Disclaimer: I don't own Saitou, Okita or Tokio. I don't own the Shinsengumi or Ishin Shishi. But I do own Raiden and Sajin Kousotsu.
Chapter 4: Powers That Bind
Only after everything had quieted down did Kanryuu come out and show his face. When he came out he heard that most of the Shinsengumi captains had gone to Kyoto to party. he then overheard some soldiers talking.
"……Did you here that there's a girl in camp?"
The second soldier said, "Yeah, I hear that she's staying with Okita."
The rest of their conversation was lost as they moved away from Kanryuu.
Kanryuu rubbed his hands together.
'So my little flower, you are in Okita's tent, and all alone.' Kanryuu thought to himself. 'This time there is nobody here to save you.'
Saitou was about the only captain still left in camp. All the other captains had gone into Kyoto to party, be around women, and get drunk off of sake. Saitou had not wanted to go so he stayed behind to make sure that the camp wasn't attacked.
In the dead of night Kanryuu slunk around camp until he made it to Okita's tent. Hiding in the shadows behind the tent Kanryuu watched all directions warily, for if he was caught he would surely be killed. It was a major crime breaking into a captain's quarters. Upon seeing that the coast was clear Kanryuu slipped inside Okita's tent.
Unbeknownst to Kanryuu, Sajin had just slipped his head out of the prisoner's tent because he had heard a noise. He watched Kanryuu slip into Okita's tent. Sajin realized just what Kanryuu wanted to do so he did the only thing he could think of; he yelled for one of the guards.
One of the guards came over to the tent entrance with his spear in hand. "What do you want?" The guard growled.
Undeterred by the guard's gruff manner Sajin blurted out, "Go get somebody to get your baka fifth captain out of you first captain's tent, he going in there to go after the girl!"
"And you would know this how?" The second guard asked as he joined the first.
"I saw him go in there." Sajin replied.
"We don't believe you." Both guards replied in unison.
When Sajin heard that he started yelling again in hopes of getting somebody else's attention. The guards, getting a headache from his constant yelling took a spear and knocked the butt end into Sajin's stomach.
"There that ought to keep you quiet for a little while." The first guard nodded in satisfaction.
Sajin doubled over and fell to the ground, the breath knocked out of him.
"And to keep you quiet…," The second guard didn't finish his sentence as he was too busy tying a handkerchief over Sajin's mouth to keep him quiet.
Sajin just glared at the guards.
"What's going on here?" a cold voice void of emotion asked from behind the two guards.
The guards nearly jumped out of their skin as the heard the voice. They slowly turned around and were face to face with Saitou.
"Um, um, this prisoner won't shut up." The first guard stuttered.
Saitou looked at Sajin, who was still on the ground. Saitou noticed that Sajin couldn't get back up because his hands were tied behind his back. Sajin glared back at Saitou.
The glare was full of an unknown hatred, though it wasn't like Saitou hadn't seen it before. Saitou could tell that this was a little different. When he looked into Sajin's ice blue eyes he felt like he could actually see blue flames of hatred spark, showing what Sajin's soul felt of him. He could feel the heat emanate from Sajin.
'So they really hate me that bad, I just wish I could remember what I did." Saitou thought to himself.
Saitou then turned away and was going to ask the guards what was going on.
Sajin's mind raced, though he hated Saitou, he didn't want an innocent girl to die. Sajin decided to tell Saitou what was going on. Sajin started to squirm, in hopes of getting Saitou's attention.
He was successful.
Saitou turned once more in Sajin's direction. "Is that so, well it looks like the prisoner has something to say." And with that Saitou pushed his way between the guards and took the handkerchief off of Sajin's face.
"I saw your stupid fifth captain go into Okita's tent, he's going to kill her." Sajin's words came out in a jumble.
Saitou just looked at Sajin with a confused look, he went out of tent and turned around. "I don't know what you mean by that but I'll check it out."
Sajin was actually relieved that Saitou was going to check it out. Kanryuu was going to have a lot of pain coming to him in the form of Saitou.
Once Saitou was out of Sajin's peripheral vision he headed back in the direction of his tent no fully believing what Sajin had told him.
"This is pathetic, why should I listen to him, for all I know it could be a trap to kill me." Saitou mumbled to himself.
