Chapter 2 First step forward

It took Saitou two and a half minutes to get to the Akabeko, running into the restaurant Saitou's eyes roamed through the people within not finding her he rushed into the kitchen frightening the waitresses and a cook, Tae's eyes widened a bit. "Fujita-san what are you…" was all she said Saitou ignored her and ran out into the alley looking right then left Saitou sighed as he spotted a limp form on the ground.

"Damnit…" he growled as he slowly walked to her Saitou looked down at the bruised and bloody form before him and knelt down to her he sighed as he shook his head placing two fingers on her neck to check if she had a pulse.

The moment his fingers brushed against her skin, Tokio's left arm jerked back and swatted his hand away. "I'll kick you…" she groaned.

Breathing a small sigh of relief Saitou gently pushed her to lie on her back as he assessed her injuries. Her eyes slowly opened as she looked at the person hovering above her. "I thought you said you could take care of yourself?" he whispered carefully picking her up in his arms.

"Shut-up…" Tokio moaned then hissed as she felt an enormous amount of pain in her chest and right arm.

"Try not to move…" Saitou whispered as he stood up and carried her out of the alley.

"Like it's that easy…" she winced taking a quick breath.

"Again with the complaints even while injured can nothing keep her quiet?" he drawled.

Tokio glared at the man, "Oh you just wait when this pain I'm feeling goes away..." she growled.

XxXxX

Nine minutes later Saitou smirked as he walked up the steps and entered the police precinct the captain received odd looks as he carried an unconscious woman in his arms, looking to Tokio's previous escort who gasped when he saw how beaten up she was, "Get a doctor…" Saitou told Matsu, "Begin a search for Lieutenant Atsugi…I want him brought in…" he ordered as he headed for his office.

"Yes sir…" Matsu rushed out of the precinct.

Walking down the hall Saitou carried Tokio within the safety of his office, closing the door behind him with his foot, Saitou gently laid her on the floor opening a small closet he then took out a few blankets. Draping one over the woman he used the other as a pillow, carefully lifting her head he slid it under and checked her pulse again, that idiot Atsugi had apparently gotten a few good hits on her.

Saitou narrowed his eyes as he gently brushed a few stay hairs out of her face spotting the blood from a cut on her cheek he growled a bit, hearing a tap at the door Saitou slowly stood up and opened it, "Captain Fujita this is Dr.Gensai…" Matsu breathed nudging the doctor in the room.

Saitou nodded and allowed the doctor to enter, "She was badly beaten said she felt pain in her right arm and her chest…is there anything you need?"

"Warm water…and a few more blankets…" he ordered as he knelt down to her and felt her forehead for a fever.

Saitou nodded and went to get as was asked several minutes later, Saitou sighed as he had taken over another office and was looking through some paperwork, having a hard time to concentrate at the moment. 'Why take the risk?' he thought to himself, 'Why not finish her why leave her alive?' he sighed as he leaned back in his chair his arms behind his head. "And why can't I get her out of my mind…" he grumbled looking at the folders on the desk picking one up he began reading it's contents to get rid of the tiny little distraction that had seemed to plague his mind the first moment he had locked eyes with her.

An hour later after doctor Gensai appeared at the wolf's door telling the captain that Tokio would be alright, her arm wasn't broken only fractured in three places and she had two bruised ribs, "Eh you are Captain Fujita correct?"

"Yes…"

"Well the lady is asking for you…"

"Is she now…thank you doctor…" Saitou nodded and gathered his paperwork he then headed for his office. "This should be interesting…" he mused.

Slowly opening the door he found Tokio leaning against the wall her right arm in a sling, "Okay you said I was to be protected right…then explain this…" Tokio hissed pointing to her arm.

Saitou sighed as he dropped his paperwork on his desk then turned to the woman, "Are you hungry?" he asked.

Tokio stared at the wolf for a mere moment then quirked an eye. "What?"

"Food do you want any?"

Tokio sighed as she leaned her head against the wall, "Yeah sure why not…" she breathed closing her eyes for a moment, Saitou left the room and entered a few minutes later with a tray setting it down beside her, Tokio quirked an eyebrow, "Well that was fast…"

"I figured it would keep you quiet for at least twenty minutes…" he smirked as he stood and left the room again.

Several minutes had passed and Tokio tried her best to eat, "Oww…damnit…" she growled giving up on the chopsticks she threw them aside and picked up the bowl with her left hand and began to sip at the broth giving up on trying to eat the noodles, not knowing that Saitou watched her from the doorway. Entering the room with a clean change of clothes which was a policeman's uniform that looked to be about her size.

