**Vegas was wet and cold, the LEAST Pechan expected from the desert she
used to live in. rain's damn fun though. It's hell on the car. Especially
through puddles. Good thing Rurouni Kenshin characters never had to worry
about a car getting stuck in a huge mud puddle, which she DOES NOT OWN.
~ Discipline ~
Tokio was constantly cursing under her breath as she tied up Ryu's arm, "Damn kid, thinkin' he's invincible, all beating up whatever he freakin' feels like-"
"Mother, I've never done this before!! It's not like I go out every night and pick on a bunch of idiots-"
Tokio frowned, and tightened his bandage so tight, his skin turned purple, "Yeah, for all WE know, that's what you realllyyy do-"
"M-Mother!! That hurts!!"
"Oh shut up, ya mary!! You're supposed to be such a tough guy, huh? So stop whining!!"
Mina bit her lip, "Ryu, are you that mad at me?"
Ryu mopped his face with his hand, "No, I was distracted-"
"Distracted by kicking some kid's @$$."
Ryu rolled his eyes, and Tokio removed her hands, "There!! You big baby. Geez, it came so close to hitting the bone........ who did this to you?"
Ryu shrugged, "It was dark."
Mina laughed, "Hah!! I'll bet it was." She bit her lip, and looked at him, "Say, Ryu..................... are you really this steamed about us? Me and Kenji, I mean?"
Ryu didn't look at her, and pinched the bridge of his nose, frowning, "Mina, I'm tired, I really don't want to-"
But his sister shoved him a bit, "Hey, I'm serious!! I mean, if you hate us that much, then I guess....... I guess I'll stop."
Ryu looked into the emerald eyes of his sister. He had the same, except they wavered from deep emerald to shady aqua. His sister had always been there for him, and never intentionally meant to hurt him.
**I FIGURED OUT WHAT YOU WERE MAD AT, RYU!! You're just being an @$$.**
Ryu moaned, and sighed, "Mother, when you're conscious speaks to you, what do you usually do?"
Tokio crossed her arms, "Weeellllllll, I usually try to ignore it. But it's usually telling the truth."
**Way to suck up to me, Tokio.** She frowned, thinking 'Shut up.'
Everyone turned their heads to a slight popping noise, and the man of the house was leaning against the door, with a cigarette in hand. Mina and Ryu gulped, since they knew they're father had tried to cut back on smoking. Except when he needed it most. And he usually needed it when government asked for him, and when he was really pissed about something.
And there were no government men in sight.
He calmly stated, "Ryu, apologize to Mina."
Ryu mumbled, "........sorry."
Goro narrowed his eyes.
Ryu sighed, "I am truly sorry, dear sister."
Tokio bopped his head, "What is it with you kids and sarcasm?! It's like a disease you got from your father!"
Mina bit her lip again, "Ryu, listen. I know you don't like Kenji. God knows why, he's been such a nice guy to you, and I wanna know why. I mean, there's got to be a reason. You're the logical twin, you're the smarter one. What, is he a yakuza crime lord or someting?...................................... is he gay?"
Ryu jumped, "N-No!! Don't ask me things like that!!"
Mina sighed, "Well, what the heck, man? What's going on?"
Ryu sighed, lost at words, "You wouldn't understand."
Goro dragged from his cigarette, then simply said, "He worries for you, Mina. He's afraid you'll get hurt."
Mina looked at her father, "Huh? No way. Ryu's a jerk. A smart jerk, but still a jerk."
"It came from his mouth."
Mina looked at him, "Hey! Is that true, Ryu?"
Ryu sighed, "Mina, I was-"
She put her hand on his forehead, "You're not sick or anything, are you?"
"Mina, I..............................." Ryu looked at his parents, "Mother, Father, may I have a moment with my sister?"
Tokio crossed her arms, "I'm sure whatever you can settle you can settle in front of your parents."
Ryu sighed, and Mina bit her lip.
Goro he placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, "Let's go to bed, Tokio. They can figure this out for themselves."
