A/N sorry took so long

Chapter 8

Saitou sighed as he stepped out of his house, and lit himself a cigarette, savoring the taste, then opened his eyes and glared at the group littering his front yard, Saitou groaned inwardly as he turned to Matsu, "You have anything else to report that's of any use to me?"

Matsu winced as he thought, "Eh they were heading east..." he answered.

Saitou walked passed the group, then turned when he felt no movement behind him, "Are you two moron's coming?" he drawled.

"Yeah sure boss..." Chou chuckled as he pushed Matsu forward until they were in the middle of the street.

"Stop pushing me you prick..." Matsu growled Saitou looked to the several men that were to protect his family and gave them their orders, warning them that no one was to enter the house. Sighing he walked ahead of the arguing duo. Hoping that a carriage would run them over or something.

"So what are we doin' first?" Chou asked as he stretched his arms and slapped Matsu upside the head, Matsu growled and punched the man in the jaw. Chou didn't see this happening and so tried to dodge but failed miserably.

Saitou who was starting to get impatient at hearing the fight behind him, stopped and grabbing Chou by the arm throwing him to the ground, then jerked Matsu forward tripping him forcing the officer to fall down, "I swear one more word out of you two and I'll slit your throats..." he growled as he saw the bruise forming on Chou's face then quirked an eyebrow and looked to Matsu, "I thought you didn't condone violence?"

"I don't but with him working around me day and night I've decided to make an exception..."

Chou chuckled, "See boss, we're just startin ta get along..."

"Get along...have you lost your mind?" he yelled, then grumbled, "If I wasn't a police officer I'd have probably murdered you by now..." Matsu then smirked as a thought hit his head, "Okay then since we're such chums...why don't you tell me who you used to work for..." Matsu grinned as he sat up.

"Oh your not gonna start with that again are ya?" Chou leaned against his elbows.

"Let me guess you used to work for a thug right, and made a deal or something..." he asked curiously, brushing the dirt off his uniform.

Chou looked at him a bit shocked, "Now what the hell brought that up...Hey boss ya think..." Chou trailed off as he suddenly looked around and noticed that Saitou was long gone and walking up the road heading for the precinct. Chou then turned back to Matsu, crossing his arms as he still sat on the ground. "Now see what ya went and done squirt...now he's pissed...damn and I was startin ta have a good day too..." Chou mumbled, then looked up, Matsu had already started walking after his commanding officer, grumbling Chou stood and brushed off the dirt on him, "Never had this much trouble getting along with Shishio's troops..." he sighed then sprinted towards the precinct.

"Fujita-san..." Matsu huffed as he caught up to him.

"I have better things to do than watch you two morons fight all day..." he drawled.

"I'm sorry sir it won't happen again..." Matsu promised, as he glared behind them Chou was now walking behind Saitou.

"So boss, where to first?" Chou asked.

"Precinct..." Saitou answered, finishing his cigarette and resting his hand on the hilt of his katana.

When they arrived Saitou looked over the damage that the explosion had caused, Chou leaned against the wall, while Matsu spoke to a few fellow officers. Seeing that Matsu was distracted, Chou crouched down beside Saitou, "Say boss, um are ya sure it's safe ta leave ya wife so soon, especially now with those bastards on the loose and all..."

Saitou snorted, "Heh...If I'm not worried why should you be...besides Tokio can take care of herself."

"Really does taking care of herself include getting stabbed and kidnapped?" Chou stood up quirking an eyebrow.

Saitou sighed as he stood as well, "She was nine months pregnant you idiot..."

"Right kinda hard ta move with the extra weight hun?" Chou smirked as he checked his surroundings. "So how good is she really?"

Saitou smirked as he quirked an eyebrow contemplating the question in his mind,
then turned to Chou, "What makes you think I'd tell you that?"

"Awww come on Sai..." Chou quickly clamped his mouth shut when Saitou glared at the man. "Eh...Boss..."

"You better not make that mistake again..." Saitou growled as he was now nose to nose with the sword collector. Turning he left the rubble that used to be the cellblock of the precinct, and smirked at he remembered how he had taught Tokio to take care of herself.

Flashback

Saitou walked down the road, amazingly he was in a good mood, after the fire incident which was well over six months ago Tokio was doing remarquably well. And Takagi had laid off a bit at always being pissed with the Shinsengumi Captain and had agreed to let Saitou marry his daughter, Tokio was a bit ecstatic as she prepared for the wedding it had amazed her how her father and her soon to be husband actually got along, smirking as he passed next to the sweet shop. Thinking of his soon to be wife didn't help him get through the day without getting annoyed at the looks Okita would give him. He would always stroll up to the wolf with that smile on his face that irritated him so.

