Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
The office was as silent as ever. The fan on the ceiling turned slowly, but it wasn't stirring up clouds of cigarette smoke like it normally did. Papers were still being inspected, but not with quite so many cynical comments as usual. Chou could feel a drop of sweat trickle down his forehead. The hairs on the back of his neck stood alert, waiting for some wrathful turn of fate. He didn't dare take his eyes off his boss. The man seemed entirely too calm, and Chou knew all too well how quickly the wolf could spring into action, and that it was prudent to be cautious of Saito with or without a bare sword in his hands. Narrow eyes glanced up for the third time that hour, but Chou wasn't fast enough in attempting to look like he was still reading the document in front of him. Saito eyed his subordinate for a moment.
"Is there a problem, Chou?"
That was the last straw. Chou leapt to his feet.
"What's the matter with you, boss? Ya ain't had more than two cigarettes all mornin', ya ain't complainin' or scowlin' so much, and now ya call me by my rightful name? Somethin' happen to put ya in such a good mood? Win some bets or somethin'?"
Saito appraise Chou for a moment, making the sword collector feel only a quarter of his actual height. At least that felt normal, and more comfortable. But then, the unthinkable happened. Chou couldn't even look; he averted his eyes. He thought he felt his blood turn solid at just the glimpse of what he saw.
Saito smiled.
Not a predatorial smile. Not the smile-like smirk that Saito tended to give. Not the collected, confident smile of knowing that some evil was about to be demolished. But a genuine, happy, almost gentle smile.
"Everything is perfectly normal, Chou, there's nothing to worry about."
"You win a fight today?"
"No."
"Win some money?"
"No."
"Taking some exotic vacation soon?"
"And leave everything in your hands? In your dreams."
By now, Saito had cast his glance back down to his paperwork. Chou continued to study his superior, trying to read the glow that seemed to surround his boss. There was something quite distinctive about the vibes that the officer was giving off, something that Chou felt he should have been able to recognize immediately ---
"Ah!" Chou exclaimed, standing rather suddenly. "You got laid!"
Saito froze, his amber eyes slowly moving up to look at his subordinate. Chou couldn't help but smirk. He knew he'd struck gold. He pulled his chair over to Saito's desk, plopping back down and facing him directly even as the man squirmed and tried to continue his work.
"The Great Saito Hajime, takin' in all the pleasures of the flesh! Ya gotta tell me all the dirty details."
Chou looked at Saito expectantly, but the man didn't reply. He only pulled out one of the imported cigarettes, lighting it and taking a draw.
"C'mon, boss!" Chou continued eagerly. "What kinda tail does the Wolf of Mibu chase? Ya pick her up off the street, or did you blow some of your pay on some high-class courtesan?"
Saito slammed his desk drawer shut, glaring.
"You should know full well that I do not support the ring of prostitution in any form."
"Right, yea. So, then… you got some kinda sweetheart, then?"
Chou could have sworn he saw a vein throbbing out of Saito's head. The man took another long pull from his cigarette, slowly letting it out. He closed his eyes and sighed.
"She's my wife, Chou, honestly. Now can we get back to work?" he said, exasperated.
The fact that Saito had smiled was shocking. The fact that he'd been with a woman was scandalous. The fact that he was actually a domesticated, married man nearly gave Chou a stroke. Saito frowned as he saw Chou's face going pale. He flicked some ash off of his cigarettes.
"I don't know why you're so shocked," he said, much more comfortable now that Chou was in shock and Saito had once again gained the upper hand. "It's not as if you've never seen her before. She's the one who let you into the house last weekend."
Chou paused for a moment, his mind working back to the day he'd dropped by to deliver a document for Saito. A young woman had greeted him and escorted him inside. After that, he hadn't seen her, but then he hadn't stayed for long, and what brief time he was there, he was going over business with Saito. He hadn't really given the woman much thought, but now that he made the effort to recall her, it seemed he did remember her.
"That little darlin' is yer wife? Well, shoot, I thought she was your sister or somethin'. I was gonna start hittin' on her."
He chuckled until he saw the death glare from Saito. Chou gulped, muttering something about how he was only kidding. Saito cleared his throat, composing himself and fading back into the less pleasant man that Chou was accustomed to.
"Speaking of my wife, she was asking about you," Saito said casually, though Chou recognized the warning undertone that kept him from making any snappy comments. "She wants you to join us for dinner sometime."