**Pechan would like to deeply apologize, since she said she'd be done with this story two chapters ago. so tomorrow she SWEARS ON HER LIFE IT'LL BE DONE BY THEN!!! And this chapter sucks, since her computer crashed before she could save. So, she had to start over again. It was a bit more romantic before so, there you have it, if it seems a little rushed.

~ Farewell at 6:00 ~

Tokio removed her apron, setting it down against the wall where she always kept it. She removed her hair band, and said to Sae, "Hey, need any help with the dishes?"

Sae smiled, "Thank you, Tokio, but I think you'll be late for you're little date."

She frowned, "Hey, it's not a date. He probably wants me to pose as a meshimori-onna again."

"Huh?"

Tokio shook her head, "Ah, nothing." Tokio fingered the tips of her hair, then flicked them out of the way, "Well, if you don't need any help, then I guess I'll be off. But, I might be a little late."

Sae giggled, setting a wet bowl down, "Oh, I understand, Tokio. You have a good time, you hear?"

She blushed, "Uhh, thanks Sae."

She grasped her hair again, and sighed. She didn't like her hair down. She always had it up in a bun, tied up all nicely with beautiful ornate pins. But, she usually didn't dress up for work, and she didn't have any with her. Ah well, a braid would work for tonight. She began to start a sideways braid, as she walked to the front of the restaurant. She stopped at a glass mirror where people sometimes waited to be seated, and she applied a fresh coat of make up to her lips and eyes. She didn't like braid, it looked a bit sloppy. But, she liked it better than down. For some reason, her hair left down felt vulnerable to her. She stepped into her lacquered getas, and lightly stepped out. She glanced around the place, peeking around the building, but could find Goro.

She sighed, and frowned, "Jerk. I told him to wait for me!!" She gasped, when a hand clamped on her shoulder.

"I did."

She batted it away, "Geez, you scared me!! I thought you were a rapist!!" looking up at Goro Fujita.

"No, I'm more dangerous than that," he smirked.

She laughed, "Whatever," she started in pace with him, and asked, "So! Where to?"

"You'll see," he replied. He looked down at her, "I rarely see you hair down."

She shrugged, "It makes me feel uncomfortable. Unarmed, you know? I least I have a few stabbing weapons in my hair, with the hair pins, heh heh..........." she giggled.

He smiled, "Well, long hair looks nice on you."

She gulped.

**Let's wear it down all the time!!**

She frowned, and huffed, "Well, yeah? Long hair is hard to keep manageable, it always tangles up. I mean, you know what I mean, right? You used to have long hair!"

He smiled, saying nothing. His sword clinked at his side in it's sheath.

She pouted, "You really carry that everywhere, huh? Even off duty?"

He smiled, "I am permitted to."

"Doesn't mean you have to."

"Doesn't mean I can't."

She frowned, "It's a good thing I have a guy that answers back ALL the time. Otherwise, all my questions of the unknown shall go un answered."

"See how lucky you are?"

She tried to bop his head, but he was too tall. She growled for a good five minutes at him, though.

Presently, they came to the gates of a house. Tokio glanced around, "Hey, nice place. Who's house is this? I don't see the family name."

He said nothing as he opened the gate. It creaked open, and he slipped inside. For a big guy, he really made no noise when going about in the dark. Tokio was not so sneaky. In socks, she can sneak up on people. Most assassins do. But in heavy wooden getas? She tripped on her way in, "OOF!!"

He made that suppressed laugh again, "Need any help?"

She got up, "Ahh, shut up." She wiped her skirt, and looked around. There was a stone pathway leading to a medium sized house. The wood was old, even in the dark she could see it had lost some of it's shine. Weeds poked through the stones, struggling to grasp the few rays of light from the red sun as it set. Tokio walked towards the small porch of the house. Goro ascended the steps, the wood groaning under his feet. Obviously, the place was a little old.

"Who's place is this?" she asked again. "I mean, it looks like whoever it is isn't taking care of it very well. Or................." she looked up at him, "Hey, does anybody even live here?"

He smiled at her, opening the door. "No."

