Author's Note: As an important note: this is set AFTER The Final. I have the movie verse in mind when I wrote this. Also, I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough about this, but the first FIVE CHAPTERS of this convoluted mess can be found at "a distant part of the sky"

Unbeta-ed so sorry but got so excited that I managed to finish another chapter so... here it is.

An Unexpected Invitation

Coming home always soothed him. The act alone was something of a miracle because it meant that his day had ended peacefully, never mind the brain numbingly boring day at his office. That he was still walking towards their house, alive and uninjured, spoke volumes of the kind of life he was now living.

He'd never feared shadows. He'd been one for most of his life - lurking in the darkness, always ready for death - but this was the one thing the Meiji Era was advocating that he could appreciate.

Peace.

He did not quite fully believe in it. Human nature wasn't built that way. Conflicts almost always tended to result in some violent confrontation. The important ones at least. Was it possible to put a reign on the animal instincts that men have? Was that something that could be achieved with all these talks of democracy, legislation, freedom?

Bunmei kaika. Civilization and enlightenment.

Such pretty words. But a man like Saitou had no need of those. Wasn't used to them, anyway. It seemed like an empty promise for the most part, since the government was still crawling with corrupt politicians. Greed and selfishness were unwelcomed concepts in the civilized and the enlightened.

And yet even in his own department, there were dishonest men. Those who do not have honor; who do not respect karma. It was tricky trying to weed them out. Swift justice wasn't acceptable in this new era and he loathed the stifling, time consuming bureaucratic process. Systems were now in place, a new code of honor to follow.

We aren't a nation of murderers and savages.

Was that Justice Minister Etō Shimpei? Saitou could not remember. In the five years since the national government had established the police force, he had endured so many countless speeches from so many different government officials, he could barely remember all of them.

What was constantly insisted upon them was the standard by which the police should all operate: like benevolent beings, protecting and nurturing the innocent. The one command Saitou was willing to follow – all the rest, well, he could allow some sort of compromise.

The one-hour walk from the police station all the way to his home had become a routine that he looked forward to at the end of the day. He had not expected that he would find a calming sort of solace in such a mundane act. The gathering darkness and the noises of their neighborhood slowly becoming muted as he neared their home - it all worked as an effective balm against his usual choleric disposition.

He knew he wasn't a man of warmth and that it put people ill at ease, if he truly leaned into it although he could also be charming – as how he had been, the first time he met the Kamiya girl. He'd manage to soften up the hard edges of his face into a smiling, kindly policeman; so easily convincing her to invite him inside her home and wait for Battousai.

How long ago was that! And how entangled he had been in their lives ever since that day! It was truly exhausting and if he only had a choice, he would rather be assigned somewhere far. Preferably uninhabited by morons. Hokkaido sounds inviting enough.

But there was still work to be done and if today was any indication of how excruciating it would be to complete his mission, Saitou swore that this will be the last. Or so help him, the higher ups in this new government will be reacquainted with the Mibu Wolf.

Saitou took one last drag from his cigarette before dropping it into the ground, crushing it with efficiency and picking it up and pocketing it for proper disposal, later. He wasn't going to litter on his own front yard. And he especially didn't want to have his wife sweeping his discarded butts of cigarette.

That might actually be the death of him: Hajime Tokio finding evidence of his disgusting habit – one that he never brings home – on her immaculate garden. It's not that she so strongly disapproves of his smoking; she tolerates it because Saitou was too old and too stubborn to quit. It's the principal of not wanting her space invaded by his thoughtless behavior.

It was a constant source of reassurance, having a stable relationship where things were just inherently understood, without the need for endless conversations. He understood his wife perfectly, in the same way she understood him. Her awareness of his moods and even sometimes his yet-to-be-thought-of thoughts had solidified their marriage into something that endured years of uncertainty, chaos and even the frightening violence that his work required.

His wife certainly understood how much he relied and relished the unchanging pattern of his coming home; always silently waiting for him by the engawa, consistent with the stillness of the summer evening that allowed Saitou to release any lingering pent-up anger or frustration he had been unable to let go during his long walk. Tokio would only break the silence with her customary, "Konbanwa, husband," as soon as they have entered their home; a meal already waiting for him.

The dinner changes from time to time, depending mostly on the season, but it always featured Saitou's favored tofu.

The licking of blood from his blade was but a distant memory; truth be told, he only did it to enjoy the look for fear and revulsion in the enemy. It made the effort of having to kill them, well – less tedious. He always did have the ability to separate his work from his personal life, which helped in keeping him sane. Certainly, more stable than Himura and his ever-present guilt. About what, Saitou could never truly figure out.

Warriors go into war knowing only two things: to kill or be killed. To win or to lose. There weren't any gray areas during battles. Before, after – sure, there were things that will come into light that might change one's perspective, but that was hardly ever the case once swords were drawn.

To burden one's self with all the what-ifs was futile and counterproductive.

But yes, food. Saitou preferred vegetables and tofu over red meat. Not that he didn't indulge once in a while, but his wife knew him better than anyone else and indeed, consuming tofu was one of the few things he actually, truly enjoyed.

