DISCLAIMER: FIRST! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin nor Saitou Hajime (although I wish)... RK is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki.
OTHER: Okay... To those reading this story.. I took off most of the authors notes so please just read the notes from prior chapters... Also since fanfiction has this thing against answering reviewers in the story... If you would like to see my answers to your review, please check my profile and there I will post my answers/thoughts. I hope you enjoy the story. Critiques please, please let me know... What you hate.. What you like.. What I need to work on...
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(sorry about this... My wordprocessor isn't doing a good job on formatting.
CHAPTER 32: Hello and Goodbye
It only took them less than half an hour to reach the headquarters. Midori was expecting the guards to at least question on who they were but to her surprise they let them in easily. As they walked along the garden, she was quite amazed at how orderly everything was kept. There were no men loitering around, not a single leaf on the ground and the only noise she could hear were emanating from the dojo were kiai's were being used. She had heard from Akio before that swordsman also show their spirit by loud kiai (shouts) during battle, she reprimanded herself for classifying it as "noise". They wandered to the long corridor were a man who was acting "hall monitor", motioned them to come.
"Miss, are you looking for Akio-kun?" asked the stocky man.
"Hai. Would you happen to know where he is?"
"Iie, but the commander should know. Please follow me."
Yuuta grabbed his sister ears. "Onee-san you said this would be a great place to go.... It's quiet and dead here."
"Quiet Yuuta..." She slapped the lad's hand away as they were shown into a separate room.
"Glad you came by Midori..." Sasaki lifted his face from the papers he was reading and smiled at his guests. "Ah and you must be..."
"Yuuta desu!" the young man bowed at the commander.
Yuuta did not take his eyes of Sasaki, obviously enthranced by the young commanders striking face. Sasaki almost squirmed at Yuuta's weird gaze but he was quick to regain his composure and offered the siblings a seat.
"What brings you here Midori?"
"It's kind of embarassing but I just wanted to bring Akio his bento." She smiled sheepishly.
"Ah but unfortunately he is on an errand today and won't be back until later tonight." Sasaki.
"Sou ka?" Her heart leapt for a minute and she wondered if her sudden joy showed in the sound of her voice. She wasn't sure but she thought she saw the commander slightly smirk at her response. She had no time to answer though as they were interrupted by the same "hall monitor", who announced another set of guest for Sasaki.
"Kochira e dozo." The man herded two young men dressed in light blue.
(Kuso! I really need to re-assign this man to something else. He dumps every single visitor into my office!)
Sasaki went to greet the two Shinsengumi captains but stopped midway upon seeing the familiar face of Saitou Hajime. (Chikushou! They are not to meet yet. This is not the time. I really am going to kill this young man...) He cursed the hall monitor over and over again in his head while he greeted the newcomers. Sasaki was careful not to open the door too wide so that the two siblings would be hidden from view.
"Sasaki-san it is good to see you again." Okita bowed. "Our chief Serizawa sent us to deliver this letter to you." The blue eyed lad handed the letter to the man with pitch dark eyes.
"Arigatou Gozaimasu." Sasaki bowed again.
Saitou just stared at Sasaki not making a move. He vaguely wondered why Sasaki had not spoken or looked directly at him the whole time. He became aware of Okita trying to push his back.
"What are you doing Okita???" Saitou growled at the young man.
Okita turned red in front of Sasaki. He wanted to be discreet with Saitou who completely forgot to show respect to Sasaki. (Kami-sama Kondou will have our head if you don't pay respects to this man Saitou) He tried again but Saitou was immovable and oblivious to Okita's situation.
Sasaki sighed, all he wanted for them was to go away. "Give my regards. I have urgent matters to attend to. Shitsurei shimasu." He turned to close the door as the two turned to each other.
"What were you thinking Saitou?" Okita was pissed.
"Why did you keep pushing me?" Saitou replied annoyed.
"Saitou that was Sasaki, Commander and of equal status as Kondou! You need to pay respect!" Okita accidentally raised his voice.
