PRETTY BOYS
Story by QueenYokozuna

[scenes 31-38]


(31) INT.  SAITOU'S BEDROOM -- MORNING

In stark contrast to the night before, the room this morning is awash 
in the first blush of morning light.

Partially bathed in the sunshine are the nude figures of Saitou and 
Sanosuke, molded together on the bed.  They lie on their right side, 
the younger man curled up in the embrace of the older one, with not a 
single sheet laid over them to hide the intimate picture they make.

CU of Sano, his right cheek slowly rubbing itself on the immaculately 
white cotton bedspread.  His long lashes curl upward to give his 
chocolate eyes access to the light.  He lazily blinks, before cracking 
a lazy smile.

In one nimble movement he gets up, slipping himself easefully out of 
the circle of Saitou's arms.

As Sano vacates his place on the bed for the bathroom just across, 
Saitou cracks open his eyes, and in secret assays the young man.

His back turned to us, we devote our full attention to Sano's buck-
naked, gingerly-walking form from Saitou's POV.

Saitou smirks at this until Sano disappears into the bathroom, leaving 
the door ajar.

As we hear the running and hosing and splashing of water from the 
bathroom in the BG, Saitou touches his nose down to the rumpled covers 
-- to the spot beside him where Sano has laid -- and gives it a long 
snuff.  His eyelids ease down to a slow close, and his lips give in to 
a slow part.

The room settles down in silence for a full two seconds, before it gets 
shattered by the flush of the toilet in the BG.

Saitou's lips come together for a littler smirk.

A short while later Sano finds his way back to his place on the bed, 
molding his body curled up once again into Saitou's embrace.

At this point Saitou stirs, lifting his lids.  He unwraps his arms off 
Sano and starts to slither himself out of the bed.

		SANO:
		(near-panicky)
		Where're you going?

		SAITOU:
		(half-yawns)
		Bathroom.

		SANO:
		Oh.
		(relaxes)
		Hurry up.

Saitou marches straight towards his destination, his bare soles quiet 
and easy over the coffee-brown floor.

His back turned to us, we feast our eyes on Saitou's buck-naked, 
proudly-walking form from Sano's POV.

Then, the instant Saitou taps the door shut behind him, Sano rolls over 
to touch his nose down to the rumpled covers -- to the spot beside him 
where Saitou has laid -- and gives it a long snuff, mimicking *exactly* 
the older man's actions a short while back.

Sano expresses his heart's ease in the form of a broad smile.  Sealing 
his upper and lower lashes together, he lies on his back, limbs flung 
here and there.

The bathroom door sways open right that same moment, allowing Saitou to 
come strolling out with his left, cupped hand moving up and down over 
his crotch.

From Saitou's vantage POV, we drink in the sight of Sano laid spread 
out stretched out unfurled without inhibitions on the bed.

Not ceasing his ministrations, Saitou steps up soundlessly towards the 
bed, before climbing carefully onto it.

Sano does nothing to shift in his currently satisfied lie, until Saitou 
kneels between his long legs, pushing and raising the back of the boy's 
knees up to his golden chest.

Sano's eyes rush open, laying bare his surprise.  A cry flees his lips 
the moment Saitou's groin makes rough contact with his exposed behind.

		SANO:
		(gripping Saitou by the arms)
		Wait, you got some lube on?

The only response this succeeds in extracting out of Saitou is a low 
moan.

Saitou lets his eyes drift closed and runs his palms up and down the 
inside of Sano's thighs, pushing shoving thrusting his hips against 
Sano.

Sano yelps, biting down his growing distress into his knuckles.

		SANO:
		(grimacing)
		Not too hard, Saitou -- ouch!

Saitou gives not the slightest indication that he hears Sano, or is 
even listening to him altogether.  He just pounds his bent, kneeling 
self harder, which in turn causes Sano to cry out louder.

		SANO:
		(toughly)
		Take it easy, will ya?!

