Chapter 3 Tuesday
The next day his apprentices already gone for school, Kio opened the door to Saitou's room he was greeted with a smile, walking up to his deshie's bed Kio bent down, nose to nose with the little redhead. Kenji giggled as he grasped master's cheeks; Kio smiled and lifted him up into his arms. "Well you're in good spirits today?"
"Ko!"
Kio laughed. "K-I-O...KI...O" he corrected.
"Ko!" Kenji repeated.
"Hn the nurses are going to have a field day with you today." Kio grinned as he made his way to Kenji's room, sat on the floor and started to dress the three year old. Kenji had a visit to the clinic for a check up on his injuries today, being in a very good mood Kenji decided that he wanted to play this morning and since Okita was not around... "Hey get back here." Kio chuckled as Kenji ran to the other side of the room giggling, slowly getting up master made his way to the boy, and as he ran past him Kio grabbed him around the waist and held him upside down Kenji laughed even harder.
Lifting him until their eyes met Kio asked, "Are you going to let me dress you now, we are going to be late, we'll play later okay."
"K!"
After a quick breakfast, the two were on their way to the clinic.
XxXxX
Clinic
"Well good morning master Kio, hello Kenji." A nurse chirped as she waved at the little boy and smiled.
"HI..." Kenji cheered and lifted his right arm to wave, as Kio snickered.
"You are such a sweetie...I could just eat you up." Kenji's eyes widened as he looked to master then the approaching nurse. The nurse took a step forward and squeezed the little boy's cheeks. "This way master Kio." The nurse led them to an empty exam room, and told them that the doctor would be with them in a moment.
After a few minutes of staring at the closed door wanting to make sure that that child eating nurse wasn't coming back in. Kenji got bored, so Kio laid him on his lap and started tickling him. Doctor Suki found herself entering a room with a little boy laughing his head off. "Am I interrupting?" she asked lifting an eyebrow and smiling.
"Kenji got bored waiting Suki, you should know better than to keep a three year old waiting." Kio answered as he stood up and threw a still laughing Kenji in the air and caught him leaning him over his shoulder.
"TUKI!" Kenji yelled.
"What is he yelling about?" she smiled.
Kio laughed and leaned Kenji forward so that their eyes met. "S-U-K-I...SU...KI"
"TUKI!" Kenji repeated.
"Ohho, that is so cute, I think this little kid's grown on you."
"That he has, Okita as well, Saitou I'm not sure it's kinda hard to tell."
Suki laughed. "Alright let's get his injuries checked out, shall we?" She cheered, after about an hour and a lot of protesting, Kenji leaned his head on Kio's shoulder as he rubbed his back. He really didn't like that x-ray machine, and pouted. Kenji narrowed his eyes looking at the doctor as if saying. 'I don't like her very much.'
Suki sighed "Well everything seems alright, he's healing well, his wrist is mending, keep to his meds for another week okay." Kio nodded, Suki faced Kenji and smiled. "You like staying with master Kio hun?" Kenji smiled and hid his face in Kio's neck and giggled. "Have the police found out anything yet?" she asked, Kio shook his head no. "Let me guess if he doesn't have anybody you're adopting this little sweetie."
Kio laughed and hugged Kenji tighter. "Oh definitely, he's only been with us for four days and he's already got Saitou sharing a bed with him when he gets nightmares, Saitou keeps the bad dreams away right."
"Hai..." Kenji answered suddenly finding master's shirt extremely interesting as he tugged on the collar and played with Kio's necklace.
XxXxx
Tokio waited patiently at the school entrance for Saitou and Okita, she had missed her wolf very much, and couldn't wait to be in his arms, "Damnit where the hell are they, the bell's gonna ring soon." She whined then lifted her head and smiled as she spotted them, quickly she made her way down the steps and nearly trampled Saitou to the ground as she jumped on him but Saitou caught her, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Missed me?" she chirped.
Saitou smirked "No." and kissed her passionately.
Tokio leaned back and giggled "Yeah you did." She then unhooked her legs from his waist and landed on her feet. "Hi Okita how's the little squirt?"
