Inevitable Association

There she was Saitou Tokio, my wife of over 5 years hanging out washing at such a time of day. She never changed at all...and in fact had quite a set routine of how things were done around here. Perhaps some of my strict Shinsengumi days, which still applied to me now, rubbed off on her over the years.

The look in her eyes as I climbed over the small stone wall and headed towards her was a look of surprise, happiness and relief. Surprise as to wondering what I was doing home so unexpectedly, happiness that I'd come back sooner then she probably predicted and relief that I'd come back alive and well.

Our home, which was in the outskirts of a small village, obviously to protect my family from anyone who ever found out I had a wife and kids, was lit up with lanterns, a warm glow spreading about the place even though it buzzed with no life inside. I wondered where the boys were.

Finally reaching the porch of the house, a small smile graced my hardened features as I looked upon my short wife, gold eyes trailing slowly over her as they rested upon the bulge in her stomach. It had truly been sometime since I had last been home after all. I remembered Tokio telling me she was pregnant again...and I remember feeling the slight bump she had, but now it was fully grown and out for all the other women and men she met and coerced with to see.

"Okaeri nasai Hajime." She softly spoke, a smile lighting her face as she finished off the washing before heading inside with me right behind her. Tokio never needed or wished for me to gush over her and was happy with a smile and the fact I'd returned. She wasn't interested in every detail of my travels and was only glad to look upon me to make sure I had no injuries, I'd been eating well and to make sure I always saw the kids before leaving again. She was quite the mother hen really...or should I saw mother wolf?

Sometimes I had to wonder how such a petite woman could handle three boys, another on the way and me randomly showing up every now and then. The Wolf of Mibu was always a solitary male, but sometimes, just sometimes solitude was not enough and I remember there was always someone waiting for my return. Perhaps I understood Shinomori Aoshi from the Oniwabanshuu just a little better never wishing to turn evil for the weasel girl was waiting for him.

"I made kake-soba not too long ago, would you like some?" I followed the voice as it lead me into the kitchen and found Tokio already pouring me a serving into a bowl. The question was never needed to be asked, but perhaps she liked speaking aloud and wanted to hear my voice.

"As long as my wife eats with me." I stated and sat down at the table and watched her glowing brown-gold eyes flicker happily. The glow in her face was quite radiant, something a mother pregnant with child always had, but Tokio's was much brighter.

"How have you been?" It never ceased to amaze me that even though I'd been gone for months on end, Tokio was always the first to ask of my welfare rather then me of hers.

"The pieces of the Meiji Era are fitting in place perfectly, so everything is moving along smoothly." I voiced before slurping up some boodles. She'd gotten better over time...or perhaps I just hadn't been around long enough that'd I'd forgotten how good her kake-soba tasted to certain restaurants I'd frequently eaten at.

"Here give me your jacket, hat and gloves. The weather is nice and warm these days." She quietly spoke and stood from the table as she moved around to take them from me and hang them up. I silently watched as she moved back over, a serene smile never breaking from her lips as she untied the katana from my belt and leaned it against the wall as well.

"Is that more comfortable Hajime?" She questioned me once more and as I slurped my noodles down, my shoulders slumped in relaxation. It was always good to hear her voice, smell her scent and be amongst her presence again.

"The kids are doing well. Even Eiji-kun has settled in nicely with the boys. They have all grown close over the past few months."

"That's good to hear." I spoke back and lifted my eyes to see Tokio gazing at me. I had asked her before we got married why she quietly looked upon me and she spoke of nothing and instead smiled. To this day, I still don't know the reason and wondered if underneath that sweetness, a wolf lay within her as well. I could never understand what she thought at times and instead it just captivated me even more to stay with her.

"How long will you be staying?" The inevitable question finally was free as I'd been waiting for her to ask me since she called out to me in the backyard.

"At least a couple of days. I was passing through heading for Kyoto and thought I'd drop by." I quirked my lips slightly as Tokio smacked my arm before picking up my now empty bowl of noodles.

"Well I'm glad you did." She knew my sense of humour was slightly twisted. "The boys went to the festival and are staying out this evening as they wish to spend the night with their friends, so I was looking forward to having the place to myself."

"I can leave if you like." I contorted back as she washed the dishes.

"Oh yes, please do, I don't want my husband here, not at all." Rising from the chair I moved quietly towards her and in the sanctuary of our home, with now running foot steps of interrupting boys I pulled Tokio towards my chest and held her silently there, her back pressed against me.

"You must be busy these days." Tokio voiced as her hands remained in the sink even though she leaned into my chest and closed her eyes off from the world. A small tug at the corner of her lips told me she was remembering that I did this every time we were free from bratty little boys.

"Sometimes, but it is my job as a policeman to make sure that the Meiji Era moves swiftly ahead without interruptions."

"Still holding onto your beliefs I see." Breaking away, allowing Tokio to finish washing up, I leaned against the counter with arms crossed and began to explain a thing or two to my little wife.

"A man who can't hold onto his beliefs can only be..."

"Pathetic – dead or alive ne?" Turning golden eyes down at laughing ones I continued to look her over and muttered,

"Aa..." With that spoken I moved towards the hallway and headed for the bedroom not needing to voice anything else. She knew what I was like and therefore explanations on my ways weren't truly necessary to her as Tokio understood having been with me for quite sometime now.

As I lay in the futon, weary of the traveling I'd just been through and the fact there was more to come, I felt her presence sit quietly beside me. Turning over to observe her in her usual motherly way, Tokio was humming lightly while patching up one of the children's clothing.

"You know Hajime it wouldn't hurt if you could be in the vicinity when your son is born." Eyeing her quietly I sat up in the futon, shed of all clothing as I was now dressed in a grey robe and watched her smile at me. So she was having another boy it seemed. This was good, because I wouldn't have a single clue what I'd do if she stated she was having a girl. Instantly my mind casts to the raccoon and weasel girl and I can't help but shudder.

"Tokio, you know that is something that cannot be promised." She sighed quietly and I scooped her up and placed her in the futon with me. "You train a dog with food. You can buy a person with money, but there isn't a man alive able to influence the Wolf of Mibu." I listened to her groan as she lifted her head to rest up on her arm as her elbow dug into the cushioned blankets and her eyes met mine. Was that a wolfish grin crossing those soft pink lips of hers?

"Well it's a good thing I'm not a man that can influence the Wolf of Mibu but in fact his dear sweet wife who can manipulate him just like he does his associates." Oh she was good...really good and without voicing anything else I brought her closer to me and felt the strong ki of our child growing within her.

Who would have thought that the lone wolf had his own 'pack' and in the terms of the Hitokiri Battousai his own 'Goddess' waiting patiently for his return while passionately and protectively taken care of their 'pups'.

It was official now...

I was one lucky bastard.

# The End #

Authors Notes: ACK! I couldn't think of a real good ending, so I'm sure Saitou's character went down the preverbal OOC tube. Ah well, one gets that, but I'm certain (even though this is my own opinion and all) that he wouldn't act so bastardly in front of his Goddess wife. Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed and well...YAY for Saitou!