A/N: Did you say I have free time? Not anymore!
Hello and welcome back everyone! I'm committing myself to writing a full fledged multi-chaptered fic of Saitou and Tokio. But this won't be an AU...shocking, isn't it? I wanted to return to my roots and an old-school canon version of the couple I think would do me a lot of good. I have the inspiration needed, I have the story well-thought out in my head so now I only have to write it. This might turn out bigger than I hope, or smaller than I hope. We shall see. It'll all depend on embellishments. Also, I love my other fic "I now pronounce you husband and wife" but I wanted to have another, more...mature take on it, now that the couple really grew on me and I read up a little bit more on the history. Of course it won't be 100 not even 90% accurate to history BUT! I'll be using it far more faithfully and creatively.
So I hope you start this trip with me and enjoy the ride just as much. I will try for my updates to be regular - once per week - but I make no grand promises.
I say this once and only now: I do not claim to own Rurouni Kenshin in any form or way, it's property of Watsuki-sensei. With that being said, let's dive right in.
Timeline: The events of this chapter take place in Kyoto, March of 1863; this is where our story begins. We'll see where it'll end.
A fine lady...
...and accidental meetings.
There's nothing quite like a warm bath to take away the strain of aching muscles…! It'd been a long, difficult day indeed but simply knowing the hot springs were there for her personal use, made everything tolerable. She savoured the feeling the steaming waterfall brought on her shoulders, washing away with it all the tension and the stiffness. Same with her neck; all she had to do was angle herself to achieve the same effect on her back, too hands supporting her weight by touching rock behind the waterfall.
Bliss.
She stood like that for ten more seconds and then took three steps to the left, away from it. Remnants of a cold winter – or beginnings of a not so warm spring – chilled her and made her shake; without a thought, she bent her knees and plunged into the spring, covering herself, so only her head would be visible.
So satisfying…
Then she stood again and walked back into the waterfall; the more she did this, the lighter she felt, more healed. The way her hair fell to her back, clinging to it; the way some stuck to her shoulders or others would tickle her nose, get in her eyes, she was so used to it. She loved the warmth it brought. She wasn't tall, too some centimetres away from being short actually, so the water reached her middle easily and not even half of her was exposed at any given time. And as the water fell on her in a never ending torrent, still facing the rock, she could honestly say she was in heaven.
That is, until she heard voices.
If she could hear them with all this water falling on her it only meant two things: they were very close; they were probably male. Her brain registered those two options immediately and forced her to dive into the water! Distantly she realised the noises had stopped; still, the moment she resurfaced she stayed shoulder deep in the water, head turning around so fast her hair whipped her face.
There she came face to face with three stunned – or at least surprised – young men, with towels on their shoulders, hakamashita open and hakama looser than proper.
As if in formation, the shortest stood on the left, boyish good looks complementing his red cheeks and his "o" shaped mouth; his brown hair and eyes were a shade darker as if by shame. The one on the right, about a head taller than the left one, was so shocked and ashamed, his entire face had turned the same fiery red as his long hair, falling from their ponytail as if to accentuate his state of mind. The tallest was in the middle and his height was the first thing she noticed, because he towered over both, easily reaching 1.80. He was far less stricken than his two friends, amber eyes shining with curiosity more than anything.
And their lively conversation was put on hold in favour of staring at her. She knew but also felt her cheeks turn an unnatural shade of red, once from the heat of the water and now the heat from the embarrassment.
"Hello," she started, noticing they were far too shocked to say anything "if you don't mind waiting behind those bushes over there for a moment," she discreetly craned her neck towards where they came from "I don't mind getting out and leaving you the hot springs for your personal use. I would be leaving in five minutes anyway."
"Of course," the tallest one assured "forgive us for walking in on you."
He had a deep voice, she noticed for some reason.
Without another word, he gave a small bow and – after tugging on the hakama of the other two people to snap them out of their reverie – he turned about and did exactly as she asked. His companions followed him after a second's delay.
