After a few hours of cleaning, Saitō had finally finished with his punishment. Eiji was already awake and was playing with his son Tsutomu, to which the youngster laughed with joy at how Eiji made funny faces. Tokio was busy with the laundry and often left Eiji to entertain her son, but she considered Eiji a son as well and trusted him completely with Tsutomu. Saitō, took the pale of water, as well as the broom and mop, outside, he placed both against the house and took a short walk to the edge of the property to dump the dirty water. He saw Tokio hanging the laundry on the fish line he hung for her last year. Slowly, he walked over to her as she finished hanging up the clothes. "I have a question for you" He said, she turned around "Ok, what is it?" She was curious, it was unusual for Saitō to ask questions. "What do you think of keeping Eiji here permanently?" He watched for her reaction and a smile crossed her mouth. "Well, I love Eiji as if he was my own and I don't think I could part with him, neither could Tsutomu, why does he want to leave?" She asked now worried that the boy wasn't enjoy his stay, Saitō shook his head. "No, that's not it at all, he asked me last night if he had to leave because I was back and I said it was up to you since you have to put up with all of us" Tokio smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "I can handle him and our son, you on the other hand" She said picking up the empty basket. Saitō brow knitted inwardly as he lit up a cigarette "Are you ready for lunch?" He gave a small nod and took a long drag of his cigarette, she walked over to him and he took the cigarette out of his mouth. Tokio kissed him on the cheek "Welcome home, Hajime" She said, placing the cigarette carefully back into his mouth she walked inside, he sighed and and looked out to the river.
He knew she was in a better mood than last night, her words did not sting when she said his name. It was pleasurable again, to be called Hajime, not Hajime and not Saitō. He rubbed his cheek absent mindedly, taking one last drag of his cigarette, he let it fall from his mouth to the ground, stepping on it. The day was only half through and he knew that he had to sort out his head, stepping away from the river bed he walked back to the house. Removing his shoes, he walked inside to see Eiji laughing and Tsutomu making some sort of noise. He grumbled to himself and sat down on the floor. Tokio came out of the kitchen, placing some soba on the table for him and Eiji. "Eiji come eat" She said, the boy nodded and picked up Tsutomu. He handed his young adopted sibling to Tokio and sat down beginning to eat. Saitō was already done with his food, soba never did last long around him. Tokio walked out of the room and into the bedroom to feed her youngest son, Saitō's gaze then made his way over to Eiji. Eiji stopped eating for a second and caught the wolf's glare, Saitō gave a smirk, the boy went back to eating. "Knowing my son, he will probably sleep after he is done" He said, wondering if he could get away with smoking in the house, but dismissed it, not wanting a bump on his head. "So why don't we begin your training?" Saitō's eye quirked a bit, waiting in response. Eiji sat there for a few minutes and then nodded. Saitō then got up from the table, quickly brining his bowl into the kitchen, he went into his bedroom, where his wife had just finished feeding their child. He went into the closet and took out a bokken, Tokio watched him as she laid her son down to sleep. "So Eiji is going to be subject to your training" She said sarcastically, he grunted and looked at her, picking his Katana. "Someone has to protect you when I'm not around" He mocked, she gave a slight huff.
He walked out of the room and saw Eiji outside waiting, when Saitō approached and Eiji turned around. Saitō threw the bokken at Eiji who caught it with ease, he then walked over to the shed, unlocking it, pulling out two heavy wooden practice stumps. One was greatly cut up and the other looked brand new. "How much kata do you know, Eiji? Saitō asked drawing his sword, "Not much" The boy said waiting for Saitō to make a move. He sighed, wanting a cigarette, but would wait. "Alright," he said "We will start with simple stuff and then we will work on your footing, and defense without a sword." He said smugly as he remembered his skills against the rooster head. "Your arms are in strong shape, that is good, it will make teaching you the harder moves easier since we don't have to improve your arms that much, your legs, well that will be a different story I bet" Saitō got into a simple stance, slightly similar to his favorite move, but his legs not as spread apart.
"Now, with both hands on the hilt, slice directly down" Saitō did this, slicing the worn stump almost in 2, Eiji watched and nodded. "Do this 200 times" and Eiji gave a sort of 'what the hell did I get myself into' look, but took a deep breath and began. "Back straight, do not slouch" Saitō said and lit a cigarette "Good good, make sure to breathe, through the nose and out the mouth, this will allow more stamina." The boy gave a slight nod and kept going. Hours later an exhausted Eiji, collapsed on the grass as the sun was setting. The sweat dripped profusely from his head, he closed his eyes as a cool breeze passed by him. Saitō leaned against the railing of the house, watching the boy, he had to admit he didn't think the boy would make it through all of his torment, he was a bit rough on the boy, but he wanted to see if he was serious. "Eiji go bathe" Saitō, the boy slowly rose to his feet and walked towards the bath house.
Saitō sighed and watched the sunset and suddenly felt arms drape around his neck. "It's been a while since we watched the sunset, Hajime" He shrugged slightly, but the arms didn't move. "You were a bit rough on him, but is that your way of showing you care for him" Saitō have a "Hn" and smirked. "I have no idea what you are talking about, woman" Tokio sighed "Of course you don't" she said and her arms slowly pulled away from Saitō's neck. "Dinner is ready" She said walking inside. Saitō took one last look at the setting sun and walked inside, with a sudden cold shiver down his spine. He stopped and looked out the door way, his eyes glancing around his yard, strange, that's a feeling I haven't felt in a while. He slid the shoji shut and knelt down at the table, as Tokio served dinner.