Warnings: AU Japan. Violence and swordfighting.

Chapter 2: A Family Reunion

Two weeks passed without Saitou summoning her. Kaoru wasn't sure if she was relieved or concerned that there weren't any further problems because she knew the mysterious takeovers wouldn't suddenly end on their own. At least it gave her a chance to dive back into work; after being absent for a week, the paperwork had piled up. Although Sano was extremely gifted in dealing with people, his allergy to reports remained strong.

But two weeks also passed without any word from Kenshin. She had assumed that he would return within a week as he promised, if not earlier, but he never showed up. Neither Sano nor Megumi heard from him either, although they didn't seem as worried as she was. Kaoru decided it was because they were so used to him wandering for months on end without a single word.

Her friends' nonchalance didn't alleviate any of her concerns. Kaoru visited the Takani Clinic so many times in hopes that Kenshin stopped there first after coming home that even the patients started to recognize her presence and smile knowingly at her. Sano patted her on the head every time he overheard Kaoru asking Okon if there were any visitors to her office. One evening after work, Kaoru wandered over to the row houses. She knocked on the wood but didn't expect a response. If Kenshin had indeed returned home, he would have at least let her know with a note. No one answered.

Hesitating a moment, Kaoru slid the door ajar to peek inside before she could change her mind. The room looked empty except for the neatly folded blankets and pillow in the corner. Kenshin never had more than a change of clothing and maybe a few bandages that he carried around. In fact, his sword was the most valuable item he owned, and only because the metal could be melted down and reshaped.

She sighed and shut the door. As expected, she learned nothing new and now guilt at invading his privacy nibbled at the edges of her conscience. Turning away, Kaoru headed for Megumi's home clinic. If the doctor didn't hear from Kenshin, she'd at least be good company in the meantime.

A week later, Kaoru was in the middle of approving some overtime requests when she heard a familiar heavy tread on the engawa. A few seconds later, a head poked around the open shouji. "You wanted to see me?" Sano drawled.

"Yes, come in." Kaoru initialed the last paper and set it aside to give back to Okon as her deputy inspector sprawled out on the tatami mat. "I'll be heading out in the morning for Kyoto."

"So there's finally some news on those thugs taking over cities?" Sano asked. He pulled out a senbon and stuck it in his mouth..

"Ahh, actually no. And that's a little worrisome. But I'm going for other reasons." Despite telling herself not to, Kaoru kept her eyes down on her desk, fiddling with her ink brush. "I won't be gone for more than eight days, and if I'm delayed, I'll send you a message."

Sano frowned and took out the senbon. "Wait, you're leaving but Saitou didn't summon you? What's going on?" And even as he asked that last question, comprehension filled his voice as he exclaimed, "You're going to look for Kenshin, aren't you?"

"No! I mean, yes. I mean…" Frustrated with her teetering indecision, Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut and slowly counted to five before she opened them to meet Sano's gaze. "I'm going to stop by the national police headquarters to get an update on the situation with the takeovers. Then I'm going to visit my foster mother and my two foster brothers, the youngest of whom I haven't even met yet. And if I have time, I'll just check around Kyoto for any signs of Kenshin."

Contrary to his usual light-hearted demeanor, Sano studied her for a long while with a somber expression before he spoke. "You don't have to worry about him, Jou-chan. Kenshin is more than able to take care of himself. And if Saitou knows you came to Kyoto looking for him, he's going to be livid. You might even be disciplined or demoted for taking unapproved leave."

Kaoru shook her head. "I know what you're saying and believe me, I've gone back and forth. But he's been gone for three weeks without a word! He told me he'd only be a week at the most. Maybe he's okay and then I'll be furious because he didn't even consider letting us know, but at least I'll know. I can't just sit here and wait in hopes he'll suddenly show up."

"I know how you feel. It's awful that he's not so good at writing to us. But he's always come back and he's never broken a promise." Sano leaned forward, eyes intense. "It's best if you give him some space. He's been a lone wanderer for almost eleven years. Settling down in the city was a big step for him. It's possible he's gotten scared of a commitment and needs to settle his nerves by becoming a rurouni again for a while."

"He's not wandering," Kaoru insisted. "He told me he was going to help a friend in Kyoto and it wouldn't take that long. And what commitment are you talking about? He's renting a home weekly. He has no personal belongings inside his room whatsoever. We've seen each other eight times in the past three months, and half of that was with you and Megumi-san. I wouldn't say something is wrong, but this isn't right, either." Kaoru clenched her hands. "I've made up my mind, Sano, so don't try to stop me. By riding the police transport, I should get to the capital by noon the next day and get everything done before coming home within eight days. I know you can handle everything in my absence."

"Well, of course I can, that's not the point." Sighing, Sano shook his head as his shoulders slumped. "Kami help me, I'm surrounded by stubborn women," he muttered.