But Saitou does the complete opposite, ramming mad into Sano like he 
was ill-equipped to control his actions.

		SANO:
		Saitou?!  Saitou!!

CU of Saitou moaning and violently rocking themselves together, and 
even... baring his fangs... if we aren't just imagining it.

CU of Sano's clenched right fist, anger flowing through its bulging 
purple veins.

Then:

Courtesy of that same fist, Sano express-delivers a punch straight 
smackdab into Saitou's jaw.

		SANO:
		(at the acme of his lungs)
		OW MY /HAND/!!!

Saitou's rocking comes to a forced halt.  Looking in no way fazed by 
the punch, he pries open his eyes to give the boy beneath him a 
malevolent glare.

Sano massages his right hand, alternately grimacing and scowling at the 
man on top of him, but otherwise too concerned over his knuckles to 
give a shit if Saitou hits him back or not.

His glare softening to some degree, the man now lets go of Sano's 
knees, and stretches his legs out to lay them astride him.

Then, slipping his right hand behind that spiky head, he brings Sano up 
to himself, and smothers the scowl on his young face with a probing, 
infinite kiss.

Into which Sano moans, succumbing to the persistent caress in spite of 
himself.

After a minute or two, Saitou takes hold of Sano's right hand into his 
left.  He breaks loose from Sano's lips, curls the boy's fingers into a 
ball, and fixes a solid kiss on his knuckles.

A gasp-like sound squeaks its way out of Sano.

		SAITOU:
		(hiding his smirk behind Sano's fist)
		That was one hell of a jab, you stupid shit.

		SANO:
		(cracking a dumb smile)
		It was?

Letting Sano's inclined back to rest against his right arm, Saitou 
rocks against the young man once more, but this time he takes it nice, 
and easy, and slow.

Sano holds clinging on to the breadth of sinewy strength that is 
Saitou's shoulders, his gaze piercing through the unreachable depths of 
Saitou's own.

CU of Sano's chocolate eyes, *enamored*.

CU of Saitou's golden eyes, *enraptured*.

As his long legs clasp around Saitou, Sano's mouth slowly gravitates 
back towards the man's own, and they exploit each other's passion once 
again with another probing, infinite kiss.

The rocking then builds up, both in pace, and intensity.

They moan out.  Cry out.  Loud.  Together.

We focus on Sano, his head slung back, eyes shut, mouth slackly open.

		SANO:
		(in a gravely scream)
		SAIIITOOOUUU!!!

CU of Sano's right hand in Saitou's left, their long, lean fingers 
united in bone-crushing interlacement.

		(OS) Toiled breathing of the two men.

Sano reclines to let Saitou stretch himself out all over him.

Still a little breathless though they are, the couple manage to 
exchange smirks.

Then:

		SAITOU:
		(staring at a random spot on Sano's face)
		Leave Shishio.

		SANO:
		(blinks)
		What?

		SAITOU:
		And live with me.

		SANO:
		(brows soaring to new heights)
		Say what?!

		SAITOU:
		(grunts)
		Idiot.
		(rolls his sluggish self over and lies on his back, 
		drawing down his eyelids)

		SANO:
		(laying the side of his face on Saitou's chest)
		Hey, aren't you going to work today?

		SAITOU:
		(grasping a tousled lock of spikes in his fist)
		Aa.  Wake me up in half an hour.
		(pause)
		Then I'll think about it.

The image of pristine joy that is Sano closes his eyes, hugging his 
sexy make-shift pillow to himself the way a little girl would her new 
doll.


(32) INT.  SANOSUKE'S APARTMENT -- NIGHT

Snapping the door shut behind him, Sanosuke steps inside the dusky 
living room.  The glittering neon Tokyo skyline is creeping halfway 
across the black space.

He flicks on the artsy chandelier.  Which brings to light the goofy 
smile on his face, and the faraway look in his eyes.

He shambles further inside.  Heads directly for the black kitchen.  
Switches on the light.  Saunters towards the far corner near the 
cooking area.  Stands facing that corner.

