Authors Notes: Well, down there, just a little scrolling maybe and you'll be able to read about Saitou and Tokio for about…well it was originally going to be 3 or 4 pages but now its about 6 or 7 pages long for this kawaii couple!

Now gomen ne if its not really Saitou in character, but seriously do you really think he'd act that freaky with his wife in the Meiji Era - Noa doesn't think so. See we don't know what he's like with his wife and so well I just came up with this because its my interpretation of what he would be like with Tokio…and well I think he'd be a big softie.

Anywho…The rest of the 12 page chapter happens to be about Kenshin and Kaoru and well…a bit of there past. You'll be surprised at what has been revealed from their past at being together for so long…

Anywho I hope you enjoy this and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again. One more chapter and then the big finale of Misao and Aoshi's meeting again. Oh he does come back in the next chapter…but some serious stuff happens first and then *BOOM* the finale will come in Chapter 37 of UTCT. As for now, I do hope you stew on what's going to happen in the next chapter…actually the next two will be kinda angsty I have decided and well yeah…

Oh on another note…a funny one actually…I haven't forgotten about Sano watching a birthing movie either! Just wait…he'll kill over…just as planned…

Here it is:

Under the Cherry Tree

(2am - Saitou Shinomori's Residence)

Saitou got out of his car, clicking the automatic look button watching the indicator lights flash and silently walked towards his door. It was locked, just like he told Tokio to do. She had usually left it open for him, he not liking that at all. Sure the place looked like a shit hole, but still, anyone could get inside and then what? Saitou would hate to think what he would do if he saw some thug messing with Tokio…his Tokio for that matter!

He shock the thoughts from his mind, actually feeling insanely tired for once. He was working a dead end case, but the chief told him to keep going, thinking something was going to happen, but Saitou knew the victim was already dead. It was a hunch, but his hunches were usually dead on. Saitou sighed inaudibly as he unlocked his door and closed it behind him, he clicking the lock again and placing the chain on as well.

The place was in darkness as though he were coming home to an empty house like he always used to, but if he headed further down the passageway, he'd come to his bedroom and a sleeping Tokio. Saitou dumped his keys on the floor, his shoes coming off and staying near the door as well and padded softly down the hallway heading for the bathroom. A hot shower will wake him up to do a report and then it was time to sleep.

* * * *

A short time passed, Saitou emerging from the steaming bathroom wearing a pair of old deep blue loose pants and a black long sleeved top, his hair wet and water dripped down his face and neck.

He walked down the passageway stopping at the opened door to his bedroom to see Tokio in a most appealing sleeping pose. Her creamy leg was raised up, the covers falling off to show him the smoothness of her skin in the dull light coming from the corner of the room. Her short hair lay messily around the pillow; her mouth slightly parted bringing in soft breaths. The blanket lay dangerously low, almost giving Saitou a free view of her breasts, almost, but not quite. It was as though she was teasing him to come closer, teasing him to come and caress her young body. Tokio did not wear a strip of clothing to bed; she complaining she felt too confined in heavy sleepwear. Usually she opted for some underwear and a tank top, but tonight…it was absolutely nothing.

Saitou shook his head reaching in a closing the door silently and headed for his office, not before grabbing a pot of coffee from the kitchen and a new packet of cigarettes of course.

* * * *

Time passed as Saitou typed away on his laptop, he finishing up the last of his report. This time he couldn't help but let the yawn slipped passed his lips, his hand coming up to rub at his eyes, the laptop screen going a little fuzzy. Saitou glanced down at his watch, noticing it was 5 in the morning. Saitou shook his head, drinking the last of his coffee; the fourth cup in fact and saved his work before shutting the laptop off.

He casually…and quite slowly walked towards his bedroom, the door creaking open slightly, but at a time like this when he'd been up for well over 16 hours he couldn't care less. He flopped down, face first, onto the soft mattress, not caring about waking up Tokio and pressed his face into the pillows, his golden eyes closing for definite sleep.

Saitou groaned lightly, almost inaudible when he felt Tokio move. God he hoped she wasn't awake or else he'd stay up even more and talk with her. To Saitou's utter relief she did nothing but pull the covers over him in her sleep, her head burying into the back of his neck and her arm going around his waist to embrace him lovingly. Saitou stared into the darkness of the room, he having turned the lamp off before he reached the bed and took a deep breath, the room filled with the scent of vanilla and flowers…Tokio's scent.

