A/N: If you are an Aoshi/Kaoru fan check out the yahoo group by the name of AoshiandKaoru. I'd love to see your name on the member list! ~Belle
Chapter 5: The Wolf and his Raccoon:
Hajime Saito left the airport with a heavy heart. It took all his significant will power to leave the love of his life in the capable hands of Aoshi Shinomori. He had forgotten the reason he never had introduced Kaoru to his longtime acquaintance until the moment he practically gift wrapped her for the Californian detective.
Saito reached his empty car where her Jasmine scent still lingered. Sighing silently to himself he sat down in the driver's seat and turned the engine to begin his journey home.
He knew he would have second thoughts about the whole idea of sending Kaoru off on a two week trip without him and in the company of the detective. He never should have agreed to Megumi's idea of having them pose as an engaged couple. Jealousy tugged at the strings of his heart at the thought of Shinomori touching his Tanuki.
It didn't matter that she was no longer his technically because she would always hold that special place in his heart. However, he realized now that if he ever hoped to win Kaoru over again that it would be impossible since Megumi had suggested using the engagement ring that he himself had given her.
No doubt would Kaoru believe it was because he wanted her to move on. He certainly didn't want her to suffer sleepless nights for an entire fortnight. He wished that he could have declined Yukishiro's offer entirely and protected Kaoru from any possible associations with Battosai. But, Saito knew that she would never have forgiven him if this opportunity had been denied her.
Hajime blinked his amber eyes in surprise at where he found himself driving. He was not parked outside his own home, but rather in front of Kaoru's apartment building. He sat inside his car for a few moments trying to decide what could have brought him to this location instead of his waiting son.
Decision made that fate had wanted him to come here instead, he walked up the stairs and used his key to the apartment to enter. He locked the door behind him and made his way to Kaoru's familiar bedroom. Before he even realized what he was doing, he had kicked off his shoes and peeled off his clothes and found himself wrapped inside the Jasmine scented sheets of the bed they once shared.
How could things have come to this? When he had first met the dark haired beauty with the captivating eyes he knew he was in love. He was at least fifteen years her senior but still, he found that he couldn't go the day without wondering who she was.
For three weeks, he saw her from afar, studying diligently in the library where he enjoyed reading at, away from his stressful life. It wasn't until he had been asked to guest speak at the Police Academy and noticed her presence there as well did he muster the nerve to speak to her.
It would seem that Kaoru would be the one to break the proverbial ice. She had smiled at him in a way that made his heart race. He never knew he could feel like such a teenager until she stepped into his life.
Her sapphire eyes had twinkled with unbridled excitement as she smiled at him endearingly. "Detective Saito, I'm Kaoru Kamiya, I've been reading about your work regarding the Battosai case and I must say that I'm impressed."
Dumbfounded, Saito merely stared at her with impassive amber eyes. He hoped she would assume he was being his typical aloof wolfish self, but she seemed to see right past his façade. "Let me guess you are joining the force to make a name for yourself by solving that case?" He found himself sneering at her in an arrogant tone.
Not daunted by his tone, Kaoru continued. "Actually sir, I think I may be able to help you on the case. I do have an ability to solve mysteries, even the most complicated ones."
Saito cocked a brow at the arrogant reply. It sounded like something he would say. "Very well, how about I meet you for coffee and you can try and convince me that I need you." He wasn't sure if he needed her, but he definitely wanted her. Seeing the combination of innocence and wisdom behind her sapphire jewels made him forget all his problems.
"Thank you very much sir, I appreciate you considering my proposal." Kaoru answered as she gave a brief bow of gratitude before walking briskly away from him towards a couple of her peers that were calling her name repeatedly. She might have been walking away from him then, but Saito found that she had inadvertently sealed herself inside his heart forever.
Back in Kaoru's bedroom, Saito stared at the ceiling blankly, finding no sleep as his mind replayed the events of his and Kaoru's heavenly relationship. He had been impressed by her cunning wit and after that coffee, had agreed to include her on the Battosai case. With her help he had easily and quickly rose in the ranks at the force and soon found himself a chief.
However, it was after he had spent a week away at an official function in Chicago and returned that he discovered just how strong his little Tanuki actually was. He had returned to the office and was hoping to take her to dinner and ask her if she was interested in something more than friendship when he discovered that she had been absent all week, ill.
Concerned, he found himself driving to her apartment. He knocked and it seemed as if time had stood still while he waited for her to answer the door. The sight of her had caused his heart to shatter. She looked as if she hadn't slept the entire week that he had been gone. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked as if she would faint at any moment.
She tried to smile at him, as if there was nothing amiss and that she was suffering a common cold. He knew better and had wrapped her within the security of his strong arms. She buckled against him and her tired body had collapsed before she could even offer a word of greeting.
Saito had picked up her small form and carried her to the couch, setting her in his lap as he continued to hold her. Gently he ran his fingers through her dark locks that hung loosely down her back. He flipped on the television to entertain himself until he could find out what had caused his Tanuki to exhaust herself.
