**Pechan CAN NEVER own the Rurouni Kenshin things.....and such.
~Introductions and Interrogations~
Tokio had set the dining room, while Ryu and Mina played tag outside.
SLAP!!
"TAG!! YOU'RE IT!!" laughed Mina, after she had slapped her brother's back.
Ryu gripped his back, exclaiming, "Oww!! Stop using your nails!!" and ran after her. Mina giggled, and banked a corner, sliding a bit on the wooden floor. Ryu followed her, hand outstretched, trying to tag her pig tails. Mina didn't want to get tagged, and ducked, sliding open the door. She rolled inside, and slammed it behind her. She laughed, and shoved her weight against the door.
Ryu pounded the door, hollering, "You're cheating!! You can't lock me out!!"
Mina giggled, "All's fair in love and war, you dork!! Mom said so!!"
"You are SO DEAD when I get this opened!!"
Mina felt her brother trying to force the door open, and she dug her toes into the floor, clenching her teeth. "Hah!! What a nerd, he can't even open the door from his little sister!!"
After a final pounding, Ryu growled and stomped away. Mina put her ear to the door, listening. She held her breath, straining her ears to pick up the faintest sound. When all sounded clear, she opened the door a crack, and peeked. She couldn't see him at all. So she opened it wider, and poked her head out.
"HRRAAAAAAAAH!!" shouted Ryu, as he leapt for her from the side.
"ACK!!" Mina popped her head back in, and shoved the door again. Another struggle over the door, and Ryu gave up again. Mina laughed, "Hah!! I win!!!"
"You're gonna have to get out of there sometime!!" Ryu remarked, stomping away.
Mina scoffed, "Yeah, you better run to Mommy, ya pansy!!"
She sighed, wiping her kimono, and looked up at the room she entered. It was the dining room, and everything was laid out, all the bowls and cups and chopsticks.
And seated at the end of the table was that man, calmly smoking a cigarette. Mina froze looking at him.
His eyes shifted to hers, and she looked at those pools of gold, all seemingly glowing. This man's skin was very pale, very fair, as if he worked at night a lot. His hair was cut short, and when he sat, he sat very proper like, the way her mother always wanted her to sit; with her back straight. This man was tall, and even when sitting down he was nearly taller than Mina.
There was a long silence. Was he really her father? She had seen him come to the house before, but as she grew older now, she really began to wonder. Who is this man? Finally, Mina sat down in front of him, and smiled. Well, only one way to find out! She grinned at him.
Hajime lifted a brow, and she asked brightly, "Hi! Who are you?"
This caused both brows to rise slightly, and he slowly lowered his hand with the smoldering cigarette, "I'm your father, as it were."
Mina cocked her head, "'As it were'? What does that mean? Does that mean you're my daddy now or later?"
He smirked, "You shouldn't worry about such things."
Wow, so far so good!! She got a question asked, and he hadn't stabbed her with his sword yet!! Mina was good at talking to people. So much so, Tokio constantly had to hold her hand whenever they went out. She'd walk up to complete strangers, talking all about her life, her stories, and where they lived. Tokio was almost paranoid the little girl would give some psycho their names, address, and their lists of fears.
Mina leaned on the table, "So... you ARE my daddy? How did that happen? How do you know?"
"I think I would know if my wife had children, Minami."
She widened her eyes. She didn't expect the stranger to know her name. "Oh... that's what Mommy said. But, if you are, how come you don't do daddy things?"
"Such as?"
"Well, for one thing, what are you? Are you a police man?"
"Yes."
"How come you don't do police things?"
"I do do police things, that's why I'm away."
Mina sat back, "OOoooohhh.......... okay. Well, Mr. Chou said you were always busy, but I thought he was kidding."
"About me being busy?" mused Saito.
"About me having a daddy," Mina smiled.
Hajime didn't like Chou sticking his nose into his family's business. That blonde idiot always had a reason to annoy him. But his daughter's words sounded strange. She was amazingly articulate. "...I see."
"So!! What's your name?"
He smirked. He couldn't believe his own daughter, whom he barely knew as well she did him, was interrogating him. "My name is Goro Fujita."
