Except for the story, none of the characters belong to me, ok? Except for a
few originals, that is.
Susan, the herbs to improve the 'male vigour' are ginger, ginseng, damiana, saw palmetto, and peppermint. Checked this out on a herbal encyclopedia for my fic and was planning to reveal it in a later chapter but I thought your friend might need it urgently so……Sorry I took so long. I was busy with 'S&P'. But 'S&P' is going to be finished( I think) soon so I'll have more time with 'swtw' (I hope) ^_^;;;
Chapter3
Taking an urgent half-day leave, Tokio hurried home, her mind all on her sister. Was she in trouble? Was her heart acting up again? But the doctor said she would be fine after the operation! Worried and in a hurry, Tokio turned around the corner to the quiet, old estate she now lived.
The houses here were at least thirty years old. Most were single storeyed and built in the traditional Japanese style with a small front porch and a backyard. On this lazy afternoon, the tinkling song of wind-chime answered the breeze as drifting leaves just turning orange danced in the air. September, the autumn season, the season of change.
Heedless of the serenity, Tokio's practical heels clicked impatiently as she ate up the paved road with long strides. Her house was at the end of the street, just in front of the as-yet untouched forest. It was a bit further from the other houses along the street and the only one that had been renovated into a two storey bungalow. But it still retained its rustic and charming design.
From afar, she noticed a slight figure straining to drag a heavy bookcase. Tokio narrowed her eyes and her steps slowed down. The figure looked suspiciously familiar. The clean but worn hand-me-down clothes she was wearing…she had the exact same set back in her old home! Eyes widening, she rushed forward a few steps to take a clearer look. It was her sister! She raced down the street immediately.
"Mitsuki Tsubame! What are you doing?" Tokio stopped right in front of her sister with her hands on her hips and a stern glare she used on her naughtiest students. It never failed to send them scurrying for cover but on her sister, it was a dismal failure.
"Nee-san! You are finally here! Quick, help me carry this back to your house. I…I have no…no more strength…" Tsubame beamed her sister a sunny smile through her panting.
Tokio turned to look at the bookcase. It was made of solid pine and despite the faint scratches, it still looked rather new. Sighing, she picked up the other end of the bookcase awkwardly. "Oh gosh," she let out a swoosh, "It weighs a ton! Tsubame, how did you get it moved all the way here?"
"I passed by on the way to the library…and I saw it lying…in the dumps. Looked new…and you said you need a bookcase… so…" Tsubame gasped out as she walked backwards carefully, looking behind every few steps to avoid knocking into the lamp posts and garbage bins.
"That's why you called me? I thought you had another heart attack! Don't scare me like this again!" Tokio scolded in exasperation. Ever since the operation four years, Tsubame had changed from the reticient girl she was to this cheerful and out-going teenager. She never used to approve of the family's money-saving tactics. Picking up used furniture and recycling them were also viewed with disapproval. Part of it was because she could not bear their scrimping for her operation. It made her feel so guilty. But now, she picked up this habit with enthusiasm and surpassed the whole family with her thriftiness. Well, the operation definitely changed her totally. It was as if, Tokio thought privately, she was a different person entirely.
Staggering under the weight of the bookcase, they tottered unsteadily past the front gate and up the front porch. Setting the bookcase down, they leaned against the door to catch their breath. Toko bent over with her with her hands on her knees, her face red and sweaty. This…is one….heavy…bookcase. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Tsubame's imploring eyes.
"Ne, nee-san, are you mad with me?" She let her hand fall to her sister's elbow and tugged lightly, "Don't be mad. I don't have money to buy you a wedding gift so I thought, the bookcase would do…" Tsubame scratched her head sheepishly.
Tokio broke out into chuckles. Tsubame used to be such a serious girl. But now, she acted so much more like her age. In fact, they were a lot closer now than they used to be. "I'm not mad, Tsubame-chan, just worried. C'mon, let's move this in. There's cold, cooling barley tea in the refrigerator. We could use a cold drink." Opening the door, they heaved up the bookcase again and proceeded into the dark living room. But they were both surprised into stopping at the door.