Relaxing at that statement, Kaoru tried not to grin in triumph. The first hurdle was cleared. She was going to Kyoto to see her foster family and to whack the 'oro' out of a certain red-headed rurouni. She was so relieved to be doing something instead of sitting around and waiting that she leaned forward to smirk at Sano. It was time to indulge in one of her most recent favorite pastimes. "'Women', eh? Is someone else hassling you? Say…a certain lady doctor?"

"What? Says who?" he demanded.

"Says your current disgruntlement and defensive tone." Kaoru grinned. "It's okay to concede to her, Sano. Just do whatever Megumi-san tells you to do and it'll make your life much easier."

Shoulders hunching even more than his usual slouched posture, Sano growled, "I don't know what else she wants me to do! She's nagged me for years about getting a job and I finally got one! I've lived in a row house for years and now when I mention buying a house, she tells me I'd just be wasting money. And then she says drinking too much sake isn't good for my liver!" Frustrated, he yanked the senbon from his mouth and hurled it at the shouji which tore through the delicate rice paper. "What does she want from me? Why can't a man enjoy himself with a drink or two when he's off-duty and no other obligations left for the day?"

"Maybe she's just trying to help you become a better man," Kaoru suggested. She had no idea Megumi had been nagging Sano so much. How much had changed in the week she'd been gone? Feeling somewhat guilty for teasing him when he was so genuinely aggravated, she added, "And you know she's right. You do tend to drink a lot. I mean, it's never interfered with your duties and you've always been ready, but it sounds like she's worried for your long-term health."

"Jou-chan, I'm a police officer now. I'm not the typical starched up geezer with the desire to prove myself to my superiors, but I know emergencies can happen any time. I've cut back. A lot."

She shrugged helplessly. Sano took his deputy inspector duties seriously so it didn't surprise Kaoru to hear he had reduced his drinking. "Well, why don't you just ask her how much is too much?"

"And what if I don't like the answer?"

At that, Kaoru chuckled wryly. "Then you'll have to either convince her that's too little or you do what you're told. By the way, you're going to fix that tear in the door."

Sano scowled at her. "Is that all you can think of right now when I'm in the middle of a crisis?"

"No one told you to throw a senbon when you're frustrated. And no one told you to try to impress Megumi-san by pretending to be a man that you're not." Kaoru looked at the remaining paperwork on her desk, calculating how many hours of work she had left. She wondered if Sano would actually work on a few things while she was gone.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sano replied, miffed. "I'm very responsible now, it's not pretend. Isn't that what all women want? Kami knows she nagged me enough when I was just gambling my time away. And now that I have a job, she harasses me about other things. When will it end?"

Kaoru sighed. Although their situations were completely different, she felt the same helplessness at the lack of forward movement. "I'd help you out if I could, but seeing as I'm stuck in a half of a courtship by myself, I wouldn't know what to do either," Kaoru grumbled.

"Relationships," Sano groused. "Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it."

Kaoru agreed with him. But despite their grumpy attitudes, they both knew it was.

The police transport to Kyoto remained the fastest way to the capital with its direct route, stopping only an hour at Nagoya before moving on to the last leg of the journey. Kaoru grimly endured the bumpy, cramped wagon full of officers either on leave or being transferred or having official business to do in the city. The locomotive, so popular in the eastern part of the country which ran between Yokohama and Edo, had yet to make any headway in the capital despite its popularity. Kaoru suspected it was the Shogun trying to distance himself from seeming to embrace Western technologies so freely, given it had played a large part in their bloody civil war over twelve years ago. In her opinion, it was ridiculous to resist the more and more demanding Western influence when it was perfectly clear that it was a losing battle.

But she had no say in matters of transportation or otherwise, so Kaoru hung on tight to the straps of the moving wagon, ignoring the others. They were all men and she outranked them so she had no desire to involve herself in the small talk that emerged once in a while.

Sleeping was nearly impossible in the swaying conveyance during the sixteen hour journey so Kaoru took to dozing in and out. Heat pressed around them in the confines of the transport, the air heavy with unmoving air. Relief suffused her when the wagon rolled into Kyoto a day and a half after she left.

Hopping out of the transportation, Kaoru took a moment to stretch out her cramped limbs and retie her ponytail, hair slick with sweat, before trotting off in the direction of the market. Although Tokio had given birth several months prior, she still didn't want to arrive empty-handed to the woman who accepted her as a daughter figure without batting an eyelash.

The city hadn't changed that much since she left a year and a half ago. The marketplace, in particular, still remained extremely crowded as people shopped or caught up with friends. Children slithered through the crowds with the ease of a serpent, expertly avoiding crashing into the many bodies that lingered in the area. Kaoru was surprised to note that the number of foreign people had increased, all dressed in frilly gowns that looked uncomfortable, or suits with some sort of noose around their necks. Kaoru frowned and avoided eye contact with those people. She didn't know English and she didn't care to learn, focused as she was on her mission.

Finding the food vendor the Saitou family usually used, Kaoru greeted the merchant who remembered her. They spent a few minutes chatting, but finally she made her purchases and then headed to the butcher where she bought some pork.