Tokio pouted, "Awww, but I wanna see my kids reconcile!! I never got to do any of that stuff when I was a kid!!"
Goro simply smiled, and let his hand crawl across her shoulders, as he pulled her tight to him. Arm slung over her shoulders, he said, "Tell her everything Ryu. Then the both of you could clean up the dojo and the house tomorrow."
Ryu and Mina fell.
Mina screamed, "ME!?? Why do I have to clean up the house, I didn't do anything wro-"
"Father, I wanted to do stuff tomorrow!!"
"It's that jerk's fault why he got hurt in the first pla-"
"-only cause YOU were kissing that dog-"
"YOU'RE A DOG!!"
"OH, GREAT COME BACK!!"
Tokio giggled, and held up her hand, "If you guys want to get this house done, you better apologize fast. Since you're not getting any sleep until it's sparkling clean."
Mina's face fell, "Huh? Seriously?"
Tokio nodded, "Yep."
"Mother, it's nearly eleven o clock!!"
Tokio laughed, "I know!! I'm nearly about to pass out and sleep myself!! But, you guys were being such idiots, you both need a good lesson. Besides, stop complaining Ryu. You have all this time to settle this stupid problem with Mina." Tokio walked out of the room, and sighed, "Geez, all because of some stupid kiss........"
Mina couldn't help but giggled, "Well, it wasn't exactly stupid. More like, blazing and passionate."
Ryu smacked his face, "Please be quiet."
Mina looked at her father, who was still smoking against the wall, "Ummm, aren't you sleepy too?"
"Very," he replied. He took a drag from his cigarette.
"Well...................... aren't you gonna catch some Z's, too?"
"Oh I will. After you cleaned up the house."
Mina and Ryu sunk to the ground. Ryu grumbled, "You're going to stay awake and make sure we clean everything up."
Goro nodded, "That's the plan. Now.......,' he crushed his cigarette, pulled out as kendo stick, and whapped it across the wall, "Get moving!!"
Ryu and Mina jumped up, and got right to work.
~~Two hours into their cleaning~~
As Ryu scrubbed the floor of the porch, Mina gradually slid her cloth over to him. He rolled his eyes, as she came for it, and set to cleaning next to him.
"You're really watching out for me, Ryu?"
"Does it matter?" he grumbled, dipping his rag back into the bucket.
She nodded, scrubbing, "Course it does, moron!! If I knew you cared, I wouldn't have settled for the first thing I saw!!"
Ryu stared incredulously at her, pausing, "What?!!"
She giggled, "Oh, calm down. I was kidding. Hey, but seriously, why all of a sudden you're looking out for me?"
"A while ago," he sighed, rolling up his sleeve which was getting soaked on the wet floor he was cleaning, "Mother had a serious conversation. She noticed I kept pushing you away, and she told me once her and Father were gone, we're all we'd have left for each other." He didn't tell her about the girl he saw.
"She said that?"
He nodded, "Yeah. Something like that. You know how articulate she is when it's that time of the month."
She laughed, "You don't gotta tell me that twice. Awww, but what a sweet brother I have!!" she hugged him, nearly choking him to death," All this time I thought you were being a prick, but you were really lookin' out for me!!!"
Ryu tried to pry her arms off his neck, "M-Mina......ch-choking meeee......"
"Uh?" OH!!" she let go, giggling, and rubbing her neck, "So sorry!! Oh, Ryu!! You're such a dork. You shoulda told me!!"
"Would it have stopped you from throwing yourself to that dog?"
She grinned, "Nope!! But the sentiment would've been sweet. To pay you back for caring so deeply about me, I'm gonna embarrass you in front of your girlfriend!!"
Ryu tolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. She giggled again, and leaned in to him, "So!! You got anyone in mind?"
He backed off, "Don't ask me things like that!!"
"Oh, no one yet, eh? Ya know, you should ask Tomoyo out. She's really sweet, lots of money, and she's had a crush on you for three years!!"