Saitou laughed as Okita turned bright red and looked around. "I think she means Kenji, Okita."
"Oh yeah...of course he's fine." Okita laughed. "Um shouldn't we be getting in?" He walked passed them and up the stairs.
Tokio smiled as Saitou offered his arm to her, she wrapped hers around his as he led her up the stairs.
XxXxX
Kio brought Kenji with him at the university as he changed in his gi and hakama, Kenji looked around the sword master's office, grabbing the bag with Kenji's stuff he called out to Kenji getting his attention and holding out his hand, Kenji took it and walked in the dojo with master. Kicking a huge cushion in a corner at the front of the dojo Kio placed Kenji on it taking out his toys from the bag. "I have to teach a class today alright, now you stay on this cushion and play with your toys okay."
Kenji looked at the five-dozen people quietly entering the dojo and sitting on the floor, then at Kio who brushed back the boy's hair. "K." he whispered, seeing master smile Kenji giggled picked up a teething ring and started chewing on it watching master approach the class.
When the class was over most of the students smiled at the site, Kenji was curled up in Master Kio's jacket which he took out of the bag with the toys, and was sucking his thumb, putting the toys back in the bag Kio gently picked up the three-year-old and headed for his office to change.
When Kenji woke up he was in his car seat, in front of the big building where he had his first lesson in tracking down someone. Looking outside he started to babble nonsense, Kio turned from his seat. "Well that was a long nap, it's about time you woke up."
Kenji smiled and cheered. "Hi..."
Kio couldn't help but laugh, "Hi..." he mimicked and reached back tickling the boy's chin.
Kenji giggled and looked out the window when he heard a bell ring. After a few minutes he gasped and started chanting. "Sato...Kita...Sato...Kita...Sato... Kita..."
Saitou, Okita and Tokio were slowly making their way towards the car. Tokio smiled wickedly, "Ah ha that is so cute...Hiya master Kio...Hi Kenji." Okita went around the car to sit on Kenji's left, while Saitou opened the back door for her as he sat in the front.
"They weren't to wild today were they Tokio?" Kio asked with a smile.
"Oh no...They're just innocent sweet little angels." She answered sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"You do know that now you're stuck shopping at the market and helping those two cook dinner right?" Kio chuckled as he pulled into traffic.
Kenji just looked at her with big eyes, while Okita laughed, "Kenji..." Kenji turned to him. "That's Tokio."
"Toko?"
"T-O-K-I-O...To...ki...o"
Kenji turned to her, "Toyo?"
"He is so adorable, ya know sweetie you are going to be a lady killer when you grow up." She gently squeezed his cheeks and kissed his forehead.
"Alright here we are, everybody out."
"Oh can I carry him out?" Tokio asked and smiled when she saw Kio nod.
"Just be careful with his arm."
Smiling at the boy who seemed fascinated by her eyes, Tokio unbuckled Kenji from his seat and held out her arms, Kenji looked at Saitou who had opened her door and was patiently waiting for her to get out, then back at Tokio and leaned in her embrace, laughing at his reaction Tokio carefully picked him up and stepped out of the car. "My god he doesn't weigh much."
"Well he's only been with us for four days…that will change soon enough."
Kio answered and grinned as Tokio started to babble and Kenji tried to mimic her words.
Kio grabbed a cart and Tokio put him in the seat, taking out a long list he tore it in three pieces and gave his deshies one each. And the other to Tokio "If ya want ta eat tonight I suggest you three make it quick."
"Yeah, yeah..." Okita and Saitou both mumbled and took off in opposite directions, while Tokio stayed with Kio and Kenji. Kio pushed the cart while she got the stuff on her list which where in the aisle they were in.
