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Irresistible	By : kamorgana Category: Rurouni Kenshin > General Views: 5018 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
Disclaimer: standard disclaimers apply. RK belongs to Watsuki, but the ideas, text and OCs are mine.
Warning: lime, and shonen-ai.
Irresistible

Chapter 20: Falling rain, falling masks
June 14th, 1865.

The rain had fallen without discontinuation, all day long, and it still did when the night wrapped Kyoto in dark shadows and heavy, hot mist.

The Shinsengumi compound�s courtyard was silent and deserted, two men guarding the entrance immobile statues standing under the porch, and a little troop of 10 men from the Daimyo�s guard sitting under the engawa of the kitchen�s building. Candles were lit here and there in the rooms and in Kondo�s office, where a few men were waiting.

The atmosphere was silent, the shocks of the day still weighting on the shoulders of some of them, and particularly Takagi Kojuuro. The official�s handsome face was marked with exhaustion. He was sitting next to Kondo Isami who also looked tired, yet anger dominated his stance. Matsudaira Katamori only was composed, but he didn�t touch the food nor drank the sake disposed on the small table.

They all raised their eyes, when after a curt knock at the door Saitoh rushed inside, soaked in rain. He bowed and settled in front of the table at the invitation of Matsudaira.

�Hijikata-san and the two others will arrive in a few minutes,� he indicated.

�Do not wait for them to eat, Saitoh-kun. You must be starving,� Takagi said warmly.

Matsudaira nodded. �We all need to. Isami, would you mind pouring the sake?�

Saitoh lifted his brows in utter surprise at this open display of friendly intimacy. Kondo shook his head meaningfully, and he understood that for this reunion, only, the barriers between lords and vassals were down. It was special.

After a silent toast, Saitoh began his report. �We finished interrogating her a while ago. She knows nothing more than what we expected. She is nothing but a dimwit��

�A dangerous one at that,� Matsudaira cut off.

�Yes, she was dangerous like a blade: only if manipulated,� Saitoh stressed. �From what she said, it�s easy to figure out how Michiko�.�Saitoh hesitated on the honorific, and went without; after all he couldn�t use the Daimyo�s name and she was nothing but a traitor ��how Michiko manipulated her. She staged Niwada Torimi�s death, as we thought, sending the lion into the arena and helping her to escape afterwards. That was easy. As was using Matsumori Aiko��

Saitoh�s voice hardened on the last words. Michiko had played him like a violin and he was still furious at himself for not realizing it.

�Poor girl,� Takagi murmured.

�And about the traitor in our ranks, Saitoh-kun?�

The captain shook his head at Kondo�s question. �She doesn�t know anything. She never met him. I have nothing but an indirect hint to prove his identity, unfortunately. This won�t be enough, Hijikata agrees.�

�The name, Saitoh-kun,� Kondo asked.

�Tani Sanjuuro.�

***

The two men were entwined on the futon of Tani�s room, Takeda Kanryuusai�s head resting on his lover�s chest.

�Are you sure that nothing can lead to you?� he whispered.

Tani grinned, confidently, and answered on the same tone not to be overheard. �Certain. Murakami gave me the man and the horse she used to escape. Couple of poor imbeciles�Kondo and the others will find the animal by the river, as for the rest, with the rain they might never find a corpse�though I�d rather that they did. Just to close completely this affair. I guess that they�ll get to the house in a few days, the weather slowing the research down�they�ll have what they really look for and I�ll be unreachable.�

�And you won�t contact them anymore�You�ll be safe. Don�t think of revenge anymore, please,� the other man finished in a breath.

Tani took a look at Takeda�s pleading eyes. He decided not to worry him more. His desire to avenge Serizawa had faded long ago, since he had seen what an alliance with Satsuma could bring to him: the assurance of a high position whatever the issue of the impending war. Yet for now, the rebels were quite crushed and they were all going to retreat, according to Murakami.

�I don�t see any interest in pursuing this plan. Although I wouldn�t complain if we knew a change of direction, here.�

He wouldn�t cut his ties with them, though. Murakami had clearly indicated that it was a momentary break and that they would use this time out to gather more forces, more allies. They would be back. Tani wanted to keep his options open.

�Fine,� Takeda sighed, nesting comfortably on his shoulder.

Tani kissed his forehead indulgently. �Thank you. I would have been caught, if not for you.�

�I�ll do anything for you, Sanjuuro. I won�t stand to lose you.�

Tani closed his eyes, satisfied. He could count on Kanryuusai�s loyalty. And he could use him again, if the time to change camps came.

After a few other whispered promises, the shushed conversation faded and they dozed off, listening to the cradling noise of the rain.