"Here…" Saitou dropped the clothes beside her, Tokio quirked and eye as she looked at the clothes.

"What you want me to enlist in the police force?" she asked watching him as he made his way to his desk.

"No, it's either that or you wear that torn up and bloody kimono that reeks of garbage…or would you rather parade around the streets in nothing but a blanket."

"Eh…uniform." she answered sipping at the broth again, "If I wear that does that mean I can yell at idiots and drunks?" she asked with an amused grin.

"No…"

Tokio huffed, "You're no fun…"

"I know…" he answered sitting down in his chair looking through a few papers.

"So does this mean no more escort?" she asked with a tiny hint of hope in her voice.

"No…you still get one…Atsugi hasn't been brought in yet…" he answered plainly.

"Right and look what happened to me last time, I repeat from before did you see my bruises, look at my arm…"

"Yes I saw them and I've spoken to a few officers that are trustworthy…"

"TRUSTWORTHY…I don't believe this…" Tokio sighed as she leaned back to rest her back against the wall. "Okay seriously now here's a good question…" Saitou looked up from what he was reading, now that she had his attention she smirked, "How am I supposed to get dressed?"

"I asked the woman who lives next door to come by later…" he answered returning his attention to what he was reading before.

"Do you always think of everything?"

"Yes…" he drawled

Several minutes later after the woman next door helped Tokio get dressed, the wolf held the door open as an injured Tokio limped through it, Saitou smirked as he followed her down the steps since he was to accompany her to her house, Tokio had a hand across her chest as she slowly walked down the steps of the police precinct, muttering curses all the way down, "Ow…ow…ow…" she seethed and suddenly felt an arm wrap around her waist and a hand holding her left arm, Tokio looked up as Saitou helped her down the remaining steps. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"

"Enjoying what…it's obvious you're in pain I'm simply helping you down the steps…" Saitou answered plainly.

"You being kind…never thought I'd see the day…" she sighed as he released her and walked beside her, "How do you men wear this…it's so itchy…" she asked scratching at the collar of the coat.

"You get used to it, and stop fidgeting you'll only aggravate your wounds…"

"Why the hell not…I'm the one injured here in this weird uncomfortable uniform…and WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT…" she narrowed her eyes at the four geisha's staring at her then winced as she wrapped her left arm around her chest. "What you've never seen a woman dressed like a cop before…jeesh some people…" Tokio sighed as she stopped and groaned rubbing at her chest, "Why do bruised ribs have to hurt so much?"

"Because they're bruised…" Saitou drawled placing a hand to her lower back encouraging her to move forward.

"Alright wise ass…where are we going anyway?" Tokio asked with a winced as she stood up straight and began moving forward feeling a small pressure on her lower back.

"To your house I thought it was obvious…" Saitou smirked. "You're injured you need to rest…" he continued.

"This isn't the way to my house…"

"Yes it is considering that you're injured it's the fastest possible way to your house."

"Since when?"

"Since I know…now stop being annoying with the questions…"

"Why not I like to ask questions…it irritates people…"

"So I've noticed…"

At that Tokio laughed at the tone in his voice, "Ow…don't make me laugh…" she giggled swatting at his arm. Suddenly doubling over Saitou quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulders and slowly pulled her to stand up straight. "Okay that really hurts don't make me laugh again…" she breathed.

"Do I look like the type of person that makes people laugh?" Saitou smirked.

Tokio looked up and chuckled softly, "You…aheh no…so I guess you're not going to stop until you get the last word hun?"

"Obviously not…"

"That is really annoying you know that?"

"Yes…"

"Okay I'm going to shut-up now…"

"Very well…though I doubt it will last long…"

"Oh shut-up…"

"Two seconds see I told you…"

"You're a pain in the ass…"

"Everyone has their own opinion…"

Tokio grinned as she clamped her mouth shut, Saitou glanced over to her as they continued walking, 'How is it she can be this loud and not piss me off…' he mused opening a nearby gate and allowing her to enter first. "Now will you be alright alone?" he asked with a tiny smirk.

"Yes…" Tokio answered with a smile.

"Too bad since you're still getting an escort…" he chuckled.

Tokio immediately frowned, "I do not…"

"You do to…no arguments…he'll be here any minute…"

"What is it with you and protecting me?"

"Must I remind you that you-are-injured…and cannot fight back as easily as before…"

"Heh obviously you've never seen me pissed…" Tokio chuckled as she unlocked her door and entered her house. Saitou smirked as he leaned against the house and waited for her escort to arrive.