She watched them go and stay behind the bushes but she still had to talk herself into getting out of the damn pool. She had never had such an encounter with men before! It was too embarrassing—not to mention she only had her bathrobe with her and no means to control her wet hair and…she spoke first! She was so uncouth! She wanted to slap herself. But she also had to get out as promised. Paddling to the far end, where her robe lay all nice and folded, she pushed out of the water. She put it on in a hurry.
"Idiot!" she heard the tallest one snap, and then a whacking sound; she flinched.
"Hey! Don't hit!" a laugh followed and that was it. It still scared her out of her wits, though; shaking her head, she tied the robe hastily and made an effort to tame her hair. Taking a deep breath as soon as she had finished wearing her geta, she went where the three men were, knowing they would never come back to the pool, no matter how long she'd take.
As she pushed through the greenery, she found them in a hilarious position: the short guy had climbed the tallest person's back, waving a stick like a sword at the red haired guy, enjoying himself more than anyone ever should in such circumstances. The red haired guy was struggling to hit the short one with a stick of his own, only this one was longer and bigger, brandished like a spear. And the tall man, displeased with being in the middle, would take turns glaring at both, daring them to hit him, even by accident, and they'd see what they'd get.
"Hello again," she said and bowed; all three mimicked her, even the man on his friend's shoulders. "You must be new here, yes?"
"Indeed!" Finally, the little monkey jumped down, dusting himself off. Much like his personality, his voice was cheery and light. "I'm Okita Souji, this is Harada Sanosuke" the red haired man "and this is Saitou Hajime;" the one with the amber eyes "we just came here, temporarily taking up residence where Matsudaira-sama appointed; we're members of the Roshigumi."
"Oh! Are you now, how interesting? I met Serizawa Kamo-sama, Hijikata Toushijou-sama and Kondou Isami-sama today. Are you from their group?"
The short man nodded again, excited, "From the two last ones, yes! But how d'you know we're new?"
His smile was wide and conversational; she mirrored it with delight. "You'd be either new or trespassers; but trespassers wouldn't be shocked to see someone here and everyone in this side of Kyoto at least, knows this is reserved for Matsudaira-kou and his guests alone, so you'd probably spy from behind the bushes to make sure you weren't found. You wouldn't be making so much noise, too! And if you weren't new, you'd have heard about this place and how it is forbidden. So it only makes sense…"
"…you're very smart!" Harada commented impressed; her cheeks reddened a little at the compliment, but smiled and thanked him all the same.
"Be informed you can ask Matsudaira-kou for permission to enter the hot springs; once it's granted, you can come and go as you please but must first inform the women who take care of the baths at the mansion. They keep a log of who's coming and going to avoid…" she tried not to smile too much, "this sort of situations." The two of the three chuckled. "I had registered this morning for use during the evening so I also knew you hadn't visited the ladies, as they'd have informed you. Anyway, my two hours are up so I was going to leave soon—you sped up the process a little."
"We're very sorry, again, please forgive us."
It was Harada who said it now, remorse and regret evident; she bowed deep. "You didn't know, no offense was given so there is nothing to forgive. But if you're new to this place, allow me to offer you some tips: please don't stay in the water for more than twenty consecutive minutes; get out for about half of that and then go in again. If you feel like using the waterfall, don't stand under it for more than two consecutive minutes. And never bring anything that's manmade in the pool, not even clothes." She considered. "I think that's about it. Good luck with your posts, also."
They all bowed their heads to one another, but only the two of the three thanked her out loud. The tall one, the one they called Saitou, remained silent, long angular face expressionless, where the other two smiled. As she walked away, she could see his striking eyes following her. She felt her heart skip a beat; there was something very intense in his gaze and yet, she could see it was displeasure and annoyance that drove him to stare like that.
