Disclaimer: I have never owned, or claimed to own, Rurouni Kenshin. It belongs rightfully to Mr. Nobuhiro Watsuki.
A/N: Yeah, I'm updating like crazy today, huh? Well I thought I'd finally get a move on and post this fic. It's been bugging me for ages! I still haven't been able to properly settle on a title, but I'm fairly satsfied, so there you go.
This story IS in continuation of the canon Naruku series. There aren't any spoilers, really, except for deducing that certain people don't die, but I think you could figure that out.
If you haven't read Naruku's canon series, you don't have to. This fic, I swear, requires no prior knowledge of Naruku. So if you are meeting her for the first time, do tell me what you think!
In any case, before I send you off, I tried to write this fic entirely without the use of fangirl Japanese, just to see if I could do it. I'm tired of all those people trying to impress eachother with how much Japanese they can cram into their fics, so I decided to make mine deviod of it. And yes, I know, using Japanese honrofics is a ton easier, but I figured why not go the whole way, right?
Thank you to my lovely betas, couldn't have gotten this up without you guys! D-strike, Fairy Mage and Pu-chan!
With that said, Tanoshimu!
"If you want rainbows, you have to put up with the rain." -Dolly Parton
Past and Present
1. Hajime Saitou was not a man who liked surprises. Not at all. After his hard day of work, he expected to be fed by his adoring (and extremely pregnant) wife and then put to sleep. That would have been a fine evening for him. The perfect end for his tiring day.
He was particularly fatigued, having had to work overtime in order to finish his interrogation of Nobu Sho, the suspected sex offender. Although everything had gone well it had been several hours until the man had finally been put behind bars. Unfortunately, this triumph meant more paperwork, and more paperwork meant an extremely irritated wolf of Mibu.
In Satiou's opinion, therefore, his less than friendly attitude in reaction to seeing unwanted people in his house (namely Kenshin Himura and Nakuru Katsura) was perfectly acceptable. Tokio, lovely woman that she was, saw things differently.
"Get out," Saitou said gruffly to the two extra people standing in his living room.
Tokio's eyes widened in horror. "Goro Fujita!" she shouted. "That's no way to speak to guests!" She hit him with her paper fan. It was an action that was supposed to express her frustration but was essentially harmless, an action that perfectly depicted Tokio's entire persona.
"Tokio!" he cried, putting a hand up to stop the assault. "I'm tired, and these aren't guests, they're freeloaders." It was said rather sulkily, as if he knew he wouldn't get his way.
An amused laugh from the other side of the room made Saitou whirl around. "Just what is so funny, Battousai?" he sneered.
"You seem unusually annoyed today Saitou-san," Kenshin replied good-naturedly, though clearly he was laughing at something the Katsura girl had said about Saitou's surliness.
Saitou, however, couldn't have cared less if Kenshin had insulted the entire Shinsengumi unit. "Well, I just had to do two hours of paperwork on suspected sex offender Nobu Sho," Saitou replied unpleasantly, disregarding the fact that Nakuru had been a valuable (if not the most valuable) asset concerning his capture.
"Hey!" she predictably spoke up. "I'm the one who helped you catch that guy, or does your memory fail you, wolf?"
Saitou growled under his breath. "For the last time, Katsura, you are not an undercover cop!"
She shrugged. "Whether my help was wanted or not, I still helped you catch that guy. So you should welcome us graciously into your home."
"Naruku, I think that's enough," Kenshin said, unable to think of any scenario where Saitou would be the least bit gracious.
"Really, now, Goro," Tokio added, patting her round belly. "I think it's a grand idea to have Mr. Himura and Miss Naruku over. We don't get much of a chance for visitors."
"What are you talking about, woman?" Saitou returned. "Your sister's coming to stay tomorrow."
"All the more reason to have Mr. Himura over!" Tokio declared.
