Disclaimer: I don't own the Battousai, Saitou, Okita or Tokio. I also don't own the Shinsengumi and Ishin Shishi groups. But I own the characters Raiden and Sajin Kousotsu. I also own the character named Kyuuiisen Ikaru, in this story he is Tokio's uncle who works for the Ishins and also Korosu Iikagen, whose name in literal translation means "kill, sloppy."

Chapter 3: Women

It was dark in the alleyway and not too comforting. Traveling down the dark alleyway was a beautiful maiden in a flowered, navy blue kimono. She shuttered out of fright.

'It's really scary out here at night, I better think of something happy.' The girl thought to herself.

The first thing that popped into her head was the image of that young handsome man. What was his name? That didn't really matter at the present time, it was just fun remembering his face, though many peoplethought it was scary and ugly.

The girl the pursed her lipsforming a grim line, 'That stupid man tried to scare me, it was like he wanted to see me squirm.' She had to admit though that when she finally found out who he really was she was afraid, but only for a moment and had enough self-control not to show her fear on her face. She almost laughed when she saw the disappointment in his eyes.

She shook her head, trying to get him out of her mind but to no avail.

'I wonder if I'll ever see him again.' The girl thought to herself with a love struck sigh. 'He was so cute.'

The girl then felt her cheeks burning. Her hand momentarily left her side and made its way up to her cheek. No way, there was no possible way. 'I'm blushing!' The girl thought to herself.

The girl's mind snapped to attention, all thoughts ofSaitou gone when she heard somebody behind her. She stopped walking and looked behind her, the footsteps stopped. The girl was terrified; she had just moved here and was trying to find her way home. Thoughts of her family and how they would miss her raced through her head because at that very moment she thought that somebody was out to kill her. She started out walking faster and faster until she broke into a run and made it out of the alleyway. She ran into the street and right into somebody else. The poor girl's heart was pounding so hard that she could hear it in her ears.

She was startled even more when she heard a high-pitched, whiny, obnoxious voice ask, "What's a beautiful girl like you doing around here at night?"

The girl tried to get away but the man was faster and before she knew it she felt her feet lift off the ground as her body was forcefully lifted up by the shoulders. She soon was staring face to face with the man, and boy was he ugly. He was smiling a crooked smile that made his face look lopsided. He had rather small pupils and his chin was really pointy. He reminded her of an ugly chimp, how his ears just stuck out of the sides of his head. Plus his breath stank.

'I hope nobody marries him, for they would have to be blind not to see how ugly he is.' Tokio found herself thinking.

"What's your name, girl?" The man asked none too gently, spitting spittle in her face.

"Ikoto, sir." She lied and feigned a frightened squeaky voice, when it truth she was more repulsed then scared.

The girl wanting to get away from this man as soon as possible because he gave her the chills did the only thing she could think of, she went limp. The man was surprised that she wouldn't fight back, and even more surprised at how much she weighed, he found it too hard to keep his grip on her shoulders and so decided just to drop her. She fell to the ground and unceremoniously dumped next to the man's feet. The man was about ready to kick her for her indigence when he heard a voice calling his name.

"Kanryuu, leave that woman alone!" Kondou's voice could be heard.

The girl shakily looked up as Kondou made his way towards Kanryuu. Kanryuu retreated back to camp knowing that if his face was seen around Kondou at that moment he would surely be punished. kondou saw Kanryuu, he smiled to himself. 'I still haven't lost my touch.'

When Kondou got to where the girl was he offered his hand to her to help her back up to her feet.

"Are you alright Miss?" he asked.

The girl was too shocked from what had just transpired to say anything. Shejust stared into Kondou's face.

Kondou chuckled, "Do I have something on my face?" And pantomiming mock horror, one of his hands shot up to his face patting at it as if to make sure it was still there.

"Did Kanryuu hurt you at all?" Kondou asked more seriously looking her over one more time. He then kept his hand out in offering. She noticed it and slowing took it. Kondou then pulled her up off the ground.

"No-o-o si-r." The girl stammered.

