Disclaimer: I do not own, in any way, Rurouni Kenshin. Watsuki-sama does. I'm only borrowing his characters for a while.

And months later, finally, the epilogue…

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Chapter 15 – Tokio Fujita

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1878, Tokyo, ten years later

A lot of things changed over the past ten years. Life hasn't always been easy for us, but we made the best out of it. We did things our way.

Hajime went on fighting. He served many causes, but only one master: Japan. And now, in this new era, being a policeman is the best way to ensure the country's peace. I'm proud of what he is and what he does. I always did my best to support him, but I can't always do it now. I have other priorities.

I have a wonderful son and it is my duty to raise him as a true honourable man. I want him to understand our way of life, to accept it and maybe to eventually embrace it. That's my mission: making a good man out of my son.

Of course, Hajime is rarely here with me, but I don't focus too much on that: I now totally trust him and I know that he will always come back. It's just that… It's quite lonely around here, sometimes.

I have no real friends. I can't really tell anyone who we are and besides, no one wants to be friend with that police officer's wife… I don't regret living far away from gossips, but if there could only be someone like Soushi, I would be glad. I truly miss him. But in this new era, that kind of people is more than rare. Almost non-existent.

Hajime is the last one of his kind.

Hajime trusts me and when he comes back home, he briefly tells me everything about his missions and he talks about the current political and social situation. And I can't say that I am happy about what I hear: as I had feared long ago, the new era has never really seen the day. Yes, there are no more Samurais, everyone is supposedly equal and you can't carry swords around anymore, but in the end, it makes no real difference… People are not free: they are enslaved by work. Lower class and upper class still exist. Nothing has fundamentally changed.

And I now have enough maturity to admit that nothing will ever change. All along the way, the maid had been right. I should have believed her right away and save a few weeks of indecision. Humans will always be humans. There will always be conflicts, deaths, suffering. You can only dream of a real world of justice. And you can only do a small share.

Hajime and I made more than our share, and we will do it for still many years to come. We don't necessarily live a conventional life, but I had never wished for one. That's why I had left my family in the first place. To me, there is no other way of life. Hajime and I share the same opinion on that subject matter.

And it's not the only thing we shared over the years: we truly love, trust and respect each other. As I had thought many years ago, we never voiced any of those feelings. But it is there. And it's sufficient. When, at the end of the day, I lay down next to Hajime, I feel perfectly happy and secure.

I don't have to seek for physical contact anymore, he forgot his reticence long ago: if not, we wouldn't have a son. He may not be here very often, but when he comes back, he always knows how to make up for it.

We have been living in Tokyo for a short while. It's a change, but there were so many changes in our life that it has become a norm. I'm used to it. We moved here after Hajime was assigned to the task of evaluating Himura's actual strength. It's a task that Hajime more than eagerly welcomed. He had awaited that re-match for so long. Of course, his mission only demanded to test Himura's fighting abilities, but…

However, the Shishio episode never brought back that re-match. It only brought a new member to our family: Eiji. The fight was delayed once again. And again. And again.

And now, according to Hajime's sayings, Himura changed very much. He is definitely not the man he once was. There would be no point to fight against such an opponent. This is not the Battousai he once knew. This is a very different man and fighting against him wouldn't really be a re-match.

Disgusted by what one of the last men he respected has become, Hajime decided that we would leave Tokyo in two days. Another change.

At first, I didn't knew what we would do of Eiji. But Hajime quickly suggested that we brought the boy with us. He gets along well with our son and Hajime believes that he has potential. He could become someone great, if given the chance. And I also think that we could give him that chance…

I am standing in the Tokyo's public market for the last time. I am trying to gather the few things we will need on our trip. I am minding my own business when I have the feeling that someone is observing me. I haven't lost all of my fighting abilities.

I raise my head and take a look around. There, at the other end of the market, stands Himura: the exact replica of our last meeting. I smile and slightly bow my head to acknowledge his presence. I then take a few steps forward and say.

"It's been a long time, Himura-san."

"Yes, it's been a long time… I'm glad to see that you are doing fine."

"You seriously doubted it?" I ask teasingly, smiling warmly.

I shortly glance at the people surrounding him and recognise them instantly: Hajime knows how to efficiently describe people.

"I see that you are also doing fine." I say.

"Yes." Himura smiles.

We stare at each other for a while, not really knowing what else to say. It has been a long time, things have change and we had never really been that close… I take look at Himura's girlfriend who is furiously glaring at me, jealously wondering who I am…

I am going to leave, amused, letting him solve this little pre-marital problem alone, when someone calls my name.

"Fujita-san, Fujita-san!"

I turn around and look at the small policeman.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I've been looking for you: I have a note for you, from your husband."

I take the note and understand the small man's hurry: no one in the department wants to be on Hajime's black list….

"Will there be a reply?" asks the man, as I am folding the note back.

"No." I shortly answer. What could I say more? If Hajime has decide that we will leave tonight and not in two days, there is simply no way I will make him change his mind.

I then turn around to face Himura and his friends. Himura and the Weasel girl seem to have already established the link between the words "Fujita", "husband" and the policeman bringing me the note. Others, like the chicken-head, are apparently still trying to figure out why they are now voiceless…

"I have to go." I briefly explain. I have a trip to prepare.

I attempt to leave, for the second time, when Himura says.

"I didn't knew…"

"I never expected you to know…" I reply, amused.

On those words, I turn around for good, without looking back. Years ago, I would have been devastated by such an event. I would have wondered what Himura would have thought of me: an Ishinshishi sleeping with the enemy. I would have been afraid of the fact that he could possibly consider me as a traitor… I would have been worried about the fact that he might even tell my story to his other friends, though I doubt he would ever do it. I would have feared their reaction, their judgement.

But now, I am not afraid, nor worried, nor devastated. Not at all. I am proud of the choices I have made. I am proud of my life as it is. This is what I had wanted all along the way. This is who I am.

THE END

Notes

This chapter takes place right after the Revenge arc. At that time, Tokio and Saito had only one child. I respected that historical fact even if their wedding occurred 5 years earlier in this story than in real life.

The anime timeline is not the same as the manga timeline. Because of the fillers they added in the anime, the Revenge Arc was delayed in the anime. So don't be surprised by the fact that this happened in 1878: I strictly respected what the manga said.

Author's comments

This story is the result of months and months of work. I put all my energy in this and I sometime suffered from sleep deprivation, indecision and author's block in the process… Thanks to all the ones who read it and thanks to all the ones who reviewed it. It was nice to receive some words of encouragement from time to time.

A thousand times thank you to Kamorgana who helped me during the writing of these last few chapters.

There will be no sequel, but I will happily write other Saitou/Tokio stories in the near future.

To the reviewers

Special thanks to C.G., Kamorgana, JadeGoddess, MightyMightyMunson, Setine, Aiteane, Aimi-chan, ooka-chan, kitty-jinxx and alice, who took the time to review this story.

Announcement

I now have a website, where you can find my review replies among some other things. Check my profile for the link. Also, note that if you send me a review for this chapter, my reply will come a few days later, on my website.

Once again, thanks everyone!

Mary-Ann