Tokio's father followed her to her room grumbling, She tried very hard to hide her smile, every single time she came home from a night out with Saitou her father would always complain about him.
He gave a frustrated sigh "Tokio...Kami only knows why your so taken with that man. He irritates the hell out of me with that look in his eyes."
"Father don't you know that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover." Tokio sighed. "Why must you always speak this way about Hajime he's an honorable man, he would never do me any harm."
"I know that...tell me Tokio, when he is with you does he actually smile, or does he just frown all day, his face shows no emotion I can never tell." He grunted.
At that Tokio let out a tearful laugh. "Actually I don't think I've ever seen him smile, I've seen him smirk, grin and chuckle a few times...That's about it, a lot of snarling, growling and complaining about how many morons he meets every time he patrols."
Mr.Takagi let out a low chuckle embracing his daughter in his arms, and whispered, "I know very well that he would never harm you, I'm just being a bit overprotective of my only daughter, it's my right as your father." Hugging her close to him and kissing her forehead 'she looks so much like her mother.' he thought then added, "Besides if he ever did, I'd castrate him myself."
Tokio smirked "I'd like to see you try."
Shinsengumi Headquarters
"So when are you meeting your Lady again Saitou-san?" Okita asked with his usual smile plastered on his face. As they patrolled the grounds for the night like they did every night.
Saitou scowled and growled out, "That would be none of your business Okita."
Okita laughed, "I still can't figure out how that lovely girl was able to find anything resembling a heart out of you." Saitou stopped walking Okita turned around and looked at Saitou who was now glaring at him. And snickered "What?"
"Oh shut-up" Saitou rushed past Okita.
Trying to sound serious Okita had a very hard time to suppress a smile "Oh my...you love her don't you?"
Saitou stopped walking and tilted his head to look at his longtime friend. "Okita if you repeat those words, they will never find your body...understand." He seethed.
"Yes of course Saitou-san." Okita sighed as he rushed to catch up to Saitou, and smiled as he thought, 'Looks like Mibu's wolf has been tamed, Kami help anyone who try to harm his Lady.'
That morning Saitou was patrolling the city with his men, after the meeting Kondou had informed all his Captains that the Ishin Shishi were seen in the vicinity and rumors were heard that they might start a fire within the next few days, 'Just what we need, something else to worry about.' Starting to get hungry Saitou grew tired of all the whining from his men and decided to shut them all up by stopping for lunch at the Aoiya. Finishing before the others Saitou went outside for a cigarette and told his second in command that if they weren't done in fifteen minutes they'd be training for an extra three hours in the dojo for a month.
Anyways, now back to the cigarette, Saitou took a long puff then let it out, feeling quite content he looked around the marketplace and sniffed the air. A strong sweet scent of honey hung in the air, and he smirked 'hn well well, what are you shopping for today Kitty?' Saitou followed the scent what the hell he had fifteen minutes looking at the shop that the scent went into Saitou smirked. "Of course, where else would she be." He grinned as he read the sigh in his head, 'Sweet Shop.' Slowly sneaking in he spotted his Tokio having a hard time deciding what sort of sweets she should buy.
"Hmmm, oh so many to choose from, I should just take them all." Tokio mumbled.
"Perhaps, although I wouldn't advise it, you taste sweet enough for me." Tokio jumped then shivered as she felt his breath on her skin, and quickly turned and swatted his arm.
"You scared me Hajime," she whispered and looked around no one had seen them, Saitou smirked. "What are you doing here aren't you supposed to be patrolling the city." She asked with her hands on her hips.
"They're all eating at the Aoiya, I have about ten minutes until I drag them back on the street."
