ShadowVixen:Glad you like it, it would be kind of boring if Tokio wasn't evil, torturing the wolf is fun…ahehehe
Impashence:Glad you loved it…hehehe
Lia: You're welcome I'm glad you love it
Chapter 4 Yet another little setback
After a few hours ride, the two came upon a huge gap in the road, Saitou leaned forward on his horse and sighed loudly, "Oh oh…that can't be good…" Tokio smirked.
"The road's washed out from the rain last night…"
"Is there a way to cross?"
"Not that I can see…"
"Okay…now what?"
"Now we cross through the woods and head down stream to see if there's a better path…"
"Wonderful another adventure…" Tokio quipped her voice dripping with sarcasm as she clapped her hands a few times.
Another hour had passed and Saitou slowly led his horse through the woods, again Tokio's following with no problems, Saitou narrowed his eyes at the small road up ahead, the ground was now extremely muddy, since the sun's rays couldn't penetrate the leaves to help dry out the excess water. "There's a bridge ahead…" Saitou announced.
"Well that's good…right?"
"Not really the road we're on hasn't been used in quite a while meaning the bridge had to be extremely old…"
"I was right…you do know how to treat a girl to a good time…" she laughed softly as she urged her horse forward. Saitou rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Arriving at their destination, Saitou frowned as he examined the bridge, there were only two poles holding it up the others either broke apart or eroded from the constant rushing of the rapids, the bridge also slightly tilted to the left as there was nothing there to hold it up. "Alright…this doesn't have to be difficult…" he sighed as he dismounted his horse, and went to Tokio, "Come…" he grasped her arm to help her down. "Hold on to your horse while I lead mine across first…" Saitou carefully watched his footing as he slowly crossed the rickety bridge.
The horse had refused to step on the bridge a few times and jerked its head back but followed the captain all the same, now on the other side the horse stayed nearby grazing on the grass, Saitou slowly crossed the bridge and led Tokio's horse across Sai followed the other horse and began grazing as well. Saitou had felt the bridge weave as he had crossed Sai over, "She's not that heavy it shouldn't collapse until after we cross…" Saitou mused aloud.
Tokio quirked an eye and crossed her arms, "I heard that…" she drawled. Walking before her Saitou was about to retort with an amusing little comment but held his tongue.
"You heard that…yet you didn't hear the Ishins sneaking up behind you…" he frowned as he grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him.
The masked Ishins, who had camped out in a few nearby caves as shelter from the rain chuckled as they unsheathed their swords, the leader frowned as he looked at the Shinsengumi soldier. "You…" he growled feeling like an idiot for not recognizing him earlier.
Saitou looked behind him and slowly turned Tokio to head straight for the bridge, "Count to fifteen and you'll get to the bridge, stay to your right and keep your hands on the railing there are a few holes near the center…seventy two steps until you get to the other side…go…" he whispered gently pushing her back and standing up straight unsheathing his katana.
Tokio breathed heavily as she began to count, while Saitou stared down his opponents, "Eight men to chase down one Shinsengumi captain…how insulting…" Saitou quipped.
The leader smirked, "Not entirely…our orders are to kill you and take back the woman to our camp…"
"Kill me…" Saitou chuckled, "Really…hn and why is she so important?" Saitou asked locking eyes with the man.
"Himura didn't say…just said that she had to be important if your were protecting her…she'll be brought in for questioning, if she doesn't know anything I'm sure we can find other uses for her…"
Saitou took a deep breath silently counting to ten, tilting his head he smirked as he lunged forward, the man completely surprised jumped back and avoided being stabbed, Saitou held them off while Tokio slowly crossed the bridge her hand to one of the railings trying to ignore the sound of steel against steel, "Twenty-three, twenty-four…" she whispered, when she was up to twenty-seven the board beneath her foot cracked and gave way, Tokio yelped as she grabbed whatever she could get her hands on, holding her breath she slowly pulled herself up feeling the blood trickle from the gashes her right leg had suffered as she fell through. Cursing she stood and held on to the railing suddenly feeling the bridge sway, "This is not happening…" she hissed.
