Sorry I haven't updated in so long. This is what I work on when I'm in a sober mood, and I have Rainbow for when I'm feeling silly and well... to be honest it's been a while since I've felt serious. So... Gomenosai.


Chapter 4: Truth or Lies


Saito pushed himself off of the floor. Tucking his blade into his sash he headed towards the door. No other words came from his mouth but those words of his rang clearly in her ears.

'A woman has no right to be on the battlefield. Especially if you only mean to hold us back as you did last night.'

How dare he.

"Are you saying I have no right to fight? I believe in the Shogunate. They have held the peace for so long. Japan has become stronger because of the Tokugawa's. I believe in them, and I fight for what I believe in. I fight for what my family believes in! If I failed last night it was not because of my gender it was a failure as a warrior, as a samurai. Was it even a failure? Tell me was it? "

"No. Not completely."

"You know the rules every bit as much as I, and even if the rules weren't as they are, I wouldn't leave. I won't run."

"If you falter again I will not save you."

He slipped out of the room quietly leaving Tokio alone to dress herself.

She bit her lip wondering if he was planning on telling their superiors the truth about her. After all she was the only one here recruited by Shirazawa-sama, and that by itself had made her into a target for the others.

She reached over and grabbed her clothing; she clenched her teeth as pain shot up her left arm. She wanted to scream in pain but she wouldn't. Her pride was too strong for such an obvious display of weakness.

She had to force herself to go slow so that she wouldn't reopen the wounds as she dressed herself. When she was struggling with picking up the futon a knock sounded at the door. Glancing up she saw Shirazawa-sama lounging in the doorway.

"Oh my dear, my dear! Rumor has it that you were wounded last night..."

"Serizawa-sama?"

"Just remember my dear secrets are secrets... Don't forget how 'dangerous' they can be if you let them become more than a secret."

"My lord?"

"You know it was really quite a shame." He flashed her a toothy smile. "That Saitoh-san watched over you all night, and wouldn't let another near you... perchance my dear did you charm him into submission? Hmmm?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. I was wounded. He was just taking care of a wounded soldier!"

"Does he know?"

Something about the way he was acting made her nervous. His eyes were slit and his face flushed, and the way his eyes wondered was both possessive and... She was scared. She didn't know why but she was. There was something about him that made her afraid, and right now she knew that not knowing was more dangerous than anything else. If he was hated and feared so much by the Roushi then, what was the reason? Something in her told her that it was a justified reason. The fear in her that she was barely keeping contained at the moment was proof of that.

Gratitude, fear of her master and for this 'Saitoh'-san made her lie.

"No my lord." Tokio made herself look him in the eye as she spoke. "The wounds were on my arm he never found out anything other than I have soft arms."

"Soft arms indeed? For such a pretty little thing even dressed as a boy you can't completely hide you're femininity! Soft-arms indeed!"

The harshness that had been in his eyes only moments before... the look that had made her very afraid was gone. She tried not to show any signs of anything as she watched him walk out of the door, and downstairs towards the dining room.

Tokio decided. Things were dangerous enough as they were she needed to know the truth about this man, and quickly. She only hoped she would find someone willing to tell her the story. The Geisha's were always willing to speak to her, and often they could hear the stories that the other soldiers or the local police would tell... perhaps they could help.

She hoped so. She couldn't afford for word to get back to Serizawa-sama that she had made inquiries into his past.


Chapter 5: The truth of his past becomes known and Saitoh & Tokio...