Disclaimer: I do not own Peacemaker Kurogane, or Ruronin Kenshin for that matter.

HAppy Holidays

Chapter 5: At the Breakfast Table

"Saitou-san! I swear I wouldn't breathe a word about Okita-san! He's my friend! You can trust me not to tell anyone about him! Okita-san's not here… Trust me! I'm not lying!" Tetsu prattled on until Saitou was obliged to silence the loudmouth with a well-aimed punch to the gut.

Then he threw the boy over his shoulder and marched nonchalantly into the building. Tetsu was small-built for his age. Makoto was at the front desk. She didn't even bat an eyelid. "Saitou-san, your soba's ready. Do you want to eat with your wife or with the others?"

Returning with Feathers after their walk, Suzu gaped at the sight of his classmate slung over the shoulder of a sleepy-faced man. What did the baka do this time? Feathers gave a quack as if he were agreeing with Suzu's unspoken words.

"My wife." He left the unconscious boy on the front desk. Tetsu's Makoto-san's responsibility now.

"Hajime-kun," Tokio greeted him with a smile. She had been waiting for him in the dining hall. He sat down facing her. The others were eating their breakfast after getting the keys to their rooms.

Saitou looked blandly at the holidaymakers. Toudou was trying to chat up a pretty waitress. Harada was letting a little girl draw on his face with a marker. Nagakura was cowering under Ayu-nee's baleful glare. The woman was holding what's left of a once-lovely kimono. That shade of indigo will suit his Tokio.

A pair of biker lovebirds was whispering sweet nothings to each other. Then the burly man broke into an Italian love song, much to his lady love's amusement. Some things are better done in private, like singing lovey-dovey ballads…

Only Hijikata sat alone and looked as somber as a funeral. There was no sign of Maro or his followers. Maybe they were in their rooms. Only a select few knew Okita had gone undercover. The last thing he needed was a misplaced greeting by his Shinsengumi chums. It was better for him to hold his tongue. Saitou tucked into his soba breakfast.

"Hajime-kun, why did you take so long? I was getting lonely…" Tokio pouted prettily.

"Something cropped up on the way back…"

"You promised no work on our honeymoon…"

"So I did. Don't fret, Kio-chan." There was no way, no how he's gonna worry his new wife with Okita. What had he done to incur such bad karma? Having the Trio at the same onsen he was honeymooning at was bad enough. Then a dangerous terrorist cult group moves in…

Failing to score with Hotaru, Toudou looked for some other entertainment. Aha! He caught sight of the newlyweds.

"Ohayo! How was your night?" Heisuke asked. "Did you sleep well?"

"Oh, we had a very invigorating night, Hajime-kun, won't you agree?" Tokio answered with a smile.

"Hai, a perfect blend of harmony…" Hajime winked at his wife and squeezed her knee under the table. "Oh, Hajime! You're an animal in bed. My beloved Wolf of Mibu." Tokio leaned over their breakfast and kissed her husband.

"Wolf of Mibu?" Now Heisuke was puzzled.

"Hajime's online name in Shogun X. Do you know the multi-player online game? We met there while gaming."

"She is my Shinobi gal. Hey, Heisuke, didn't you play that game as well?"

Heisuke shook his head. He had played Shogun X. But he kept getting thrashed by his fellow players like Battousai, Demon Child and Wolf of Mibu. Finding out Souji was Demon Child was bad enough. Hearing rumors that Battousai taught ikebana and dance was worse. Now he has to find out that Wolf of Mibu was Saitou who cannot get the PC working when he first joined the station from Aizu!

"Remember that Ahou8 character we kept mopping the virtual streets with? He has no sense of strategy at all…" They're talking about me… Heisuke retreated.

"Has Demon Child been online recently? Shinobi's dying for a chance to even the score from last time…" Okita had mercilessly decimated his cousin's virtual group the last time they crossed swords online.

"No, Kio. He must be busy studying," Saitou lied. Most of the others thought Okita Souji was pursuing further studies abroad. "I hope he's adjusting to New York…"

"New York? I thought you said he's in Los Angeles!"

"My mistake, L.A. it is." Saitou decided he better watch himself. He was starting to get nervous. Not a good sign.

Hijikata poked at his breakfast. Why had he ordered pancakes? He only ate the stuff with Souji…

"Sano-nichan! Can I draw on your tummy?" Yoko squealed happily as she added the finishing touches to his face. Then Captain Harada saw the words on the child's marker. Permanent ink. He leapt to his feet and dashed for the washrooms.

Author's notes:

It's a small world after all. And Tetsu's got a mouth incapable of keeping any secret. No wonder Saitou's edgy. And Yoko's being an inoocent brat. BTW, Battousai does not teach ikebana or dance.

Online gaming. The modern world intrudes. (Snicker) Piratez? Warcraft or The 3 Kingdoms, cuz? I promise not to throttle you if you happen to thrash me again... (cross fingers)