Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin doesn't belong to me. Belongs to Watsuki-sama, Jump, Sony, etc. I'm a poor high school student, so suing me won't get you much. ^^

A/N: Arigato for the reviews so far! Really appreciate it! This chapter might actually be historically correct to some extent. (I did my research! ^ ^) I took Mara's advice and decided to change this chapter a bit. (Arigato Mara for reading!)

I know Saitoh was OOC, but I guess I was concentrating more on the historical stuff than the characters' actions.

 http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/5770/shinhis.htm ( I don't know who maintains the site, but I wanna give them credit for my research!)

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Wolf Tears Flowing into Rushing Waters

By: fUsHiChOu

~Chapter 2~

Fate

It was another day of patrol. Saitoh was walking the streets of Kyoto like he did every morning. The people crowding the streets, as if last night was only a nightmare of war that could easily slip out once your eyes open to the morning light. But something did happen. Something that changed a man's life, but he ran away from it.

HE made the decision not to stay with her. It was a pretty logical path to take, especially for a guy like Saitoh. Meeting a complete stranger and suddenly falling in love with her wasn't his style. Falling in love wasn't even his style.

Like most Shinsengumi, he was introduced to the most beautiful and passionate geishas and brothel girls; but he never attached himself to them. They were only sources of pleasure and lustful passion, a temporary way to escape this war, to escape reality. No matter how truly kindhearted they were inside, their understanding of male hardships adapted into a mask that easily earns them money.

He never had a "real" relationship with a woman, nor did he even want to have one. Women weren't his top priority, this so-called revolution was more important than love. He could care less about marriage, but he knew he would have to anyway. You can never escape custom and tradition, no matter how hard you try.

In times like these, revealing your true feelings can make you weak, especially if that feeling was love. Saitoh knew if he stayed with her, he would be forced to show his deep feelings for her. He would become soft and weak. And she would be used as a target to hurt him. But somehow deep inside, he was in a state of remorseful regret.

A familiar place came into his view. The same inn where he left her, somehow it looked better in the radiance of the day. Saitoh stopped in front of the entrance. He pictured in his mind what could have happened if he stayed. Saitoh gave an irritated grunt and shook his head of his foolish thoughts. Having feelings for this woman he didn't even know and even trying to look for her, he was acting like an idiot.

"She probably left already. What's the fuckin point anyway?" Saitoh started to walk down the street, until he felt a faint tap on his back. He turned around, his hand readied upon the handle his katana. His fighting instinct calmed as he recognized the young innkeeper from last night.

The girl bowed apologetically and carefully took a pendant from her pocket. The gold chain dangled down her fingers and she replied, "She left only an hour ago, but she wanted to give you this as a gift of her gratitude." Her fingers released the chain and the pendant fell gracefully upon Saitoh's palm. He nodded and the innkeeper left with a brief bow.

Saitoh stared at the peculiar pendant, his fingers stroked over a gold butterfly embedded in the pale green jade. It was an odd experience for him. No one ever gave him gifts, especially not women. He didn't understand why she would give him such a gift in the first place.  Sure he saved her life, but it was his duty as a Shinsengumi.

He placed the pendant in his pocket and continued on his patrol. "No use in being all 'teary-eyed' about this, and acting like an ahou. You barely knew her anyway. She's probably just another runaway brothel girl…"

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Tokio was walking around the garden of the Shinsengumi headquarters, waiting to be introduced to this man Katomori-san wanted her to meet. She sighed annoyingly, "Mou! Ever since I turned eighteen four months ago, Tou-san's been trying to set me up with so many stupid men. Even Katomori-san's setting me up with this friend of his…"

Tokio's closed her eyes in frustration, "I don't even want to get married now. I want to live life to the fullest before I'm married to some over-valiant samurai I don't even know."

She slumped down on a stone bench and stared up at a Sakura tree. Her eyes trailed the petals as they softly swept down on the surface of a pond. Tokio leaned in closer to the pond and saw a group of koi swimming in the cerulean water.

"I wish I was a koi fish," Her fingers brushed through the cool surface, "They don't have to worry about husbands, or this depressing war…" She gazed upon her reflection. Her eyes fixed upon the enmity of her white face and rouge lips. She hated this mask of makeup, "…Or even if they have to be beautiful to the eyes of men, they're already pretty...They're free to be themselves."

Tokio saw her bare neck then she remembered her pendant, "I can't believe I gave my pendant away to some stranger, but he DID save my life. It was the least I could do."

Tokio remembered her hero's intense amber eyes and the straight strands of bangs that cascaded down his finely chiseled face. She let out an irritated grunt, "Che, Tokio. It's not right to fantasize about him, I don't even know this man. It isn't lady-like to think such things…but then again, I'm not a 'lady.'" She laughed at the thought of her being some kind of lady.

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"Hoi! Why're so silent ne?" Harada tapped Saitoh on the forehead, "Women problems or somethin'? Hehe."

