NOTES:
FIRST! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin nor Saitou Hajime (although I wish)... RK is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki.
It's time for me to write again! Yey! This time, it'll be a fic about Saitou's life before Kyoto and the Shinsengumi. This will be a romanticized tale of what he was before joining the Shinsengumi and why he left Tokyo (Edo). There will be times when Saitou will be OOC, I intend to keep most of his personality just twisting it now and then. But the OOC will be very apparent when it comes to his fighting abilities, I don't think Saitou became a great swordsman overnight. Agree? :O)
I also found out about how cigarettes were not introduced until the Meiji.. Well since this is set before the Meiji, please pardon.. I just had a hard time envisioning Saitou-kun not smoking. As for the piano, well I think that's acceptable since I've read that prior to the Bakumatsu, foreign goods were already shipped albeit slowly to Japan.
italics - denotes thoughts
asterisks - denotes sound/thoughts/misc
Chapter V – Things of Disbelief
"If you're here to belittle me after the spat we had earlier, I suggest you save your breath and go home." She shot him a vehement look.
Saitou sighed and shrugged "You sure make things harder."
"and so do you." She was now standing in front of him. Her eyes intent on the tall young man.
For a moment Saitou wondered if the eyes were glistening or if they were teary. He looked past her and stared at the piano.
"I didn't come for that."
"So what is it Saitou-kun?"
Without answering her, Saitou moved closer to the piano and started to push a low key and then another.. Still another slightly higher key. He looked up and the piano sheets from a week back caught his attention. It was still slightly smeared with his blood.
"For this suma (sorry)." Holding up the smeared music sheets so Midori could see. "Would you mind playing this?"
"Okay but it's still not finished yet.. I'm not sure if you'll like it." She sat herself down and started to play.
Saitou eyed her carefully. He wanted to make sure what he saw earlier was not a fluke. Indeed a transformation seemed to envelope her once she started playing the sweet melody. He noted she played with her eyes closed and for a moment he thought she was was beautiful sight to see.
It ended shortly and Midori started to drape the covers over the keys.
"Do you mind if I come to listen from time to time while you play that." motioning to the instrument.
"It's a piano. Yes, you can come whenever you wish. There's no point in my playing if I don't have an audience."
Saitou grinned and whispered softly to her ear "Arigatou Gozaimasu, Midori- san."
Midori looked at him puzzled. Why are you being nice all of a sudden? As if that spectacle wasn't enough, what would happen next will keep her in shock for a couple of days..
"I did not treat you like a lady.", Saitou got on his knees and bowed his head almost touching the floor. "for that please accept my deepest apologies."
---------------------------
Midori woke up early that day. She was feeling quite energetic than usual. She made sure Yuuta was up before Saitou came. Then she hurriedly took care of the morning chores and left the house.
"Oka-san (mother). Where's onee-chan (sister)?" Yuuta was puzzled, his sister never missed breakfast.
"Oh she wanted to go to the wet market to get some fresh fish. She said it will be a treat for you since you've been a good boy recently."
"Ah.. Sou ka.. Then she won't be with me for practice.. Well that's even better.", he smiled, finally he can be alone with Saitou sensei.
As usual Saitou showed up promptly and made Yuuta go through his daily routines. His eyes and ears kept searching for the familiar face but there was no sight of her. He finally gave up on the idea and focused on Yuuta.
"Your posture is all wrong.", he commented dryly and demonstrated how it should be done.
For some unknown reason Yuuta seemed to be forgetting all the directions he was giving him. He continuously had to correct the young man's posture and style. The first few times he did not mind, but he noticed that Yuuta kept on insisting that he "physically" correct him. He had no choice but to guide Yuuta by his own hands and every time he did so, he instinctively felt discomfort. It was even more disturbing when Saitou noticed Yuuta smile every time they had physical contact. I must be imagining things., he thought to himself.
The hour passed and a relieved Saitou immediately took leave, glancing slightly just in case Midori came out.
-------------------------
"Midori you better hurry up if you want to catch Saitou and give him that sashimi."
She smiled at her mother. She always seemed to know what was on her mind.
"I can't oka-san. It's not ready and I don't want to rush because it might spoil the taste."
Concern was written all over Midori's face. Too bad there were too many people at the wetmarket that morning, it was almost noon when she got back home.
Her mother took out a nice black bento box from the cupboard. "You can always give it to him later, ne? I'll take care of Yuuta's lunch."
"Arigatou oka-san." She replied happily.
-------------------------------
"Have you been practicing lately?", a relatively tall man jeered at Saitou who was just getting up after being hit consecutively on his shoulder and sides.
He scowled, "Tatsuo, just concentrate on our sparring."
Their katanas clashed again, the blades eliciting a cry against the strength of the two. Tatsuo being the stronger one broke the deadlock and was able to push Saitou against the tree.
"Otohto! I think you'll need to practice some more.", he jumped away from Saitou and planted a clean hit to Saitou's lower rib. "If you didn't have that armor on, you'd be dead by now."
"Urusei! (Shut up!)" Saitou parried Tatsuo's katana to the left and tried to swing his katana back to the right to land a hit. It was deflected rather easily.
"You're a joke today.", he walked away from Saitou. "Clear your head before you try to spar with me again.
"Ahou..(Moron..)" Saitou sneered at his brother.
Tatsuo laughed at Saitou while he walked away.
-----------------------
Knock Knock
"Konnichi-wa."
"Konnichi-wa. What can I do for you young lady?"
"Anou.. I wanted to give this to Saitou Sensei.. Is he around?", Midori took out the bento box.
The tall man chuckled, So this is what's been bothering you Saitou SENSEI??? Well I never thought you had it in you onii-san..
"Sorry he just left. I'm not sure where. If you don't mind leaving that I'll give it to him when he gets back."
"How kind of you. Arigatou. ", she smiled sheepishly at the man who looked distinctly similar to Saitou. "May I know your name?"
"Saitou Tatsuo."
"Sou ka. Arigatou. I'll be going now. Sayonara."
Tatsuo returned inside the house. He smiled at the sudden developments. He'll have to brief his sisters about Hajime. Who would've thought the ahou would've caught the eye of a fine lady and also be called "Sensei".
He can't even win against me and now he goes around letting people think he's a sword master. He chuckled again. Where is Sasue? She has to hear about this.
Unconsciously, Tatsuo took a piece of sashimi from the bento. Hmm.. This is good. Finally good some use out of that useless baka. (stupid, idiot)