Chapter 7
A few days later at Shinsengumi headquarters Saitou was at the practice hall going through his katas to try and calm his fury, which wasn't really working too well, since all he had on his mind was his Tokio in pain. What he wanted at the moment was to beat the living shit out of someone, to see their blood pool out of their battered forms. Especially that crimson eyed assassin who had caused his Tokio harm. Glancing back he could see a few soldiers cowering in a corner not wanting to get the obviously pissed off Captain's attention, 'Cowards...' Saitou seethed he wanted a good fight to get rid of his current frustrations. Yet no one was apparently brave enough to face the challenge.
"Saitou?" he suddenly heard.
"WHAT?" He growled out as he turned to Okita.
"Kondou wants a briefing...he wants to see you now..." the young man smiled out, as he watched his friend walking back and forth across the floor. Making his way to the door Saitou punched a hole in the door and disappeared down the hall, Okita sighed and followed the obviously pissed Captain.
Takagi sat by his daughter's side holding her hand running his thumb against her knuckles while he was deep in thought, not once noticing that a small smile graced her lips.
"So serious..." she whispered so low that her voice was barely heard. Hearing a noise Takagi looked around. Tokio laughed softly.
"Tokio..." Takagi looked at her with wide eyes, and brought her hand up to his lips, gently running his hand in her hair, "Oh my dear Tokio, I feared I'd lose you..." he whispered kissing her forehead. "Are you in any pain?" he asked.
"Only if I move...or breathe..." Tokio smiled.
"I'll get the doctor, he'll give you something for the pain..." he whispered and kissed her cheek. Quickly making his way out of the room Takagi went in search of the doctor. "Takai-san..." Takagi called out getting the old man's attention. "Tokio's awake...and in a bit of pain..."
"Oh my..." Takai quickly stood and made his way to Tokio's room.
"Miss Kino, would there be any way to get a messenger over?" Takagi asked.
"Yes he comes by every few days, he should be here within the hour..."
"You asked for a messenger sir?" a young man wearing his traditional light blue haori uniform who was perhaps a little older than Tokio asked.
"Yes I would like you to deliver this message to Kondou right away, it is of great importance that you deliver it to him only...do you understand?" the messenger who worked for the Shinsengumi, delivering messages for the wounded soldiers nodded his head.
"Yes sir, right away..." the messenger took the sealed letter and hid it in his gi. Takagi then made his way to Tokio's room.
"You wanted to see me sir?" Saitou, after destroying a few more shojis had calmed down a bit. Okita sat by his side.
"Yes I want the Takagi's protected, I've sent four men to the clinic two of Okita's and two of yours, if that's alright?" Kondou asked and chuckled as if those two had a choice he thought with a smirk.
"That's fine...but why did you want to see me?" Saitou continued not too impressed, as he was disturbed from his little psychotic episode.
"For some reason or other Takagi sent you a letter...here." Saitou's eyes widened by a fraction as Kondou stretched out his arm handing him an unopened letter. Saitou took it and put it away in his gi. Locking eyes with the man Saitou waited patiently until he was dismissed, when Kondou gave a nod Saitou and Okita both bowed their heads and silently left the room.
"Well..." Okita smiled.
"What?" Saitou glanced over to him.
"If the letter's from Takagi-san it has to be news from Miss Tokio...read it is she all right?"
Knowing very well that he wouldn't get any peace until Okita was well informed of Tokio's condition Saitou sighed and opened the letter reading it carefully. "She's awake..." he announced and put the letter back within his gi.
"Well that's good to hear..." Knowing how much Saitou would like to go see her Okita smirked, "Well...I suppose we should go check on the men...you know make sure they're not slouching about...and are attending to their duties...I know mine will be on guard I'm not quite sure about yours though..." he teased.
"You're pushing it Okita..." Saitou scowled.
Okita smiled and scratched the back of his head, "I am...well then I apologize..."
"Shut-up and come on..." Saitou growled. Okita tried his best to hide his smile, as he adjusted his katana and followed Saitou outside.
