Chapter 12 She's who's wife?
Three days earlier…
A woman was running through the street clutching something to her chest as she ran through an alley, she had found herself cornered closing her eyes she had a mental picture of the men in front of her and as they rushed to her she ran towards them and dodged her attackers although she didn't leave the alley without suffering a few more wounds as she ran again. After losing the men who were chasing her Tokio took a calming breath the bastard with the sword had slashed her back…revenge would be sweet later, she though to herself as her hand brushed against the wall tilting her head to the side she gasped and quickened her pace, as she sensed a few people following her, breathing heavily since she was now exhausted from running so long. She exited the alley and ran into the street, narrowly missing being run over by a carriage, she quickly turned her head and listened looking to her right she ran into the nearest shop.
Gasping for breath she still held the bundle possessively to her chest, "Miss are you alright?" she heard someone ask. The shopkeeper a bit concerned since the lady in question was a bit disheveled, she was bloody and beaten, her clothes were torn to shreds. The other people in the shop approached her out of concern, sensing that she wasn't safe here, she quickly ran back outside.
Ten minutes had passed by and she found herself walking down an unfamiliar street, her left hand brushing against the wall to help lead her hoping that she hadn't been followed, now feeling extremely exhausted the woman leaned against a wall to try and gather her strength still clutching the small bundle in her arms she smiled a bit and released a shaky breath, her head jerked up when she heard a branch snap, panicking she quickly stood, her eyes narrowed a bit at the noises she heard her breath hitched when her hand brushed against what seemed to be a plaque, her fingers traced the Kanji carved on the wooden board.
"Kamiya Kashin…dojo…" she whispered. Hearing a small chuckle she ran through the gate trying to find somewhere to hide, she immediately screeched to a halt when she heard children laughing she turned towards the noise, "Oh damn…" she growled fearing for the children's lives, not knowing that there were now three adults and a teenager starring at her. Hearing the shuffle of feet and the sound of steel against steel she turned to face her attackers only to stumble backward when her legs gave out as exhaustion took it's nasty hold on the woman and she fell to the ground unconscious.
Kenshin Himura's eyes widened as he saw the woman was about to fall, using his god like speed he rushed over to her, Kenshin lunged forward and gently grasped her in his arms, blood dribbling down her lip, Kenshin's eyes narrowed as he turned to the gate seeing four men enter, "Sano…" Kenshin spoke up, as he looked to the woman again, his eyes widened a bit, she seemed awfully familiar.
"Right…" Sanosuke smirked as he stepped forward cracking his knuckles. Glancing at the woman in Kenshin's arms Sano narrowed his eyes when he noticed the bruises on her cheek then faced his opponents, "Okay what do you punks want?" Kaoru stayed with Ayame and Suzume while Yahiko ran to Kenshin.
"Quickly Yahiko…fetch Miss Megumi and Dr.Gensai…" Kenshin ordered, "She looks as if she might have internal bleeding…" Kenshin instructed as he gently picked up the woman and carried her within the house. Kaoru followed bringing the girls with her.
"Right…" Yahiko whispered as he ran towards the gate, kicking one of the men who was blocking the way in the groin he rushed down the street towards the clinic.
While Sano was enjoying beating up the four trespassers, Kaoru pulled out a futon and Kenshin gently laid the woman on it, "She looks beaten up…" Kaoru whispered, as she draped a few blankets on her.
"That she does…Stay here with her while I go heat up some water something tells me that Megumi might need it…" Kenshin whispered as he left the room.
A few minutes later Sano entered the kitchen his fishbone stuck between his lips, Kenshin looked up. "Don't worry Kenshin they weren't much of a problem…ran off the first punch I gave…nothing but a bunch of wusses…" Kenshin gave a small smile, as he poured the water in a pot and waited for it to heat up. "How's the lady?" he asked curiously.
"Pretty badly beaten up, I wish Yahiko would hurry…" he sighed.
