A New Life for the Wolf Chapter 7: Part 7, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

A New Life for the Wolf

Part 7

by:

ana barton

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.

Saitou extracted a cigarette from his case and lit up. He glanced inside the room before taking a deep pull on the cigarette. The nicotine was calming him down, and that was good. He needed the calm, he needed the peace—

"Saitou."

He needed some sleep.

"Nanda?"

Kenshin stepped out into the light. It was still early in the morning and the sunlight was quite weak. The shoji slid shut silently behind the two men who were looking out into the horizon.

"Megumi-dono has checked the boys over, and they're quite safe." A grin threatened the edges of Kenshin's lips. "Other than a monster headache when they wake up, they're both fine."

Saitou grunted. It was good to know that the Kitsune-onna was earning her keep properly.

"Would you like to stay here or at the dojo?"

Saitou looked down on the much shorter man. "What do you think?" he asked sarcastically.

Kenshin held up his hands in a peaceable manner. "Maa maa, just a suggestion, de gozaru yo."

"I'll be at headquarters." And with that, Saitou turned on his back and walked out of the clinic compound.

"I'll have Sano bring Eiji-kun when he wakes up," Kenshin called out.

"Don't bother; I'll come for the kid later."

Saitou frowned as he walked to the police headquarters. What in the name of all that's holy possessed him to say that in parting? That was a bloody sign of weakness! Caring for someone can get you killed in battle! Expose that bloody weakness and you're done for as surely as the sun sets in the west.

But that's the thing right there – battles are no more in this day and age of peace.

It just better not get around to other people; there was his image to take care of after all.

Saitou glared at the in tray on his desk. It was overflowing with bloody papers and documents to be read, perused, summarized, and sent off to other offices. Just because he was the bloody best officer in this precinct doesn't mean that he has the patience to sit through all of this especially after last night!

He grabbed the nearest uniform. "You," he growled menacingly. "See to those reports."

"B-bu-but, Fu-Fujita-san…"

Saitou glared.

The other man gulped. "H-ha-hai."

"Good." He released the poor man and pushed him inside the office. "They'll be done by the time I get back, right?"

"H-hai."

Saitou just grunted and wheeled out of the office again, this time heading out to his favorite soba ya.

Saitou, after a very filling double portion of soba washed down with a sweet drink, took a leisurely (if such a thing could be associated with him) walk to the cemetery. He was still a bit fuzzy in the head with the lack of sleep and the adrenaline rush and drain, but it was slowly clearing up.

He stopped by the marker and sat down on his haunches.

"Ohayou Tokio-koishii," he whispered fondly as he poured some water on the marker. "It's a clear day today."

Saitou glanced around before placing a bouquet of white lilies down on the ground. "I made a mistake the other day," he went on in a whisper. "Someone saw Eiji at headquarters and associated him with me, and that someone actually kidnapped the kid."

He could just see his wife in his mind's eye glaring at him for letting something like that happen.

"I know. Gomen ne, Tokio-koishii. I got a bit careless. But I got him back so don't worry. He's at Genzai-sensei's clinic, sleeping off the effects of some knockout pills. It seemed he put up quite a fight."

He sighed and looked down with a wry grin. "I miss you love; I miss you so much…"

It was quite late in the afternoon when he returned to the clinic compound. There were meetings he had to go to, report the kidnapping, file the papers for the perpetrators (though he had the willing assistance of that uniform he stopped earlier, whatever his name was)… all in all, he still had a lot to do.

"Saitou-san," Megumi greeted.

"Hn."

She discreetly rolled her eyes at him but not discreetly enough that he didn't see it. "Eiji-kun's just outside, playing with Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan."

"Eiji!" he called out.

There was some scrambling somewhere from the backyard of the clinic and a muffled shout. "Hai!"

"He's recovered from his headache well enough," Megumi remarked.

Eiji appeared from the corner and skidded to a stop in front of them. "Sai-uhm-Fuj-erhm-tou-chan!" His eyes went worriedly from his adoptive father to the female doctor.

Saitou sighed quietly. "C'mon, let's go."

"Hai!" The boy bowed to Megumi. "Arigatou, Takani-sensei!"

"Energetic kid, officer," Megumi commented but she smiled at the boy. She ruffled his hair fondly. "And I don't want to see you in here for some time, alright?"

"Hai sensei!"

Saitou barely nodded at her and walked out of the clinic yet again. This was fast becoming a habit that he needed to break. He glanced at the boy skipping alongside him. Maybe…

21 December 2003

21 August 2004

Argh! So long without an update!

Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! Gomen!

I didn't mean to!

It's real life's fault!

Illusion took up a lot of my time the past few months as I was editing and re-writing it. I've posted that story at Fictionpress, so please, don't be shy and read it too!

Thanks!

Ana