"You should have let me peek!" Harada exclaimed before she was even ten metres away, causing her to blush profusely. She was gone from their field of vision but that didn't mean she couldn't hear them! "Did you see those hips? That waist!"
"Idiot," and another slap. That was definitely Saitou.
Laughter broke out. "That's not too manly of you, Harada-san!"
"Shut up, she was…such a fine lady! Okita, you agree with me, don't you?"
But before he could answer, Saitou spoke. "Fine ladies are the worst to cross; they may seem nice and friendly, but one word from them can destroy you easier than a katana to the chest. Don't involve yourself with her, no matter how cute you think her smile is. I'm doing you a favour telling you this."
"No…! You're only saying it because you're a newlywed!"
"No idiot, just listen to me."
"She could be a good person you know!"
"Then all the more reason not to let you peek, right Saitou-san?" Okita devilishly commented and she could picture him nudging him with his elbow.
"Indeed; though I've never met a fine lady who was also a good person."
"When I said fine, I didn't mean rich, Saitou, I meant beautiful."
"I meant rich though; see her bathrobe? Costs more than you make a month; she met our leaders today; she's familiar with the inner workings of this place and she referred respectfully but nonchalantly to Matsudaira Katamori of all people. Thus, she's been here a long while and knows the man we can't even meet yet very well; she's from a good family. And she's smart, too as you also mentioned."
"So?"
"So she'd never be interested in a man of your—our social standing."
"…then you should have let me peek-OW! SAITOU!"
"Idiot." Another whacking sound.
"Stop hitting me!"
"If you don't want me to hit you then dodge; and did you hear nothing of what I said? Fine ladies like her lead to disaster."
She couldn't help it anymore; putting her hand in front of her mouth in a final effort to control her mirth, she loudly said: "You should also know that sound carries very easily here; you should wait five minutes minimum before you start gossiping to one another."
A stunned silence followed her statement; some numb seconds later, laughter broke out and she could no longer help herself and laughed along with Okita as she climbed up the hill to her destination.
Usually, she'd be mortified to hear those kind of words and maybe a little annoyed, especially the ones this Saitou spoke about her, with his quick assumptions while her teasing would only be for show but…this Saitou person was the most guarded person she had ever met! It was almost funny how he strived to make his friend forget about her, someone above his station, not for her sake, but his. Well, if she was being honest with herself, she couldn't say he was entirely wrong; in her seventeen years of life she herself rarely met a fine lady who was also a good person. Certainly, most of them had been through many things only women could go through or understand but…the majority weren't nice.
So she couldn't help but tease him in the end, all in good humour. By the time she stopped laughing though she could no longer hear them. She never found out if they saw her before or after she dived in the water.
.
.
"Hey Saitou, let's go to the hot springs again!" Harada suggested as he wiped the sweat from his forehead…with Okita's towel. The short man immediately retaliated by kicking out, hitting him on the head. And just like that, they were rolling on the tatami mats, tussling on the floor of the dojo.
"I have no wish to register anything anywhere," Saitou nearly growled at him.
"Or you simply don't want to run into that pretty girl again," Okita read between the lines with a devious smile, as he dodged a punch from Harada.
"True; she did embarrass you."
He clicked his tongue. "Aren't you the one more embarrassed anyway? She heard you saying you wanted to see her naked."
"But that's every man ever."
"Speak for yourself, idiot."
"She did pull a very Saitou-like move by telling us she could hear us only after we talked about her so extensively, though. That must be making you mad."
Alright, Okita was very observant and keen on these kind of things, he could already tell and they'd been in each other's company for less than half a year. But to be so accurate was annoying to say the least. He was right on both accounts with worrying accuracy. That girl irked him. With her bright smiles and her polite bows, she wormed her way into both of his friends' – or at least, the people he grew closest to in this transitional time – conversations and thoughts. And the way she so unabashedly made a fool out of him was so…disconcerting.
