A/n Hi everyone! Thanks for all the great reviews.

Wow so this is the last chapter. Insane huh? This story did end up being one chapter shorter than I had planed on making it. In fact I never planed on writing a Saitou/Tokio story for this series, their bonding was suppose to be implied in the Aoshi/Misao story. But I felt the need to offer my readers there story. It was also a challenge to myself to write a RK character that never appeared in the manga or anime. Plus there's not a lot of Saitou stories out there, and that's just a shame. It's been a fun, simple, if a bit short ride.

Disclaimer, I don't own Kenshin or Feehan.


Tokio tapped her fingers on the table and she rocked slightly in her chair. Her stomach felt like it was in knots, her head pounded and she had a burning in the back of her throat as if she was about to vomit. And it had only been a little over half an hour. What was going on out there? Were they on the trail of this thing or did they have no clue where to start looking? Was the human family okay, or did one or all of them die? How was Kenji doing? And more importantly, was Saitou alright? Was he hurt somewhere? How was he taking this separation? Most likely far better than she was.

Tokio sighed and sat back in the high-back dining room chair. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. It worked for a moment but as soon as she opened her eyes her jitters returned. Without thinking about it, she jumped up from her chair and stalked around the kitchen area and then into the living room. She glanced at every object on her way, trying to distract her mind. The idea that her lifemate, father and brother were out there hunting some unknown thing was worse than if she knew they were hunting a vampire. At least they knew everything about vampires; they had killed a fair share of them. But this mystery monster…they didn't even know its scent. Tokio wandered from room to room and then upstairs.

She went to her room. She swiftly graduated from a room above ground to needing a room below the earth. Now that she was an adult, and had the blood of a powerful lifemate flowing inside her, rest above ground would be close to impossible. She smiled slightly as she glanced at all her childish knick-nacks. A brown teddy-bear Kenji gave her a few years back sat on her bed. Posters of half naked human males were taped to the walls right next to the posters of unicorns and chubby child angles. It was amazing how fast she grew out of her room. An empty, blank room would be just as nice as long as Saitou was there with her.

Thinking about Saitou again shoved all her worries right to the front of her mind and she gave a frustrated shout and stomped her foot before grabbing the teddy-bear and crushing it in her arms before throwing herself on her bed.

… . . …

Tokio had wandered from her room to her parent's personal studies. Her father's was decorated with various samurai weapon and armor, held a small library's worth of books and had a small fireplace. Her mother worked with paint. Painting various strange anatomy pictures, having really never gave up the idea of being a nurse. She had taught Yahiko all she knew about swordsmanship a few years ago and needed a second hobby. Her father had taken over teaching Yahiko. Advancing his skills more than any teacher could.

She avoided Kenji's room. One, because it was his private space, much like her workshop, and two, because she didn't want to be surrounded by him knowing that he was out there hunting some strange, unknown and highly likely, dangerous thing. She was about halfway back down the stairs when she was hit with the worst possible cramps in her belly. Tokio gasped at the pain, nearly doubling over from it and she had to grab the railing for support. What was this? What was happening!? Her mind flew to the possibilities as blood started to bead on her forehead like sweat. Was Saitou hurt? Was Kenji hurt? Did someone die? Instantly she knew something terrible had to have happened, she was sure it wasn't the separation anxiety talking to her. She just knew Saitou had to be in trouble.

Agonizingly slow, she was able to make it down the steps without tumbling. She clenched the walls in her desperation to stay on her feet. Her stomach felt as if it was being stabbed with a red-hot poker. It felt as if something inside her had caught on fire and surely had exploded in her body. In the kitchen Tokio spotted the phone. She needed her mother. Tokio and Kaoru shared a slight bond, being mother and child, but they were too far apart for her to reach her mother on any telepathic path. They had never shared blood, so their bond was weak and wasn't strong with the miles between them. Holding herself up on the countertop, Tokio snatched the phone from its holder and quickly dialed Sanosuke's number and prayed that her mother was still there.

