Saitou breathed in deeply relishing in the sweet smell of the flowers in his hand. Sano would like them he hoped, knowing at least Saiko would even if Sano did not. He opened the door to the Sagara house and stepped in setting his keys on the counter. He did not hear anything so Saitou figured that Sano and Saiko must be taking a nap. He smiled walking to the bedroom with his flower laden hands behind his back. The room was empty so Saitou frowned. Saitou checked every room and the garden and he could not find anyone. Suddenly he remembered something Sano had said before "If we are ever not here when you get home, I will leave a note on the counter where you set your keys."

Saitou rushed back to the kitchen and sure enough underneath his keys was a sloppy note with two caricatures of Saitou's loving family.

Saitou(Daddy),
Kenshin and friends invited us to dinner tonight, meet us at the Akabeko as soon as you get this. I love you

Sano(Dada) and Saiko(Sa-chan)

Saitou smirked, they had been trying to teach Saiko her name, but the only clear sound she would do was "sa" so they had been calling her Sa-chan and she started repeating that. After straightening the bouquet of flowers in his hand Saitou locked up the house and headed towards the Akabeko on foot. He got a few waves and hello's on the way since he was still in his Fugita Gorou police uniform. Then he noticed a troupe of 5 police officers running by. One noticed him and doubled back. Out of breath the young low rank officer put his hands on his knees and forced his voice to work saying "Officer Fugita, there was an attack downtown, some gangster tried to assault a women, this street fighter Zanza or something interfered, he got stabbed twice, can you help us keep the crowd from turning into a mob?" Saitou seemed un-phased as he ran behind the youth, but in reality he was biting the inside of his lower lip so hard it was bleeding.

Street fighter Zanza, stabbed the horrid thoughts rippled through Saitou's mind. He had to see Sano and now. The officer was right about the crowd they were one punch from a full out riot. Some were screaming because the gangster would retaliate on their homes, some were screaming about the girl, others were just ready to fight.

Even though he was supposed to be helping with riot duty he bypassed the crowd and went towards the center of the crowd. He saw a young man being restrained by three officers, quite bloody himself from the punches Sano must have given him, he saw the girl who was crying and was in the arms of an older man, a grandfather perhaps, and thirdly he saw pools of blood surrounded by a few officers and what must have been a medical student, probably grabbed off the street. A carriage had come and they were setting it up to take Sano to a real doctor. In an instant Saitou had already convinced the physician to let him "question" the victim quickly. Sano's eyes were closed, but had opened at the sound of Saitou's voice.

Saitou got on his knees and looked deeply into Sano's eyes, his eyebrows the most worried Sano had ever seen them. With his limited time Saitou only spoke one word. "Saiko?" he asked almost silently. Sano smiled through his pain, Saitou really was part of the family, worrying about their daughter over Sano, just as Sano would want him to. "Safe, Kaoru, Akabeko" he managed out before Saitou was pulled away.

Saitou took a deep breath and calmly asked what he could do to help without mentioning how distressed he was about what was happening. No one knew about his relationship with Sano and it was better than way, considering Fujita Gorou was the person the police thought he was anyways. The crowd had died down as they took Sano away because they had also managed to get the gangster out at the same time. Saitou felt his hand shaking slightly as he slipped his fingers through his hair as he headed toward the Akabeko once a commanding officer had relieved him of duty, since he was actually off the clock.

Saitou managed to overhear that Sano would be unavailable for questioning for several hours since he might need surgery to repair the damage. Judging on how big the support for the gangster the police would need a full statement on what happened, though most of the crowd seemed to know the details. Luckily no one thought Sano did anything wrong.

Judging by how many people fled at the sight of the wolf of Mibu it was clear that if enough happened to Saitou a look might actually be able to kill. A fourteen year old boy was able to shakingly point out the table that the Kenshin-gumi were seated at. Some people say that young children are extremely perceptive. If anyone ever doubted this they would changed their mind if they saw the millisecond it took Saiko to notice Saitou and his demeanor and start crying. Before anyone even noticed Saitou at the table he had scooped up Saiko in his arms and closed his eyes tight.

Kaoru looked over to the empty child's seat next to her shocked. She looked up Saitou's lengthy form slowly and realized the girl was sobbing. "What…?" she asked confused. Kenshin straightened up saying, "Saitou, what's wrong, where is Sano?" Saitou took a deep breath and opened up his eyes "He was attacked" he responded and turned around leaving the Akabeko before anyone could object.

Saitou knew even if they did take Sano to Dr. Gensai, the only doctor who would let him visit Sano without revealing their true relationship, he would not be able to see him until after surgery, which would probably go long into the night if he survived. Saitou clutched Saiko tighter to his chest as he walked him home. Her cries had dried up but she was not happy by any stretch. Saitou knew it was his fault she was upset, he was broadcasting distress to the child, but as hard as he tried he could not shake the feeling.

Coming home to an empty home Saitou tossed his keys to the floor and avoided looking at the loving note on the counter. Why had that Ahou left the Akabeko in the first place? Sano told Saitou to meet him there, why wasn't he there? Neither Saiko nor Saitou actually ate anything that night so Saitou managed to make some white rice before getting them both ready for bed. Getting ready consisted of taking of his police uniform and pulling on a pair of sleep pants and putting Saiko in her pajamas from the night before. Saitou didn't know if they were clean or not, but he really did not care.

Saiko had managed to be very quiet during dinner and while Saitou changed her clothes and diaper. This silence ended as Saitou brought her to bed in his and Sano's futon. "Nigh nigh da e?" she asked softly. Saitou nodded and kissed her on the cheek offering his own in return. She kissed him then her lip started to tremble. "Nigh nigh dada?" she asked confused. Saitou took in a deep breath. "No Saiko, no nigh nigh dada" he managed feeling tears starting to fill his proud and dry tear ducts.

Saitou was sitting up on the futon looking down at Saiko who was sitting in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up to his chest. She laid her head on his shoulder and cried "Nigh nigh dada, Sa-chan no nigh nigh dada." A single tear fell down Saitou's cheek and landed in Saiko's dark locks before Saitou responded "No night night dada for daddy either sa-chan."

A/N: Woo this chapter is a long one! And a cliff hanger at that, I am evil aren't I? I hope some people start giving me some more reviews because nothing inspires an author like a captive audience!