Tonight, Tokio had outdone herself with the hiyayakko she had prepared. The chilled tofu had been a refreshing way to counter the nighttime summer heat. And the generous topping of grated ginger, katsuobushi, green onions all perfectly seasoned with soy sauce was a true source of joy.

His wife watched him as he ate with relish and while her face might hold no expression, he knew she appreciated the ravenous way he devoured the meal she had so carefully prepared.

He was truly lucky to have married such a remarkable woman.

As with the many nights since she had arrived in Tokyo, Tokio would always ask the same question as they both sipped their after-meal tea.

It always irritated him that whenever she asked, "How was your day, husband?" that he never had anything interesting to say other than a long list of administrative stupidity he had to deal with on a daily basis. He didn't want to burden his wife with such useless complaints and he would often just grunt a wordless answer to let her know that he rather not talk about his work. But tonight – ah, tonight he can tell her about Kamiya Kaoru and how that woman had brazenly attempted to outsmart their government.

"Ah, sou desu ka? And what do you think of her demands?" Tokio asked, a certain glint in her eyes indicating her amusement.

Saitou thought for a moment, tilting his head. He wondered, if he had a daughter – but he shuddered at the thought of producing an offspring as bright-eyed and naïve as Kamiya Kaoru. There was no amount of skill and weapon to be had to protect someone like her. "She wasn't very specific about them. That gives me some room to maneuver, at least." But for her first try at negotiation, he would have to admit that it was surprisingly clever.

Tokio very elegantly raised her eyebrows at that. "So you think that she will agree with what the government is asking of her?"

Saitou welcomed his wife's immediate grasp of the situation. Where Battousai had failed to realize that it wasn't even him and his decade long wish to end an unfinished battle from years ago, but the government that was pulling the strings, was testament to Tokio's intelligence.

"I think she's bored of Tokyo." And by Tokyo, Saitou really meant the rurouni and his inability to commit and shed that cloak of redemption or whatever it was that he was using to hide his true self. The girl wasn't going to idly sit by and wait for Himura to finally figure out what he wants to do with his life and how he wants to live it.

This was an estimation, of course, but what other reason would Kamiya have to actually want to go to Shangai? It wasn't just some misguided notion of saving someone – especially not Yukishiro Enishi who had wreaked havoc into their lives. It can't be just out of the pure kindness of her heart. There has to be some selfish reason behind her decision – perhaps it was an open challenge? Not just to Himura but for everyone that had underestimated her, had snubbed her dojo, had referred to her as her father's daughter or as Himura's woman.

Tokio tooted her disagreement. "Surely, she can't be doing it out of pure boredom."

"No, but she's – she hasn't been allowed to be anything but a victim so she's eager to prove her worth. To be the one counted on, to have the responsibility to save – to have the power to change things." He hadn't properly considered this but after their meeting earlier, it seemed to confirm his theory. Especially taking into account the fact that her charity cases had been suspiciously allowing her to take the lead. Although that didn't even last long. Five minutes into their meeting, the brat and that useless street fighter had started rolling their eyes and grumbling their complaints every time Kamiya had something to say.

"And this Yukishiro? He sounds, unhinged. I doubt his sincerity, husband."

He snorted a little at that. "It would be stupid to trust Yukishiro. He's doing this mostly to annoy his brother-in-law. Which I will admit to enjoying." And then Saitou remembered all the cursing and threats from the meeting earlier. "It does get tiring pretty quickly, how easily, how predictably Himura takes the bait."

"Perhaps it will send the wrong message if he does not take the bait." Tokio mused, her head tilted and Saitou could not help but admire his wife's profile: her strong, sharp chin; her almond shaped eyes, her delicately thin lips. She nodded her perfectly shaped head as she concluded, "But such trivial motivations for such a dangerous undertaking."

Saitou frowned a little. He wouldn't actually consider the mission as incredibly perilous. It would mostly involve paper works as they intended to go to Shanghai via the civilian route and not some backdoor illegal channel. There wasn't any danger – as Battousai had feared and alright, so he fanned that fear just the tiniest bit – of anything untoward happening.

The way he saw it, unless Yukishiro would be unable to convince his criminal connections that this was a purely personal transaction, it would be a simple case of going to Shanghai, retrieving the documents and coming back to Japan. All completely legal. Of course, the contents of Yukishiro's personal documents – well, that was where the trouble would come from. It would contain information that both countries will might consider as having some significance to their national security. But that could easily be remedied by masking its content. They could re-write it in a coded format, one that would not raise any suspicions, and then burn the source.

Saitou had enough time to come up with a series of secret codes they can use. He would order Yukishiro and Kaoru to write it as a poem to celebrate their upcoming union. That would be entertaining as hell.

Tokio listened carefully, her beautiful face serene as always as she took in the information. "I see. It seems, husband dear, that there's a terrible misunderstanding at what is expected of Kamiya-san. Which might explain why her friends aren't so willing to cooperate."

Saitou impatiently waved his hands at Tokio's not-so-subtle reprimand. "Not my fault that they're all foolish. Battousai has a way of jumping into the worst possible conclusion and why should I be bothered to explain such a simple scheme to him? Remember, beloved wife, he isn't part of the mission. I do not have to give anyone of them the details of a government-sanctioned operation."