She didn't have to pray for long, the phone was picked up seconds after the first ring.

"Tokio? Are you okay?" Her mother said, somehow knowing it was her.

"No" Tokio panted, suddenly unable to suck in enough air. "I'm in too much pain, something must be wrong." She heard her mother take a slow deep breath.

"I know it's hard, but just breathe and think positive thoughts. It's normal to feel this way."

"No, mom this isn't normal." She clamped her teeth together as another wave of pain had her legs trembling under her. "It hurts so badly. You said it was more worry and some uncomfortable feelings, this is unbearable." She gazed down at the speckled white countertop and tried to concentrate on the blue speckled pattern to take her mind off the stabbing that now moved deeper into her body. "Maybe because of the rip in my soul, maybe it makes it hurt more."

Her mother was talking, but suddenly Tokio wasn't paying any attention. The clean white countertop was now speckled with drops of blood. Her blood. Tokio touched her face, feeling the dripping blood from her nose. Astonished, Tokio pulled her hand away to see the blood trail down her fingers. What the..?

"Tokio? Did you hear me?" Her mother said, Tokio had pulled the receiver away from her ear.

"I'm bleeding." She said, returning the phone in place.

"What!?"

How could her mother sound so surprised and yet so clam? "I have a nosebleed." Her pain was at maximum, the only reason she was still on her feet was because she was so shocked to find blood dripping from her nose.

"It's a warning." Her mother said, the edge to her voice nerved Tokio. She knew her mother was trying to be calm and rational. But it was lost on Tokio, she could hear her worry.

"Tokio, the safe room your father has in the basement, remember? I want you to lock yourself up okay. I'm going to get Sano."

Tokio's heart was racing. "What's going on?" But suddenly a figure crashed against the large windows only feet away from her. Tokio nearly screamed, almost dropping the phone. The figure was deathly white, with black, wet looking hair about its face. One look at the creature and Tokio did scream. Its mouth split its face almost ear to ear and impossibly large spike-like teeth jutted from said mouth like some deep-water monster. Large, black soulless eyes gazed in at her.

… . ….

"Tokio! Honey what…" Kaoru shouted into the phone but an image so vivid and sharp flashed into her mind. A monster with white, slick looking skin and countless teeth jutting out and eyes that were wet and jet black. Kaoru dropped the phone, screaming as the image burned itself into her brain. Pain washed over her. Her baby was in trouble.

"Aunt Kaoru? Itsuko rushed over, hearing Kaoru's shout of surprise.

… . . …

The phone went dead and Tokio simply dropped it to the ground. Her eyes never leaving the figure. Even though it was looking in at her, it didn't seem to see her and slowly it stepped back. Its arms were boney and each long finger ended with wicked looking, claw-like nails. Tokio couldn't help but step closer to the window and the monster retreated. It had something, something in one hand. Tokio pressed her face to the glass and cupped her hands around her eyes to shield the glass from the light. The thing in its grasp was wiggling weakly. Was it some sort of animal? Tokio tried to take a closer look, but her powers were still limited in her young age.

But the small thing let out the tell-tale wail. It was a baby.

… . . …

Kaoru punched in Megumi's cell phone number. Thanking the gods that the lady doctor refused to give up conventional means of communication. Cell phones had just started to become popular and they were still trying to talk the males into getting them so that they could stay in contact. But the males were being stubborn.

"Sanosuke." Said a voice on the phone. Megumi must still be busy healing.

"Sano!" Kaoru nearly sobbed into the phone; at her side her niece was wringing her hands.

"Missy? What's going on?"

"Tokio called me from my house. Something terrible is happening, I think the thing the men are hunting must be there!"

A string of violent swearing came over the phone, then, "don't worry, I'll get the others over there, you stay put." Then the line went dead.

… . . …

The tiny human baby had one claw stabbed into its side. It went all the way through and poked out the back of the baby by a good few inches. Its blue one-piece was stained with blood. Terror for herself gave way to fear for the baby, then that swiftly gave way to gut-wrenching, boiling hot anger. It took all Tokio had to not punch through the window.