***

�Are you sure that it�s him?� Kondo asked, his fists tightening.

�I�m certain. I will discreetly check on his activities for the morning when Takamura Reiko was murdered, but I am sure that nobody can give him an alibi�.Takeda was with Harada, he won�t be able to lie for him,� Saitoh stressed at the doubtful glance of his leader.

�My daughter could tell us, this afternoon, how you deduced the link with Serizawa and the culpability of Michiko,� Takagi explained, �yet she ignored how you figured out the name of the traitor in the Shinsengumi.�

The image of Tokio telling him to accomplish his duty filled Saitoh�s mind. He didn�t see her since then. He discarded the thought, to answer the official�s question.

�I have heard gossips, about Tani and Michiko being in good terms upsetting Takeda. It was my first hint, since she was the mole. The second is Niwada Torimi�s murder. When the ladies were here at the compound, I noticed a surprised expression on her face, fixing a group composed of me, Tani, Harada and Okita. She even missed a step at the view. Tani is the only one that she didn�t know from the trip. If you remember the testimonies about the Kyomizudera, she fell down because of a man running into her, a �commoner��seeing him as a samurai just afterwards explains her reaction. To be honest, I suspected her briefly to have staged the incident. It wasn�t the case. I think that she recognized him from the temple; nevertheless, she wasn�t very bright, and one can assume that she didn�t realize the importance of it. Maybe she thought that he was undercover�The probable option, considering her trusty relation to Michiko, unless I�m very wrong on this��

�You are right,� Takagi confirmed. �All the girls trusted her and Torimi in particular, if I believe what their parents used to say.�

�The probable option, then, is that she opened to Michiko about her doubts or at least the strange coincidence. Michiko had ordered Tani to execute the murder at the Kyomizudera, it seems clear to me: this was supposed to be an outsider�s murder, so he had to do the dirty job. This explains why the traitor had no choice but staging the next murder at the residence: she had to act fast in order to silence an embarrassing witness. She then used her inside tool, Kawashita, and used Matsumori Aiko both as an alibi and as a scapegoat. She probably left her office just after Matsumori Aiko, in order to erase the traces of Kawashita�we�ll get the details once she is in custody. Michiko would have had, then, only to witness your fall. I think that she is also at the origin of the attempted assassination against you, Takagi-san. You saved the political situation and provoked the failure of her plan.�

�Devilish intelligence,� Takagi breathed, indignant. �I don�t know what makes me sicker: the treason, or the use of innocents in the process.�

�She made a mistake because she didn�t have the time to find a real letter from Choshu, since she had to get rid of Niwada Torimi as fast as possible, reorienting my suspicions on Satsuma as you already know. And Kawashita had tasted the sensation of killing a human being: she grew uncontrollable� �

Saitoh pondered on the motives, silently. Kojima Miyu had been attacked because of her conversation with Nagakura at the party with the Togugawa messenger, the night of Ishikuni�s execution, but unlike what they had assumed it hadn�t been because of her knowledge concerning the poisoning. Kawashita had *mistaken* the scene for romantic, as Nagakura put it, and from her delirium they had understood that jealousy had motivated her. She had considered Miyu as �like her�, not popular, and the change had turned the Kojima girl into a target. Kana had repeated that she liked pretty dolls, and she had called Saitoh mean for taking one from her�what did she allude to, he wondered again. Tokio was already safe when he had arrived on the engawa that morning�

�And I can only rejoice that her plan finally failed,� Kondo went on, tearing him out of his thoughts. �Time for me to inform you on the developments here. You heard about the declaration?�

�Hijikata told me when I arrived. Congratulations,� Saitoh bowed to Takagi and Matsudaira.

�Kojuuro simply made the speech of his life, this afternoon. He fueled the anger against Satsuma and the rebels, and used it to win the adhesion of all my vassals.�

�We cannot accept to live as cowards, nor accept that they attack dishonorably our families. What would we have to concede, next time? I can assure you, Katamori, that Aizu will follow you and the Bakufu until the end. We will not allow the traitors to Japan earning anything from us with their vile methods.�

It was the second time that Saitoh heard Takagi stating his political opinion, and notwithstanding the fact that he completely agreed, he could see what strength of persuasion the man�s obvious belief in his words could possess.

�Even the more reluctant parties?� he nevertheless added.

�Matsumori was so relieved to see his daughter�s name cleared that he helped me to convince the others. Imada made no problem, but I had convinced him before. Kojima�he changed his mind after his daughter regained consciousness. She has something to do with it, according to Captain Nagakura and Tokio. Fujiki went with the majority. I guess he feared to lose some advantages. And Kawashita had too much to make up for, he was eager to please us.�

�Will he be present to the execution?� Saitoh asked casually, taking finally a cigarette.

