DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, the characters or their likeness. So don't sue me.

Part two of my airport meet cute! I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope it lives up to everyone's expectations.

A few things, if you go to my profile page you will find links (URLs really, remove the spaces and add dots were specified) to three lists of Saitou x Tokio stories. For those of you interested in more Saitou x Tokio goodness.

I also want to declare my intention to update Lady Justice is Blind before anything else. I don't know when but soon. I need to do a bit of research (serious research you know? Watch RK, watch the live action, and read the manga) But I want to update it. It's been too long.

There's a bonus at the end of the story, after my notes. Thank you Anreg for your continual support and editing skills. Thank you Cat for your help. Without you two I might have slashed and burned this in frustration. ;)

Story time! Friendly reminder that reviews are always nice.

Tokio kept her eyes closed, trying to hold onto sleep for a little while longer. She was far too warm and comfortable to wake up right now. Well as comfortable as one could be sleeping on a plane, and that was even with the belt digging into her side a little. In her sleep Tokio had made herself as comfortable as possible by bringing her feet up onto the seat and folding them beneath her. And to ward off the cold Tokio was covered in a blanket; how or when she didn't know but it didn't matter. She sighed and rubbed her face against the pillow, her warm, hard pillow. Wait? What?

Tokio's eyes snapped open and she jerked away from her "pillow". She covered her mouth with her hand and with wide eyes she looked at Saitou. He was asleep, Tokio sighed in relief.

"You drool," said the supposedly sleeping man. Saitou cracked an eye open to look at Tokio, amusement clear in that one eye. He had the pleasure of seeing her turn pink and fought the urge to smirk as she inspected her face for signs of drool.

Finding none, Tokio let her hands drop and glared at the man. "That's mean." Then letting her feet drop onto the floor she said, "You could have woken me up."

Saitou rolled the shoulder Tokio had slept on and moved his arm, stretching it, "I tried but you wouldn't budge." Not true but she didn't need to know that. It had felt wrong to wake her from such a peaceful slumber. Especially seeing how exhausted she was.

Tokio felt the heat rise to her face again. She cleared her throat and looked away, "I am sorry."

"Hm." Saitou crossed his arms. "You can pay me back. The dinner cart should be coming soon."

Tokio thought it over, it sounded fair. It wasn't as if she particularly liked airplane food. "You can have whatever you want off my plate."

"Deal." Saitou stretched out his long leg into the aisle, the other leg remained cramped. These long flights were torture for a man that was used to constant activity.

Tokio stretched her arms over her head and arched her back as she let out of sound of pure contentment. "That's the best sleep I've had in weeks. The belt dug into my sides but still the best sleep."

"I am surprised you could sleep." Saitou watched as Tokio moved and stretched her legs. Despite the cramped settings she could still bring her legs up and stretch them. He was lucky that the passenger in front of him hadn't gotten into their head to lean their seat back. Maybe it wasn't so much luck but a measure of self-preservation; he had seen the way Saitou had treated the letch from earlier.

"I suppose when you haven't really slept in weeks you can sleep anywhere. Did you say that they would serve dinner soon?"

"Ah."

"Will you let me out then? Or am I going to have to climb over you?"

Saitou smirked, "As much fun –"

Tokio interrupted him by raising a hand and glaring. "Just get up."

"Yare yare, so bossy," Saitou said as he got up and out of the way.

Tokio rolled her eyes and rather flippantly said, "Someone needs to keep you in your place, and who better than your wife?"

Saitou's smirk was dangerous. "Only if you dare."

Tokio stuck her tongue out at the man before heading to the bathroom. "You don't scare me."

It seemed sleep was doing wonders for Tokio's spirit, except for a certain heaviness that still hung around her. Saitou knew that kind of betrayal was not cured overnight, much less over a few hours of sleep.

Kaoru couldn't help but stare. It was just odd, really odd. Saitou's wife was standing, actually she was bouncing on the balls of her feet, right there waiting for the bathroom and she seemed so normal. Key word: seemed. She did marry Saitou after all.

