A/N: Weeeeell, this finally came. Not too fluffy but I have added a little treat.

Thank you everyone for reading, reviewing/alerting/favouring this fiction! I love you all and I can't tell you enough how much your support means to me.

Final disclaimer and here is the extra chapter...!

"And that's how we met and came to be wed; we have been together ever since…"

"That's a wonderful story Tokio!"

The long-haired young man in her living room smiled excited, happy for her. He was one of her son's friends; he and Takeru met not too long ago, during one of his travels to China, to further his skills in medicine. They recognized each other as Japanese and immediately hit it off! Takeru helped him with his hand that seemed to have suffered hell on earth, while the other one provided with assistance at anything the other could come up with: protection, searches for unusual herbs, general fights…

"Though I don't understand why you couldn't tell me your husband's name! Is he like some sort of secret agent?"

Takeru laughed as he made his way to his mother and friend from the other room. "Something like that. Mum's been a dear, putting up with dad's crazy schedule, too; if my wife ever thought these travels aren't ephemeral, she'd skewer me. They already are difficult on her. But mum's such a saint about these things."

"Nonsense; I am used to it by now. And he always comes back anyway…"

"You certainly trust him a lot, if you don't mind my saying. Even I would be uncomfortable if one of my friends was gone so regularly; how much more you, that you depend on him. What if he dies? What if he leaves you for another woman?"

"Pfft," Takeru reacted before his mother even had time to show her amusement at the young man's questions "dad leaving her for another woman? He'd be doing her a favour which is why he never would of course. He's the one woman for life type of man. After all he went through to get her to agree, I don't think he'd ever even think of looking at another woman anyway."

"Well, he was very tenacious. One of the qualities I admire about him. Also, he's just and honourable. He may not be kind but I don't mind it at all. He's kind enough when he needs to be and that's all that matters. So how about you, Sanosuke-kun-?"

"Just Sanosuke, please!"

"How about you Sanosuke? You two met in Shanghai if memory serves…how come you were there? Business?"

"Ha ha, been back for only two days and you've already told your mother everything? What a momma's boy!"

The laugh was genuine and loud so he must have been unbothered that Takeru told her after all. He still hit him on the back as he was laughing, but something told her that was his general behaviour. When he settled down, he caressed the stubble on his chin deep in thought.

"I can't say business though I was definitely working to earn a living; I was…returning to Japan. You see, I've been to so many places ever since I embarked almost six years ago! I saw the entire world—I even reached the shores of South Africa and the harbours of Greece! It was a very rewarding experience, this whole journey."

"How come you decided to travel the world? Was it a wish you always had or…?"

"Err, let's just say I half-wanted to, I half-had to." He received odd looks, but chose to breeze past them. Burdening these people with his problems wasn't something he wanted. "But now it came to an end and here I am, back home with a new friend."

"Oh not just one;" in the spirit of gossip, he turned to his mother and said excitedly: "he had this woman with him; she is his travelling companion…all the way from the harbours of Greece."

"Oh!" Tokio seemed to barely rear in a laugh at the last second. "I take it she isn't a wife, or else my son wouldn't be making such a big deal out of it. Who is she…to you?"

There for the first time since he had arrived, the young man looked younger than his age with the slight blushing of his cheeks and the hesitation to answer. He was still sitting very inappropriately, one leg bent yet in front of him and the other sprawled to the side, but he appeared to be folding into himself. It didn't match him, not one bit, Tokio thought; she tried to make it better.

Yet before she could utter another word, Sanosuke seemed to get his bearings, recovering fast, and somewhat awkwardly scratched his stubble once more.

"Err, you see she's a friend; she's not a lover, if that's what you implied." The stares he received prompted him to continue talking, against his better judgement. "But I lied to the officials and said we are married, so she could stay in the country." His hands came together above his head suddenly and he closed his eyes. "Please don't say anything to anyone; absolute secrecy is paramount and so far only you two and my best friends know…so please…"

"When a secret is told, it's no longer a secret; if you wanted it kept you should have kept it to yourself."