He stepped into the shadows inside. She stared at the black nothingness, as her mind squealed, **WE'LL BE IN AN ABANDONED HOUSE ALL ALONE TOGETHER!!**

She bopped her own head, driving away all thought, and instead tried to focus on cute little bunnies.

"Well? Aren't you going to come in?" he called from the darkness.

She frowned, "When I'm good and ready!!"

She stepped up the stairs, and stopped at the shadows. It was dark in there, but she heard him moving in there. She slipped out of her getas, and silently stepped inside. But it was darker than she thought, and she could barely see anything. The sun went down completely, leaving her in the darkness. And she didn't like the dark. In the Revolution, people screamed in the dark, and she couldn't see them. Couldn't help them. Too afraid of her own life to do anything.

She didn't realize she was breathing rather hard, as she waved her arms about, taking cautious steps, "Hey, it's ummm, k-kinda dark in here....."

Goro called, "Your eyes will adjust."

She gulped, and stopped, nearly paralyzed, "Hey, don't leave me here! I can't see!"

Her hands clutched and clawed at the air, hoping to find a wall. Instead, she felt warm, gloved fingers slowly curl around hers. She gasped, as they tightened around her hand, as Goro led her through the dark. She kept her hand on her heart to keep it from beating so loud, as he pulled her into what seemed to be a room. There, he let go. Instantly it felt cold without his touch. She bit her lip, and said, "Man, you.......... you sure can see in the dark pretty good, huh?"

"Hnh," he said, as she heard something pop. She saw his match strike on the ground, and it lit a candle in the room. The room lit up considerably well, and she could see they were in a guest room. There were a few cob webs in the corners, and looked considerably old. But, she could tell it's still a nice house. He rose, and faced her.

She rubbed her neck. "So what this place for?" she grinned, "Are you going to lure a band of murderers here and kill them?"

He smiled, "Tell me. Could you clean a house like this?"

She blinked, "Excuse me?"

"Could you possibly turn this place livable?"

She shrugged, "Well, sure I can. I mean, to make it look spic and span I'd say three days, at least. But yeah, it doesn't need anything fancy down to it." She tapped the walls, "It's in pretty good condition. Wonder why the owners left it?" she walked over to a door and opened it, revealing a closet, "Hey they even left a few futons in here!!"

She grinned devilishly, "Hey, wanna have a sleep over?"

He smirked, "I'm sorry, but I'm already booked for the night."

She pouted, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Meaning I'm going somewhere tonight."

She turned around eyes wide, "How come? You said you had the week off!!"

He shrugged, "I lied."

She bit her lip, then frowned, "Moron!! Why'd you go lie about that?!!"

"................. I thought I said I didn't want to see you sad."

She widened her eyes, holding a gasp. Something about the way his said it sent a wave of warmth to caress her body. She bit her lip, "Yeah? Well, nice going!! I sure don't feel happy right now!!"

He smiled, "It's nice to know you miss me already."

She frowned, "Don't flatter yourself. Anyways, what was the point of bringing me here? To show me some great Japanese architecture?" she chuckled.

He smiled again, "Do you like it?"

Her heart thumped, "W-Why?"

"If you can keep it clean, you can have it."

Her knees shook, her mouth went dry, and she was afraid her eyes would pop out of her skull. She put her hand to her lips, "You're kidding!!"

"No, I'm not."

She shook her head, "You............ when did you do this?"

"Do what?"

"Buy a house!!"

"Today."

"Why?"

He shrugged, leaning against the wall, "You were lacking one," he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it, "Besides, it was more on spur of the moment."

She nearly fell over, "People buy candy on the spur of the moment!! They buy nice kimonos spur of the moment!! They don't BUY A HOUSE FOR SOMEONE, SPUR OF THE MOMENT!!"

"This person does." He took a drag of his cigarette, "Besides, it's not free. You need to clean it. I'm sure a broom and a bucket with rags will cost something."

"But how am I supposed to pay for it?!"

"I'm not renting it, Tokio. I bought it. You don't have to pay for anything."

She gulped, "You did all that............... for me?"

He smirked, smoking, "Think of it as a good bye present."

She tilted her head, "Good bye? Oh yeah, when are you going to come back?"

"I don't know."

She pouted, thinking, and counted on her fingers, "Like, two weeks? Three?"