Exhaustion sank deep into her bones as Kaoru finally left the marketplace and headed over to the Saitou home. Despite her arms being full and not having gotten good rest, her spirits lifted as she strode down the familiar street. Here, nothing else had changed: sturdy, modest sized homes dominated both sides of the road and occasionally Kaoru glimpsed a neighbor who was sweeping their front yard.

She finally arrived and stepped through the open gate as it usually was during the day. In the courtyard off to the side, a toddler played with a carved wooden man near the laundry pole. A basket lay nearby under the shade of the house, containing a babbling baby who waved his arms and legs around. Tokio stood in front of the laundry line, taking down the dry clothing while she spoke soothingly to the infant.

Tsutomu noticed her first. He glanced up and frowned. "Kaa-san," he said.

Tokio turned, still holding on to a small pair of gi, when she noticed Kaoru. "Kaoru-chan!" she gasped. "Am I seeing things?"

Grinning, Kaoru shook her head and stepped forward. "No, it's really me." Two seconds later, she found herself being fiercely hugged by Tokio with the gi and packages between them. When Tokio finally released her, Kaoru blinked in shock as she tried to clear away her suddenly watery eyes.

The motion didn't go unnoticed. Tokio chuckled and reached out to brush away the last trace of tear from the corner of her eye. "I'm sorry I made you weepy. Hajime constantly tells me to control myself but he's not here so I don't care." Her voice softened as she added, "It's good to see you, Kaoru-chan."

"And you, Tokio-san," Kaoru almost whispered, staring at the warm brown eyes filled with delight and welcome. Although the two women were only six years apart in age, Kaoru looked up to her as a cross between a mother and an older sister. Saitou had married Tokio while training Kaoru so the two women had gotten to know each other very well.

"Kaa-san?"

At the tremulous query, Tokio glanced down at her oldest son. "Tsutomu, come here and say hello to your older sister. She helped take care of you when you were a baby."

Tsutomu had only been a year and a half when Kaoru left to take the Inspector position. Now at three years old and being away for so long, he'd forgotten her. In fact, Tsutomu flashed her a suspicious look reminiscent of his sire. "Hello," he said obediently, but without an ounce of welcome.

Kaoru grinned at him, unfazed by the lack of warmth, and squatted down. She knew exactly how to get into his good graces. "That's all you have to say? After I got you some of your favorite ohagi and yokan?"

The toddler's eyes lit up at the mention of the sweet treats. He started to reach out his hand to demand them before snatching it back and threw his mother a questioning look.

Tokio chuckled. "Well, today has turned out to be a special occasion so I don't see why not. Kaoru-chan, go on inside and put your packages down. Let me finish taking down the laundry and then I'll let you meet Tsuyoshi. Tsutomu, be a good boy and take Onee-san inside, okay?"

"Okay!"

The little boy marched towards the house and Kaoru followed, catching Tokio smiling at her. She couldn't quite wipe off a silly grin from her own face. It had been so long since she last saw them, and while things had changed, it felt like she'd never left.

The Saitou home was as immaculate as Kaoru remembered. The floor was swept clean and not a speck of dust remained on any of the furnishings. As she stepped inside the main room, a faint floral scent greeted her from bright flowers flourishing by every window. Most of the shouji was open to allow fresh air to circulate, and Kaoru caught a glimpse of what used to be her old room down the hallway. She resisted the urge to peek inside and see what they did with it. Instead, she told the toddler, "I brought some food which I'll need to put in the kitchen."

Tsutomu frowned and replied, "Kaa-san said I'm not supposed to go there by myself."

"Well, you wouldn't be going by yourself, right?" Kaoru countered. "I'll be with you, and I'm a grown up." She knew that Tokio worried Tsutomu would hurt himself in the cooking fire.

Screwing his face up in thought, the little boy finally replied grudgingly, "Okay." He led the familiar way out the back shouji and towards the kitchen. Kaoru set down her packages, ruefully noting that some of the ohagi might have been squashed from the hug with Tokio. Thankfully, it would still taste as good, even if it wasn't perfectly shaped.

Tokio bustled in a moment later. "Tsutomu, please watch your brother for one moment in the family room. I'll help Nee-san put the food away and we can have a treat." Both women watched the little boy scramble off to obey, buoyed by the promise of sweets, and then Tokio turned to Kaoru. "You didn't have to get so much food."

"I couldn't come empty-handed," Kaoru protested.

"Of course you can," Tokio scolded. "You're family, Kaoru-chan." She started unwrapping the ohagi and yokan to transfer to a plate. "With that said, don't take my words wrong, but why are you here? Is everything okay in Toei?"

Kaoru stared down at the block of yokan her surrogate mother began cutting into slices. During the long, stuffy ride to Kyoto, she had debated how much to say to Tokio. It was probably foolish to hesitate; despite Tokio's gentle nature, she was a force strong enough to live and contend with the infamous Wolf of Mibu. Eventually, her foster mother would drag it out of her anyway, but with less of Kaoru's dignity intact.