The woman before her was not who she would have pictured marrying Saitou. In fact, she imagined he would have married someone tough, hard, and rather unpleasant. You know, someone like him. Suddenly the image of Saitou with longer hair and in a dress came to mind and she laughed.

"Do I have something on my face?" Tokio asked breaking through Kaoru's mental image.

Kaoru realized to her horror that she was still staring, vaguely aware that she had been asked something.

Tokio smiled at the pretty flight attendant and began to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand. "He'd probably think it was funny to let me walk off with drool on my face."

"N-no." Kaoru blushed slightly, embarrassed to be caught staring. "There's nothing on your face." Then with a roll of her eyes, "He probably would think it was funny."

There was an edge to the attendant's voice that Tokio didn't miss. Tokio stopped wiping her mouth and smiled; she felt bad for abusing the man's character when he hadn't been anything but nice to her. "Actually I don't think he would."

Kaoru blinked, surprised. "You're nicer than I imagined."

Tokio tilted her head to the side, curious. "Should I not be?"

"Eh!" Kaoru brought her hands up. "That's not what I meant! I just don't know how you put up with him. I couldn't."

Suddenly a thought occurred to Tokio, one she was far too interested in following more than she wanted to admit. "A-are you" Tokio wasn't quite sure how to ask her question, "an ex of Saitou's perhaps?"

Kaoru felt her head explode for the second time today and she knew her face showed it. Then at the thought of her and Saitou she shuddered, "No!"

Remembering whom she was talking to she quickly added, "I am sorry."

Tokio laughed at the look of pure horror on the other woman's face. "You just seemed so familiar with him and well," Tokio shrugged instead of putting it into words.

Kaoru mistook Tokio's interest for jealousy and set to put the woman at ease. "There's nothing between us and never will be."

Tokio laughed at Kaoru's forcefulness.

Just before the situation could become anymore awkward the bathroom door opened. It was obvious Tokio wanted to continue talking, but Kaoru beat a hasty retreat thankful for the excuse. "I have to get back to work."

Tokio blinked and watched the other woman walk down the opposite aisle.

"Are you in line?"

Tokio turned to the passenger behind her, "Yes, sorry," then entered the bathroom. She was left wondering about the strange conversation. She had the distinct impression that the odd looks she had been receiving weren't going to stop anytime soon, at least not till she got off this plane.

Meanwhile in the cockpit . . .

"Man, I am hungry."

"They'll serve dinner soon. Be patient." Himura Kenshin looked over at his co-pilot, knowing full well that patience was not listed among Sagara Sanosuke's virtues.

"Well they need to hurry up, I am hungry," whined the tall man with wild brown hair.

Thinking about food wasn't going to make it magically appear. Deciding that a little distraction was in order, he smiled slyly at his redheaded friend, "Do you have plans once we land?"

They both knew what Sano was really asking. Subtlety was also not on that list. Sano was aware that the redhead and a certain flight attendant were taking things painfully slow. So slow in fact that neither had declared their feelings to the other. Well, they had in their own ways but the other party always excused it as kindness or politeness. It was painful to watch.

Kenshin sighed. "This one does not."

Sano scratched his ear. "The fox and I are planning on trying out a new restaurant she read about on Trip Advisor, wanna join us?" Then winking he said, "Kaoru will be there."

"This one doesn't –"

A knock at the door interrupted Kenshin, saved him more like it. Sano got up and answered the door.

"Oy! Can we eat now?" Sano said instead of a greeting.

Megumi rolled her eyes and flipped her hair, "Soon." Pushing Sano out of the way she walked in. Then with the full confidence of someone who knows a good secret she said, "Do you know who's flying with us today?"

Sano flopped back into his seat. "I don't care."

Kenshin laughed, "Megumi-dono you know Sano has no patience when he's hungry."

Megumi tsked, "When does he have patience?"

"True, true."

Sano turned and glared at the pair. "I am right here you know."

Both Megumi and Kenshin ignored the irate man. "Did you have something to tell us Megumi-dono?"