		(OS) Zipper opening.  Crumpled paper and crushed 
		tin cans receiving a long dribble of... we'll find 
		out in a moment.

We get a CU of Sano's face showing signs of gradual awakening to the 
conscious world.  His eyes take a plunge down. 

		SANO:
		(yelping)
		Holy /shit/!  I just took a leak right into the 
		trash!

		GOON 1:
		(OS)
		And so you did.

Instantly Sano zips his pants up and spins about.

In the kitchen doorway stand two muscular GOONS, their pecs nearly 
popping out of their impressively-pressed black suits.  Their lips are 
etched in toothy smirks, with well-kept moustaches spread on top.

		SANO:
		(naturally furious)
		Who the /fuck/ are you and how'd you get in here?!

		GOON 2:
		(sticks out his lower lip)
		Aren't we feisty.

		SANO:
		(edgy)
		What the fuck do you want?!

		GOON 2:
		(in a business-like tone)
		Just come with us and we won't hurt you.

		SANO:
		(snorts)
		I don't think so, dumbfucks.

Right on cue, Goon 1 and Goon 2 pull out their shiny-as-coin pistols 
from inside their suits, and aim their muzzles in target at Sano.

		GOON 1:
		(smirks wider)
		Still think not?

Sano gulps, his figure reduced to a mortared statue on the kitchen 
floor.


(33) INT.  SOUJIRO'S STUDY -- NIGHT

Medium shot of Soujiro seated at his desk, his back turned to us, 
talking on a wireless, wafer-thin phone.

		SOUJIRO:
		(casually)
		Where is this place?

Pause.

CU of the sterling silver teddy bear hanging still from his left 
earring.

		SOUJIRO:
		Alright, I got it.

CU of Soujiro's airy blue eyes.

He replaces the receiver down in its cradle.  Then stands.  Then grabs 
his blue denim jacket to put on over his pale blue long-sleeved shirt 
and white cotton slacks.  And then finally heads straight for the door.  
All in a casual kind of a hurry.


(34) INT.  SHISHIO MANSION (PARLOR) -- NIGHT

Against one of the elaborately- lavishly- gaudily-ornate walls of the 
great parlor sit Senkaku and Cho, playing a carefree game of cards at a 
small, round golden table.

Soujiro comes up from across the parlor, and with nary a glance 
saunters right past the two men, towards the imposing, glass-stained-
embellished front doorway.

		SENKAKU:
		(glancing over a mountain of shoulder)
		Going somewhere, Soujiro?

		SOUJIRO:
		(glances back with a cheerful smile)
		Oh, just meeting Sanosuke for a little date.

		SENKAKU:
		(eyebrow cocks)
		At this time of night?

		SOUJIRO:
		(shrugs, still smiling)
		Why not?

		CHO:
		(peers up from his cards)
		Hey ya want us to come?

		SOUJIRO:
		(politely)
		No.

And without another word more, Soujiro heads stepping out the front 
door.

		SENKAKU:
		(turning calmly back to his cards)
		Soujiro's out to hurt someone again.

		CHO:
		(eyebrows arching)
		Huh?  How'd you know?

		SENKAKU:
		(smirks)
		I've been his bodyguard since he was a little kid, 
		I'm supposed to know these things by now at a glance.

		CHO:
		Really?
		(ponders shortly)
		We better follow him, then.

		SENKAKU:
		(gives head a brief shake)
		No, he'll be all right.

And without any further discussion, the two bodyguards carry on their 
little card game.

After a couple seconds, Cho mops his pale brow, his olive eyes 
seemingly staring *through*, not at, his deal of cards.

		SENKAKU:
		(glimpsing from behind his cards) 
		I'm waiting, Cho.

		CHO:
		(bringing his cards down)
		Y'know what, Senkaku?

		SENKAKU:
		Huh?  What?