"Have you ever thought about it Saitou? Have you ever thought about one day having children yourself? Have you thought about being a father?"

Those words were stuck in Saitou's mind for all eternity. Tokio had asked him those questions about four months ago. It had been four months and he hadn't even given her an answer. Truthfully though, he had never thought of it at all. Saitou thought he would be killed first and needn't worry about such petty thoughts, but now…now that he lay here in the darkness of his bedroom, with Tokio sleeping blissfully behind him, his thoughts had drifted.

He knew all to well she wanted children. That was evident in the way she was with Misao-chan, Ayame and Suzume-chan, but to think of having children with him was…well…something to truly think about indeed. He was a cop, plain and simple. He placed his life on the line and to think that he would get married and have children and then die by some punk and leave his family behind was something Saitou did not want to have on his conscience!

Saitou took a deep breath and turned over, his eyes blinking at the orange glow crossing over Tokio's facial features. The sun was rising already. Had he truly been stewing on those questions for another hour? He reached his hand up, to lightly stroke Tokio's cheek, the mere pressure making her closed eyes flutter around and then they slowly opened, her brown eyes staring into gold ones.

"Hey you…" Tokio mumbled while moving a little closer to place a small kiss to his lips and then snuggle into the warmth of his body. Tokio was never a morning person, but then she hated chilly winter mornings. Although, she really could change her mind though, for she snuggled impossibly closer to the man she loved.

"When did you get in?" Tokio spoke with a yawn, her warm breath fanning over Saitou's neck.

"About four hours ago, but I was writing up a report and only came to bed a short while ago." Saitou responded back and closed his eyes; the light brushing of Tokio's fingers over his back and into his hair were sending him to sleep.

"You should rest Saitou, its time for you to have some sleep now." Tokio could hear a mumble escape Saitou's lips but she was unable to comprehend his words, they being muffled into her hair.

"You work too hard. Saitou no baka." Tokio spoke once more, she fully awake now, but she'd stay in bed, to keep Saitou company and to hold him like she was. It seemed strange, but then wonderful that he only rested when she was beside him and fell deep asleep only when she embraced him. To think he was a man of few words and few emotions and yet these small things Tokio picked up on were just many more reasons of why she loved him so much.

"Tokio?" Now she could hear his voice as clear as day, even though his body was completely relaxed and he was already half asleep.

"What is it Saitou?" Tokio whispered into his neck, her voice fluttering to his ear so he knew she was understanding his words properly.

"Do you think, that maybe one day, when the time is right for us to commit to marriage that you would be the mother of my children?" Tokio had to force the tears away; not believing Saitou had asked this. But then she smiled faintly, her arm tightening around her half sleeping boyfriend and she whispered her answer to him, he sighing and falling deep asleep.

"You could ask me now even though we aren't married if I wanted your children and I'd say yes in a heartbeat Saitou…you know I would. I can wait, for as long as you want Saitou. I can wait until you are ready…I'm not going anywhere." Tokio lay beside the slumbering Saitou, really hoping to the gods those words he spoke were the true. She hoped that he would remember later in the day, but for now all she could do was hold him tight and never let go.

* * * *

(Saitou and Tokio's bedroom - 2pm)

Tokio lay awake, resting on her right side as she read her book. Lucky for her it was just in reach on the set of drawers near the bed or else she would have died of boredom. Saitou rested on her right arm, his face curling into her shoulder and neck area, his calm warm breath making her skin turn a soft pink at its heat. Her fingers brushed loosely through his dark strands of hair and her head rested softly against his temple. She was unable to move, Saitou's arm draped over her naked body, pulling her to him, there bodies molding together perfectly. Her left arm was resting on his side, holding up her book, as she was finishing up another chapter. She'd been resting here for eight straight hours, desperately wanting to know when Saitou would wake up so she could race to the bathroom.

Tokio went to turn the page awkwardly using one hand, but stopped when Saitou groaned lightly, the palm of his hand flattening on her back; to caress her flushed skin luxuriously. Tokio couldn't help but blush and placed the book down, completely forgetting where she was at and pulled slightly away from Saitou, watching as his golden eyes fluttered open to greet her smiling brown ones.

"What time is it?" Saitou questioned sleepily, his senses waking him up just that little bit extra.