"Tomoyo is and ugly dog of a girl who can't keep her mouth shut and................ three years? Wow, really?"
Mina grinned, nodding, "Uh huh!!"
Ryu frowned, "Still, makes no difference. I don't like her."
"How about Chiba?"
"I don't think I'd get over her mother's sixth toe."
"Hina?"
Ryu flatly replied, "I would appreciate it if we didn't discuss this."
Mina laughed, and grabbed his arm, "Is it Hina? It's Hina, isn't it?!! You have a crush on her!?!?!"
Ryu struggled to keep her voice down, "Shh, Mina!! Shut up!! What if Father hears-"
"Oh, HOW CUTE!! YOU LIKE HINA!! Oh, and she thinks you have a great butt and six pack and all-"
"MINA!!" he exclaimed, quite flabbergasted. (I like that word)
"Oooh, oh oh!! Just wait till I tell her you got the hots for her, too!!"
Ryu growled, and pounced on her, "You'll do nothing of the like if you want to keep Kenji as your boy toy!!"
She laughed, and pinned him to the floor, "Kya ha haa! I'll tell Hina before you even get to LOOK at 'em!!"
Ryu grinned, and kicked her off, "Idiot."
"Moron!!"
He picked up his bucket, and smirked.
Mina gasped, "You wouldn't!!"
He held it up, "I would."
Mina blinked, and then took off, singing, "RYUUUUU LIKES HIIIIIIIIINA!! RYUUUUUU LIKES HIIIIIIIIIIINA!!"
"DAMMIT MINA, GET BACK HERE!!"
~~
In the master bedroom, on her their futon, Tokio lifted her head from her husband's chest, and giggled, "Hear that, Hajime? You're kids are screwing around again."
Saito lifted his head as well, and yawned. He gently pushed her off him, "It's funny how they're MY kids when they do stupid things."
"They inherit it from you."
He tossed off his blanket on her head, covering her. "Hey!!" she tore it off, and giggled, "Imagine, both of them in love with someone!! It's so cute!"
"That boy is acting like an idiot," he said, tying his obi tighter. He walked to the door, and picked up a kendo stick.
She smiled, watching her husband go. She giggled in her throat, then asked, "He's only being a complete dork like most guys do his age. What did you do with your first crush, Hajime? Hmm?"
Hajime simply smirked, and said as he closed the door behind him, "I married her."
That caused Tokio to swoon, hearing her husband confess that she was his first and only love. Of course, he could also have just been saying that.
~~
Saito walked into the halls, hearing the thudding of footsteps outside. He heard his daughter's giggling, and suddenly a splash of water. Ryu gasped, and growled some very colorful names for his sister, and she taunted and threw some more at him.
Yare yare, where did they ever hear such language? His guess was from their loving mother.
He slid open the doors, finding the twins scrabbling to pin the other. Somehow Ryu was the one that was soaked. How that fool allowed her to take the bucket from him was beyond Saito's reasoning. His son must not have inherited his wit. How they acted like such children in privacy, even in their age. He never had the time to leisurely play with other children. His childhood......
He smirked. He was not one to dwell on the past, so he would not start now. It was bad enough with the war. He had worsened Toki's by slaying her family when she was only fifteen. Or was it fourteen? Even though they had this discussion, she still wouldn't discuss the painful details. He never brought it up, finding that she preferred to stay silent about it after his apology. Fine by him, as long as she didn't hate him.
His kids were the exact opposite. They played all the time, not realizing their father was really an assassin, a manslayer. One who feeds this family with the blood of his prey, meaning the money he gets paid for bringing down those that oppose the creed of Aku Soku Zan bought the food on the table. They had no idea how much time they had in the world.
He did not regret losing his childhood earlier than they had. He couldn't imagine himself wrestling with his siblings. (if he had any) He definitely couldn't imagine what it would have been like to have a sister in lone of a father's rival. He wondered what his children would do if they ever found out who he was.