�No. He refused to see her, disowned her, and asked that she was executed without delay,� Matsudaira stated.

�I can�t be sorry for her. She isn�t human.�

Takagi drank his sake straight after spitting the words. Kondo refilled his cup, and the three men exchanged a long stare. Saitoh could feel the past lingering, the retrospective fear in Takagi�s eyes and the relief in all of them.

�Don�t waste your pity on her,� Saioh said. �She has totally lost her mind. She isn�t aware of anything but her crazy delusions.�

Too bad, he added mentally, as the image of Tokio on the engawa appeared in his thoughts.

�We can end her suffering tonight, then,� Kondo intervened. �Saitoh-kun, you heard that we transported Miyu-san and Tokio-san here, to spare them a night at the residence and the reminder of today�s scene. Kojima-san is with his daughter, yet he has expressed his will to attend the execution. Nagakura-kun has asked for the favor to proceed.�

Saitoh frowned. That wasn�t part of his plan.

�I accepted. You will be commanding the search of Matsudaira Michiko, and will execute her once she tells you what we want to know about her Satsuma links, the money she stole with Serizawa Kamo, and named her accomplice� Kondo finished peremptorily.

Saitoh had no choice but bowing. He wasn�t too unsatisfied. Michiko was the real mastermind of the conspiracy, not a pitiful tool like Kawashita. He could leave the latter to Nagakura.

�The rain slowed our path down but we will go on with the research starting tomorrow morning.�

�Excellent. I have no doubt that you will find her,� Matsudaira assured. �My vassals are leaving tomorrow, except for Kojuuro and Kojima, who will stay a few days more and wait for their daughters to recover from their wounds�or from the shock, concerning Tokio-san.�

He had added the last words with a look at Saitoh, whose brows had imperceptibly furrowed, and he smiled slyly.

�Let�s forget about these unpleasant events,� the Daimyo went on, seizing another jug and pouring the sake himself, his usual shallow and feminine behavior retrieved. �There are other details that we have to settle for the week to come.�

***

Tokio left Miyu�s room with a last look at her sleeping friend and at Hatsue knelt next to her, closing the shoji without a noise. She shuddered in spite of the summer heat when she found herself in the deserted corridor, at the second floor of the compound�s little side building. The humid air, the noise of the rain pounding on the roof, the dim light, all reminded her of the scene of the morning. She was thankful not to be at the residence, she would be too afraid to see her nightmare coming true again.

Straightening her composure, she walked back to her room. It was over, she repeated herself, and she had to forget about all this. Noises piercing the water curtain reached her ears and she looked outside, curiosity annihilating her fears. There were men in the courtyard, preparing�She recognized her father�s figure and she understood. Kojima-san had been to Miyu�s side all day, and the fact that he had asked Hatsue to replace him was finding an explanation.

She watched the scene, unable to tear her eyes apart from it. She didn�t hear the man approaching her, and she recognized him before she had the time to be afraid. Her hands grasped the wooden frame of the window as the tension she had accumulated during the day blossomed, weighting her whole body; then vanished suddenly, leaving her shaking with exhaustion. It was his effect on her again, his presence shattering the self-control she had hold on to all day long, as he stood just behind her. She didn�t turn around, afraid to lose the little strength that she had left and to collapse again.

�They�re going to execute her�� she murmured.

She sighed silently when he put his long hands on her shoulders, stroking slowly, as to steady her, to prevent her from shaking. She didn�t know why he did, but it was too good to question.

�Aa. They won�t let you go downstairs. I�ll stay with you.�

�I want to see. I need to�be sure.�

�I know.�

He didn�t move, whereas she was expecting him to follow the orders and lock her in her room. One of his hands was caressing her hair now, and she leaned into him, unable to hide her need of him. It was so strange. He was so severe, yet she soothed her confusion in the warmth emanating from his solid frame.

She had tried to cope with what had happened. She was still mortified that she had passed out, and felt guilty as she reminded the anguished face of her father above hers when she had regained consciousness. It had triggered her usual reaction and she had gone through the events, giving an appearance of control and normality, though she had no clear memory of it. She knew that she had let the servant bathing and dressing her, before she went to explain Saitoh�s first conclusions to Matsudaira, her father and Kondo. She could feel the impression of shock at the discovery, had images of the maids crying on Yuka, of the other girls� astonishment. She remembered Kojima-san�s cries when Miyu had awoken; her friend demanding the truth, Nagakura�s friendly presence. She had flashes of the discourse of her father, of the anger of the officials against the rebels, of the vibrant approval of the declaration. She had images of the short trip to the compound, under the rain, of Hatsue bringing her food and reassuring her, of the old ceiling before she closed her eyes again, lying on the simple futon, only to have nightmare over nightmare.

