Kazoku ‑ Chapter One

~by Mako‑chan

May, 1865, Second Year of the Genji

Tokio scrubbed furiously at the dishes.  'That ‑ that man is simply impossible to live with,' she fumed.  'We've been married three days now and he just ignores me!'  The brooding young woman glared at the next dirty dish and attacked it.  'At least I tried to get along with him.'

She sighed, put away the bowl, and thought back on the disastrous dinner.  True, the arranged marriage between herself and Saito Hajime had not been anticipated much by either party, but she had at least tried to be sweet and demure.  He hadn't gone for it.

"You can stop pretending, ma'am."

"What?"

"You play the part of a new wife very well, but I know how you feel about this marriage."

Tokio scowled, but he seemed unfazed.  "At least I tried."  She gave a sight that was closer to a 'hurumph' and picked up the bowl in front of him.  It was still half full of rice.

"What are you doing?"

"The dishes."  She gathered her own dinner dishes, stood, and headed for the kitchen.

"Bring back my dinner, woman.  I wasn't finished."  He sounded tired, like her was scolding a small child for the millionth time.

"Well, you are now."

That he hadn't followed her into the kitchen surprised Tokio.  She'd expected him to be angry, but instead he continued to ignore her.  Did nothing get to this man?

After the kitchen was as clean as she could get it, Tokio made her way into the bedroom to find Saito already fast asleep.  She unrolled her futon next to his and settled down, ready for sleep.  Ten minutes later, she gave her husband a mighty kick that rolled him over on one side, hoping that would stop his snoring.

~*~*~*~

Tokio greeted her husband cheerfully that fateful morning, more than a week after their marriage.  He gave her a small nod, picked up his breakfast, and proceeded into the next room.  Hurriedly, she followed him and they settled into the quiet routine of the morning meal.  They ate in silence through most of the meal, until he decided to break the quiet.

"I'll be leaving for Kyoto tomorrow."

"That's nice."  Tokio pocked sullenly at her rice.  "While you're there, will you see if you can find‑"

"I'll be rejoining my squad of the Shinzengumi."

She dropped her chopsticks and stared, wide‑eyed and open‑mouthed.

He gave her a small, quick smirk.  "Did you really think I'd leave the Shinzengumi just for you?"

"Of course not," she snapped.  Although, she hadn't really thought about it at all.  Feeling slightly embarrassed, she decided to drop that argument.  "How long will you be gone?"

Saito shrugged slightly, bored expression firmly in place.

Tokio scowled.  "What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"  Tokio was quickly becoming furious.  "Nothing?  You're just going to¼to leave and nothing's even wrong?"

He nodded, then frowned thoughtfully at his bowl.

 Tokio didn't know what to make of that frown.  Did he not want to go, or was he just angry with all of her questions?  Confusion just made her angrier.  "Well that's a fine way to treat a wife."

He gave a small harumph and stood up.

"Saito!"

He didn't stop, just walked into the house.

"Hajime!"

He flinched slightly, paused, then continued walking down the hall.

Tokio grinned in perverse pleasure.  "Hajime, get back here!  I'm not done with you!"

"Well isn't that a shame."  He gave her a slight, unnerving smile and disappeared into the bedroom.

"Hajime!"  When he didn't answer for a few moments, she decided it was useless to try and talk to him.  Gathering the dishes, she stormed away into the kitchen.

~*~*~*~

Tokio stared wistfully out the window Rain fell softly in the garden, shrouding the world in a fine mist.

"Ma'am?"  Rumiko entered the room, head bowed, eyes fixed firmly on the floor.  "Supper is ready."

"Thank you, Rumiko."

The serving girl bowed and quietly left the room.  Tokio glanced out the window again.  The social position of both her and her husband's family meant she was expected to keep servants, despite the small size of the house.  She would have gladly done without and taken care of all the chores herself, but with Hajime gone the house was distressingly empty.

She sighed, then got up and moved to the dining room.  Rumiko sat patiently before the meal she had prepared.  They ate in silence.

Though she had been hired more for her company than her work, Rumiko rarely spoke.  Most likely she was afraid of being fired for talking back.

Sipping her tea, Tokio thought she'd rather the girl talk back and do no work.  Hajime had never hesitated to deliver a quick comeback.  She almost missed him, if only for that.  Almost.

~*~*~*~

"Good morning, Okita-sama."  Tokio waved cheerfully to the young man as he came up the walkway.  "How are you today?"

Okita smiled and returned her wave.  "Good morning."

Remembering her manners, Tokio bowed and motioned for him to come inside.  She fidgeted while he took his time settling into his seat and admiring the tea set Rumiko brought them, just as protocol dictated.  Closing her eyes and sipping her tea, Tokio tried to be patient.  She waited.  And waited.  And waited...

Peaking over the rim of her cup, she caught Okita grinning at her.  "What are you smiling for?"

