CHAPTER 10: Tuberculosis

Saito and Tokio waited in Okita's room for the doctor to finish examining Okita. Okita was the first to be examined, being the most injured and sick of all the remaining Shinsengumi members. Saito sat, leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He flicked some silvery ashes off of it, then stuck it back in his mouth. Tokio was sitting next to him, leaning against his shoulder, drifting off into a light sleep. The adrenaline rush had long since ebbed away, and Tokio was left in exhaustion. They had both changed into more comfortable clothes. Saito could hear Okita in the room next door, coughing. He took a long drag from his cigarette.

"Hajime?" Tokio asked sleepily. "Is he going to be okay?"

"I hope so, Tokio," Saito said. He sighed and put the cigarette out in an ashtray. She hugged on to him and he buried his nose in her sweet smelling hair. He felt her move her head and her lips on his. Saito felt Tokio's hands reach up and play with the hair on the back of his neck. Then, her fingers wandered up to his high ponytail and untied it. His hair fell down onto his shoulders and trailed down his back to his lower back. He pulled away from her.

"Hajime," Tokio whispered. "I love you." She slipped his gi off of his shoulders, then touched his bare chest and felt the new scar on his stomach. She looked up at his face.

"Yes, it is still a bruise, Tokio," Saito said. "I will never be able to get rid of it."

"Don't let it dampen your pride, Hajime," Tokio smiled. "You saved my life when you got it."

"Yes, and you saved mine," Saito said. He paused. "Tokio?"

"Yes?"

"I have to ask you something."

"What?" There was a knock at the door. Saito pulled his gi back around his shoulders and re-tied his hair. Still, four pieces of it would not stay out of his face.

"Come in," Saito said. The doctor pushed open the door.

"I have gotten Okita-san's temperature to go down and his coughs are not so severe anymore, however." the doctor stopped. Saito and Tokio both looked at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

"However...?" Saito asked. The doctor closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"However, Okita-san has contracted more than a cold," the doctor said.

"What does he have?" Tokio asked, a worried look on her face.

"Tuberculosis," the doctor said. "He won't be with us much longer. Only a year, at the most."

"Let me see him," Saito demanded.

"No," the doctor said. "You could catch the disease, too. We don't want to risk it. I will stay with him."

"I am not afraid of death," Saito said. "Bring me to him." The doctor sighed.

"I will come, too!" Tokio said. "I am not afraid of death either. As a warrior, I face death everyday."

"Come," the doctor said reluctantly. They all followed him into the room where Okita was lying on the floor, sleeping. Saito made a move to walk over to Okita, but Tokio stopped him.

"We should not wake him, Hajime," Tokio whispered, grabbing Saito's sleeve. "He will need his rest." Saito nodded.

"We'll come back tomorrow morning," Saito said. "Good night, doctor." He took Tokio's hand and led her out of the room. They slid the door closed behind them and retreated to the room next door. Saito walked over to the window and opened it, lighting up a cigarette. Tokio stood behind him, her arms around his waist.

"I hope Okita will be okay," Tokio mumbled into Saito's gi.

"I think he will. He's not the kind of guy who would die so easily. It takes a lot to kill a Miburo," Saito replied.

"Yes, it does. It's a good thing, too, otherwise," Tokio paused. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have you." She blushed and hoped he wouldn't see. Lucky for her, he didn't.

"Tokio?"

"Hmm?"

"I have to ask you something."

"Yes?" Tokio looked at him. He stared out the window. A long silence passed between them.

"Tokio, would you be the one to tame the Wolf of Mibu?" Saito finally asked. Tokio stared at his back. Had he actually proposed?! Tokio opened her mouth ready to just let the words spill out.

A/N: I know, I know. In history, Saito and Tokio's marriage was arranged, but hey, IT'S FICTION, RIGHT?! Hee hee, anyway, I couldn't imagine Saito proposing, but I decided to try. You never know! Some OOCness might just do them good! ^_^ Thank you to all of those who reviewed! I think I've kept you all waiting long enough!