Yet, all this was always dissipating as a kind of feverish dream, and left only the clear, frightening turn of events of the morning invading her thoughts. She wanted to forget about it, but she couldn�t. She needed to expel it, yet, she didn�t know how�

�How did you escape?� Saitoh asked her. �Tell me.�

She felt a constriction in her throat, and managed to steady her voice before she spoke, evenly, but how unnaturally, as if she was talking of somebody else. It was more and more difficult, and she paused a minute before she could explain what had happened after Kana lunged on her.

�I managed to avoid her, and I ran outside. It happened so fast�I think I hoped that someone would notice, or that the guard would hear�I slipped on the floor, it was wet, and I lost my dagger�She was running after me and she slipped, too, but she stood up faster than me. She was standing in front of me, laughing, laughing again��

He placed his chin on her shoulder, making her shiver, shattering her a little more, the contrast with her feeling of safety and the frightful memories so huge that it was almost aching.

��but I made a last move for my weapon, I got it, and I used it on what I could reach��

�You cut the tendons of her feet. Neat. She is unable to walk by herself.�

There was some kind of appreciation in his voice. It seemed so out of place that she contained a nervous giggle.

�Maybe�I just remember even more blood�there was everywhere, you know.�

�I know.�

�She screamed so loud, and she collapsed, but she grabbed me, she was trying to�I don�t know.�

He reached down, to slide her yukata up her arms, containing a curse as he discerned blue marks on her white skin. He looked downstairs, seeing Nagakura joining the group, and he regretted briefly Kondo�s orders.

�I went out of her reach, but she was still screaming, and I was watching her�until you arrived.�

He remembered vividly the scene.

For the first time of his life, he had forgotten everything for a few seconds: the surroundings, the situation, his mission, yes, even his duty, to think only of another human being. He had pondered whether he would stay with her if she asked him to, for a mere instant maybe, none less he had.

And he wasn�t furious at himself. He should see it as a problem, a weakness, and an inconvenience. It was unforgivable. If it had been for anybody else, it would be. But it was Tokio.

She had been terrified, in shock, about to break down, but she hadn�t. She had gotten a grip on herself as soon as Okita had arrived. She had needed him, yet she had told him to go, and to accomplish his duty. He had seen in her eyes, beyond her bewilderment, her understanding, and her determination. Her need to see Justice be done had been stronger than her need for personal comfort.

The thought had rooted in him all day long, not preventing him from focusing on his duty, though. Part of him had wanted to be sure that she was safe, yet he had the knowledge that she could take care of herself. She hadn�t needed him to survive. Part of him had wanted to be with her, yet she wouldn�t ask for him to, at the sake of his duty: he had had that certainty today. His hesitation, at the residence, had been due to the discovery that he did care about her, and his ignorance of what that could cost him. Ironic, so ironic, he thought, reminding his musings of a few days ago. He had imagined that he would feel responsible for a woman one day, because of his sense of duty. And he had realized that he felt responsible for a woman, because he cared. He discovered that feelings were also implying a duty, the duty to protect and provide. That meant a price to pay, a price that he refused.

And because it was Tokio, it would cost him nothing. The few minutes that the whole scene had taken, from the moment that he ran to the moment when she told him to go, had taught him that truth. He didn�t have to fight what she inspired him, because it wasn�t in contradiction with his duty. He didn�t have to make a choice, and she didn�t want him to anyway. She was just fitting perfectly.

She had stayed silent, obviously lost in her thoughts, and finally asked.

�I know that Michiko escaped�and the traitor? If Miyu and I are here�You said you�d explain me.�

�I�ll find Michiko. For the traitor, I know who he is, and no other Captain than me, Nagakura and Okita are authorized to pass the guards posted here, downstairs.�

�He is a Captain, then?�

He explained to her what she ignored, giving her Tani�s name. Her muscles tensed in brief anger, yet she overcame it and he knew that she was wise enough to dissimulate her feelings towards the man. She also needed to know who he was, to be aware of the potential danger. He could count on her to be cautious.

He had just finished when Okita and Nagakura came into the courtyard, dragging Kana between them. The girl was hurling and screaming, not out of fear, but out of madness. He felt Tokio shuddering, her efforts to control it. She wouldn�t give in, his willful little witch.

