Chapter 9

Saitou entered the building. "Gentlemen, nice to see you again..." Saitou chuckled inwardly as every occupant in the room jolted back in fear of the officer as he took a few steps forward Chou had a grin on his face as he nudged Matsu in the ribs he was so enjoying this you could literally smell the fear off everyone, Matsu glared at Chou and pushed him to the side so he'd leave him alone. Saitou's eyes searched the room, "Now where is he...oh there you are...how is that hand of yours sir?" Saitou asked his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

"O-oh...it-it's hea-ling well..." the man tried desperately to stop trembling.

"Now I'm afraid I need a little bit more information..."

"Y-Yes of...of course sir..." the man answered cradling his hand to his chest.

"The Jackals...where would they hide out if they were ever pursued by an enemy?" Saitou asked calmly.

"Where...I thought that they were all captured by the police...why would..."

"They escaped...you're not going to make me repeat myself are you?"

"No of course not sir...ummm..." the man tried desperately to think, you could tell he was terrified.

"Calm yourself...and try to think clearly..." Saitou still a smile on his face stood up straight his hands behind his back as he waited patiently for a response.

Matsu frowned as he leaned against a wall his arms crossed in front of his chest he wasn't to impressed with his captain, Chou on the other hand was still snickering beside him almost jumping for joy.

"Th-ere's an island three days ride to the East...almost always surrounded by fog..." the man looked up.

"You wouldn't lie to me would you, because of our last encounter?" Saitou quirked an eyebrow.

"N-no sir of course not...the Jackals are assholes anyway...always hated their guts sir..."

"Hey how come you know so much about these hyenas anyways?" Chou asked as he stepped forward.

"They own a brothel house...my brother runs it when they have a job to...well you know kill someone..." he whispered.

"Hn..." Saitou turned and left the building Matsu walked up beside him, "Three days...they've got a really big head start."

"Well then we better get moving don't ya think?" Chou chuckled.

Saitou sighed knowing that sooner or later there would be an argument from the two, reaching into his coat he took out a cigarette and lit it thinking for a moment, "Yes we should but we need to get a few supplies..." he thought out loud with a smirk gracing his lips.

Tokio sighed as she got out of the tub and dried herself off, she definitely needed a warm soothing bath after everything she just went through, now feeling totally refreshed she stretched a little and looked at the knife wound on her shoulder, running her fingers on the scab that was forming, she then massaged the purple-green skin on her wrists, "Stupid ropes..." she muttered to herself, as she finished getting dressed. Stepping out of the bathhouse she was greeted with two officers who smiled and nodded, smiling in turn Tokio made her way inside the house, then rolled her eyes as she closed the door silently thanking her husband for making sure they didn't enter the house, she didn't like to be rude to anyone especially someone who was ordered to protect her and her children but if someone was trying to kill her and her family she didn't want strange men trying to comfort her and tell her that everything would be alright...I mean she wasn't one to start flailing her arms in the air and scream her hands going to her mouth and bawling like an idiot and let those assholes do whatever they wanted with her, broken from her thoughts when she heard Tsutomu scream in delight while Eiji was mercilessly tickling the three-year-old, Tokio smiled when she entered the kitchen.

"Well at least now you look better..." Mrs.Shino smiled as she put some water to boil.

"Ah Mrs.Shino...can I adopt you?" Tokio smiled.

"You could but I don't recommend it...I'll just be a pain in the ass..." she laughed softly.

Saitou waited patiently for the carriage that was to take them East of the city towards the island, he had procured a few special supplies for their trip, Matsu as well as Saitou had changed into civilian clothing looking as if they were merchants, "Stop fidgeting..." Saitou ordered Matsu seemed uncomfortable.

"I don't think this is a good idea...I don't like making arrests if I'm not wearing my uniform..." he whined.

Saitou sighed as he rolled his eyes, spotting the carriage Chou stuck his head out of the window, "You mean to tell me I'm gonna be stuck in this carriage with him for three days...boss ya killin' me here..."

"Shut-up and load the supplies..." Saitou growled. "And be careful with the dynamite..."

"Dynamite?" Matsu looked at his superior wide eyed.

"Yes." Saitou drawled as he handed another bag to Chou. "You expect that we three take down thirty or more armed men without a diversion..." Saitou turned to the man, "Besides...I have no idea how you'd behave in battle, I've read your file but it doesn't tell me much about your skills..."

"Sir I can handle anything and I can take care of myself..." Matsu assured.

"Yeah but have ya ever been in battle?" Chou asked as he climbed on top of the carriage to secure their baggage. "Have ya ever killed anyone...have ya ever spilled blood..."

"No...but as I said I can handle anything..."

Chou sighed then smirked evilly, "Don't worry boss I'll look out for him..."

"I don't need you to look out for me..." Matsu seethed through clenched teeth, then looked to his captain. "Aren't you going to call for back-up when we find them?"