He shook his head, "I don't know, Tokio."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm going alone."

"Alone........?" she smiled, coming to him, "Well hey, take me with you! Where to?"

Goro looked at her, smiling, "I am sorry Tokio, but I need to go alone this time. And I might not come back anytime soon."

"....................... like, a month?"

He shook his head gently, "I can't tell, Tokio. After all, I'll be stationed there."

"Well, I'll go with you!"

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"I bought you a house to stay here."

"Well......................" she huffed, "I don't' want it!!!"

He stared at her, "Excuse me?"

"I-I mean, it's your house, right? I........ I don't wanna be all alone in it!! It's too big for me all by myself."

He smiled, "Ah, then fill it with a family sometime."

"What do you mean...................?"

"I mean I'm going, Miss Tokio," he said, putting his hat back on, "And I may not come back."

That time, Tokio got it. She didn't realize she put her fingers to her lips, "No.............. you, you always come back!"

Saito didn't like to see her like that. With distress screaming in her eyes. She was panicked. She didn't like to be alone, no matter how many times she lied to herself. In truth, he loved it when she was in the dark. She went meek, calling for his help. She needed him, and he guided her. And she allowed it. When she felt lost, it seemed she needed ........... wanted him the most..........

Of course, he wasn't doing this intentionally to see her at this state. He said slowly, "I know, and I'll try Tokio. But I'm just saying, I don't want you to wait up on me."

"What are you saying?!!"

He turned away, "I'm saying don't become an old maid just because I'm not around. If I don't come back in a year, do whatever you want. Just don't go looking for me. And don't wait for me. You'll waste your time."

She slightly frowned, disbelief still lingering in her voice, "So that's it then, is it?! You're just gonna go, and tell me to forget about you?"

"You can remember or forget me, Tokio, it doesn't really matter. I'm just saying," he said, turning, and looking into her eyes, "That it would be wise for you to move on."

"Why?" she said, and her breathing accelerated, "Is it....... is it because I act weird?! I mean, I can change that, if you want-"

"I don't want you to change, Tokio. I never want you to change."

Tokio didn't notice her bottom lip quivering, "Then why are you leaving me?"

He wanted to tell her he had no choice. So, he said it simply put, "I am ordered to."

"Then quit!!"

"......................... Tokio," he sighed, "I can't quit the government like that. They rely on me-"

"SCREW THEM!! What about me?!"

Goro sighed, and crushed his cigarette. "Tokio, I was hoping you wouldn't be this upset."

"What'd you think I would do? Cartwheels?!!" she walked up to him, "Where would you be going?"

"I won't tell you. You'll just follow me."

She didn't argue with that. She'd just probably jump on the back on the train he'd leave on tonight if he told her.

He turned away again, "If you look under the futon, I put your bag of things underneath it. I got it from Miss Sae. She was happy to hear you have a new house now."

She looked at the closet, and opened it. Sure enough, when she turned over the futon, there was her bag. She opened it, and her kimonos and hair pins lay there.

Somehow, seeing them there, it felt like he had just taken her whole life out of his, and dumped them here. She couldn't take this. For some reason................ fine, for the SAKE OF LOVE, SHE COULDN'T TAKE THIS.......

She ran to him, and grabbed the bottom of his jacket. He turned, and found her frowning, but her eyes trembled. She turned him around, and grabbed his white gloved hand. She breathed, holding it, and slapped her hand in it.

"You WILL come back, you hear me?"

He watched her, her eyes tightly shut, to keep any tears from leaking. She removed her hand, leaving a hairpin. It was ivory, with gilded lines scrawling to a fanned out tip. The tip had holes, where golden rings were looped through. It jingled slightly, and three green tear drops of jade ran down the spine of it. Elegant and refined. A hairpin that seemed nearly opposite of Tokio's personality. But perfect with her looks.

"Listen," she said, "It's my favorite one, alright?! So you're going to give it back to me one day!!" she looked at him, glaring, "Cause if you don't I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish."

Goro slowly smiled, hearing her threaten him with sad eyes. "It matches your eyes." He slowly closed his fingers on it, and slipped it into his pocket, "I'll try to, Tokio. But, you might never see it again-"

She turned away, and said, "Don't even say it, because you are coming back. Whether you like it or not."