Because it didn't make him angry per se, but still arose some strange feelings inside him. And the fact they weren't all negative – going as far as to admire her ruthlessness – drove him mad. There was always the fact that someone played him like that, too…and that he said so many mean things about her behind her back and she also heard him. Well, he wasn't trying to be mean, he was only speaking his mind to his friend, in an effort to spare him a seppuku – at worst –. Yet, didn't the fact the girl not only didn't seem offended but laughed at her and their expense, make him wrong? Or maybe she was just that rude, stating her desire to get back at them at a later time.
No matter what it was, it didn't sit well with him.
"…I thought training was over," was all he said in reply, staring down at the two men still fighting.
"Ah, true."
"Yes, let's go."
Simultaneously they picked themselves up, promising a rematch with nothing but their eyes. As they walked the halls to the bathing area, the two men beside him – now behind him – decided to keep the fight going, with nothing but stares. So a disgruntled Saitou was left to lead the party; and just as Harada grabbed Okita by his collar and Okita was ready to physically jump on him, the door drew open by none other than the same young woman from two days' ago hot springs.
All four stared.
And then Harada dropped Okita to the ground to bow, as Okita performed an amazingly dexterous flip in order not to fall and bow at the same time, while Saitou instinctively took a step back respectfully, allowing her space to move. She simply looked surprised at them and gave a deep bow of her own. She secretly smiled, a smile she hoped it didn't transfer to her words when she saluted.
"Harada-san, Okita-san, Saitou-san." She straightened, hair sticking to her face and neck. Steam appeared in the background. "What a coincidence."
"No coincidence we want to bathe after training," Saitou answered coolly, maybe with a slight edge.
"Of course; how silly of me…and yet, I was fairly certain all men had long finished with their training well before I took a bath, as i took care not to inconvenience anyone."
"We always take extra-long to finish," Okita informed way too cheerfully "seeing Harada-san never accepts defeat no matter what and keeps challenging you until he gets at least one win," – "Hey, I resent that!" Harada interjected by jumping on Okita who expertly avoided him – "while if you so much as challenge Saitou-san you'll be there till he wins or neither of you can carry on."
She giggled, hand covering her mouth all lady-like to be polite. Two out of three thought it was adorable. "And I refuse to have a boring fight. So when all three of us combine, it becomes impossible for us to finish."
"I see," she hiccupped her mirth away, keenly noticing Saitou's displeasure. "The baths are now available so please use them to their full extent. We have soaps but also many oils that help with aching or sore muscles. I would suggest the third one from the left for you, if the training brought you discomfort. Instead, if it feels like your muscles already relaxed I suggest the second from the right."
She gave another deep bow then and they all knew the conversation was officially over. "Have a nice evening," wished she, and walked away.
"See you around!" Harada called out after her.
"Have a nice evening, too!" Okita wished back, earning a tilt of her head even as she left.
Seeing the enthusiasm with which his two friends were imbued upon her sight, Saitou scoffed as he walked inside before them. "You're both pathetic."
Eyes twitching, the two men chorused: "Newlyweds have no business mocking single men!"
.
Today was an objectively crappy day. The three people he felt closest in the Roshigumi had been otherwise engaged the entire day and he had to suffer through training and formalities all on his own. Hijikata visiting was nothing unusual, too but he brining Kondou and Matsudaira with him, to meet the rest of the men, was a first so he had to prostrate himself in smelly, sticky work-out clothes.
That was what drove him over the edge to make the decision to go to those goddamn hot springs even if he had to go and register and wait half an hour longer to get rid of the smell. It'd be worth it. So he went to the women, asked them and after they flipped through their documents for a short amount of time, he was finally given the permission he so much desired.
He remembered the way, even if he had only gone there once, so he had no trouble making it in half the time it took them on the first try. But as he approached the bushes he watched as a familiar by now figure walked out from between them. But of course; why did this not surprise him
"Ah! Saitou-san!"