A man was in the room. He was standing on the stairs leading to the second floor and his face was hidden in the shadows. There was something in his hand. His stillness and his posture was that of a hunter scenting prey. Then he moved forward and a stray beam of light glint off his spectacles. It was the master of the house, Saitoh Hajime.
Letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding, Tokio set down the bookcase with a thud and bustled over to draw back the curtains. Instantly, light flooded into the room and washed away the secretive and oppressive atmosphere. For an instant there just now, Tokio had the sudden feeling that she was in a dense jungle with a predator assessing her from behind the lush foilage.
Feeling her heartbeat slowed to its normal pace, she turned to face her husband. "You gave me a scare, Hajime," as though suddenly remembering something, she asked, "You are not working today?"
"It ended early so I came back to work on the computer," he moved down the stairs and lifted the bottle in his hands to his lips. He drained the last mouthful. "Finished the tea so I came down for some more," he nodded towards the bookcase, "Where did you pick that up?" Saitoh Hajime cast a glance at Tsubame who lowered her head in embarrassment. From what he knew of the two sisters, he could guess what happened.
"Its…ah…Its Tsubame's wedding gift for us. She knows we need one for the study," Tokio ended with a bright smile.
"The study, hmm?" he passed the container to Tokio and waved Tsubame away. Holding the two sides of the bookcase, he lifted it effortlessly and moved up the stairs to the study on the second floor. Both women watched open- mouthed. His white shirt pulled tight against his shoulder as his muscles flexed. The light that streamed in outlined the thin cloth and highlighted the deep indentation of his spine on a strong back. It disappeared so …er…temptingly into his jeans. They continued to stare as he disappeared into the study.
Tsubame blinked and came back with a start. She turned to look at her sister who was still dumbstruck. Drawing her brows together, she pointed at the container, "Nee-san, is that the tea uncle Yosuke passed you?"
"Yes," Tokio answered absently.
"Does it work?"
"Work? Yes…"Tokio's eyes widened as she realised what she just said to her sixteen year old sister. "No! I mean, yes…I..I…"she trailed off, not knowing what to say. Well, she knew from first-hand experience that her husband had no need of such tonics. But it's such a waste just to leave it there so she made the tea for him anyway. For the first time, maybe her thriftiness wasn't such a good thing.
"Ooh, I understand," she winked slyly at her sister who was blushing. "From the looks of it, Hajime nii-san doesn't seem to need it anymore."
"Huh?" Tokio was speechless. Was there a misunderstanding?
"I better go off now. My friends are waiting for me at the library. Bye!" Waving cheerfully to her sister, Tsubame ran off.
Closing the door after her sister, Tokio headed to the kitchen to fill up the container and prayed that her husband never learnt of the blow she unwittingly dealt his male ego.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That same evening
As they were both home, they decided to go to the supermarket to stock up on the groceries for the whole week. Pushing the trolley companionably, they wandered through the supermarket, picking up two cartons of milk, a bag of rice, toothpaste, eggs and they were now at the meat section. Because it was after five, all the perishables were all going for half- price and there was a huge crowd over at that section. Tokio stared longingly at the throng of housewives jostling and fighting for the best bargain.
"You go ahead, Tokio, I'll go pick up the shampoo and detergent," he smiled indulgently at her. This expression, if ever seen by those people he worked with, would probably send them flipping and calling for the ambulance. Fortunately, this side of him was reserved for his wife.
"All right, I'll come back here to wait for you when I'm finished." With the light of battle in her eyes, she strode like a confident general into the fray. Halfway there, she turned back with a sweet smile, "What do you think of beef teriyaki for dinner tonight, Hajime?" She remembered he loved her beef teriyaki.
He nodded and pushed the trolley to the sundries section. Smiling to herself, she squeezed into the crowd.
Standing by the shelves of detergent, Saitoh Hajime wondered what he was doing here. He was actually shopping for household goods. Marriage does change a man. Looking at the different brands of detergent, he tried to remember which was the brand they used at home. If his memory served him right, the container was blue and the brand name started with a 'D'. Stepping back, he surveyed the packed shelves. It seemed that blue was a popular colour for detergent containers.
A strange prickling at the base of his spine warned him that he was under watch. Selecting one of the containers and putting it into the trolley, he wheeled off, seemingly unaware of the surveilance. Turning round a corner, he laid in wait.