"Is it about that boy that you met?"

Startled, her eyes shot up to meet Tokio's amused coffee-colored ones. "Wh-what?" she squeaked.

"I suppose I shouldn't call him a boy since he's older than me," Tokio mused, "but if he's interested in you, I feel as though I have a right to at least say that once."

Her heart sank and Kaoru sighed. "Sensei told you about him, didn't he?"

"Well, if you consider telling me all his negative traits 'about him', I suppose he did." Tokio grinned and reached up to smooth Kaoru's bangs back from her eyes. "But I also know Hajime would never approve of any man you're interested in, so don't take his criticism too deeply. It's not just because they were enemies in the civil war. In fact, I think Hajime respects Himura-san as a warrior. But as a suitor for his precious student and daughter of his dearest friend? Your poor young man is fighting an uphill battle to even get half a blessing."

Kaoru groaned. "Well, it's not just Sensei's disapproval. I don't get to see him very often even though we live in the same city, and now he's gone missing."

Tokio held up a hand. "This sounds like it's going to be a story. Why don't you take the plate to Tsutomi? I'll be right out with some tea and you can tell me exactly what's going on. I've been dying to ask you questions about him anyway, but I didn't want to pester you in my letters."

"Okay." Feeling much more optimistic since Tokio seemed to be on her side, Kaoru picked up the sweets and headed to the family room. There, Tsutomu was busy making faces at his brother who gurgled happily from all the attention. "Aren't you a great big brother, Tsutomu-chan?" she commented with a fond smile.

Tsutomu puffed his chest out. "Tou-san says when he's gone, I'm s'posed to be the man of the family and take care of everyone." Eying the plate in Kaoru's hand, he raced over to sit on a tatami mat with an expectant expression.

Laughing at the dichotomy of the solemn tone one moment and the sudden eager look of a little boy in the next, Kaoru set the plate down on the floor. "Help yourself, but eat it one at a time." She watched as he reached out for the yokan first and took a big bite. Marveling at how much he had grown since she last saw him, she realized he had similar features to his mother, but the attitude of his father. A part of her heart lurched and Kaoru wondered if it was because she missed him growing up, or if she was longing for a child of her own.

Tsuyoshi, still in the basket, let out an experimental wail since he was no longer being entertained by his brother. Kaoru hurried over to his side and tickled his chest lightly. "There, there, no one's ignoring you," she soothed. "What a big little boy you are! Who is so adorable and cute?" The second child, she realized, looked more like his father but seemed to inherit his mother's demeanor because he began to grin and coo again with the attention.

"They're a handful, aren't they Kaoru-chan?" Tokio remarked as she entered the room with a tray in her hands. "Thankfully, Tsutomu is a big help and Tsuyoshi has a good temperament. Otherwise I'd never get anything done around here."

"I doubt that," Kaoru said dryly, remembering Tokio's ruthlessness when it came to housework. "But I can't imagine you having cuter and more well-behaved children than these two." She tickled Tsuyoshi under the chin and was rewarded with a gummy giggle.

Tokio chuckled. "Oh, you just wait and see how they behave. Come over here and have some tea, Kaoru-chan. How long are you planning to stay? Since Hajime didn't tell me you were coming, I'm assuming your presence will be a surprise to him as well."

Blushing slightly, Kaoru obediently went over and sat down on a mat. "Just for five days. It'll take almost two days to travel back to Toei. I promised my Deputy Inspector I'd be back in a week, assuming I'm not called to another raid."

"Well, you're quite brave to risk his wrath like this," Tokio commented as she poured out tea into two cups. "Hajime hasn't been home a lot lately and I know he's been using every resource he has available to see who's behind these city government takeovers. Once he realizes you're here and not in Toei, I don't know how he's going to react."

"I know," she mumbled, accepting the teacup handed to her.

"So it must be important for you to come all the way over here. Tell me about your young man and what has you so worried."

Kaoru met Tokio's compassionate and knowing eyes. "Are you sure you don't already know what's going on?" she asked dryly. Although her surrogate mother was the epitome of a proper wife, Kaoru always wondered how Tokio always seemed to know what was going on before anyone else. At times, she vacillated between Tokio being some sort of psychic and a spy.

"Don't change the subject," Tokio scolded. "Tell me."

Relenting, Kaoru started from the beginning of how they had met and how Kenshin didn't seem like an ordinary rurouni. She only briefly mentioned the fight with Udo Jinei and then moved on to their tentative new relationship. "The last time I saw him was over three weeks ago when he should have been back by now. A few days' delay I can understand, but weeks?"

Tokio nodded in understanding. "So you got worried and thought you'd come over here to see if you can find him."