But that was something they'd never know. Well, unless his died. Then the Meiji government would tell them everything. And he hoped the Himura boy wouldn't tell Mina either.
He sighed. That Himura boy.........
Ryu yipped, as Mina held him in a suplex, "NYAH HA HA!! Here I was thinking the brother's supposed to protect the sister!!"
Ryu twisted his waist, and yanked her to the floor, "You were the one who wanted to be treated," he grinned, and flipped her on her back, "As an EQUAL!"
She pounced, "I'll show YOU equal!!"
He ducked under her pounce, "Very unladylike."
She kicked at him, and he tripped, and she tackled him as he fell, "Another remark like that and I'll make you eat the dirt!!"
Ryu gasped, "Ow, OW!! MY HAIR, GET OFF IT!!"
She laughed, "You should wear it in braids, like me."
"Oh yeah, then I'll be as pretty as you're boyfriend-"
Here, Mina kicked him swiftly in the nuts, and he yipped in a very feminine voice.
She giggled, and he yanked her braids, "OWW, YOU RETARD!! LEGGO!!"
Suddenly, there was a loud WHAP!!! of a kendo stick against the tree, and they both looked up from the tangle on the dirt to their father who had the kendo stick slapped against the small tree. Their father, Goro, only stared down at them through very sleepy, and irritated eyes.
Mina slowly giggled, then asked, "Something wrong?"
He looked around, "This house doesn't look very clean to me."
Mina sighed, "Aww, Daddy!! Me and Ryu reconciled!!"
Ryu was still whimpering, wincing, "Says you, brat."
Mina raised her fist at him, "Want me to pop your other one?!!"
Ryu snarled right back, and Goro sighed, "Yare yare, I thought you had reconciled, but it looks like you need some more time-"
Mina jumped up, "No really, we did!! We learned our lesson, and we're ready for bed!!"
"And that is?" asked her father.
"Never EVER get involved with the other's crush. It makes everything weird. And hell. And it sucks, because certain brothers can't keep their mouths shut."
Ryu remarked, "Certain sisters can't keep their legs clo-"
She punched him, but he blocked it, "Geez, Mina, give it a rest."
"THAT WAS LOW AND YOU KNOW IT!!"
Goro crossed his arms, "Apologize to your sister."
Ryu's face fell, "What? Father, she kicked me!! ........ down there!!"
"She is still your sister."
Ryu sighed, and grumbled, "Mina, I'm sorry about the earlier remark."
Mina grinned, "Thank ya kindly."
Goro nodded, "Mina, you are to be a lady soon, correct?"
She gulped wondering where this conversation would lead, "Uh huh?"
"Start acting like one. Stop being such a tomboy."
Mina gasped, "DADDY!"
"See? Even he says so," Ryu gloated.
Goro narrowed his eyes at the two, "How come I still don't see you two going back to work?"
Mina whined, "But the sun's almost up!!"
"Good. It'll give you better light to work by."
Mina grumbled and rolled up her sleeves, going back to the bucket.
Goro smirked, and leaned on his kendo stick, "You can finish this faster and go to bed. Or you can complain all night and stay up all night as well. I don't mind." He really didn't.
During the Revolution war, he gave up sleep. Too many bad things could happen when you slept. Like a raid. He once woke up to find a blade in his chest, and he learned the hard way that sleeping could have costed you your life. Sleep now was just something he did during the night when he was bored.
Mina and Ryu got back to work, and managed to clean the house when the sun peaked out from the mountains. They slacked off twice, and got the same reply from the father when they wanted to sleep.
A sharp SLAP on the wall, indicating they'll get the same on their backs if they didn't finish their punishment.
And THAT'S good parenting!!
**one more chapter, I SWEAR!! And yeah, I switch between Goro and Saito a lot. I usually refer to Saito as Saito if it's serious or if it's a really ummmmmmm....... predominant part of a story, I dunno. If you want symbolism in it, I use his name Goro when he's being Goro, the very nice guy he plays as. Uhhh, I can't explain it, since Goro Fujita is just an act. Oops, I'm trailing off again............sorry!!
