Author's Notes: I chose to do this chapter first for a couple of reasons. In the prologue I dealt with the…younger characters of Rurouni Kenshin, and thought that if I put this somewhere else in the chapter line-up in might disrupt the flow of the story. When I originally thought of this story, I thought it would be great to add one of our already coupled characters, the one that surprises us most…is married, one, Hijime Saito and his wife Tokio. Gotta love those two!
I also dedicate this chapter to Madame Maru. Mommy, this is for you.
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Disclaimer: I do not any of the Rurouni Kenshin characters. I do own the idea to this story though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it. Warning: Swearing!
Chapter 2: Forgotten, as a Habit
"Good Morning Captain!" A young man said, saluting the tall, thin man passing him in the hall of the Police building.
The man, Hajime Saito, grunted and continued down the hall to his office as Police Captain for Tokyo. He walked into his office, placing his coat and hat on the stand that stood just inside the door, and walked to his desk and sat down. He looked down at the files that had been sat on his desk and started looking through them.
He was opening the third folder when the phone rang for the millionth time that morning already. He sighed, and picked up the phone.
"What is it?" He practically growled into the receiver.
"Hello there Dad." It was his daughter, Yumi. Great.
"What do you want?" He answered, only a little bit nicer. It was already 11:30 in the morning, so she had probably just gotten out of her morning classes.
"Oh nothing. Just calling to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day. I just got off the phone wishing Mom the same…"
"Today is February 14th?" He asked, rummaging through the papers to try and find his calendar.
"You forgot again? Didn't Tora remind when he was home this weekend?" Yumi asked, referring to her twin brother Benatora, who had come home to visit his girlfriend the weekend before.
"I suppose he said something about it being this week. I've been so busy, and that was at least four days ago sweetie." He answered her. Out of their four kids, Yumi was most like Tokio. She could pin him and make him gravel with a look with her big amber eyes, and with hardly any words coming out of her little pink mouth.
"Well, you better call Mom, or do something for her. I have to go meet friends for lunch now; I will speak with you later."
"Good bye Yumi." Saito answered her as she hung up the phone. Damn. Hm, who could he trust? Perfect. He'd do it, and do it well also.
"Mrs. Hajime?" A young woman said, walking into the room of the Hajime home that was Tokio Hajime's office.
Up a couple floors was another room, a room that hardly anyone other than Tokio went into. That was her studio, but today, she had found herself working at her desk, making phone calls, making bills, and working on her computer. But while she was working on all of this, her mind had been else where. She looked at her calendar once again. February 14th. She would win once again. She had it all planned out, there was no way that her husband would win this years competion. Not that he would remember, he never did, but it amazed her what he could work out in eight hours.
"Mrs. Hajime?" The young woman said again.
Since the first Valentine's Day Saito and herself where married, as in every other holiday or birthday, they would compete to see who had the best gift, or best surprise. This year would, if she won, would put her in the lead. She had won the year they had Hinata, telling him on this day that he would be a father for the second time. Hinata was now a senior in high school; she had her own boyfriend, and would be away for the evening. It would be perfect. Absolutely perfect.
"Mrs. Hajime?" The girl said for the third time.
"Yes Sana?" She answered the girl.
"What is on your mind? I've called your name three times before you answered.
"Sorry, my mind was on the plans for this evening. What did you want to tell me?"
"The roses were just delivered. I've put them in water and they are in the kitchen. Is that where you want them?"
"For now, I have other plans, but that will do until I can find time to do the things I need to." Tokio answered.
"Do you want me to do your bills and finish up while you work on the plans?" Sana asked. She had been Tokio Hajime's assistant for four years now. She had gotten the job while she was finishing her last semester at Tokyo University as an Art student. Her professor had been asked by Tokio to see if anyone would be interested in a assistant position that would also allow them to work on their art. It was two jobs in one technically, but paid well, and gave her an excellent mentor in her life and art.
"That would be great Sana, thank you so much! Speaking of plans, do you have any for tonight?"
"Yes, my boyfriend Akito and I have plans. The piece I have been working on is for him, I'll give to him tonight as some point. He's coming over to my apartment and I'm cooking dinner."