Kenji immediately got bored, seeing this Kio waved his hands at Kenji and covered the boy's eyes. "Where's Kenji?" he whispered. Kenji giggled and swatted the master's hands away from his eyes, Kio then tickled under the boy's arms until he was squealing and laughing so hard he had a hard time breathing. Leaning down Kio was now nose to nose with the boy. Kenji leaned his head on Kio's forehead and stared at the master's eyes, Tokio arrived with four items and put them in the cart, as she watched the scene she looked at the people around them and smiled. Kenji was now leaning his head against Kio's shoulder. "Don't tell me you're still tired?" he asked.
Kenji looked at him and lifted his arms. "Up?"
Kio chuckled and lifted him in his arms, kissing his cheek. He looked at Tokio "What are you smiling about?"
"You know master this kid is a real chick magnet."
"What?" Kio asked, Tokio looked around as did Kio, at least several women were staring at him smiling and waving, at this Kio quirked an eyebrow and chuckled.
Kio gave Kenji to Saitou so he could pay for their purchases, after paying Okita pushed the cart while Tokio hid behind Saitou, Kenji kept looking for her over Saitou's shoulder making him giggle.
XxXxX
Next day Wednesday
Saitou was elected to care for Kenji after school, while Kio had four classes at the university that night Okita was feeling a little queasy and stayed at home. Not feeling up to being annoyed by Okita's whining, Saitou decided to take Kenji for a walk in the park, coming up to the lake Saitou put the three-year-old down Kenji totally excited chased after the ducks and birds close to the shore. Saitou chuckled.
"Hey...Kenji..." Saitou called to him Kenji quickly turned at the sound of his name, "Don't go too close to the water, and stay close to me, okay?"
"K..." Kenji saw a little playground, and made his way to it. Running to the little sandbox the three-year-old started to pack sand and made a hill then stuck twigs and leaves on it.
Saitou took a few steps forward to sit nearby where he could keep an eye on him, but was a bit distracted at the gang of students arguing or debating or something. "Bunch of idiots..." Saitou grimaced then turned his attention back to Kenji. Saitou's eyes immediately widened, Kenji was gone. "KENJI..." Saitou yelled out frantically looking around and starting to panic, praying that he'd spot the little redhead.
Saitou then heard a little voice call out to him. "Sato..." turning he immediately calmed as he saw Kenji with a woman.
She smiled and looked at the wolf, "Lose something Hajime?" Tokio asked looking at him with a smirk.
Saitou let go of a shuddering breath. "Aw shit where did you find him?"
"Hiding near that tree over there…" She turned and pointed.
Saitou crouched down to Kenji's level "What part of 'Stay close to me' did you not understand. Damnit you scared the hell out of me." Saitou growled out practically yelling.
Kenji took a step back and hugged Tokio's leg. "Hajime!" she scolded as she laid a hand on the boy's head.
Saitou took a deep breath and held out his arms. "Come here..." Kenji hesitated a bit then walked in to them Saitou picked him up and stood cradling him to his chest, and whispered in the boy's ear. "Don't you ever do that again…Okay?"
Kenji fisted Saitou's shirt and leaned his head on the wolf's shoulder. "'K" he whispered.
XxXxX
Kenji had actually scared Saitou so much that the teenager had refused to let him go until he got home. Tokio had a smile on her face as Saitou sat Kenji on the counter in the kitchen and took the boy's coat off, "What are you grinning about?" Saitou looked up as he closed the fridge and gave Kenji a juice box.
"You were actually scared shitless that Kenji was lost weren't you?"
Saitou sighed.
"Bad man..." Kenji hiccupped looking at his feet.
"What bad man?" Saitou bent his head to look at him.
"Owww…" Kenji looked at Saitou's eyes and lifted his left arm to show the splint on it.
Saitou frowned then thought for a moment. "Wait a minute, you saw the man that did this to you?" he hissed, Kenji nodded.
"Oh my god..." Tokio gasped.
"Where?" Okita asked as he made his way to the fridge, tweaking Kenji's nose making him giggle.
"You don't think he followed us here do you?" Tokio was starting to panic.
"Fuck..." Saitou grumbled.
"What?" Okita asked curiously.
"Kenji saw the asshole that hurt him in the park...instead of coming to me he hid and scared the hell out of me...asshole could have followed us here, damnit."