"You've slept for eight hours straight. You don't have work do you Saitou, cause you probably missed most of the day…" Tokio trailed off and cast her eyes away from his piercing gaze, Saitou fully awake now.

"Iie, today is my day off…" Saitou mumbled quietly while pressing his face back into Tokio's neck.

"Mou, you could have told me earlier Saitou. We could have done something." Tokio muttered a little irritated but then gasped softly as Saitou pulled her even closer, one of his hands snaking lower to grasp her rear end.

"Oh and what is it that you wish to do Tokio?" Saitou mumbled into her ear, watching from the corner of his right eye as her cheeks darkened in colour.

"You could let me go so I may go to the bathroom before I wet the bed as though I was a child again." Tokio suggested and felt Saitou pull away from her and she rolled over heading out the door fully knowing Saitou's eyes were clued to her naked form.

Once Tokio finished up in the bathroom and placed her silk robe around her naked form, she made her way towards the kitchen to fix Saitou some lunch. It wouldn't take her long anyway. All she had to do was reheat his dinner she cooked him last night in the microwave and voila! Dinner in two minutes!

Tokio stepped into the small kitchen, ready to open the fridge when her eyes caught sight of two gleaming guns, Saitou placing them on the kitchen counter and leaving them there. Tokio stepped closer to the counter, her right hand reaching out to touch the barrel of one gun; the metal was inevitably cold to the touch…deadly cold…

"Tokio, they are just guns. Would you rather I go defenseless?" Tokio jerked in surprise, her head snapped up to stare over at Saitou whom casually stood in the lounge room bare foot. She placed a small smile on her lips and shook her head negatively at his question. He was such a different person around her, she felt quite privileged at seeing this side of Saitou Shinomori. Tokio watched as he placed his hand into the hidden pocket inside his jacket and pulled out a packet of squashed cigarettes and placed one into his mouth lighting it up.

"Saitou, don't you think you should try and cut down. It would not be healthy for when you have children running around here."

"Children? What are you talking about Tokio? There are no children in this house." Saitou spoke bluntly back.

"I GIVE UP!" Tokio yelled angrily while throwing her arms in the air for more emphasis. She was mumbling some curses, Saitou not being able to understand all of them and instead silently watched her storm off, she angry with him yet again. A knowing smirk crossed Saitou's features as he shook his head at getting such a priceless reaction from her and moved towards the fridge to get something to eat. Oh he knew what she was talking about all right, but he'd let her stew for a couple of days more.

* * * *

(Himura Residence)

"Kenshin will you stop it! I'm okay for goodness sake!" Kaoru spoke for the umpteenth time that day, Kenshin waiting on her hand and foot. He was bringing her drinks and cleaning the house and making sure she had pillows behind her back and so on. All the usual nervousness was coming out in Kenshin just like it did three years ago when Kaoru was pregnant with Misao-chan.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru questioned her husband as he busied himself with collecting empty glasses and dishes from the lounge room and taking them into the kitchen. Her blue eyes followed his every move as he brought out the feather duster to brush away the non-existent dust on the furniture as he had already done that this morning. She watched him move back into the kitchen grabbing her some food, or making her some tea…or something!

"Kenshin Himura you get your butt in here now!" Kaoru demanded from her resting-place on the couch. She watched her red headed husband walk into the lounge room, he wiping his hands on the tea towel, which was ever present and draped over his left shoulder.

"Yes Kaoru dear?" Kaoru's face scrunched up in annoyance. 'Kaoru dear'? What the hell? He never called her that! It was just Kaoru or koibito, but never Kaoru dear! This was serious now.

"Get your butt over here right now Himura!" Oh Kenshin knew she was fuming now. For the life of him he didn't know what was wrong with her. Violet eyes met annoyed blue ones as he padded softly across the lounge room and sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"What seems to be the matter Kaoru dear? Do you need some more pillows, or maybe a massage? What about something to eat or how about a drink?" Kaoru fisted her hands and sat up slapping Kenshin a couple of times across the cheeks for being so…so infuriating!

"Snap out of it baka!" She yelled all the while hearing a couple of small "oro's" here and there. Satisfied that she had finally vented out some of her steam on her poor beaten and slumped husband, Kaoru sat back to look at his swirling eyes.