He nodded curtly; she nodded, too but deeper. Suddenly, she giggled. "You've been here a week yet I've only seen you three times and only when I'm coming out of the bath."
"At least one of us is clean…" She giggled again, hand over her mouth, all proper. That only irked him more. "Don't laugh, I'm really uncomfortable."
"Indeed, forgive me. It was in good spirit." She bowed "I…also couldn't help but overhear the first time we met, you have been recently wed?" He nodded yes. "Congratulations are in order then."
"…thank you."
"Is it difficult to be away from her so soon after the wedding?"
He made a great effort not to roll his eyes. These well-wishers could drive him crazy. "The thought that someone needs me here more and the purpose of protecting Kyoto soothes my pain."
He had no idea if she believed him or not but she still smiled kindly. "I'm glad to hear it," she spoke with understanding so she must have. "Purpose does offer the peace of mind needed to withstand a loved one's absence."
So many assumptions in only one sentence; he would have snorted if he felt like betraying the secret of his marriage but he had no intention of doing that. Plus, this woman laughed in his face not six days ago. So he simply tilted his head, as if to agree with her.
"…I feel like I have somehow put you off and it had nothing to do with your wife so I'll kindly take my leave now…and remind the ladies that hold the records a man and a woman don't walk with the same speed."
He hadn't noticed because he didn't care for t before but her bright smile turned a little self-depreciating, eyes losing their glint. he refused to feel worse for it though, despite everything in him demanding him to. Yet, she still bowed gracefully; he could see all of the years of her fine upbringing in the subtle way she angled her body; how exposed her neck was as a result and how fragile she looked because of that. Well, she was fragile; she was a woman. How tough could she be compared to a man like him? That being said, no one should ever look as breakable as her exposed neck. She should know better than show people her bare neck, too…
Tch! Fine ladies and their fine mannerisms! Even more incensed that before, he tried to make his way to the spring as calm as he could, as soon as she was out of sight.
.
.
"Eeep!"
She turned about immediately, red to her ears, heart pounding faster! "I—I'm so sorry, the women said it was unoccupied, I, I'm so sorry, I…!"
She spluttered and stuttered and would look for a way out mortified! She dared not look behind her back at the three bathing men who had stilled completely the moment she came through the bushes…with their sword – and spear – at the ready and very. Much. Naked! And mostly exposed…! She could have died right that moment. The shame!
She finally realised she could just go back the way she came from. "I'm so sorry!" She bowed to the bushes, as she was far too embarrassed even think of turning around again yet far too proper not to show them the respect they deserved, manners hardwired into her by now.
As she rushed away, laughter broke out.
"No, no please come back!" A whacking sound; knowing Saitou had hit Harada stopped her retreat. "I meant wait. We were about to leave anyway." It was Harada, of course.
"Yes please," Okita was heard, too, laugh only now dying out "we overstayed our welcome; we should have been long gone by now."
"But you're still…no, it's alright; stay there, I'll just—!"
"Nah, we simply couldn't be bothered; our two hours ended an hour ago," Okita went on, sounds of them getting out of the water and moving about dominating the night's air.
Harada immediately corroborated. "Yeah, you did nothing wrong. Please don't leave…"
She hesitated. "We're leaving, see?"
She jumped nearly ten centimetres in the air! When in Buddha's name did Okita get there behind her!? She nodded fiercely, fearing something might happen if she actually left. "Great! We'd hate to be the reason you didn't get your bath. Though your hair are already wet I see."
"I had a regular bath back at the compound; I was aiming for relaxation by coming here."
"So late at night?" Saitou appeared on her left and she could have screamed! How can they make no noise at all? He seemed to enjoy her reaction but kept the smirk so short she wondered if it was ever there. "Isn't it dangerous for you to be out and about after midnight?"
She looked away guiltily; by doing that, she managed to see Harada coming through the bushes and escaped the heart attack. "That's a good question; one of the reasons we stayed so much longer was the time; we figured no one would be crazy enough to come," he offered his two cents as he emerged.