~ Discipline ~
Tokio was constantly cursing under her breath as she tied up Ryu's arm, "Damn kid, thinkin' he's invincible, all beating up whatever he freakin' feels like-"
"Mother, I've never done this before!! It's not like I go out every night and pick on a bunch of idiots-"
Tokio frowned, and tightened his bandage so tight, his skin turned purple, "Yeah, for all WE know, that's what you realllyyy do-"
"M-Mother!! That hurts!!"
"Oh shut up, ya mary!! You're supposed to be such a tough guy, huh? So stop whining!!"
Mina bit her lip, "Ryu, are you that mad at me?"
Ryu mopped his face with his hand, "No, I was distracted-"
"Distracted by kicking some kid's @$$."
Ryu rolled his eyes, and Tokio removed her hands, "There!! You big baby. Geez, it came so close to hitting the bone........ who did this to you?"
Ryu shrugged, "It was dark."
Mina laughed, "Hah!! I'll bet it was." She bit her lip, and looked at him, "Say, Ryu..................... are you really this steamed about us? Me and Kenji, I mean?"
Ryu didn't look at her, and pinched the bridge of his nose, frowning, "Mina, I'm tired, I really don't want to-"
But his sister shoved him a bit, "Hey, I'm serious!! I mean, if you hate us that much, then I guess....... I guess I'll stop."
Ryu looked into the emerald eyes of his sister. He had the same, except they wavered from deep emerald to shady aqua. His sister had always been there for him, and never intentionally meant to hurt him.
**I FIGURED OUT WHAT YOU WERE MAD AT, RYU!! You're just being an @$$.**
Ryu moaned, and sighed, "Mother, when you're conscious speaks to you, what do you usually do?"
Tokio crossed her arms, "Weeellllllll, I usually try to ignore it. But it's usually telling the truth."
**Way to suck up to me, Tokio.** She frowned, thinking 'Shut up.'
Everyone turned their heads to a slight popping noise, and the man of the house was leaning against the door, with a cigarette in hand. Mina and Ryu gulped, since they knew they're father had tried to cut back on smoking. Except when he needed it most. And he usually needed it when government asked for him, and when he was really pissed about something.
And there were no government men in sight.
He calmly stated, "Ryu, apologize to Mina."
Ryu mumbled, "........sorry."
Goro narrowed his eyes.
Ryu sighed, "I am truly sorry, dear sister."
Tokio bopped his head, "What is it with you kids and sarcasm?! It's like a disease you got from your father!"
Mina bit her lip again, "Ryu, listen. I know you don't like Kenji. God knows why, he's been such a nice guy to you, and I wanna know why. I mean, there's got to be a reason. You're the logical twin, you're the smarter one. What, is he a yakuza crime lord or someting?...................................... is he gay?"
Ryu jumped, "N-No!! Don't ask me things like that!!"
Mina sighed, "Well, what the heck, man? What's going on?"
Ryu sighed, lost at words, "You wouldn't understand."
Goro dragged from his cigarette, then simply said, "He worries for you, Mina. He's afraid you'll get hurt."
Mina looked at her father, "Huh? No way. Ryu's a jerk. A smart jerk, but still a jerk."
"It came from his mouth."
Mina looked at him, "Hey! Is that true, Ryu?"
Ryu sighed, "Mina, I was-"
She put her hand on his forehead, "You're not sick or anything, are you?"
"Mina, I..............................." Ryu looked at his parents, "Mother, Father, may I have a moment with my sister?"
Tokio crossed her arms, "I'm sure whatever you can settle you can settle in front of your parents."
Ryu sighed, and Mina bit her lip.
Goro he placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, "Let's go to bed, Tokio. They can figure this out for themselves."
Tokio pouted, "Awww, but I wanna see my kids reconcile!! I never got to do any of that stuff when I was a kid!!"