"How sweet. Saito never cooks, can't really. It's surprising, as much time as he has spent away from home in the past it's amazing that he can't." Tokio said, stopping at the door to her office.
"I will get right on this, ma'am." Sana said, sitting down at the desk and starting to type.
"Cho! Get your ass in here! I have a special mission for you!" Saito said opening his door, and walking back to his desk.
Out in the office, the officers where placing bets as Cho walked towards the Captain's office. The bets where another Valentine's Day tradition, what would the task be? Two years ago Detectives Kurogasa and Taki where sent to the lingerie store in the mall on the way back from a crime scene to pick a silky nightgown for his wife. The year before it had been chocolates and four dozen flowers delivered by Detective Saguki and Kurata.
Cho walked bravely into the Captain's office, and closed the door. "Yes, Capt. Hajime?"
"I need you to do a few things for me." Saito said, turning to look at the young man.
"What is it this year, Sir?"
"This…Oh, yes. The betting. Yes, I know. Can't imagine why I allow it." Saito said, turning to look out the window behind his desk. "What did you bet for?"
"As a rule the person who is given the duty can't bet." Cho answered, cringing a bit. For as long as this had been going on, there had been rules set up.
"What is the idea most of the department has pulled for?"
"Flowers and Chocolates. Mundane, but always appreciated by the woman."
"And the least?"
"Jewelry. Something nice, not cheap, but nothing outrageous either." The young man answered carefully. It would have been what he had betted for if it hadn't been him who was called into the office.
"Hm. Yes, that sounds nice. Go to the store next to the Takani Medical Clinic. I saw a nice ruby piece in the window the other day when I passed. Tell them to put it on my bill, here, take this, they will know it is the truth." Saito said, reaching behind his neck and pulled something over his head, and placed it in Cho's hand.
The young man looked down and saw a necklace with a few pendants on it. One was a gold T and S wound together, the other was the police insignia.
"What are you staring at?" Saito said.
"The pendants, Sir. Sorry."
"It's fine. They were bought at the same store for me by my wife. She told me it would be the only way she new if it was my body if I ever got in trouble at work. My wife is very unique. Unfortunately, so is her sense of humor."
"If you don't mind me saying Sir, you're a lucky man. Your wife is a wonderful woman, and artist."
"Thank you. I will send your compliment to her as well, she'll be happy to hear it." Saito said.
"Is that all sir? Just the necklace?" Cho said, turning to leave.
"No. There is a boutique a few stores down, same side of the street. There is a white satin nightgown in there with red ribbon and embroidery, please pick that up for me as well. Show them the necklace as well, and tell them to put it on my tab."
"I will be back shortly with your gifts Sir." Cho said and turned to leave the office. Why couldn't the Captain buy his wife's own clothing, or better yet, his own gifts? Valentine's Day was the only holiday this happened for as well. If he loved his wife so much, and that much they had determined, why couldn't he do it himself, or remember?
'Oh well, the lingerie isn't as weird as the piece Kurogasa and Taki had to pick up a few years ago.
"Thank you so much! This is a great help to me, Sana." Tokio said as the two women stood in the kitchen taking petals off of roses, and arranging different sizes of vases for Tokio's plan.
"You're very welcome. I'm glad to be of any assistance. Does Yuki have any plans with his girlfriend tonight?" Sana asked of Tokio and Saito's youngest son, who was a junior in high school.
"Yes, I'm not sure what he has planned, he had flowers delivered to her at school today. Hm, she should have gotten them by now, wonder what she thought of them." Tokio said.
"That's incredibly sweet. You're lucky to have such a great son."
"Yes we are. Now, ready to see the rest of the plans?"
"Of course, who will win this year?
"I will of course!" Tokio said, laughing.
As Saito drove into the driveway he noticed that the house was completely dark. He got out of the car and walked to the front door. 'What is Tokio up to this year?' Saito thought as he adjusted his wrapped gift and twisted the doorknob. He twisted it again. It wasn't opening up, that was strange. He started digging in his pocket for his key, unlocked the door, and stepped into the hall and slipped his shoes off. Once he stepped farther into the hall though, he noticed that the hardwood flooring of his home was…softer, than it should have been. He reached for the light switch to turn on the light, but the light didn't turn on when he switched the light. He looked down once more, but couldn't see anything of the floor.
