hannah: I never read a fic like this figured it'd be different...glad ya like it:)

StarShipDelta: Glad you like it...:)

nannon: so do I...I love irritating the wolf...hehehe:)

lia: I'll try hope ya like this chapter.

Saitouu Ryuuji: you'll Gatotsu me...cool did you learn from Saitou...:o you have him locked up in your closet don't you...hehehe

Chapter 2 Troublesome Kitten

The next day Tokio groggily woke up, the smell of sage and cigarettes opening her senses, feeling around she found that she was covered in something, slowly sitting up she felt around the heavy cloth finding out that it was a haori, bringing the coat back to her nose she inhaled the scent again, Saitou smirked as he sat opposite her and watched her every move, a small chuckle escaping his lips, Tokio turned her head towards the laugh, "You were shivering this morning…" he answered her unasked question, "I'm a bit curious by the way you're inhaling my haori…Do I have such an odd smell?" he questioned.

"No…of course not." she smiled sweetly, and moved her head around smelling the morning air. "So what's for breakfast?"

"Rice cakes…" he answered simply, taking them out of his bag.

Tokio quirked an eyebrow, "Yummy…" she answered.

"What exactly has your father taught you?" Saitou asked curiously, handing her a rice cake then leaned back and took out a cigarette.

"A few sword fighting techniques…Kempo…ken-jitsu…I'm better at throwing daggers then throwing a punch…" she grinned, chewing slowly.

"No kidding…" he smirked as he looked at the gray clouds above, "We should probably start moving and look for shelter, it's going to rain soon."

"Well this day's starting out well…" she quipped as she slowly began to stand.

Saitou smirked as he exhaled a puff of smoke and stood, hearing a branch snap Saitou quickly stubbed out his cigarette and kneeled to Tokio whispering for her to stay put as he rushed off in the direction of the noise with sword in hand, after waiting several minutes Tokio slowly stood and leaned against the tree behind her, lifting her head to the sky as she felt a few drops of rain fall on her head hearing thunder in the distance, the light rain quickly became heavy, "Oh wonderful…" she muttered then held her breath as she heard footsteps and bowed her head a bit, "What was it?" she whispered. When she didn't get an answer Tokio frowned a bit and stretched out her arm reaching for the wolf, "Hajime?" she whispered. The man approached and roughly grasped her arms pushing her against the tree pinning her with his body, Tokio yelped as she smelled sake on his breath, the man stank of sweat and cheese his mouth was suddenly on hers forcing his tongue between her lips, his hands roaming and tearing at her gi trying to open it.

Tokio was now in a bit of a panic, as she knew this man was an Ishin and kneed him in the groin Tokio was thrown to the ground, scrambling to her feet in the mud she began to run away from the man as fast as she would allow herself, Tokio prayed that she wouldn't crash into a tree or trip over something, she could hear swords clashing and men yelling ahead of her she quickly turned to her right as she heard a few twigs snapping behind her she froze when she heard an unfamiliar voice, "There you are…" it chuckled, turning Tokio faced the person and took a few steps back. Hearing the man step forward, she then heard a sword being unsheathed and feet scattering in the dirt and leaves, then a struggle and a scream, a body fell to the ground, she then took several steps back.

Saitou looked at her his eyes widened, "Don't move…" he ordered but it was too late. Loosing her balance Tokio fell back rolling down the steep hill and falling over a cliff.

Saitou ran after her as she rolled down, and leapt off the cliff a few seconds after she did. Spotting a dead tree that had grown on the side of the cliff at least seventy feet below them, Saitou grabbed Tokio's arm with his left hand nearly crushing her wrist, his sword already unsheathed in his right, he quickly grasped the center of the blade as they fell. The ends of the sword got caught within the branches of the dead tree, saving them from a rather nasty fall…and well death.

Saitou grunted, as he tried to get a good foothold which was a bit hard since everything was wet, the blade of his sword was beginning to cut through his hand, Tokio tried her best to remain calm and not move too much, "What's happening?" she breathed.

"I told you not too move and you did, resulting you to roll down this cliff and I jumped after you…You have got to start listening to me woman…" Saitou breathed, as he tried to pull himself up, "Can your feet touch the rocks before you?"