"Thinking of Miss Tokio again..." or that little, "Well your rounds are almost over, are you going for a visit...I highly doubt Kondou would approve you sneaking in at night after your little outing with the soon to be Mrs.Saitou..." that little prick would always quip.

Saitou smirked as he spotted the house Tokio and her father now lived in. Saitou peeked within the gate and chuckled softly Tokio was taking care of the garden, she was also covered in dirt, Saitou slowly approached his love, "How on earth could you possibly get that dirty just by pulling a few weeds?" he smirked. Tokio rolled her eyes as she slowly stood, watching as Saitou stepped forward, lifting his hand he wiped off a smudge of dirt on her cheek, "Think you need a bath kitty..." he chuckled.

"Don't tell me Saitou's afraid of a little dirt..." she giggled as she took a step forward and lifted herself on her toes, so she could be nose to nose with her Wolf.

"You're filthy..." he continued to tease, "And don't even think about it..."

"Oh does that mean my Wolf can read minds now...what exactly am I not to think about?" she smiled wickedly.

"You intend to wrap those arms of yours covered in muck around me...that is what your thinking..."

"Actually, I wanted to give you a small kiss..." she answered turning away from him.

Saitou sighed as he heard the seriousness in her voice, stepping forward he wrapped an arm around her neck tilting her chin up, leaning down he kissed her deeply, when they broke the kiss Saitou frowned at the wicked smile she gave,
"Then I was going to hug you..." she snickered as she turned in his embrace, Saitou quickly grasped her wrists and twisted her body so that her back was to his chest, hugging her tightly to him Saitou chuckled as she squirmed trying to get free from his hold.

"This is not what I'd call appropriate behavior..." they heard, Saitou immediately released his bride to be. Tokio laughed softly as she brushed off the dirt from her kimono and straightened it up a little.

"Welcome home father..." Tokio greeted giving him a warm smile, "...hehe your early..."

"Well it's a good thing I was..." Takagi looked them both over, giving a small frown to Saitou, and then eyed his daughter.

"I was teasing him..." she admitted proudly as she glanced over at Hajime. Takagi only huffed and entered the house, Saitou gave Tokio one of his famous glares as she rushed into the house to change, shaking his head Saitou leaned against one of the trees that adorned the property waiting patiently until Tokio joined him.

Takagi watched a few moments later as Tokio after cleaning herself up walked up to Saitou, her hands behind her back and a smile on her face, Saitou held up an arm, Tokio gladly wrapped hers around his and laughed as Saitou led her out into the street. After he saw that they were out of view he chuckled softly, never in a thousand years would he see Saitou Hajime wrapped around his Tokio's little finger.

A few weeks later Saitou and Tokio were attending their nuptials Saitou wore a black hakama and haori with a white gi while Tokio wore a dark red kimono embroidered with white blossoms on the sleeves as well as the bottom of the kimono, during the reception Saitou grew extremely bored the moment he noticed that they weren't being watched Saitou snatched Tokio's hand and snuck away. Leading her into the gardens behind the temple, Saitou smirked as he pulled his new wife into his arms and kissed her rather passionately. "You have no idea how long I've waited for you to do that..." Tokio smirked when the kiss broke. Saitou chuckled as he nibbled at her neck, and ran his hands within the sleeves of her kimono.

Saitou groaned when they heard Okita call out for them, then chuckled when he looked to Tokio who was now pouting, leaning down he kissed her lips softly, "Would it be alright if I ring his neck?" He asked innocently.

"Well you could, but then who would watch over you during battle?" Tokio fluttered her eyelashes and grinned wickedly.

"You dare to think that I need Okita to watch over me, let me tell you something Mrs.Saitou, I do not need..." Saitou was quickly cut off as his lovely new wife pulled him down to a rather demanding kiss, caressing the back of his neck with her nimble fingers, Tokio gave a quiet moan as she broke the kiss and smiled sweetly.

"You talk too much..." she whispered.

"Aheh...there you two are..." Okita chuckled as he looked at how interesting the cherry blossoms were. "Kondou and Mr.Takagi are rather frantic and a bit unimpressed at how you two left the celebration rather quickly."

