Disclaimer: I do not own PMK nor the Shinsengumi.

Chapter 4: Hajime

"Saitou-san, any luck?" the Comedian Trio asked as they spotted a very gloomy Saitou. Saitou shook his head sadly. "Saitou! I think you need some cheering up!" Heisuke ventured. "How 'bout coming to Shimabara with us tonight?"

"I know! We'll get Akesato-san to dance for us. Maybe you can sneak a chance to touch her bosom..." Harada suggested. "Sano-kun, you know she'll never allow that!" Shinpachi countered.

"No harm trying..." the giant grinned then hit the ground as an abacus flew across the yard and cracked against his skull. The remaining duo saw Yamanami standing at the door, still wearing his benign smile. They sweatdropped. Point taken, San-nan. We wouldn't bully Akesato-san.

"Hajime-san, what's bothering you?" Saitou was looking troubled. "Still worried about Tokio?" Saitou shook his head as he sat down next to Yamanami on the veranda.

"It's Fujita-san. I think the boy's having a crush on me. You know, those looks...how he acts about me. I'm getting a strange feeling about the boy. It's like when I was at the Takagi's and I thought I've found my soul mate in Tokio. Gasp! You don't think I'm actually falling for the lad?" Saitou paled. Yamanami stifled a laugh.

"What if you are?" Okita zipped by with Hijitaka in pursuit. Saitou winced. "But Tokio! What about her? Oh man! I better go look for her. San-nan, why did you move all my patrols to the afternoon? If they're at night, I could use the afternoons to look for her..." It's because we don't want Tokio to get hurt. What can go wrong on a routine afternoon patrol?

A good soak, that'll remove all the dust from the day's patrol. Tokio climbed into the tub. Outside, she can hear the cook moving about her chores and the squeals of the pigs as they are fed. Does Souji-chan know his pig may end up as bacon? She sighed...Hajime seems to have given up on looking for her...

The door burst open. A high-pitched squeal. "I'm so sorry! I was going to clean the tub! I didn't think anyone will be...." Hotaru's eyes widened in surprise as she saw... Tokio quickly cupped her hands over her bosom... Too late.

Attracted by Hotaru's squeals, both Okita and Susumu came running from different directions to the bathroom. Okita grabbed a towel for his cousin while a red-faced Susumu pretended to study the ceiling. Terrific! Tokio wrapped the towel around herself just as a face appeared at the window.

"Hey, what's going on in there?" A concerned Harada asked. "Nothing," Okita replied. "Hotaru-san was surprised by a rat and we're helping to catch it." He blocked the giant's view by moving in front of the tiny window. "Everything's under control."

"Oh, how romantic!" Hotaru exclaimed. "If you need any help, tell me..."

"I trust Hijitaka knows of this," Susumu was sullen. Okita nodded as he watched the two girls chat. At least they have got both the shinobi and the cook's silence on the true identity of Fujita Goro.

I just treat him as a kid brother! Nothing more! Saitou practiced with the shinai in the empty hall. He was working up a good sweat. He considered asking for leave to do a more thorough search for Takagi Tokio. A lady can't just vanish like that! He'll cover the road from her home to Kyoto with a fine-tooth comb.

"Saitou-san? Can I practice with you?" Fujita Goro popped his young head in. Before he could reply, Fujita had taken up a shinai and was attacking him with a series of fierce blows. Saitou never had such a fierce sparring match in a long while. The boy's totally fearless.

"So, Saitou-san, have you found her yet? Takagi-san?" Fujita asked offhandedly as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Saitou shook his head. "Giving up?"

"Fujita-san, I honestly don't know where to look anymore. It's as if she vanished into thin air," Saitou groaned. "I'm expecting her father to come after me real soon..."

"You're looking for her out of duty?" How very, very disappointing, Tokio groaned inwardly.

"Maybe, but I... na, it's crazy! I have a strange feeling about Takagi-san... I keep feeling we were..." He clamped shut. Why am I sharing this with you? Saitou strode out of the room to Tokio's disappointment.

Time for Takagi Tokio to resurface as herself! Does the red one suit her better or the green? Tokio studied the kimonos Hotaru had generously agreed to lend her. Maybe she should try the blue one.

Notes:

My, my... Saitou's feeling an attraction towards Fujita. Has he found his soul-mate? Takagi Tokio to appear?

Please R&R. I'm venturing into shonenai territory here. Well, sorta. (sweatdrop)