Tokio breathed a small sigh of relief as she recognized Saitou's voice then stretched her legs "No…"

Saitou grimaced, "Alright I'm going to hoist you up and grasp your arm…After I do so reach up…" Saitou jolted her up, Tokio yelped as he now held her elbow, reaching up she grasped his shoulder and tried to pull herself towards him, "Wrap your arm around my neck…" he ordered. Tokio did as she was told, Saitou finally digging his right foot in one of the gaps in the rock he then turned his body so that now she was leaning against his chest, he then pulled them forward towards his sword, Saitou grasped the blade with his now free left hand and looked at the deep cut in his right, "Can you grasp the branches to your right?" he breathed in her ear.

Tokio felt around, and nodded her head, as she began climbing the tree, "Tell me do you always treat a lady to this much excitement?" she breathed.

"No…lift your right hand a bit higher…" he told her as he freed his sword, sheathed it and followed her.

Tokio's hand hovered a bit searching for another branch, she frowned when she didn't feel any. "There's no more tree…now what?" she growled, grasping a few annoying hairs that escaped her loose ponytail she tucked them behind her right ear.

"Now we climb…" Saitou answered as he tore up a piece of his hakama and wrapped his injured hand.

"Oh wonderful…" she mumbled.

Tokio suddenly found herself gently pushed up, an arm around her waist, "Extend your arms…" Tokio did as the captain said, and felt the rocky wall at her fingertips, Saitou grasped her right hand, laying it on one of the rocks that looked secured to the wall, and did the same with her left hand. He then sighed, "Hope you'll forgive me…" he whispered as he grasped her right thigh causing her to yelp a bit.

An evil grin plastered on her lips, "Oh you're forgiven…just don't let your hand go any higher…" she answered.

Saitou chuckled, as he looked up, "This is going to be a long, tiring climb…" he informed, as the rain soaked clothes they were wearing seemed to double their weight.

"Well we best get started then…" she quipped.

Finally at the top, thankfully the rain had lessened a bit, Tokio slowly pulled herself forward and lay on the muddy ground panting, Saitou plopped down beside her and looked around, "Do me a favor, don't fall off another cliff again…" he groaned resting his cheek on the cool wet ground.

"Next time yell out who you are before I step back…" she retorted.

Saitou lifted his head, "It's Saitou don't move…that sounds stupid…" he sighed turning to lay on his back, Tokio chuckled as she ran her left hand on her right, her fingers feeling the sticky wetness, she then lifted it to her nose and inhaled smelling blood. Slowly sitting up she leaned over the wolf and felt for his right hand, she had felt the damp cloth brush against her hand numerous times as they climbed but said nothing as Saitou was concentrating on climbing. "What are you doing?" He asked lifting his head a bit.

Tokio ran her hands on his chest and down his arm, grasped his injured hand and removed the cloth soaked in his blood, "Did this happen before or after falling off the cliff?" she whispered her right hand searching for a clean dry cloth within her gi not knowing that her lips were a few inches from his.

"After…" he whispered staring at her eyes, her hair had freed itself from her ponytail and was hiding the two from view. Her gi was opened a bit as well when she was struggling with cheese breath man.

Finding the clean cloth she pressed it against his wound, "Do you have any medicines or herbs in that bag of yours?" she asked.

Saitou hesitated for a moment then answered, "No…"

Tokio smirked, "You escort a lady to Tokyo, bring food but not medical supplies…" she quipped, "I thought Shinsengumi captains were always prepared."

Saitou chuckled, "Being chased by the Ishin Shishi through the woods was not expected, and I usually don't leap off cliffs…" he whispered feeling her hot breath against his lips.

Tokio looked up and Saitou quickly turned his head, when they heard someone clear their throat, "Eh are we interrupting Captain?" Okita asked a grin plastered on his face a few of his men chuckling softly behind him.

Saitou blushed a bit although it was hard to tell and slowly sat up with Tokio in his arms, "The Ishins?" he asked narrowing his eyes a bit at Okita's men to shut them up which they immediately did.

"Oh they're pretty much dead…" Okita quipped as he watched Saitou stand, his hands grasping Tokio's arms pulling her up.

"Have you made camp?" Saitou asked locking eyes with Okita so he wouldn't notice the wolf's hands slowly move up her arms to her shoulders pulling the gi closed, Tokio feeling the cloth move quickly turned towards the cliff and arranged her clothes.

"Yes…would you two like a little rest, or perhaps some time alone?" Okita grinned.

Saitou narrowed his eyes at the first Captain who began laughing softly and led the two towards the woods. "Kondou received your message took us a day to get here…" he grinned. Saitou only grunted in response. After about ten minutes of walking Okita nodded his head at a few of his men, "Water and food…" he ordered and drew back a flap to let Saitou lead the lady in the tent.