Hearing a creak Saitou swung his sword forcing the man he was fighting to step back and duck, moving his right leg Saitou kicked out his knee, the man lost balance and fell forward nearly plowing to the ground, but Saitou caught him swiftly turning him around he held his sword to the man's neck using the man as a shield Saitou turned his attention to the bridge, his eyes widened as the bridge was about to collapse, pushing the man forward and into the three men before him Saitou rushed to the bridge, six Ishins quickly followed since the other two were long since slain by the wolf.
Saitou sheathed his sword and ran on the bridge ignoring the fact that it was breaking apart under his feet, the Ishins froze in place as they watched the bridge collapse.
Saitou had managed to grab Tokio around the waist as they fell in the frigid water, being swept up by the current. Tokio tried to stay calm as she clutched at his arm, while Saitou tried to keep them afloat and grasp something, anything that was close to shore. Seeing some rocks right in their path Saitou turned his body to try and evade them but being stuck in the rapids and holding onto Tokio he wasn't fast enough and found himself slammed against them, holding onto the rock for dear life Saitou tried to catch his breath.
Hearing a shout, Saitou looked to his left to see two men throw a rope to them, letting go of the rock Saitou grabbed the rope with his left hand, still holding onto Tokio with a firm grip, the men pulled them to shore, crawling up the banks the two coughed out what water had invaded their lungs.
"It's a good thing we decided to go hunting today or you two would have died falling off the falls nearby…" the youngest of the two frowned while the other started a small fire, and took out a few blankets. "Are those your horses?" he asked pointing towards the animals who were looking around trying to decide which way to go, apparently the noise from the bridge collapsing had frightened them, so like any other animal that's been frightened they ran. Saitou slowly nodded and thanked the men for saving their lives then looked to the woman still in his grasp, while the man went to get the horses.
Saitou couldn't help but smirk, "I knew that bridge…couldn't hold your weight…" he breathed and coughed out.
Saitou took slow deep breaths noticing she wasn't moving he roughly turned her over now hovering above her an arm on each side of her head, "This day is beginning to suck…and I'm not that heavy…" Tokio scolded breathing heavily, her hand hitting his chest. "You must be tired of saving me?" she chuckled nervously her hands hovering to his neck and face, as her fingers traced the contour of his lips, feeling his hot breath on her fingertips, her hands moved upwards to his forehead, "Hajime?" she whispered slowly leaning up.
Broken from his thoughts Saitou blinked a few times, "Come on you'll get sick if we don't get you out of these wet clothes." He gently pulled her up.
"Eh…aren't we in the middle of the woods…with…" Tokio listened for a moment, "Two strange men lurking about?"
"You'll be well hidden…" Saitou assured with a small smirk.
"Oh will the wolf of Mibu stand guard?" she smiled.
"Of course…" Saitou chuckled softly as he went to one of the horses to gather a dry change of clothes and the blankets, Tokio still holding on to the back of his haori beginning to shiver a bit.
Tokio grinned as she licked her lips she just couldn't resist, and leaned into the captain, "So if I scratch you behind the ear like this does that mean your leg will start shaking?"
Saitou snorted, "I'm a wolf not a dog…Kitty…"
"Kitty…where did you get that little nick name?"
"The moment you asked to see what I looked like, you swatted at my bangs…"
Tokio giggled softly as she was now being led back to their small camp, Saitou noticing the small limp she had gathered the blankets the hunters had offered heading back to the woods Saitou tied the blankets to a small group of trees Tokio stayed in the middle, "Ah my own private little changing room…how sweet…"
"Just hurry and change…" he handed her the clothes and turned his back taking off his haori and gi, he examined the bruises forming on his left side they didn't seem too bad, he then rested his sword beside the tree and changed as well glancing at the hunters as they poked at the small fire, since they had pulled them out of the water Saitou had kept a close eye on them.