"He will be part of it soon enough."

Satou tipped his head to the side, appreciating his wife even more. There was something beguiling about her serenity, the infinite calmness that was forever sustained within her; the surety that no storm would ever unsettle her. "Of course. Regrettably." He was being half serious about wanting to bankrupt the government, but in truth, he rather that this mission stayed small. He would have to concede Battousai joining them. Himura could be useful, no doubt about that. Of course, he could also be the over protective love-sick idiot – a double-edge sword being blatantly waved about. But Saitou will put his foot down and not allow anyone else to come to Shanghai.

"And do you think that Himura-san has a reason to be over-protective and maybe even jealous?"

"Wife, how many times do I have to tell you this? When it comes to the Kamiya girl, Battousai is a hopeless, blundering imbecile. Of course, he's jealous." It rankles the fuck out of Himura that the Tanuki-girl gets flustered around Yukishiro. Saitou had seen enough fist-clenching, nostril-flaring from the Battousai every time Kamiya blushed. But the girl gets flustered if anyone compliments her. She does not get enough of it and so she does not know what to do with the attention. Romantic or otherwise.

"And you think Yukishiro-san's attention are of the romantic kind?"

"It's the "I Hate You And Because I'm Not Right In The Head, I Will Make Your Woman Like Me Better Than You' kind."

"Quite a mouthful, husband."

Saitou leaned back, trying to relieve the stress on the muscles of his back and neck; he kept his arms outstretched, palms flat on the table, fingers drumming an irregular rhythm. He really wanted to light up a cigarette now, but that would be impossible. Tokio forbade smoking inside the house. The smell offended her. And Saitou wouldn't want to offend his wife.

"I don't care if he develops feelings for the Tanuki." Saitou conceded. "It's Yukishiro's motivation that's troubling. He does not want to be hanged as a traitor, sure, but he could've easily escaped that. He has the right connections for it and the money to bribe anyone to look the other way. But he's going along with the plan because why?"

There is no change in Tokio's tone, but she was angling her forward with interest, "What's in it for him if he returns to Shanghai, do you mean?"

Whenever Tokio would get like that - mouth curling up in the tiniest of smiles, she was like a magnet and Saitou could not help himself but bend his body towards her. "Yes. I'm guessing it's gold or more weapons. He probably has most of his wealth stashed in China. Some unfinished business. Something significant enough that he could not let go. What he'd do with whatever precious hoard he has in Shanghai would entirely be up to him just as long as he could make it back to Japan with his betrothed in one piece."

"Perhaps a wedding will take place once they're back here." Tokio predicted, the smile finally blooming in her face and Saitou felt momentarily gob smacked by it, before he shook his head.

"Doubt it. That girl wouldn't be marrying anyone unless she has her dojo secured. Until it's back to it's former glory by her own doing. And by then, she would have made a longer list of demands before she allow herself to become someone's wife. Would probably want her husband to take her last name instead. A bold move but-" Saitou paused.

Wait.

Was that – he sounded like he was actually impressed by - oh fuck it. Fine. There was something admirable about the way Kamiya Kaoru handled herself today. Even with the list she had come up with.

"Kamiya-san seems so terribly independent and modern." Tokio murmured, clasping her hands together, the movement so very graceful and feminine. She looked up to him, face shining with delight. "We should enroll Eiji to her dojo when she returns from Shanghai."

Saitou felt his eyebrows raising. He knew more was coming so he let his wife go on, her voice rising just a little bit in apparent excitement at her idea. Something she had probably been thinking of for a while now and what better time to spring it up on him when he almost admitted out loud his renewed, slightly better, estimation of the tanuki.

"I would want Eiji to learn kendo. But from a woman like Kamiya-san. There's an important lesson to be learned there, husband."

"Oh, you think so?" He asked, letting out a feral smile. Saitou decided that he was going to bed his wife tonight; that suggestion alone – one that he'd actually consider – merited a passionate show of appreciation at her slyness.

"Yes husband, I think it's a splendid idea."

- tbc -

End Notes: Aaaand Tokio makes an appearance.

I've always wanted to write her but was so scared of fucking it up. I hope I didn't. I hope you all liked this little bit of chapter as I try to move this plot along... thank you so much in advance for reading this and please let me know what you think. Work has been extremely - draining but I promise to reply to your comments as soon as I can.

Notes and Translations:

1. Katsuboshi - shaved bonito flakes (Bonito flakes are made from dried bonito fish that is grated into flakes)

2. The Final (the movie) is set in 1879 and in 1872, the Japanese government sent the first Superintendent General Toshiyoshi KAWAJI to Europe to study the police system. He returned the following year, then established the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in the Ministry of Interior in 1874. This was the first modern police organization in Japan. Police power, at that time, was held by the national government.

3. Etō Shinpei – is a real person but he never said that. No one said that because I said that. LOL. Anyway, after the Meiji Restoration, Etō was appointed to a number of posts, including that of Minister of Justice in 1872, and was responsible for drafting Japan's first modern penal code.