"We have to tell master..." Okita glowered.
"Yeah no shit..." Saitou grabbed the phone and dialed Kio's cell.
XxXxX
"This better be damn important..." Kio growled.
"I took Kenji to the park, and he saw the asshole who hurt him...he didn't tell me until we got home...asshole might have followed us."
The line became quiet for a few moments, "Get your butts over here now..." Saitou didn't need to be told twice and hung up.
"Okita get Kenji's stuff, master wants us at the university now."
As they locked up and were leaving the house something very hard knocked Saitou to the ground. "Hajime!" Tokio who was holding Kenji yelled, Okita pushed her behind him, and got into a defensive stance. Groaning Saitou tried to get up but kept stumbling.
"Tokio go inside and call master...now." Okita whispered as he glared at the two laughing intruders watching Saitou trying to get up. Tokio rushed back into the house, Kenji still in her arms. Okita put a hand under Saitou's shoulder and pulled his brother behind him. A lot of blood was trickling down the side of Saitou's face. "Saitou you okay?" he asked not looking away from the intruders. Saitou only moaned and fell to the ground again. "TOKIO..."
XxXxX
Tokio quickly grabbed the phone and nervously dialed the number... "Come on...pick up...pick up..."
"Yeah...what..."
"He's here, they're here one of them hit Hajime with something...I don't know what but he can't get up...and..."
"Calm down where are you?"
"At the house, Kenji's with me and Okita's defending Hajime they're not fighting yet...I think..."
"Alright, I'm on my way, I'll call the police you keep Kenji with you alright?"
"Okay..."
#TOKIO...# Kio heard Okita shout in the background.
"WHAT?"
#Get Saitou in the house…#
"I have to go Kio..." Tokio hung up and telling Kenji to stay where he was, she quickly went to the front door.
XxXxX
Tokio came out and took hold of Saitou who was able to get on one knee, and wrapped her arms around his chest, "Come on Hajime, you have to help me..." she whispered and dragged him in the house.
Okita still on the defensive growled out, "What the hell do you want?"
"The boy…thought it was obvious." The strange man chuckled as he stayed hidden in the shadows, while the other moved excitedly and played with a very sharp knife in his hands.
"Why?"
"Does it matter to a dead man…or in your case teenager..." the strange man continued.
Okita quirked an eye, "He's three years old what could he possibly do to you?"
"A lot now hand him over."
"What happened to his family?" Okita asked quickly, hoping to buy some time.
"She wouldn't stop screaming..." the excited one spoke up.
"You killed them?" Okita asked horrified.
"What's with all the questions kid?" the man in the shadows asked a bit annoyed, then grinned taking out a knife. "You're not trying to buy time are you?"
Before Okita could answer the man lunged forward Okita quickly deflected the man's arm, kneeled and kicked the guy's legs from under him, the man rolled and slashed Okita's arm. Okita gasped as he watched the man get up, he was covered in bandages and his red eyes seemed to glow with fire. "You've been very well trained, not a lot of people have ever knocked me to the ground before." He laughed standing at his full height, "Who trained you?" he asked. At that moment a car sped in the driveway, followed by two police cars.
Getting out of the car Kio made his way to his front door and growled out, "Get the fuck away from my boy, ya piece of shit..."
Hoji the excited man barked a laugh, Shishio the man in bandages looked at the master and growled, "Hoji, don't..." but before Hoji had heard his lord and master. Hoji lunged at Kio with his knife, who in turn grabbed his arm and put enough force on the limb until you could hear a snap, Hoji cried out in pain then found himself flipped over the master swordsman landing very hard on the ground, Kio then dug his knee in the man's throat, the police were amazed at how fast that happened quickly making their way to the two men, they took the intruder in custody. Shishio had long since fled.
Kio helped Okita up eyeing him from head to toe. "You alright?"
Okita nodded, "It's just a scratch..." he sighed then a thought hit him, "…ah shit Saitou..."