"Ten minutes...really what exactly do you have in mind?" She took a step closer and whispered in his ear, which in turn made him shiver. Looking around he saw three women in the shop and they all looked very occupied, Saitou took her hand and led her to a corner where they were partially hidden, looking again at the women, who still hadn't noticed they were even in the shop. Saitou leaned down and kissed Tokio lightly on the lips, she tilted her head back and smiled, and as he kissed her again Tokio held his head in her hands and deepened the kiss. When suddenly Saitou heard someone clear his or her throat. Quickly lifting his head he heard a woman, "Oh my, those just melt in your mouth now don't they, if it's not too much trouble may I have a drink of water please?"
"Yes of course ma'am." The lady behind the counter went to gather some water on the other side of the shop when she noticed a young woman and a member of the Shinsengumi. "Oh may I help you miss, sir?" she asked the two, the man just looked at her stone faced, while the woman blushed a little.
"Oh no...Thank-you I haven't decided yet."
"Alright well if you need anything I'll be right over there." The woman pointed at the counter, Tokio nodded and watched as the lady went in the other room.
Tokio quickly turned and glared at Saitou, "You need a sound beating."
Saitou chuckled and kissed her again. "See you tonight Kitty?" She nodded and Saitou left the shop to greet his men.
Raising her hand to her lips Tokio smiled 'I'm looking forward to it.'
That night Saitou grumbled, there had been three fires that were started within the market square, the Shinsengumi quickly put them out, the damage to the buildings weren't too bad, anyway because of the fires all the Shinsengumi captains were to double up on patrols...yay. Obviously seeing Tokio that night was out of the question, during their third round around the housing district Saitou and his group met up with Okita and his men.
Okita smirked, 'Heh apparently Saitou-san hasn't had his Tokio fix today.' Then smiled. "Should I even ask?"
"No we haven't seen anything." Saitou growled.
When suddenly they heard people yelling and running, quickly making their way towards the screams, the two groups could smell smoke, quickly realizing where they were Saitou began to panic a little as they stopped at the site of a house in flames, there was no way in saving it but what scared Saitou even more was that it was Tokio's house.
The Ishin's who had started the fire were still there with their chief assassin the Battousai, Battousai smirked "Call this a warning." And lunged at the third captain, Saitou blocked and pushed him back, Outnumbered the Battousai leapt over the gate and fled, the squads quickly looked to their captains for an order.
But all they saw was Saitou getting in a Gatotsu stance and lunged at one of the doors to the house covered in flames, breaking it to pieces, Saitou quickly entered and ducked as a piece from the roof caved in staying low to the ground he looked around "TOKIO," he yelled no sound came.
Okita came up behind him. "I've sent the men to search outside the dojo and the sheds." Saitou nodded as they began to search the house.
"TAKAGI-SAN" Okita yelled, he looked to Saitou "What?"
"Shhh" they listened for a moment except for the sound of the house burning around them they heard coughing.
Making their way to the main room, Saitou saw that a bookshelf as well as pieces of the roof, had fallen onto someone and Takagi was quickly throwing off the debris, "Takagi..." Saitou took a few steps then realized the person beneath the rubble was Tokio.
Rushing over to her, Saitou checked for a pulse, it was weak but at least she had one. Saitou braced his shoulder against the bookshelf Okita taking the hint at what he was doing knelt beside him and did the same, counting to three they managed to lift the shelf and get under it pushing it off her and flipping it over. As they did so Okita grabbed Takagi and as Saitou gently picked up Tokio what was left of the roof creaked and started to cave in, running out of the room Saitou slammed in the wall of the hall. "Saitou this way." Okita shouted as he broke through the back door Takagi behind him.
Finally outside Saitou knelt down holding Tokio close watching as she coughed and had trouble breathing, quickly checking how badly her injuries were, Takagi fell down to his knees in front of them, his eyes grew wide at what Saitou was doing. "What the hell are you doing?" he hissed. Saitou had his right hand inside Tokio's yukata.
Saitou drew a breath through his teeth as Tokio gasped in pain. "I'm sorry..." he whispered. Looking at Takagi, "Where is the nearest healer?" Takagi just looked at him confused, obviously he was in shock. "WHERE DAMNIT?"
Okita stepped forward. "Saitou..."