"Exactly. And to see you and the boys, of course." Kaoru sighed and stared down at her tea which had grown cold while relaying the story. "Megumi-san and Sano don't seem worried and I know Kenshin can take care of himself. But what if the improbable happened and he did die? I'd never know." Kaoru felt sudden tears gathering at the corner of her eyes.

"Wondering is the worst thing in the world," Tokio agreed softly.

Now that she had shared her concern and was met with understanding, Kaoru felt the strong wall she'd built to keep her composure begin to crumble. She tried to blink back the salty liquid swimming in her vision when a small hand touched her arm. She looked up to see Tsutomu kneeling next to her. Thrusting a brown sweet rice ball in front of her face, the little boy said solemnly, "Don't cry, that's a sign of weakness. Eat this instead."

Despite the ache in her heart, Tsutomu's innocent and earnest gesture made her smile. Sniffling, she took the slightly squashed sticky treat and smiled at him. "You're right. I won't cry anymore. Thank you, Tsutomu-chan."

Kaoru spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the boys and helping Tokio with the housework. She had been banned from actually cooking in the kitchen, but she did other chores which included airing out a futon to be placed in her old room. The space hadn't been touched at all, she noted as she changed into her old training hakami and gi. Except for the absence of dust which meant that Tokio came in to clean it on occasion, the room looked exactly as it had when she left the Saitou home. Somehow, that small sense of stability reassured her immensely. No matter what kind of disagreements she had with her sensei, Kaoru knew she would always be welcomed back by Tokio and her foster brothers.

The day passed quickly, so much that she didn't even realize what it meant that Tokio started dinner and darkness fell across the courtyard an inch at a time. But as she set down the last side dish of pickled radishes, the front gate latched shut, indicating someone had entered and closed it behind him.

"Tadaima."

Kaoru froze in place at the familiar deep voice, twisting her fingers into her hakama and waiting for Saitou to see her. It would be best to get the threats and punishment over with than let it hang over her head. Next to her, Tokio smiled in reassurance as she continued to ladle out the soup. Tsutomu squealed in delight and raced out to the engawa to greet his father.

Saitou appeared inside mere seconds later, holding onto his son. Tokio rose up and Kaoru did the same, not daring to make eye contact with Saitou but not able to quite look away either. Her gaze settled somewhere on the third button of his uniform jacket.

"Okaerinasai, Anata. As you can see, we have a special visitor with us today. Isn't it nice for Kaoru-chan to visit us and finally meet Tsuyoshi?"

Tokio's cheerful voice didn't seem to have any effect on Saitou who set Tsutomu down. "I see. Tell me, Kaoru-chan, how is it that you were able to get your leave approved to come here without my knowledge or permission?"

Kaoru winced at the faux-pleasant tone Saitou only used when he was furious and scornful at the same time. To the untrained ear, it might have actually sounded friendly, but even Tsutomu knew enough to step away from his father lest he got in the way of the upcoming attack. "Er," she replied, wishing a brilliant idea came to mind. Kaoru had racked her brain all afternoon in an effort to come up with a suitable excuse to no avail.

"Well, that explains it. Why don't we step outside for a discussion?"

Biting back a sigh because that wouldn't help the situation at all, she obediently went to get her zori sandals on. It was better to have this confrontation away from small ears but she wished she had some sort of protection. Kaoru didn't expect Tokio to jump in and save her because her surrogate mother would never interfere in Saitou's role as Inspector General.

So she was surprised to hear Tokio say mildly, "While you're outside berating her, keep in mind that my letter probably encouraged her to come home so she could see her brothers before they grow up and forget her completely."

Shocked, Kaoru shot a puzzled glance at the older woman who merely smiled back. Realization sank in and she returned a tiny smile at Tokio. While Tokio would never step in the middle of police business, it was different when it came to personal matters. Saitou scowled at his wife and Kaoru knew he wasn't happy with her interfering in the name of the family.

"You should tread carefully, Wife," he muttered. Jerking his head, Saitou adopted a more casual posture by slipping his hands inside his pockets and sauntering outside. With no other choice but still wishing she could use Tsutomu or even Tsuyoshi as a shield, Kaoru followed.

The Saitou home was far enough from the bustling center of the city that it was quiet at night. The faint, waxing moon hung limply in the sky, occasionally shrouded by drifting clouds. The summer cicadas continued singing to one another, their chirps constant and cheerful. Saitou stood at the edge of the walled yard, striking a match to light the cigarette dangling from his lips. The brief flare of light only illuminated the tawny amber eyes, enhancing the unspoken ire. Kaoru stopped a few feet away, this time her head bowed. She'd known there would be dire consequences to pay for taking leave without permission and a part of her wondered if Saitou's anger was worth it.

But then an image of a smiling rurouni popped up, his eyes dancing with happiness and a genuine smile hovering on his lips. Kaoru sighed to herself and knew the answer was 'yes'.

"Tell me," Saitou ordered without looking at her.

