Mouse just asked me "What the hell is an Ookami?" It means wolf in Japanese and Ookami-chan is a special nickname given to Saitou by someone dear to him. I don't own Saitou or the person who gave him that nickname, but the story of that is chugging along nicely in my head. For free of course. All of the money rights to Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki-san and I just write this for fun.

Watch this space. Because I'm not allowed to just use spaces and I might try to sneak one in.

Saitou accepted another cookie and enjoyed it more than the first. This might be even more interesting. He had never spoken to anyone as himself, he had always hidden behind one thing, or another, afraid of being seen for what he truly was. Of the revulsion in another person's eyes, the revulsion he had seen in his lover's when Hiko had caught a glimpse of his demon. This woman didn't look at him with revulsion. She saw him with a quiet sorrow and sympathy. She had faced demons before, if not one as vicious as his, and defeated them with her lack of fear. Her only fear was for her son's safety. To provide that safety, she would destroy herself and the world around her without hesitation. Saitou had never admired anyone quite so much. She should have been a man, a samurai, with that courage.

"Madame Jina."

"Yes, Shiori?"

"Nurse says that the little one is awake now and has had his bath."

"Excellent, bring him here please, Shiori-san. I would like to introduce the Inspector to the most important man in my life." The maid bowed and left.

"I should be going, Lady." Saitou said in Chinese.

"Nonsense, Ookami-san! You have been so interested in my son that I insist that you at least meet him. He has just reached his six month, so he isn't much for conversation, but he sure is cute. By the way, you may call me Madame Jina- all my friends do."

"I am I a friend now? As a friend, I ask a question. Could you tell me where I can get these cookies?"

She reached over to gently brush crumbs from his blue jacket." Down near the number four pier there's a little shop. Ask for "Lady Mac's" cookies. It's my grandmother's receipt which I gave the girl when she and her husband opened the shop. If they can't say "Georgina," what a hash would they make of "McNamarra"? They use extra butter and sugar in that batch... Any way, sometimes a good enemy is better than a good friend. Keeps the mind sharp, you know? Please have more tea. So, my wolf -what will you do now? Continue to pursue Kenshin? Let's make a deal, you and me."

"A deal?"

"Yes, your honor for Kenshin's life. I won't make anything public; in fact I'll bury it myself in any sort of hole you'd like to dig. In return you pledge to never harm Kenshin."

"I can't make that promise. There is too much between the Battousai and me. Go ahead with your plans; at least I will finally receive the punishment that I have always deserved."

"That the thing in your heart tells you to deserve. You shouldn't listen to him so much. Or let one of the two people you care about in this world help you destroy it before it consumes you… Here's a compromise: you don't actively look for Kenshin. If you are fated to cross paths – well that is the will of The Tao and I will not argue with God. I will not hold anything against you in that case. I will keep my file just in case your demon gets the upper hand again and comes sniffing around after me and mine. Fair?"

"Fair. You speak of The Way and God in the same breath. Are you a believer in any religion?"

"I have seen both good and bad come from those who claim to speak in its name. I am so mixed in my mind that I take from all and sift to leave merely the pure truths. Here is one for you to keep, Ookami-chan: True love does not always conquer; but it is always worth the fight. Here is my son" she finished in Japanese and stood up to walk to the figure in the doorway.

Saitou rose and turned as well. She had given him much to think about, but already the whisper of the demon was starting to float back into his mind. But he would hold to their bargain. He was tired of running about anyway; perhaps he would spend a few quiet days at home. Perhaps Tokio would play and sing for him, he hadn't asked her to since Okita had died. He wondered if she would.

Georgina took the cooing bundle from the maid and smiled down into the tiny face. She carried him over to Saitou, and before he could stop her, she had deposited the baby in his arms. "He won't hold anyone or allow himself to be held," she had seen that in his mind. "It's time for him to try and break that habit." She stepped back, folding her hands into her sleeves.

Saitou looked down into huge amber eyes, flecked with green, gold, and black. A mixture of both parents' with the Battousai preeminent. But not the Battousai's eyes. These big eyes held no pain, shame, anger, or fear. They watched him with curiosity, and were totally innocent as his must have been once. The froth of red hair above those eyes was pure Kenshin, however. He had seen Georgina's wisdom and her desperate gamble. She had won her treasure and its price was that he who made it possible would never know.