They watched together the scene unrolling under the rain, the immobile group of Matsudaira, Takagi and Kojima, silent judges and jury, Okita and Hijikata witnessing, and Nagakura, the executioner. Blade moving, flesh tearing, blood spilling, and rain washing it away, it was over in less than five seconds.

Tokio hadn�t made a move, barely stiffening when the head had rolled on the ground.

�Do you pity her?� Saitoh asked, curious.

�No.�

The answer had come immediately, as clear and dry as a whiplash. He smirked, satisfied.

***

As Hijikata was giving orders to clean, and the men were retreating once more in Kondo�s office, Saitoh led Tokio back to her room, still lit by several candles. There was a tray with food, she had barely touched it, and the tea had turned cold, no steam escaping from the cup.

He sat in front of her, framed her face between his hands and looked intently into her eyes. She seemed to expect him to leave, and he recognized the detached light that she used to hide her emotions, as well as those telltale trembling hands. She could fool everybody, but not him. They had several issues to address, and he would start with this one.

�There is again one important thing that you didn�t tell me,� he began, ironically reproachful, his thumbs brushing her face back and forth. She half closed her eyes, sighing briefly.

�What is it?� She sounded perplex.

�How you felt in that corridor. How you felt when she attacked you.�

He saw her gaze wavering and went on, ruthlessly imperative.

�How you�ve been feeling since your mother died, since you have to hide your sister. How you�ve been feeling since you had to lie to everybody, and watch each of your words and movements. How you�ve been feeling since you�re in Kyoto, suspecting everyone, losing friends, and aware of a betrayal.�

She shook her head, and tried to dodge with a smile: �This is over now.�

�Not for you,� he retorted, simply. �You didn�t eat, and you didn�t drink�you can�t pretend that you�re fine.�

Tokio was feeling her defenses crumbling at each of his words, and tried to swallow a sob constricting her throat. Why did he do this? She had gone through all these, and now it was past, and she had stayed strong. She was alive, unlike Aiko and Reiko, and poor Yuka, and she was�So safe. The sensation swept through her as he kept on stroking slowly her face, his amber eyes darted into hers, there was something in the closeness of him, he was so *certain*. Sure and real, whereas she had been living in a nightmare that she tried to call normality for so long. It made her aware of what she had been undertaking�

No, she had to get over it. She would, it would be a question of time. She couldn�t afford to let anybody know. It would be like the others: she would put on a face and he would leave her alone.

�I assure you, I�ve been shocked, but I�m fine��

�Tell me, Tokio,� he ordered, not listening to her, his hands drifting to bury into her hair.

He knew. She could say by the way he looked at her. And she couldn�t resist him. She understood finally. What had bothered her in him wasn�t the fact that she was not herself when he was around, as she had believed, but that she *was*. She couldn�t hide anything from him, he could see through her manipulations, but also through her feelings, through the masks she wore to protect herself, and that made her feel so vulnerable that it scared her to death.

It had. Now, it was tempting, so tempting to let go. The words stumbled upon her tongue, and she couldn�t resist the urge anymore.

�I was so scared.�

It had been a sigh, and she had looked down in shame, but she had detached each syllable. He made her lift her face to his; and instead of lecturing her or reproaching her with her weakness, he nodded.

�You have to accept fear in order to tame it,� he asserted.

She frowned. He didn�t say reassuring or soothing words, but it made her feel better. He didn�t seem to think that it was abnormal or shameful to be afraid. He was�

�Giving her a way out of her turmoil, as he was doing with deserving underlings. He looked as her as if he were�proud of her. Instead of pampering her, he helped her to get stronger.

That was what she had needed, she realized, stupefaction filling her. She was so incredibly relieved. The pretense had cost her more than she had thought, feeling that she was lost, misunderstood, and so alone. She could never show all of herself to anyone, and she wouldn�t have, she didn�t want to show everything to him either, but he let her no choice. All of a sudden, she was glad that he didn�t.

Slowly, she leaned into him, placing her head on his shoulder, and her arms folding around his waist. He would surely push her away, he had stilled, but for what it would last, she would rely on someone, on that solid and warm body, and gather her strength.

He didn�t reject her. He sighed, maybe in exasperation, but he kept on caressing her hair. He grumbled something about her being at last sensible, or did her ears betray her?

�Matsudaira plans the wedding for the end of next week, before you go back to Aizu,� he said finally to her, conversation-like.

Tokio widened her eyes, and parted to gaze at him, to decipher his expression.

�Why?�

It was all that she managed to utter. She didn�t have the issue in mind for two days, and it was the last thing that she expected to talk about now. After all that happened�maybe it was that? They had told her that they wanted her to marry so that she could be offered protection. Maybe the crisis had decided them to hasten the process.

