Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin
Ruri is based on the rumor that Okita had had a relationship with a physician's daughter. In information I looked up, Saito was married during the Bakumatsu, just not to Tokio.
Chapter Four: Birthday Bash, old memories, and kisses
Saito glared as he hurriedly rushed to get out of his wet clothes. Out of all the days to patrol, it had to be when it was pouring down rain. He passed by Okita, who looked anything but innocent as he flipped through a blue hard cover book. He could have sworn he saw that book before somewhere but he wasn't sure and right now he didn't care. Okita was a grown man and he didn't need to watch the brat every single minute of the day.
To his chagrin, Okita spotted him and started to follow close behind. Saito thought he had patrol but obviously he was wrong or else the pest would have went to bother the general public. Finally, curiosity got to him and he halted on the spot damning Okita for being the only one to get him interested in anything.
"What is it," Saito asked.
"Well, I just heard about you and Battousai's mud fight. It seemed pretty funny and downright dirty," Okita replied with a laugh which turned into a dry cough.
Saito sighed.
"Is this something serious enough to be checked out or is this another cold," He asked emphasizing the word 'cold'.
"Mou, Saito I was in the rain earlier today and it's only the cold. Nothing to worry about," Okita replied dismissing all of Saito's worries.
"So what is that book you're reading," Saito asked once that was taken care of.
Okita eyed him and seemed to notice that his friend was still dirty and incredibly wet. Shaking his head, he gave Saito a little shove towards the room and the question for the time being remained unanswered.
"Can't have you sick on us Saito. Who's to know the next time we will be able to witness another mud fight, eh," Okita continued.
Saito glared and slammed the shoji door shut leaving Okita standing there.
Later, at dinner in which most of the men was taking the time to thank god that it was Shinpachi's turn to cook, Saito once again caught sight of the book. His curiosity of the book was getting the better of him yet he didn't want to seem that desperate to know. He was interrupted when Hijikata came over to the pair and took a seat next to Okita.
"Happy twenty third birthday, Souji. Make sure that cough disappears by next week okay," He said leaving no room for argument.
"I'm fine really, Mr. Hijikata but if you insist I promise," Okita added.
Hijikata just glared and took off to some other thing he was doing at the time.
"He tells you to get better on your birthday, how sweet," Saito sarcastically remarked.
"Eh, he gave me some candy earlier and some medicine for my cough. There's really not much I expect Saito being we're in war and everything," Okita changed the subject rather quickly.
"Yeah, well what was Kondo's," Saito asked.
Okita glared off to where he was although a small smile still graced his lips and Saito damned his curiosity once again.
"He said I don't have to try so hard to cook all the time especially on my birthday. He then lectured me on how I have been a man for some time now and told me that beating up people who think I'm a bad cook is childish," he added.
"Seems to me like he may be right," Saito commented.
"Well, immaturity defines those who have no sense of fun," Okita grumbled.
"At least we know you can," Saito said seriously as he lit a cigarette up and took a drag.
Okita looked at it in disgust.
"Get used to it," Saito reprimanded him.
"It causes lung cancer Saito. It'd be horrible to think that you do that intentionally and get it. You'll have borrowed time," Okita mentioned as he went back to the blue binded book.
"What is that," Saito finally demanded.
Okita started to laugh out loud that some of the others started to glance their way. Saito's look, however, told them to get back to their own business.
"Oh, well I've sorta.... I'm writing some poetry," Okita finally admitted.
Saito chuckled at that. That was very unexpected especially since he never even seemed the type.
"It's not that funny," Okita groaned.
"You and poetry do not mix," Saito said with a snort as he got up to leave.
He was surprised when Okita thrust the book into his arms. Okita was passionate about some things but he never ever got too into things. So that meant he was intent on proving to Saito that the poetry wasn't a fluke. He took it hesitantly although he wondered what Okita thought he'd gain of this.
"You can read some of them, all of them, or you could read none of it. I never said I was good at this Saito, but poetry is a hobby of mine to pass the time," Okita told him.