"I knew it…it's fate…" Tokio chirped as she dropped the wet clothes on the ground.
"What's fate?" Saitou grunted as he wrapped a green gi around himself.
"The gods don't want me to go to Tokyo…it's their will that I stay in Kyoto, with all they've done to try and stop us let's not anger them anymore and go back home…" she drawled.
Saitou chuckled, "And suffer your father's wrath…I think not…" he sighed tying up his hakama.
"Huh my father is a sweet and kind man…" Tokio quipped.
"I know a few hundred men who'd tell you otherwise…" Saitou smirked as he recalled how Takagi was extremely strict when it came to training the Shinsemgumi's soldiers.
"Pfft, if they can't handle falling on their butts while their being flipped over that's their problem…" Tokio defended as she shuddered from being cold and wrapped a haori around herself, "Alright where's the door on this thing?" she smiled her wet clothes in her hands.
Saitou smirked as he tied his sword to his side and gathered the clothes hanging them on a few branches to allow them to dry and took down the blankets then led her towards the fire, near a fallen tree.
"Better stay close to the fire…" the eldest of the hunters spoke up, Saitou gave a blanket to Tokio, then kneeled down and lifted her right pant leg.
Tokio yelped. "What are you doing?"
"You're injured…didn't you notice you were limping?" he drawled.
"It's a scratch…" she growled.
"A deep one that could get infected, now keep quiet…" Saitou muttered as he gently ran his hands on the gashes, Tokio could feel the scratch of the wound on his hand as it had been stitched up.
"You really should wrap that hand of yours…" she informed, Saitou looked up then rummaged through his small bag, taking out an herbal paste he rubbed it on her leg as well as his hand, then took out a bandage and wrapped her leg making sure it was secure, wrapping his hand he then put everything away and lowered her pant leg to cover her. Then grasped a blanket and wrapped it around himself feeling the sudden chill, seeing how pale she looked Saitou sat down beside her and draped the third blanket around them, to share body heat.
"How'd you two get in the water anyways?" the youngest hunter asked.
"The road was washed out, we used that old bridge…it collapsed obviously…" Saitou sighed then looked to the woman snuggling up to him as she was still shivering.
"Where are you two headed?"
"Tokyo…" Saitou whispered leaning back against the fallen tree and watched the fire.
"You two starting ta warm up yet?"
"A little…" Tokio whispered her head resting on Saitou's right shoulder.
"Well now don't you two move, I'll go try and catch some fish while my brother fetches some more firewood." The eldest hunter smiled.
"Thank-you…" Tokio whispered slowly closing her eyes, sensing that they were gone she tilted her head up, "Is there a chance those Ishins will be able to follow us?"
"Not likely…it's a huge gap to this side although I've no idea how the river looks farther down…it's still a bit early do you think you might be able to ride in a few hours?"
Tokio slowly nodded and closed her eyes as she began to feel the warmth return to her body. "Why is it we always end up getting soaked on this little journey?"
She smiled when she felt the man's chest shake as he chuckled.
An hour had passed and the four had just finished eating, "Are there any obstacles on that road?" Saitou asked nodding to a nearby trail.
"Not really there's a few farmlands, streams, a small river fed by the waterfall you two nearly fell out of, then there's a small village…"
"No bridges?" Tokio quipped.
The men chuckled, "No…no bridges…" the eldest hunter smirked.
XxXxX
Half an hour had passed by as they were now on the road, Saitou walked the horses holding onto the reins while Tokio was riding Sai, "How long until we reach Tokyo?" Tokio asked.
"Well we took a pretty big detour, might get there in the next few days."
Tokio sighed, "Two days…I suppose I'll have to enjoy them while I still can…"
"Enjoy…where have you been these past three days?"