"So, then miss what's your name?" Kondou asked.

"Tokio, sir, Takagi Tokio." Tokio said while bowing deeply from the waist and in a quiet whisper said "Thank you."

Kondou unfortunately didn't catch her whispered words.

"Why is such a beautiful young lady like you doing out here on a night like this?" Kondou asked.

With her head hung low in shame, Tokio successfully hid the silent tears that started flowing down her face. Kondou didn't even know that she was crying because she controlled her voice so that it wouldn't sound wavy and full of emotion. "I just moved here. I, I don't know the streets very well and I got lost. Then just recently I was being chased by somebody."

Though Kondou couldn't see that she was frightened he could feel it. 'This girl is really good at hiding her emotion.' Kondou thought to himself.

Tokio then unexpectedly lunged for him and fastened her arms tightly around his chestin a tight embrace. Kondou was taken by surprise but didn't try to put away,he also winced a little. 'This girl sure is strong.' Kondou thought to himself.

Once he got over his surprise is smiled and said, "You can stay with us for tonight but we need to get you a uniform to fit you, a katana, and something to put your hair up in."

Tokio looked up into Kondou's eyes. "Why?" she asked.

"Well we have to fool the captains, especially Saitou." Kondou said.

Tokio went rigid and all of a sudden felt light headed. 'I wanted to meet him but not that soon.' She thought to herself.

"Tokio, what's the matter?" Kondou asked out of concern.

"Did you just say Saitou?" was all Tokio could muster to ask as her face started going pale.

"What is it girl, are you all right?" Kondou asked her, now extremely upset at Saitou for some reason.

"Has he done anything to hurt you Tokio?" Kondou asked a little too fiercely, he hoped that he wasn't scaring the poor girl further. he had to refrain from the urge to start shaking the girl to get the information out.

Tokio not scared by Kondou's sudden sharp tone slowly shook her head, when she looked up into his face, Kondou noticed that the color had returned to her face and that she was blushing. Her cheeks felt so hot at that moment.

'Oh,' Kondou thought to himself chuckling, 'she's in love with him.' 'Tha's probably the only emotion that she doesn't know how to handle because she just started having those feelings for Saitou I bet.'

All feelings of ill will that Kondou harbored at that moment against Saitou dissipated into thin air.

"Um sir, maybe it would be a better idea if I just went on my way." Tokio said.

"Nonsense, you would be in danger from rapers or the Ishins, we'll just keep Saitou, hmmm, occupied." Kondou said holding out this hm thoughtfully before going onto the word occupied.

"Ok, but I don't want to wear a Shinsengumi uniform," Tokio stated feeling more at ease and open around Kondou.

Kondou laughed inwardly, glad that little incident was behind them now. "Whatever you wish." He said.

"Is Okita here, I could stay with him for tonight." Tokio suggested.

Kondou surprised asked "How do you know Okita?"

"Oh, he's my cousin." Tokio said casually as she pulled herself away from Kondou.

Kondou's jaw dropped, 'I didn't know that Okita had any family, besides his parents.' He thought to himself.

It was Tokio's turn to chuckle.

Kondou smiled when he saw that she was happy again, he could also tell that she was excited to see Okita again. Kondou then said, "Step right this way Tokio-san." Kondou bowed and swung his hand out, an indication that she should go first.

"It would be my pleasure." Tokio bowed back and took the lead while Kondou soon followed behind her.

"Any new information on the Shinsengumi?"Korosu asked that Battousai.

"After a week of marching they finally made it to Kyoto." Battousai replied.

"Argh, those Shinsengumi are starting to annoy me."Korosu grumbled.

Battousai paid no heed to Korosu's sudden anger, he had gotten used to it. He instead casually backed up until he felt one of the poles that were holding upKorosu's tent, behind him. He casually leaned up against it awaiting his captain's orders.

"Battousai I want you to scout out their campground."Korosu said, "When you come back report to me and tell me their numbers."

Battousai closed his eyes and nodded.

"Oh, and Kenshin if you are spotted then kill the people who saw you."Korosu ordered.