Carpathians males are born with the instinct to fight and protect females and any innocence. Carpathians females were born to heal, create...and to protect children. A maternal instinct to protect the helpless infant was so strong it overrode Tokio's fear of her own life. All that matter was that baby. The pain was tucked away in her mind; she wiped the blood from her face as she stalked out of the house and into the back yard only yards away from the slowly retreating intruder. Its naked white form was just about to reach the forest when Tokio acted.

She vanished and appeared in front of the monster. The creature's only show of surprise was the widening of its eyes. It turned, as if calmly trying to walk around the new obstacle. Tokio dropped and swept one leg out and kicked the legs of the monster out from under it. The creature went down and Tokio, driven by such anger, kicked the creature in the face. She could feel the hard ridged of its teeth through her shoe. She took only a moment to realize that the monster was female. Though if it had once been human or not, Tokio didn't care. The monster was stunned and Tokio pinned its arm down with her foot while she carefully slid the wailing baby free of the claw that was stabbed in him.

As soon as Tokio had the infant in her arms, the monster changed. No longer was it passive and uncaring. As soon as the baby was free from its grasp, the monster gave a scream. A gurgling loud shriek, like a pig. The creature jumped up, surprisingly nimble and lunged at Tokio, clawed hands reaching for her. The young female clutched the infant to her chest and darted into the woods. She could hear the thing chase her, easily weaving around trees. Tokio stole a look over her shoulder. The monster was like a white ghost, chasing her around the trees with its arms outstretched, claws glittering black in the moonlight.

'Tokio!' Shouted a voice in her head, Saitou. 'Get away from it, now!'

'What the hell do you think I'm doing?!' Tokio shouted back, though she sounded angry, relief flooded her. Saitou was alright, he was alive and well. 'What is it?' she leaped over a fallen log as agile as a gazelle, and heard the creature fall across the log.

'It's a vampire. Get the hell out of there.'

A vampire? The surprise brought Tokio to a stand still. "But you said it wasn't a vampire" She said out loud.

'Run!' Saitou barked and Tokio dashed away as the vampire staggered back to her feet. 'It's a female vampire. A vampire tried to turn her but normal humans can't be changed, they lose their mind and go insane. If they live some go wild and become child eaters, they live off children. I'm not far, only a few miles. You must keep away from it until I get there.'

Tokio fell into a slight clearing and found herself looking at the back wall of her shop. Suddenly oriented as to where she was, she ran around the building and threw open the door. As soon as she stepped in, hands reached out from behind and shoved Tokio hard. The young Carpathian twisted, landing hard on her shoulder on the mess of stones and beads but was able to protect the baby. Tokio flipped around to find the vampire rushing into the door. With a shout, Tokio flung out one arm and the hardwood door slammed shut in the monster's face and locked. It rattled as the creature tore at it with her claws

"Oh, God." Tokio climbed to her feet, keeping a sure foot on the mess on the floor. "Safeguards, safeguards…come on Tokio." The door wasn't going to hold but her mind went blank and she suddenly couldn't remember any safeguards.

'Come on Dummy!' she heard Kenji shout in her mind. 'How many times do I need to show you?!'

"Stop screaming at me!" she shouted over the shrieking of the female vampire as it ripped at the door. But suddenly she felt Saitou push far into her mind, further than she had ever allowed him before. Suddenly her body didn't belong to her, she felt and saw her hand move in the complicated and delicate pattern of weaving spells. Carpathian words slipped from her lips and a rush of whispers. Words she didn't know but somehow understood. Then it was done, the door crackled with the safeguard and the creature rammed into it, setting it off. Tokio winced as the vampire shrieked in pain but the monster threw herself against the door over and over again.