Sano's eyes narrowed a bit at the thought, "Where is she now?"
"Hopefully sleeping comfortably in one of the spare rooms…Kaoru and the girls are watching over her."
Fifteen minutes later, Yahiko and the two doctors rushed in through the door, Megumi asked Kaoru and the girls to leave the room so that they could work. Kneeling beside the woman she pulled back the blankets and began stripping her trying to pry her arms open pulling on the bundle she held, while Gensai took out the bandages and medicines from his bag. Hearing a small squeak Megumi and Gensai jerked back at the noise. Megumi then slowly pulled the blanket open and gasped as she found that the woman was clutching a baby he couldn't be more than seven, eight months old.
Megumi carefully looked the baby over while Gensai pulled the woman's kimono open and frowned at the numerous wounds she had. Seeing the injuries old and new on the woman Megumi knew that Gensai would need her help, standing she rushed out of the room seeing Kenshin and Yahiko waiting in the hall she turned to Kenshin, "Here…she was holding this baby…can you take care of him until she wakes?" she pressed.
Kenshin's eyes widened a bit, "Eh…Miss Megum…"
"NOW…DO IT…" she yelled gently placing the babe in the rurouni's arms, she didn't have time for this.
"Yes Ma'am…" Kenshin gasped as he held the babe a bit awkwardly. Yahiko snickered as he watched Megumi run back into the room, "Yahiko…what do you suppose miss Kaoru will say when she sees that we now have well…a baby?" he asked looking at the teen.
"Beats me let's go show her already before this little kid wakes up wanting to be fed…or worse changed…"
XxXxX
A few hours later the woman's eyes snapped open as she jerked up and screamed her head moving around, her hands shakily patting the floor searching for something she gasped when she couldn't find what she was looking for she then winced as she began to crawl out of her futon, "No…no…" she cried.
Megumi entered the room hearing the scream, "Oh my…please you must stay still…."
"MY BABY…WHERE'S MY BABY…" she screamed.
"Don't worry he's alright a good friend of mine is taking care of him…please lie back down…your injuries are very severe…do you know…" Megumi tried but the woman slowly closed her eyes as she passed out. A single word passed her split lip in a whisper, Megumi's eyes widened as she recognized the name the woman uttered, "Haji-me…"
After checking the woman's injuries and making sure she was comfortable. Megumi rushed outside, where she spotted Kenshin, Yahiko, Sano and Kaoru sitting on the engawa "Sir Ken…" she breathed climbing the steps and kneeling before the small group, "The woman and the baby they need to be protected…she told me that Saitou did this to her…" she frowned.
Sano's eyes narrowed, "What that asshole's still alive…I knew it that bastard was always bad news…" he growled slamming his fists together.
"Wait…you must have misunderstood Megumi…Saitou follows a specific code…he'd never beat a woman senseless…" Kenshin defended the police officer. Watching as Kaoru rocked the sleeping baby gently in her arms.
"That's what she said?" Kaoru looked up, "Did she say anything else except Saitou beat me up?" Kaoru asked.
"No well not technically, she screamed wanting to know where her baby was…then muttered Hajime as she passed out…"
Kenshin seemed lost in his thoughts for a moment, "Do you have any clue when she'll wake up again, I'd like to hear it from her own lips…"
Megumi shook her head, "Could be hours could be days…she's very ill."
Kenshin turned to the brute next to him, "Sano would you please stay here and make sure no one comes near this child…while I stay near the woman…a few answers might be helpful…" he asked slowly standing and entering the house to sit next to the woman.
XxXxX
A few days later Kenshin was still leaning against the wall, Kaoru entered the room the baby in her arms and sat beside the rurouni, "Any change?" she asked, Kenshin slowly shook his head no, Yahiko and Sano stayed by the shoji outside playing a game of dice the shoji was open to allow fresh air to enter the room, Kenshin smiled as he watched the baby stare at him with his amber eyes something looked oddly familiar as he stared at the infant. The Kenshin-gumi immediately looked at the woman when she began to speak softly.