"The truth is, Mr. Fujita," Naruku began in the most professional voice she could manage. "Kaoru and Yahiko are in Yokohama right now, competing for a kendo championship. Kenshin and I figured we'd spend a few days out of the dojo as well, especially since Sano and Miss Megumi are still out in whatever country. When I was dropping off my statement for the Nobu case, Miss Tokio asked us to stay here."
Saitou turned a suspicious eye on his wife. "This was your doing?"
"Oh Goro," she sighed dramatically. "You know how lonely I get when you work so late into the day. And you know how hard it is for me to do anything, what with the baby and all."
Saitou didn't answer, refusing to let Kenshin and Naruku see his weakness against his wife and unborn child. Instead, Satiou asked rather defensively, "What have you made for dinner?"
Silence greeted his query. "Oh," Tokio said. "We already ate before you arrived. There's miso soup on the stovetop."
Saitou didn't answer, but angrily turned around and stalked into the kitchen, grumbling to himself. He'd gotten not one of his wishes for that evening. No dinner ready for him. No empty house. No peace and quite. No docile wife (not that he had expected it from Tokio…)
"Oh dear," Tokio sighed as Saitou disappeared from sight. "I think we've made him quite angry."
"I'm sorry Miss Tokio. If we've imposed in any way…" Kenshin began making apologies.
"It's no trouble, Mr. Himura," Tokio replied gamely. "I'd very much appreciate your company. My sister will be here tomorrow and I would like the two of you to meet her. Especially you, Mr. Himura. Please, make yourselves at home. I'll have Yoshi take your things up to the guest quarters." With an elegant wave of her hand Yoshi, the stanch manservant, appeared on her right.
Naruku enthusiastically handed him her bags, delighting at the lifestyle of grandeur that Tokio was so well acquainted with. Kenshin handed Yoshi his one bag of clothes with an apologetic look.
"Come, sit down and I'll freshen the tea," Tokio said as Yoshi disappeared down the hall. "I'm quite curious about you, Mr. Himura. Ever since dear Goro came back and began complaining about you I've been quite curious. There's hardly anyone left in this world that Saitou can respect. I can tell he respects you, though," she laughed as she walked into the kitchen to fetch a teapot and teacups.
Kenshin didn't know whether to look sheepish or surprised. He was glad Tokio couldn't see him.
"So," Tokio called from the kitchen. They could hear her rummaging around in the cupboards. "Tell me a little bit about yourself and Miss Naruku." She arrived back and produced three teacups, all decorated elaborately with different designs.
The first had a sakura branch, the buds fully bloomed and beginning to fall. This one Tokio offered to Kenshin.
One had a hummingbird, pausing in its busy flight for the sweet nectar of a bright flower. Tokio took this one for herself, noting that it had a small chip.
The last cup was decorated with golden koi, diving spectacularly down from the brim. Naruku was quite taken by this delicate little teacup, and took it for herself. Wanting to be helpful, she quickly made use of herself by pouring for everyone.
Tokio sent a fleeting smile at Naruku's ladylike pouring technique. She generously accepted the gesture, turning her eyes back to Kenshin. He noticed Tokio's glance and decided to answer her question.
"Well, Miss Fujita, Naruku and I live at the edge of town in the Kamiya Kasshin dojo where our good friend Kaoru teaches kendo. It was my first home after the Bakamatsu war and I began living there a little less than three years ago. A year and a half after that, Naruku arrived and began staying with us."
Naruku rolled her eyes at Kenshin's introduction and made a face at Tokio. She laughed when Tokio looked very surprised. "Kenshin's not used to talking about himself," Naruku told her.
Kenshin looked slightly abashed.
"Well then, Miss Naruku, why don't you continue?" Tokio asked lightly, figuring it was the safest way to go. She wasn't sure exactly how comfortable Naruku and Kenshin were together and whether it was rude of Naruku to say that.
Naruku laughed. "Right, well like Kenshin said I started staying at the dojo, which was probably the first independent choice I'd made in a long time. Even though Kenshin had to end up saving me—what was it? Four times at very least."