"I won't be seen." Battousai stated and with that he walked out of Korosu's tent to go play spy.

The Battousai was on his way to the Shinsengumi's camp and Raiden was on his way Korosu's tent when they passed by each other. The two stared at each other, hardened golden eyes that had seen much war met cold, ice blue eyes that plotted revenge on one man. In a moment all time seem to stop. Then as suddenly as it happened they broke eye contact and both went their separate ways.

"You wanted to see me Korosu?" Raiden asked showing no respect for his superior.

Korosu, who was sitting behind his western-style desk decided to ignore Raiden's rudeness and simply nodded.

"We will be attacking at dawn when the Battousai gets back to report the Shinsengumi's numbers."

"Heh, you called me all the way here just to tell me that," Raiden snorted. "how pitiful."

"No, boy there is more,"Korosu hissed venomously his anger rising, "you will go after Saitou and only him, once you have finished your job-whether you mortally wound him or kill him I don't care-I want you to withdraw, got that?" Korosu asked forcefully, trying to stay calm and collective. This boy was trying his patience.

Raiden rolled his eyes, turned around, and without even looking over his shoulder he said, "Yes, I hear you loud and clear."

Korosu was livid with rage, Raiden sure knew how to get under people's skin, especially his superiors.

"That boy has no respect for higher authority." Korosu said to himself in a strained voice.

Raiden still just outside the tent smiled and muttered to himself, "It's much more fun sometimes when you don't follow orders." And with that Raiden went back to his tent and went to bed.

"Everyone I want you to meet Tokio." Kondou said introducing her to all the captains minus Kanryuu and Saitou. Kanryuu was still to afraid to show his face around Kondou. Tokio nervously waved and scanned the crowd for Saitou's familiar face.

Kondou whispered, "Don't worry he's not here right now, he's doing paperwork that I purposely gave him." And with that he winked at her. Kondou proceeded to explained to all the captains that Tokio would be staying the night in camp, of course in Okita's tent.

Many of the captains just stared at her, transfixed by her beauty. Some of them were even drooling. There was only one exception, and that was a boy standing in the front row smiling up at her.

"Okita, is that you?" Tokio asked, squinting her eyes to make sure that they weren't deceiving her.

"Yes Tokio it is me, your eyes aren't deceiving you." Okita said smiling even more as if perceiving her actions.

Tokio smiled, "I see that you are still up to your old tricks." And without another word she ran up to him and hugged him so tightly that his feet came off the ground.

"I see you haven't lost your strength either." Okita whispered, "You can put me down now this is quite embarrassing."

Tokio grinning sheepishly and carefully put Okita back down.

Okita smiling at her embarrassment quickly motioned for her to follow him, "I want you to meet someone."

Tokio knowing that he wanted her to meet Saitou, just stood there. Okita, almost out of the tent, turned around and saw that Tokio hadn't budged an inch. He made his way back to her and took her hand in his with the intention of leading her out of the tent. When he pulled he was met with resistance. After futilely trying to lead her out of the tent for about five minutes he sighed a defeated sigh and gave up. He let go of her hand and watched it limply fall down to her side, he noticed it was like she was in a trance-her cheeks bright red.

Okita now worried came a little closer and in a hushed whisper so as not to scare her asked, "Tokio, are you all right my dear cousin ?"

Tokio snapped out of her trance and just stood there in embarrassment, she muttered, "I don't want to go see him.

Then changing the subject Okita said, "I bet you're tired and hungry."

Tokio nodded vigorously, regaining her personality, and soon after her stomach chimed in with a gurgle. Both Okita and Tokio started laughing. The serious moment gone and forgotten in an instant.

Tokio gave herself a mental note, 'Need to stop freezing and going pale when Saitou's name is mentioned.'

Saitou sat pouring over the paperwork that came with being a captain. He had been ready to go to that captain's meeting when Hijikata came by and dumped a lot of paperwork for him to do, on his desk.

"When this revolution is over I will find a job that pays well and that doesn't give paperwork to do." Saitou muttered to himself.