Mina smiled, "Really? Chiba said her mom said that you were nice to her once when she got lost, and pointed her out the way home. Hey, do you have a sword?"
"If I did?"
"Do you cut things with it?" she asked, leaning closer. She loved bloody stories.
"Most people use swords for that."
"Oh, you better not tell my mom that! She gets angry when people use swords."
Hajime smirked. His knew this well enough, "Oh, does she now?"
"Mmm hmm." Mina scooted around the table closer to him. Unlike Ryu, Mina was very open, and was fascinated by the fact she had a father. Hah!! Chiba was wrong the whole time!! She did TOO have a father!! Oh, wait till she told her!!
Hajime looked down at her, seeing this little girl trying to get to know him. Hajime knew he was not father material, it was something he did not find important. But now, a thought occurred to him. She was obviously in need of some proof of a father. He had seen it in her eyes. A simple 'Yes' or 'No' was enough for her. But how can be said the same about his son?
"Wanna know when my birthday is?"
He smirked again, "I know when your birthday is, Minami. It's in late March."
"Wow, you really DO know!! When is yours?"
"In the winter."
"When is Ryu's birthday?"
"The same as yours."
"What's my favorite color?"
Hajime sighed, smirking. Well, she got him there. "Pink?"
"Blue!! I like blue!! How could you forget that, Daddy?"
Now THAT name certainly sounded strange on Saito.
Just then, Tokio slid open the door, carrying a tray of bowls. She looked at Mina, then Saito, "Mina! I thought I told you to go play with Ryu!!"
"Ryu's being mean. The police man's nicer."
Tokio blushed, embarrassed of her daughter, "He's your father, Mina. Not just some policeman."
"Oh yeah; I forgot." Mina got up, and held out her hand, "Well, nice meeting you, police daddy!"
"'Daddy' would be fine by itself, hon," giggled Tokio.
Mina cocked her head, "Oh okay," she smiled, "Daddy."
Saito could never quite get used to being called that. He himself never called his father something so childish as 'Daddy'. He placed his cigarette back into his mouth, smiling politely. Mina got up and opened the door, peeking out, "I made Ryu mad, mommy. He's gonna hit me!!"
"Well when he does, you tell me. I'll hit him back, okay?"
Mina giggled, and ran out the door, calling her brother's name. Tokio sighed, setting down the bowls, full of miso soup, "Hajime?"
"Hnh."
"Did she bother you?"
Saito lowered his cigarette, "Why would she? She is my daughter, after all."
Tokio chuckled, and sat on her heels, "Yeah, I know that, but..... well, it ain't easy. I mean, well, you know what I mean....."
"I thought we discussed this already."
Tokio sighed, "Yeah, we did."
Saito gazed at her, as she fidgeted with the table's layout. He smirked, asking, "Do you regret it?"
"Huh? Regret what?"
"Marrying one who can't be there all the time. It must get you somewhat angry, doesn't it?"
Tokio folded her arms, "Well, DUH, it would!! Here I am, taking care of two screaming kids, feeding them, teaching them, and even keeping them fit, while you're off in Hokkaido or Fukuoka, in a brothel for all I know!!"
He stared flatly at this stupid girl he had taken for his wife. Stupid, but still his wife. He smirked, "Yes, I do just that."
He swayed away from Tokio's slap, and she exclaimed, "You dirty old man!! How the hell did we ever get married?!!"
Saito shrugged, "You tell me."
Both parents raised their faces to a loud thud, something breaking, and Ryu going, "OOWWWWWW!!!"
"MOOOOOOOOMM!!! WHATEVER RYU SAYS, HE'S LYING!!" exclaimed Mina's voice, as she ran away from the crashing noise, her footsteps thudding for her life.
Tokio sighed, "I see now why married couples with kids never have nice things in the house."
Saito smirked, placing the cigarette back in his mouth, "Have fun cleaning up."
She got up, hands on hips, and huffed, "You know, YOU'RE gonna have to do some parenting stuff, too!!"
He shrugged, picking up his bowl, "Maybe when I have a day off."
Tokio growled, as she slammed the door, "LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHING COP!!"
He slightly laughed in his throat. It was so easy to get her mad. And just as easy to have her forgive him.