After a minute, he realised that the watcher was better trained than he thought. The first rule of spying wasn't to keep the target under watch all the time. It was never let the target know he was under watch and never get caught. Smiling to himself, he pushed the trolley along the narrow passage way between the shelves and cast an unnoticeable glance upward. On the small mirror set up to catch shoplifters, he caught a glimpse of a shadow flitting behind. Long, black hair that streamed like a water fall.
There were hardly anybody in this section so he felt free to call out. "I don't have time for your games, Megumi."
She stepped out from behind the shadows and smiled. But it did not quite reach her eyes. "What gave me away?"
"Your hostility and your hair," he stared at her coldly, "You didn't come here for me to give you a lesson on espionage. What do you want?"
"Your wife is in danger. She has something that most of the underworld is clamouring to get now." Megumi had orders from both Kaoru and Kenshin to come immediately to warn him.
The surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Saitoh Hajime was not surprised that they know he was married even though he never told them. But Tokio in danger from the underworld? She was just an ordinary school teacher.
"Does the danger originate from me?" he had to know.
The smile became sly. "You could say that."
A scream suddenly sliced through the air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Freezefram e
"The catalyst! All is not lost! I knew it! Luck is on my side!" God laughed gleefully. Satan scowled at him. "Hn, she's just in a little bit of danger. What do You have to get so excited about?"
"Now You are the one who don't understand. Her being in danger changes everything. It will make him realise how important she is to him. In the course of saving her, he will slay metaphorical dragons and brave figurative fires for her. Love will bloom and having overcome all obstacles, he will proclaim his love. Ta da!" God ended grandly with a wide sweep of his arms.
"Really?" Satan asked in a sceptical tone. "Proclaim his love for her, hm? A bit too fast, isn't it, to slay dragons and brave fires in less than a week? He still has to get pass," Satan pointed at the commotion going on in the perishables section, "That. An army of housewives. If he survived, than I'm impressed."
Studying the image in the pool, God scratched his beard. That's true. An army of housewives can be scary. But, with God standing behind him, what has he to fear?
Susan, the herbs to improve the 'male vigour' are ginger, ginseng, damiana, saw palmetto, and peppermint. Checked this out on a herbal encyclopedia for my fic and was planning to reveal it in a later chapter but I thought your friend might need it urgently so……Sorry I took so long. I was busy with 'S&P'. But 'S&P' is going to be finished( I think) soon so I'll have more time with 'swtw' (I hope) ^_^;;;
Chapter3
Taking an urgent half-day leave, Tokio hurried home, her mind all on her sister. Was she in trouble? Was her heart acting up again? But the doctor said she would be fine after the operation! Worried and in a hurry, Tokio turned around the corner to the quiet, old estate she now lived.
The houses here were at least thirty years old. Most were single storeyed and built in the traditional Japanese style with a small front porch and a backyard. On this lazy afternoon, the tinkling song of wind-chime answered the breeze as drifting leaves just turning orange danced in the air. September, the autumn season, the season of change.
Heedless of the serenity, Tokio's practical heels clicked impatiently as she ate up the paved road with long strides. Her house was at the end of the street, just in front of the as-yet untouched forest. It was a bit further from the other houses along the street and the only one that had been renovated into a two storey bungalow. But it still retained its rustic and charming design.
From afar, she noticed a slight figure straining to drag a heavy bookcase. Tokio narrowed her eyes and her steps slowed down. The figure looked suspiciously familiar. The clean but worn hand-me-down clothes she was wearing…she had the exact same set back in her old home! Eyes widening, she rushed forward a few steps to take a clearer look. It was her sister! She raced down the street immediately.
"Mitsuki Tsubame! What are you doing?" Tokio stopped right in front of her sister with her hands on her hips and a stern glare she used on her naughtiest students. It never failed to send them scurrying for cover but on her sister, it was a dismal failure.
"Nee-san! You are finally here! Quick, help me carry this back to your house. I…I have no…no more strength…" Tsubame beamed her sister a sunny smile through her panting.