She waited for panic, disgust, anger�and she felt none of these. She didn�t mind. She remembered what kind of man she had decided to look for on the terrace of the Kyomizudera, and her reflections of the morning about the true personality of Saitoh. She had wanted a man like him. She was too confused to really be sure that she wanted to marry him, as in wanting to be with him for her whole lifetime and as in him and no other, but she knew that she wanted to be with him now. Being his wife didn�t seem any more of a nightmare, rather a good solution.

She would be proud to be his wife.

But he certainly didn�t�

�It isn�t like we have the choice,� he said, shrugging, but he seemed a bit bemused.

She hesitated. �I have it,� she finally said, reluctantly.

The idea of marrying him, she didn�t mind anymore, but amazingly, she did mind the idea that she might not.

�You don�t,� Saitoh said, noncommittal, but categorical.

He looked at her puzzled face and at her trying to get the meaning of his words. None of them had really the choice, and not only because of Matsudaira, who had been quite adamant earlier. Saitoh was practical. What he had witnessed of her, and particularly the last two days, had showed him that Takagi had been right: she was of the wood that samurai�s wives were made. He hadn�t thought that he could expect that a woman understood his duty, and less would share his passion for it. If he had to pick a quality for a wife, that would be this one. She had it, and that was enough for him. The rest was accessory, her need to be disciplined residing only in shallow matters. He couldn�t say that he disliked her, now. He was attracted to her, this he couldn�t deny, either. The conclusion was pretty logical. That was the best solution for him, for her if he trusted her reactions towards him and her reluctance to take her way out of the wedding, for her father, and for Matsudaira.

She stayed silent, reading his face, and she had a little smile, before she retrieved some seriousness, looking into his eyes.

�Then, there is something that I need to tell you. I know that I have been trouble�� she bit her bottom lip.

He nodded, grinning at the idea that she couldn�t really know in what way. She had literally obsessed him, for better or for worse. �Indeed.�

�But I won�t in the future. I don�t want to be a burden for you. As your wife, I want to be your ally,� she explained. �I will never interfere with your duty, and I will help you as much as I can.�

She had talked very fast, as if she was trying to convince him. Not a wife in name, but a mate. Yes, that was what she could be. Really, this wedding was logical; he couldn�t understand why he had found it ludicrous before.

�Moron,� he sighed, to feel amusement filling him again since his answer seemed to destabilize her. He could get used to a relationship, if based on those terms.

She finally seemed to notice that he had the upper hand, and she retrieved some of her assurance. She had a sweet smile, too, and he guessed that she had something up.

Tokio was gained by a feeling of euphoria. She was steadying, her emotional state replaced by some certainties. Her good sense came back to her, and she realized that she had been reacting like a complete idiot. It was absurd to be so happy because of an arranged marriage, yet she couldn�t help. He was bemused, too, and she found him so handsome, she knew that she shouldn�t let him win so openly, but she was unable to find anything to retort. How come she had never noticed how attracted she was to him? Except for when�oh.

�We have a deal, it seems,� she said graciously. �Then, can I ask you to answer to the question that *you* left hanging?�

To her delight, he raised a brow. �Which would be?�

She gazed at him. He had a way to make her feel wicked�she couldn�t believe her own attitude. �You said that there was more. When will you show me?�

***

The combination of her bold words and her slightly flustered face galvanized Saitoh. He reminded the kiss he had given to her, the need that he had had of her�and that he still had. She was into his arms, and it felt so natural that he had focused on the discussion, yet her words awakened the want, his body heating as he grew rapidly conscious of her, of her sweet, tempting lips inches from his. Caressing her long tresses, gathering her closer, he bent towards her and murmured:

�You�re bargaining for more than you can take, little witch.�

She shivered into his arms, her smile fading as desire was lighting her gray eyes with silver sparks. He let his mouth brush hers, then her cheeks, taunting her and himself with the closeness, enjoying the tension passing between them, changing into impatient, thrilling anticipation. He framed her face between his hands again, and touched his lips to hers, placing light kisses, probing. She met him and answered, finally opening her mouth to him.

He sealed their deal, and more, taking possession of her mouth, passion taking over him. He kissed her deeply, his tongue coaxing her for an answer, until she complied and clung to him, wanton reaction feeding the fire in him. He kissed her senseless, until they were both breathless and broke off, gasping for air, their bodies ablaze. He realized that they were now laying, he on top of her, cradled between her smooth, so smooth legs, like in his dreams, except that it was better. It was real, to start with, and never would he have imagined that she could react like this, following him and drowning with him instead of trying to hold them back. She was panting heavily, gazing at him in bewilderment, her hand reaching for his mouth, drawing the contour of it, electrifying him, and she passed her tongue on her own lips.