"No time to wait it would take them too long to get into position...we are going on an island...It would also ruin the significance of a surprise attack now wouldn't it..."

"I don't believe this..."

"Quit your whining...if we're not worried there ain't no reason why you should be..." Chou sighed as he jumped down and nudged Matsu to enter the carriage. "Relax...you might hate my guts but that don't mean I won't look out for ya..." Chou chuckled.

"Would you two like a moment alone...perhaps a room..." Saitou drawled as he waited for them within the carriage.

"Oh shut-up, just trying to make the squirt calm down a little...don't want him having an accident..." Chou smirked.

"Will you stop calling me that..." Matsu growled as he pushed Chou out of the carriage.

"Oh sure act like an asshole just when I go out of my way to..."

"GET-IN-THE-CARRIAGE..." Saitou seethed through clenched teeth.

"Alright alright jeez ya don't have ta get all pissy about it...just wanted to get him all riled up before he dies a horrible death..." Chou drawled as he sat beside Saitou and leaned his head back.

"You're an idiot..." Matsu frowned.

Chou quirked an eyebrow, "Why am I an idiot?"

"It's a three day ride to get to the island you moron...I'm not gonna stay psyched up for three frickin days...idiot..."

Chou just looked at him, "Oh shut-up..." he huffed.

Saitou actually smirked at the silence that followed, taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and savored the moment.

An hour later Chou smirked when he noticed that Saitou was fast asleep, "Heh...must not have slept much last night." He chuckled.

"Leave him alone...he was probably up all night worrying about his wife and newborn son..."

Chou snorted, "Worry...ahehehe how much do you know about him anyway?"

"Not that much...only that he's always chosen for dangerous missions he's always determined to get his man, and that everyone thinks he's a cold hearted bastard...why is there something else I should know?" Matsu quirked an eyebrow.

"Must I sew your mouths shut, to get a moments rest?" Saitou asked his eyes still closed.

"I'm sorry sir..." Matsu apologized turning his attention to the scenery outside.

"Well we got three days ta pass da time, and I got a question for ya boss, if ya answer it I promise you won't hear another word come out of my mouth until we get there..." Chou chuckled. Saitou opened his eyes glaring at the sword collector, "How could a woman like your wife ever fall for someone like you?" he asked an evil grin on his face.

"And what business would that be of yours?"

"If ya want me ta shut-up..."

"I just need to lop your head off...it's as simple as that..." Saitou smirked as he closed his eyes again.

"Yeah sure you're gonna kill me off...if ya didn't know I'm a cop now..."

Saitou sighed, "I can always make it look like an accident..." he drawled, and leaned his head back.

Matsu chuckled softly at the look on Chou's face, Chou had a frown and was pouting then he smirked, "Oh yeah, where I wonder would you learn ta do something like that...I bet the Sh..."

"Finish that sentence and I'll slit your throat..." Saitou growled pointing a very sharp knife at Chou's neck.

Matsu quirked an eyebrow as he stared at the two. "I take it you don't talk about your past life much sir..."

"No I don't and if any of you ask me about it again, I'll be the only one returning from the island...is that understood?" Saitou ground out locking eyes with Chou.

"Sure boss, not another word...got it..." Chou smirked as he watched Saitou put away the knife within his gi. "So...what'd you name the little tyke?" Chou asked seeing the glare on his Captain's face, "What...I'm just asking his name not your life story..."

"Tokio for heaven sakes go to bed…laundry can wait…" Mrs.Shino scolded as she shooed Tokio back to her room.

"Alright jeez…can't do anything in my own house anymore…" Tokio pouted and made her way back to her room, suddenly feeling extremely tired she checked on Tsuyoshi who slept soundly beside her. Making herself comfortable, she pulled the blanket up the her chest and watched as the baby breathed in sleep, closing her eyes Tokio dreamed of the past.

Flashback

After being married for three years and living in Kyoto, Tokio was mostly left alone in her house since the Shinsengumi were kept busy for months on end in fighting off with the Ishin Shishi, training new recruits who would always end up getting hurt in battle, trying to find spies, assassins and such. Whenever Saitou would arrive he would always have a grim look on his face he'd also developed a violent temper always answered with a grunt or a nod. Tokio was just finishing folding clothes when she heard the door slam shut, listening for a moment she could hear feet shuffling and cabinet doors closing, putting away the clothes in a nearby cabinet she stood and went to the living room, where she spotted a figure sitting on the floor a jug of sake at his side. "Hajime?" she called out the figure acted as if he hadn't heard her. Tokio approached and kneeled down beside him, her hand went to his shoulder, she gasped when he quickly grabbed it and pushed her away, Tokio frowned the look on Saitou's face…it was like he didn't recognize her, his eyes where hazed over. "Hajime…" she yelled out as she sat up and noticed that he was covered in blood. "What happened?" she whispered.