All doubts of whether it was a trap or not flew out the window when a bloodcurdling scream reverberated through the camp. IT was so loud and so high pitched that it momentarily made Saitou shudder and put his hands to his ears. Saitou knew then that Sajin had been telling the truth. He quickly made his way to Okita's tent.
'Kanryuu is so dead when I get to him.' Saitou thought to himself.
Kanryuu had snuck in and saw Tokio sleeping in Okita's office room. He made his way towards Tokio. With his hands out stretched he drew closer and pulled the blanket off of Tokio. To him Tokio was beautiful lying there in her dark green yukata. Kanryuu actually started to drool; he wanted a piece of her. He drew closer and ran his hand through her silky, black hair. Tokio woke up and saw Kanryuu standing over her. Tokio screamed bloody murder and Kanryuu had to put a hand over her mouth. She then did the next best thing; she bit him.
Kanryuu pulled back his hand and sucked on it while his lashed out with his right foot and kicked her in the side out of anger.
Tokio wheezed as the air was knocked out of her. Tokio, after she had gotten her breath back scrambled along the ground trying to make her way toward the tent flaps and the freedom of the outside world. It was utterly impossible though as Kanryuu continued to get in her way.
"You are a very spirited girl, I love that in you, this will be more fun to break your spirit and submit to my will." Kanryuu chuckled, 'This is like playing cat and mouse, I'm the cat and she's the mouse.'
Tokio scrambled back towards the desk and grabbed it to helpher up onto her feet. And once she was on her feet, in a frenzy she started grabbing things off the desk and chucking them at Kanryuu, who was on the opposite side. Kanryuu put his hands up in defense as the barrage of material came towards him. Once it stopped he put his hands down only to be hit in the eye with a book.
Kanryuu growled ferociously and climbed over the desk and onto Tokio's side. He reached out and grabbed her wrist viciously pulling her towards him. Tokio tried to run the other way but Kanryuu twisted her wrist bringing her closer to him. Tokio fought off a scream that was developing in her lungs, she instead whimpered a little at the sudden pain, trying to remain strong and show Kanryuu what she was really made of.
When Tokio was close enough, he took his oversized, greasy, callused fingers and stroked her cheek. She resisted, pulling her face away from Kanryuu's hand. Kanryuu's lips turned up into a sneer.
"The more you struggle the more fun this gets." Kanryuu said clearly enjoying watching Tokio's pain.
Kanryuu then took his free hand and forced Tokio's head to his, their lips brushing against each other. Tokio broke the kiss and knocked her head into his, making Kanryuu dazed for a few minutes. She tried once again to get away but Kanryuu still had a strong hold on her wrist.
Tokio turned her body towards him, she was going to try to scratch him. Kanryuu fell for the baitand he pulled her close once more. In a drunken frenzy he tried to kiss Tokio once more. This time Tokio got her hand in between and clawed at Kanryuu's face right below his eye; drawing blood.
Kanryuu became enraged and brought one hand to his cheek while the other let go of her wrist and viciously grabbed her by the neck. He started lifting her off the ground.
Tokio had never been so terrified in her life. At first her only thought was he's trying to break my neck. She let the fear overtake her and she felt Kanryuu's grip on her neck get tighter and tighter. Kanryuu looked into her horror filled eyes and started to squeeze even harder than before, his lips quivering in rage. Tokio quickly brought her hands up to his hand in a futile attempt to break his hold; she was running out of air, she could actually feel her neck bones start to grate against each other. Her throat was burning for air, precious air. Tokio's vision began to swim; she began to see red dots. She could just make out Kanryuu's voice when he started to talk to her.
"I hope that this teaches you not to touch my beautiful face."
And with that he tossed his like a rag doll. Tokio hit the ground and slid a few feet then stopped. She massaged her bruised neck, gasping for precious air. She then froze when Kanryuu came to stand right over her body.
"I'm sorry to have to do this, but you are going to die now." Kanryuu said, drawing his sword. He slowly advanced with his sword raised to finish her off.
In a blur of metallic sheen another sword entered the fray and easily batted Kanryuu's sword away from Tokio.
Tokio cringed as Kanryuu's sword clanged harmlessly to the ground not to far from her.
Kanryuu was speechless. When he finally found his voice Saitou was getting ready to perform his Gatotsu.