"Kenshin snap out of it! All this fussing you are making is making me feel like I'm on my death bed! Stop it!" Kenshin watched his wife's eyes tear up slightly, her bottom lip trembling as the beginning of the 'water works' was about to be known. Kenshin reached over hugging Kaoru to him, she sniffling into his shoulder.

"I know you worry, but if you don't rest yourself, then I shall worry more about you and become sicker. Please Kenshin, just be the Kenshin I know and not this strange and silent worrying one."

"But…"

"I know you worry about me and I love you for that, but if you rest with me and sometimes if we go to the park with Misao-chan, I'll be fine. I don't need you to worry yourself sick over me becoming sick again. Please Kenshin…lets just go on living and forget what is happening inside me for the moment. If you make me happy, I'll be happy and everything will be fine…I promise you Kenshin." Kenshin sighed a little defeated and rested his forehead against Kaoru's shoulder, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Alright Koibito, I'll stop. You must promise to get stronger, not only for the little one inside you, but for me as well. You know I cannot live without you right?" Kenshin felt Kaoru hug him tighter, as she whispered loving words into his ear, trying to reassure him that she wouldn't live him alone. She nearly did when they first got together all those years ago, when they were both still in high school together.

Kaoru's family, unknown to her, had a history of cancer and the incurable disease had plagued her body too. Lucky for Kaoru though, it had been detected, caught and treated early. Doctor's advised them that it was not wise to have children straight away and that is why Kenshin and her waited for so long.

They both decided that after Kaoru's cancer went into remission, maybe even a year later they decided to try for a child. Not many people knew, actually no one knew that Kaoru had a miscarriage the first time, it becoming a very traumatic moment in her life. Kenshin had been her rock throughout the ordeal, not even worrying about his own sadness. He was like that though…always worrying about others before himself.

The second time Kaoru had fallen pregnant was a joyous occasional and the pregnancy was going extremely well…until the sixth month of pregnancy. For the next three months Kaoru was hospitalised, as she was unable to walk…and sometimes not even able to breathe on her own. They needed to place her on a ventilation system. It too became a traumatic time for the couple, but with prays answered Kaoru pulled through, not without dying once though and being brought back to life.

Tests had to be done on baby Misao-chan as she was still in her mothers womb, the doctors needing to know if the child had received any brain damage at the mother dying for several seconds maybe even a minute. What was amazing was the unborn child seemed unaffected at all and was extremely healthy.

Kaoru had woken up to see tears of joy falling from violet eyes as Kenshin watched over her not sleeping at all. Once the doctors gave her the all clear that everything was fine with her and their unborn child, Kenshin had slept for two days straight! His worrying exhausting his body and making him sleep for that long.

Aoshi had been there, to watch over the both of them and Kaoru smiled remembering him set up a futon for Kenshin in the private room with Kaoru and placed him on it, throwing the blankets over his exhausted form. Those two days Kenshin slept, Aoshi had been by her side, telling her that Kenshin nearly dug holes in the length of the carpet he paced while waiting to hear on the news of her well being.

Then in the eight month of pregnancy Kenshin did a quick trip back to Kyoto to visit Hiko-sama and that's when Misao-chan decided to come. Kaoru had felt so embarrassed as she went into labour in the restaurant where her and Aoshi ate dinner. She had been happily eating a chicken salad when Misao-chan couldn't wait any longer. What surprised Kaoru the most was while she was flushing in embarrassment and becoming nervous as hell, Aoshi was cool, calm and collected, acting like the surrogate father to hers and Kenshin's child. He sprung into action as though he had attended all the pregnancy classes she and Kenshin attended and calmly asked for cool water; maybe some towels if the restaurant had any and any clean cloths, plus something to cut the umbilical cord with as well.

"At least you'll be able to witness the birth ne?" Kaoru whispered into Kenshin's ear, hearing the small yes as he hugged his wife tighter. Mere seconds passed as he loosened his hug and dropped his head to rest it on her bulging stomach savouring the moment of when their child kicked happily, Kaoru's face scrunching slightly at the weird feeling it was causing inside her. Two giggling Misao's interrupted their small moment.

"TADAIMA!" They both yelled at the same time and moved into the lounge room just as Kenshin sat up properly.

"Gomen ne…" The older Misao spoke, as she knew they had interrupted a private moment between them. Kaoru smiled over at them, watching as Misao-chan raced over to jump towards her father, he picking her up easily and placing her on his lap.