Saito just glared at those who were brave enough to watch as Okita left the room.
"Hapwy birfday to me," Souja called out happily.
Saito wanted to deck her one. He really did but the one thing that kept him from doing so was the fact that he probably would feel bad when he pictured the hurt look she was going to give him and the fact that she was just excited. Sighing, he lit up a cigarette as Souja danced around the room singing several parts of songs she knew or made up.
"Can mommy come," she asked out of the blue.
"What mom Souja," he asked playing dumb.
"You know, mommy Kio," she told him smartly.
He smirked at this.
The little girl was getting really close to the woman who worked at the restaurant in town and often loved it when they stopped in to see her. Today was Souja's third birthday and on a grimmer note; three years since Okita had been gone. He was happy to see her so carefree and innocent and could only hope she stayed that way. Heaven knows, he didn't know Okita when he was three but if he was any way like Souja is now, Saito could live with that.
"Okay, we'll see mommy Kio today," he drawled and she ran over to him and gave him a great big hug.
She then waited patiently by the door until he was ready and took his hand before leaving. Horrible three's weren't going to be that bad if she acted like this all the time. He was certainly looking forward to when he could start to teach her bigger things. Things that included fishing and learning how to use a bokken at least but that should be saved for when she was eight or nine.
He didn't realize they were there until he heard Souja squeal and make her way into the resturaunt. She ran in there and hugged her leg as Tokio was taking up an order. The couple looked from Tokio to Souja and smiled at the bond they obviosly shared.
"She yours," the wife asked.
"No, she's a friends but she thinks she mine," Tokio added seeing the hopeful look in little Souja's eyes.
"Well how old is she," the husband asked.
At this time Saito joined up with them.
"Three today," Saito told the couple with a smirk.
"She's obviously your daughter," he told Saito.
Tokio laughed.
"She's his friend's child, but considering his friend died three years ago, Saito is the guardian," Tokio explained.
The couple blushed at the error they've made.
"Sorry, she just looks like both of you," the wife commented.
Tokio smiled and then noticed the loving look that Souja was giving her. The girl was really something special. She came into her life and made it brighter when everything had been so dull and complicated. This girl was an angel and she was a beautiful one at that. She turned back to the couple and finished taking their orders down before going to the other waitress and giving it to her. She was glad she took off earlier today.
"Let's go shall we," she told them.
"Let go, let go," Souja proclaimed.
Tokio giggled.
They eventually made their way to a small lake with a surrounding of trees and took a seat. Tokio got out the food and Saito helped Souja lay down the blanket. Or he tried to help because Souja wouldn't hear of it.
"I do it daddy," she told him.
Tokio dished out the food and handed it to the other two before serving herself. Souja smiled and sat on Saito's lap as she ate. Watching the scenery, it couldn't have been a better place to go. It was relatively quiet expect for the sounds of nature and the lake was beautiful. As Saito looked on, he couldn't help notice that he was pretty happy. The things of the past were just that, he couldn't keep falling back on those or else he couldn't move on.
The moon was starting to show up after there desert and Tokio started to giggle again. He saw that Souja decided to take a nap on his lap and found he didn't mind. She now had a habit of not wanting to sleep alone. Suddenly she started to cough lightly in her sleep and Saito became worried. Tokio noticed this and gave him a questioning look.
"My friend's disease started out as a cough. Tomorrow if it persists I'm going to get that checked out," he stated.
Tokio smiled.
"You're a good daddy and like anyone you worry too much," she told him.
"If I didn't give a damn, Souja would have nothing. She would have been dead by now," he added thinking about it.
"As long as you keep that in mind, you will never fail her," Tokio said.
Saito barely realized their face was only an inch apart before they began to kiss. It deepened and then it ended all too soon.
"Sorry I just," Tokio never got to finish because Saito captured her lips in his and they embraced in another kiss as Souja lay wrapped up in the blanket obvious to it all.