Kaoru took a moment to organize her thoughts, trying to choose words that wouldn't paint her as a lovelorn and possibly scorned, desperate woman. "I came here for three reasons," she started slowly. "The first was to see Tsutomu-chan and Tsuyoshi-chan and Tokio-san."

"Hn."

"The second was to get an update on the situation with the takeovers of the city."

"An update which you would have received if you had simply written to me," Saitou replied in derision. "And what is the third reason?"

Bracing herself for even more vitriol and the possibility of losing her job, Kaoru lifted her eyes to meet Saitou's. "Kenshin is missing. The last I heard, he was going to help his friend in Kyoto but he promised to be back in a week. That was over three weeks ago."

"And you're worried that the infamous hitokiri Battousai is dead?"

Kaoru would reflect later on that while the Saitou's mocking tone was expected, her reaction wasn't. She valued her sensei's opinion and respected him greatly, partly because her mother spoke so fondly of him and partly because Saitou had taken her in to teach her kenjutsu when she had asked. But on this subject, she stiffened and replied, "No one is infallible, Sensei. Not even the Wolf of Mibu."

For several long heartbeats, only the buzz of the cicada reverberated in the air between them. Kaoru felt Saitou's heavy stare boring into her but she refused to look away, instead gazing right above the thin glow of the lit cigarette. She didn't move, didn't dare fidget. The slight pain in her palms made her realize she'd been clenching her fists the entire time and her nails dug into the calloused flesh of her hands. But she still didn't relax until Saitou finally spoke.

"I told you that he isn't a good match for you. He's a hitokiri turned pacifist trying to find himself. You don't even know what you are. If you're so intent on getting married, Tokio can find a suitable candidate."

Kaoru snorted at the absurd comment. What Saitou meant was a man he wanted her to marry. She immediately pictured in her mind the two types of men she'd be introduced to: an ambitious albeit capable officer hoping to gain favor from a highly placed official in the Shogunate so he would always agree with Saitou but care nothing for her; or a meek, bland figure who would always acquiesce to Saitou and bore her to tears. "You mean a candidate that you approve of? As in, a man whom you can control?"

"At least he would be a man who accepts his past and his future. Battousai isn't even a whole person. If he doesn't figure out who he is, his uncertainty is going to be his downfall and it will ruin you too."

She shook her head, not to deny his words, but to correct him. "But it's not your place to say when or how that's to be done, Sensei. Kenshin will find who he is. I trust that he will. You don't need to believe in Kenshin and I doubt you would anyway. What I ask is that you trust in my judgment."

Weighted silence permeated the space around them again and Kaoru held her breath, waiting for his response. Abruptly, Saitou turned back to the house. "Dinner is getting cold and your mother and brothers are waiting." Without waiting for a response, he stalked back to the house. Just before he stepped onto the engawa, he threw the cigarette down and ground out any remaining embers.

"Anata! How many times must I ask you not to do that?"

Tokio's exasperated voice floated out from the house and the familiar exchange made Kaoru smile automatically, allowing some of the previous tension to melt away from her shoulders. Tokio hated having cigarette butts in the yard and constantly scolded her husband for it. Hearing it again tonight caused a wave of nostalgia to wash over her, wishing for those simpler days when she was just her teacher's student and only had to worry about how many aches and bruises she would have the next day.

But wishing would do nothing and it wouldn't help her find out what happened to Kenshin. Drawing in a deep breath, Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut for just a moment. Let me find him, she prayed. Let him be okay.

"Kaoru-chan! Come inside for dinner!"

Opening her eyes, Kaoru called back, "I'm coming!" Squaring her shoulders, she hurried back inside the house. The first hard part, facing Saitou, was over. He hadn't completely agreed to her request to trust her judgment, but at least he hadn't rejected the plea outright. That meant there was still hope that, someday, he would accept Kenshin.

Kaoru would probably receive her punishment tomorrow but she was grateful Saitou hadn't ripped her apart with scathing words and left behind a bubbling mess. The last thing she needed was a distraction from her purpose in coming to Kyoto. The next hard part was to come.

Stay safe, Kenshin. I'll find you.

"You'll receive a reprimand on your record," Saitou said the next morning, as soon as Kaoru sat down for breakfast. "And your salary will be suspended for the two weeks you're missing work. I expect you to report to my office every morning to help with the paperwork, for which you won't get paid. And if you ever decide to take leave without permission again, I'll strip that uniform from you the instant I find out, no matter the reason."

Kaoru wavered between relief and protesting. On one hand, it wasn't as bad as it could have been; Saitou had been known to fire people for lesser offenses. On the other hand, two weeks without pay was a painful repercussion she hadn't expected. It wasn't as if she made a lot as a second year Inspector. "I was only planning to be gone for eight days," she objected weakly.

"Two weeks," Saitou repeated, picking up his chopsticks. "And you'd best be back in your office within those eight days."

Biting back any further complaints, Kaoru silently accepted the bowl of rice Tokio handed her. She murmured her thanks along with the rest of the family and started eating. Beside her, Tsutomu shoved food in his mouth with clumsy speed while Tsuyoshi whined until Tokio settled him against her and started nursing him.