He quickely smoothed out his features and put on a serious expression.  "You are so impatient.  What on earth could you be waiting for?"

"I was hoping for some news from Kyoto."

Okita quietly sipped his tea.  "It's nothing for you to concern yourself with."

Tokio scowled a bit before she remembered who she was with.  Okita was neither Rumiko, who could be ordered into submission, or her husband who cared for nothing.

 "Kyoto is a very dangerous place these days.  It is better for you to keep yourself and your attentions here in Mibu."  He glanced t Tokio, staring sullenly into her cup.  "Or was it your dear husband you were wishing to hear about?"

Tokio remained carefully quiet and Okita laughed softly.  Fearing that he had already guessed their relationship, she couldn't help but smile as well.

"Well, it would appear that you beat me here, Okita."

Hajime stood in the doorway with a smug grin on his face and Rumiko shifting nervously from foot to foot behind him.  Tokio and Okita looked up at him with matching 'this-isn't-what-you-think-it-is' expressions.

"Uh...welcome home."

Okita put down his tea and slowly got to his feet.  "I guess I should be going.  Thank you, Saito-san, for the tea."  He bowed to Tokio, then to Hajime, and left the room, gesturing for Rumiko to lead the way out of the house.

"You and Okita have become rather friendly," Hajime commented.

"He visits more often than you."

"I've only been gone three weeks."

"And yet, he still visits more often than you."  She kept her eyes firmly fixed on the floor and avoided his accusing stare.

"Should I worry about the parentage of your children?"

Tokio threw up her hands.  "If I ever have children it'll be a miracle.  Both parents need to be home at least once a month for that."

Hajime huffed and scowled.

Tokio sighed again.  "I'm not having an affair with Okita or anyone else for that matter.  Why would I want to with a wonderful husband like you around.  Satisfied?"

"You are to bold for your own good."

"So I've been told."  She got up and moved to the window.  "Rumiko!"

The young girl tore her eyes away from the sight of Okita's retreating back.  "Coming, ma'am!"

Tokio smiled at her husband.  "Perhaps it's Rumiko you should worry about."

Hajime continued scowling until Rumiko cleared her throat behind him, indicating that she she couldn't get in the door around him.  He moved aside, bumping his shoulder against the wall as he did.

Rumiko quickly cleared the tea.  As soon as she left, Tokio glared at her husband.  "Sit," she ordered, pointing at a cushion.

"What?"

"I said sit.  And take off your haori."

"Why dear, I just got home.  At least let me settle in first."

Tokio rolled her eyes.  "I saw you flinch when you hit the wall.  You've gone off and gotten yourself hurt, haven't you?  Now sit and let me see it."

"You don't know what you're talking about.  I'm fine."

"Sit."

He turned and walked away.

"Come back here, Hajime!"  She grabbed him by the shoulder before he could get out the door.

 "Aaagh!"  He leaned over backward to releive the pressure on his shoulder, but Tokio kept her grip firm.  "Let go of me."

"But I thought you said you were 'fine.'"

"I am fine."

"Why, my dear husband, you're howling in pain.  Now sit."

Grimly, Hajime sat.  Tokio came up behind him and tugged on his clothes, but he made no move.

She sighed.  "Take it off."

He stared silently at the wall, so she smacked him gently on the shoulder.  He grimaced and grudgingly removed the haori.  "Are you sure you're trying to help?"

"It's called tough love."

"It's painful."

"Whatever works."  She frowned at the sloppy bandaging on his back.  "Who did this?"

"Shoulders are very awkward."

"You're avoiding my question."

"Yes."

Taking great care to be a gentle as possible, she peeled back the bandages and revealed a long red scar.  The skin around it was puffy and drawn.

"It's infected."

"We cleaned it."

"Well it's still infected.  Stay here and don't move.  If you tear it open again, I'll make Rumiko patch you up."

"Could she be any worse than you?"

"Be nice, or you'll find yourself in unnecessary pain."

Tokio got up to get her things.  As she left, she thought she saw him smile.  Just a little bit, but it was definitely there.

~*~*~*~

"Ma'am?"

"Oh, come in Rumiko."

The servant girl shuffled into the room and joined her mistress at the window.  "Should he be returning to Kyoto so soon?"

Tokio smiled as she watched Hajime walk away.  "Don't worry.  He'll be fine."  From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Rumiko giving her a half-shocked, half-amused look.  Quickly, Tokio turned away from the window.  After all, the man's too stupid to realize he's hurt.  He could get killed and not even know it.  He'd just keep going like an idiot."

Rumiko kept her expression carefully blank.  "Of course Saito-san.  Your supper is ready."

End Ch. 1

A.N.  Of course, this is nowhere near historically accurate (Tokio and Hajime got married in 1873) but I will try to make everything else as close to the real thing as possible.  It's so cool that all these people really existed!  Even Okita!  I'm having so much fun. ^_^  Please review!