Kenshin looked sheepish. "Naruku, you shouldn't put yourself down so much," he patted her shoulder. "Kaoru, Naruku, Sano, Yahiko and I have all been through a lot together. I know I would lay down my life for each and every one of them."
Tokio smiled at his words. They reminded her so much of what Saitou had said to her on their wedding night (and never again afterward.) She turned her attention back on her two guests.
"Kenshin, you'd lay down your life for any stranger on the street," Naruku was saying. It was meant as a teasing jibe, but Tokio heard the affection behind her words.
Kenshin merely smiled from over the rim of his teacup, knowing that what she said was only a slightly exaggerated truth.
Tokio smiled. "One last question," she spoke.
Kenshin and Naruku turned their attention on the lady.
They seemed to hold Kaoru in high esteem and for that Tokio was very curious. 'Does Miss Kamiya have feelings for Mr. Himura as well?' is what Tokio wanted to ask. It was painfully obvious of Naruku's affection, less obvious of how Kenshin felt and Tokio wondered if the landlady they spoke so highly of had a love for Kenshin as well.
Since she did not want to show them how much of a busybody she truly was, Tokio said, "You've spoken so much of your past at the Kamiya dojo. Come, tell me some of what's going on currently."
Naruku shot a glance at Kenshin, grinning goofily. "Well," she spoke up when Kenshin said nothing. "I almost don't want to say this, in case it 'jinxes' it, but Kaoru-chan's getting really close to becoming a wife."
Tokio's eyebrows shot up in polite interest. "Oh? To whom?"
"Aoshi Shinomori," Kenshin answered. "A man that I trust very much. I'm sure your husband has mentioned him before." He gave a broad smile.
Tokio pondered. "Shinomori, you say? Yes, I think dear Goro has said something about that man. How perfectly lovely about Mr. Shinomori and Miss Kamiya! When is the wedding set?"
"Well, he hasn't asked her, yet," Naruku replied. "But I can tell he's very close."
"Ah," Tokio smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Goro was the same. I knew he was going to ask me days before he said anything."
"And Kaoru's probably anxious enough to ask him herself," Kenshin added.
Kenshin's comment roused a chuckle from Naruku, but it turned into a loud yawn. "I'm quite tired from the journey over here. Kenshin's probably just dandy, but I'm not much of a traveler.
"I am little worn-out, too," he countered, covering for the sometimes tactless Naruku. "Your manor is lovely, and the countryside is beautiful, but it is on the opposite side of town from the dojo."
"Oh!" Tokio said. "You should have said something. I'll have Yoshi send you to your rooms immediately." And again the manservant appeared and ushered the two exhausted individuals down the corridor.
Tokio stood up and cleared the teacups and teapot to the kitchen. She floated down the hallway to her and Saitou's bedroom. From the flickering light of the lantern, Tokio saw Saitou's dark figure and knew he was not asleep from the tenseness around his shoulders. She changed out of her elegant kimono and into a sleeping yukata and lay down next to her husband. He cracked an eye open at her arrival.
"You should apologize for your behavior tomorrow," she told him, settling down beneath the blanket. "They're quite nice people."
"I don't need my wife telling me what to do," Saitou replied irritably.
Tokio made a disapproving clucking noise and Saitou simply turned away from her. After a few moments, Tokio propped herself up with her elbows and turned Saitou back over.
"Miss Naruku is a very nice girl, but isn't Mr. Himura too mature for her?" she asked him.
Saitou opened his eyes again and looked as though he could not believe what she had asked him. "Hm…I don't care." He closed his eyes again.
"But—" Tokio tapped him. "Suppose they aren't a couple and I've misjudged things again. Suppose she does only see him as a friend."
"I don't see why it matters, Tokio," Saitou said, this time not bothering to open his eyes. "Will you blow out the lantern?"
She nodded absently and bent over to do so. Then she laid back down, staring up at the ceiling. After a few moments, she said, "Well if that is the case then—"
"Goodnight, Tokio."