"Tokio?" Saito yelled. "Honey? Where are you?" 'Damn woman, what did you do this year?' Saito thought as he continued to walk on the soft item that was covering the floor. 'What did she put on this floor anyways?' Saito thought, kneeling down and picking what ever it was up with his fingers. Rose petals. He felt around in his pocket and took out a match and lit it.
The roses led back the hall, and through the door way of the kitchen, or up the steps. 'Which to take?' Saito thought. He looked back and forth, and headed down the hall. 'Knowing Tokio she's in the kitchen thinking that I would follow the petals upstairs first, but I see through her…' Saito's thoughts stopped mid sentence as the second match he had lit went out. He lit the third match, and noticed the rose petals went to the door to the practice hall that they had off the back of the house. 'What the hell is she doing…' Saito's thoughts once again ceasing mid sentence seeing his wife standing in the middle of the room.
Under her feet was laid a blanket and basket, more red and pink rose petals tossed throughout the entire room, candles lit and sitting on holders to catch the wax. There in the middle, was his wife of 23 years, no, it had been 24 years just that past Saturday, standing in a white dress that was so familiar to him. It was simple, a neckline that went from one tip of one shoulder to the other shoulder, the long sleeves fitting snuggly to her well toned arms, the rest of the dress falling flowingly to the floor, covering her feet. It was simple, utterly Tokio, and she looked more beautiful in it than the first time he had seen her in it.
The idiot just stood there. She couldn't believe it. Ah, but now that she took a closer look at his face, she noticed something, something that didn't appear on Saito Hajime's face unless he wanted it to. Or he was extremely surprised. Expression. He must be surprised. Tokio hid her smile as she slowly walked through the candles to where her husband still stood in the door way of the practice hall. She had originally thought the dining room, but as she had rushed back the hall, she couldn't help but think this would be better. Maybe they'd even fit in a sparring match.
"Tokio." Saito said as his voice finally found itself again, which was when she was half way to him.
"Yes, Saito?" She answered, smiling slightly at him.
He didn't say anything, just waited for her to reach him, then slowly smiled, reminding her of a wolf, it was the smirk that always made her knees go to liquid. Oh how she loved this man.
He reached out and took her hand, bringing her closer to him, kissing her lightly on the lips. He broke the kiss off, pushing her slowly backwards towards the middle of the room. 'What else am I to expect tonight?' Saito thought to himself.
"Saito, can I have my gift?"
"Hm. May I have mine?"
"This is yours." Tokio answered him, turning towards the basket, and taking the food out.
"Hm."
"Come, I have something to show you." Tokio said, pulling Saito up, and leading him out of the practice hall. She led him down the hall to the steps, to the stairs. "Follow the roses, I have to take care of something, I'll be up in a few moments.
Saito raised his eyebrow, but did as his wife told him. She was the one person that he could not disappoint. He followed the rose petals up the steps to their bedroom. It didn't surprise him. There was always something that led here, whether it was Tokio leading him, or visa versa, or notes, or like this year, flower petals.
Their room was dark, and he wasn't expecting to see anything when he flipped the light switch, so he was surprised when he saw the long box sitting on the bed with a red bow on it. He looked down at the gift he had gotten Tokio, and laid it on her side of the bed, as she had sat her gift on his side of the bed. He sat down, running his fingers over the gift that was wrapped in white paper, his name written neatly under the bow in Tokio's neat handwriting. He picked the gift up, and stared at it for a few minutes until he finally started to unwrap the gift.
Tokio stood silently watching her husband open his gift. It would probably not surprise him very much, he would already know what it was by the shape and size of the wooden box he was running his fingers over as she watched him. She still couldn't believe she had found it a few weeks ago in the antique shop. The sword had been lost to his family ages ago. She watched him as he flipped the latches of the box, opening the lid, and looking at the Japanese sword that laid on the rich red velvet inside.
"Do you recognize it?" She spoke quietly.
"It's his?" Saito asked, looking up at her as she walked into their room. "Are you certain?"
"Quite certain. The Antique shop owner said that a Makoto-sama brought it in. Said they found it when they were cleaning out his great-grandfather's house after his death."
