Well, this will be a drama, but other than that, I have nothing else to say. So enjoy!

"Takasugi-Kun...I love you," I whispered to the one I love.

"I love you too, Kuriko," The joui member replied back as he landed his lips on mine.

He kissed me, and I felt warm by him. But after he drifted the kiss away from my lips, he turned, and went to his friends. They were going to war, and I had hope that he wouldn't get killed during the war.

The sun was shining through my window. Even though my eyelids were twitching, I didn't open my eyes up. But suddenly, I felt small hands pulling my blanket away. Only it didn't completely go off my body, the hands were moving it around, making me move around as well.

I gave out a grunt, and decided to open my eyes. When I opened them half-way, I smiled. My little daughter was trying to wake me up, and she did.

My name is Kuriko. I've been living in Edo for nearly seven and a half years. I'm a single mother, and I'm doing the best to raise my daughter, Saya.

I have dark-brown hair, and it's as long as to the top of my back. My eyes were dark gray.

Saya, my little girl, has dark-brown hair as well, but her hair was almost black. Her hair was short, so it only touched the bottom of her neck. Her eyes were olive-colored. Saya's eyes come from her biological father, Takasugi Shinsuke.

Over eight years ago, I had feelings for Takasugi. I've had these feelings since we were teenagers. I lived in the same village as he was ever since I was a child. When I told him my feelings, he didn't mind it at all, since he was kinder back then. He didn't have feelings then, but a few months later, he told me that he had feelings for me as well. He gave me his confession when we were...making love.

He was the only person that I ever made love to, so it was no doubt that he's the father of my olive-eyed daughter. But when I found out that I was pregnant, I wanted to tell Takasugi that. But I was too late. He was about to go to war with Gintoki, Katsura and Tatsuma. They didn't know how long they were going to be at war, but the village that I used to live in was destroyed. Thankfully, most of the villagers moved out by going into full carts.

I thought that if I were to tell him the next time I saw him, I would tell him that I was going to have a child. But...after I heard that the war was finally over, the only Joui member that I found in Edo was Katsura. He told me that the others were still alive, but he also told me that Takasugi said that he was going to destroy everything, for his Sensei, Shouyou Yoshida. I was devastated, and I haven't seen Takasugi since.

I managed to wake up from my daughter, continuing to move me around. I said, "Alright, alright, Saya. I'm up."

"Yippie!" She squealed.

I gave out a chuckle as I ruffled Saya's short hair. She gave me a tight hug, and said, "Mommy, Uncle Zura is here."

Katsura came in my bedroom, and corrected Saya, "It's not Uncle Zura, it's Uncle Katsura."

The reason why Saya calls him "Uncle" is because Katsura has helped me ever since he came back from the war. I told him that I was pregnant, and it was Takasugi's baby. Katsura was shocked at first, but he wasn't anymore. When Saya was born, I really needed his help, even if he didn't know much about children. For the truth, I wanted a child (Though I only wanted one). It may have been hard work raising Saya, but it was worth it. I don't regret having a kid.

Since Katsura was been in my house lots of times, Saya knows him very well, and calls him either "Uncle Zura" or "Uncle Katsura" (Since Zura is his nickname, though he'll always correct people).

Saya ran towards Katsura, and gave him a tight hug. She exclaimed to the man, "Uncle Zura, mommy's just waking up!"

"I can see that," He replied with a chuckle.

He's one of my best friends, and I've always loved hanging out with him, but I love Takasugi the most. As for Gintoki and Tatsuma, well, they don't always like to hang out with me, but it wasn't like they disliked me.

As Saya released the hug, she walked towards me again. I said, "What is it, Saya?"

She answered, "I love you, mommy."

I chuckled, "I love you too, Saya."

A smile went across her face. She then turned again, and pushed Katsura out of the room, exclaiming, "We need to get out so that mommy can get dressed!"

Katsura didn't say anything, but the two went out of my room, closing the door behind them. I chuckled again, and thought, My little girl may be six, but she's been helping me a lot lately.

Saya wasn't like other kids, where they scream and goof off. She was a little more "mature", and never did she complain about helping, not even once.

I got up, out of my futon, and put it away. After that, I changed from my room-wear kimono, into my casual kimono. My kimono was white, with pink daisy prints on it. Though, my kimono is a little more loosely than other kimonos. In fact, it had a narrow black strap around the waist. But I made sure that my cleavage wouldn't show.

I put my kimono on completely, and went out of my room. I went into the kitchen, but noticed that Katsura made breakfast for me. Usually, I would be the one making breakfast, but it seemed that he wanted to make it this time.