		CHO:
		(wrinkles his nose)
		I can smell something fishy here...yeah it stinks 
		like hell.  Something's up with those boys.

		SENKAKU:
		Whatever it is, I'm sure they can handle it.  
		Just relax, will you?

		CHO:
		(starts to stand)
		I can't.  I better call my boy.


(35) INT.  POLICE DEPARTMENT -- NIGHT

Saitou is at his desk busy with paperwork and cigarettes, seemingly 
oblivious of the hustle and bustle around the office.

Kenshin walks up to the side of his desk, but Saitou doesn't bother to 
raise his head.

		KENSHIN:
		Someone just called in to report his roommate's
		kidnapping.  Claims the victim is Sagara Sanosuke.

		SAITOU:
		(narrowed eyes shoot up to Kenshin)
		What?

		KENSHIN:
		(nods)
		The caller said he was on his way in to his 
		apartment building when he saw two men he didn't 
		know dragging Sagara into a white Mercedes.
		(raises a little piece of paper)
		It's good at least he got the license plate number.

		SAITOU:
		Where did --
		
A shrill ring from his desk phone cuts off Saitou's words.  The man 
grabs the beige handset, quite nearly ripping its wire off.

		SAITOU:
		(half-growls into the mouthpiece)
		What?

		CHO:
		(from the phone)
		Hey, Detective Saitou.  Cho here, remember me?

In the BG, we catch Kenshin now at his desk, sitting hunched over his 
computer.

		SAITOU:
		(to the point)
		What do you want?

		CHO:
		(tone urgent, from the phone)
		I learned this from my boy's roommate just now.  
		I think Sanosuke may've been --

		SAITOU:
		Kidnapped, yes.  We just learned ourselves.

		CHO:
		(from the phone)
		We've been tryin' to contact Soujiro but his in-car 
		phone's off.  Think the reason he took off a little 
		while ago's to get my boy --

		SAITOU:
		(firmly)
		You just stay there and wait for calls, alright.  
		We're going after them.

And Saitou promptly hangs up.

CU of his scowl, dark and heavy with wrath.


(36) INT.  PRIVATE LIBRARY -- NIGHT  

Books, books, and books abound the thick, oaken shelves of the ample-
sized, window-less room.  With the aid of the luminous golden light 
from the classy chandelier, we can descry an array of titles such as 
"The Art of War," "Duality of Man," "The Little Prince," and the like.

Placed in the center of the room is a long, burgundy-red leather sofa, 
on which currently sits a surly-faced Sanosuke.  His boots are perched 
carelessly on top of the furbished coffee table, his arms folded before 
him, his upper lip turned upward in a snarly curl.

He retains his stiff, unmoving position on the couch, until the door to 
the side of the room creaks open.

		GOON 2:
		(OS)
		Inside.

Sano sits up to look towards the door, not knowing what to expect.  The 
cross look on his face thins out at the glowing sight of a smiling 
Soujiro making his grand entrance.
		
		SOUJIRO:
		Sanosuke!  Thank God you're okay.

		SANO:
		(flails arms)
		Soujiro, what in the hell are you doing here?!

		SOUJIRO:
		They asked me to come for you, so I did.

		SANO:
		(incredulous)
		What?!  How could you fall for that crap?!

		GOON 2:
		(in the doorway, shaking his pistol at the boys)
		My boss will see you two shortly.  I'm keeping 
		guard here till then.

		SOUJIRO:
		(turns to Goon 2)
		Hold on.

		GOON 2:
		(stops short)
		What?

		SOUJIRO:
		May we know at least who your boss is?

		GOON 2:
		You'll find --

		SANO:
		 -- out shortly, yeah yeah.
		(grunts)
		I've been asking him that the past hour.

Goon 2 gives out a grunt of his own, before closing the door finally 
and locking the boys up inside.

		SOUJIRO:
		(steps up to the sofa)
		You've been here for an hour now?

Sano leans sideways facing Soujiro, his form easing up visibly in the 
sofa.