Nobody had kissed her like this but him, and her obvious wonder at the discovery awoke an animal possessiveness, his hunger of her changing into starvation. He could just eat her whole.

He bent again, to give her another swift kiss, half-biting her mouth, before letting his lips coursing on her skin. He was the first one to know the delicate texture of it, how smooth it felt under one�s lips, how sweet was her scent, how resilient and fresh was her flesh�.he couldn�t let anyone else know this. She was utterly intoxicating, and she was for him to get drunk on, he thought, burying his head in the crook of her shoulder. She shouldn�t be so tempting, and he reproached her with this, in a gruff voice, while licking at her throat. She just sighed sweetly in answer, maybe because his hands had parted her yukata and were searching their way to her full breasts. She eased his task by arching her back, whispering his name, and other words that he couldn�t get, overwhelmed by his physical need to have her, now.

Inhaling the delicate perfume and tasting the fragile skin, he retrieved some vague consciousness, a last warning before it was too late. He had to get a grip on himself, or he wouldn�t be able to stop�if it were still possible. Her hands traveling down his stomach, probing timidly, to let then nails tracing boldly before the fingertips lingered, almost greedily, were too much for his sanity. She had to stop that or he would have no control left, and take her here and now. He couldn�t remember why it wasn�t a good idea, when his whole body was seeking hers, but there had to be a reason. He propped himself on his knees, his groin protesting the rupture of contact, his lips unable to stop tracing the lines of her collar, loving the feeling of the hard bone under the smooth skin, and he could seize her hands, pinning them on each side of her head. She protested, writhing and trying to free herself.

He lifted his upper body, his face meeting hers, and was struck by the memory of their struggle in the Gyon house. They had been in that same position, as enemies, the tension at its highest, and now it was the same, only in another kind of confrontation.

Her face then�her deep shimmering eyes full of hatred and despair, full of triumph and determination, all this was the real her, reason and passion, loyalty and duty, and deadly under the sophisticated mask�He realized that she had never seemed so beautiful to him, except maybe now, willing and wild under his caresses. Beautiful, and unique, and she was for him. He exulted as he repeated the word in his mind. Mine, mine, mine.

He saw the glimmer in her eyes, the memory hitting her too, and the hasty regretful light quickly replaced by excitation and recognition. Her lips lifted, in an enthralling smile, sweet show of surrender, yet with a hint of wicked, unconscious seduction. She arched her back beneath him, her hips trying to meet his, her swollen lips forming one word.

�Please��

She was asking for more, and that filled him with a sensation of power boosting his desire. He could do whatever he wanted, he could play with her, and she would want him more, she would be as insane with need as he was. Not even trying to suppress his sinful expression, he bent his head over hers, his mouth nibbling lightly at hers, his tongue passing on her lips, while he rubbed himself against her. Her fists tightened, she moaned, and he stopped, parting to observe her again. She seemed to understand what he was at, and showed herself a gracious and eager player, pleading nicely when he asked her to, yet bargaining ruthlessly, as she was getting how to react, how to tease him back. They were playing with the flames, making them flare and then reduce, yet when she took, for the first time, the initiative to invade his mouth with her little sweet tongue, he wasn�t able to control the fire anymore.

That was not enough. If he didn�t have more, he would die, burnt alive in a hell of yearn.

He released her hands, which gripped his shoulders, the sensation of her nails penetrating the flesh of his back achieving to heighten the urgency, a shot of excitation stinging his taut limbs. Groaning, he drove her into a heavy kiss, his own hands finding their way along her soft body, trying to get her rid of her yukata.

None of them heard the shoji opening, the baffled �Oh� of Okita, and the panel being slid back immediately.

***

�Ano��

The hesitating voice resounded like a loud shout in the room filled with whispered words and moans, and Saitoh bolted, parting. He felt as if he had been drowning and taken abruptly out of the water, he wasn�t adjusting to the difference of sensations. He actually blinked, trying to gather his mind. He looked down at Tokio and he would have smirked at her lost and amazed face, if he had been able to find the situation humorous in any way.

