--This story was co-written with my sister, Rosemary, whom you may contact at gohorses@yahoo.com.
--The story idea itself belongs to her, though I contributed to adding details to them. I was
--also the one who wrote the story, while she only made decisions. As a result, neither she nor
--I actually own Rurouni Kenshin. Heck, we don't even own Tsuyosa because we protray him along
--the elusive lines of Kaoru's father. We're not sure Tsuyosa is his real name even, but it's
--Japanese for strong and we thought it sounded pretty, so we decided to use it. Apoligies for
--any Out of Charactor you see, though we tried greatly to keep them out of that rut. Heck, we
--don't know how Tokio is supposed to act eithor, so we're not too sure about her . . .
--One final word: This story is slightly crossed over with Ranma 1/2. You don't need to be familar
--with it to be left in the dark, since I believe I explained everything in the story. However,
--it might be helpful for any inside jokes/puns I felt like tossing in. ^_^ C&C is ever so welcome.
--Please do not take and distribute this anywhere without my permission (dalimata@yahoo.com), or
--even run off with the idea. Thankyouverymuchos!
Kaoru boldly made her way over to where her father and aunt were still bickering even as the young woman with lavender hair who had shamelessly pounced Tsuyosa stood between them, her head moving to look at each person as they spoke.
She glanced over to see Kaoru marching up to Tsuyosa. Jealousy clouded her facial expression. "Who you?" she demanded. Kaoru ignored her and threw her arms around Tsuyosa in a breath-taking (Tsuyosa's, to be exact) hug. Lo Zhun's heart broke in two at the sight, and the pain overwhelmed her good sense.
She pounced on Kaoru, pulling a katana from out of nowhere.
"Wait a minute!" Tokio grabbed her by the hair. "And who do you think you are, attacking my niece like that?" She effortlessly plucked the sword from Lo Zhun's hands and tossed it behind her. Tsuyosa fairly pushed Kaoru away, who burst into tears again. He slowly reached out and placed one hand on Lo Zhun's shoulder. He pointed at Kaoru.
"Daughter," he spoke. He reached his free hand out to touch Kaoru's shoulder. She stopped crying. "Daughter. My daughter. Good daughter." Lo Zhun's face fell. She turned a belligerent glare over her shoulder at Tokio, who still held her by the hair. She swung a foot back. Tokio barely dodged it and then brought her frying pan down upon Lo Zhun's head.
The Amazon went out like a light.
They stared down at the body. Tokio snapped her fingers. "Now I know why she looks so familiar! She's the one who destroyed my house!"
Kaoru nudged Tsuyosa's shoulder. "Daddy, who is that and what is going on?" she asked.
Tsuyosa ignored it. His foot nudged the prone Amazon's body as his mind worked overtime. Amazon . . . Amazon . . . Tokio had just defeated an Amazon!
A slow smile spread across his features as he bent over and began to shake her.
Lo Zhun snapped awake, flung herself upward through the air and over Tokio's head. She landed perfectly on one foot, her two arms extended before her and the hands clenched into fists. She shot furious looks between Tokio and Kaoru. Tsuyosa felt himself grow cold as he realized Lo Zhun must have thought that Tokio was Kaoru's mother. He frowned. That matter would have to be changed.
He pointed at Kaoru again. "My daughter," he spoke. He pointed at Tokio. "Evil," he said. "Very evil." There, that should take care of the matter.
Tokio facefaulted and brought her frying pan down upon Tsuyosa's head. He flinched at the bump with his eyes screwed closed. He slowly opened them to see Tokio frowning thoughtfully at him. He broke into a triumphant smile. "Ha! Didn't you always tell me I had a thick skull?"
"I believe it," Tokio grumbled, staring at her frying pan as if it had betrayed her. She was startled from her puzzlement when Lo Zhun jumped her.