Sighing Saitou led his new wife back to the reception, after sitting back down at the head of the table, Kondou gave his little speech. Saitou again looked extremely bored Okita was sitting beside him a smile still plastered on his face, Tokio sat beside her husband a small smile on her face her hands resting on her lap. After the festivities were over and everyone had congratulated the couple then returned to their homes, Saitou took a deep breath and sighed as he walked out of the building Tokio beside him her left arm around his right, Tokio smirked, "Tired, husband?"

Saitou chuckled as he stopped walking and gently pushed her against a tree, leaning down to mold his lips on hers, he paused as he heard a very recognizable sound of metal sliding against metal. Frowning he stood up straight and turned to face a pair of familiar crimson eyes staring at him. "Am I interrupting?" the man asked with a grin.

Saitou growled as he stood in front of Tokio to hide her from view and rested his hand on the hilt of his katana. "Tokio get out of here..." Saitou whispered, as he stepped forward.

The crimson eyed man laughed as he unsheathed his sword and crouched down low in a fighting stance, then lunged forward, Saitou quickly unsheathed his sword and blocked then slammed the hilt in the man's neck forcing him to take two steps back.

While they fought Tokio tried not to panic and looked around trying to decide which way to go as she wasn't familiar with this area very well she looked back to the two men who were still fighting that crimson eyed man had just slammed his elbow on Saitou's jaw. Backing off Saitou spit out the blood that gathered in his mouth and took his Gatotsu stance. Knowing that Saitou could take care of himself Tokio tried to get her feet moving but she found herself frozen in place, she suddenly told herself that if she stayed, Saitou would only worry about her and get hurt, forcing herself to look away Tokio lifted the bottom of her kimono and did as she was told and started to run. Hearing the clash of swords she closed her eyes and forced herself to move faster.

As the two fighters were now nose to nose their blades scraping each other Shishio glanced behind the Shinsengumi Captain and growled, 'So she's his weakness...' then smirked wickedly. "Go after the woman..." he yelled out. Saitou saw four men who were hiding within the trees beside Shishio jump down and started to run towards Tokio, hearing swords clash behind him Saitou pushed Shishio back and tried to slash the Ishin assassin on the chest glancing behind him he spotted Okita who had managed to stop two of the Ishins the other two were still in pursuit of Tokio.

"Where's Tokio?" Okita growled as he killed one of the men and circled the other in order to be behind Saitou to hear his answer.

"Told her to run...two are after her at the moment..." Saitou hissed as he had had enough and lunged forward, Shishio laughed as he dodged and jumped back, feeling something wet trickle down his left arm he looked down and growled as Saitou had nicked the flesh, he quickly looked up and tilted his head to the left again missing Saitou's blade, Saitou smirked as he moved his sword arm and punched him with his right moving his sword with his body he quickly turned and twisted his wrist plunging the point of his sword in Shishio's left shoulder, growling Shishio fell back to the ground and rolled.

"This isn't over..." he hissed as he leapt in the trees and disappeared. Okita had killed his other opponent and followed Saitou as he rushed down the road hoping he wasn't too late to save his wife.

Hearing footsteps behind her Tokio quickened her pace and ran down the nearest street, rushing into the nearest building which was a geisha house, she ran through the crowd pushing people out of her way, taking a wrong turn she found herself in a room with no exit, hearing another commotion within the geisha house, which meant the men had followed her. Quickly looking around she grabbed a wooden serving table and threw it at one of the men who had entered the room, knocking him on his butt, rushing out of the room the other man grabbed her by the arm Tokio quickly turned and gashed his left cheek with her nails then kicked him in the shin, now free she ran to the back of the house and found herself in another alley, "Where the hell am I?" she cried, as she ran down the alley screeching to a halt as one the men had had gone through the entrance to cut her off the other was now behind her and wrapped his arms around her small frame, Tokio screamed and struggled, while the other man came forward she kicked hi. The one who held her dropped her to the ground and pinned her arms above her head, "You're going to pay for this bitch..." he growled as the blood from the scratches she had given him trickled down his cheek, he then looked up to the other man, "Hold her..." he ordered.

As the other man held her down scarface took out a knife and started to cut open her kimono. "GET OFF ME..." Tokio growled as she began to struggle even more scarface ran his hands on her legs and smirked wickedly, while his friend held her to his chest and tried to untie her obi.

"Where the hell did she go?" Saitou growled as he stopped running to let his eyes scan the area.

"Maybe we can ask around, someone might have seen her..." Okita suggested as he sheathed his sword and quickly looked around.