"W-well…I enjoy bathing here this time of night more, as it is quieter."
"Ah now it makes sense; and in true you fashion we ran into each other when bathing is concerned."
She allowed herself to smile at Okita's comment; but then the image of what she'd seen not minutes earlier flashed in her mind's eye and unbearable heat rose to her face. "I suppose…so…do forgive me for upsetting you." She bowed too deeply, eyes closed, tone apologetic. "I didn't mean to."
"It's okay, it was high time we left anyway. Please raise you head."
She did hesitantly. Then Saitou's eyes caught hers as she slowly rose and they had a twinkle she had never seen before. Because he knew just the perfect way to rattle her. So he opened his mouth and the words came out: "we won't tell if you don't."
Her blush grew tenfold. "Wh-why w…why would I-…? That's…I'd-…I mean…goodnight!" She spoke the last one like an insult and ran to the hot spring. She started complaining to herself, redder than a beet, removing her bathrobe with the third try, throwing it on the ground with vengeance. "That's not something you say to a lady!" she finally shouted in their general direction, accusingly.
So much blood to her face, it was unhealthy! She got herself into the water with a dive; nice relaxing bath she was going to have…! Right. She needed to breathe deeply, let the anger go, the shame evaporate…savour the heat and unwind. Breathe in, out; in, out; in…out.
She fell asleep.
Like clockwork, once her twenty minutes were up, she woke up on her own. Blinking the sleep away for a long minute, she became confident she wouldn't stand just to stumble and fall, she put strength into her limbs and pushed off the ground. With languid movements, she managed to put on her robe and slowly make her way back.
She was surprised, to say the least, when she came upon all three of them still there, sitting against a tree trunk or another, idly waiting for her return without exchanging words. Even after she appeared, they too moved slowly, as if being awakened from slumber, even if their eyes were open.
"Why are you still here?"
"We couldn't let you walk back on your own so late at night!" Okita was the first one to get tap into his energy reserves. "Of course we have to escort you back."
"Matsudaira-sama would kill us if anything happened to you while we could do anything to prevent it," Harada spoke casually.
"Surely, you didn't have to…how could anyone know? And isn't it too late? You're always training, you should rest…"
"It's the right thing to do," said Saitou simply.
As if that settled everything, he started walking away, an example they all followed. Still, she seemed unsatisfied. From their brief meetings she had the distinct impression she wasn't his favourite person. Why would he of all people stay up so late for her, right thing be damned? "You didn't all have to stay, yes? One would be enough."
"I wanted to!"
Both men boasted at the same time; glaring between them ensued but it was nothing compared to the impressive snort of derision that escaped Saitou. "I was made to stay behind as punishment."
She blinked. "For what?"
He smirked; this was too easy. "For teasing you."
"Saitou! Stop making her uncomfortable," Harada snapped when he saw the woman's cheeks turn red and her looking away in rapid succession. But his plea had lost its gravitas when Okita was laughing over him right next to all; the only one sympathising with the woman, huffed. But then he knew exactly what to say. "Don't let his boorish manners fool you; he was the one who suggested it on the first place."
Smirk gone in a second, the man's narrow eyes became even more so, glaring. Their amber hue, complimented by the shadows of the night, painted him almost threatening. "Said a fine lady such as yourself" Harada kept the sarcasm out of the two words though "should not be unescorted so late at night; then said Matsudaira-sama would skin all of us alive if anything we could have otherwise helped happens to you tonight."
"I also distinctly recall saying a fine lady should not be out so late at night and certainly not on her own," Saitou actually scolded her and she felt like a child again, one caught misbehaving because she knew. She knew he was right and could no longer stand looking at him.
"I know. Forgive me, but I find the stillness of the night soothing…it helps me gather my thoughts." Saitou bit back the comment of "what important thoughts could you have that need gathering?" and felt proud of his discipline. "Besides, on busy days like these I don't get to have much time on my hands and usually only after ten. Today was busier so I finished around eleven."