"Please don't kill me." Kanryuu pleaded getting on his knees, his eyes wide with fear.
"You are weak, you take joy in torturing those that are weaker than you but when somebody stronger than you starts to fight you, you run in fear. You are not worthy of an honorable death." Saitou spat.
And with that he performed his Gatotsu with deadly accuracy, and at the last minute turned his blade over, using the flat of his blade to knock Kanryuu out. Kanryuu's knees buckled and he landed on his face unconscious.
He then checked Kanryuu to see if he was still alive. After he got satisfying results he re-sheathed his sword, turned around and looked Tokio over. She was battered and bruised but she looked like she would be ok. The worst she would have is a bruised neck, which in and among itself looked painful. A bruise had already started to form, a nasty, black and blue bruise. Saitou couldn't help but put his own hand to his neck, fully well understanding her pain.
He went towards her. She shivered slightly as he put his hand behind her back and a hand underneath her knees.
Tokio's heart fluttered, she had just been saved by the man she loved, though at that moment she didn't know what Saitou's thoughts of her were. He probably doesn't even remember me.'
Once Saitou had Tokio in his arms he walked out of the tent, making sure she was comfortable.
Tokio couldn't remain awake any longer, her eyes fluttered shut and her head came to rest on Saitou's chest. She felt safe in his arms. Saitou was surprised for but a moment, then he felt his cheeks go hot for a minute.
He smiled at Tokio, a genuine happy smile. And Raiden from the shadows inside the tent had seen everything. He could have easily saved her but when he saw Saitou come in he decided against it. He was actually curious to see what Saitou would do. He watched almost the whole battle between Tokio and Kanryuu and then Saitou's battle. When Saitou had knocked Kanryuu out he was surprised, he actually thought that Saitou was going to kill Kanryuu. He then noticed at how carefully Saitou carried out.
Raiden made up his mind. 'Saitou once again you are saved by the girl. Consider yourself lucky for now because I won't attack you, now is not the best time.'
And with that Raiden left Okita's tent and made his way for the prisoner's tent.
As Saitou passed the prisoner's tent Sajin saw the slight flicker of the genuine smile. It made Sajin's heart feel sort of warm.
'Could we have been wrong, maybe he's really not that heartless as we thought he was.' Sajin shook his head his heart hardening once more, 'If he was caring he wouldn't have killed my father and baby sister in cold blood.'
Saitou stopped and talked to one of the guards telling them to take Kanryuu into their custody and wait to see what Kondou wanted to do with him.
Guards were dispatched to take the unconscious Kanryuu, who had been bound, to the prisoner's tent. There was a guard with Kanryuu at all times.
Saitou took Tokio to the infirmary and handed her off to a doctor. He then went off to have a runner run a message to Kondou.
"Kondou, there is somebody here to see you." Hijikata said.
Kondou was confused. Who would have a message for him at this time of night?
Kondou met the runner and took the message from him. It was written in Saitou's handwriting. Kondou ripped it open.
Kondou,
Kanryuu attacked the girl, she is currently sleeping in the infirmary.
Kanryuu is currently in the prisoner's tent. Come as soon as possible so
that you can decide what to do with Kanryuu.
Saitou.
Kondou crushed the paper in his hand. He soon returned to the Shinsengumi captains.
"Pack it up, we're leaving this party."
As the Shinsengumi moved back to camp Okita pushed his way up to the front where Kondou was.
"Why did we all of a sudden have to leave, we were only there for about two hours." Okita stated.
Kondou handed the crumpled up note to Okita, he took it and read it.
Okita went pale and almost fell. Kondou put a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
"I'm going to kill Kanryuu; I'll rip him to pieces!" Okita muttered under his breath, his hands forming knuckles, tightening them so much that they turned white and started to shake.
"Okita calm down, Kondou will make sure that Kanryuu is properly dealt with." Hijikata said having already been told by Kondou what had happened back at camp.
Kondou gritted his teeth, he had never like the man, but he never thought Kanryuu would stoop so low to do such a thing.
It was morning by the time the Shinsengumi captains made it back to camp.
After Saitou had sent the message to Kondou he spent the rest of the night in Tokio's room, acting as body guard. She had been though so much tonight. Tokio moaned and started to stir. The doctor, who was also in the room all night greeted her.