Saitou took off his haori and wrapped it around Tokio "She has broken ribs... three I think, her breathing is not too good, and the burns she has look really bad..."
Hearing this, finally Takagi snapped out of his reverie, and stood up. "Down that road come hurry...I've already lost a wife I refuse to lose my daughter."
Watching how Saitou lifted his daughter with tender care, Takagi led him towards Takai the doctor, while Okita and the rest of the Shinsengumi gathered as well as neighbors from other homes tried desperately to put out the fire before it spread to other houses.
After a few minutes Takagi nearly broke down Takai's door. "Takagi-San what on earth are you doing..."
"My daughter she's badly injured, please you must care for her." Takagi stepped aside so his daughter could be seen by the old doctor.
"Yes of course, bring her in." He gestured to Saitou and quickly led them into the clinic within his home Takagi had told him what happened while on their way to one of the rooms. Making sure the two men stayed outside the room Takai called out to his wife then began looking over the girl's wounds and hissed at the injuries she had.
"Oh my..." Kino, Takai's wife whispered.
"Kino would you please fetch some cold water, cloth, the burn ointment, and some boiling water, as well as some sake."
"Yes of course." She rushed out the door.
As Takagi was pacing the hallway, Saitou sat cross-legged near the door of Tokio's room arms crossed head bowed, and eyes closed trying to listen to anything the doctor would say in the other room.
He couldn't take it anymore, the pacing and the mumbling, "Takagi-san will you sit the hell down, you're driving me insane..." Takagi looked at him astonished at how the man before him spoke. Saitou took a deep breath, "I apologize sir," then looked up. "What happened?"
Takagi sat down opposite the Shinsengumi captain, "It happened so quickly. I was looking over some paperwork, then all of a sudden someone snuck up behind me and knocked me unconscious, when I woke up the room was on fire and Tokio was trying to wake me. She helped me up then the beam in the next room crashed through the wall knocking over the bookcase, she pushed me out of the way." He ran his hands through his hair and held his head, breathing deeply. "I'll go out of my mind if I lose her." He whispered to himself.
Saitou heard his words and bowed his head, 'So will I.'
After about an hour of waiting Takai came out Kino stayed by the girl's side, both men looked up as he sat next to Takagi. "Well I've done all I can, she has a few broken ribs and one cracked, the burns are minor a few are severe but they'll heal hopefully there won't be to much scarring."
"What about her breathing?" Saitou questioned.
"She inhaled a lot of smoke, added to the pressure on her ribs she'll have difficulty breathing for a few days. Other than that I believe she'll be all right."
Breathing a sigh of relief. Takagi stood and looked to Saitou, and then at Takai, "May we see her?"
'We?' Saitou lifted his head.
"Yes of course but not for to long, she desperately needs her rest." Takai warned.
Takagi locked eyes with Saitou. "Go I'll give you a moment." Saitou nodded and entered the room.
Takai looked to Takagi "Why on earth would you let a member of the Shinsengumi have a moment with your daughter?"
"Because he saved us from the fire, and because he is courting my daughter."
"Oh...Kino come let us get a room ready for Mr.Takagi." His wife stood and exited the room. Takagi bowed his head and thanked the doctor and his wife, and stood by the door waiting patiently in the hall until Saitou was done.
Kneeling down beside Tokio, he caressed her cheek with his hand, and brushed back a few strands of hair from her face, leaning down he kissed her forehead, then rested his on hers, closing his eyes and inhaling her sweet honeyed scent mixed with the smell of smoke Saitou took a deep breath. "Get better soon Kitty." He whispered and gently kissed her lips. Giving himself a few more seconds wishing that her eyes would open, which they didn't Saitou reluctantly stood up, put on his haori that lay on the floor and looked at her again before leaving the room.
Takagi took hold of Saitou's arm, "I'll have a messenger inform you when she wakes."
"Thank-you." Saitou bowed his head and quietly left the clinic returning to Shinsengumi headquarters.