"I don't care for your excuses. Just don't do it again." Saitou didn't lose a beat "if this happens again, we won't wait; you just won't have a bath at all."
"Bu-!"
"Not a word."
She fell silent, face graced by an imperceptible pout; the other two men watched amazed as she did exactly as their tall friend ordered…only with attitude. Pouting, then frowning, boiling right underneath the surface. That went on for at least five minutes before Harada decided he had enough of noticing the discreet satisfaction in Saitou's micro expressions.
"Don't let him scare you," he whispered in her ear "he likes pushing people around."
"Don't stand so close to her, idiot."
"See? And why not?" his protest was very cute, she thought.
"We're alone now but not for long," was all the man said, putting his hands in his sleeves, despite there not being too much space for him to do so.
"…you're right. Sorry."
Okita laughed again. "Saitou-san, you're so proper!"
Saitou merely grunted as a response.
Distantly, the young woman realised he really was; he was right, too about everything he said. She shouldn't be walking around so late. In fact, the women told her the hot spring was free for her to go…only if she took a guard with her. Their precious lady deserves at least one, they said before they dismissed her. But she'd hate to inconvenience a guard who was resting or even worse sleeping, – as she'd never dare ask one that was already on duty of protecting the compound – just to play her baby sitter.
Unacceptable.
So she came alone…but no one was supposed to find out! She felt terrible. "I'm really sorry for inconveniencing you," she finally said, after long deliberation. "You are right," she looked at Saitou "it wasn't the right thing of me to do, highly improper."
Saitou's brow quirked, a mocking smirk appearing. "A fine lady such as yourself admitting she is wrong?"
She gave him a look. "I have no reason not to; if I was in the wrong, this is the honourable thing to do."
"You've been raised well at least," he commented without really thinking.
"I have," she assured with pride, straightening her back. "My parents gave the best example; and my educators put in a lot of effort. I try to make them proud—or not to shame them, at the very least."
"I think you already shamed them when you walked in on -!"
"I thought we were done talking about that!"
She said it in one hitched breath, cheeks turning a dangerous shade of red. "Aw, don't tease her so much Saitou-san; she's blushing too much."
"You're both so uncouth," Harada accused again "you'll cause her to faint."
"You should thank me for giving you the opportunity to carry her then."
"Saitou-san!"
Two voices exclaimed that name scandalised and one of them was female; Okita was too busy laughing again, even Saitou found it in him to chuckle. "Alright, enough from me," he conceded after seeing the woman's face had taken shades of red he had never even seen before on a human being. After that, silence fell between the four and simply kept walking and walking until they entered the mansion. There, they didn't separate from her, but always walked two steps behind her respectfully, till they reach her section of the compound – a section they'd been in only once before – .
There she stopped and they followed her example.
"Thank you for escorting me, gentlemen…Saitou-san." She bowed deeply, to allow everyone sufficient time to understand her jab. "You're too kind." She was barely heard through the snorts and chuckles. To Saitou's credit, he didn't seem all that offended; if anything he seemed slightly amused. A civil nod of acceptance was shared by both. "Have a good night's sleep."
They wished her the same and left before she could enter a room, thinking it bad manners to scout her quarters. But as they walked to their room, not three minutes later, Harada made a sudden realisation:
"You know, she never did tell us her name."
A/N: She likes being mysterious...! Or simply forgot, because she's definitely that type of person. She has too much on her mind to expend too much time on trivialities like names and such xD
I love the idea of a bad first meeting, I don't know why. Also, keep in mind he's nineteen and she's seventeen. In fact she's almost seventeen. All of your possible questions will be answered within the story but no matter what or if you think of anything interesting, don't hesitate to ask. I hope it was a good first chapter and lived up to your expectations lovelies!
See you around and don't forget to drop a review on your way out. Kisses!