XxXxX

A month had passed and still Atsugi had not been caught but had apparently according to the wolf's sources fled the city, Saitou still kept a close eye on the woman, finding it amusing to annoy her and a challenge to try and anger her, he smirked as he saw her roaming through a few shops within the marketplace, Tokio smiled as she spotted him walking, "Now I knew I couldn't get rid of you that easily…" he heard and turned to the voice.

"I'm just making sure that you stay out of trouble…" he answered.

Tokio quirked an eye, "Really?"

"Yes really…"

"Why is there someone else after me?" she asked looking around.

"There might be…" Saitou smirked as he was now face to face with the woman.

"Are you sure you aren't a stalker?" she chuckled.

Saitou rolled his eyes, "For the last time no I'm not…how is your arm healing?"

Tokio couldn't help but laugh, "Its healing fine, so does this mean you're always going to keep an eye on me?"

"I'm a police officer…it's my job to keep an eye on everybody…"

"Don't you ever take a break?" she asked picking up a ribbon and running her hands on the fabric then placed it back to its previous spot and stepped outside.

"Only when I sleep…" Saitou answered taking out a cigarette and lit it.

"How often do you sleep?" she asked watching him.

"When I find the time…" he answered blowing out the smoke from his lungs.

"Oh you can't be serious…"

"Fine a few hours a night…happy?" he answered looking around.

Tokio snorted, "No wonder you're always so pissy…"

"I'm used to it…" he smirked. "And I'm not pissy…I'm determined and somewhat complicated…"

"No kidding…You're going to make yourself sick if you continue on like that…" she chuckled as she moved to another vendor.

"It's worked alright for the last ten years…" Saitou answered taking a few steps forward and bowing his head to a few old women passing by giving them a fake smile.

Tokio quickly turned to him, "What you mean to tell me you've been a cop for the last ten years, how old are you?"

"No…seven…I was a teacher for the first three…and I'm thirty-four…" he answered taking a drag from his cigarette.

"Thirty-four…" Tokio smirked leaning close to him, "Hn I feel bad for your students…what'd you teach?"

"Swordsmanship…"

"Oohh interesting…how many ended up with broken limbs?"

Saitou chuckled, "A few…"

Tokio laughed softly, "Okay what made you want to become a cop?" She asked now extremely interested as she led him towards the Akabeko.

Saitou quirked an eye as he looked down to the woman beside him as they now walked down the street, "Interrogating me now?"

"No…answer my question…"

"Government offered…I took it…actually I was a bit annoyed with teaching morons who couldn't follow simple instructions…" he smirked finishing his cigarette and ground it with under his shoe.

Tokio chuckled softly, "Oh sure I can see the look on your face when they'd screw up…"

"Are you done with your curiosity?" he asked stopping at the Akabeko's front door.

"Almost…what's your favorite dish?" Tokio asked turning to the man.

"Why?" Saitou asked quirking an eye at the question.

"Well you're here you might as well eat something healthy…last thing I want is for you to get sick after ten years…my word wouldn't that be a sight…" she giggled then lifted an eyebrow. "Well?"

Saitou took a breath as he thought for a moment, "Kake Soba…"

"With a pot of Ginseng tea and a bowl of rice…Hn so you're the one always ordering the stuff jeesh your taste buds must be jumping for joy…" she smirked "Okay go sit down…" she shooed the man into the restaurant giving him a tiny smile, while she went to prepare his meal.

XxXxX

A month had passed and every single time the wolf spotted the woman or the other way around, the two would immediately start off with their usual jokes dripping with sarcasm and boorish insults. Making it a daily challenge to see whom could get the other irritated first which always seemed to be Tokio as she would get so angered that she'd actually lash out at the captain. One night Saitou entered the Akabeko and giving Tae his order he settled in one of the booths.

Tae sighed as she entered the kitchen and gave the last order to her head chef whom immediately had a smirk on her lips, Tae had noticed recently that Tokio had become a bit cheerful every time lunch or diner came along she seemed to have an evil little smirk plastered on her lips for some reason every single time she prepared kake soba. Tae frowned as she looked to the captain whom was waiting for his meal to be served to him then back at Tokio, and immediately put two and two together. Watching as Tokio put the final touches to the wolf's meal.

With a tiny smile Tae grasped the tray and headed out into the restaurant placing the food in front of the hungry wolf. She then quickly made her way into the kitchen, "Tokio?"