"He is an old acquaintance of mine..." Saitou said thoughtfully, again wondering why Sasaki chose to ignore him the whole time.
"Still Saitou that's no reason..."
The argument was interrupted when the young lad who was sitting beside Midori ran to the door before Sasaki could close it.
"Saitou SENSEI!!!" Yuuta came bursting like a child, a smile plastered across his face.
If Sasaki could draw his katana and slice Yuuta in half at that moment he probably would've done so.
"Midori! Midori! Come see Sensei... Quick!" Yuuta exclaimed completely forgetting the fact that two were enstranged.
Midori hesitated for a bit but since her younger brother would not stop shouting she was forced to come to them to Sasaki's dismay. She took leave of Sasaki, who by now had given up all hopes of stopping the premature meeting of the two. She then went and dragged her brother further outside, telling him that if he'd like to speak with Saitou they have to get out of there first because he was causing an embarassing scene. As they walked out of the headquarters she wasn't sure if she was feeling anxious because of all the embarassment Yuuta caused or if it was because in a few more moments she'd be face to face with him again.
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A few more moments they were followed by Saitou and Okita. Okita couldn't help but smile happily at the sudden fate meeting of the two and aside from that he was greatly intrigued by Midori's brother and his relationship with Saitou. As soon as they got out of the gates, the young man beside Midori grabbed Saitou by the arm. Okita stopped himself from dropping on the road laughing as the young man slipped his arm into Saitou's like a girl. Okita could almost see Saitou's heavy breath and flinching skin.
Sensei ka...
He decided to let the two men "enjoy" each other's company. It was a one way street but Souzi knew that Saitou welcomed the sight of an old friend no matter how peculiar the meeting and the person was. They walked following Midori's lead, opposite of the Shinsengumi headquarters.
"Sensei. How have you been? What uniform is that? What group do you belong to? Where can I go see you?" Yuuta was beaming.
"Be quiet Yuuta." Saitou's reply was curt.
"Sumimasen Sensei... I haven't done any kind of practice at all. I haven't even picked up a bokken since that time you left."
Saitou looked at Yuuta for a minute, he was about to brush off Yuuta's arm that was encircled in his but as he tried to do so, he felt Yuuta's grip on him tighten. He sighed, the young lad was like an octopus, if he tried another attempt who knows what Yuuta would do? ( Encircle both arms around you and probably not just your arm but also your neck...) Saitou gulped, THAT was not happening so he decided to put up with the arm.
"Ne Sensei... Do you think I should start again? Now that you're here..." Yuuta's voice had now grown soft to Saitou's dismay.
"No. I am no longer your Sensei. You should focus on the things you are good at." He really did mean it. Not that he was being cruel but the lad had no sword skills whatsoever, even if he did train him again it would not be practical to do so. "There are people who work best with their minds and Yuuta, you should do that."
"HAI!!!" The young man beamed again...
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Okita caught up with Midori who walked briskly. Okita was panting already and he could almost feel like he was going to have another "fit".
"Wait up..." He called to the young lady.
Midori waited, noting that the Souzi seemed to have grown pale. "Are you okay?"
"Of course I am!" Souzi replied between short breaths.
"You don't look like it." She rubbed the boys back, not that it would do anything for him but still...
"I'm fine now. Don't walk to fast, Saitou and..."
"Yuuta." she interjected..
"Well their still way at the back. Let's wait up for them. I have a feeling Yuuta won't make it to your house if we let them be alone." Souzi smiled that boyish smile of his.
"Ah.. well... What would you expect from my crazy brother and his sensei?"
"Hajime...." Okita interrupted.
"Huh?" She was puzzled.
"You used to call him... HAJIME..." The boy looked into the brown eyes questioningly.
"Yes... Sou ka... You're right.." She smiled back at his serious face.
"Sorry it's not my business..."
"It's okay. You are both our friend."
"So he finally joined you guys huh?" Midori kept the smile.