The two quickly rushed in the house to find Saitou propped up against a wall in the hall, Kenji hiding under his right arm clutching at Saitou's shirt, Tokio was holding a towel on the side of his head to try and stop the bleeding. Saitou fought desperately to try and stay awake.
Finally able to talk Saitou moaned out. "Ah god...what'd he hit me with a fucken 2x4..." Saitou cringed, as Kio knelt down and examined the wound then grimaced.
"We have to take you to the hospital...this looks really bad...Tokio can you get those cops to call an ambulance?" Tokio nodded and hurried outside. Kio then spotted Kenji who was whimpering at Saitou's side. "Hey..." he shook the little boy's arm, Kenji looked up. "You okay...come here let me take a look at you...Okita hold the towel to Saitou's head will ya, and Saitou you stay awake..." Kenji slowly stood and grasped the master's arms. Kio sat him on his lap and checked him over, glancing back at Saitou who was starting to nod off. "SAITOU..."
"Wha?" Saitou startled, as well as Okita and Kenji.
"Stay awake..." Kio ordered. Tokio came back with two officers behind her. "Tokio there's a first aid kit in the kitchen..." before he could finish Tokio was already gone. Running back to them kit in hand Kio looked up, "Take care of Okita's cut." Putting Kenji back at Saitou's side, Kio took over for Okita and looked at Saitou's wound again. "Damnit where the hell is that ambulance?" he growled.
"It should arrive soon sir..." One of the policemen answered.
Throwing the bloody towel in a corner Kio took a clean wrap from the first aid kit and pressed it to the wound. Saitou's eyes were closed and his breathing had become shallow. "Saitou...Saitou come on open your eyes," Kio shook him a little.
"He's awfully pale master..." Okita started to panic a little, Tokio looked up as she tied off Okita's arm with a bandage.
Kio looked Saitou over and noticed blood seeping through his shirt, he quickly lifted it, "Fuck..." Kio growled there was a deep gash on his stomach and it was bleeding heavily. Quickly grabbing another wrap Kio pressed it against the wound and turned to the officers. "Get that fucken ambulance here now or I'll do to you what I did to that asshole outside..." he barked at the officers.
One of the officers was about to call in and ask where the ambulance was, when it pulled up. Quickly making his way to it he told them to hurry. The one that had stayed with the group had ushered them to move, Tokio helped Okita up and leaned him against the opposite wall, then she picked up Kenji who immediately started screaming from being taken away, Kio kept pressure on the wounds until the paramedics entered the house.
Quickly getting out of the way Kio stood and watched.
"Could somebody keep that kid quiet?" One of the paramedics asked.
"Hey fuck you..." Okita growled out. Kio simply took Kenji from Tokio cradling him to his chest, Kenji became quiet for a moment then started whimpering and was clutching to Kio. Tokio had tears in her eyes and Okita was rocking back and forth on the floor.
XxXxX
Thursday morning
Saitou was immediately taken into surgery when they arrived at the hospital, with the head wound he had slipped into a coma, It was now five in the morning and Tokio who had fallen asleep sitting by Saitou's side was holding his left hand with her right, caressing it with her thumb and leaned her head against his shoulder, Okita was asleep on the other bed, Kio sat in a rocking chair quietly rocking a now sleeping Kenji, Kenji hadn't stopped crying until after Saitou was wheeled in.
Suki quietly opened the door to the room and sighed as she looked at the occupants within. "Hey Suki..." Kio whispered.
Kneeling down Suki smiled. "Morning...you...look like hell..." she grinned, then glanced back to Saitou. "How are they?"
"Okita's gash got infected he also gave a description of the other guy to the cops...bandages and red eyes...and Saitou's lost a lot of blood, but he should be all right...all he has to do now is wake up..."
"Kio you should go home and get some sleep..."
"I'm not leaving my boys, the other asshole is still out there and Kenji won't leave without Saitou, and Tokio's parents are off on a business trip..." Opening his eyes Kio grinned. "In other words..."