"I can't believe it."
"I couldn't either. After all the stories I've heard, and then I just saw it sitting there. I blinked and stared at it for ages. For so long the shop owner came over and asked me if I was okay. I told him I didn't care for the price, but I would have the sword and case. Here, see? Recognize the emblems?" Tokio asked, pulling up the velvet from the corner of the case. There, on the bottom of the case was the Tokyo Police emblem, along with the Shinshingumi emblem.
Saito unsheathed the sword and looked carefully at it. He turned and looked at Tokio, taking her chin in his hand, and bringing her lips to meet his in a sweet kiss.
"Thank you." Saito said, looking from her to the sword again. On the hilt of the sword though, where initials he recognized. The initials of his Great-great-great grandfather, who he was named after, and had been told his entire life that he would be a twin to if they lived in the same time. The initials he shared with that Grandfather. "I love you more than anything Tokio."
"And I love you more than anything as well." Tokio said, leaning her head on his shoulder. He carefully re-sheathed the sword, put it back in its case, and placed it on the floor.
"Aren't you going to open your gift?" Saito asked. Tokio turned to look at the box he had laid on the bed.
"No, I'd rather open it later." Tokio said as she stood, placed it on the nightstand next to the bed, and walked back to him.
"Did I tell you you're beautiful?"
"No, but you rarely do. I didn't expect it." She said, smiling down at him.
"I should tell you more often. I seem to remember the first time you wore that dress." Saito said, reaching behind her, and as he remembered, the buttons started at the top of the simple satin dress, and marched down the center of her back to her bottom. "And as I remember now, the buttons are most annoying." Saito said, only a few minutes and two buttons later.
"If I remember correctly, that is one reason why I bought the dress. To make getting out of it a little bit more difficult." Tokio Hajime said, pushing her husband back at his shoulders, the hold he had on her, causing her to follow him down to the bed.
"And like last time, I'm sure this will be just as interesting." He said, chuckling softly as he kissed his wife.
"Happy Valentine's Day, by the way." Saito said a few hours later. They had fallen asleep with the sounds of their laughs echoing in their dreams and wrapped in each others arms.
"You too." Tokio answered him, turning to face him in his arms.
"Want to open your gift now?"
"You keep pushing that thing on me. Is it really that good?"
"I think you'll like it." Saito said, raising an eyebrow. Tokio turned halfway to the stand and picked the slim box up that held her gift. She sat up in her seat, Saito propping himself up on his elbow to watch her. She carefully removed the red bow and white paper, 'Hm, tradition I guess. Red and White, always the same for the two of us.' She carefully lifted the top to the box, moving the red tissue paper aside to see white fabric, red ribbon as the straps, red Sakura embroidered at the top, the ribbon worked through there as well.
"Saito. This is the nightgown I wanted."
"Is it? Hm. I just thought it would suit you. You always did look wonderful in red."
"You did it on purpose. I know your brain."
"Hm? See if it fits, try it on, go ahead." Saito said. He watched as Tokio slipped out of bed, carefully starting to lift the nightgown out of the box.
"There's something else in here." Tokio said, lifting the top of the nightgown to see a ruby necklace laying against the crisp white of the nightgown. She looked up at her husband, a surprised look in her eye. The nightgown dropped out of her hands as she reached for the necklace, gingerly picking the piece up in her hand. It was absolutely beautiful. Holding the rubies was antique gold, looped and swirling, the rubies looking like the red setting sun in the summer sky. She handed Saito the necklace, then quickly slipped the nightgown on, jumping onto the bed, sending the box to the floor.
"Oh Saito! I love them both!" She said, sending herself into his arms.
"I'm glad you like them so much." He said, looking at his wife. She looked beautiful. Her long black hair was rumpled looking, her golden eyes shining even in the moonlit room.
"I love them." Tokio said, kissing him. "But I still won this year."
"Hm? Mm, Yes you did." Saito said, he didn't care.
Neither Tokio, no matter how much she would gloat tomorrow and the following year. She was in the arms of the man she loved. He was sarcastic, and often intimidating, but he was her wolf, and she wouldn't of had it any other way. Especially today.