"Saitou is – "

Sano stuck a toothpick in his mouth and said, "So? That's not new or interesting."

Megumi snapped, "If you'd let me finish, you might find out something interesting."

"Mah mah, you two this isn't the place for a fight. Megumi-dono you wanted to tell us something?" Kenshin tried to calm down the two.

Megumi, knowing that Kenshin had a point but not willing to back down, enjoyed a stare down with Sano before she turned her back on him. "Saitou's here . . ." allowing the anticipation to grow before saying, "with his wife."

There were a few seconds of complete silence as the gossip sunk in and as if a mini explosion had gone off, Sano's mouth dropped to the floor and Kenshin turned around so fast he slapped himself with his own hair.

Megumi smirked. Kaoru was not going to be happy to have missed this.

Once the shock had worn off Sano turned to Kenshin and said, "How does it feel? Saitou not only found someone but got married. And you? Can't even ask little miss out on a date."

Megumi chuckled, "For once he has a point."

"For once?" Sano asked indignant about the implications.

Kenshin sighed and ignored the bickering couple. He knew their relationship ran on this constant back and forth. Though they had a point; maybe it was time to be more upfront about his feelings for Kaoru. It still stung to know Saitou had found and married before him.

Back in his seat Saitou sneezed. He glared at the seat in front of him; he could very well imagine what was being said. He was starting to wonder if he should have left Tokio to her fate; being nice certainly wasn't paying off.

"Someone must be talking about you." Tokio waited for Saitou to stand up and allow her back into her seat.

"If they are they're not saying anything good."

Tokio looked at the man and considered him. The girl from the café was right, he wasn't so bad just not everyone's taste. "You're not so bad."

Saitou snorted and said, "You don't know me." Tokio wasn't exactly an unbiased opinion. Saitou was sure that right now just about any man was better than her ex.

Saitou turned to Tokio, for the first time since sitting down, and raised an eyebrow. She was trying to read him and he didn't like it. He wasn't sure why he didn't tell her off.

"I wouldn't mind getting to know you." Tokio was remembering the flight attendant's reaction to the thought of her and Saitou, together. And it made her smile.

Saitou grinned, amused. But before he could say anything, Tokio blinked and quickly said, "This isn't a come on. I know I said you weren't so bad but I just got out of something really bad. And I am not –"

Tokio stopped mid-ramble to glare at the man. He was laughing at her. "Psh. I don't know what you find so funny." She let herself fall into her seat, annoyed and embarrassed.

Tokio, however, forgot her annoyance as the drink cart approached, much more interested in watching the flight attendants.

"Looking for a new job?" Saitou asked, tea in hand, once the drink cart had continued up the aisle.

"You're really making me reconsider this whole, 'you're not so bad' bit."

"I wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression of me."

"That you might actually be a decent human being?"

Saitou's only response was to laugh lowly.

Tokio shook her head and drank from her own tea. The man was a mystery. It was obvious he didn't put up with much. Yet he had let her sleep on his shoulder and then the brownie. Everything was just odd.

Tokio turned and leaned in. "They keep sending me odd looks. At first I thought I was imagining it."

Saitou sighed. He knew what it was; it was too good a piece of gossip for those busybodies. They were curious about his "wife." He too had noticed the pitying looks directed at Tokio and the awestruck ones directed his way.

"Did you say anything?" Then Tokio motioned to herself. "You know jilted bride."

Saitou narrowed his eyes at Tokio; he didn't appreciate her accusatory tone. "No. Why would I?"

Tokio thought about it. He was right; it wasn't something he would do.

Saitou watched as a mischievous light came into her eyes but he was completely unprepared for what she said next.

"Or maybe one of them is an ex-girlfriend." Tokio leaned in further and in a conspiratory whisper asked, "Did you break her heart?" Tokio looked over towards Kaoru distributing drinks in the other aisle.

Saitou followed Tokio's gaze and landed on Kaoru. He choked on his tea.

