The week was almost over. Toki was fretting over the fact that she cannot
find a decent place to live in. The only part that she could afford was in
the slums of Yokohama. Today she will be evicted. She has actually packed
all her belongings already, the most precious of which was the momento of
Shigure and Gentatsu. Her most precious loved ones belonging was lovingly
stored in a red box, placed on top of the rest so that she does not lose
them.
Toki was never the prideful type. She needed help, but the only friends she had were the parents of those poor children. She will not burden them by any means. As for her friends in Tokyo, she did not want to impose on Kenshin anymore as she already did when he asked him to bring Shigure back to his senses. Anyway, she only meet Kenshin and his friends for a short while. Feeling hopeless she resolved to talk to the owners of the house to arrange her to stay for a couple more days.
She heard a loud knock at the door. "Open up!", a voice said harshly.
Toki hurried to open the door. She knew it was them and extended her greetings to the middle-aged woman in front of her.
"Have you packed your belongings? You should be ready to leave by now", said the woman with her hands on her hips. The woman was quite short and was heavily built. Either way, she did not exude any lady-like qualities in her. She had small and piercing eyes, Toki noticed.
"Yes I have packed.", Toki motioned to the bags across the room.
"Good then, I suggest you get going.", said the owner
"About that, I was hoping if you could extend your graces just a little bit longer. I still have not found a place to stay and a couple of days will really help.", Toki said hoping to get the mercy of the woman in front.
Unfortunately the owner had different intentions. "I am a business woman. If you would like to stay here you will have to pay me 100 yen for two days stay.", she snorted out.
Toki lowered her eyes to the floor, 100 yen was almost the equivalent to a two week stay at an inn. It will use up her money to find a place. "Please upon your good graces...", Toki begged.
"Hmph. Get your things and go! You and that Shigure has been a constant headache for me. To think that I was housing rebels!", the woman turned to Toki's belongings and started carrying it out.
"Please..." Toki begged again.
The lady placed Toki's bagagges outside and took Toki by the arm and slammed the door.
---------------------------------------------
It was a hot day. Saitou had just finished his breakfast fried tamago (egg). He was feeling quite full and quite better than usual, when he heard a loud voice down the street. "I have enough trouble with you! You leeches who never pay!" a short and fat woman was shouting.
"Yare.. Yare...", Saitou muttred. He was started of with a good day and it seems like it will be ruined by domestic quarrels. "Ah let them be. Really people nowadays get too excitable by such non-sense.", Saitoh grinned. He was about to turn around and leave when he heard the voice again.
"You rebels are a disease for this community! Never show your face here again!", the fat woman kept shouting.
Saitou put on his hat and started walking towards the voice. "A rebel? What the hell is this woman talking about?", no sooner when he thought this he saw Toki starting to pick up the baggages that were sprawled on the road. The woman has gone inside and Saitou thought Toki was a pitiful sight to see.
"Here, let me help you with that.", he started to pick up Toki's belongings.
"Please leave them be, I can do this myself.", Toki replied. Not really wanting to get any help from the man who just last week was anything but gentlemanly towards her.
"Now don't be a spoil sport! I was only stating the obvious the other day.", he grinned "I was right anyway. So at least be a lady and accept help when you obviously need it. I don't bite."
Toki gave a sigh and let Saitou pick up her baggages for her.
"Now where are we headed to?", Saitou asked.
Toki did not reply. She started to walk. It was then that Saitou realized that Toki did not have anywhere to go. "Ah! This presents a perfect opportunity.", Saitou mused and started smiling to himself. If Toki had no place to go he can offer his help. She can lodge at the small outhouse that he and Tokio owned. This way he doesn't have to go here all the time and watch her from the background. It will be much more convenient.
"Toki...", Saitou said as empthically as he could.. "If you don't have a place to right now. I have a small outhouse back in Tokyo. You can help my wife, she is quite busy raising our three children."
"I don't want to impose. Aside from that I do not have that much money.", Toki replied.
Saitou looked at her. "What a forlorn sight to see.", he thought. In part Saitou was feeling sorry for Toki, but however another part of him wanted to shake her up and down and tell her, "Hey you! I'm offering you a chance of a lifetime here!". But he kept his composure, instead he said, "That's what I'm saying. It's not like you'll be imposing. You will be expected to help around the house. My wife is a terrible cook. I don't know how good of a cook you are but I don't think anyone can surpass her talent as a terrible chef. Plus I'd really appreciate help for the kids." Saitou wanted to hit himself. He does not like talking like this, he never was comfortable trying to sound sympathetic, etc. etc.
Toki was seriously considering Gorou-sans offer. Right now it was not like she had any choice anyway. Although she has never liked to converse nor take offer from strangers, Gorou-san seemed serious about his offer. He seemed concerned about her. She attributed that concern to his being a policeman. "Well.... If that is the case... I guess...", Toki's voice trailed. She was still looking the ground.
"That settles it! I'll get you a room for tonight at an inn. I have to go the precint today and we will leave for Tokyo tomorrow."
Toki looked up and was about to protest. But Saitou was already heading for the nearest inn. Unknown to Toki, Saitou was praising himself for a job well done. Toki did not notice Saitou's ulterior motives. It would be very convenient for Saitou for her to be in his lair.
END of CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV - Preview - Peaceful days at the Saitou household. We learn more about Saitou at home. Toki adjusting to her new circumstance.