Saitou stopped his work for a second to sneeze. He sneezed a total of three time, soon after he sniffed and wiped his nose with his hand.

"Somebody most be talking about me." He muttered to himself.

Saitou tired of looking at and filling out paperwork decided not to continue with the paperwork, instead heleaned back in his western-style chair. It was quite interesting really he was fighting for the Shogunate, who thought that Japan should stay to itself and not make any ties with the western world. And yetpeole in Japanstill used Western-style materials, like their desks and chairs, tables and even the houses, how they are built. The front of those western houses didn't have the traditional shojis instead they had what the westerners call "doors." In his opinion Saitou could do without the doors, chairs, and desks, but the only two things that he was passionate about and couldn't live without were cigarettes and recently, glasses.

Even though he didn't need glasses he loved to wear them when nobody was looking of course. In fact in his desk,the second drawer on the left, he had a pair stashed away. Saitou didn't know why but just the way they sat on his nose made him feel happy. the same happiness he had felt when he had smoked cigarettes for the first time.

Since he was boredSaitou reached towards the drawer on the left and carefully took out the case that held the glasses. heopenedthe case and looked at the glasses. Really they were actually frames since he didn't need to wear glasses.

'Maybe it's just the frames that I like and not the lenses that go with them.' Saitou thought to himself.

Saitou took the frames out of their case and put them on. He then took out a mirror and proceeded to admire how the frames made him look wiser, older and more evil. Poor Saitou though wasn't fast enough to put the frames away as Hijikata barged into his tent.

Saitou frantically snatchedthe frames off of his face, put them back in their case, threw the case up into his sleeve and crossed his arms to make sure the case didn't fall out-hoping against all hope that Hijikata hadn't noticed that he had been wearing glasses.

"So how are the . . . Hey, were those glasses you were wearing?" Hijikata asked catching Saitou's frantic movements out of the corner of his eye.

Saitou decided to play dumb, "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me Saitou, I saw you wearing glasses now where did you put them?" Hijikata reprimanded.

Saitou just stared blankly at him.

Hijikata noticed Saitou was making a special effort to keep something up his sleeve. Hijikata growled and made his way towards Saitou where he lunged for Saitou knocking him off his chair and pinning his bodyto the ground; his arms beind his back. The motion of knocking Saitou off his chair made the case fly out of Saitou's sleeve. It landed right in front of his face. Saitou squirmed trying to get at least one of his hands free to grab the case. Hijikata still having Saitou's arms pinned together by one of his hands used the other to grab the case. Soon after he got off of Saitou and scurried over onto the other side of the room. Saitou got up off the ground and dusted his uniform off.

Hijikata opened up the case and saw the nave blue frames; he immediately noticed that there were no lenses. He soon shut the case and threw them back to Saitou. Saito caught the case and quickly stashed it back into the drawer and then glared at Hijikata.

Hijikata chuckled, "Well at least your vision isn't impaired."

Saitou continued to glare daggers at Hijikata then he hissed, "Good thing you're on my side, because if you were an Ishin and did that you would be killed in an instant."

The air in the tent seemed to plummet a few degrees. Hijikata shuddered slightly all of a sudden feeling lucky.

Hijikata soon became serious again and said "Give me all the paperwork you have done."

Saitou silently proceeded togather up all the paperwork he had finished and gave it to Hijikata. As Hijikata was about to leave, Saitou hissed a warning, "You better not tell anybody about this not even Kondou, you got that?"

Hijikata gulped and nodded, "Your secret is safe with me." And with that Hijikata quickly left and made his way to Kondou's tent to give him the finished paperwork.

Saitou sighed and went back to working looking at the remaining paperwork.

We'll make sure to go the other way to my tent." Okita said, once again leading Tokio by the hand around camp.

"So where can I sleep for the night?" Tokio asked.

"In my office, I am fortunate to have a sleeping room and in another room my office. I also have a spare futon that you can use."

Tokio absently nodded and started to take in the sights. They were just on the outskirts of Kyoto still near the forest. In the one of the tree branches, she saw a dark silhouette, but her eyes must have been seeing things, because the next second it was gone.

