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 good were already shipped albeit slowly to Japan.

italics - denotes thoughts
asterisks - denotes sound/thoughts/misc

I DECIDED TO ADD THE REVIEWER NOTES ON THE BOTTOM AS I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY THE CHAPTER.. :o)

CHAPTER X – To Become a Man

It started snowing. Saitou pulled his shirt collar up to fight the coldness. The wind increased its pace and Saitou couldn't help but mutter a curse through the darkness. Things has not been going his way lately, actually now that he thought more about it, ever since his parents died his life has been on a constant downhill. His defeat to Akio the other day was just icing on the cake. He cursed his brother's name through clenched teeth.

What was that all about Tatsuo? I barely improved as a swordsman this past year and because of that I. Kuso (Damn)! You'll have some explaining to do.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a faint ruffling of the snow behind him. As he turned, he saw a figure rushing after him. He could not see exactly who it was as the fury of mixed wind and snow obstructed his vision.

"Saitou matte! (wait)" Yuuta fought against the wind to reach Saitou. He saw Saitou stop and turn towards him. Yuuta couldn't help but smile as he threw himself at the unsuspecting young man.

Saitou stiffened. What the? He tried to wrestle free of Yuuta's embrace but to no avail and found himself falling to the ground with Yuuta to his side.

"I'm so glad I found you." Yuuta's voice was full of relief.

"I suggest you let me go right now Yuuta." Saitou said not hiding his annoyance.

Yuuta tightened his embrace and barely managed to say, "Just a little more Saitou-san."

Saitou forcefully pulled himself free of the young man and got up. He glared at him.

"Baka! (Fool) What the hell is this?"

Yuuta got up and pulled Saitou to the nearest tree to shield them from the snow. As Yuuta turned to meet Saitou's face, Saitou couldn't help but flinch at what he saw.

The ahou (moron) is crying.

"Stop that." He commanded.

Yuuta just shook his head and mumbled "Saitou-san."

Not having the patience Saitou started to leave only to find himself embraced by Yuuta once again.

"Ahou! What is the matter with you?" Saitou fought hard to retain his already "strained" patience.

"Will I see you again?" Yuuta said in between sobs.

Saitou sighed "I don't know."

"Saitou if we don't see each other again. I won't know what to do."

Baka! Saitou's patience was wearing dangerously thin.

"Do as you normally would." He replied curtly.

"Saitou."

"WHAT?"

"I love you." Yuuta grip on Saitou's waist tightened.

Saitou enraged, tore Yuuta's hold and faced the young man.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." His amber eyes betraying the extreme anger he was trying to control.

"Don't! I'm saying this to you because I NEED you to know!" Yuuta was defiant. "My sister she doesn't deserve you."

Unconsciously Saitou's hands formed a fist. "Don't get your sister involved in YOUR shortcomings."

"Saitou please! Don't even think about it! It's no use! You will never win against Akio." Yuuta went closer to Saitou trying to reach the man's arm, but Saitou immediately pulled it away.

"I'm not after." Saitou cut himself off, not wanting to lie nor wanting to admit. "Think before you speak Yuuta!"

"No I WON'T. I'm the one who wanted to be with you all this time!" Yuuta tried to wipe away the tears that rolled uncontrollably on his face.

"Then I will have to teach you a lesson about how it is to be a man and what responses you will get from one." Saitou let his fist fly towards Yuuta.

This is for your own sake

Unknown to the two a pair of emerald eyes were watching them.

------------------------------

Midori was up and about the next day. She went to the kitchen to help her mother prepare breakfast.

"Oka-san." she called.

Hmm... I guess she's not up yet. I'll just go on ahead.

She decided to make some fried tamago (egg) that morning. Completely forgetting the state of her hands she pulled a frying pan from the overhead cupboard. The pan that she had always used so effortlessly, slipped from her fingers and made loud clatter on the floor.

Baka.

She tried picking up the frying pan again making sure that her hand gripped it more tightly. Still it fell. TONK.. TOnk.. Tonk

Damn this! I'll just wake up everybody.

She kicked the pan in frustration, eliciting more noise to come from the kitchen.

"Midori! Don't try too much all at once." Akio picked up the frying pan and placed it on the counter.

Midori sighed, it was too early in the morning for her to deal with Akio. "Wakatta."

She went to the garden expecting to see Yuuta doing his morning exercises but he was nowhere to be found.

I wonder if Saitou's coming today?

She decided to wait on the stone bench by the white roses. The seating was quite cold but at least it wasn't wet. It's a good thing otou-san decided to build a shade.

She looked up towards the open air ceiling and closed her eyes, only to open them when she felt a sharp sting emanating from her palms.It must be the cold She untied the ribbon from her hair and wrapped her hands around it to provide warmth.

"Why don't you just go inside?"

Akio can't you leave me alone? She looked at him hoping that her indifference would turn him away. He did not.

"Come on Midori. It's cold out here."

"I want to watch Yuuta and Saitou-kun train today."

Akio frowned at her reply. "You're still waiting for that dog to show up? Why don't you check up on your brother instead? Maybe then you'll change your mind."

Midori stood up defiant. "Why can't you say something nice for a change?"

"You don't know what you're getting yourself in and for the life of me I don't know why you so favor that dog, who just beat up your own little brother."

"What ARE you talking about? Saitou would never do such a thing!" Midori formed a fist ignoring the sting she had started feeling.

"See for yourself. He's with your parents. Your mother is treating his bruises."

The young lady hurried into the house, straight to her parent's room. She could not help but feel concerned for her younger brother. He was curled up on top of the futon with puffy eyes, as her mother Misa applied some mint cream on his bruises.. Midori knelt beside her brother, gently stroking his hair.

"Yuuta. Please tell me what happened."

"Onee-chan." The lad started crying again.

"Who was it? Was it Saitou?"

Yuuta slowly nodded his head. Midori felt her heart sank. Saitou, how could you? Resolved to confront the man she hurriedly left.

---------------------------------

"Oh! Ohayo Saitou SENSEI!" Tatsuo snickered as Saitou entered the room. "You're late for breakfast and unfortunately there are no leftovers."

Tatsuo's mockery elicited stifled laughs from Saitou's sisters. Saitou shot them a dangerous look. He was not in the mood to be toyed with.

"Ooo. What was that?" Tatsuo jeered on. "Don't tell me the fledgling wants to fight?"

Saitou stepped up to his older brother, his amber eyes. "I have some questions for you."

"Back off and KNOW your place Saitou. A useless freeloader has no right to question the head of the household."

"Who said you can take otou-san's place?" Saitou stepped closer, his hands forming a fist on his sides.

The sisters stopped snickering. It was evident a fight was going to break out, but it was interrupted with a loud rapping at the door.

"Saitou! Saitou! Open up!" shouted a feminine voice.

TO REVIEWER:

Missbehavin - First off thank you for updating "To hazard a guest"! Next. Thanks for reviewing! Yuuta did get himself into some trouble.. HAHAHA! Midori I want her to be the strong type so I didn't expound much, only her frustration on the frying pan, but I decided it's better for her to be annoyed than crying her butt off. Between her and Saitou I'm not sure yet, how he will react. Akio, yeah I hate him too. HAHAHA! The power of the keyboard will determine his fate.