Soujirou, Sanosuke, and Kenshin all gave "Orro!" 's of surprise when Lo Zhun, planted a kiss on Tokio. Her hair standing on end from shock and her face as white as snow, Tokio did nothing to push the Amazon away. Lo Zhun dropped it and then scampered away across the yard and over the wall.
Saitou liked to come home to a quiet home with dinner simmering on the fire, the scent lingering invitingly in the air. Perhaps Yahiko would have looked forward to the same prospect, as both of them had had a hard day of bawling drunks (Saitou could have sworn Sanosuke had something to do with it), pickpockets, and then there was that wrinkled, dirty old man who ran off with women's underwear . . .
The moment the policeman slid the door open, both he and Yahiko were nearly knocked off their feet from the sound that blasted through the opening.
"I absolutely REFUSE to have those awful little Mongolians within this house!"
"Waaaaaaaa-"
"Oh come now, Tokio. It would be just like old times!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"That is exactly what I am afraid of! Those two were unruly brats with no sense of control of dignity and I refuse to allow them into this household!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"Oh yeah? Well, this happens to be my house, and if Kaoru wants to throw a party to bring everyone together and let them know I am alive, then it shall happen!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"I don't care! I am the matron of this house, and am obviously wiser than you!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"Oh yeah?"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"You are the bubblebrain! Not I! The only smart thing you did in your life was to die, and even then you botched that up! And for Kami's sake Kaoru, breath!"
" -aaaaaaaa-gasp!-Waaaaaah!"
Saitou coughed to gain attention. The sound went by unnoticed.
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"I can't believe you would actually be so heartless as to say no to a perfectly reasonable question!"
Tokio's face had flooded with an angry red color some time ago. She leapt to her feet just then and began to wag a stubborn finger at her brother-in-law even as Kaoru continued to wail without notice. "How dare you call me heartless! In the two years that I know those horrid brats, they stole my sister's jewelry-perhaps even made Kaoru and Soujirou do it-and never returned all of it when I tried to reason with them! They were rude, impossible, never listened to me, talked back, were insolent to no ends, and even went as far as to call me a witchy old hag! I highly doubt they have changed over the years! There will be no party and that. Is. Final!"
"-aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
Soujirou hid his face in his hands from where he was sitting. *This is it,* he thought to himself as his aunt and uncle stopped using words and were eyeing one another, measuring each person up for an impossible threat.
Saitou glanced down at Kenshin, searching for an inquiry as to what had happened. He frowned when he noticed Sanosuke sitting beside the little Rurouni. So, that was where the morhon has been. No doubt he stuck around for an alibi.
Kenshin, sensing eyes upon him, looked up. He gave Saitou a helpless smile and little shrug of his shoulders before the memories of the night before entered their minds at mutual seconds and they looked quickly away and embarresment flooded their faces.
Saitou turned back to his wife and brother-in-law. They were still eying each other. He knew that look. If he didn't want to get caught between a "Hajime, tell that rocks-for-brains brother-in-law-of yours that his very existence is an insult to all other men who lived in the past and will live in the future", or something to that very extent. He cleared his throat to distract him. No one heard him over Kaoru.
"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
Damn. Who did he have to Aky Soku Zan around here for attention?
Saitou's golden gaze drifted over to the oblivious Sanosuke.
"Soujirou!" Tsuyosa turned to his nephew, speaking over Karou's wailing. "Tell your aunt she is a foolish stubborn shrew!"
"You most certainly will not tell me!" Tokio snapped. "Because you will be telling your uncle that he is living illegally and therefore what I say goes!"
Soujirou glanced from Tokio to Tsuyosa and back to Tokio once more. He gulped and began to sink downward. "Which uncle?" he asked in a low voice.
"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
Soujirou, exherting his speed to the fullest, whizzed behind Saitou with the innocent belief that the man was the only person safe from Tokio's wrath. Kaoru stopped wailing as a blue light streaked past her. Tsuyosa's eyebrows shot up to his receeding hairline at the speed his nephew had just displayed. Kenshin and Sanosuke did not seem worried about the matter.
