Kazoku – Chapter Two

~by Mako-chan

August, 1865  Second Year of the Genji

            Tokio hummed softly to herself as she hung the laundry.  The sun beat down, unhindered by clouds in the clear blue sky, but a light breeze rustled through the clothes and took off the worst of the late summer's heat.  All in all, it was a very pleasant afternoon.

            "Saito-san!  Saito-san!"

            "I'm outside, Rumi!"

            "Saito-san!  What are you doing?"

            "The laundry of course.  And don't start in on me with that –"

            "But Saito-san, Hijikata-san in here to see you."

            "What!"  Tokio dropped the wet yukata and snatched her handkerchief off her head.  "Why didn't you warn me?"

            "He just showed up."  She ran to her mistress and tried to help her with her hair.

            Tokio brushed her hands away.  "Just leave it down."  She let down her sleeves, brushed off her skirt, and hurried into the house.

            Waiting patiently in the house, Hijikata quietly sipped his tea.  He looked up as Tokio entered and she could see the disapproval in his face.  She smiled politely and bowed.

            "Good afternoon, Hijikata-san.  What can I do for you today?"

            "Good afternoon.  Is Hajime in?"

            "No, I'm afraid he is not."

            "When will he return?"

            "Forgive me, Hijikata-san, but I have not heard from my husband in almost six weeks."

            Hijikata snorted, as if to say he wasn't the least bit surprised, and Tokio pointedly ignored him.

            "In fact, I was hoping you could bring me some news of him."

            "Hajime left Kyoto two days ago, just as I did.  I can't imagine why he wouldn't want to hurry home."

            Again, Tokio pointedly ignored him, biting back a tart reply and keeping her eyes fixed on the floor in front of her.

            "Perhaps he was merely distracted by-"

            "Hijikata-san, since it is obvious that my husband is not home, perhaps you should leave."  She risked a gland up and saw him smirking in a self-righteous manner.

            "Saito-san."  Rumiko entered and bowed low.  "Okita-san is here to see you."

            "Please show him in, Rumiko."

            The serving girl bowed and left.  Hijikata sneered again and Tokio avoided his gaze, all too aware of how the situation looked.

            Okita entered and broke the tense silence.  He smiled kindly to both Tokio and Hijikata and bowed respectfully.  Hijikata sniffed with disgust and stood up.

            "Perhaps it is time for me to leave."  He turned to Tokio.  "When-"

            "It's such a shame that you must leave so suddenly, but I'm sure you must be extremely busy."  Okita bowed low and smiled again.  "Good day, Hijikata-san."

            With one last 'harumpf' Hijikata left, guided by Rumiko

            "Your timing is impeccable."  Tokio sighed and gestured to Hijikata's vacated seat.  "Can you talk like that to your superior?"

            Okita laughed as he sat down.  "I manage to get away with a lot of things.  Most of the Shinsengumi are afraid of me."

            "Afraid of you?"

            "Yes."

            "Why?"

            "Well, with the exception of your husband, I'm possible the most powerful swordsman in the Shinsengumi."

            "And so humble, too," Tokio teased, grinning.

            "We've really got to stop running into each other like this, Okita," Hajime commented dryly from the door.

            Okita smiled calmly back.  "Welcome home."

            Hajime glanced at his wife with and expressionless face, but she caught the meaning anyway.  "Come in, dear.  Sit and have some tea.  I'll fetch a fresh pot."  Tokio picked up the tray and carried it out of the room and gracefully as she could.

            Back in the kitchen, she found Rumiko nervously puttering about.  At the sight of her mistress, Rumiko rushed over and took the tray.  "Here ma'am.  Let me take that."

            "Thank you, Rumiko."  Tokio smiled, slightly mischievous.  "Why don't you take them some fresh tea?  I'm sure our guest would appreciate it."

            "Oh?  Is…is Okita-sama still here?"

            "Of course he is."

            The poor girl blushed furiously and Tokio, laughing silently, wandered outside to finish the laundry.

~*~*~*~

            Tokio watched as Rumiko lead Okita away and slipped into the room.  Hajime sat sipping his tea and as he moved she could see the tip of a bandage peaking below his sleeve.

            "What did you do to your arm?"
            "Do you really have to ask?"

            She sighed and sat down as he held out his arm and uncovered it.  "You know can't keep coming home in pieces like this.  One day I'm not going to patch you up.  I'll just leave you to rot."

            "What a sweet little wife you are."

            "I'm serious."  She frowned at his newest injury.  "You've got to take better care of yourself."

            "Why my dear, I had no idea you cared so much."

            The sarcasm in his tone annoyed her.  Why did he have to make light of such a serious topic.  "Well of course I care," she insisted a bit more harshly than she intended.  Hajime gave her a curious, side-long glance.  "After all, what would Rumiko and I do without our breadwinner?  Stay here while I get my stuff."

            She hurried off to find her things, frowning the whole time.

~*~*~*~

            "Hajime?"

            "What?"

            "Every time you come home, someone else gets here before you."

            "I noticed.  And it's usually Okita."  He glanced sideways at her in an accusing way.

            She glared back at him.  "We've already been down that road, remember?"

            "True."  He nodded as if he were conceding a favor upon some lowly servant by agreeing.

            "So," Tokio prompted, growing angry and impatient.

            "So?"

            "So why does it take you so long to get home?  People keep showing up here expecting to find you and I've always got no idea where you are."

            Hajime sighed and fidgeted in his seat.  "It's really not that big a deal."

            "What are you so nervous about all of a sudden?"  He shifted his gaze away and Tokio shifted to sit right in front of him and continued glaring.

            Hajime sighed and shifted again.  "Okay."  He grinned a bit.  "There's a little soba shop I always stop at on the way home.  It kinda cuts into my travel time."

            Tokio folded her arms.  "I don't believe you."

            "It's true."

            "Sure," Tokio mumbled, thoroughly unconvinced.

            Hajime scowled, getting a dangerous glint in his eye.  "I have nothing to prove to you."

            "No?"  She matched him glare for glare.  "You don't have anything to prove, but every time one of YOUR people come over here and badger me, YOU get to accuse me of whatever you want?  Oh that's real fair."

            "Life's not fair.  And lower you voice."

            "I'm not yelling!"  Tokio sighed, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.  When she opened them again Hajime was calm, and so was she.  "Soba?"

            "I happen to like soba."

            They said nothing until Rumiko entered to tell them dinner was ready.  They both got up to move outside.  As they left, Tokio snickered quietly.

            Hajime glanced back at her.  "What's so funny?"

            "Soba?"

            "Shut up."

~*~*~*~

Rumiko entered the room tentatively and cleared her throat.

            "Come in Rumi."  Tokio never left her position at the window.

            "I am in, ma'am."

            "Then come here."

            Slowly, she approached the window and looked out to see Hajime's departing back.  "He's leaving so soon?"

            "Yeah.  Back to Kyoto."  She stared wistfully out the window."

            "Ma'am."

            "Rumi, I think I'm in love with him."

A.N.  Thank to everyone who reviewed.  I LOVE YOU ALL!  There's more to come soon, so fear not!  Oh, and since I missed it last time, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.  *sob*