Tokio wanted to laugh. He always seemed to be in control and it was oddly satisfying to see him lose his footing. She didn't laugh but she couldn't keep from grinning. "She had a similar reaction when I asked her if she was your ex."

Tokio continued in a matter of fact tone. "What? It's not that farfetched. And she did seem awfully familiar with you." The poor man still looked stunned. Then disbelievingly she asked, "Are you really telling me you've never had a romance with one of these pretty attendants?"

"Tch. Idiot," was all the reply he gave, instead choosing to put on his headphones and search through the vast entertainment available on the plane.

Tokio let out a small chuckle but when she saw that he had no intention of resuming their conversation she felt a little sad at the loss.

Tokio looked down at her tray of food with a slight grimace. The only appetizing part of dinner was the brownie that sat in the corner of her tray. She tried to sneak a peek at Saitou only to find him watching her, grinning.

She tried to grab the brownie, "Not the brownie!" Saitou however was quicker.

"We had a deal."

"I know but . . . not my brownie," Tokio pleaded.

"Don't be greedy. You had the last brownie at the airport."

"Yea . . ." Tokio decided to change tactics, "I need this brownie. I am a single woman going on her honeymoon. The only thing that will save me is chocolate."

Saitou's smirk was wolfish, "I am doing you a favour." In mock seriousness, "Think of the calories."

Tokio glared at him. "You're evil."

As if to prove her point, Saitou unwrapped said brownie and wolfed down half. Tokio blinked, surprised. And with a hint of disapproval said, "You really are evil."

Saitou wasn't really a fan of sweets but that didn't mean he didn't occasionally eat them. And eating the brownie was worth it to see Tokio annoyed. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye; she was glaring down at her plate and picking at her food.

Saitou smirked and turned his attention to his own food.

Tokio slept on and off the rest of the flight. When she wasn't sleeping, she would engage Saitou in conversation. Or as Saitou would say, she forced him. She was surprised with how easy it was to talk to the man. She kept expecting him to brush her off or tell her to leave him alone.

Odder still was when she woke up once again covered in a blanket. This time though she was sure she hadn't done it. When she had asked him about it he simply said in his usual gruff manner, "Why would I do that?"

The man was a mystery. That was the only conclusion Tokio could come to. For one, she didn't know what he did for a living. When asked he had handed her a business card.

Tokio stared down at the simple card. It only had his name and phone number. She looked up at him with a flat look. "This doesn't tell me anything."

Saitou knew he was being obstinate. "It tells you everything you need to know."

Tokio sighed. He was enjoying this, the smirking bastard. "Are you always this difficult?"

He shrugged and held his hand out for the card. "I am a consultant." His tone was final. That was all she was getting out of him.

Tokio tapped the card against her hand and then reached under the seat for her bag, slipping the card into her wallet.

At his raised eyebrow she said, "In case I need a consultant of mystery."

Tokio couldn't help smile, a little shyly, when he laughed even if it was at the cheesiness of her statement. Tokio wasn't sure what to make of butterflies in her stomach. Maybe it was indigestion from the "food".

With the passengers off and the plane taken care of the flight crew made their way to passport control by passing the much longer line of passengers.

Kaoru cried out as her heel broke and she would have fallen if a certain red headed pilot hadn't grabbed hold of her elbow.

"Are you okay Miss Kaoru?"

Kaoru blushed and mumbled, "My heel broke."

Kenshin looked down and said, "That it did." He then proceeded to bend down, take off her other heel and break that heel too and replace it on her foot.

Unknown to the two, Tokio was watching. Her heart ached at the show of pure affection, the way the simplest touch caused Kaoru to blush and how the sound of her voice brought such longing into Kenshin's eyes. Tokio looked away, feeling guilty at having seen such a moment. She sighed. It was the affection of budding romance.

Saitou's voice brought Tokio out of her thoughts, "Alright there?"

Tokio turned to the man standing behind her, "Just impatient to get out of this line."