And that was the moment Sanosuke's entire body seemed to grow so tense, they could feel their own muscles tightening! The young long-haired man wiped around at the source of the sound so fast, standing up as he turned, he became a blur to both mother and son. Sanosuke was left standing there, staring with apparent disbelief mixed with fear and maybe anger at the man who had spoken. Who was emotionlessly looking back at him, right hand on his waist, looking mighty bored.

"You…!" came Sanosuke's reaction after a long moment. "How the hell did you know I was here? Were you following me!? But I hadn't seen you at all!" Then the most terrible thought seem to cross his mind and asked almost furious: "Are you here to arrest me!?"

The policeman scoffed then, taking off his hat. He bypassed him as if he wasn't even there and set his hat on some furniture. "Believe it or not I have other things to do than follow you around Rooster-head."

"Hey! Look at my hair Saito! They are long now, old man!"

"…the hair may be gone, but the behaviour isn't."

Meanwhile Tokio and Takeru watched the exchange with an unfathomable interest, a fact Sano failed to notice…because he was seething now, ready to attack! Fists balling, veins popping, he was the perfect picture of anger and indignation. Still, he managed to swallow all of it to return to the glaring.

"Then why the hell are you here? Came to harass these people for taxes? Or are they hiding some person for you?"

"…I was wrong; the behaviour did change a little. Maybe I should call you boar-head from now on."

Takeru started laughing, but stopped after the stern look his mother gave him and the angry look from Sano. Still, Tokio tried very hard not to smile and moved towards the two arguing men. She stood between them but it was clear she was inclining towards Saito.

And then the oddest thing Sano had ever witnessed happened: she climbed on her toes as he bent slightly forward and kissed him on the cheek! He was left gaping.

"I see you two already know each other so there will be no need for introductions though certainly a need for explanations has already arisen. Sanosuke is our dinner guest that I told you about, the same one Takeru met in Shanghai."

"I see…"

"Sanosuke, as you must have already realised, Hajime is my husband. Now, if no one minds, let's all sit down for a good meal."

Everyone took their seats as the wife headed to the kitchen to bring out the food…yet Sano was still standing, unable to cope with the developments. Where did he come? How was this possible? "Are…you serious? Tokio is your wife—and Takeru is your son?"

"Apparently; now sit down. It isn't polite to stand."

"I refuse to believe you raised such a nice person! Or that a good woman like Tokio ever married you."

"Tokio raised him for the most part. And don't refer to my wife so casually." He turned to look at him and there was death in his eyes when they met. Sano felt legitimately threatened by him maybe for the first time. Even when Saito had attacked him once upon a time, he wasn't emitting such an oppressive aura. He felt almost lethal!

"Now sit down."

He did it immediately, seemingly lost. He was in the freaking twilight zone! That adorable story about how Tokio met her husband and how cool Takeru's father was all referred to him—Saito Hajime! A person who he'd never in all his life ever consider capable of loving another human being…! Wow, the shock was far too great to handle. And how could she ever…? Ugh, love was crazy. If even a man like Saito was subject to it and managed to find reciprocation, love was definitely crazy.

Maybe there was still hope for him left.

With that thought, he finally shook his doubts away and settled down for the exquisitely smelling dinner that was torturing him without him realising! He really hoped she was as good a cook as Takeru made her out to be because he was damn hungry! He only felt bad he couldn't bring his companion with him here…as if reading his mind, he heard Saito say:

"So what about that fake wife of yours? She can't stand you already?"

Oh ho, his ability to strike at the nerves of the others and his inability to control his tongue was as sharp as ever; Sano was ready to fling something at him already.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"No swearing at the table~" came Tokio's voice in a song.

"I mean she isn't here; I recall my wife telling me our guests would probably be two as the man our son befriended was tied to a special someone." Sano stubbornly remained quiet. "Has she finally found someone else to dine with or did you not even consider asking her?"