Hours had passed and he found himself growing tired as well. Just as his amber eyes were about to close he felt Kaoru stirring in her sleep. She started mumbling and he noticed a drop of blood had streaked down her cheek. Worried, he shook her awake. Sapphire eyes snapped open and widened in horror.
She crushed her face against his shoulder and trembled in his ever tightening embrace. "Hajime, he killed her." She whispered brokenly. Gently, Saito had pushed her face away from his shoulder so he could speak with her directly.
"Who killed who, Kaoru? What is the matter? Tell me!" Saito demanded, his face hard, but his eyes soft when regarding the girl in his arms.
Kaoru looked away, refusing to look him in the eyes before answering. "You've always been curious as to why I'm so fascinated by the Battosai case. Why I dropped out of college my senior year studying journalism to pursue a career in law? It's because the dreams never stop. Every time he kills someone, if I am asleep, I see it. Every victim he kills, I see. I see it through his eyes. I know what he is thinking. He wants to cry when he kills, he has no choice. But I do it for him. I'm the one who cries for him. He has no tears, only blood. So that's why I cry his blood."
Saito found himself speechless. That would certainly explain her interest in the case. It would also explain her great ability of discerning the clues they would find at crime scenes, even ones unrelated to Battosai. For no murders in New York had been committed by the beast in some time. Saito held the woman closer to his chest and placed her ear to his rapidly beating heart.
"You won't have to dream alone." Saito whispered softly in her ear. Kaoru looked up at him confused at his statement but he only hugged her closer to him. Her arms found their way to his neck, where they snaked around drawing the pair even closer.
"Thankyou," she answered, before closing her eyes and sleeping peacefully the rest of the night.
Saito sat up in Kaoru's bed, the memory of their first night together replaying in his mind's eye. After that night he had spent every following night at this apartment, holding her, trying to protect her from her dreams. It didn't stop the dreams, but at least she wasn't afraid of waking up alone.
Their relationship had turned passionate and he discovered that he didn't want to think about a life without her. That's when he had proposed to her and she had, to his great relief, accepted. Life was perfect. The Battosai was still on the loose, but Saito actually didn't really mind. Actually, he was thankful to Battosai for being the common ground that led to him meeting Kaoru.
But reality came crashing in on him not too long after their engagement was announced. His ex-wife, Tokio had decided to make herself known to the pair. She announced that she had a son, his son. Saito had been unaware of fathering any children, but the boy was eleven years old, the right age to have been his son.
Saito had only been married to Tokio for half a year, six months of foolishness during his youth. The marriage was annulled and he hadn't spoken with his ex-wife once during the decade that followed.
Kaoru had been heartbroken that he had kept such a secret after she had entrusted him with so many of her own. With a tear-streaked face she had handed him back the engagement ring with a request that he try to make things work with his family.
Saito took the ring, but had no intention of seeking reconciliation with his ex-wife. He did want to be a good father to the son he never knew he had. His son, Aaron, was a blessing in disguise. It was hard to believe that someone so wonderful could have been created during the ill fated union of Saito and his ex-wife.
The adolescent had requested to live with Saito in New York and his mother, unwanted by the man, decided to allow Saito custody as she sought fame and fortune in Atlantic City. Aaron had met Kaoru a week after the breakup. The boy was absolutely in love with the young woman. He threatened his father that if he didn't marry her then he when he got older he would marry her himself.
Saito had found the comment quite comical and when he shared it with Kaoru, an attempt to reintroduce the idea of re-instating their engagement she had merely given him a sad smile and said she needed time to get her life together on her own. That's when she quit the force and finished her journalism degree.
She never took away Saito's key and often times over the past year he would drop by and visit her. He missed her terribly, but knew that she wasn't ready for anything serious with him. If Tokio hadn't entered his life a second time they would have been married, working on at least their third child by now. But at least Aaron had entered Hajime's life.
Saito rose from the bed that he missed so much and redressed himself. He needed to go home to his son. Kaoru was under the protection of Detective Shinomori right now and there was nothing he could do about it.
After locking the apartment door behind him, Hajime Saito looked at the door knob almost longingly. Maybe, just maybe, after all the dust settled Kaoru would be able to trust him again with her heart.
It was a good thing Shinomori was such a heartless icicle. Otherwise, Saito might have been more concerned about entrusting the love of his life in the strong arms of such an attractive man.
Saito frowned to himself as he started driving home. Kaoru had a way of making everyone like her. He could only hope that Shinomori was immune to the hope and love she represented that he himself had succumbed to.
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TBC
Aoshi/Kaoru recommended fiction: Passing Bells by Maleena 17
A tale of love and understanding in a time where chaos and confusion are in the hearts of many. Aoshi Shinomori was an enemy, a captain of the Japanese Army that destroyed their Village while, Kamiya Kaoru was a captive that bargained her life.