Kaoru turned around and threw herself at Saitou's feet. "Uuuncle Haaaajimeeee! AuntTokiowon'tletmehaveapartybutyouwillmakehernonethelessbecauseyoulovemeverymuchandbecauseIreallyreallywantapartyandcanIprettyplease?"
"Breathe," Tokio reminded her just as Kaoru's face began to turn blue. Her eyes glittered dangerously as they traveled over her husband. She had her own way of getting what she wanted from the man she chose for her own. "If you say she may have a party, then you can sleep elsewhere than my side tonight, Hajime!"
Soujirou cheerfully pointed out the flaws of her punishment. "But Aunt Tokio, didn't you arrange sleeping matters so you stayed with Kaoru and Uncle Hajime and I were in a different room together."
Undaunted, Tokio continued on. "And none of you will be eating any of my cooking the entire time I am here!"
"Posh!" Tsuyosa waved his hand before folding it and the other across his chest. "That'll be nothing! I can cook for all of us!"
As the thoughts of what hell Tsuyosa could create in the kitchen, massive heart attacks occurred among the occupants of the room. As one, they turned to Kaoru, who was eagerly waiting for an answer. They voices mixed and formed one, the words chasing one another around in a merry-go-round; their meaning was summed up in two simple words.
"No party!"
Kaoru burst into tears once more.
That night, over a somber dinner of sweet yams, Tokio turned to Yahiko and slyly asked him how day with a cop went. A devious smile spread across Yahiko's features as Saitou visibly choked on his tea. Kenshin, Soujirou, Sanosuke, and Tsuyosa leaned forward with curiousity to catch Yahiko's soft words.
Kaoru, mad at everyone for taking sides with her aunt, sulked and did not pay any attention to the men as she loaded Ayame's and Sazume's plates with fresh strawberries and yams.
"Oh, I'd have to say it was kind of fun." Yahiko's brown eyes shifted over to Saitou before looking back at Tokio. "I learned some very interesting things about certain people." Soujirou glanced around the table and stopped. He stared openly at the warning glares Saitou was sending Yahiko. As if aware he was being watched, Saitou's cool gaze shifted to take in the look upon his nephew's face. Soujirou saw the reminder of his past on his uncle's face and he slowly wilted beneath the gaze before it turned from him and back on Yahiko.
Sanosuke spoke, much to Saitou's chagrin. "What were they?" Yahiko shrugged without looking at anyone in particular.
"Oh, just things . . ." He sipped at his tea, smacking his lips at the sweet taste.
Tokio turned to Saitou. She smiled sweetly at him and cradled her chin across bridged fingers. "Tell me, what does he mean?" she asked. Saitou cringed slightly enough for everyone to catch interest. He was saved from having to answer his wife's prodding question when the wall behind him exploded.
Kenshin groaned. "I just fixed that, de gazaro!" he exclaimed as Saitou reached for his sword before suddenly remembering Tokio had taken it and Kenshin's sakaba when the Mibu Wolf and former Hitokiri Battousai had started to eye one another.
A tiny old lady on a walking stick and a young woman with purple tresses stepped through the wall. The young woman growled and pointed Tokio. She rattled away several Chinese words to the old woman, who stared thoughtfully at the occupants. Ayame and Suzame cringed and hugged themselves against Kaoru. Her hands dropped down to protectively cradle them against her sides.
Kenshin and Soujirou stared with morbid fascination as Saitou turned a very deadly white and began to slowly sink beneath the table.
The old woman nodded her head absently as Tokio rose from her spot. As tiny as she was, she still towered over the other.
"And just who," she began, her tone icy enough to freeze the bloodlines of every one who had ever crossed her and still manage to live, "are you to come crashing into this place with no thought or heed towards its occupants?"