~Introductions and Interrogations~
Tokio had set the dining room, while Ryu and Mina played tag outside.
SLAP!!
"TAG!! YOU'RE IT!!" laughed Mina, after she had slapped her brother's back.
Ryu gripped his back, exclaiming, "Oww!! Stop using your nails!!" and ran after her. Mina giggled, and banked a corner, sliding a bit on the wooden floor. Ryu followed her, hand outstretched, trying to tag her pig tails. Mina didn't want to get tagged, and ducked, sliding open the door. She rolled inside, and slammed it behind her. She laughed, and shoved her weight against the door.
Ryu pounded the door, hollering, "You're cheating!! You can't lock me out!!"
Mina giggled, "All's fair in love and war, you dork!! Mom said so!!"
"You are SO DEAD when I get this opened!!"
Mina felt her brother trying to force the door open, and she dug her toes into the floor, clenching her teeth. "Hah!! What a nerd, he can't even open the door from his little sister!!"
After a final pounding, Ryu growled and stomped away. Mina put her ear to the door, listening. She held her breath, straining her ears to pick up the faintest sound. When all sounded clear, she opened the door a crack, and peeked. She couldn't see him at all. So she opened it wider, and poked her head out.
"HRRAAAAAAAAH!!" shouted Ryu, as he leapt for her from the side.
"ACK!!" Mina popped her head back in, and shoved the door again. Another struggle over the door, and Ryu gave up again. Mina laughed, "Hah!! I win!!!"
"You're gonna have to get out of there sometime!!" Ryu remarked, stomping away.
Mina scoffed, "Yeah, you better run to Mommy, ya pansy!!"
She sighed, wiping her kimono, and looked up at the room she entered. It was the dining room, and everything was laid out, all the bowls and cups and chopsticks.
And seated at the end of the table was that man, calmly smoking a cigarette. Mina froze looking at him.
His eyes shifted to hers, and she looked at those pools of gold, all seemingly glowing. This man's skin was very pale, very fair, as if he worked at night a lot. His hair was cut short, and when he sat, he sat very proper like, the way her mother always wanted her to sit; with her back straight. This man was tall, and even when sitting down he was nearly taller than Mina.
There was a long silence. Was he really her father? She had seen him come to the house before, but as she grew older now, she really began to wonder. Who is this man? Finally, Mina sat down in front of him, and smiled. Well, only one way to find out! She grinned at him.
Hajime lifted a brow, and she asked brightly, "Hi! Who are you?"
This caused both brows to rise slightly, and he slowly lowered his hand with the smoldering cigarette, "I'm your father, as it were."
Mina cocked her head, "'As it were'? What does that mean? Does that mean you're my daddy now or later?"
He smirked, "You shouldn't worry about such things."
Wow, so far so good!! She got a question asked, and he hadn't stabbed her with his sword yet!! Mina was good at talking to people. So much so, Tokio constantly had to hold her hand whenever they went out. She'd walk up to complete strangers, talking all about her life, her stories, and where they lived. Tokio was almost paranoid the little girl would give some psycho their names, address, and their lists of fears.
Mina leaned on the table, "So... you ARE my daddy? How did that happen? How do you know?"
"I think I would know if my wife had children, Minami."
She widened her eyes. She didn't expect the stranger to know her name. "Oh... that's what Mommy said. But, if you are, how come you don't do daddy things?"
"Such as?"
"Well, for one thing, what are you? Are you a police man?"
"Yes."
"How come you don't do police things?"
"I do do police things, that's why I'm away."
Mina sat back, "OOoooohhh.......... okay. Well, Mr. Chou said you were always busy, but I thought he was kidding."
"About me being busy?" mused Saito.
"About me having a daddy," Mina smiled.
Hajime didn't like Chou sticking his nose into his family's business. That blonde idiot always had a reason to annoy him. But his daughter's words sounded strange. She was amazingly articulate. "...I see."
"So!! What's your name?"
He smirked. He couldn't believe his own daughter, whom he barely knew as well she did him, was interrogating him. "My name is Goro Fujita."