"Well good-morning Takagi-san..." Okita chirped. Takagi looked the two over and smirked, Saitou still showed no emotion on his face. "You shouldn't worry too much you're quite safe with our men guarding you." Okita continued.
Takagi looked at Saitou curiously. "You know that Tokio's been asking for you..."
"Has she know..." Saitou drawled.
"Oh speaking of Tokio may we see her?" Okita asked with a cheerful smile.
Takagi nodded, "Third door to your left...Miss Kino is with her at the moment..."
"I won't be long..." Okita promised and walked down the hall, knocking softly on the shoji door. Hearing a faint 'enter', Okita slowly slid the door open.
Tokio chuckled, "Well nice to see you're doing all right Miss Tokio..."
"Hi Okita, how have you been?"
"Oh I'm quite well thank-you...good-morning Miss Kino..." Okita bowed his head a little and smiled at the old woman.
Kino looked at the young man oddly, "Morning..." she smiled.
"Only you...where's the other one?" Tokio smirked.
"Oh Saitou and your father are well...talking...I think." Okita quipped as he sat down beside her.
"Talking?" Tokio slowly sat up, "Or just glaring at each other?" Okita couldn't help but laugh. Then stopped as Tokio hissed rubbing at her ribs.
"It's almost time for your medicine...I'll go prepare it," Kino told her then eyed Okita. "Will you be alright alone with him in the room with you?"
"Oh yes...he's a good friend." Tokio replied with a smile.
They both remained quiet until Kino had left the room.
"You know Saitou-san was very worried about you..." Okita chuckled,
"Really?" she smiled then eyed the door.
"Yes he started to..." Okita started to explain but was cut off.
"Okita shut-up and get out..." Saitou growled as he entered the room.
"See..."
Tokio smiled, as did Okita who started laughing softly.
"OUT..." Saitou barked.
"Alright, alright...I'm going..." Okita laughed as he slowly stood and closed the shoji behind him.
Saitou kneeled down and actually smiled as he kissed her forehead... "After all I've been through I only get a kiss on the forehead..." she smiled.
Saitou smirked and grasped her chin gently tilting her head up, and brushed his lips against hers in a light kiss. "That's all you get until you get better..."
"Was Hajime Saitou, 3rd captain of the Shinsengumi worried about little old me?" she teased, and frowned when she saw the seriousness in his eyes. "Oh my you were worried...wow that's the first...is the sky falling...did hell freeze over?"
"Are you done?" he smirked.
"No not yet...Did pigs fly?" she quipped and thought for a moment, "Damn...can't think of anything else...Oh wait..." she smiled.
Saitou chuckled and kissed her lips again to keep her silent.
A few weeks later Tokio was doing very well she could finally walk up straight without leaning forward, every chance he could Saitou would visit. Hearing her mumbling within Miss Kino's garden, Saitou chuckled as he slowly made his way to her, dismissing her guards Saitou smirked as he listened to her rambling.
"Ack...ow stupid ribs...have to hurt, can't even sit down without help..." she grumbled. Tokio's eyes immediately went wide as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and gently being pulled back against a hard chest. "What on earth do you think you're doing..." she growled, "Get your hands off me..."
"Now really Kitty I thought you liked being held in my arms..." Saitou whispered as his lips kiss behind her ear.
Tokio swatted at his arm, "You scared me I thought you were that guard..." she turned her head a bit and glared. Saitou chuckled and nipped at her neck closing her eyes Tokio leaned into his embrace and enjoyed his caresses, Tokio smiled, as Saitou seemed to be purring. "You do know that we are outside...do you not?"
"What's your point woman..." he murmured, in a husky voice.
"There could be a pair of eyes watching..." she giggled as Saitou ran his hands up her arms.
Grunting Saitou stopped what he was doing, which made Tokio pout and looked around the yard. Sighing Saitou gently pushed her against a tree, now hidden from view Saitou gazed within her eyes. "Happy now?"
"Yes...you may continue now..." she smiled sweetly adding her little pout when Saitou didn't move.