"Yeah!" Tsuyosa peered around Tokio's kimono skirts. "Who do you think you are to have that right? Tokio?" A smile broke out on Soujirou's features even as Tokio's eyes narrowed. She kicked backwards, the heel of her stocking-clad foot connected with Tsuyosa's chin. He toppled backwards.
The old woman spoke, her ancient voice commanding instant respect from all who heard it. "Woman, who are you command these men?" She pointed with her cane end at Tsuyosa and Saitou. "Are they your husbands?"
Tokio pointed at Saitou. "That is my husband," she replied cooly. She pointed at Tsuyosa, who rubbing his jaw that was quickly turning purple. "I have no idea what that creature is; I used to think he was marginally human, but I am plagued with doubts now."
"He is not your husband?"
"Hell would freeze over before I would even so much as consider living under the same roof as him!"
Deep in the Underworld . . .
Shishio gave the sky a look of horrid even as a snowflake drifted from its dark depths and landed on the tip of his bandaged nose.
"You already are," Tsuyosa pointed out regretfully. He sighed as he folded his arms across his chest. His cheeks bulged before he released an explosive breath of air. From beneath his straggly bangs, he peered at Saitou. "I thought your code of life was to quickly slay evil." He nodded his head at Tokio. "What is she still doing around?"
Tokio kicked backwards, but Tsuyosa shifted his head slightly so her foot only skimmed past his ear. He stood up, his movements fluid and precise. He bent low at the waist at the old woman, bowing his head in greeting. "Dear mother," he began respectfully, straightening up with several creaks in his back, "welcome to my humble abode. While I realize the company may be less than desirable, you are invited to stay here with your honorable daughter."
He overlooked the look of panic Saitou sent him; he enjoyed ignoring the glare of rage from Tokio. The old lady looked thoughtful as her daughter began to speak in rapid Chinese again. She waved her hand and Lo Zhun quieted.
"Tell me, son-in-law," she addressed Tsuyosa, "tell me of your wife. Is she still alive?"
Tsuyosa closed his eyes at the mention before opening them again. His eyes were a brilliant blue color, shining with suspicious liquid. "No, she has been dead for a long time now."
The old woman turned to Saitou. "Son-in-law, tell me of your wife."
Tokio turned eyes full of horrid onto her husband. Saitou threw glances between the old woman and Tokio, trying to decide who the greater evil was. "She's been my wife for more than ten years," she said finally.
Lo Zhun's face dropped before perking up as the old woman said something to her. She looked at Tsuyosa. A long, hard look passed between them before the old woman took two steps forward and finally sat down. "So, son-in-law, what's for dinner?"
"Eyah! Lo Zhun is hungry!" The daughter sat down beside her mother. They both eyed the yams with barely-disguised eagerness. Tsuyosa fairly choked as he felt the rage building within Tokio.
"You mean . . ." Tsuyosa looked surprised. "You're staying here?"
"Only until you consent to marriage with my daughter and move to China with us."
"Never!" Tsuyosa protested even as Tokio perked up.
"Will he be staying in China for a long while?" she asked eagerly.
"For the rest of his life."
Toko turned to Tsuyosa. "Why not marry the child?" she demanded as he crossed his arms, turned his head, and began to sulk as a child who didn't get his own way would. "She's very pretty, young, sweet, and no doubt a wonderful cook!" He rolled his eyes before shifting his narrowed gaze.
"And who, just this morning, was telling me I was disgracing the memory of Hana?"
There was a long silence that following, broken only by the old woman reaching across the table and spearing a yam with a chopstick. Forgotten, and most certainly the person not likely to understand what was going on, Soujirou spoke up.
"So, ah, what exactly is going on here?"
Tokio turned her bright-eyed gaze onto Saitou. "Yes dear," she began, her dangerous tone of voice contrasting directly with her open and waiting face. "What exactly IS going on around here? I would very much care for an explanation . . . NOW."
Tsuyosa turned to Saitou with a malicious smile. "It's YOUR turn to explain!"