Suki smiled and finished Kio's sentence. "...You're staying..." Suki reached out and gently ran her thumb against Kenji's cheek, "Hello you..." Kenji only glared at her and turned his head in Kio's shirt whining and trying to get comfortable. Laughing softly Kio lifted him up and laid the boy on his chest running his hand in tiny circles down Kenji's back. Kenji quickly started to nod off.
A few hours later
Saitou groaned as he turned on his right side, extremely tired and annoyed he felt weak and sick. Glaring at the nurse that had woken him up and was now injecting him with something probably a painkiller or something along that line, the nurse looked up. "Don't you glare at me boy, I'm just doing my job..."
Hearing the nurse speak Kenji looked up. "SATO..." he cheered. Kio chuckled and lifted Kenji placing the now excited three-year-old on Saitou's bed.
Holding him tightly in his arms, Kio whispered in his ear. "Kenji...you have to be very careful okay, Saitou was very badly hurt remember?"
"K." Kenji answered slowly crawling to Saitou's side and laid his head on his chest.
The nurse smiled, then looked to Saitou. "Don't tell me this little sweetie is your son?"
Saitou closed his eyes "Little brother..." 'you moron' Saitou hissed as she poked at his stomach to check his wound for infection. "Damnit would you mind not doing that it fucken hurts..." Saitou growled swatting her hands away.
"Ma'am please he gets grouchy very easily, and Saitou watch your mouth."
Kio drawled, lifting his hand to his mouth to hide a yawn. Tokio came in a cup of coffee in hand, giving it to Kio she smiled as he thanked her and drank it greedily, looking up from his coffee, "Do me a favor Tokio, and make Saitou less bitchy..." he yawned again.
Tokio smiled and looked to Kenji. "Kenji..." she sang out, the little redhead lifted his head, innocent blue eyes peered into her honey colored ones. "Is Saitou cranky?" she cooed.
Kenji leaned forward looking at Saitou very carefully, Okita tried very hard not to laugh as Kenji was nose to nose with Saitou. "Iie." Kenji chirped as he made himself a little nest with the blankets by Saitou's side then getting comfortable he took Saitou's arm which was wrapped around the three-year-old and covered it with the blanket as well as himself then laid his head on Saitou's chest and closed his eyes. Saitou tightened his hold and hugged him closer, then closed his eyes.
"Think he likes using Saitou as his own pillow." Kio chuckled as he settled in his chair and yawned again.
Tokio snickered. "I think Kenji's going to be the one to chase Saitou's nightmares away..."
"Yeah starting with that nurse..." Okita yelped as the old woman turned and glared at him.
XxXxX
Saturday
A few days later Saitou was released from the hospital, Kio arrived with an excited Kenji to bring the cranky teenager back home. "I don't care what the doctor said you still look like hell..." Kio drawled as he helped Saitou stand.
"Master your getting a bit overprotective don't you think?" Saitou smirked.
"Damn well I am, I've been this way for twelve years you two are the main reason why my hair's turning gray now shut-up and get in that wheelchair..."
The nurse in the room smiled at their little argument, then spotted the little redhead standing quietly by a chair. "Well hello you, what's your name?"
Kenji looked at her eyes wide then ran to Kio. The nurse looked at him questioningly, Kio picked him up and laughed as Kenji whispered in his ear. Kio chuckled as he looked at the nurse. "Sorry it's just that last time; a nurse said that he was so cute that she could eat him up..."
The nurse laughed at this and took hold of the handles of the wheelchair pushing a scowling Saitou towards the elevator. Kenji stared at the nurse to make sure that she wouldn't make a snack out of Saitou.
Arriving home and now wrapped in a blanket Saitou lied down on the couch in the living room and watched cartoons with Kenji. That's how Tokio found them Saitou was on his right side Kenji was cuddled to his chest his attention on some yellow sponge laughing with a pink starfish, Saitou had his arm wrapped around the little boy protectively as he slept. Tokio smiled as Okita snuck past her a camera in hand and took a picture, backing off after taking a few shots, Okita whispered, "Blackmail..."