Tokio still clutching Saitou's arm found herself being gently pushed down on a few blankets, Saitou kneeled in front of her and examined the bruises and cuts she received as she rolled down the cliff.

Tokio lifted her right hand to his face, cupping his left cheek, "Hmmm, why a frown?"

"Your father warned me that no harm should come to you…" he sighed as he gently fingered the bruises on her left wrist.

Tokio chuckled softly, "Father always treated me as if I were a delicate flower about to crumble with the simplest touch…" then tilted her head to the tent's entrance as Okita entered with food, a canteen and a bowl of water, his eyes narrowed a bit as the girl's hand was caressing Saitou's face.

"Um…Saitou may I have a word?" Okita asked as he put the food down beside the girl, Saitou grasped her hands moving it to the plate of food, the canteen beside it, her left went to the bowl of water with a damp cloth to wash herself with then stood and left the tent following after Okita.

"What are you doing?" he asked turning to his friend, Saitou quirked an eyebrow in question, "What's with the gentle caress she gave you…she is master Takagi's daughter…" he scolded.

"I know she's his daughter you idiot…and her hand to my face is how she sees…"

Okita frowned a bit then looked towards the tent, "Oh right…I had forgotten that she was blind…" he answered then a wicked grin plastered his face, "Does she do that often?"

Saitou rolled his eyes and returned inside the tent. Looking through a few bags he took out some clean clothes for Tokio and himself since the ones they were wearing were soaking wet and covered in mud, he also took out a needle, thread and ointment for his hand. He eyed Tokio who stared at him and sniffed the air trying to figure out who he was. "Calm yourself it's me…" he smirked. Dropping the clothes at her side, "Please tell me you can manage getting dressed?"

"Yes…as long as you stay outside the tent, to make sure no one enters…"

"Of course…" he whispered and left her to give her a bit of privacy, Tokio smirked as she began undressing.

A few minutes later, as Tokio was wrapping the clean dark green gi around her frame and tying a pair of dark blue hakama, she heard a voice outside the tent, "Is everything alright miss Takagi?"

Tokio narrowed her eyes a bit, "Who is that?" she barked.

"Eh Okita Souji ma'am, first captain of the Shinsengumi…"

"Enter…" she ordered, Okita's eyes widened a bit at her demanding tone, but entered all the same. "Where is Saitou Hajime?" she demanded.

Okita crossed his arms to his chest his hands hiding within the sleeves of his haori and stayed by the entrance, watching as she clutched the top of her gi closed, he frowned a bit when he answered her question. "Oh he asked me to stay at the tent's entrance while he went to change into some clean clothes and mended his hand…he should be back momentarily." Tokio didn't seem too convinced as she patted through her soiled clothes for something, "Miss Takagi are you alright?" Okita asked taking a step forward.

Tokio continued looking through her soiled clothes for something, she seemed a bit in a panic.

Saitou now donning dry clean clothes made his way back towards where he left Tokio, examining his hand not seeing Okita before the tent Saitou quickly entered when he heard Okita speak, "Miss Takagi are you alright?"

Seeing that Tokio seemed to be searching for something Saitou smirked, "Don't go any further Okita…" he looked to Okita when the young Captain turned to the wolf a bit confused, "She may not look it but she's very dangerous when provoked…"

"Hun?" Okita frowned a bit as he turned to the woman again.

"You leave a stranger to watch over me are you mad…" Tokio growled.

"HE's a Shinsengumi captain…" Saitou answered.

"LIKE I WOULD KNOW THAT…" she yelled.

Saitou quirked an eye and thought for a moment, "What happened in the woods after I left?"

"A man arrived I thought he was you…he pinned me against a tree and…agh…" she hissed, looking away.

"And what?" Saitou approached a bit angered.

Tokio looked back at him, "You're a man you figure it out…"

Saitou's eyes narrowed, "Did he?"

She snorted, "Like I'd let him…"

Saitou took a deep breath he'd never been so pissed off before at the thought of some bastard touching the woman he was to protect he slowly sat next to her and sighed as she seemed to relax a bit, her hands dropping to her lap, "I trust Okita with my life…will you allow him to step forward so you may see him?" Tokio thought for a few moments and slowly nodded her head. Okita slowly approached and sat before Tokio, "He's right in front of you…" Saitou informed.