--The story idea itself belongs to her, though I contributed to adding details to them. I was
--also the one who wrote the story, while she only made decisions. As a result, neither she nor
--I actually own Rurouni Kenshin. Heck, we don't even own Tsuyosa because we protray him along
--the elusive lines of Kaoru's father. We're not sure Tsuyosa is his real name even, but it's
--Japanese for strong and we thought it sounded pretty, so we decided to use it. Apoligies for
--any Out of Charactor you see, though we tried greatly to keep them out of that rut. Heck, we
--don't know how Tokio is supposed to act eithor, so we're not too sure about her . . .
--One final word: This story is slightly crossed over with Ranma 1/2. You don't need to be familar
--with it to be left in the dark, since I believe I explained everything in the story. However,
--it might be helpful for any inside jokes/puns I felt like tossing in. ^_^ C&C is ever so welcome.
--Please do not take and distribute this anywhere without my permission (dalimata@yahoo.com), or
--even run off with the idea. Thankyouverymuchos!
Kaoru boldly made her way over to where her father and aunt were still bickering even as the young woman with lavender hair who had shamelessly pounced Tsuyosa stood between them, her head moving to look at each person as they spoke.
She glanced over to see Kaoru marching up to Tsuyosa. Jealousy clouded her facial expression. "Who you?" she demanded. Kaoru ignored her and threw her arms around Tsuyosa in a breath-taking (Tsuyosa's, to be exact) hug. Lo Zhun's heart broke in two at the sight, and the pain overwhelmed her good sense.
She pounced on Kaoru, pulling a katana from out of nowhere.
"Wait a minute!" Tokio grabbed her by the hair. "And who do you think you are, attacking my niece like that?" She effortlessly plucked the sword from Lo Zhun's hands and tossed it behind her. Tsuyosa fairly pushed Kaoru away, who burst into tears again. He slowly reached out and placed one hand on Lo Zhun's shoulder. He pointed at Kaoru.
"Daughter," he spoke. He reached his free hand out to touch Kaoru's shoulder. She stopped crying. "Daughter. My daughter. Good daughter." Lo Zhun's face fell. She turned a belligerent glare over her shoulder at Tokio, who still held her by the hair. She swung a foot back. Tokio barely dodged it and then brought her frying pan down upon Lo Zhun's head.
The Amazon went out like a light.
They stared down at the body. Tokio snapped her fingers. "Now I know why she looks so familiar! She's the one who destroyed my house!"
Kaoru nudged Tsuyosa's shoulder. "Daddy, who is that and what is going on?" she asked.
Tsuyosa ignored it. His foot nudged the prone Amazon's body as his mind worked overtime. Amazon . . . Amazon . . . Tokio had just defeated an Amazon!
A slow smile spread across his features as he bent over and began to shake her.
Lo Zhun snapped awake, flung herself upward through the air and over Tokio's head. She landed perfectly on one foot, her two arms extended before her and the hands clenched into fists. She shot furious looks between Tokio and Kaoru. Tsuyosa felt himself grow cold as he realized Lo Zhun must have thought that Tokio was Kaoru's mother. He frowned. That matter would have to be changed.
He pointed at Kaoru again. "My daughter," he spoke. He pointed at Tokio. "Evil," he said. "Very evil." There, that should take care of the matter.
Tokio facefaulted and brought her frying pan down upon Tsuyosa's head. He flinched at the bump with his eyes screwed closed. He slowly opened them to see Tokio frowning thoughtfully at him. He broke into a triumphant smile. "Ha! Didn't you always tell me I had a thick skull?"
"I believe it," Tokio grumbled, staring at her frying pan as if it had betrayed her. She was startled from her puzzlement when Lo Zhun jumped her.
Soujirou, Sanosuke, and Kenshin all gave "Orro!" 's of surprise when Lo Zhun, planted a kiss on Tokio. Her hair standing on end from shock and her face as white as snow, Tokio did nothing to push the Amazon away. Lo Zhun dropped it and then scampered away across the yard and over the wall.