Goro simply smiled, and let his hand crawl across her shoulders, as he pulled her tight to him. Arm slung over her shoulders, he said, "Tell her everything Ryu. Then the both of you could clean up the dojo and the house tomorrow."
Ryu and Mina fell.
Mina screamed, "ME!?? Why do I have to clean up the house, I didn't do anything wro-"
"Father, I wanted to do stuff tomorrow!!"
"It's that jerk's fault why he got hurt in the first pla-"
"-only cause YOU were kissing that dog-"
"YOU'RE A DOG!!"
"OH, GREAT COME BACK!!"
Tokio giggled, and held up her hand, "If you guys want to get this house done, you better apologize fast. Since you're not getting any sleep until it's sparkling clean."
Mina's face fell, "Huh? Seriously?"
Tokio nodded, "Yep."
"Mother, it's nearly eleven o clock!!"
Tokio laughed, "I know!! I'm nearly about to pass out and sleep myself!! But, you guys were being such idiots, you both need a good lesson. Besides, stop complaining Ryu. You have all this time to settle this stupid problem with Mina." Tokio walked out of the room, and sighed, "Geez, all because of some stupid kiss........"
Mina couldn't help but giggled, "Well, it wasn't exactly stupid. More like, blazing and passionate."
Ryu smacked his face, "Please be quiet."
Mina looked at her father, who was still smoking against the wall, "Ummm, aren't you sleepy too?"
"Very," he replied. He took a drag from his cigarette.
"Well...................... aren't you gonna catch some Z's, too?"
"Oh I will. After you cleaned up the house."
Mina and Ryu sunk to the ground. Ryu grumbled, "You're going to stay awake and make sure we clean everything up."
Goro nodded, "That's the plan. Now.......,' he crushed his cigarette, pulled out as kendo stick, and whapped it across the wall, "Get moving!!"
Ryu and Mina jumped up, and got right to work.
~~Two hours into their cleaning~~
As Ryu scrubbed the floor of the porch, Mina gradually slid her cloth over to him. He rolled his eyes, as she came for it, and set to cleaning next to him.
"You're really watching out for me, Ryu?"
"Does it matter?" he grumbled, dipping his rag back into the bucket.
She nodded, scrubbing, "Course it does, moron!! If I knew you cared, I wouldn't have settled for the first thing I saw!!"
Ryu stared incredulously at her, pausing, "What?!!"
She giggled, "Oh, calm down. I was kidding. Hey, but seriously, why all of a sudden you're looking out for me?"
"A while ago," he sighed, rolling up his sleeve which was getting soaked on the wet floor he was cleaning, "Mother had a serious conversation. She noticed I kept pushing you away, and she told me once her and Father were gone, we're all we'd have left for each other." He didn't tell her about the girl he saw.
"She said that?"
He nodded, "Yeah. Something like that. You know how articulate she is when it's that time of the month."
She laughed, "You don't gotta tell me that twice. Awww, but what a sweet brother I have!!" she hugged him, nearly choking him to death," All this time I thought you were being a prick, but you were really lookin' out for me!!!"
Ryu tried to pry her arms off his neck, "M-Mina......ch-choking meeee......"
"Uh?" OH!!" she let go, giggling, and rubbing her neck, "So sorry!! Oh, Ryu!! You're such a dork. You shoulda told me!!"
"Would it have stopped you from throwing yourself to that dog?"
She grinned, "Nope!! But the sentiment would've been sweet. To pay you back for caring so deeply about me, I'm gonna embarrass you in front of your girlfriend!!"
Ryu tolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. She giggled again, and leaned in to him, "So!! You got anyone in mind?"
He backed off, "Don't ask me things like that!!"
"Oh, no one yet, eh? Ya know, you should ask Tomoyo out. She's really sweet, lots of money, and she's had a crush on you for three years!!"
"Tomoyo is and ugly dog of a girl who can't keep her mouth shut and................ three years? Wow, really?"