"Chibi-chan you missed the baby kicking inside mummy." He watched a pouting face cross his daughter's usual genki features as she looked over at her mother to see if her dad was telling the truth.

"Don't worry Misao-chan it will happen again I promise. When it does you'll be the first to know okay?" Kaoru responded softly to her daughter and watched a bright smile cross her face as she replied back.

"So I'll know before daddy too!" She got off her father's lap and pulled on Misao's trouser leg wanting her to follow her upstairs to play with her.

"You two should rest up or go for a walk because tonight I'm cooking dinner for you, but right now I have to play with Misao-chan. Ja!" Misao spoke and raced as fast as she could, using the cane for support, as she raced Misao-chan up the stairs and towards her room. Miso-chan trailing behind, but only just and began complaining that she didn't have long legs like Misao to get her up so quickly. Kenshin smiled at the two giggling Misao's in his household and stood up, his hands reaching down to clutch his wife's and helped her up.

"Shall we go for a stroll koibito?" He asked with that pleasant smile crossing his lips now. Kaoru nodded her head as they walked towards the door, slipping on their shoes and coats and stepping out to enjoy the bright afternoon sun and the cool breeze.

* * * *

Time passed, Kenshin looking down at his watch to see that a couple of hours had passed and they were only now heading back home. Kenshin draped his arm over Kaoru and hers went around his waist to pull his warmer body closer to her chilled one.

"Himura-san! Himura-san!" Kenshin and Kaoru stopped walking and turned around to see Shido, one of Kenshin and Aoshi's student's run towards them, he waving a white envelope in his hands.

"Shido-san what is the matter?" Kenshin asked watching the young man puff lightly obviously running here from the bus stop. He didn't live too far away from the Himura's but the bus stop was well over two, nearly three blocks away.

"I found this stuck under the door of the training hall when I was walking passed Himura-san. It is addressed to you and your wife. Hello Kaoru-san how are you fairing today?" Shido spoke smiling over at her after passing Kenshin the envelope.

"I'm very well and yourself?" She watched him shrug his shoulders lightly and he replied back, watching from the corner of his eye as Kenshin opened the letter to read the contents inside.

"I'm okay Kaoru-san, but Himura-san gave us a real work out late last night and my muscles hurt, but at least he isn't as deadly tough as Shinomori-san." Shido joked making Kaoru laugh lightly but they stopped when Kenshin lifted his eyes away from the letter to speak.

"Speaking of Aoshi, this is from him, dated over a week ago. It states he is coming home, but we are not to tell Misao this. He wishes it to be a surprise for her. To think he'll be back in a couple of weeks is wonderful news don't you think Kaoru?" Kenshin spoke a smile breaking onto his face at seeing his wife smile happily at hearing such news.

"That's wonderful Kenshin, but why so early? I thought he would be gone for at least three months with his classes." Kaoru stated back, the both of them not knowing about Aoshi's 'other life'.

"He just said that his classes went really well and that he as graduated from them early and he is ready to come home. According to his letter it seems Aoshi has stated that he has become homesick and wishes to return to where he belongs."

"You mean he is Misao sick not home sick Kenshin." Kaoru spoke and giggled lightly, she mouthing a silent sorry to Kenshin as she couldn't help but say that aloud, she knowing it was true. Besides neither one were here to complain about it either and she couldn't pass up the opportunity.

"You two have a wonderful evening and I better be off before I get myself into trouble with my parents. Oh and I'll keep this a secret as well. Ja!" Shido spoke and raced off heading for the bus stop once more.

"That wasn't very nice koibito. You know Aoshi and Misao are in a very delicate situation at the moment. We shouldn't pressure them, nor should we be talking about their private lives behind their backs like this either."

"Hai, hai Kenshin. Let's go home shall we?" Kenshin agreed to that and they began walking off heading towards their home.

"ACHOO!" Misao sniffled lightly at sneezing for the second time in mere minutes, she grabbing one of the tissues in Misao-chan's room and blowing her nose.

"Your not getting a cold are you Aunt Misao?" Misao-chan questioned and smiled when Misao shook her head negatively as they went back to playing with her dolls. Somewhere else in the world, namely China, a male with shining black hair and green-grey eyes sneezed as well.

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *