My thanks to t42n24t2 for giving my muse a push to write this reunion chapter! Chronologically, this comes after Chapter 4, The Return. It will be a two part offering.

Another Battle for the Wolf – The Reunion Part 1

I have missed my wolf so much. Years ago I couldn't even imagine that any man could have such an effect on me. It's like half of me was missing these past five months. If not for Tsutomu, I would have gone crazy with loneliness. What I felt was an aching emptiness within, a realization that a part of me was no longer there. It is so hard to explain, but so deeply felt.

I was so pleased and surprised when I received the telegram he sent from Kyoto, letting me know when his ship would arrive in Yokohama. I thought that he might get here a day or so early, or be delayed by something unforeseeable. In either case, I intended to be in Yokohama with plenty of time to spare, and ready to wait however long it took.

I got here two days ago, and I'm staying at a very nice ryokan owned by old friends of my late father. They always give me a special rate when I stay there. For that I am very thankful, as it means I can afford to stay as long as necessary. As soon as I arrived in town, I checked to see when my husband's ship was expected, and it is actually on schedule, much to my surprise, because the government has a penchant for inefficiency, something which irritates my very efficient husband to no end.

Tsutomu and I have had two full days to rest and anticipate Hajime's reappearance in our life. I doubt if our son will recognize his father. He doesn't take well to strangers, and he was only five months old when Hajime left. It's now five months later. I hope he doesn't start to cry when he first sees his father. Fortunately at the moment, Tsutomu is sleeping, swaddled safely on my back. I arrived at the dock this morning long before the ship was due, but the harbor master was kind enough to find a place for my son and me to sit and wait in the port's office. He even offered me some tea, when he found out that I was waiting for my husband who is with the TMPD contingent returning from the Seinen War. It seems that one of his brothers is also arriving home today on the same vessel as Hajime. I wonder if the two know each other.

I kept watch out the office window and as soon as I saw a ship enter the harbor, I rushed out of the building and onto the pier after securing Tsutomu on my back. Hajime's is the only ship due today.

So here I am, standing on the dock, as close to the water as I dare. I shake my head, a bit bewildered at my current state of mind. I am a 31 year old woman who has been married for over three years, yet I am as giddy as a new bride anticipating her wedding night. I should be disgusted with myself for not feeling like a calm traditional housewife. I suppose I could blame how I feel right now on my husband. His absence and his eminent return are surely causing these sensations. It is as if a thousand butterflies are beating their wings in my stomach.

*****

The sail home was uneventful. It gave me plenty of time to muse about things other than work. Taking a last drag on the cigarette between my lips, I remove it from my mouth and flick it over the railing. She will expect me to be out on deck watching for her. So I tell myself that is the reason why I am out here in the crisp October air, to make her happy. If I were to admit it, which I won't, I am out here for myself, as well, to catch a first glimpse of a face that has been absent from my life for far too long.

Although I have a responsibility to my country, my wife is the reason I have for living, and the reasons surrounding her are far more compelling than any duty to country could ever be.

***

The closer the ship comes to the dock, the more intently I scan the railing, looking for a familiar face. There he is! I can see him standing on the deck. My heart, which has been beating wildly in my chest, leaps to my throat. It is all I can do to keep standing here serenely. I have the impulse to jump up and down and wave my arms at him. However, the last thing I want to do is to embarrass him in front of his troops and his superiors, so I stay firmly planted in place, raising my hand in an elegant, tasteful greeting, the model of a demure Japanese wife. With his eyesight I know he will see me.

It takes an agonizingly long time for the vessel to be secured to the dock and the gang plank lowered. The minutes seem like hours to me. Then it happens. Men start moving. He isn't the first one off. I really didn't expect him to be. It must be the wounded that will leave first, as there is a line of stretchers, each waiting for its turn to disembark. A knot twists in my stomach as I remember Hajime's close call. We were lucky this time. At least these men, although injured, are returning home. Many will not. I am so thankful that mine will.

****

Wounded first, then the top brass, that's the order for unloading. Being one of the sub-commanders, I fully intended to wait until all of my men left the ship before I disembarked. However, one the men in the police unit I commanded during this Saigo business was also part of my Shinsengumi troop. He was with me in Aizu, helping me defend the area as the Boshin War came to a bitter end. Of course, all of my men back in those days could recognize Katamori, Teru-hime and Teru's secretary, who is now my wife. A few, this moron included, even managed to learn that I had married the girl. Consequently, I wasn't the only one who spotted Tokio waiting on the dock.

A little group from my unit, him included, was buzzing like a hive of bees as they stood behind me. I could only imagine what the idiots were cooking up before they approached me. Apparently, they decided on their own, that I needed to be the next person off this crate. It goes against my nature to go before them, and this current troop of mine knows better than to go against my orders. But telling them to go first was more of a request than an order, and today I will humor all of them. I bet that shocks a few of them, as I'm not known for changing my position, at least not without a compelling reason, and having a wife waiting for me does not fit that category.

Since I'm returning home in one piece from a successful mission after being away for over five months, I decide to be charitable for once, and indulge them. I have a feeling that wanting me to go before them is their way of showing me respect and of thanking me for getting them home safely. They were for the most part, a reliable group of men. Regretfully, not everyone under my command made it, although most did. Holding up my hands in surrender, and nodding my thanks, I stride to the ramp and with a dignified, but brisk step make my way down to the dock in a matter of moments.

Tokio stays where she is, waiting for me to approach. It would be unseemly for her to run in my direction. I appreciate her thoughtfulness, but knowing her, I'm sure that she is itching to break free from the force that has her rooted where she is. She's not holding Tsutomu, but the cloth over her shoulder tells me he must be strapped to her back.

Stopping in front of her, I look down to meet her gaze. Her soft brown eyes are glistening, and to me, no one could look so good. I lift my hand to her face, disregarding the pounding footsteps now flowing off of the ship behind me. My gesture was instinctive and unplanned. It's as if my wife and I are alone; in this moment we are oblivious to all the activity around us, as men and materials stream off the ship and onto the pier.

* * * *

Thank kami my baby is asleep on my back and my hands are free. As soon as Hajime touches my cheek, I lose all self-control and throw my arms around his waist, murmuring my apologies. I have missed and needed him for so long, that the urge to greet him overcomes my sense of modesty. I feel tears that I cannot control seep from my eyes, as I press my face to his chest. I don't even care if he has a clean uniform on or not. It has been so long since I've felt him close to me. The familiar faint odor of tobacco tickles my nose, making me realize that he is finally here with me, and not the creation of my imagination, as he was on the many nights that I slept fitfully on our futon.

*****

I sigh, and raise my hand to stroke Tokio's hair as she presses herself against my chest. I can feel dampness seeping through the fabric of my shirt. She is certainly giving everyone who is coming down the gang plank quite a show. But I can't hold it against her. No man can expect his wife not to release her pent up emotions, during a reunion such as this after so much time apart. As she grips my waist, I take a step forward, rotating us, turning my back to the multitudes around us, efficiently shielding her from prying eyes with my tall frame. I don't know how long I will need to stand here sheltering her, but I will wait for most of the commotion to subside before I let her go. I will not allow her to embarrass herself by showing her emotions in front of my troops, or the rest of the contingent. It doesn't bother me if they see her like this, but I know that after the fact, it will embarrass her.

A very satisfied smile graces my face and as things quiet down around us, I lean down and gently kiss the top of her head. Her hair has the familiar fragrance that I often longed to get a whiff of on some of those long, lonely nights on Kyushu.

To be continued…