Saitou blinked a few times then looked around, wondering how the hell he got here. "Tokio?"

Tokio watched in awe as the amber in his eyes darkened, "Hajime?" she leaned forward her hand shakingly went to his cheek, looking deep in his eyes, taking a deep breath she looked back at his clothes, "You're covered in blood…what happened are you alright?" she asked pulling on his gi to examine him, cringing at the wounds he had. Looking around she grabbed her sewing bag as well as the sake jug.

"We were ambushed…I've lost most of my men…they were all slaughtered…" he hissed as she poured the sake on the wounds.

"Are we safe here?"

"For the moment…" he groaned, Tokio lifted her hand to his forehead and winced.

"You're burning up…" she muttered as she stood and rushed into the kitchen.

"I'm fine…" Saitou growled as he tried to sit up.

Tokio arrived with a change of clothes as well as an armful of bandages, and a few blankets. Then scowled at her husband, "You're fine…really…then tell me does this hurt?" she asked poking him in the ribs.

Suppressing a cry Saitou grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, "Don't do that again." he sneered.

"Stop being so difficult, shut-up and let me take care of you…jeez men are so stubborn…" She sneered in turn, Saitou quirked an eyebrow at his wife as he leaned back against the wall and watched as she carefully cleaned his wounds and mumbled. "You'd think he'd be more appreciative…acting like an ass every time he comes home, wrecking the house…ah that is so gross…" she looked up, "I'm going to have to sew that up…" Saitou didn't say a word as he looked at her. "And don't look at me like that this isn't pleasant for me either…"

Saitou was deep in thought as she stitched him up, he had been acting like an idiot the last few months getting pissed at every trivial little thing, Saitou closed his eyes, he hadn't been paying much attention to her either, as a matter of fact except for a few meaningless words he hadn't really had a conversation with her in god knows how long. Saitou watched her through lidded eyes it had been a while since he really looked at her, he'd forgotten how innocent she'd look when she smiled or when she'd tuck a few stray hairs behind her ear.

He flinched and grit his teeth when she pierced the skin with the needle and pulled it through, "How much sake did you drink?" she asked eyeing the jug beside her.

Saitou frowned. "What?"

"How much did you drink…Do you have a sound mind…You're not going to turn violent are you, because if you are tell me now…so that I can prepare myself."

"What are you mumbling about…I'd never harm you…" Saitou hissed.

"Really…last time you arrived home drunk and bleeding, I approached you and asked if you were alright, you back handed me, you have any idea how much that stings, I literally saw stars you then leaned over me growling 'Get away from me woman…'" she hissed, as she pulled on the thread a bit more forceful than she should have, "So I ask again, how much sake did you drink…I'm not kidding if I have to I'll beat you unconscious…"

Saitou chuckled, "As if you'd be able…"

"Don't tempt me Hajime…" She poked his chest.

Saitou gently grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, "I'm sorry…" he whispered, as he gazed in her eyes.

"If you're so sorry why did you ignore me for the past several months, what you figured you'd be better off without me?"

"No…" he whispered resting his right hand on her cheek, "After I sobered up, and saw the bruise on your cheek I actually remembered what happened…I was so angry with myself for what I had done to you…I couldn't bare the thought of hurting you again so I stayed away."

"Okay…so you had to wait that long to say you're sorry…you take every single dangerous mission to try and redeem yourself, making me worry...that's stupid even for you." She tried to pull out of his grip, but Saitou refused to release her. "Let me go…" she whispered.

"What do I have to do to get you to forgive me…name it and it's done…" he whispered.

"Anything?" she asked.

"Anything…" he breathed.

Tokio looked away on the verge of tears, "If you absolutely must leave me to get yourself killed, kiss me…Because I can't stand going this long deprived from your touch…" she rasped a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

Saitou couldn't believe it he had actually made his wife, the love of his life cry. Gently grasping her head he pulled her to him and gave her a soft kiss, wanting more Tokio wrapped her arms around his neck as her husband quickly deepened the kiss. Breaking the kiss for air, Saitou ran his fingers through her hair looking at his wife's flushed face. Smirking Saitou pulled her back for another kiss, as their lips touched, Saitou paused as she suddenly spoke, "And the drinking…you are to quit drinking I swear if I see you with a cup to your mouth I will make you sorry Hajime…I swear it…"

"Yes dear…" Saitou whispered with a small smile on his face, as he kissed her again. After that night Saitou never drank or fought foolishly again.

End Flashback

Saitou jolted awake as the carriage suddenly stopped Matsu had a frown on his face as he looked out the window, Chou was outside talking with the driver, "I take it something's wrong?" he asked.

"The road's washed out…" Matsu answered, Saitou sighed as he stepped out of the carriage to try and figure out how to get to the island as fast as possible.