"You have no idea how terribly irritating it is at miss Sen's house, you'd think I was unable to walk and feed myself, 'How are you today dear…would you like help with that dear, oh please no no let me do that…' just the mention of that woman's name makes my skin crawl…all she ever talks about is herself…ooh look at how pretty I am, blah, blah, blah…"
"Well you are trained in martial arts…pretend to trip and send her crashing somewhere…" Saitou suggested with a smirk.
"Don't think that thought didn't cross my mind many times."
Saitou chuckled, "I've never met the woman and already I feel sorry for her…"
"Please…don't…" Tokio grinned as she ran her hand on her right leg.
"Does it still hurt?" Saitou glanced over his shoulder noticing the movement.
"No…it itches…" she frowned.
Saitou stopped and walked to her right side, lifting the pant leg of her hakama, he frowned as he gently peeked through the bandage, "Well there's no sign of infection…the gashes were pretty deep it will be sore for the next few days."
Tokio sighed "And let me guess you're going to make sure I don't strain myself and will refuse to let me walk right?"
Saitou snorted, "You want to walk go right ahead, don't come whining to me if you aggravate your injuries more…besides didn't you tell me you hated being treated so delicately?"
"Ah so he has been listening to me…" she smiled.
"What else am I supposed to listen to the trees?" Saitou drawled as he led the horse to walk again.
"What is that sound?" She whispered tilting her head to the right.
Saitou frowned as he pulled on the reins and looked to her direction staying quiet listening to whatever she had heard. "I don't hear anything…" he looked to her.
"Over there…" she pointed into the woods.
Saitou not liking this one bit led them to a huge tree, on the other side of the road and slowly walked to where she had pointed entering the dense woods, not sensing anyone he frowned as he turned to see her still sitting on her horse, walking back to her he again looked around opening his senses. "There's nothing out there what did you hear?"
"I'm not sure…" she sighed.
"What did it sound like?"
"Well I can't imitate it…" she frowned.
"Do you still hear it?"
Tokio frowned a bit, "Faintly…"
Saitou growled as he helped her off her horse, "Come…" he sighed as he led her across the road, unsheathing his sword he led her into the woods, "Are we near it?"
Tokio smiled, "Yes…"
Walking for a few more minutes Saitou narrowed his eyes as he looked to the ground, "Don't tell me this is what you heard?" he sighed looking at the stream before them.
"Yes it is…" she smirked. "What is it?"
"You had me worried over a stream…" he sighed.
"Don't give me that tone of voice…this is my first time deep in the woods, I've never heard that sound before so shut-up…" she sighed as she kneeled down and patted the ground, she smiled when her fingers dipped in the cold water, feeling the smooth rocks. Hearing him sigh and kneel down beside her Tokio grinned, "And wipe that annoying little frown on your face…" she chuckled leaning back she turned to him and flicked her wet fingers at him sending droplets of water his way.
Saitou chuckled as he lifted his hand to wipe at the drops that had landed on his cheeks and watched as she laughed softly, a small smile amazingly crept up on his lips, before he knew it half an hour had passed, and the two hadn't stopped talking and joking since, "We should really get going…" he drawled standing and frowned at the grin plastered on her face. "What's with the grin?"
"I was a bit surprised that you didn't start grumbling, grabbed my arm and pulled me up to get back on the road…I believe you've become quite the gentleman…" she smiled standing up and grasping his arm.
"Hn…Don't get use to it…" he answered moving her towards the road where the horses were tied, both getting on Saitou led his horse in a slow gallop, Tokio followed with a smile on her face.
Most of the day had passed and Tokio wanting to stretch her legs talked Saitou into stopping for fifteen twenty minutes, hearing him sigh she smirked as she now found herself in a wheat field, Tokio smiled as she walked in the waist high grass, humming away a small tune, her hands outstretched at her sides feeling the wheat as it tickled her fingers, Saitou sighed as he sat on a rock and smoked a cigarette looking around to make sure they truly were alone.