Battousai silently cursed himself. Of all the people to see him it had to be a girl. He had two choices and onlyone would be the best choice, 'We either attack them at dawn and risk killing the girl, or we can stop and wait until nighttime when she would be on her way and back to Kyoto.'

"I think we should wait until she leaves." The Battousai said to himself as he made his way back to the Ishin's camp.

"What do you mean we should wait until nighttime?" Korosu yelled, spittle flying everywhere.

'Why did all his underlings try to boos him around? Even the Battousai was starting to do it.'

Some spittle few and landed on Battousai's face, he calmly wiped it away and said "Yes, because there is a girl in their camp."

"So, it was her fault to be caught up in this Revolution."Korosu hissed.

Battousai glared at Korosu, "I can't believe you, you are so heartless." The Battousai said in a controlled manner even though his anger was rising.

Korosuhad changed he used to be calm and caring but after two years of being in charge he was slowly changing into a heartless "monster."

'This isn't theKorosu I used to know, theKorosu I used to know would have listened and agreed with me.' Battsousai sadly shook his head, 'This war was changing so many people.'

"What does that make you Himura; sometimes we have to sacrifice a few citizens." The Battousai was so emersed in his thoughts that he didn't hear whatKorosu had said.

All of a sudden a commotion of yelling and struggling could be heard outside Korosu's tent and brought the Battousai out of his thoughts.

"I don't care if he's in a meeting," the voice yelled, "I have to talk to Korosu!"

The voice chilled Korosu, his face went pale, that could only be one man. Some say that when this man gets angry then he is even scarier then the whole entire Shinsengumi army. The man stumbled in, guards still trying to restrain him.

"If you want to keep your heads, I suggest you let go of me." The man hissed dangerously. And to Korosu's surprise they complied immediately.

"Korosu," the man almost whispered, "you are not going to fight the Shinsengumi in the morning."

"Why not Kyuuiisen-san?" Korosu asked trying to regain his composure.

"Because that girl you said you would sacrifice happens to be my niece." Kyuuiisen snapped.

Korosu gulped. So he had heard that little statement.

"How did you know that we were going to attack?" Korosu asked trying to remain calm. All this life at constant war was slowly making him edge and angry all the time.

"Battousai knew you would still continue with the battle so he came and talked to me." Kyuuiisen stated.

Korosu gave Battousai an evil glare and Battousai just shrugged.

Korosu finally put his hands up in defeat, "Fine you win, I can't go against the orders of a higher officer." After saying that he shot the Battousai another evil glare only to find out his efforts were wasted for after Korosu has said that, the Battousai had left.

Raiden grumbled again as he was summoned to go talk to Korosu once again for he had been taking a great nap. He had dreamt about his life before the war. His life with his family.

"I'm sorry to inform you but we won't be attacking the Shinsengumi at dawn."

Raiden rolled his eyes, "Like I care."

"Well, it is all because of a stupid little girl, who happens to be Kyuuisen's niece, stopped it." Korosu snorted in disgust, disappointed to not be able to destroy the Shinsengumi then and there.

To Korosu's surprise Raiden actually agreed with what Kyuuiisen did. "I agree that it would be foolish to harm a woman who has nothing to do with my revenge on Saitou, anyway." And with that Raiden walked out and back to his tent, hearing Korosu's voice yell after him "It's not just about your stupid revenge."

Korosu shook his head; people around here were acting crazy.

Even though he couldn't attack the Shinsengumi at dawn he was going to attack them that night. Korosu hen rubbed his hands in anticipation.

Though Raiden wanted badly to destroy Saitou's life, the one thing he would never do was destroy an innocent life just to get to Saitou. The main reason why, she didn't even know Saitou. She could have just been walking around in the streets so late at night and needed a place o stay, that's all.

The only thing he didn't think about was the possibility that might become more acquainted with Tokio in later years.

Raiden thought to himself, 'Saitou will never get a woman, everybody is too afraid of him, especially the women themselves.'

And at that thought he started laughing out loud.