		SANO:
		Yeah, and bored outta my mind.
		(rolls eyes)
	
		SOUJIRO:
		(takes a seat beside Sano)
		Hmm...I wonder what this might be all about.

		SANO:
		Did you tell anyone?

		SOUJIRO:
		(shakes head)
		No, I couldn't risk it.  They threatened to hurt you. 
		
		SANO:
		(sighs)
		Jeezuz, Soujiro, ya didn't have to worry 'bout my 
		ass, y'know.  So now we've got /both/ our asses 
		to worry 'bout, how d'you like that?

		SOUJIRO:
		(smiles confidently)
		Oh, I'm sure we'll come out of this all right.

		SANO:
		Well we better, before Mr. Shishio finds out and 
		goes ballistic.
		(shudders)
		
		SOUJIRO:
		Don't you worry, I've a feeling that whoever's 
		behind this is aware of that fact, too.  Oh by 
		the way...
		(with an impish smile)
		How did your little visit with Mr. Saitou go, huh?

		SANO:
		That?
		(grins, suppressing a giggle)
		It worked out pretty cool.

		SOUJIRO:
		(grins back)
		I can tell -- you're not in jail.  What happened?

		SANO:
		(smacks lips)
		Heh, I'll tell y'all 'bout it later.  Hey and 
		guess what, I didn't kill the pig after all.

		SOUJIRO:
		You didn't?  What do you mean?

		(OS) Door swinging open.

Sano and Soujiro turn to see a rather stout man in a neat tuxedo, 
bounding in the room to join them.  It takes us very little effort to 
note that he looks pretty much an *exact* replica of Fat Man, perhaps 
just 20 years younger.  Hence, we appropriately designate him the name 
FAT MAN JUNIOR.

		SANO:
		(in a little voice, to Soujiro)
		This is pretty /freaky/, man.  He looks like a 
		fucking clone of Ozeki.

The door closes behind Fat Man Junior, who now takes on a calm gait 
over to his two cautious companions.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(his face swelling with glee)
		Ah, the pictures don't lie, after all.

		SANO:
		(voice rising a tad, to Soujiro)
		What pictures is he talking about?

Fat Man Junior settles his wide bottom on one side of the coffee table 
-- of the apparently *very* durable coffee table -- sitting there just 
two or three feet away across Sano and Soujiro.  He rests a flabby hand 
on each rounded knee; his pair of highly-pleased eyes on the young, 
waiting pair.

		SOUJIRO:
		(mildly curious)
		We couldn't help noticing the resemblance.  Are 
		you related to Mr. Ozeki, in any way?

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(bobs head)
		How perceptive of you.  I just happen to be 
		his eldest.

		SANO:
		(in a more-than-displeased tone)
		That sure is delightful.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(looking slighted, to Sano)
		How cold and impolite.  You've heard of my 
		father's recent death already, I'm sure.  You 
		could've offered me your condolences at the least.

		SANO:
		(raises hands in mock apology)
		Oh I'm sorry, were you supposed to be grieving?  
		From the awfully large grin you had all over your 
		mug just now, I wouldn't have guessed you'd 
		actually just lost your old man two days ago.

		SOUJIRO:
		(bares his braces)
		Besides, shouldn't you be rather busy mourning 
		at this time, instead of holding people captive?

Fat Man Junior breaks out in soundless laughter, giving the boys due 
cause to cock dubious eyebrows.   

		SANO:
		(trying to exercise restraint)
		Look, fathead, just spare us the shit and spit 
		out what you have to spit out /now/.  Like first 
		off what in the hell we're here for.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(with a grin still wrapped around his lips)
		Very well.  I suppose I might as well get down 
		to the point already, since you're apparently 
		in no mood for small talk.
		(begins to reach from inside his tux)
		I was poking around my father's belongings last 
		night -- I was helping the maids clear up his room, 
		you see...and, I found a stack of pictures like 
		this in a well-concealed box.