Tokio turned to look at the bookcase. It was made of solid pine and despite the faint scratches, it still looked rather new. Sighing, she picked up the other end of the bookcase awkwardly. "Oh gosh," she let out a swoosh, "It weighs a ton! Tsubame, how did you get it moved all the way here?"
"I passed by on the way to the library…and I saw it lying…in the dumps. Looked new…and you said you need a bookcase… so…" Tsubame gasped out as she walked backwards carefully, looking behind every few steps to avoid knocking into the lamp posts and garbage bins.
"That's why you called me? I thought you had another heart attack! Don't scare me like this again!" Tokio scolded in exasperation. Ever since the operation four years, Tsubame had changed from the reticient girl she was to this cheerful and out-going teenager. She never used to approve of the family's money-saving tactics. Picking up used furniture and recycling them were also viewed with disapproval. Part of it was because she could not bear their scrimping for her operation. It made her feel so guilty. But now, she picked up this habit with enthusiasm and surpassed the whole family with her thriftiness. Well, the operation definitely changed her totally. It was as if, Tokio thought privately, she was a different person entirely.
Staggering under the weight of the bookcase, they tottered unsteadily past the front gate and up the front porch. Setting the bookcase down, they leaned against the door to catch their breath. Toko bent over with her with her hands on her knees, her face red and sweaty. This…is one….heavy…bookcase. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Tsubame's imploring eyes.
"Ne, nee-san, are you mad with me?" She let her hand fall to her sister's elbow and tugged lightly, "Don't be mad. I don't have money to buy you a wedding gift so I thought, the bookcase would do…" Tsubame scratched her head sheepishly.
Tokio broke out into chuckles. Tsubame used to be such a serious girl. But now, she acted so much more like her age. In fact, they were a lot closer now than they used to be. "I'm not mad, Tsubame-chan, just worried. C'mon, let's move this in. There's cold, cooling barley tea in the refrigerator. We could use a cold drink." Opening the door, they heaved up the bookcase again and proceeded into the dark living room. But they were both surprised into stopping at the door.
A man was in the room. He was standing on the stairs leading to the second floor and his face was hidden in the shadows. There was something in his hand. His stillness and his posture was that of a hunter scenting prey. Then he moved forward and a stray beam of light glint off his spectacles. It was the master of the house, Saitoh Hajime.
Letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding, Tokio set down the bookcase with a thud and bustled over to draw back the curtains. Instantly, light flooded into the room and washed away the secretive and oppressive atmosphere. For an instant there just now, Tokio had the sudden feeling that she was in a dense jungle with a predator assessing her from behind the lush foilage.
Feeling her heartbeat slowed to its normal pace, she turned to face her husband. "You gave me a scare, Hajime," as though suddenly remembering something, she asked, "You are not working today?"
"It ended early so I came back to work on the computer," he moved down the stairs and lifted the bottle in his hands to his lips. He drained the last mouthful. "Finished the tea so I came down for some more," he nodded towards the bookcase, "Where did you pick that up?" Saitoh Hajime cast a glance at Tsubame who lowered her head in embarrassment. From what he knew of the two sisters, he could guess what happened.
"Its…ah…Its Tsubame's wedding gift for us. She knows we need one for the study," Tokio ended with a bright smile.
"The study, hmm?" he passed the container to Tokio and waved Tsubame away. Holding the two sides of the bookcase, he lifted it effortlessly and moved up the stairs to the study on the second floor. Both women watched open- mouthed. His white shirt pulled tight against his shoulder as his muscles flexed. The light that streamed in outlined the thin cloth and highlighted the deep indentation of his spine on a strong back. It disappeared so …er…temptingly into his jeans. They continued to stare as he disappeared into the study.
Tsubame blinked and came back with a start. She turned to look at her sister who was still dumbstruck. Drawing her brows together, she pointed at the container, "Nee-san, is that the tea uncle Yosuke passed you?"
"Yes," Tokio answered absently.
"Does it work?"
"Work? Yes…"Tokio's eyes widened as she realised what she just said to her sixteen year old sister. "No! I mean, yes…I..I…"she trailed off, not knowing what to say. Well, she knew from first-hand experience that her husband had no need of such tonics. But it's such a waste just to leave it there so she made the tea for him anyway. For the first time, maybe her thriftiness wasn't such a good thing.