Mina grinned, nodding, "Uh huh!!"
Ryu frowned, "Still, makes no difference. I don't like her."
"How about Chiba?"
"I don't think I'd get over her mother's sixth toe."
"Hina?"
Ryu flatly replied, "I would appreciate it if we didn't discuss this."
Mina laughed, and grabbed his arm, "Is it Hina? It's Hina, isn't it?!! You have a crush on her!?!?!"
Ryu struggled to keep her voice down, "Shh, Mina!! Shut up!! What if Father hears-"
"Oh, HOW CUTE!! YOU LIKE HINA!! Oh, and she thinks you have a great butt and six pack and all-"
"MINA!!" he exclaimed, quite flabbergasted. (I like that word)
"Oooh, oh oh!! Just wait till I tell her you got the hots for her, too!!"
Ryu growled, and pounced on her, "You'll do nothing of the like if you want to keep Kenji as your boy toy!!"
She laughed, and pinned him to the floor, "Kya ha haa! I'll tell Hina before you even get to LOOK at 'em!!"
Ryu grinned, and kicked her off, "Idiot."
"Moron!!"
He picked up his bucket, and smirked.
Mina gasped, "You wouldn't!!"
He held it up, "I would."
Mina blinked, and then took off, singing, "RYUUUUU LIKES HIIIIIIIIINA!! RYUUUUUU LIKES HIIIIIIIIIIINA!!"
"DAMMIT MINA, GET BACK HERE!!"
~~
In the master bedroom, on her their futon, Tokio lifted her head from her husband's chest, and giggled, "Hear that, Hajime? You're kids are screwing around again."
Saito lifted his head as well, and yawned. He gently pushed her off him, "It's funny how they're MY kids when they do stupid things."
"They inherit it from you."
He tossed off his blanket on her head, covering her. "Hey!!" she tore it off, and giggled, "Imagine, both of them in love with someone!! It's so cute!"
"That boy is acting like an idiot," he said, tying his obi tighter. He walked to the door, and picked up a kendo stick.
She smiled, watching her husband go. She giggled in her throat, then asked, "He's only being a complete dork like most guys do his age. What did you do with your first crush, Hajime? Hmm?"
Hajime simply smirked, and said as he closed the door behind him, "I married her."
That caused Tokio to swoon, hearing her husband confess that she was his first and only love. Of course, he could also have just been saying that.
~~
Saito walked into the halls, hearing the thudding of footsteps outside. He heard his daughter's giggling, and suddenly a splash of water. Ryu gasped, and growled some very colorful names for his sister, and she taunted and threw some more at him.
Yare yare, where did they ever hear such language? His guess was from their loving mother.
He slid open the doors, finding the twins scrabbling to pin the other. Somehow Ryu was the one that was soaked. How that fool allowed her to take the bucket from him was beyond Saito's reasoning. His son must not have inherited his wit. How they acted like such children in privacy, even in their age. He never had the time to leisurely play with other children. His childhood......
He smirked. He was not one to dwell on the past, so he would not start now. It was bad enough with the war. He had worsened Toki's by slaying her family when she was only fifteen. Or was it fourteen? Even though they had this discussion, she still wouldn't discuss the painful details. He never brought it up, finding that she preferred to stay silent about it after his apology. Fine by him, as long as she didn't hate him.
His kids were the exact opposite. They played all the time, not realizing their father was really an assassin, a manslayer. One who feeds this family with the blood of his prey, meaning the money he gets paid for bringing down those that oppose the creed of Aku Soku Zan bought the food on the table. They had no idea how much time they had in the world.
He did not regret losing his childhood earlier than they had. He couldn't imagine himself wrestling with his siblings. (if he had any) He definitely couldn't imagine what it would have been like to have a sister in lone of a father's rival. He wondered what his children would do if they ever found out who he was.
But that was something they'd never know. Well, unless his died. Then the Meiji government would tell them everything. And he hoped the Himura boy wouldn't tell Mina either.