Fat Man Junior holds up before Sano and Soujiro the picture he's just 
flipped out of his tuxedo.

A scarlet rush of blood taints Soujiro's snowy cheeks.
		
		SANO:
		(face drained of color)
		That's...not...us.

We zoom in to the photograph in question: on a bed, we see Soujiro 
sitting sideways on Sano's lap... both boys giving the camera their 
ultimate *chez!* smiles... and donning nothing but a pair of tight... 
lacy... pink... *panties*.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(avidly)
		I want you to do something like this for me.

		SOUJIRO:
		(as if in a daze)
		What do you mean, /do something like that for you/?

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(gazes fondly at the picture in his flabby hand)
		I want you two boys to look cute for my camera.  
		In my daughter's favorite line of girls' underwear.

		SANO:
		(sounds a bit like he's choking)
		Are you outta your goddam perverted mind?!

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(feigning another slighted look)
		If you were able to do it for my father, I see 
		no reason why you can't for me.

		SANO:
		But, but that was different --
		
		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		I'm willing to pay twice as much, and even add 
		a meaty bonus if you give me your word you won't 
		tell anyone about this.

		SOUJIRO:
		(eeks out a dread-filled chuckle)
		Eh, I'm afraid you'll have to speak to Mr. Houji 
		first, at any rate.  It's SOP, sorry.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(purses lips)
		That is totally out of the question!  The reason 
		I've brought you here is precisely to do away 
		with your middlemen.  I want no one to know of 
		this outside us three.

		SOUJIRO:
		Uh --

		SANO:
		(frowns)
		Wait a goddam minute.  I had my ass hauled all 
		the way here, just to pose for you in girly 
		underpants?!

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(nods more than eagerly)
		Easy as pie, isn't it?

		SANO:
		(slaps his thigh, turning to Soujiro)
		Man I'm feeling like /shit/ting all over this 
		dumbfuck right now.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(rigidly)
		I have had just about enough of your rudeness, 
		young man.

In a move totally unforeseen, Fat Man Junior sticks out a small 
automatic from his tux and points it at the two boys, giving them 
enough of a scare and causing them to jerk back in turn.

		SANO:
		Easy, man.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(his pleased grin making a comeback)
		Now.  Do I have to --

The door slams open just then, startling all three of the room's 
occupants.  Goon 2 stands in the doorway cocking a rifle, seemingly 
ready to open fire.

		GOON 2:
		(alarmed)
		Boss, a car just rammed through the gates and's 
		now tearing across the grounds for the house.  
		Think it might be cops.

		FAT MAN JUNIOR:
		(incensed)
		Well what the hell are you still doing there, 
		you idiot?!  Go out and take care of the bastards!

Goon 2 dutifully whips away.

Sano and Soujiro exchange are-you-thinking-what-I'm-thinking glances.

Just as Fat Man Junior snaps his attention back to the boys, Sano 
lunges forward and gives him a straight elbow chop to the chin.

The poor Ozeki heir keels over the coffee table from the impact.  His 
automatic firearm flies in the air, and lands straight in Soujiro's 
waiting hands.

Sano kicks at the inert, capsized form of the chubby man on the floor, 
checking for any reaction.

		SANO:
		(simpers)
		Good.  He's out.

		SOUJIRO:
		(beams)
		Way to go, Sanosuke.
		(cocks the loaded automatic)
		Let's head out, shall we?

		SANO:
		(snatching the picture from Fat Man Junior's grasp)
		I'm with ya.

		(OS) Rattle of gun shots coming from downstairs.

Together Sano and Soujiro make a dash out of the library.

CUT TO:


(37) INT.  GROUND FLOOR PARLOR -- NIGHT

Full shot of Sanosuke and Soujiro streaking down the grand staircase.  
Upon reaching the bottom, they skid to a full stop, faces lighting up 
at the sight right ahead of them.

FAST CUT TO:

Full shot of the open front double doors, with the glorious full moon 
in the BG holding sway over the scene.