"Good morning." The doctor said.
"What happened?" Tokio asked her voice raspy her voice almost inaudible. She put a hand to her head; she had such a killer headache and her throat was throbbing.
Saitou replied. "You had quite a night."
Tokio just started at him. The doctor sensing Tokio's uneasiness with Saitou around pushed him out. "She needs her rest."
Once Saitou had left the doctor said, "If you need anything just tell me."
"Well, my throat is hurting." Tokio said.
The doctor had to strain just to hear her. "Your throat is hurting you, well let me get some tea to soothe that." Doctor said almost musically. the doctor left to make some tea for Tokio.
Tokio felt drowsy and her throat hurt her, she decided to go back to sleep because thenshewouldn't have to constantly feelher throbbing throat.
When the came back in with the tea, he noticed that Tokio had goneback to sleep.
"Well, I'll just make her some morethe tea later, no need to have good tea go to waste." The doctor said to himself and with that he started drinking the tea he had made for Tokio.
Later that day Kondou came into Tokio's room when Tokio had woken up again. He looked her over. The first thing he noticed were the bandages around her neck.
"I'm so sorry about what happened." Kondou said then bowed deeply from the waist.
The doctor came in and laid a trey with tea on it in from of Tokio. He poured her a cup. In the middle between sips she replied her voice still raspy but at least more audible.
"Don't worry about it."
She then continued to drink the tea. Her throat was feeling much better, the tea seemed to be helping a lot.
Kondou turned to the doctor, "So what is the extent of her injuries?"
"Well, as you can tell her neck is bruised and she has a few minor cuts, scrapes and bruises on her arms and legs," the doctor replied, "she'll be fine in a day or so though it will be painful for her to swallow for a while."
Satisfied by the news he heard Kondou left shaking his head in amazement. She seems so calm after what had transpired last night. From what Saitou had told him when he had gotten there Okita's tent was a mess. Books had been scattered everywhere, the tent flaps that separated Okita's office from main sleeping room had been tattered and torn. There was dirt turned up everywhere from the tussle Tokio had with Kanryuu. It must have been very traumatic.
As soon as Kondou came out of the infirmary tent, a guard came running up to him.
"Sir, Kanryuu and the other prisoner are gone."
"I don't know why we have to save you also but you are coming with us." Sajin said.
But as soon as Kanryuu was free he didn't listen, he made for the trees and was never seen or heard from again; well until he thought people would have forgotten about Kanryuu the fifth captain of the Shinsengumi.
Sajin watched Kanryuu high-tail it out of there and turned to his brother.
"Should I go after him?" Sajin asked.
"No, he is of no use to us." Raiden answered.
Sajin then changed the subject, "What took you so long?"
"Sorry, I had to sneak into camp." Raiden said.
"So when are we going to strike?" Sajin asked.
"We are just going to sit tight and watch him for a little while more." Raiden said.
Sajin calked his head giving Raiden a quizzical look.
"What brought this on?" Sajin asked.
"I saw what he did for that girl, I saw how he was gentle with her." Raiden stated as he made his way towards the trees.
"Sometimes brother you are so confusing." Sajin said as he followed.
Raiden looked over his shoulder and said "Better to be confusing because then nobody will be able to predict you moves."
Sajin just shook his head. 'Your hopeless, sometimes your heart gets in the way my dear brother.'
Shinsengumi camp
Okita fidgeted nervously. "So I see that you've met my cousin."
Saitou looked at him confused.
"Yes, that girl you saved is Takagi Tokio, my cousin." Okita said explaining to the speechless Saitou.
"I thought you didn't have any family but your parents."
Okita slowly shook his head." My mother and her father are brother and sister."
Saitou's slanted eyes flashed in surprise then went back to normal.
Kondou soon joined Saitou and Okita. "Saitou when Tokio is ready will you accompany her into Kyoto?"
Saitou didn't say anything, he just nodded.
Kondou then said, "I'm glad you stayed Saitou, for if you wouldn't have been there Tokio would have died."
Okita bowed to Saitou, "I'm truly grateful to you Saitou for saving my cousin."
Saitou nodded again and walked away from Kondou and Okita and got ready for the trip to Kyoto.