Chuckling Saitou captured her lips and kissed her passionately, cupping her face with his hands Tokio moaned and gasped as her knees nearly gave out, Saitou smirked as they both took deep breaths, "Demanding aren't we?" he asked an amused looked on his face.
"I haven't been kissed like that in a little over three weeks...you better believe I'm demanding..." she laughed softly.
Saitou smirked then growled, "Tokio?" they suddenly heard.
"Be nice..." Tokio chuckled, as Saitou gently grasped her arm and led her away from their little hiding spot. "Yes father?" Tokio giggled, as she held on to Saitou's arm.
At that moment Saitou jolted awake as he felt a small weight on his lap, looking around the room his eyes stopped at the bundle sitting in his lap, cuddled up to his chest, then chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Tsutomu, glancing towards Tokio and his other two sons who were still sleeping. Saitou sighed as he closed his eyes and ran his hand up and down his son's back, it would be morning soon and he wanted to check in on their new prisonners, hopefully when no one was looking beat the living shit out of Tekki.
That morning as Saitou was cooking breakfast with Eiji he heard a knock at the door, chewing on a few carrot pieces he made his way to the front door and groaned when he opened the door only to be greeted by Chou, Matsu, Mrs.Shino as well as several police officers.
"Hiya boss...can we come in?" Chou smirked.
"No..." Saitou drawled leaning against the door frame.
Mrs.Shino spoke up, "I spotted this little group heading over here...I don't know why they'd insist in dragging you to work after what happened expecially after your son's birth...Tokio needs rest..." she scolded glaring at the officers behind her, then turned to Saitou, "If you absolutely need to leave I'll stay with Tokio and the boys..." she offered.
"Thank-you Mrs.Shino, as long as it's not too much trouble..." Saitou chuckled.
"Absolutely not..." she sniffed inhaling the smell of the food that was cooking within the house. "You're not trying to burn down the house are you?" Saitou smirked turning his head inhaling the odd scent and chuckled softly when he heard Eiji curse then stepped aside letting the old woman enter the house, then glared at the officers.
"What the hell is so important that couldn't wait until later in the day...and why the hell did you drag a squad over here as if I shouldn't already know...something bad happened right?" he asked extremely annoyed.
Matsu stood up straight, "Ummm, sir we have a slight problem...you see there was a break-in and um..."
"You finish that sentence with...those asshole assassins got away and you'll be picking up your teeth from the ground..." Saitou growled.
Chou snickered, "Told ya not to tell him squirt..."
"Sir the ones who broke them out used explosives...half the cell block has been destroyed." Matsu explained.
Saitou groaned as he closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck turning into the house he slammed the door shut and headed into his room to get dressed.
"Well I'd say that went well..." Chou chuckled.
"That went well?" Matsu looked at him obviously annoyed, "You do realise that the police precinct now has a huge hole in it and that a dozen fellow officers were badly injured...not to mention that the Jackals and their two leaders as well as their three assassins have just escaped...Fujita-san's family is yet again in danger..."
"Yeah and you just told Fujita about it and yet your still standing with your limbs still attached...in other words it went well..." Chou chuckled as he leaned against the engawa.
Meanwhile Saitou silently entered his room looking through the drawers and into the closet, glancing over at Tokio who was still sound asleep, Tsutomu was clutching at her yukata his eyes closed in slumber. Little Tsuyoshi though was wide awake looking around shaking his fists in the air, Saitou smirked as he quickly got dressed, kneeling down Saitou gently ran his hand on Tokio's cheek, then glanced over at his first born who had begun to suck his thumb, then picking up Tsuyoshi in his arms, Saitou gently rocked back and forth, watching as Tsuyoshi leaned into his embrace, yawned and closed his eyes, Saitou gently rested his lips on his son's forehead then laid him back down beside his wife, laying a soft kiss on Tsutomu's cheek, he then rested his forehead against Tokio's and kissed her lips lightly, hearing a soft moan he sighed. He really didn't want to leave them yet, but apparently he didn't have much of a choice.