Tokio climbed to her feet and quickly checked the baby. It was a tiny newborn boy. The stab wound was slowly dripping with blood but the baby's lethargy told that he had been bleeding slowly for a while. Quickly she bent over the baby and placed her mouth over the wound and then the exit wound, her saliva helped stop the bleeding and the wounds slowly closed. But the deep part of the injury was beyond her weak abilities. She was a child in Carpathian standards and she wasn't gifted with healer abilities. She ignored the banging at the door and clutched the baby to her chest, wrapping her love and caring around the small body. He was so weak now he hardly cried or fussed.

Then there was silence, for one moment Tokio thought perhaps the vampire had lost interest. But the banging returned, at one of the high windows. The glass was thick but still breakable. The monster glared down at her as she clutched to the wall like a giant spider. Tomoe shrank back with the baby clutched to her chest. That vampire was going to have to pry the baby from her cold dead fingers. Saitou was constantly whispering in the back of her mind, calming her and helping her to think rationally.

The vampire growled and hissed, vanishing from the window to beat at the door again. Though Saitou had helped her, her weak powers could not create a powerful safeguard and the vampire's constant beating had wore it off. Tokio backed into the furthest corner of her shop as the door rattled.

'Saitou, hurry.' She whimpered, fear paralyzing her.

'I'm coming sweetheart, we're almost there. Just hold on-'

The door splintered open and the female vampire roared triumphantly. Tokio winced at the screeching roar and the sight of inky black teeth. The creature crouched, muscles bunching as she prepared to leap in and reclaim her prey. But just as her legs pushed off the floor, a sword appeared and wrapped around the neck of the vampire. Tokio skittered out of the way of the reaching, stretching arms of the vampire as Yahiko came into view at the other end of the sword. He grabbed sword point and tried to decapitate the vampire but the female's hands shot up and grabbed the sword before the blade could reach her throat.

Yahiko pulled, dragging the vampire out of the shop. "Tokio, get out of here." The vampire started biting the metal sword, denting it with her teeth and eroding it with her acidic saliva. Tokio slipped out of her workshop but couldn't run and leave Yahiko to struggle with the vampire. It was hard for the human man to keep hold of the naked, slippery flesh of the vampire as she struggled and chewed the sword away from her throat. Suddenly the sword snapped in half, having been gnawed straight through. The vampire whirled around, mouth splitting wide open and she dove for Yahiko's neck

Yahiko ducked, shoving his arm up to protect his face. Giant, black teeth sank into his flesh and Tokio screamed as Yahiko's blood gushed from the wounds. Yahiko swung the ruined sword out, catching the vampire across the neck. Acid-like blood and maggots sprayed in a violent explosion but the vampire continued to chew on Yahiko's arm. Tokio ducked, curling herself around the baby to protect it from the rain of blood. She braced herself for the shower of pain but it never came, instead a weight settled over her, protecting her. Tokio popped open her eyes even though she already knew who it was.

Kenji's smile greeted her as he back away. The clothes on his back smoked as the vampire's blood burned through them to sear into his skin. But behind him Saitou rose like a dark powerful force from the forest. He slammed into the female, sending her flying away from Yahiko. The man fell to his knees, clutching his wounded arm to his chest. Kenji placed himself between his sister and the snarling vampire, refusing to leave her unprotected, even to help his human uncle Yahiko. Tokio spotted Saitou, the vampire moving quickly to climb on his back and grab him by the hair to yank his head back, dangerous exposing his neck.

But Saitou was able to reach back and pull the female off of him. He wouldn't take his time with this one. This monster use to be a poor human woman, her soul lost in a body that was no longer hers. His mission was one of compassion, destroy the body and free the human's soul to her rightful place in the afterworld. With her in his arms in front of him he gave his arms a twist, snapping her neck. The weak, newborn vampire instantly crumpled, but was still struggling as her body immediately started to heal itself.

Tokio winced at the sound of neck bones snapping and gazed wide eyed and horrified at the sight of the female, her head now dangling on her back below her shoulders, still trying to fight her lifemate.

'Look away.'

Saitou's voice demanded and Tokio turned her eyes to the baby in her arms as more crunching and screaming filled the air.