Saitou liked to come home to a quiet home with dinner simmering on the fire, the scent lingering invitingly in the air. Perhaps Yahiko would have looked forward to the same prospect, as both of them had had a hard day of bawling drunks (Saitou could have sworn Sanosuke had something to do with it), pickpockets, and then there was that wrinkled, dirty old man who ran off with women's underwear . . .
The moment the policeman slid the door open, both he and Yahiko were nearly knocked off their feet from the sound that blasted through the opening.
"I absolutely REFUSE to have those awful little Mongolians within this house!"
"Waaaaaaaa-"
"Oh come now, Tokio. It would be just like old times!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"That is exactly what I am afraid of! Those two were unruly brats with no sense of control of dignity and I refuse to allow them into this household!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"Oh yeah? Well, this happens to be my house, and if Kaoru wants to throw a party to bring everyone together and let them know I am alive, then it shall happen!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"I don't care! I am the matron of this house, and am obviously wiser than you!"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"Oh yeah?"
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"You are the bubblebrain! Not I! The only smart thing you did in your life was to die, and even then you botched that up! And for Kami's sake Kaoru, breath!"
" -aaaaaaaa-gasp!-Waaaaaah!"
Saitou coughed to gain attention. The sound went by unnoticed.
"-aaaaaaaaaa-"
"I can't believe you would actually be so heartless as to say no to a perfectly reasonable question!"
Tokio's face had flooded with an angry red color some time ago. She leapt to her feet just then and began to wag a stubborn finger at her brother-in-law even as Kaoru continued to wail without notice. "How dare you call me heartless! In the two years that I know those horrid brats, they stole my sister's jewelry-perhaps even made Kaoru and Soujirou do it-and never returned all of it when I tried to reason with them! They were rude, impossible, never listened to me, talked back, were insolent to no ends, and even went as far as to call me a witchy old hag! I highly doubt they have changed over the years! There will be no party and that. Is. Final!"
"-aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
Soujirou hid his face in his hands from where he was sitting. *This is it,* he thought to himself as his aunt and uncle stopped using words and were eyeing one another, measuring each person up for an impossible threat.
Saitou glanced down at Kenshin, searching for an inquiry as to what had happened. He frowned when he noticed Sanosuke sitting beside the little Rurouni. So, that was where the morhon has been. No doubt he stuck around for an alibi.
Kenshin, sensing eyes upon him, looked up. He gave Saitou a helpless smile and little shrug of his shoulders before the memories of the night before entered their minds at mutual seconds and they looked quickly away and embarresment flooded their faces.
Saitou turned back to his wife and brother-in-law. They were still eying each other. He knew that look. If he didn't want to get caught between a "Hajime, tell that rocks-for-brains brother-in-law-of yours that his very existence is an insult to all other men who lived in the past and will live in the future", or something to that very extent. He cleared his throat to distract him. No one heard him over Kaoru.
"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
Damn. Who did he have to Aky Soku Zan around here for attention?
Saitou's golden gaze drifted over to the oblivious Sanosuke.
"Soujirou!" Tsuyosa turned to his nephew, speaking over Karou's wailing. "Tell your aunt she is a foolish stubborn shrew!"
"You most certainly will not tell me!" Tokio snapped. "Because you will be telling your uncle that he is living illegally and therefore what I say goes!"
Soujirou glanced from Tokio to Tsuyosa and back to Tokio once more. He gulped and began to sink downward. "Which uncle?" he asked in a low voice.
"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
Soujirou, exherting his speed to the fullest, whizzed behind Saitou with the innocent belief that the man was the only person safe from Tokio's wrath. Kaoru stopped wailing as a blue light streaked past her. Tsuyosa's eyebrows shot up to his receeding hairline at the speed his nephew had just displayed. Kenshin and Sanosuke did not seem worried about the matter.