We look upon there, standing before the fallen, wasted bodies of Goon 1 
and Goon 2... the splendid, glowing figures of our heroes... Saitou and 
Kenshin.

CU of Kenshin's warm smile, intended for Soujiro.

CU of Saitou's hot smirk, intended for Sano.

CUT TO:

		SANO:
		(*elated*)
		Dammit, Soujiro.  I'm in love.

		SOUJIRO:
		(*elated*)
		Tell me about it.
		
In SLOW-MO, full shot of our two boys racing over to glomp their 
respective lovers.

FADE TO BLACK

Then:

FADE IN:


(38) INT.  CAFE -- DAY

At the long bar sit Saitou, Sanosuke, Soujiro and Kenshin, from left to 
right respectively, talking over their steaming cups of coffee. 

		KENSHIN:
		It's a good thing we were able to convince the 
		confectionery owner to testify against Ozeki's 
		son.  He's actually one of her long-standing 
		patrons.

		SOUJIRO:
		Hmm, he should've realized there's only one 
		store in town where you can get those kinds 
		of cookie sandwiches.  He's not a very careful man.

		SAITOU:
		(snorts)
		Much like the father, I must say.

		SANO:
		What about the poison, though, can you trace that 
		to the son too? 

		SAITOU:
		Aa, we've already secured a good lead on that. 
		The only thing left for us now, is find the 
		property documents he'd done his father in for.

		SANO:
		Is that why he was searching through Ozeki's 
		things?  'Cos he was trying to find those 
		documents?

		KENSHIN:
		Aa.

		SOUJIRO:
		(chuckles apprehensively)
		Oh, I just hope nobody finds any more of our 
		pictures in there.

		KENSHIN:
		(smiles brightly)
		Don't worry about it.  We'll make sure no one 
		gets their hands on them.

		SANO:
		(sighs, relieved)
		Thanks.

		(OS) SCHOOLGIRLS giggling.

Sano and Soujiro sneak a glance over their shoulders.

At a table just behind the bar sit four girls, all in full high school 
uniform regalia, sharing a rosy-faced giggle and batting lashes at the 
two young men.

		SANO:
		(with a broad smile)
		Damn!  You, Soujiro, are really one hell of a 
		chick magnet.

		SOUJIRO:
		(braces twinkling)
		Not as much as you, Sanosuke.

The girls giggle in harmony at this little exchange.

		SCHOOLGIRLS:
		(near-swooning)
		Kireiii... Kawaaaiiiii...  Pretty... Cuuuuute!

Kenshin turns away from his coffee cup, and pivots a little in his seat 
to glance back at the delighted girls.

He cracks a beguiling little smile.

Then, on offhand, the redhead places a hand on the back of Soujiro's 
head, draws the gasping boy to himself, and locks him in a thorough 
kiss.

Right in the presence of the four schoolgirls.

Who can do nothing now but gawk, and probably feel sorry for 
themselves.

Sano goes off in snickering laughter.  He turns to Saitou, who appears 
to be calmly drinking his coffee.

		SANO:
		(simpering)
		Well?  Don't ya think you should kiss me too?

		SAITOU:
		Hn.

		SANO:
		(frowns immediately)
		What do you mean, "Hn?"

Saitou lays his cup down coolly on the counter, before grabbing Sano by the 
hand.  With Kenshin and Soujiro now all over each other, the man 
abandons his seat and shows the baffled spiky-haired boy the way out of 
the cafe.

		SAITOU:
		You must be joking.
		(ghost of a smirk)
		I've got better things in mind than just kissing 
		you before a bunch of stupid girls.

A grin cuts across Sano's face, and it nearly cracks open his head in 
half.

Full shot of our tall lovers, their backs to us, walking hand in hand 
out the cafe to go somewhere and do something that is -- too bad for us 
-- for their eyes only.

Drats.

FADE TO BLACK


THE END


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