-
Hitomi Yamazaki walked up the steep path that led to the Fujita manor. She had not seen her sister in years. Not since that night when she had finally given up on her search. Tokio was a kind woman and always opened her home to Hitomi, but the younger sister felt she was better on her own. Not to mention Goro Fujita, better known as Hajime Saitou, really peeved her off. It wasn't that he acknowledged that they had been on opposing sides of a revolution and held it against her…he was just so damn insufferable!
So, why had Hitomi accepted her sister's offer this time? Because she was feeling hopeless and dejected, like always. The Bakamatsu had taken its toll on Hitomi Yamazaki. It took a toll on everyone. And being a survivor of that period of war was the worst.
"Hitomi!" Tokio greeted as Hitomi came to the door of the manor.
"Hello, it's good to see you again, sister," Hitomi replied, almost out of habit.
"Come, come in, we're just sitting down to lunch!" Tokio ushered her inside and turned around, headed for the dining room.
Hitomi stepped into the house behind her. "We?"
"Yes, yes, Goro is out but we have some guests staying. I'm sure you'll get along and I hope you won't mind the company."
"Oh, no," Hitomi replied. "I'm sure I'll like these guests. I'm a little relieved to have something to take my mind off, well…the past."
Tokio shot her a disapproving look and they arrived in the doorway to the dining room. Hitomi scanned the room. It was marvelous and flourished, everything a rich woman's dining room should be. Beautiful carvings and statues decorated the walls, along with a pristine katana that hung on the wall.
"Why, that's father's, isn't it?" Hitomi said, looking at the sword.
Tokio nodded and her gaze changed to the kitchen doorway, where Naruku was backing into the dining room.
"Himura, do you know what a plate is?" she was sarcastically yelling back into the kitchen, having not taken notice of Tokio or the new arrival.
A disembodied 'oro!' and a crash followed Naruku's remark.
"Poor Kenshin," Naruku murmured. She turned around and spotted Hitomi and Tokio. "Oh! Hello! You must be Miss Fujita's sister, am I right?"
Hitomi didn't answer but looked frozen to the spot, her mouth gaping open at Naruku. "D…Did you just say…"
Kenshin emerged from the kitchen, almost walking into Naruku who hadn't moved from in front of the doorway. "Miss Naruku, I found the plates," he said, handing them to her with a sheepish look. He laughed at himself as Naruku arranged the plates in her arms.
"Kenshin," Hitomi whispered, her heart swelling. With nimble movements she had cleared the space of the room in seven seconds and threw herself into his arms, ignoring Nakuru completely. Kenshin stumbled for a moment before his expression settled into one of recognition. She wound her fingers into the folds of his gi and breathed deeply, tears forming in her eyes.
"Kenshin…" she repeated in a breathy voice. "How very long it's been."
Kenshin's face settled into an expression of recognition. "Miss Hitomi," he said lightly, disentangling her from his gi.
Behind them, Tokio smiled placidly and Naruku followed her lead. "Well," Tokio said. "What a pleasant surprise. Come, let's sit and chat."
Naruku quickly set out the plates and Tokio followed with the chopsticks. "Please sit down, Mr. Himura," Tokio said to Kenshin, inclining her head.
Kenshin looked startled but did as he was told.
"Now," Tokio began in a very businesslike tone. She wanted to get to the bottom of this. "This must be very surprising to all of us. Hitomi, tell us how you know Mr. Himura."
Hitomi nodded and sat down, wondering how to begin her tale.
"It was the fall of 1866, just before the collapse of the Shogunate. I had been fighting, disguised as a male warrior, for the Choshu clan patriots. At that time, I had heard of Battousai, of course, but never met him. After being wounded in battle, Kenshin found me and cared for me. He knew my secret and I knew he would keep it for me. We became partners of sorts—inseparable in and out of the battlefield. We trusted each other completely. I believe that I…showed Kenshin a new way of life after the war. We wandered together for three blissful years. If we wandered forever, I would not have cared because I had Kenshin and he had me.