Saitoh shot his lethal amber eyes. Harada waved his hands in fear, "Ok ok. Sheesh. I was just kidding Saitoh-san."

"Maa maa, you two," Okita slammed a large pile of papers on the table, "We have to work on this important report. Hijikata-san and Kondou-san said we've got some good tips regarding the Ishin."

Harada wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said arrogantly, "Well, as long as I get rid of rebel ass, it's fine with me. Right Saitoh-san?"

Saitoh took a puff of his smoke and shook his head. Harada's firebrand attitude annoyed him. He never really understood why he wasted his time with him.  "Probably because he's fun to watch once he drunk. That ahou even pays for everyone," Saitoh smirked sadistically.

He threw the papers on Harada's lap-a wordless order to do work. Harada sulked down at the pile and lazily glanced through a page, "Hoi, Okita-san, how the hell did we get these tips in the first place?"

Okita scratched his head, "I don't really know who the guy is. When I asked who gave the tips, Hijikata-san said it was just a spy for the Shogunate named Izuka."

"So he must be pretending to be an Ishin then," Saitoh stated matter-of-factly as he took another puff. Okita and Harada's eyes dilated in surprise. Since last night, their friend didn't speak as much, the two of them didn't know why.

Saitoh continued to peruse through the papers, "Hitokiri Battousai ne?" His eyes traveled down the page in interest. Okita interrupted, "Well Kondou-san said it's too early to be concentrating on their next move, but we should still keep the Ishin in mind and try to get as much info as possible."

"Hoi, Saitoh-san, Okita-san, Harada-san," Matsudaira Katomori was standing at the doorway. Immediately, Saitoh threw out his cigarette butt while Okita and Harada organized the table.

The younger men stood from their seats and bowed reverently. Matsudaira gave a brief laugh, "I see I've crashed a party, but if you don't mind, I'd like speak privately with Saitoh-san."

"Hai," Okita and Harada immediately left the room, leaving Saitoh and Matsudaria alone. Saitoh raised his head, "Matsudaira-sama? Why is the daimyo of Aizu honoring us with his presence?"

Matsudaira fanned his hands in modesty, "No need for the reverence, Saitoh-san. I'm just here for a humble visit. Your life in the Shinsengumi is doing well I presume?" Saitoh nodded his head in agreement, "Arigato. Without your sponsorship, I wouldn't even be in the Shinsengumi."

"It is no problem at all," Matsudaira patted Saitoh on the shoulder. "The Shinsengumi need a man like you. You were still young, but you defended me from those petty thieves like an experienced samurai. You didn't even know I was a daimyo at the time." Matsudaira and Saitoh started down the hallway, "Well, enough about the past. There's someone I'd like you to meet, Saitoh-san."

"So you're here for more than just a humble visit then?" Saitoh stated sarcastically. "So who is it that you want me to meet, Matsudaira-sama?"

"Her name is Takagi Tokio," Matsudaira answered as he and Saitoh walked down the hallway. Saitoh raised his eyebrow, "Isn't she the daughter of Takagi Kojuurou, an important official of Aizu?"

He could sense Matsudaira's plan. Once he heard the name of a prominent family, it was practically given away. But why did Matsudaira choose him? "Well-bred" girls weren't what he was looking for. First the mysterious woman and now this little predicament, this wasn't his week.

Matsudaira nodded his head, "Hai. Kojuurou is a good friend of mine and Tokio-chan is like a daughter to me. I was talking about you one day, and Kojuurou was simply impressed. He thought it would be a good idea if I'd introduce you to Tokio-chan."

"It was so obvious. Women are starting to complicate my life now," Saitoh couldn't help but smirk. The thought of being set up with some girl amused him, "So I see. You're not the kind of man I'd expect to be playing matchmaker Matsudaira-sama."

Matsudaira chuckled, "Caught onto my plans ne? Well, Tokio-chan is young and cheerful, quite beautiful for a girl her age. I think you'll find her company to be rather enjoyable."

Saitoh tried to hide his annoyed groan, but then Matsudaira went on to explaining, "This is a promise I made to Kojuurou. Please at least try to honor my promise Saitoh-san."

"Hai." Saitoh answered in understanding as the two men approached the garden entrance. Tokio was walking about, basking in the beauty of the simple garden. She turned around and saw Matsudaira Katomori standing beside a familiar face…

~To be continued…~

A/N: Well I fixed this a bit. More than I planned on doing, but oh well. I tried my best to lessen Saitoh's OOC, but I don't know if it's good enough. If you have any helpful suggestions on how I should fix the OOCness, please e-mail me at shorty_grrrl26@msn.com or put in it your review. I'm open to any opinion, so any suggestion helps me a lot. I decided to do a little foreshadowing in that part with Harada and Okita. You might recognize the spy's name from somewhere *OAV* (cough cough) Yeah, I sorta want to put the whole Ikedya affair in, but for now I'm concentrating on the love triangle and Okita's characterization. Gomen, but no Okita+Tokio action yet. I'll probably put it in soon.