Saitou knew she was lying. He too had noticed the exchange but he had been far more interested in watching Tokio. He saw the longing reflected in her own eyes and knew it wouldn't be long before she pulled herself out of the my-fiancé-left-me-standing blues.

Saitou tapped Tokio on the head with his passport. "Then you should have your passport out and ready."

Tokio gave him a flat look, "It's right here." Tokio reached into her purse but was unable to find her passport in its spot. She blew air out her nose, "Well it was right here."

"Here," said Tokio, as she began rummaging through her purse.

Sano scanned the passengers and finding the one he wanted he couldn't help but stop and stare. It wasn't too hard to spot Saitou and even though he had been searching for him he hadn't been prepared. There was Saitou talking lowly to a short woman, a pretty woman. She was handing him things to hold while she searched through her purse. He couldn't believe it. Saitou was married.

Megumi snapped Sano's mouth shut, "You'll catch flies like that."

Sano turned to look at Megumi. "Vixen! Saitou's married!"

Kenshin, who with Kaoru had caught up with the rest of the crew, made hushing sounds with his hands, "Sano keep your voice down."

"Rooster, didn't I tell you?" Megumi rolled her eyes.

"She's nice." Kaoru said, adding in her own observation.

Megumi pushed on Sano's back pushing him towards passport control.

While he was being pushed he said, "Kenshin, Saitou's married!" Obviously unable to believe what he had seen.

Kenshin sighed, "I know Sano." He turned around to look at the couple only to catch Saitou glaring over at their direction. Kenshin smiled sheepishly before nodding and walking off. Maybe Sano had a point; it was time he let Kaoru know how he felt about her. After all if someone could love Saitou . . .

"Miss Kaoru, do you have plans for tonight?"

Tokio, freshly showered, flopped onto the bed, face first. She had tried to escape the fact that she was alone on her honeymoon but with no one to distract her, it was impossible. First, the receptionist at the hotel had congratulated her on her marriage and then asked for her husband. The only thing that had saved the receptionist from a truly snippy response was the brownie she had found in her purse. Saitou's brownie. She wasn't sure when or why he had slipped it into her purse but it calmed her down enough that she just said, "I left him at the airport."

The second time she was reminded of her I-was-left-at-the-alter-and-am-now-on-my-honeymoon-alone state was when she was browsing through a small hidden bookshop. She had stood on the tips of toes to reach a particular artbook. She got the book down but it dislodged another, one that came falling down on top of her head. The book was called The Best Kissing Spots in Paris. Normally, Tokio would have found the book funny but under the present circumstances it only seemed to mock her.

Then there was the wedding she had run into, and finally the honeymooners kissing at the top of the Eiffel tower. If that wasn't enough, she had ended today with pigeon droppings on her head.

Tokio groaned, rolled over, grabbed her purse, and dumped its contents onto the bed. She had to get her mind off of her ex. Tokio picked up her phone. Sixteen missed calls and eight voice messages, all from her ex. Well, she was certainly not going to forget about him like this. She stared at her phone, closed her eyes, and deleted every single message without listening to them.

She sighed. Maybe she could call someone and get her mind off of him? Grabbing the brownie off the bedside table she picked up Saitou's business card. Then put it down and proceeded to call her sister.

Twenty minutes later, brownie long gone, and now sitting crossed-legged on the bed she had failed to reach anyone, even her own mother. No one seemed to be answering their phones. Tokio spotted Saitou's business card amongst the contents of her purse.

Tokio chewed her lip, wondering if she should call. She wanted to. But he wasn't the most inviting of people and she didn't really have a reason to call him. In the end she decided she had nothing to lose. She inhaled and dialed the number.

"Saitou Hajime."

Tokio hadn't really expected him to answer. After all everyone else hadn't. That and she wasn't sure she wanted him to answer. Tokio cleared her throat, "Hi."

There was a pause. Just long enough for Tokio to wonder if he heard her or knew who was calling. "It's me, Takagi Tokio? From the airplane? The art conservationist?" When that didn't elicit a reply she sighed and said, "You know, your wife?"