XxXxX
That night Tokio and Okita set the table while Kio prepared diner, "Alright here you two serve, I'll go get cranky..." both Tokio and Okita snickered when he left the room, "Alright get up, diner's ready..." Kio drawled then added, "And don't tell me you're not hungry..."
Saitou groaned as he pulled the blankets off him, of course Kenji helped, slowly getting off the couch Kenji waited patiently for Saitou, Kio helped him up and stayed behind him to make sure he wouldn't collapse or something. Kenji walked beside the two holding his hands and looking at Saitou's face. Saitou sat down in his usual spot Tokio sat beside him and giggled. "What is so funny?" he hissed as he accidentally stretched his side.
"Ya want me ta feed you?" she chuckled at Saitou as he glared at her. Leaning up Tokio kissed his cheek, and poured him some herbal tea.
Kio grinned as he picked up Kenji sat him on his lap and started to feed the little red head.
XxXxX
Wednesday
Four days later Saitou was allowed to go back to school, taking his sweet time to get to his class, Okita walked beside him while Tokio had and arm wrapped around his left one. "Well well heard you got injured Saitou..." a red haired teenager chuckled as he approached the three.
"Himura..." Saitou seethed, he and Kenshin would always fight and feud ever since they first met.
"Can't believe you two were caught totally by surprise..." he continued, "I thought you two were trained by a master swordsman..." he laughed.
Saitou and Okita both growled as they slowly approached Kenshin, then Saitou cursed when the bell went off, Tokio smirked and kissed him sweetly on the lips, "See ya later Wolfie, Okita please be a dear and keep him out of trouble..." Tokio waved at the two as she rushed to her class, Saitou glared at Himura as he watched him walk over to his little group.
"Come on Saitou we should get to class." Okita nudged him to move forward away from Kenshin and the others. As they entered their class Mr.Masato nodded his head they only rolled their eyes and sighed as they sat in their seats.
XxXxX
During lunch Saitou and Okita sat in their usual spot outside underneath an old tree, waiting for Tokio to join them, Saitou looked up when he heard her laugh and walk down the steps, and glared at the boy who always seemed to drool whenever he was near her. Watching her every move Enishi smiled as he slowly followed her. Saitou always thought him crazy at how obsessed he was with protecting his sister Tomoe, he'd never let another boy touch her let alone look at her. And now the little prick found himself falling for his Tokio. "Piss off Yukishiro..." Saitou growled.
Tokio confused turned and found herself face to face with the white haired teen, stepping back, Tokio sighed and sat next to Saitou. "Really Takagi, I don't see why you keep hanging around those losers..."
Hearing the phrase Tokio started laughing. "You know you're absolutely right Enishi...Why do you think I walked all the way here, so I could get away from you losers..." she smiled sweetly, Enishi frowned and left.
"Hey Saitou..." a boy with disheveled hair ran up to the trio. Saitou sighed and groaned Tokio giggled as she grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him to lie down cushioning his head on her stomach.
"What do you want Sagara?" Okita quipped, as he leaned against the tree.
"Kenshin said you got hurt, just came to see how bad."
"Why the hell would I tell you?" Saitou drawled closing his eyes as Tokio ran her fingers in his hair.
"Aww come on...was it serious?"
Saitou grunted. "I spent four days in the hospital what do you think..."
"What happened...did it happen while training?"
"What no...some assholes tried to kill off our little brother..." Okita squirmed.
"You two have a little brother?"
"Oh for the love of...would you get the hell out of here..." Saitou barked as he sat up a bit too fast. "Son of a bitch..." he gasped as he held his side, Tokio gently pulled him back down, Okita kneeled by his side and lifted his shirt hissing as blood was now seeping through the bandage, carefully pulling on the tape Okita winced.
"Saitou you just tore open the stitches..."
"Fuck!" Saitou grumbled, then looked to Sano, "I blame you for this moron..." he drawled.
"Holy shit...what the hell did that?" Sanosuke looked at the wound and squirmed.