I asked jokingly, "You're making breakfast this time?"

He turned to me, answering, "You need a break from making any breakfast. Working at a job is hard enough."

I nodded my head, knowing that he was right. I work at a Salon for women. The Salon that I work for has nail pedicure, hair cuts, and other stuff. And I was glad we didn't have a tanning salon, because I think it's bad for women. What I do there is cut hair. I've been told that I was good at cutting hair, and I wasn't confident at first, but when I got better at cutting hair, then I felt confidence in myself.

I work there four days a week.

Katsura set the food on the table. The three of us sat down, and said, "Let's eat!"

Saya quickly grabbed her chopsticks, and began to eat kind of fast. I've told her in the past that she would get hiccups if she ate too fast, but she's told me that she keeps forgetting.

Surprisingly, she didn't get hiccups. Katsura was very slow at eating, but I was eating a bit fast as well.

After I was done eating, I stood up, and said, "Well, I'll be heading off to work now. I'll see you tonight, Saya." I kissed Saya on the forehead as she smiled at me.

She asked, "Mommy, can I tell you something when you get back?"

"Of course you can, sweetie. Just try to remember what you need to say," I sort of teased her.

I was heading out, and said, "Bye, Katsura!" I then went out, and headed straight for work. My work wasn't far away, thankfully.

I thought in my head, I wonder what Saya wants to say to me.

I decided to let that go for now until I got back home. Moments later, I was at the Salon, or as it's titled, "Salon Pedicure". I entered my work, and saw my boss, Maki Ishi. She had light brown hair, and it was short, but it was a little messy. She wore purple lipstick, and had earrings. She also had a small, red star sticker on the right side of her cheek. Her eyes were crystal blue.

She looked at me, and gave me a gentle smile. "Kuriko-San, you're here early, as usual."

"I wouldn't want to be late, Ishi-San."

"Of course not, my dear." She gave out a chuckle.

I gave her a small bow just as I was heading towards the "Employee's only" room. I grabbed an apron, and tied the thick strings up on the back. I didn't need help, so I was in good hands. I went out of the room, and put a pair of scissors in one pocket.

Maki exclaimed, "Kuriko! Do you know where Yuki is?"

I shook my head, answering my boss' question, "I'm afraid not. But hopefully, she won't arrive late."

"I swear, that woman has a serious habit of almost being late, even if she's not late at all."

I chuckled quietly at my boss. You could say that she's friendly with me, but if I do something wrong, then she'll get serious, but not exactly angry. She's only been angry with me once, though. But she's my boss, and I can't blame her for that.

Just as it was almost time for the Salon to open, Yuki finally came. She panted in exhaustion from running. She had long, light purple hair that was in a ponytail. She had periwinkle eyes, and she wore a woman's kimono, not like the one I wear.

"I'm sorry that I was almost late again, Ishi-San!" She apologized as she bowed down to Maki.

Maki sighed, "Yuki-Chan, I know you weren't late, but you need to come here at least 10 minutes early. Tell me, why are you always almost late?"

Yuki sighed as well, but explained embarrassingly, "Because my husband always wants me to make out with him before I go to work."

"Hm, do you try to tell him that you need to come to work before you're late?"

"Well, no, but I will force him to let go of me so that I won't be late!"

Maki gave out a laugh to the woman, and patted her head. "Now start working."

"Yes, ma'am," Yuki replied as she ran into the "Employee's only" room. I gave her a sympathetic smile as I was sitting in one of the chairs.

My boss said to me, "I'm not saying you're better than her, but at least you don't get any distractions."

I replied, "Well, I'm a single mother, so yes."

She smiled at me, and said, "It must be hard raising a child alone. But I know that you get help from your friend. How is Saya, anyway?"

"She's doing good." I smiled back at my boss, who was putting a spray bottle in one of her pockets. Yuki, Maki and I cut hair, but Yuki mostly does nail pedicure, and Maki also "works" at the register. The Salon also had products, such as fake nails, lipstick, nail polish, etc. Despite me working at a Salon, I never wear make-up, or even wear nail polish on my nails.

My boss, Maki, knows Saya very well because I've taken her here a few times. Yuki knows her as well, but Saya likes to talk to Yuki more than Maki. Well, Saya likes Maki too.

Maki smiled once again, and replied, "That's good. Have you told her about her biological father? You know, the man you once loved?"

I widened my eyes in surprise. I wasn't that shocked at the question, but Maki doesn't ask these kinds of questions.