"I expect to be back home late tonight," Saitou told Tokio. "And I'll eat at the office so don't bother to wait up for me."

"Very well," Tokio agreed.

"I'm sure Tsutomu is doing a good job of guarding you and Tsuyoshi. Am I right?"

Tsutomu nodded furiously. "Yes, Tou-san! I didn't even let Nee-san into the house until I knew who she was."

Saitou nodded in approval. "Good boy. Go grab your shinai after you finish eating and we'll have a little practice session before I go to work."

The little boy's eyes gleamed with excitement and he almost upset the table from jumping in eagerness. After shoveling in the last of his rice and drinking all his soup, Tsutomu proclaimed, "I'm done now! May I go, Kaa-san?"

"I suppose," Tokio replied, smiling fondly at him. "But try not to get your yukata too dirty. I did the laundry yesterday and I'd rather not do it again today." Her words were lost on Tsutomu who raced towards his room the moment he received permission.

Saitou drank his tea and commented, "Boys should get dirty every day. That's how they learn to be a man."

Tokio chuckled. "If you say so, Anata."

Standing up, Saitou unbuttoned the top of his uniform shirt in preparation to spar with his son. "I'll be leaving in ten minutes." His glance cut in Kaoru's direction. "Don't be late." Turning, he strode outside where Tsutomu was calling for his father.

Kaoru almost sighed as she witnessed the short exchange between Saitou and Tokio. There was no sign of affection, only a matter-of-fact tone sharing information. And yet, she almost felt the intangible closeness of a couple who shared a special bond. It had been present when Kaoru was first introduced to Tokio and the feeling had only grown stronger in the years since. Was it almost like a game to them, pretending to be aloof and nonchalant while others envied them subconsciously?

"Why the forlorn stare?" Tokio asked, breaking into her thoughts.

"Huh?" Kaoru shook herself and the question sank in. "Oh…nothing. I was just thinking about having to do paperwork at headquarters when I can barely keep up with my own in the office."

Tokio chuckled again as she gently put a now sleeping Tsuyoshi down in the basket. "I remember you writing that your deputy inspector isn't very good at doing his share. I suppose that hasn't changed a bit."

"Unfortunately, no." Kaoru thought for a moment. "Tokio-san, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course. What is it?"

Taking an extra moment to find the right words, Kaoru finally said, "I know Sensei met you a few times before you two were married. But…how did you know you two would be happy together? Or, at the very least, get along?"

"Ahh." Tokio started stacking the dirty dishes together. Kaoru stood to help and they went to the kitchen to clean up. "Well, I'm not sure you heard but the first time I met Hajime, I didn't particularly like him. I thought he was too stiff and cold." She glanced at Kaoru. "But fate had other ideas in mind, I suppose. He seemed to like me enough that he arranged a few more meetings. Our conversations weren't always cordial and harmonious, but looking back, he might have deliberately provoked me during those times." Tokio laughed softly, her eyes turned far away as she re-lived her memories. "In a way, I think Hajime was testing me because he wanted to know how I'd react. He wanted to make sure that if something ever happened to him, I'd be okay."

Kaoru frowned as she started washing the dishes in a bucket of soapy water. "So you knew you'd be happy because he was testing you?"

"No. But it showed me that he cared enough to make sure I would be strong enough to survive if something ever happened to him. After all, he is the Wolf of Mibu." Tokio cast her a sideways glance. "It's not always the surface behavior that shows what a man is thinking. Sometimes, his actions or even a remark that seems out of the blue speak what's in his heart far louder than anything else. Has your Himura-san done something like that?"

Thinking back on their acquaintance, Kaoru remembered how he had encouraged during her fight with Udo Jinei. She smiled at the memory of him taking her hand after and reminding her she had the power to save lives. Then her cheeks heated as she recalled that intimate hug right before Kenshin left for Kyoto.

Tokio smiled knowingly at her when Kaoru lifted her eyes to meet her gaze. "Yes," she replied, surprised to hear how firm her voice sounded.

"Then, Kaoru-chan, I think you have the answer to your question."

As Kaoru expected, working at headquarters in the morning was filled with mind-numbing paperwork that everyone seemed relieved to dump in her lap. Dutifully, Kaoru filled out forms and filed everything from leave requests to new recruitment hires to reprimands. She had worked in Saitou's office before so everything was familiar. It was just boring.

Even worse, there had been no updates about any other cities being taken over. The absence of any further similar situations would be good news in other circumstances, but Kaoru knew it wasn't quite over just yet. Her pessimistic opinion seemed to be shared by Saitou and other high ranking officers, but with no further clues or information, there was nothing else to do but wait.