"He's not hurt is he?" she breathed.
"No…he's fine…" Kenshin gave her a small smile.
"Yahiko get Megumi…" Kaoru shooed the boy, looking at the woman as she slowly tried to sit up. "Miss please don't move…" Kaoru tried to stop her.
"Please give him to me…" she breathed.
Kenshin quickly stood helping the woman to lean against the wall, Sano grabbed a few blankets and pillows surrounding her with them, Kaoru slowly stood and kneeled beside the woman gently putting the baby in her arms while Kenshin stayed nearby just in case she lost her strength and couldn't hold him any longer. Sano sat beside Kaoru watching the woman smile as she ran her index finger on the baby's cheek, a few tears rolled down her cheeks, breathing a small sigh of relief.
Kenshin frowned a bit as he noticed a haze in her eyes. "May I ask his name?" Kenshin smiled.
"Tetsuo…" she whispered.
"And yours?" Sano asked, Megumi and Yahiko had just arrived in the room.
"Tokio…" she whispered taking slow deep breaths and held her baby a bit possessively.
Kenshin thought for a moment he knew this name he'd heard it while in Kyoto as he traveled to defeat Shishio. "Where is Saitou?" Kenshin asked.
Tokio blinked a few times and lifted her head, "How do you know him?" she asked cradling her son.
"What exactly did that bastard do to you…I mean if he…" Sano growled.
"Sano be quiet…" Kenshin sighed. "Saitou didn't beat her…he's her husband…and I presume that this little one is his son?" Kenshin smiled. The Kenshin-gumi's eyes widened at this sudden news, "I know your husband very well that I do…Where is Saitou?" Kenshin asked again, "Who attacked you?"
"I don't know…we just moved here…I was attacked by these strange men then I was turned around and got lost…"
"Is Saitou here with you?"
"Yes he…" she frowned, "Oh…How long have we been here?"
"Three days…" Kaoru answered.
Tokio's eyes widened, "Oh dear Eiji…Sai…please you have to find him and tell him we're alright…please…" she breathed.
Kenshin seemed a bit lost in his thoughts for a moment then shook his head at her panicked voice, "Yes of course…don't overexert yourself please…" he whispered as he slowly stood, and walked out of the room.
Tokio took a deep breath to try and calm down as she thanked the man.
"Kenshin Wait…I'll go with you…" Yahiko spoke up running after the rurouni. After a few moments had passed and they were heading towards town, Yahiko looked at the rurouni… "Hey Kenshin you alright?"
"What?" Kenshin looked down at the boy.
"Are you alright…you're spacing out, what's the matter?"
Kenshin smiled, "Miss Tokio…I remember her…"
"You've met her before?"
"No not exactly…I've seen her…"
"You know it would be much easier if you'd just spit it out and not annoy me by making me ask you all these stupid questions…"
Kenshin chuckled, "I'm sorry Yahiko I'm just thinking…During the revolution I faced Saitou Hajime in Tokyo…I remember seeing her crawl through the field to find him…after the battle was over."
"If the battle was over why would she be crawling?"
"She wanted to find Saitou."
Yahiko frowned, "Why not just walk around and look for him?"
"Because you see Miss Tokio is blind…"
"What no way…how did she find her way to us without tripping over or walking into something?"
"I've no idea…although one's sense of hearing is often heightened when one is blind…so I've heard…" he smiled.
Yahiko was now deep in thought as they approached the police precinct, looking up he followed Kenshin inside.
Kenshin and Yahiko entered the building and asked the officer at the front desk if he could speak with one Fujita Goro…knowing the wolf kept his real identity a secret, the policeman's eyes widened a bit, "Is there something wrong officer?" the rurouni asked.
"Oh no…" he mumbled as he stepped out from behind the desk and glanced down a hall.