Goro smiled deeply, bowed, "Then please take care."

She sniffed, and he stopped. She sniffed again, "I mean, you will come back. Because if, you don't............ I mean, if you don't, I won't be able to go on trips anymore. You know?"

He watched her, listening to her.

"And, we can't go eat soba anymore. And stupid things like................. I won't be able to hit you anymore. Or kick you. And you won't be able to make fun of me if you don't c-come back........." her voice almost failed at the end.

"..................................... Tokio, please understand. Don't fill yourself with useless hope. I may not-"

"God DAMMIT!! HUMOR ME, WILL YOU?!!" she shouted, balling her hands into fists at her side, "I mean, just pretend you'll come back!! Pretend you'll come back here to give me back my hair pin, pretend that you don't want to leave, just PRETEND YOU WANT TO STAY WITH ME!!"

He widened his eyes a bit, "Tokio....................."

"I......I....." she sniffed, and she brought a hand to her face, probably to wipe her tears. "I mean, I know you can't come back. Because you have to go. But if this really is our last night, I mean............ can't we just make believe we'll see each other again?"

She still had her back to him, but she hugged herself, wanting oh so badly to be hugged. She felt cold, and she shuddered. She clenched her teeth, trying not to cry out loud, trying not to wail. She wanted to be the strong girl he was used to that he commented so much on. She didn't want to disappoint him.

Saito realized just how much she wanted to be with him. All this time, he thought she just had crush on him. Since he saved her and everything twice. But no. It was more than that. She tried not to be to save face. Nothing as more pitiful than a woman on her knees, begging a man to stay. But he bet if such rules weren't viewed as just pitiful desperation, she would be doing so right now.

Indeed, this may be his last night. There were many other nights, that may be his last. But he may not see her again after this. He usually came back to Kyoto, but he was usually on the move mostly. Being sent out to places all the times, to kill one here, or a group there.

No, she didn't need a man that couldn't be there for her all the time.

But here she was. Trying to be strong. To make him happy. If this was going to be like their last night.............

He came behind her, his chest grazing her back, his lifted his arms slowly, and she opened her eyes, lightly gasping. He crossed his arms around her, and rested them around her chest. His hands clutched her arms, and he pulled her to his chest. She sniffed, eyes clenched, and teeth grit.

He really did want to be with her. He had decided ever since the train ride home. She was a respectable woman, when she needed to be. And he did enjoy her. Everything about her. Her looks, her mind, her humor, her insults, her way of life, the way she thought, the way she talked, walked, and he even admitted that yes, he would definitely love her body.

He didn't much care for her tears, though. He didn't know exactly how to cure a woman of that. But he gently placed his cheek against hers, bending his neck over her. She moaned slightly, trying to restrain a sob, and tilted her head up. This caused his arms to go tighter. He felt he had to; he was responsible for her pain.

-He had no idea how responsible he was for her pain-

She whimpered, "G-Goro........."

He pulled his head back, as she turned to him, her face close to his, "What am I gonna do without you?"

He looked into those twin pools of green that were her eyes. They looked on the verge of despair. Like they were lost. Like they could do nothing else but make him feel bad this very moment.

"What am I supposed to do?"

He didn't realize he reached for her until his palm rested on her cheek. She gasped, and he whispered, "You will move on, Tokio. Please, if I do not come, don't waste your life waiting. I want you to move on. Do you hear me?"

She sniffed, "No-"

His fingers went under her chin, and tilted her face up to his, "Tokio, I will try to come back. Do you understand?" he blinked, looking away, "I will try, but I can't............... I can't guarantee." He sighed, and ran his hand through his hair. "Tokio, I can only promise."

After a long silence, Tokio drew a shuddering breath, cold without his warm embrace, and whispered, "That's all I ask for."

He gazed longingly at her, realizing that this was slightly more difficult than it seemed. He turned, "Good bye, Miss Tokio."

He left the room as silently as he came in. Tokio was left alone, in this house that he bought for her. A whole house, that he expected her to fill with a family. Someday.

**it ends bad because I have to go now. I'll type more later, so nighty night!!