Saitou drove his hand up to the forearm in the vampire's chest, ignoring the claws scratching at his face. His fingers wrapped around the shuddering, rotting heart and he pulled. The woman switched tactics, now she gripped his arm, trying to keep him from pulling her heart out. Her mouth hung open uselessly as her head bobbed on her broken neck. Saitou refused to let her suffer more than necessary, it was his duty to the female to end her pain. He wrenched the heart from her chest and shoved the screaming vampire to the ground and he threw her heart in the opposite direction. Quickly the air started to crackle as he called down lightning. A blue-white bolt shot down from the sky and branched into three. One bolt hit the vampire, one her heart and the third hit his upraised arm, burning away the acid blood before it could do more damage to him.

Toxic black smoke billowed up from the pile of cinders that was the vampire and her heart. The inky blackness around them lifted and Saitou turned to find Aoshi and Kenshin bending over Yahiko and Kenji trying to console Tokio.

Tokio looked up to find Saitou suddenly at her side. They said not a word, but they didn't have too, they could feel each other's fear and relief. Saitou gently took the baby from her and together along with Kenji, they used their weak healing powers to completely heal the infant. Her lifemate then sent the child into a restful, dreamless sleep. Saitou transferred the infant to one arm as Tokio sagged against him.

'I was afraid.' She said simply.

'I know, sweetheart, so was I. Forgive me for not being by your side when you needed me.'

'It's not your fault.' She turned to see Aoshi in a white transparent form, her father kneeling at Yahiko's side. "Will Uncle Yahiko be alright?" She asked, shocked that her voice was smooth and steady when she felt she was about to crumble to pieces.

Kenshin looked up. "The vampire injected Yahiko with tiny parasites when she bit him."

"What does that mean?" Kenji voiced. Sounding no better than his sister.

"Aoshi is destroying them as we speak; this means that this woman was created by a master vampire. She is a newborn and shouldn't have such powers, but she does. Her creator must be an ancient vampire."

"He created this female on purpose." Saitou growled.

Kenshin nodded. "A diversion maybe. To keep us busy."

"But for what?" Kenji demanded, but Kenshin could only shake his head.

… . . …

Hours later the baby was returned to the human family he was snatched from. Every member of the family had their wounds healed and their memories erased. The men fixed the house to look as if nothing happened. As the sun started to rise, Saitou whisked his lifemate to their house and into his underground lair. Her emotions were jumbled and her thoughts bounced from one memory to another, trying to put the pieces together.

Saitou waved his hand and candles scattered about the room flickered to life, sending calming scents in the air. He used his power to make his lifemate's clothes dissolve away and was replaced with a clean, silky soft nightgown.

"Saitou?" Tokio blinked up, not seeming to care that he had undressed her and redressed her.

"Yes lifemate?" God she looked so vulnerable, still a child in his elder standards. Her large lilac eyes were wide and unsure. Her small body visibly trembled and she just let herself fall into his embrace. "What is it lifemate?" Saitou tried to make his voice as soft and as soothing as he could, but wasn't sure if it came out more like a growl or not. Fear for her life had flared his need for her all the more. But he refused his beast until he was sure his mate was well.

"The vampire that made that female one…how will you catch him? Do we even have an idea where he could be?"

How he wanted to lie, but being her lifemate, it was impossible. "We haven't a clue as to where this vampire might be, or what he was trying to hide that he would create such an abomination. He might be trying to travel, or smuggle something or gather more of his pawns together. All our attention was focused on this tool that he had created."

Tokio pressed her face in the hardness of his chest, trying to hide away from the face of the monster and the poor baby she had to rip from her grasp. "I don't ever want to see another female vampire again. Even if they don't turn into child eaters."

"You were very brave for saving that baby. But Tokio, you must swear that you will never do such a thing again." His heart swelled with pride for his lifemate, and shuddered in fear.

"I can't." She sighed into his chest. The beast in him prowled under his skin, snarling to be let free.

"I know, but you understand that I had to try." He offered her a smile.