"Then what's the problem?" Yahiko asked a bit curious.
"Captain Fujita just transferred here and is well…a bit angry at the moment…no one knows why…he has been for the past three days, I don't think he's getting much sleep…" he sighed.
Kenshin smirked, "Sir perhaps you should allow me to speak to him…I might have a bit of information that might cheer him up…" Kenshin offered, that said the policeman led them to the captain's office.
Knocking gently he waited for permission to enter, not hearing one he frowned then knocked again, taking a chance he opened the door slightly, seeing Saitou sitting in his chair his elbows on the desk holding his head up his fingers through his hair and his eyes closed, seeming as if he was in deep thought, or resting his eyes for a moment. Chou was sitting in a chair in a corner his legs propped on top of a filing cabinet fast asleep, "S-sir…" the policeman gulped, seeing the captain's eyes open a cold amber glaring at the man. "Ummm…someone to see you sir…" the policeman stepped aside to let the rurouni and the teen enter the room.
Kenshin watched as the door closed then turned to the wolf, "Well it's good to see you alive and well…" he frowned a bit, "You seem tired Saitou…"
"What do you want Battousai…" Saitou seethed not moving from his spot.
"Oh nothing…how is Eiji?"
Saitou sighed as he leaned back in his chair then narrowed his eyes, "Don't make me repeat myself…" he growled.
"I just came to tell you that your wife and son are safe at the dojo…"
"What?" Saitou quickly stood.
"I would have informed you sooner but she only woke up about twenty minutes ago…" Kenshin apologized.
Saitou looked to Yahiko, "You…go to Taito Street, eighth house down the block to your right, Fujita name plate on the gate…"
Yahiko's eyes widened, "What no way…"
"Bring the boy to your dojo…take him to his mother…" he ordered, Yahiko looked at him a bit confused as he jumbled the words in his mind, realizing what the wolf had said Yahiko nodded his head and left.
"His mother…I presume you adopted Eiji then?" Kenshin asked with a small smile and followed Saitou as he left his office.
As Saitou stretched his back and opened the door to leave his office he noticed how Chou's chair tipped back waiting a few moments he smirked, "CHOU…" he barked.
Chou's eyes snapped open his arms flailing in the air as the chair tipped back and crashed to the floor bringing the sword hunter down with it, "What the who…where…" he mumbled, then looked up.
"Go home you idiot…" Saitou drawled then sighed as he exited the precinct the rurouni followed close behind watching as the wolf lit himself a cigarette, then exhaled the smoke from his lungs, and answered the Battousai's previous question, "Tokio insisted since Eiji didn't have anyone, he's extremely attached to her and he's not a total idiot like that one staying with you…"
"Yes well Yahiko still has a lot to learn that he does…" Kenshin defended the young samurai with a smile.
"I was talking about that rooster head of yours…" Saitou smirked as he walked down the street towards the Kamiya dojo, after a long silence Saitou spoke again. "Is she alright?" he whispered.
"I'm afraid she was badly beaten that she was…" Kenshin looked to the wolf and frowned as he stopped suddenly, "She said that she had been attacked by four men then had gotten herself lost."
"And my son?"
"Not one scratch…" Kenshin gave a small smile.
"Hn…" Saitou snorted and continued on his way not saying another word until they arrived at the dojo, Sano was outside with Kaoru as she cradled the baby in her arms. The ex-fighter for higher looked up and smirked, "Well, well look who's back from the dead…Hey Saitou lose something?" he chuckled, Saitou narrowed his eyes at the man and walked up the steps of the engawa. Sano stood up and got in his way.
"Out of my way you idiot…" he drawled.
"Heh make me…" Sano challenged holding his ground.
Saitou sighed as he lunged forward and grabbed the man by the throat slamming him against the wall squeezing the breath out of the ex-fighter for higher, "I haven't slept in three days…I want to hold my son and see my wife…you expect to stop me I'll snap your neck like a fucken twig right now…" Saitou hissed his eyes blazing.