"Ooh, I understand," she winked slyly at her sister who was blushing. "From the looks of it, Hajime nii-san doesn't seem to need it anymore."
"Huh?" Tokio was speechless. Was there a misunderstanding?
"I better go off now. My friends are waiting for me at the library. Bye!" Waving cheerfully to her sister, Tsubame ran off.
Closing the door after her sister, Tokio headed to the kitchen to fill up the container and prayed that her husband never learnt of the blow she unwittingly dealt his male ego.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That same evening
As they were both home, they decided to go to the supermarket to stock up on the groceries for the whole week. Pushing the trolley companionably, they wandered through the supermarket, picking up two cartons of milk, a bag of rice, toothpaste, eggs and they were now at the meat section. Because it was after five, all the perishables were all going for half- price and there was a huge crowd over at that section. Tokio stared longingly at the throng of housewives jostling and fighting for the best bargain.
"You go ahead, Tokio, I'll go pick up the shampoo and detergent," he smiled indulgently at her. This expression, if ever seen by those people he worked with, would probably send them flipping and calling for the ambulance. Fortunately, this side of him was reserved for his wife.
"All right, I'll come back here to wait for you when I'm finished." With the light of battle in her eyes, she strode like a confident general into the fray. Halfway there, she turned back with a sweet smile, "What do you think of beef teriyaki for dinner tonight, Hajime?" She remembered he loved her beef teriyaki.
He nodded and pushed the trolley to the sundries section. Smiling to herself, she squeezed into the crowd.
Standing by the shelves of detergent, Saitoh Hajime wondered what he was doing here. He was actually shopping for household goods. Marriage does change a man. Looking at the different brands of detergent, he tried to remember which was the brand they used at home. If his memory served him right, the container was blue and the brand name started with a 'D'. Stepping back, he surveyed the packed shelves. It seemed that blue was a popular colour for detergent containers.
A strange prickling at the base of his spine warned him that he was under watch. Selecting one of the containers and putting it into the trolley, he wheeled off, seemingly unaware of the surveilance. Turning round a corner, he laid in wait.
After a minute, he realised that the watcher was better trained than he thought. The first rule of spying wasn't to keep the target under watch all the time. It was never let the target know he was under watch and never get caught. Smiling to himself, he pushed the trolley along the narrow passage way between the shelves and cast an unnoticeable glance upward. On the small mirror set up to catch shoplifters, he caught a glimpse of a shadow flitting behind. Long, black hair that streamed like a water fall.
There were hardly anybody in this section so he felt free to call out. "I don't have time for your games, Megumi."
She stepped out from behind the shadows and smiled. But it did not quite reach her eyes. "What gave me away?"
"Your hostility and your hair," he stared at her coldly, "You didn't come here for me to give you a lesson on espionage. What do you want?"
"Your wife is in danger. She has something that most of the underworld is clamouring to get now." Megumi had orders from both Kaoru and Kenshin to come immediately to warn him.
The surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Saitoh Hajime was not surprised that they know he was married even though he never told them. But Tokio in danger from the underworld? She was just an ordinary school teacher.
"Does the danger originate from me?" he had to know.
The smile became sly. "You could say that."
A scream suddenly sliced through the air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Freezefram e
"The catalyst! All is not lost! I knew it! Luck is on my side!" God laughed gleefully. Satan scowled at him. "Hn, she's just in a little bit of danger. What do You have to get so excited about?"
"Now You are the one who don't understand. Her being in danger changes everything. It will make him realise how important she is to him. In the course of saving her, he will slay metaphorical dragons and brave figurative fires for her. Love will bloom and having overcome all obstacles, he will proclaim his love. Ta da!" God ended grandly with a wide sweep of his arms.
"Really?" Satan asked in a sceptical tone. "Proclaim his love for her, hm? A bit too fast, isn't it, to slay dragons and brave fires in less than a week? He still has to get pass," Satan pointed at the commotion going on in the perishables section, "That. An army of housewives. If he survived, than I'm impressed."
Studying the image in the pool, God scratched his beard. That's true. An army of housewives can be scary. But, with God standing behind him, what has he to fear?