Saitou smirked as he watched her, a few pleasant little thoughts popped in his head, they quickly disappeared when he remembered that she was Takagi's daughter, 'At least she'll be safe in Tokyo…' he sighed, then looked up and frowned she was nowhere in sight. 'What the…shit…' he growled as he stood and walked to where he had seen her last, eyeing his surroundings for the apparent pain in his side, Saitou found himself tripping over something. His eyes narrowed at the form lying in the grass, "What are you doing?" he asked sounding a bit pissed.
Tokio frowned a bit and smiled, "Lying in a wheat field what's it look like…jeesh I'm the one who's supposed to be blind here…" she quipped.
"Why?"
"I stopped asking myself that question a long time ago and…" she answered plainly Saitou cut her off.
"Not why you're blind…Why are you lying in a field?"
Tokio turned her head to him, "Why not?"
Saitou rolled his eyes, "You're doing this to irritate me aren't you?"
"Is it working?"
"Yes…"
"Then my work is done we can leave now if you like…" she laughed softly as she slowly stood and grasped his arm.
"You're going to be the death of me I know it…" he drawled.
"Sweet, innocent little young me the death of you?" she chuckled, "You think so hmmm he's caught on to the plot…might have to change my plans for world domination…"
"Humor doesn't become you?" he smirked.
"No then what does?"
"Your smile and your laugh…"
"You like those hun…perhaps I should stop then…before you fall for me…" she grinned. Saitou looked at her for a moment not saying a word, Tokio gave an innocent little smile, "What?"
"Nothing…we should get going it'll be dark soon we need to get to that village the hunters spoke of."
The rest of the ride to the village Tokio was in deep thought the little things she sensed and heard during their little conversation in the field gave little theories and asked tiny questions in her head.
Leading the horses to a stable Saitou shouldered the bag of clothes and food his hand grasped hers intertwining the fingers as they made their way to the inn. Staying in a single room, Saitou laid down a futon for Tokio while he would sleep beside the door his sword would be resting against his shoulder just in case the same thing happened like at the last inn they stayed at.
After eating the room had become quiet for some time now, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sudden silence, Tokio stood and made her way to the captain, who was lighting a few lamps, her fingers touching his back Saitou turned and faced the woman, "May I ask you a question?" she whispered her hands searching for his shoulders.
Saitou sighed at her curiosity a small smile on his lips, "What is it?" Tokio leaned up and kissed his lips softly, after a few moments of silence Saitou still looked at her taking in slow deep breaths, "Was that your question?" he asked gazing at her eyes then her lips.
Tokio smirked, "Yes and I expect an answer…" she whispered.
Saitou's hand caressed her cheek and as he leaned down and their lips were about to meet, Saitou frowned knowing that if they continued he would not be able to stop himself, "No we can't do this…" he growled, pushing away from her and walking to the other end of the room.
Tokio's brow furrowed as her arms were now by her side, "Why not?" she whispered.
"Because I'm to take you to Tokyo and leave you there…because your father put his trust in me to make sure you got there safely, that no harm comes to you…"
"My father doesn't control my life…or who I love…" she growled.
"Maybe not but I will not disrespect him like that…"
"It's just a kiss..." she defended.
Saitou smirked "Which could lead to other things…" he argued.
Tokio snorted, "You can't be serious…"
"Before I met you no I wouldn't be…" he sighed, "Stay here…" he growled grabbing his katana and heading for the door.
Tokio couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Wait…wh-where are you going?"
"For a walk…stay here…" he ordered.
Saitou didn't arrive until well after midnight, slowly entering the room he found that Tokio was fast asleep on the futon, leaning against the wall Saitou slid down to the floor his katana resting against his shoulder and watched as the blanket slowly rose and fell as she breathed in sleep, not knowing that her eyes were wide open.