Kaoru turned around and threw herself at Saitou's feet. "Uuuncle Haaaajimeeee! AuntTokiowon'tletmehaveapartybutyouwillmakehernonethelessbecauseyoulovemeverymuchandbecauseIreallyreallywantapartyandcanIprettyplease?"
"Breathe," Tokio reminded her just as Kaoru's face began to turn blue. Her eyes glittered dangerously as they traveled over her husband. She had her own way of getting what she wanted from the man she chose for her own. "If you say she may have a party, then you can sleep elsewhere than my side tonight, Hajime!"
Soujirou cheerfully pointed out the flaws of her punishment. "But Aunt Tokio, didn't you arrange sleeping matters so you stayed with Kaoru and Uncle Hajime and I were in a different room together."
Undaunted, Tokio continued on. "And none of you will be eating any of my cooking the entire time I am here!"
"Posh!" Tsuyosa waved his hand before folding it and the other across his chest. "That'll be nothing! I can cook for all of us!"
As the thoughts of what hell Tsuyosa could create in the kitchen, massive heart attacks occurred among the occupants of the room. As one, they turned to Kaoru, who was eagerly waiting for an answer. They voices mixed and formed one, the words chasing one another around in a merry-go-round; their meaning was summed up in two simple words.
"No party!"
Kaoru burst into tears once more.
That night, over a somber dinner of sweet yams, Tokio turned to Yahiko and slyly asked him how day with a cop went. A devious smile spread across Yahiko's features as Saitou visibly choked on his tea. Kenshin, Soujirou, Sanosuke, and Tsuyosa leaned forward with curiousity to catch Yahiko's soft words.
Kaoru, mad at everyone for taking sides with her aunt, sulked and did not pay any attention to the men as she loaded Ayame's and Sazume's plates with fresh strawberries and yams.
"Oh, I'd have to say it was kind of fun." Yahiko's brown eyes shifted over to Saitou before looking back at Tokio. "I learned some very interesting things about certain people." Soujirou glanced around the table and stopped. He stared openly at the warning glares Saitou was sending Yahiko. As if aware he was being watched, Saitou's cool gaze shifted to take in the look upon his nephew's face. Soujirou saw the reminder of his past on his uncle's face and he slowly wilted beneath the gaze before it turned from him and back on Yahiko.
Sanosuke spoke, much to Saitou's chagrin. "What were they?" Yahiko shrugged without looking at anyone in particular.
"Oh, just things . . ." He sipped at his tea, smacking his lips at the sweet taste.
Tokio turned to Saitou. She smiled sweetly at him and cradled her chin across bridged fingers. "Tell me, what does he mean?" she asked. Saitou cringed slightly enough for everyone to catch interest. He was saved from having to answer his wife's prodding question when the wall behind him exploded.
Kenshin groaned. "I just fixed that, de gazaro!" he exclaimed as Saitou reached for his sword before suddenly remembering Tokio had taken it and Kenshin's sakaba when the Mibu Wolf and former Hitokiri Battousai had started to eye one another.
A tiny old lady on a walking stick and a young woman with purple tresses stepped through the wall. The young woman growled and pointed Tokio. She rattled away several Chinese words to the old woman, who stared thoughtfully at the occupants. Ayame and Suzame cringed and hugged themselves against Kaoru. Her hands dropped down to protectively cradle them against her sides.
Kenshin and Soujirou stared with morbid fascination as Saitou turned a very deadly white and began to slowly sink beneath the table.
The old woman nodded her head absently as Tokio rose from her spot. As tiny as she was, she still towered over the other.
"And just who," she began, her tone icy enough to freeze the bloodlines of every one who had ever crossed her and still manage to live, "are you to come crashing into this place with no thought or heed towards its occupants?"
