Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and their likeness.

Lilykiss once suggested I write a Saitou x Tokio story set in the country. So when she also suggested we work on something together I automatically thought of the country (also helps that we both live out in the country).

I hope you enjoy this latest story! Chapter 1 and 3 will be written by me and Lilykiss will write chapter 2 and 4. At least that's the plan.

On to the story!

Takagi Tokio couldn't help but frown. So far her life in the country was playing out like a cliché romantic comedy. As an author Tokio knew the formula well, and it was a formula she stayed away from.

Tokio was no romance writer, but since her arrival in the country that was all she could think about. She blamed her editor, it was his idea after all, who suggested the move in hopes of inspiring her lazy muse. Tokio felt inspired alright, but not in any direction she wanted to go.

"Stop daydreaming and start the car." A voice droned out from under the hood of her car.

Tokio started and blushed, embarrassed to be caught staring off into nothing. "I wasn't day dreaming . . ." she mumbled.

"If you say so," was the amused reply.

But before anything else could be said Tokio decided to change subjects and asked, "What's the diagnosis?"

Saitou Hajime closed the hood of the car, and raised an eyebrow at the woman, "It's a piece of shit."

With one hand on her hip and another on top of the open car door, Tokio glared. "Well obviously, but can you fix it?" During their short acquaintance Tokio had come to learn that dealing with Saitou meant keeping all her wits about her.

"Sure."

Tokio looked at him expectantly but when he didn't reply she said, "Well?"

Saitou pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his hands, "Gas station is a bit off from here. Do you have a gas tank in the trunk?"

Tokio let out a sigh, "I have a full tank of gas, why do we need gas? And how will that help?" Then pushing her sunglasses up on her nose said, "If you don't know what you're doing then just admit it."

Saitou eyed the shorter woman with some amusement, before smirking. "Start the car."

Tokio rolled her eyes and got into the car, mumbling about how that wasn't exactly an appropriate response to her statement but that she would show him.

Saitou couldn't help but chuckle as he went to stand by the driver's side, placing one elbow on the hood of the car and the other on the door's frame. For all his teasing, he was actually quite impressed. (Not that he would ever admit it.) Tokio had been living in the country for a few months now, and despite the unfamiliar territory she was doing her best. Which was more than anyone had expected.

Tokio, annoyed and unnerved by Saitou's cocky attitude, turned the key in the ignition and the car spluttered. She turned to Saitou, "It starts."

"Congratulations."

Tokio stuck her tongue out at the man before turning back. She triumphantly pointed out her gas gauge with the arrow sitting on the full mark.

Saitou, however, was not defeated. He reached in and flicked the gas gauge, causing the needle to fall onto empty. "You're out of gas." He said once more, grin in full force.

Tokio stared at the gas gauge and then felt her face heat up. "It said it was full . . ."

Drumming his fingers on the hood of the car, Saitou shrugged. "It happens. The needle gets stuck on old timers such as this."

Tokio groaned. "Great." Just what she needed.

"You own an old timer but you know nothing about cars," it wasn't quite a statement and not quite a question. Classic cars, such as the 1986 Mini Cooper Tokio drove around, were popular. But they tended to require constant maintenance and basic mechanic skills and weren't for everyone.

"I know that when the gas gauge says full, it means it's full." She snapped back but she couldn't quite meet his eyes. She could only guess how much he was enjoying this, city girl trying to make it out in the country, and failing at it.

It was just her luck that he had been witness to another error in judgment. An extremely embarrassing night that had involved mistaking a fox's scream for a human's, a slightly hysterical call to the local police station, and trying to beat an officer of the law with her rolling pin. And it was that very officer that happened upon Tokio, with her car dead on the side of the road and without a signal to place a call. If this were a romantic comedy, Saitou would play the leading man (And what an unlikely one he made).

But Tokio found nothing about her situation funny or romantic.

Tokio pushed her way past the officer, "Ok. At least that's an easy fix."

Saitou nodded.

Tokio peeked past her "hero" to his ride, an old tractor. " . . . so, to the gas station."

"It would seem so." Saitou bored tone belied the amusement in his eyes. He was willing to bet that Tokio had never ridden a tractor in her life, and was unwilling to do so now.

"You're supposed to be helpful and charming."

Saitou's lips quirked, almost into a smile, "Is that so? According to who?"

Tokio sighed, Why did he have to make everything such a struggle? "I don't know! The laws of literary construction?"

"I'll have to take your word for that. You are the writer." Saitou watched as Tokio rubbed the bridge of her nose. He knew he wasn't helping the situation but it was too much fun. Despite being a city girl, Tokio had learned surprisingly fast and had already settled herself into town.

Then rolling his shoulders back, Saitou moved out of the way and with mock gallantry he bowed. "Your chariot."

Tokio laughed despite herself. "I suppose that's an improvement."

"Hm. Don't get used to it." Saitou swiftly, and with the grace of someone accustomed to such things, climbed onto the tractor.

Tokio blinked and shook her head. Apparently there was no such thing as ladies first. She looked at the tractor with some trepidation.

"Put your foot on the step." Saitou instructed, holding his hand out for Tokio.

Tokio took the offered hand and blushed. Maybe he wasn't so bad, he just had his own charm. Tokio was far less graceful as she climbed the tractor, using anything that could be a foothold.

The tractor ride had to be the most uncomfortable thing ever, Tokio decided as she held on, and watched the road pass beneath her. Who would have thought that she would ever move out to the country and ride tractor? Tokio watched the countryside pass by slowly and sighed, life certainly was much slower in the country, literally and figuratively.

Saitou glanced over at the woman, and smirked. She was obviously nervous. Tokio saw him smirk and asked "What?" Only to find that she couldn't be heard over the roar of the tractor. It only made Saitou chuckle.

Tokio sighed and let her chin drop to her chest. Oh well, at least today's encounter with the man wasn't as embarrassing as the last. If she were lucky she wouldn't embarrass herself the next time she saw him.

Thank you for reading, please leave a review on your way out.

Fun fact, the first time I heard a fox's scream I thought it was a woman in distress. I had to google "fox scream" to see that indeed a fox. That and the fox showed up to my front door.

Tokio's car is actually inspired by my own car, except it wasn't a gas problem that killed it.

Stay tuned for Lilykiss's chapter!