hand.  He is yet to stop grinding his hips.

Then:

		SAITOU:
		(in an even tone)
		I don't want anything more to do with you after 
		this.

		SANO:
		Really?
		(simpers in all candor)
		Seems your crotch ain't convinced.

Saitou puts an abrupt stop to his grinding, but doesn't attempt to get 
off his mount.

		SAITOU:
		(sternly)
		Don't be so presumptuous.

		SANO:
		(challenging)
		And why the hell shouldn't I be?

		SAITOU:
		(unflinching)
		I don't need a lover.

		SANO:
		(brows knitting)
		What?

		SAITOU:
		(bluntly)
		I have a wife.  And kids.

		SANO:
		(wincing)
		Shit.

If we strain our ears enough, we might catch the sound of bubble 
bursting in the BG. 

		SAITOU:
		I've better things to spend my money on.

		SANO:
		(brows knitting more tightly)
		What the fuck are you implying?

		SAITOU:
		I can't afford you.

		SANO:
		Suck my dick!  You think I'm something you just 
		/buy/?!

		SAITOU:
		Why don't you ask those rich old men you /pose/ 
		for?

Not with any warning Sano shoves Saitou off him, quite effortlessly so 
as Saitou offers not an iota of resistance.

		SANO:
		(hotly, wipes his lips with the back of his 
		wrist)
		You don't even know the first fucking thing 
		about me, you bastard.

And faster than greased lightning Sano storms out of the room.


(18) EXT.  SHISHIO ESTATE (GARDEN) -- AFTERNOON

Sanosuke stalks the lawn, straight towards the table where Kenshin and 
Soujiro still sit.  He snatches his pea coat from the chair, violently 
so that the chair topples over in the process, then strides over to 
Soujiro.

		SANO:
		(grabbing Soujiro's hand)
		Let's get the hell outta here.

		SOUJIRO:
		(bewildered)
		Why?

		SANO:
		(grumbling)
		I'll tell you later, c'mon.

		SOUJIRO:
		(starting to rise)
		Will you call me tonight, Mr. Himura?

		KENSHIN:
		(though still a little perplexed)
		O-Of course.

		SOUJIRO:
		(beams)
		Bye then.

		KENSHIN:
		Aa.

The two boys take off, with Sano practically dragging Soujiro along by 
the hand.

Kenshin stands, and turns just in time to see Saitou himself stalking 
back towards the table.

		KENSHIN:
		(gesturing at the direction of the boys)
		What brought that on?

Saitou responds with a mere grunt, grabbing his trench coat from the 
back of his chair.

		SAITOU:
		I'm leaving.
		(pause)
		/Fuck/.

		KENSHIN:
		What's wrong?

		SAITOU:
		(grits teeth)
		I came in the kid's car.

		KENSHIN:
		(with an asymmetric smile)
		Don't worry, I'll give you a ride.

CU of Saitou's iron-cast scowl.

		SAITOU:
		(crossly, to himself)
		Idiot.