�Ano, Tokio-san,� Okita�s voice went on, from outside the room. �Your father and Kondo-sama are wondering if all is right with you�since Saitoh-kun isn�t back yet to the dinner. I proposed myself to go and check on you�and to look for him.�

Saitoh growled and he put some order into his clothes, while Tokio, biting her bottom lip, balancing between mortification, frustration, and finally bemusement, did the same for hers. He looked down. He had to wait a little before going out, and she wasn�t helping, she was now looking regretful, her gaze inviting�

***

Okita had made a pause. He felt his jaw muscles tensing like bows, dimples getting deeper into his cheeks, under his uncontrollable hilarity. He had thought about the possibility though it had seemed a tad far-fetched to him: Saitoh knew better than ravishing a girl while her father and her tutors, who happened to be his superior and his Daimyo, were waiting for him to have dinner. Tokio-san was also a lady and inexperienced. Hence and although he had gone with his principle of �one never knows�, whatever he had though of wasn�t going any farther than some relatively chaste kissing. Coming to think of it, chaste and Saitoh weren�t a likely combination either.

The contrast and the whole situation were decidedly too funny. Yet, he didn�t want Tokio-san to be mortified, and he had found a way to be gentlemanly delicate.

�I wonder if you know where he can be��

His voice broke on the last word and he burst into a loud laughter. So much for delicacy, but no, that was just too funny. He saw the other room�s shoji opening, and Hatsue got out in the corridor, hand on her mouth, closing hastily the panel, her body shuddering with contained hilarity.

Saitoh�s very annoyed voice answered him finally. He could imagine the deadly gaze and clenching jaw, and that provoked a new outburst.

�I�m currently fixing something in my room, and I�ll be there in a moment.�

Okita finally calmed down enough to say. �Fine, I�ll be waiting downstairs for your thing to be fixed, Saitoh-kun.�

Why did he have to be so witty? His remark made the old woman squeal with laughter, and they were in again.

�Hatsue!� Tokio-san�s shocked voice yelped.

Okita could steady himself only not looking at the old woman anymore. She was holding her stomach, taking long breaths between two gasps. No territory was safe, though, the shadows behind the shoji telling him that Tokio was giving a goodbye kiss to his friend. He expected him to reject her, yet Saitoh�s arms closed around her for a swift moment, before he parted, put her on her feet and went to the door, turning a last time towards her.

How sweet. Not thinking about funny teasing. Not thinking about Saitoh as a lovebird. Not thinking about the endless jokes that he could make on him. Not thinking of the awe that he could get amongst his peers through his power to shut up the master of verbal fights. Harada would worship him forever. Life was good to him, tonight.

His friend finally got out of the room and stopped in the corridor, his composure stiffened and dignified. He coughed dryly, and after an imperative glare, turned his back on them, pausing again before taking the stairs.

�If any word of this, a mere allusion, ever comes back to my ears, from your or anybody else�s mouth, you two are dead. Both of you, in any case. Hatsue, you were asked to look after *Kojima*-san,� he added as the governess was walking towards Tokio�s room.

Okita sighed, seeing Hatsue grumbling but obeying. He followed Saitoh in the stairs.

�Have they been waiting for long, Okita-kun?� Saitoh said, on a tone of voice that sounded more like reproachful behind the appearing detachment.

He liked the third Captain, but definitely, he would like him better with a tad less arrogance and more self-depreciating humor.

�Oh, don�t worry about this, Saitoh-kun. They thought that Tokio-san might have wanted explanations�or been upset. More important,� he added with an insistent and malicious look down, �Is that thing fixed now?�

To be continued�

So we�ve got ourselves the mystery plot solved, finally. There are really clues and hints about it all along the story, and if you have the courage and time to re-read it I hope that you�ll like it. You�ll see that everything that seemed thrown in unexpectedly (like the letter in Aiko�s room) wasn�t an end but a hint or the beginning of a subplot. We all have to start the allusions somewhere, ne?

I hope it�s clear here that Saitoh is helping Tokio to overcome her confusion because he thinks that she deserves it (also to ensure that she will know how to deal with it in the future) and not out of the goodness of his heart. An emotionally instable wife is a drawback, after all. As for Tokio�well, she has qualities and flaws, the former are more stressed lately and the latter were more stressed in the beginning. Now we should reach a balance, LOL. She was a bit weak in this chapter but she was almost killed by a nutcase, so no reaction at all would have been unrealistic. Character development is always causing me cold sweat (except for the villains, it�s so much fun).

�Ano� is impossible to translate accurately. It�s a word used to address people, when you know that you might interrupt or when you have a favor to ask. It indicates hesitation, that you�re looking for your words and sometimes that the subject you want to talk about is embarrassing for you or for your interlocutor.

A bit WAFF? Maybe, but I spare you the declarations of undying love and other sakura petals flying around. *dodges candy bars*

Next chapter: Hey, I have the villain on the run (or so Saitoh thinks), this much talked about marriage and two side-romances to examine. Tokio is still a spoiled brat; many people sneak out, for different purposes, some making unexpected encounters...surprise, surprise!
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Irresistible