Review answers:
Imalefty: Thank you for continuing to read my first fic! Really I've been itching to write a story about Saitou but not with Tokio.. Sorry Tokio fans! I've never tried writing before so please excuse me, because I have a tendency to be "wordy". I have the plot all worked out, it's turning out to be quite juicy, but maybe it's just me? :O) MERRY XMAS!!!
Toki was never the prideful type. She needed help, but the only friends she had were the parents of those poor children. She will not burden them by any means. As for her friends in Tokyo, she did not want to impose on Kenshin anymore as she already did when he asked him to bring Shigure back to his senses. Anyway, she only meet Kenshin and his friends for a short while. Feeling hopeless she resolved to talk to the owners of the house to arrange her to stay for a couple more days.
She heard a loud knock at the door. "Open up!", a voice said harshly.
Toki hurried to open the door. She knew it was them and extended her greetings to the middle-aged woman in front of her.
"Have you packed your belongings? You should be ready to leave by now", said the woman with her hands on her hips. The woman was quite short and was heavily built. Either way, she did not exude any lady-like qualities in her. She had small and piercing eyes, Toki noticed.
"Yes I have packed.", Toki motioned to the bags across the room.
"Good then, I suggest you get going.", said the owner
"About that, I was hoping if you could extend your graces just a little bit longer. I still have not found a place to stay and a couple of days will really help.", Toki said hoping to get the mercy of the woman in front.
Unfortunately the owner had different intentions. "I am a business woman. If you would like to stay here you will have to pay me 100 yen for two days stay.", she snorted out.
Toki lowered her eyes to the floor, 100 yen was almost the equivalent to a two week stay at an inn. It will use up her money to find a place. "Please upon your good graces...", Toki begged.
"Hmph. Get your things and go! You and that Shigure has been a constant headache for me. To think that I was housing rebels!", the woman turned to Toki's belongings and started carrying it out.
"Please..." Toki begged again.
The lady placed Toki's bagagges outside and took Toki by the arm and slammed the door.
---------------------------------------------
It was a hot day. Saitou had just finished his breakfast fried tamago (egg). He was feeling quite full and quite better than usual, when he heard a loud voice down the street. "I have enough trouble with you! You leeches who never pay!" a short and fat woman was shouting.
"Yare.. Yare...", Saitou muttred. He was started of with a good day and it seems like it will be ruined by domestic quarrels. "Ah let them be. Really people nowadays get too excitable by such non-sense.", Saitoh grinned. He was about to turn around and leave when he heard the voice again.
"You rebels are a disease for this community! Never show your face here again!", the fat woman kept shouting.
Saitou put on his hat and started walking towards the voice. "A rebel? What the hell is this woman talking about?", no sooner when he thought this he saw Toki starting to pick up the baggages that were sprawled on the road. The woman has gone inside and Saitou thought Toki was a pitiful sight to see.
"Here, let me help you with that.", he started to pick up Toki's belongings.
"Please leave them be, I can do this myself.", Toki replied. Not really wanting to get any help from the man who just last week was anything but gentlemanly towards her.
"Now don't be a spoil sport! I was only stating the obvious the other day.", he grinned "I was right anyway. So at least be a lady and accept help when you obviously need it. I don't bite."
Toki gave a sigh and let Saitou pick up her baggages for her.
"Now where are we headed to?", Saitou asked.
Toki did not reply. She started to walk. It was then that Saitou realized that Toki did not have anywhere to go. "Ah! This presents a perfect opportunity.", Saitou mused and started smiling to himself. If Toki had no place to go he can offer his help. She can lodge at the small outhouse that he and Tokio owned. This way he doesn't have to go here all the time and watch her from the background. It will be much more convenient.
"Toki...", Saitou said as empthically as he could.. "If you don't have a place to right now. I have a small outhouse back in Tokyo. You can help my wife, she is quite busy raising our three children."
"I don't want to impose. Aside from that I do not have that much money.", Toki replied.
Saitou looked at her. "What a forlorn sight to see.", he thought. In part Saitou was feeling sorry for Toki, but however another part of him wanted to shake her up and down and tell her, "Hey you! I'm offering you a chance of a lifetime here!". But he kept his composure, instead he said, "That's what I'm saying. It's not like you'll be imposing. You will be expected to help around the house. My wife is a terrible cook. I don't know how good of a cook you are but I don't think anyone can surpass her talent as a terrible chef. Plus I'd really appreciate help for the kids." Saitou wanted to hit himself. He does not like talking like this, he never was comfortable trying to sound sympathetic, etc. etc.
Toki was seriously considering Gorou-sans offer. Right now it was not like she had any choice anyway. Although she has never liked to converse nor take offer from strangers, Gorou-san seemed serious about his offer. He seemed concerned about her. She attributed that concern to his being a policeman. "Well.... If that is the case... I guess...", Toki's voice trailed. She was still looking the ground.
"That settles it! I'll get you a room for tonight at an inn. I have to go the precint today and we will leave for Tokyo tomorrow."
Toki looked up and was about to protest. But Saitou was already heading for the nearest inn. Unknown to Toki, Saitou was praising himself for a job well done. Toki did not notice Saitou's ulterior motives. It would be very convenient for Saitou for her to be in his lair.
END of CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV - Preview - Peaceful days at the Saitou household. We learn more about Saitou at home. Toki adjusting to her new circumstance.
Review answers:
Imalefty: Thank you for continuing to read my first fic! Really I've been itching to write a story about Saitou but not with Tokio.. Sorry Tokio fans! I've never tried writing before so please excuse me, because I have a tendency to be "wordy". I have the plot all worked out, it's turning out to be quite juicy, but maybe it's just me? :O) MERRY XMAS!!!