"But then, deep into the summer of 1871, Kenshin and I were separated. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I was nothing without him, and nothing mattered except getting him back. I wanted to end my life, but I knew if Kenshin continued to live for me that I should do the same for him. It would not have been fair to leave Kenshin to mourn my death, so I finally gave up and began searching for my own peace. That was the first time I stayed with you, Tokio. You had just been married and I didn't want to impose, so I left. All those years, the dream of a peaceful future with Kenshin was the only thing that kept me going. I'm so happy that I've found you again, Kenshin," she turned her glistening blue eyes on him.
"Miss Hitomi, I—" Kenshin began. He stopped as Yoshi appeared in the room.
"Miss Tokio, your doctor is here," Yoshi said stoutly. "For your physical," he added, dutiful as always.
Tokio nodded appreciatively and Yoshi led her out of the room.
"I'll clear the dishes," Naruku volunteered. "And no, I'm not saying that to get myself out of the way of your blissful reunion." She winked and stood up, plates and trays held in her arms.
"It's sweet," Hitomi said softly once Naruku was in the kitchen. "Even though Mr. Saitou is insufferable, my sister loves him very much."
Kenshin raised an eyebrow at her swooning tone. "What is it? Ready to settle down and become a housewife already?"
Hitomi let out a loud, squirrelish giggle. "If it's with you, just name the day!"
Despite the laugh and the joking atmosphere, Kenshin could tell that Hitomi was being completely serious. He paled.
Her high-pitched chuckles died down and she quickly grasped Kenshin's hand. "Tell me…what have you been up to? I used to know so much about you…I still think that I have a deeper understanding of you than any of your new friends. They are just children, is that right? Have you told…anyone else about Miss Tomoe?"
Kenshin laughed lightly, wondering when it was that he could do so much as smile when Tomoe's name was mentioned. "Yes, Miss Hitomi. Tomoe was a big part of my life. All of my friends know about her. I couldn't help but tell them."
Hitomi frowned and stroked Kenshin's fingers with her own. "So, what have you been doing? Especially…are there still people who want revenge on you?"
Kenshin nodded darkly. "Indeed. My battles have become decreasingly personal, however. Except…except for one."
"Who?" Hitomi asked in a short whisper, directing her body even closer to Kenshin's.
"I shouldn't say," Kenshin replied evasively.
"Oh, Kenshin," Hitomi sighed. "You know you don't have to protect me from the evil truths of your enemies. I'm strong, Kenshin. I don't always need—"
"It's not that," Kenshin cut in. "It extensively involves Naruku and…I don't like bringing it up for her sake."
There was a pause filled with the noises of the kitchen as Naruku washed dishes.
"Good news, everyone!" Tokio said, beaming as she waddled into the room. "The baby is completely healthy and we have a due-date!"
Kenshin smiled and stepped away from Hitomi. "That is wonderful, Madame Tokio. I'm sure Mr. Fujita will be delighted to hear."
Tokio let out a soft laugh. "I'm sure, but he won't tell a soul."
A/N: So, what do you think? If you haven't realized by now, I am using this fic the tiniest bit to poke fun at female-assassin stories, which, generally, I dislike very much. Clearly it is not because of the idea of an OC/Kenshin romance, but just that particular kind of OC/Kenshin romance. It doesn't work for me, and you'll discover why by the end of this fic.
Anyway, as you can probably tell, I would really appreciate any and all comments. Even after many reassurances from beta-readers, I am still somewhat self-conscious about my portrayal of Tokio. I've never written her before! Tell me how I did.
And what you think of everyone and their interactions. Hitomi's, of course, as well as Naruku and Kenshin. Even Saitou! I want to know what you think about the way I've written this so far, where you think it will go, etc. Questions, too, are welcome. Even flames, you know how I am.
Thank you so much!