He sighed. That Himura boy.........
Ryu yipped, as Mina held him in a suplex, "NYAH HA HA!! Here I was thinking the brother's supposed to protect the sister!!"
Ryu twisted his waist, and yanked her to the floor, "You were the one who wanted to be treated," he grinned, and flipped her on her back, "As an EQUAL!"
She pounced, "I'll show YOU equal!!"
He ducked under her pounce, "Very unladylike."
She kicked at him, and he tripped, and she tackled him as he fell, "Another remark like that and I'll make you eat the dirt!!"
Ryu gasped, "Ow, OW!! MY HAIR, GET OFF IT!!"
She laughed, "You should wear it in braids, like me."
"Oh yeah, then I'll be as pretty as you're boyfriend-"
Here, Mina kicked him swiftly in the nuts, and he yipped in a very feminine voice.
She giggled, and he yanked her braids, "OWW, YOU RETARD!! LEGGO!!"
Suddenly, there was a loud WHAP!!! of a kendo stick against the tree, and they both looked up from the tangle on the dirt to their father who had the kendo stick slapped against the small tree. Their father, Goro, only stared down at them through very sleepy, and irritated eyes.
Mina slowly giggled, then asked, "Something wrong?"
He looked around, "This house doesn't look very clean to me."
Mina sighed, "Aww, Daddy!! Me and Ryu reconciled!!"
Ryu was still whimpering, wincing, "Says you, brat."
Mina raised her fist at him, "Want me to pop your other one?!!"
Ryu snarled right back, and Goro sighed, "Yare yare, I thought you had reconciled, but it looks like you need some more time-"
Mina jumped up, "No really, we did!! We learned our lesson, and we're ready for bed!!"
"And that is?" asked her father.
"Never EVER get involved with the other's crush. It makes everything weird. And hell. And it sucks, because certain brothers can't keep their mouths shut."
Ryu remarked, "Certain sisters can't keep their legs clo-"
She punched him, but he blocked it, "Geez, Mina, give it a rest."
"THAT WAS LOW AND YOU KNOW IT!!"
Goro crossed his arms, "Apologize to your sister."
Ryu's face fell, "What? Father, she kicked me!! ........ down there!!"
"She is still your sister."
Ryu sighed, and grumbled, "Mina, I'm sorry about the earlier remark."
Mina grinned, "Thank ya kindly."
Goro nodded, "Mina, you are to be a lady soon, correct?"
She gulped wondering where this conversation would lead, "Uh huh?"
"Start acting like one. Stop being such a tomboy."
Mina gasped, "DADDY!"
"See? Even he says so," Ryu gloated.
Goro narrowed his eyes at the two, "How come I still don't see you two going back to work?"
Mina whined, "But the sun's almost up!!"
"Good. It'll give you better light to work by."
Mina grumbled and rolled up her sleeves, going back to the bucket.
Goro smirked, and leaned on his kendo stick, "You can finish this faster and go to bed. Or you can complain all night and stay up all night as well. I don't mind." He really didn't.
During the Revolution war, he gave up sleep. Too many bad things could happen when you slept. Like a raid. He once woke up to find a blade in his chest, and he learned the hard way that sleeping could have costed you your life. Sleep now was just something he did during the night when he was bored.
Mina and Ryu got back to work, and managed to clean the house when the sun peaked out from the mountains. They slacked off twice, and got the same reply from the father when they wanted to sleep.
A sharp SLAP on the wall, indicating they'll get the same on their backs if they didn't finish their punishment.
And THAT'S good parenting!!
**one more chapter, I SWEAR!! And yeah, I switch between Goro and Saito a lot. I usually refer to Saito as Saito if it's serious or if it's a really ummmmmmm....... predominant part of a story, I dunno. If you want symbolism in it, I use his name Goro when he's being Goro, the very nice guy he plays as. Uhhh, I can't explain it, since Goro Fujita is just an act. Oops, I'm trailing off again............sorry!!