"Are you asking me?" Even through the phone she could hear the amusement in his voice.

Tokio rolled her eyes and with more edge than she intended said, "I thought you forgot about me."

"Forget the woman who accosted me for a brownie and then posed as my wife? Not likely."

Before Tokio could say anything he added, "I was surprised."

That simple admission surprised Tokio. She got the impression that the man was not often surprised and she felt a thrill at having done just that. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, "Just so you know, this isn't a booty call."

"That's too bad."

". . . You're awful."

Saitou chuckled, "Tell me, why did you call?"

"It was either this or I drown my sorrows in wine and pastries. I chose the healthier option."

"Paris not enough of a distraction for you?"

"Paris is a traitor. It keeps reminding me of the ugly truth. Tell me about your day."

"There's nothing to tell."

Tokio rolled her eyes. "I don't believe you. What did you do? What did you see?" Of course the man would make this difficult. Despite that, Tokio wanted to see him. She didn't want to be alone.

"I'll tell you what, I'll invite you out for a drink and we'll see if Paris can't redeem itself."

Tokio blinked and then smiled, "Alright." Then with a sharp tone she said, "Remember this isn't a booty call."

Saitou growled, "Woman, who do you think I am?"

"I don't know. Remember, I don't know you." Then after a short pause Tokio said, "but I would like to."

Tokio looked out the small window. Excitement made her smile.

"You're not going to fall asleep before we take off are you?"

Tokio turned and watched Saitou sit down. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep."

Saitou raised an eyebrow, "This isn't your first time to Paris." referring to her solo honeymoon a few years back.

Tokio smiled, a brilliant smile, "I was told that you should see Paris with someone you love and I am finally going to do just that." Tokio glanced down at her wedding ring.

Saitou couldn't help but smile at his wife. "What do you have in the bag?" he asked motioning with his nose.

"Oh!" Tokio reached into her purse and pulled out a bag of brownies.

"I hate brownies."

"I knew it." Tokio gave her husband a flat look, "I chose the wrong man again."

Saitou leaned in and kissed Tokio. Against her lips he said, "You have terrible luck."

"Hm. At least you're a good kisser. So my luck can't be all bad."

NOTES:

And that's the end of my airport meet cute. Fun fact: The book is an actual book, I can't remember the exact title, I found in Paris eleven years ago, I didn't buy it though. The pigeon is also based on a true event, sadly. My mentor, friend, and teacher once told me that you should always see Paris when you're in love, that it makes all the difference. Tokio's comment is really my friend's advice.

~ BONUS (because I couldn't help but add him) This takes place after the hotel scene but before the final scene. ~

Saitou tore the phone off its hook and growled into the receiver, "What?"

"You're a real piece of shit. Did you know that?"

Saitou picked up his cell phone and looked at the time, 3 AM Paris, France. That meant it was still morning in Tokyo.

"Okita it's 3 AM," Saitou's voice was dangerously low.

That didn't stop Okita's rant, "Sagara texted me. You know what he asked me?"

"It's 3 fucking AM. I don't care if that idiot asked you how to change a light bulb."

Okita didn't seem to hear Saitou. "He asked me when you got married. How could you? How could you get married without your best friend?! This is low, even for you."

Saitou threw his arm over his eyes and groaned. Imaging all the ways he could kill his friend, replaying a few favourites.

"I wouldn't have believed it but Sagara said she was sleeping on your shoulder. You don't even sit on the subway. AND he said you were holding her stuff for her. I can't believe you."

Saitou groaned as Okita droned on. "Souji. Shut up. I'll invite you to the next wedding," growled Saitou.

"NEXT wedding?! You're so greedy. You're on your second marriage and you're already thinking of a third? I don't get it."

Saitou hung up the phone and disconnected it for good measure. Smirking before turning on his side. He could have told Okita about the misunderstanding but it was 3 am. Plus it was driving Okita crazy.

Okita stared at the phone, "The bastard hung up on me." He slammed the phone down. He didn't understand. Nope. What did women see in him?