As quietly as he entered the room, he left and made his way to the kitchen, grasping Eiji by the arm he led the boy into the living room, "Alright those fools who tried to kill Tokio broke out of their cells and got away, several officers will be watching this place, they are not to enter the house, if Mrs.Shino or Tokio need anything get one of the officers to go to the market, you stay here...understand?"
"Yeah..." Eiji answered sighing he really wasn't up for another day full of surprises.
Saitou watched Eiji as he slowly turned making his way back to the kitchen, looking rather depressed, when an arm suddenly wrapped around his chest pulling him back, "You alright?" Saitou asked, turning the boy around, keeping his hands on his shoulders. Seeing Eiji hesitate as he looked at his feet and tried to choose his words, Saitou drawled, "Don't think...Just say what's on your mind..."
"Really?" Eiji asked looking up, then smirked when Saitou nodded, "This whole mess sucks..."
"Hn no kidding...still no reason to get all depressed about it..." Saitou answered with a smirk.
"Yeah it does I've already lost my parents and older brother a few months ago and now that I've got a new family, I nearly lose you guys as well...why the hell are these idiots doing this anyway...what do they want?" Eiji refused to look up as tears brimmed his eyes, he definetly couldn't handle losing Tokio he had already grown too attached to her.
Saitou sighed, "Don't worry I'll find them, and stop them before they have a chance to do anything..." he whispered, feeling Eiji's shoulders shake a little Saitou sighed as he pulled Eiji to him in a hug patting his back in reassurance, looking around he spotted a smirking Tokio in the hall, releasing Eiji from his grasp Eiji turned, a small smile on his face then returned to the kitchen to help Mrs.Shino.
Saitou walked over to his lovely wife, grasping her arms and holding her in an embrace, gave her a kiss, then smirked as he leaned down to her ear, "One word about this wife, and I swear you will not see daylight for a month..."
Tokio chuckled as she kissed his cheek, "You Hajime have blackmailed me more than once, it's about time I get something to make you do whatever I please..." she smiled sweetly.
Saitou looked rather apaled, "Blackmail...me...never..."
"Aha bullshit..." she whispered in his ear.
"When have I blackmailed you?" Saitou asked a hint of a smile on his face.
Tokio leaned against his chest, "Do you remember the time my house burned down..."
Saitou quirked an eyebrow, "Oddly enough I had a dream about that last night..."
"Really?" she looked up a mischiveous smile on her face.
"Yes as I recall we were at the healers house, within the garden..."
"We were?" she asked with a grin, "What were you doing?" Saitou chuckled as he dipped his head and kissed his wife rather demandingly. The kiss lasted a few moments when a knock at the door was heard, Saitou sighed as he reluctantly broke the kiss, "Who the hell is that?" Tokio groaned.
"That would be Matsu and Chou as well as several officers..." Saitou drawled leading her into the living room and sitting her down.
"And why are they here?"
"Because the men we arrested yesterday apparently broke out..."
Tokio closed her eyes and groaned, "Hajime...I'm tired I don't want to go through this again..." She breathed, about ready to panic, Saitou shushed her and gently grasped her face caressing her cheeks.
"I know you are which is why I'm going to hunt them down...besides you have three sons to take care of, I highly doubt you need this kind of aggravation..." he teased. Tokio smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. Saitou kissed her forehead, "I'll see you in a little while Kitty..." he whispered, then slowly stood and left his house.
Tokio was about to stand when Mrs.Shino and Eiji entered the living room with breakfast, setting the table Mrs.Shino sat beside Tokio while Eiji went to get his two brothers. "You Mrs.Shino are a life saver..." Tokio gave the old woman a warm smile.
"Of course I am dear..." she drawled with a smirk, as she watched Eiji enter the room handing Mrs.Shino Tsuyoshi who looked at her oddly. Tokio sighed as she picked up her chopsticks and started eating she had a feeling this would be a very long day.
A/N sorry took so long...my brain won't work (I cry...) will take a little while for ch8 sorry in advance...