I sighed, and answered while setting up the counter, by the mirror (It was the spot where customers get haircuts), "I haven't. I do plan to tell her, but since my love is now a criminal, I don't know how to tell her. And I still love him."

A few weeks after I started working here (Which was a little after Saya was born), I told Maki and Yuki that I loved Takasugi for a long time. When I heard that he was a criminal, I was sad. I didn't want my lover to try to destroy everything, but I guess there was nothing I could do. They were a bit surprised, but they promised me not to tell anyone, not even their husbands.

Maki said in a quiet tone, "I see. Well, just try not to scare her. Try to explain it as well as possible, without scaring the poor kid."

"I wished Takasugi-Kun wasn't a criminal, but...he lost his left eye, and his teacher died before he went to war," I whispered, about to cry.

My boss got closer to me, and hugged me, whispering back, "It's okay, Kuriko-San. At least you and your daughter are safe at the moment. What would you say if you saw him again?"

"I'd probably be shocked because he's a criminal, and he's probably...evil."

"Like I said, you and Saya are safe."

I thought, I know me and Saya feel safe, but for some reason, I want to see Takasugi again. I want to see how much he's changed, and I haven't seen him in eight years.

After retrieving the hug, the Salon opened. Maki told me, "Kuriko-San, try not to cry during work, okay?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, Ishi-San."

I took out a hair tie, and wrapped my hair, setting it into a ponytail. I was going to work, without crying.

Hours later, the Salon was closing for the day. I exhaled as Maki said, "Good work, Kuriko-San and Yuki-Chan."

Yuki and I replied while bowing, "Thank you, Ishi-San."

The two of us took off our aprons, and headed out for home. I waved at Yuki as she was waving at me back. After I waved, I headed straight for home.

I looked up at the sky, and saw the purple-orange clouds. The sun was setting, and I could only stare at it until I realized that I was still walking.

I stared straight again, and within moments, I arrived home. Saya gave me a big smile just before she gave me a big hug.

"Welcome home, mommy!" She exclaimed. Katsura was sitting next to the table.

I asked her, "What did you do with Katsura today?"

"Well, I painted his face, but we washed the paint off. And we also played hide and seek!"

Katsura muttered, "Yes, and she was better at hiding than I was."

I chuckled as I asked Saya another question, "Saya, you wanted to tell me something before I left. What was it that you wanted to tell me?"

She let go of me, and lowered her head down. Saya looked nervous, but she managed to ask, "Mommy, who is my father?"

There, my eyes widened in shock. Katsura's eyes widened as well, but I think I was in more shock than he was. Sure, Maki told me to tell her without scaring her, but was that even possible? Saya's still a little girl.

I narrowed my eyes, and knelled to the floor. I gave her a hug, but she didn't look like she understood. I whispered, "Saya, I wanted to tell you this, but I wasn't so sure how. Your father...is a criminal."

"EH?!" She shouted, looking a bit scared.

I landed my hands on her shoulders, and I tried my best to calm her down. I continued to explain, "He wasn't a criminal the last time I saw him. And the last time I did see him was when he was about to go to war. I told you about the Joui war, so you may know where I'm getting at."

"S-Sort of," She stammered.

I sighed, furrowing my brows, "We both had feelings for each other. I still love him, but I'm not sure if he still loves me. He...I'm not sure if he's changed a lot, but I will do my best to protect you."

"Mommy," Saya whispered near my ear. "What does my daddy look like?"

"He has dark-purple hair, and he has a bandage over his left eye. Or at least, I've been told that. Your father has olive-colored eyes, just like the eyes you have. Saya, I don't want you to get hurt. You are my baby, and I don't want to lose you."

"I...don't want to lose you either, mommy." Saya hugged me again.

I didn't want Takasugi to hurt my little girl, and I will protect Saya, no matter how much trouble we are in.

I've written a few Takasugi Shinsuke stories on my Deviantart, but this is the first Takasugi story that I've put up on FF (Not counting the one-shot). XD And don't worry, I'll still write "Officers of Frustration" almost daily.

So Kuriko will do her best to protect Saya. By the way, I had a difficult time trying to figure out where she would work. I didn't want to choose the grocery store because I thought it would be too boring. That's pretty much why I decided to have Kuriko work at a Salon. LOL

And yes, Katsura is Kuriko's dear friend, and he's been helping out with raising Saya since she was born.

One more thing. I may change the rating later in the story. I usually don't do that, but the first couple of chapters won't be "inappropriate", but when it does, then I'll change the rating to M.

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! :)