Tokio's stomach fluttered. Now that Yahiko was healed and safe, and the baby and his family was safe, and the female vampire destroyed, she was able to let herself relax and Saitou's peace offering smile took her breath away. She could feel the unrest pressing just under the surface…he was holding himself back. He had been holding himself back this whole time, and she felt horrible for it. What if something horrible had happened to her with that child eater? What would have happened to Saitou? She didn't want to think about it.

Instead she wanted to think about how her body fit into his like a perfect puzzle piece. How his hands were slowly tracing patters on her back, how his heart matched hers beat for beat and how her own beast was slowly pressing forward to touch his. The thin barrier of their skin was all that held the ancient beasts back from one another. It was a strange thing, feeling the animal inside of her, the pressure as it tried to force itself to the surface and make her change form.

"You didn't seem that upset, that I threw myself into danger like that. The old Saitou-"

"The old Saitou didn't have trust in his disobedient lifemate." He smiled down at her. "Don't get my wrong; I was seeing red when you left the safety of your father's home to help that baby. But in hindsight, I know that it's part of who you are, a female, protector, savior. You couldn't help but try and save the child." His hand combed through her deep red-black hair, watching as it flowed perfectly between his fingers. He couldn't fight himself any longer. Claim her now or fall to her feet begging. Tokio gave a choked giggle at the vision, her face still pressed against his chest.

"I'd like to see that."

"Hush you." Saitou growled menacingly, knowing it was lost on her. He scooped her up, and climbed into his bed. His lips fluttered, whispering in his mother language and instantly his torn and dirty clothes fell away, and her nightgown pooled on the floor.

As Tokio felt his weight settle over her and his lips found her neck, heat gathered and pooled low in her body. She felt she had to say something, anything and the words gathered and left her mouth before she even knew what she was saying. "I'm sorry."

Saitou kept trailing kisses down her neck and across her shoulder. "For what lifemate?"

Tokio covered her eyes with her arm as emotion rushed forward hard and fast. "For refusing your claim." She couldn't imagine refusing him now. She had been so angry, so cold to him.

Saitou pulled his lips from her skin and propped himself up on one elbow as he gently pulled her arm away from her face. Red tears glittered in her eyes. "Hush, sweetheart." He used his thumb to wipe her tears away as they welled up from her eyes. "The person I am today is different from the person I was the moment I claimed you. I would have refused me too. The important thing now is that you've accepted me. That I've become worthy of you."

She nodded, emotion lodged in her throat, keeping her from talking, but Saitou knew just what she wanted to say.

"If you had not accepted my claim, I couldn't touch you." He let his free hand drift across her bare flesh, making her tremble. "I could not bond with you the way lifemates need to." His voice smoothed, grew husky and his hand drifted to touch every part of her now offered to him.

"We'll, it's good that I accepted you, huh?" Tokio offered him a smile and Saitou's smile was dazzling.

"Yes, sweetheart. I'm honored that I earned your acceptance. It hasn't been easy." He kissed her then, a gentle kiss that soon grew in strength and stole her breath.

Tokio laughed, "It hasn't been easy for you? It hasn't been easy for me." Memory of the past few days seemed like a blur that all ran together, so much had happened in such a short amount of time. "But," Her eyes lowered to her hand tracing the lines of Saitou's chest, feeling his heart beat under her hand. "I couldn't do anything else but accept your love."


A/n Why did I end it there? Well, I always viewed Saitou as being a really private character. And this story was a glimpse into his life but I just couldn't bring myself to dive any deeper into his life than I had to. You may flog me if you wish, lol.

So what of this master vampire? Well we may see him again, we'll just have to wait and see. It did feel like such an abrupt ending. But remember this story was meant only as a little side story to the main series.

Speaking of, I hope to see everyone back when I post Aoshi and Misao's story. Endure My Love. Fair warning, I'm rating it an M story. Mostly for swearing and violence. I should post it in the next two or three weeks. Just as soon as I get the first chapter just the way I want it.

Thanks for reading everyone, Reviews are loved!