At least Saitou allowed her to leave after lunch to pursue her own errands. In the afternoons, she escaped to look for clues to Kenshin's whereabouts. Since she didn't know where to start, Kaoru started asking questions to those who would know anything: patrol officers, the city gossip mongers, even the petty criminals. If Kenshin was helping his friend in the capital, it shouldn't have been so difficult to find any news of a red-haired man somewhere. But her search didn't yield any results and Kaoru spent the next two days frustrated. She didn't have any time left; in two more days, she had to catch a transport ride back to Toei lest Saitou punish her further for being gone longer than she was allowed.

On the fourth day since her arrival at Kyoto, after lunch, Kaoru trudged home, at a loss of where to look next. As she entered through the gate, she heard noises in the backyard. "Tadaima!"

"Okaeri. A note came for you while you were at headquarters," Tokio called back. "I put it in your room."

A note? Kaoru frowned, wondering if something happened at home. "Thank you!" she replied and hurried to pick it up. Sano knew she was staying at the Saitou home, but if it was official police business, he would have sent it through a messenger to be delivered to headquarters. Unless something happened that he didn't want Saitou to know about? Or was it perhaps Megumi writing to tell her Kenshin came home?

But when she picked up the plain envelope, her name was written by an unfamiliar hand. Sano, never one to stay still for long, had a sloppy writing style that made it hard to decipher at times. Megumi's handwriting, on the other hand, was beautiful and precise. The note left for her was a mix between the two: not quite neat, but it couldn't disguise the writer's superior control of the brush.

Well, staring at her name wouldn't answer any of the burgeoning questions in her mind. Kaoru pulled the folded packet from the envelope and smoothed it open. Instead of a letter, someone had hand-drawn a crude map. A city, or what she assumed was a city since it was labeled Kyoto, was located to the bottom right. On the top left side of the paper was a mountain. Near the peak of the mountain was a rectangle. Below the rectangle was the name Hiko Seijurou with an arrow pointed to the box-like shape.

"Kaoru-chan? What is it?"

Kaoru glanced up at Tokio who stood at the shouji, staring curiously at her. "It's a map. I think. Have you heard the name Hiko Seijurou before?"

Tokio frowned and ventured inside, craning her neck to see the paper for herself. "No, I don't think so. Who sent it to you?"

"There's no name or even a letter. How was this delivered?"

"It was just set at the front gate when I was sweeping this morning. I didn't see anyone leave it. But it had your name so I was wondering if it was from your friends in Toei. Or perhaps from your young man?"

The thought had occurred to Kaoru that it could be from Kenshin. She had never seen Kenshin's handwriting before. But how would he know she was here? And if he did know, why wouldn't he simply write her a note? Why this map? Slowly, she shook her head. "I don't think so. I mean, it could be, but that doesn't feel quite right. This is from someone else, and possibly someone who knows why I'm in Kyoto in the first place."

Tokio continued studying the map. "Perhaps this Hiko Seijurou wants to meet you. I'm a little uneasy about you leaving to meet a man you don't know, but I suppose my protests are going to fall on deaf ears."

Kaoru laid a comforting hand on her arm. "You know I have to. No one in the city could help me. If this man knows anything about where Kenshin is, I have to take the chance. And you know I can take care of myself."

"I'd feel a lot better if you had an actual working sword," Tokio countered, her brown eyes turning fierce. "I'm not an advocate of killing people, but I have some strong feelings about defending oneself."

"I'll be fine," she reassured her. "From the position of the mountain relative to the city, it looks like this is supposed to represent Mount Atago. If I leave now, I should be able to reach what I think is Hiko-san's house before it gets too dark." Mind racing now that there was something to do, Kaoru set the map down and began to strip off her uniform shirt to change into more comfortable traveling clothes. Lost in thought, she almost missed Tokio's troubled expression until she shrugged into a beige gi and turned to find a carrying pack. Pausing at the uncharacteristic pressed lips of her surrogate mother, Kaoru asked tentatively, "Tokio-san?"

"Kaoru-chan," the older woman began and then sighed. "Sometimes I want to keep treating you as the child I met seven years ago, but I know I can't. You're a grown woman, a well-trained swordsman, and a member of the police bureau. But I still can't shake the feeling that going off to meet this Hiko Seijurou is going to carry you down a path that you perhaps shouldn't go."

Surprised at the foreboding prediction, Kaoru gave into the urge to hug her. "I'll be fine. I'm just going to go there and ask about Kenshin. I'll probably even be back tonight, although it'll be late. Try not to worry about me, Tokio-san."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Tokio's lips. "That's like asking for the sun not to rise in the morning, silly. But all right, I'll trust in you and your skills. I'll make a bento for you to take with you for your journey. And you may want to pack a warm wrap. The mountains will be cooler at night."

"I will," she promised. As Tokio left to make the dinner, Kaoru's mind turned to her upcoming confrontation with the mysterious Hiko Seijurou. She wouldn't leave the mountain until she got information about where Kenshin was, even if she had to beat it out of him.

I don't know why but domestic Saitou and Tokio makes me so happy. :)

Next Chapter: Cryptic Messages and Swords