"Hey! Watch your mouth you rotten cop; she's not that kind of woman. It's just…"

"I forgot to tell him he can bring her over," Takeru admitted a little ashamed. "He could have brought her anyway but even for Sano that's too rude."

"Don't put anything past him."

"No baiting the guest at the table, dear~!"

"Of course, excuse me" he said hastily and turned to Sano. "Well, if she's smart she will find a new man soon; after all, if you offered to marry her only to let her stay in the country then she deserves better."

"What is that supposed to mean? What, you're married for a decade and you think you know everything?"

"In fact I'm married longer than that, but no I don't think I know everything. I just know that no person wants to be loved half-assed…"

"I said no swearing at the table dear." She finally appeared with the goods and they were all mouth-watering! "Though I do agree with you." She set everything down and went to bring the rest, yet continued talking. "After all, if she's as honourable as to honour your marriage despite it being a mere formality, I am certain she would also hate to impose on you any further; she'd never ask you for anything that you wouldn't offer by yourself. So even if she does wish you were a real couple, she'd never bring it up."

She returned with trays and delicious dishes, setting them all in front of each person. "Do you live far away from here, Sanosuke?"

Saito looked at her with the edge of his eyes. He seemed to be a little annoyed at her.

"Err, not really; five minutes if I hurry. Why?"

"Maybe we should send someone over there to bring her to eat with us." Everyone looked to be pleasantly surprised. "Takeru, could you please do it?"

"Of course! I'm, I'm going right now! I'll be right back—don't eat without us!"

Sano didn't even try for the formalities of first politely refusing her offer, so glad was he to have her feel included. He was certainly anxious about Saito meeting her, but he couldn't help but be happy Tokio was so willing to have her. He was…moved a little. Takeru was his friend for no more than three months but acted like they'd been so for life. He appreciated that.

"So…" Sano drawled when he felt the silence a bit too stifling "Takeru told me he has three brothers and sisters; you sure got busy, didn't-oh!"

The blow he received was surprising…though really, it shouldn't have been. He did manage to block it, yet it still hurt like hell! Still, Tokio answered very dignified and proper, despite the violent blushing.

"Takeru is our oldest and then it's Rin, but she's also adopted, nearing twenty now; then it's Takashi, our first-born who's fourteen and after him our second-born and youngest, our daughter Aiko. There's also Eiji but he refuses to identify as part of the family" she laughed in her hand "which was why he calls me aunt and I sent him to our doctor."

"Wooow; you just take children in?"

"Only those of no other means and family; Rin-chan is already married, too."

"How can you afford them? Does the government pay that well?"

"Me at least, yeah," Saito bragged but Tokio's rolling of her eyes told Sano all he needed to know.

"The government doesn't pay for all we have certainly; I too work. I learnt western methods of producing certain products and teach it to people and then sell said products."

"You are very…active, considering all the things you have to take care of."

"Haven't you been paying attention? I used to run a ryokan…though I was never able to reopen it." The melancholy lasted but a second. "At least I had a good reason."

The way she smiled was disarming; she never looked at Saito, never looked directly at him, but Sano knew it was meant for him. And the way he self-satisfyingly took a sip from his tea that Sano had just noticed he was the only one with a cup, told him Saito knew, too. Their communication was extraordinary. That's what a long marriage got you, he figured; he would remember in his own family how his father would try something but his mother would completely immobilise him with but a look. And if he compared them to his parents…then he had to admit: Saito was probably a good husband. He certainly loved his family. It was…so weird to see him in that light.

What's next, actually liking him? The thought alone chilled him.

They sat in silence for some time, but it wasn't the stifling one from before. This was easy and relaxed; it was a truce brought on by the presence of Saito's wife. Both men accepted it.

"I'm back," suddenly a voice was heard from the door "and guess who I have with me! Ria-san is here!"

A/N: Have a wonderful time whatever you do! And if Sano's little past interested you, drop a line because I'm really thinking of writing it.