"I-wa-s-ju-st-ki-dd-ing-jeez…" Sano croaked, trying to break free from the man's grasp, and amazingly failing miserably. Saitou released him and looked to Kaoru who held the baby rather protectively. Saitou glared at her, waiting until she relinquished the baby back to him.
Sensing Saitou's ki fluctuate as he was starting to get rather pissed off, Kenshin took a breath, "Miss Kaoru perhaps you should give Saitou his son…It might help in calming him that it might…" Kenshin tried.
Kaoru looked at Kenshin then back at Saitou and reluctantly placed the baby in his arms, her eyes widened a bit as Saitou gently held his son, pulling away the blanket he was wrapped in Saitou looked the baby over and actually smiled when the boy wrapped his tiny fingers around Saitou's. The wolf then looked at Kenshin, taking the hint the rurouni led the man into the house.
Kenshin slowly opened the shoji, Megumi looked up and smiled then frowned when Saitou entered, resting the baby against his shoulder Saitou entered and slowly kneeled down beside his wife he then gently laid the baby down on the floor then looked to Megumi, "Will she be alright?" he asked.
"She has a few bruised ribs…a lot of contusions on her sides as well as a deep slash on her back other then that she'll be fine…She'll need a lot of bed rest…" Megumi answered crossing her arms.
"Leave us…" he frowned.
"What?" Not liking the tone in his voice Megumi looked at the man outraged.
"I said leave us woman…" Saitou growled.
Kenshin had a small smile gracing his lips as he helped Megumi up and shooed everyone out of the room, "Kenshin you can't just…" Kaoru protested but was cut off.
"He's been worrying about them for the last three days…he wants a moment alone with them…to help ease his mind." He whispered. "And I highly doubt he wants an audience to see him in this state…that he doesn't."
The moment the shoji door closed Saitou gently lifted the blanket and her yukata to inspect her wounds, he ground his teeth at the bruises adorning her body, covering her up again he gazed at her face. Tokio seemed to be sleeping peacefully he then gently ran the back of his hand against her left cheek.
The woman's eyes slowly fluttered open frowning for a moment she then lifted her left hand to the one caressing her cheek and gave him a small smile, "Are you in any pain?" he whispered leaning down and placing a kiss on her forehead.
"No." she smiled and closed her eyes, hearing a small whimper she looked up and to her right, "How's our chubby little boy?" she grinned.
"Ecstatic…" he chuckled as he picked him up and sat him on his lap holding him up. "Who did this to you?"
"I don't know…they followed me here though…but I passed out and…oh the children…Eiji…" she whispered trying to sit up.
Saitou quickly pushed her back down gently, "They're fine…the woman next door is looking after them and Eiji's on his way…calm down…" he ordered brushing his lips against hers, Tokio sighed as she lifted her hand and let her fingers roam and caress his face.
Tokio grinned wickedly as she made herself comfortable, "You look tired husband…have you been chasing the streets all night?"
"Nights dear wife as well as days…" he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, he, Chou and Eiji had searched for her ever since she'd gone missing. Saitou then looked to the door as he heard heavy footsteps running throughout the halls, followed by arguing and someone falling to the floor, the shoji door quickly opened to reveal Eiji. A small smile graced his lips as he slowly walked in the room and knelt down beside Tokio, Saitou smirked as he saw Sano was on the floor his hands to his genitals as he probably tried to stop Eiji from entering the room to see his mother.
"Are you alright auntie Tokio?" the teenager asked.
Tokio smiled as she motioned for him to approach and hugged him close, "I'm fine…" she whispered kissing the top of his head.
"We searched everywhere for you what happened?" the teen asked.
"Later Eiji…" Saitou sighed as he looked down to his son who began to cry softly, Saitou shouldered his son and seeing that Tokio was about to pass out he slowly stood, "Stay with her…" he told his adopted son as he left the room with Tetsuo.