Tokio slowly reached out, and grasped his face her fingers caressing his skin, after a few moments she quipped, "How old are you twelve?"

Okita chuckled, "Twenty-six ma'am…" he answered.

"What color are your eyes?"

"Brown…" he whispered as her fingers brushed against his lips, Saitou leaned back and narrowed his eyes a bit as he chewed on a piece of bread, watching Okita as he blushed a beet red.

Tokio's hands traveled to his shoulders and grasped his arms moving down to his hands, "Hm a swordsman as well…are you as good as Hajime?"

"Of course Takagi-san although he's a bit more experienced…"

Saitou couldn't help but snort as Tokio lowered her hands and began searching through her clothes again, "What are you looking for?"

"Kunai's and my dagger…" she answered simply. Okita quirked an eye, as Saitou found the blades and handed them to her watching as she carefully put them away "Now is it possible to get a few hours sleep?" she asked looking to where Saitou sat.

"Of course miss Takagi…" Okita smiled as he slowly stood, and watched as she made herself comfortable clutching at the blanket draped over her. Saitou slowly stood moving the bowl of water and the empty plate of food and silently left the tent.

Saitou sighed as he sensed Okita dying to ask a question as they sat in front of a small fire at the center of the camp, "What is it Okita?"

"I think she's a bit taken with you Saitou…" Okita quipped.

"Shut-up Okita…"

Saitou walked around the grounds muttering nonsense eyeing the tent once in a while, "Oh my Saitou she does have you in quite a frenzy…" Okita grinned.

Saitou turned to him, "What are you muttering about?" He growled.

Okita tilted his head his eyes giving off an evil gleam, "Well when I volunteered you for this duty, you were angered and about to tear my head off at such a thought. Saitou Hajime third captain of the Shinsengumi to protect a woman for a week, such a waste of time…and now any man who dare touch her let alone look at her you're ready to Gatotsu them…don't think I didn't see that glare you gave me when she touched my face.

"Don't be ridiculous…ever since we met she's been a pain in my side…"

"Of course she has…how much trouble can a blind woman be?" he asked staring forward and glancing at the wolf of Mibu.

Saitou rolled his eyes as he sat down and made himself comfortable starring at the fire.

XxXxX

A single man ran as fast as he could through the dense woods, trying his hardest to keep his breathing steady as he was trained to heading for his encampment he gasped and fell back when he met with a pair of amber eyes, staring at him in the shadows, "H-Himura-san…"

Hitokiri Battousai, Kenshin Himura eyed the Ishin and knelt down looking around, "Where are the others?"

"Two Shinsengumis were seen in the village with a woman yesterday they fled…this morning we pursued…our men were killed."

"Shinsengumi…hmmm soldier or Captain?"

"I don't know sir…tall black hair in a ponytail…angry amber eyes…he se…"

"Saitou Hajime…" Kenshin cut him off chuckling softly, "Who's the woman?"

"Don't know Shan said that the angry one called her Takagi…"

"Takagi…" Kenshin repeated, "Sounds familiar…She has to be extremely important if Saitou is guarding her…where are they now?"

"Over that ridge…there are over a dozen of them now…" he answered slowly standing.

"Have they set camp?" Kenshin smirked as the man nodded, "Tell the others to prepare to attack at daybreak…" Kenshin smirked as he stood and watched the soldier run into the camp, "We'll meet again soon wolf of Mibu…" he chuckled as he sat beneath the tree and watched the sun set over the mountains.

XxXxX

Saitou stared at the fire deep in thought, why was he so protective of this girl he'd only been with her for a few days, they hadn't talked about much well not that they could they were constantly being chased by Ishins. Actually he'd never met a woman such as her, she had caught his interest briefly at one time or another and she could fight which was a first for him she had caught him by surprise there, she was well mannered being Takagi's daughter she had to have been well educated, a woman such as her was a good catch for any man, yet none stepped forward…because she was blind. 'What a ridiculous excuse…' Saitou snorted as he looked up at the stars above.

"Still sitting by yourself Saitou-san…" Okita chuckled softly as he sat beside the wolf.

"Where are you heading in the morning?" Saitou asked not really caring.

"Towards the mountains, we've heard that there are a few Ishin camps there…" Okita yawned, "Do you want a few of my men to travel with you to Tokyo?"

"No and don't dare ask again…" Saitou ground out.

"Of course…the horses should be eager to not see battle for once…" he chuckled stretched and left for bed. Saitou sighed and did the same.