Okita carefully taped back the bandage, "Come on we have to take you to the nurse's station." He drawled then helped his brother on his feet as did Tokio.
Sano though ran back to his friends, to tell them of what he had seen. "I'm not kidding Kenshin he's badly hurt, Okita said it was some asshole who tried to kill off their little brother."
"They don't have a little brother..." Kenshin corrected running his left hand on Kaoru's thigh.
"Apparently they do...last week I saw Saitou in the park with a little redheaded boy, couldn't be more than three, four years old." Kaoru answered as she leaned her head on Kenshin's shoulder.
"Who the hell would want to kill a child?" Megumi asked from her perch on the banister.
"A total psycho..." Kaoru smiled, as she kissed Kenshin's scarred cheek and nuzzled his neck.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes now deep in thought.
XxXxX
"Well it doesn't look too bad..." the nurse chirped.
Saitou grumbled as the nurse stitched him back up, "You want me to hold your hand?" Tokio smiled innocently.
"Don't start with me Takagi..." he warned. Okita chuckled from his seat.
A few hours later when the bell rang signaling that school was over the students made their way outside, Kaoru and Megumi's eyes widened when they saw Kio was outside waiting for his deshies, watching a little red-haired boy as he ran around in the grass.
"Um...hi master Kio..." Kaoru approached. "Hi...what's your name?" Kaoru and Megumi bent down at the boy's level.
Kenji took a step back and looked at the girls, suddenly feeling extremely shy Kenji ran over to Kio and hid behind his leg. "Ko..." he whispered. Kio laughed and lifted the little three-year-old in his arms. Kenji hid his face in Kio's shirt.
"Well hello girls..." he answered, then looked to Kenji. "Don't tell me you're shy?" Kio chuckled.
"Who's the cutie?" Megumi smiled at the boy.
Before he could answer Kenji screeched, "SATO...KITA...TOYO..." and squirmed to get out of Kio's arms, putting him down, Kio smiled as he watched Kenji run to Okita.
"Hiya Kenji..." Okita laughed as he picked him up, threw him in the air and caught him.
"Hiya sweetie..." Tokio kissed his cheeks.
"What the hell do you two want, spying for Himura again?" Saitou scowled.
"Be nice Hajime..." Tokio smiled as she tickled Kenji.
"Alright kids I don't have all day..." Kio drawled as he eyed the group. "And what the hell is that...Saitou..." Kio demanded as he pointed to the blood stain on Saitou's shirt.
"Fuck..." Saitou cursed, "I just tore open my stitches, the nurse took care of it, didn't even bleed that much...relax already." Kio only glared at him seeing how pissed off Kio now was Saitou decided to quit with the sarcasm and jokes. "She said I'd be all right..."
Showing no emotion Kio growled out, "Get in the car..." Not wanting to be told twice the three quickly got in the car Tokio buckled Kenji in his seat. All the way home no one said a word.
XxXxX
Parking the car in the driveway Kio looked to Saitou, "You started a fight didn't you?"
"What...I did not..." Saitou argued.
"Then explain the bleeding..."
"Sagara came to us to ask a few questions about how I got hurt I told him to piss off, and I sat up too quickly...I'm not gonna start a fight when I'm wounded I'm not an idiot...jeez why are you so pissy?"
Kio sighed as he took a breath and closed his eyes for a moment, "That guy who stabbed you...his name's Makoto Shishio he's a murderer..."
"Well we kinda figured that when he said he killed Kenji's parents..." Okita cut him off.
Kio turned to him, "Will you let me finish...the bastard tortures his victims, until they beg for death, I just came back from the police station they actually showed me pictures of the victims...I nearly puked my guts out...and that guy he was with is a psychotic...he said he'd do anything for his master..."
"No wonder your pissy...he could've done that to us hun?" Okita cringed then looked to Kenji.
"Kita..." he smiled and leaned his head on Okita's shoulder.
"Well...now this is depressing..." Tokio drawled, as she leaned forward her head resting on the back of Saitou's seat.
Kio chuckled, "Sorry about that it just freaked me out a little..."