"GET OFF ME..." they suddenly heard, the two captains bolted when they heard a woman scream, Saitou's eyes turned cold and bright amber when he saw what those men were doing to his wife, walking into the alley Saitou took out a blade he always kept hidden in his gi just in case...and flipping it in the air he threw it at scarface who had his hands up Tokio's kimono, the blade imbedded itself in the man's head killing him instantly as he slumped forward Tokio kicked him off her the one holding her quickly pushed her to the ground scrambled to his feet and started to run, Saitou unsheathed his Wakizashi and threw it, it hit the man in the back piercing through his heart the man fell to the ground dead.

Saitou was furious, how dare they...hearing Okita speak to Tokio Saitou closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths then turned to Tokio who was shaking uncontrollably and trying to close her kimono, Saitou kneeled down to her, and cupped chin tilting it up, "Are you alright?" he asked Tokio nodded and quickly looked away, Saitou waved off Okita who went back to the street to make sure Shishio hadn't sent anyone else, Saitou picked up Tokio and sat her on a crate silently looking her over, he pulled up the top of her kimono and retied the obi then took off his haori in order to cover her completely since scarface had cut up her kimono it was shredded in at least a dozen places. Fortunately Tokio hadn't been cut. As he wrapped the haori around her shoulders Tokio leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes, "Can we go home now?" she whispered.

Saitou wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly then kissed her forehead and led her back to their home, Saitou wasn't sure they should be intimate that night because of what happened, but he was quite surprised when he had returned to their room after locking the door Tokio had nearly trampled him to the ground wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him rather demandingly, "Are you sure you want to do this, after what just happened?" he asked as he held her in his arms.

"I want you to make me forget..." she whispered as she caressed the well-toned skin within his gi then ran her nails across his chest. Saitou dipped his head kissed her passionately picking her up her gently laid her down on the futon. After a night of passion, Saitou still had her pinned on her back, "You my sweet kitten...need to learn to defend yourself..." he whispered nibbling at her neck.

Tokio smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist and started caressing his back and shoulders, "And you intend to teach me...oh the horror..." she giggled.

"Yes I intend to teach you...and I don't want to hear any arguments..." he smirked evilly as he started to kiss below her throat.

Tokio laughed as she moved her hips making Saitou gasp, then pushed him to lie on his back, now straddling his chest she slowly leaned down as she was about to kiss him she grinned and pulled back, Saitou growled and grasped her head giving her a heated kiss. "You tease..." he huffed as he ran his hands and caressed her lower back.

"So will there be close contact during my lessons?" she grinned wickedly, "Because if there are, I highly doubt you'll get much accomplished...can you imagine alone, covered in sweat, were both breathing heavily, I have you pinned to the mat..."

"You have ME pinned?" he quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes...you...now don't interrupt..." she scolded "...and then I'll cheer in victory and take over as third Captain of the Shinse...woah..." she laughed hysterically, Saitou chuckled and rolled trapping her body beneath his, "So is this my first lesson?" she smiled as she ran her fingers through his long black hair.

Saitou smirked as he slowly leaned down and kissed her softly, and made love to his wife yet again.

End Flashback

"Sir...sir...Fujita-san?" Matsu frowned when his superior officer refused to speak up and stepped forward.

"What do you want?" Saitou sighed as he reached in his coat for a cigarette.

"Um...they found a few tracks leading to the woods nearby, I've sent a few men to search..." Matsu informed.

Saitou nodded, then looked to Chou who was leaning against one of the ruined walls, Saitou sighed as he turned and started walking away from the precinct. "Hey boss where we headed?" Chou quickly ran over to him and chuckled as Matsu nearly fell on his ass as he trip on a piece of rubble.

"To gather information..." he answered plainly.

"Where are we gonna get the info?" Chou questioned.

"Well I happen to know the whereabouts of a few men who have been in contact with the escapees...it was a shame that he got himself wounded the last time we met...I'm not going to hear any complaints from you Matsu now will I?" Saitou smirked evilly.

"Just as long as you don't kill him...or cause him anymore physical damage..." Matsu warned.

"Okay...what'd I miss?" Chou whined at the thought of missing anyone getting hurt physically especially by the wolf.

Matsu sighed as he told Chou the small tale of how their pissed off Captain stabbed a man in the hand to know the whereabouts of the Jackals, Matsu then frowned at Chou's reaction...the broom head laughed.