He bent his head to look closer into that face and was shocked when a tiny hand reached up to grasp one of the spikes of hair he allowed to hang over his eyes. The little face split into a nearly toothless smile and he had to laugh along with the baby in his arms. It had been years since he laughed and it sounded a little rusty at first, but it got stronger as the other little hand grabbed more hair and the baby's laugh grew as well.

Georgina watched the laughing man holding her son. Her gambler's nerve had whispered for her to take the chance. She had seen that this man who could be so vicious a killer could not bring himself to harm the innocent and indeed had severely punished anyone guilty of harming a child. Just in case, her hand was on the stiletto strapped to the inside of her left arm. It was in a spring sheath, and she could have it out and buried in the distracted man's throat in an instant, pulling her son to safety before a drop of blood fell. Her nerve had been right to take the chance. She watched a snake turn into a man before her eyes. She would neither trust him nor want him near, but she would pray that some day he would find peace.

Saitou brought his face closer to the baby. He smelled clean, fresh and innocent, warm and unafraid in a stranger's arms. Both his parents had fantastic courage - this child would be formidable. He would need a strong guide. Looking at the child's fond mother, Saitou knew he would never lack for it. Suddenly a tiny hand was gripping his nose and the baby's delighted babbling made all of the adults in the room laugh.

"Your son is strong and brave Jina-san. What is he called?"

"His name is Fredrick Kenshin Boldt. For his father and his protector."

"Which is which?" asked Saitou in Chinese.

She disengaged her son from his victim's body and gave his giggling face a gentle kiss. "Does anyone here care?" she replied in Chinese as well. The boy began to fuss and wiggle a bit in his mother's arms. "Oh, I know what you want. Shiori please go get me a burping cloth. My little Master here is hungry." The maid bowed and left. Georgina walked back to her chair and turned it to present her left side to her visitor's view. She began unfastening the tunic.

"You're going to feed him here. Now. Yourself?" Saitou asked in a strangled sounding voice, smoothing his bangs back away from his face.

"He is hungry here and now. And feeding babies is what Nature gave me breasts for, even if they are also fun for other things. You won't see anything, besides you should be on your way now, if you have no more questions. There, don't fuss, Little Red, lunch is right here."

Saitou heard the small soft sounds of the nursing baby, even if he was hidden by the open tunic. He watched in fascination as Georgina's smile became even tenderer and the aura given off by she and the babe was far too bright for Saitou's demon, which fled once again. He wasn't lonely for it this time, because it wasn't silent in his soul right now. He had the memory of this child's laughter to keep him company, for a while at least.

"There was one more question, Lady. About this famous file?"

"File?" She looked up blankly. "What file? One gathers so much paper in the way of business that it's hard to keep up with it. I think the day before I leave Japan I will have a nice fire built and toss all of the useless stuff onto it. My little boy would enjoy watching a cheerful bonfire, don't you think, Ookami-chan?" But I will be watching and updating till then, my Wolf, just in case that fiend in your head gets nasty ideas again. Besides, you are turning into quite a little serial novel for me to read. Even after I leave this country, I'll have an eye kept on you. I hate it when stories are left unfinished.

"Then I will wish you good day, Jina-sama. May you and those you care for have long happy lives. I do not believe we will meet again."

"That would be best, Saitou-san. Please try to be kind to yourself for the sake of the woman who loves you, if not the man. Try to remain a man who cares, if only for two people in the world. And I think you look better without the bangs before your eyes, they hide your face too much."

"Two people? I think that your son would make it three. And I have no need to hide my face before such a tiny good friend. And a brave good enemy." He bowed and received her nod in return, then left the room.

Passing the maid, he gave her a smile. She blinked and smiled widely back at the handsome man who been visiting. Funny she hadn't thought of him as handsome before. At the doorway, Saitou paused to brush his bangs back down over his eyes and replaced his cap. He headed out to find that bakery wondering if Tokio would like cookies as well.

…That's it kids. Wow, that turned out to be more work than I thought, but it was fun. Mouse wants me to write something more "modern". I do have a sort of AU mystery story in the outlines I keep near the gerbil cage. The original characters don't appear, but the hero is a descendant of Kenshin and Georgina - well, one of the heroes. It might be a break from the Hiko/Saitou story which is turning into a novella spanning thirty-five years. Please let me know if you would care to read such a thing. My continuing gratitude to scythe195 and Marlingrl for reviewing my work and the giving of pats on a pitiful newbie's head. Take care, kids. Ta!