Mina smiled, "Really? Chiba said her mom said that you were nice to her once when she got lost, and pointed her out the way home. Hey, do you have a sword?"
"If I did?"
"Do you cut things with it?" she asked, leaning closer. She loved bloody stories.
"Most people use swords for that."
"Oh, you better not tell my mom that! She gets angry when people use swords."
Hajime smirked. His knew this well enough, "Oh, does she now?"
"Mmm hmm." Mina scooted around the table closer to him. Unlike Ryu, Mina was very open, and was fascinated by the fact she had a father. Hah!! Chiba was wrong the whole time!! She did TOO have a father!! Oh, wait till she told her!!
Hajime looked down at her, seeing this little girl trying to get to know him. Hajime knew he was not father material, it was something he did not find important. But now, a thought occurred to him. She was obviously in need of some proof of a father. He had seen it in her eyes. A simple 'Yes' or 'No' was enough for her. But how can be said the same about his son?
"Wanna know when my birthday is?"
He smirked again, "I know when your birthday is, Minami. It's in late March."
"Wow, you really DO know!! When is yours?"
"In the winter."
"When is Ryu's birthday?"
"The same as yours."
"What's my favorite color?"
Hajime sighed, smirking. Well, she got him there. "Pink?"
"Blue!! I like blue!! How could you forget that, Daddy?"
Now THAT name certainly sounded strange on Saito.
Just then, Tokio slid open the door, carrying a tray of bowls. She looked at Mina, then Saito, "Mina! I thought I told you to go play with Ryu!!"
"Ryu's being mean. The police man's nicer."
Tokio blushed, embarrassed of her daughter, "He's your father, Mina. Not just some policeman."
"Oh yeah; I forgot." Mina got up, and held out her hand, "Well, nice meeting you, police daddy!"
"'Daddy' would be fine by itself, hon," giggled Tokio.
Mina cocked her head, "Oh okay," she smiled, "Daddy."
Saito could never quite get used to being called that. He himself never called his father something so childish as 'Daddy'. He placed his cigarette back into his mouth, smiling politely. Mina got up and opened the door, peeking out, "I made Ryu mad, mommy. He's gonna hit me!!"
"Well when he does, you tell me. I'll hit him back, okay?"
Mina giggled, and ran out the door, calling her brother's name. Tokio sighed, setting down the bowls, full of miso soup, "Hajime?"
"Hnh."
"Did she bother you?"
Saito lowered his cigarette, "Why would she? She is my daughter, after all."
Tokio chuckled, and sat on her heels, "Yeah, I know that, but..... well, it ain't easy. I mean, well, you know what I mean....."
"I thought we discussed this already."
Tokio sighed, "Yeah, we did."
Saito gazed at her, as she fidgeted with the table's layout. He smirked, asking, "Do you regret it?"
"Huh? Regret what?"
"Marrying one who can't be there all the time. It must get you somewhat angry, doesn't it?"
Tokio folded her arms, "Well, DUH, it would!! Here I am, taking care of two screaming kids, feeding them, teaching them, and even keeping them fit, while you're off in Hokkaido or Fukuoka, in a brothel for all I know!!"
He stared flatly at this stupid girl he had taken for his wife. Stupid, but still his wife. He smirked, "Yes, I do just that."
He swayed away from Tokio's slap, and she exclaimed, "You dirty old man!! How the hell did we ever get married?!!"
Saito shrugged, "You tell me."
Both parents raised their faces to a loud thud, something breaking, and Ryu going, "OOWWWWWW!!!"
"MOOOOOOOOMM!!! WHATEVER RYU SAYS, HE'S LYING!!" exclaimed Mina's voice, as she ran away from the crashing noise, her footsteps thudding for her life.
Tokio sighed, "I see now why married couples with kids never have nice things in the house."
Saito smirked, placing the cigarette back in his mouth, "Have fun cleaning up."
She got up, hands on hips, and huffed, "You know, YOU'RE gonna have to do some parenting stuff, too!!"
He shrugged, picking up his bowl, "Maybe when I have a day off."
Tokio growled, as she slammed the door, "LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHING COP!!"
He slightly laughed in his throat. It was so easy to get her mad. And just as easy to have her forgive him.