"Oh god don't tell me there's someone else?" Tokio asked starting to clean the pots.

"No we'll finish up here…why don't you um go keep the captain company?"

Tokio quirked an eye, "What?"

Tae shook her head and released a tiny giggle, "Just go…" she pushed her out of the kitchen. Tokio rolled her eyes as she sighed and walked over to the captain.

After eating a few bites he smirked as he heard a very familiar voice. "I take it you're bored captain?" Tokio smiled.

"Not entirely…and if you hadn't noticed I'm eating…" Saitou drawled as he sipped his tea.

"So are you going to treat the chef?" she asked sitting in front of him then scooted over to sit on his right side leaning her elbows on the table.

"I suppose I should…" Saitou smirked, "What would she like?" he asked looking at her.

"Hmmm…let me think…" Tokio leaned back thinking for a moment.

"Hn perhaps something new from the menu?" Saitou drawled putting his cup of tea down.

"New?" Tokio frowned, "What's new, like what?" she asked trying to think of any new dish which she knew there weren't.

"Like this…" Saitou smirked as he tilted her chin up and laid a soft kiss on her lips.

Tokio leaned back for a moment in total shock as she quirked an eye staring at the wolf, "Are you drunk?"

Saitou chuckled, "No…I tend to not touch any sort of alcohol…" he smirked looking down to her watching her reaction with a certain amount of amusement.

"Really why not…"

"I tend to become violent if I do…old habit during the Revolution…" he answered still looking at her.

"Okay…eh are you on medication?"

"No…why do you ask?"

"Are you aware that you just kissed me?"

"Is that what I just did?" Saitou asked with a tiny smirk.

"Yes you did why did you do that, are you sick you know there's a doctor down the street…you're dying aren't you…I thought you hated me that I irritated the hell out of you?"

"No I'm not sick nor dying… I never said I hated you…and I happen to like being irritated by you…especially when you fight back and start to argue…" he chuckled eating another mouthful of rice.

Tokio released an evil chuckle, "Fight back and argue…Oh so you're one of those hun?"

"One of those what?" he asked as he continued eating.

"You know those guys who like it rough…"

"Absolutely not…" Saitou sighed as he finished his tea, "I thought you said you were hungry?"

"Are you serious?" Tokio asked squinting her eyes she then leaned forward to try and see his reaction.

"About what?" Saitou asked with a tiny smirk as he twirled his noodles with his chopsticks.

Tokio frowned as she poked him in the ribs, "Quit teasing…" she scolded.

"If I wasn't serious I wouldn't have bothered to kiss you…" he murmured.

"I don't believe this you're just doing this for a good laugh right?" she huffed leaning back and crossed her arms to her chest not convinced of the police officers intentions.

"I take it you don't trust men too much?" he sighed looking at her.

"Well considering from past experience, they only seem to want to either kill or rape me so…no not very…"

"I am not that kind of man that would lead you on like that…I do have my honor…" he whispered tilting her chin up and looking in her eyes.

"Why me?" she breathed.

"Because you're intriguing…you're not scared to say what's on your mind you constantly argue with anyone that angers you, you're intelligent witty and I'm interested…don't tell me you need more explanation then that because we'll be here all night…"

Tokio giggled, "You find me intriguing?"

Saitou smirked, "Yes and you're constantly on my mind which is a first for me…it's a bit irritating really…" he smirked, "…and before she decides to retaliate you do know there are people around that can see and hear us right?"

"Like I care…besides it's extremely late the only ones here are Tae and a few of the girls as they're finishing cleaning up…"

"I suppose you're heading home then?" he asked finishing his noodles and drinking the broth.

Tokio chuckled softly, "Aw does that mean you're going to walk me home?" she asked with a cocky little smile.

"If that's what you want…" Saitou shrugged.

"Keep me safe from all the perverts…Hn one question…do you have enough time in your days for me?"

"Well I'm here now aren't I?"

"How long have you been debating with yourself to ask me out?"

"What's to debate either you do or you don't…" he drawled as he left a few coins on the table to settle his bill and turned to look at her.

"You're an odd one you know that?"

"And yet you're allowing me to court you…" Saitou smirked as he stood up and waited for her.

"Oh sure make it sound bad…"

Saitou chuckled, "I have a feeling that mouth of yours is going to attract a lot of trouble…"

Tokio smirked as she swatted at his arm, "You better believe it…" she drawled. "Eh you know what you're getting yourself into?" she asked glancing at the man walking beside her.

Saitou chuckled softly, "I like a challenge…" he smirked.