Hokkaido. Could they have picked anywhere worse to send him? I suppose so. They could have sent him off to some conflict again, where we would not have been allowed to follow. Follow we will, as long as he will allow it. In my own way, through my own devices, I will make sure that we will be allowed to follow.
I am not an argumentative wife, not usually. But I will lobby him in my own gentle way. I will always try to persuade him to let us go with him. I know he does what he thinks is best for us. He constantly has our welfare and safety in mind.
I think he needs his family nearby. I know full well that he would deny this. It is his way. But he needs us, as we need him. I can get along without him for a while, but I would rather not. The boys need him, also. How can he impart to them the lessons that are necessary, if he is not near them?
I survived Tonami after the Boshin War, so I should be able to survive Hokkaido. Actually, I can survive and flourish anywhere he is. I did not marry to sit at home and wait while the years slip by. I married to share a life, my life, with him. That is why I will go where he goes. In the end he will allow it. I know he will.
A/N:
In "Haru ni Sakura" (Cherry Blossoms in the Spring), a Watsuki story that appeared in Kenshin Kaden, Aoshi tells Kenshin that he has the information about Saitou Hajime that Kenshin had asked for. Aoshi reports that it looks like Saitou is in Hokkaido, but he was not able to learn what his mission was about. The comment is made that it is certain that Saitou is doing fine as usual. This exchange occurs in the spring of the 16th year of Meiji while the group is at Mt. Ueno enjoying the cherry blossoms.
The above paragraphs are a look into Tokio's thoughts as she figures out how she and the boys are going to convince her husband to let them tag along to Hokkaido, when he is sent there on assignment.