"Hai... He's assigned as Captain of the third squad." the boy said enthusiastically.
"That's great."
"Hai! At first I thought we might have a problem commissioning him into the Shinsengumi but by some weird meeting with the Daimyo of Aizu he easily got in."
"The Daimyo?"
Souzi nodded his head. "I wasn't there but I heard from Hijikata-san that he was mistaken as a hitokiri and somehow through the whole fiasco the daimyo got impressed and signed him in right away with us."
Midori smiled wistfully. (Yes... That's him... He can do anything...)
"By the way onee-san... Who is that Yuuta?" Okita pointed at the two who were coming near.
"Well Yuuta is my younger brother. He's Saitou's student when we were back in Edo." She felt her heart jump at the sudden flood of memories. As she looked at the two who came closer, she couldn't help but remember all the time she spent at the garden watching Saitou teach Yuuta Kendo. It was a weird feeling, almost surreal now that she was with Akio.
"They seem awfully close." Souzi interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes... They DO have a special relationship." She smiled again wistfully. Again her mind drifting to Edo.
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"Damn! We're almost at our house." Yuuta complained to Saitou.
"You guys sure took your time." Okita jabbed at Saitou, to which the latter glared as an answer back.
"Come Yuuta, the house is just at the corner." She motioned to Yuuta to let go of Saitou but never met Saitou's gaze.
"But! But!"
"Come now..."
"No.. You'll be married tomorrow. Now that Saitou sensei are here we should at least celebrate somewhere." Yuuta pouted.
Okita held his breath. (A marriage tomorrow.. Hers?)
He threw Saitou a look but the other kept his straight face. Okita furrowed his brow at Saitou and slightly cocked his head indicating that Saitou should say something, but the other although completely aware of Okita's body language did not do a single thing.
"Come Yuuta..." Midori was a bit angry at her brother for casually blurting the event out. "Let's go home now."
Okita seeing that Saitou would just let everything go, decided to do the only thing he thought possible. He came close to Yuuta and smiled his sweetest smile, which accentuated his blue eyes, making his face strikingly handsome and friendly. "Let's go Yuuta-kun... We'll leave these boring people and celebrate ourselves."
"Huh?" Yuuta let go of Saitou's arm.
"Yes... Do you know of a good udon restaurant? Do you like udon?"
"Nah... Let's go to a soba place instead."
Okita smiled.. (Teacher and student?) "No let's find an udon place..."
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The two was left standing on the paved road staring at the young men who disappeared in a hurry. They stood there for a few minutes, one staring and the other looking away. Finally the man with the amber eyes broke the silence.
"Omedetto gozaimasu..." Saitou waited for an answer but only got a slight bow. "I will take my leave. Please excuse me." He turned his back..
"Anou... " she kept her eyes on the ground.
"Hai?" He waited and waited, until she finally spoke again.
"Arigatou... For being kind to Yuuta and for walking us all the way home."
"Don't mention it." He stood there still waiting.
She stood there waiting...
"Anou..."
"Hai?"
Another pause...
"Souzi tells me you're a captain now... Omedetto..."
"Ee..." he paused and as he spoke she could feel a smile crept to his lips. "Okita is Captain of the first squad. I am of the third squad."
"Hai. He's quite gifted..." she replied as she took one step further away... "You are happy?"
"I am..." he searched for the right word, "satisfied for the moment."
She frowned slightly. "Sou ka..."
"Are you?"
She wondered briefly what her answered should be, the truth that would hurt her or a lie to get back at him. "I am to be married, every bride should be..."
"I see..."
Another pause... "Will you come tomorrow? I am inviting you as a friend."
"I will go as your friend. Where is it to be held?"
"At the headquarters. Akio tells me he has invited the Shinsengumi as a group, but it will comfort me to know for certain you are there.
He replied softly. "Then I will definitely be there." He looked back briefly hoping she would turn her face, but alas, she kept them on the stone pavement "I have to leave... Suma..."
She heard him walk further away. "Sayonora Hajime..."