"Yeah!" Tsuyosa peered around Tokio's kimono skirts. "Who do you think you are to have that right? Tokio?" A smile broke out on Soujirou's features even as Tokio's eyes narrowed. She kicked backwards, the heel of her stocking-clad foot connected with Tsuyosa's chin. He toppled backwards.
The old woman spoke, her ancient voice commanding instant respect from all who heard it. "Woman, who are you command these men?" She pointed with her cane end at Tsuyosa and Saitou. "Are they your husbands?"
Tokio pointed at Saitou. "That is my husband," she replied cooly. She pointed at Tsuyosa, who rubbing his jaw that was quickly turning purple. "I have no idea what that creature is; I used to think he was marginally human, but I am plagued with doubts now."
"He is not your husband?"
"Hell would freeze over before I would even so much as consider living under the same roof as him!"
Deep in the Underworld . . .
Shishio gave the sky a look of horrid even as a snowflake drifted from its dark depths and landed on the tip of his bandaged nose.
"You already are," Tsuyosa pointed out regretfully. He sighed as he folded his arms across his chest. His cheeks bulged before he released an explosive breath of air. From beneath his straggly bangs, he peered at Saitou. "I thought your code of life was to quickly slay evil." He nodded his head at Tokio. "What is she still doing around?"
Tokio kicked backwards, but Tsuyosa shifted his head slightly so her foot only skimmed past his ear. He stood up, his movements fluid and precise. He bent low at the waist at the old woman, bowing his head in greeting. "Dear mother," he began respectfully, straightening up with several creaks in his back, "welcome to my humble abode. While I realize the company may be less than desirable, you are invited to stay here with your honorable daughter."
He overlooked the look of panic Saitou sent him; he enjoyed ignoring the glare of rage from Tokio. The old lady looked thoughtful as her daughter began to speak in rapid Chinese again. She waved her hand and Lo Zhun quieted.
"Tell me, son-in-law," she addressed Tsuyosa, "tell me of your wife. Is she still alive?"
Tsuyosa closed his eyes at the mention before opening them again. His eyes were a brilliant blue color, shining with suspicious liquid. "No, she has been dead for a long time now."
The old woman turned to Saitou. "Son-in-law, tell me of your wife."
Tokio turned eyes full of horrid onto her husband. Saitou threw glances between the old woman and Tokio, trying to decide who the greater evil was. "She's been my wife for more than ten years," she said finally.
Lo Zhun's face dropped before perking up as the old woman said something to her. She looked at Tsuyosa. A long, hard look passed between them before the old woman took two steps forward and finally sat down. "So, son-in-law, what's for dinner?"
"Eyah! Lo Zhun is hungry!" The daughter sat down beside her mother. They both eyed the yams with barely-disguised eagerness. Tsuyosa fairly choked as he felt the rage building within Tokio.
"You mean . . ." Tsuyosa looked surprised. "You're staying here?"
"Only until you consent to marriage with my daughter and move to China with us."
"Never!" Tsuyosa protested even as Tokio perked up.
"Will he be staying in China for a long while?" she asked eagerly.
"For the rest of his life."
Toko turned to Tsuyosa. "Why not marry the child?" she demanded as he crossed his arms, turned his head, and began to sulk as a child who didn't get his own way would. "She's very pretty, young, sweet, and no doubt a wonderful cook!" He rolled his eyes before shifting his narrowed gaze.
"And who, just this morning, was telling me I was disgracing the memory of Hana?"
There was a long silence that following, broken only by the old woman reaching across the table and spearing a yam with a chopstick. Forgotten, and most certainly the person not likely to understand what was going on, Soujirou spoke up.
"So, ah, what exactly is going on here?"
Tokio turned her bright-eyed gaze onto Saitou. "Yes dear," she began, her dangerous tone of voice contrasting directly with her open and waiting face. "What exactly IS going on around here? I would very much care for an explanation . . . NOW."
Tsuyosa turned to Saitou with a malicious smile. "It's YOUR turn to explain!"