A New Life for the Wolf

Part 5

Ana Barton

There was a decidedly sinister feel about in the air. He couldn't pinpoint it out but the hairs at the back of his neck were starting to tingle. Saitou looked around covertly on his way home. He had sent Eiji home earlier, and he had been delayed with the paper work that the bloody idiots in his department couldn't write properly.

He couldn't see anything but that didn't mean anything. Oftentimes it was the most harmless things that could be the most dangerous. He had lived by that credo for a long time, and it wasn't a lesson one could easily forget, so he looked around extra carefully as he took the long way home. He hoped the kid got home safely enough…

Saitou stopped abruptly. It was the most basic of tactics – find the enemy's weakness and exploit them. He'd done that a number of times, and he'd been victorious. But now he had a new worry. Tokio had understood the perils of his job, first with the Shinsengumi and then with the Police Department; it was a great tribute to her that not one of his enemies had ever found out about her.

But Eiji… the kid was in and out of the Police Department and almost everyone knew by now that he was his son.

"Baka," he reprimanded himself silently as he became a blur of motion to his home. "You've unwittingly made yourself vulnerable; you know you still have a number of enemies about…!"

It was with a feeling of doom that he met with the red haired former hitokiri at the path. He slowed down considerably, knowing in his mind that he was already too late.

"Battousai." Saitou lit a cigarette. He gave himself a pat on the back for his unshaking hands.

"Saitou."

Kenshin gave him a piece of paper.

Mibu Wolf,

It is with great pleasure that I challenge you to a fight; the life of your child hangs in the balance. Meet me at the deserted temple outside town, midnight tonight.

Yours sincerely,

Hiromori

"I have the same invitation," Kenshin said.

"Hn." Saitou used his cigarette to set fire on the note. "You don't have a child."

He shrugged. "They took Yahiko."

"That brat masquerading as your son?"

Amber eyes flashed. "He is a son to me."

"Have it your way then."

The two of them walked in silence towards the meeting place. Murderous rage was flowing through Saitou's veins like never before. No one took something of the Wolf's and lived to tell the tale. No one.

"I'm sure Eiji-kun will be alright."

Saitou glanced sardonically at the shorter man walking beside him. "You think?"

He nodded complacently. "I have seen him practice at the dojo where Kaoru-dono sometimes teaches. He has strong arms and fast legs. He'll be fine."

"Hn."

They had arrived at the designated place with plenty of time to spare. They had a look around and ascertained that no one was there except for them.

"Do you know this Hiromori?" Kenshin asked. He had sat down on the temple steps. Saitou settled for leaning against a nearby post, amber eyes on constant watch.

"I've never heard of him." He flicked the cigarette away, the red glow from the tip arching to the ground.

"Pity you should say that, Fujita-san," a man said pleasantly from the woods to their left. "Because I know you, and Battousai as well."

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters... I'm merely borrowing them for a few pages.

3 April 2003

My email address: ana_barton@yahoo.com

To all my reviewers: THANKS A MILLION!! It's always such a nice feeling when I see that there are new reviews to the story. This fic was honestly just a spur of the moment thing for me to write at the start, but it's slowly evolving into something ^___^ which is quite nice!!

I did not reply to the people who reviewed before – my apologies for that to them and I won't offer up an explanation.

So here are those neglected replies for:

Yukiko Shinomori

*wide grin* ^_____^ There are more in store for Saitou-sama. Thanks!

Shuro

Thanks! There are currently FIVE chapters here, and I hope to write more. Hope to see more of you!

JadeGoddess

Yes he is a different and often difficult character to develop, but there are times when he just pops into my head demanding to be written, so what am I to do but comply? ^___^;; And I will definitely continue writing. Thanks!

DiaBLo

Thanks! I will, and I am!

veeshes

Thanks! Yeah, I know, and it's fun using "bloody" something or the other ^___^

Crystal

Sorry about that; I uploaded a doc file by mistake and there it went. So from now on, I'm sticking with html uploads. ^__^ Hope you get to read the other chapters!

Akal-Saris

Thanks!

Sano

Thanks! Honestly, I have no idea if I want Saitou to end up with anyone else other than me! hehehe kidding ^___^;; Anyway, Yuki-dono was just there for the sake of having someone at the cemetery for Kenshin to accompany. Am I bad or what?

Tokio Saitou

Oh, it's there in the second chapter; Saitou explains it to Kenshin at the cemetery ^__^

Leila Winters

Thanks! hehehe I'm here to serve. And yes, Saitou is such a nice, i.e. interesting, character that I just can't help making him suffer ^__^;; maybe just a bit more since I have no real desire to be up close and personal with that deadly looking katana he's currently aiming my way in the Gatotsu (sp?) stance…!! uhm… HELP?! ANYBODY?!

Kenta Divina

Thanks! I think Saitou's just starting to realize that.

Michelle Y.

Thanks! ^____^ That scene with Eiji just appeared out of nowhere and I couldn't help but go "Aww… kawaii!" when I was writing it.

kamorgana

As I said before, I'm not sure if I want Saitou paired up with anyone right now, so the jury's still out on that one. I'm thinking Eiji will probably be the integral part of his life right now so… I have to wait and see what Saitou will have me write next time ^__^ Thanks!

feifu

Do I really have to reply to you? *sweatdrop* hehehe me bad… anyway, I know the chapters are short but that's because Saitou wants them that way ^__^;; and I try not to stray from what he wants… though I do tweak his nose sometimes, but not often; I don't have that much of a death wish as yet.

And to everyone out there currently reading this, I hope you're enjoying the story as much as I'm enjoying writing it. That little button at the bottom of the page? That makes it more enjoyable, so click and review people!