Standard disclaimers:
All rights belong to the creator of 'Rurouni Kenshin' Watsuki and some big
name companies (Shueisha, Sony,...).
I am just borrowing them for some fun =^^=

Well, this story is *heavily* inspired by a doujinshi I've seen =^^=, 
especially the first chapter. The second chapter (if I write one that is) 
will be originally written by me.

Unfortunately this is the first story I am writing from Chou's POV and...
honestly I haven't read many fics featuring him =^^=. So please show leniency
towards me concerning OOC.
The first chapter will be Chou's POV... if I get some feedback, there
will be a second chapter from Tokio's POV =^^=, continuing the plot.

Oh, there might be some grammar and vokabulary mistakes ahead, hopefully you
are not distracted by^them =^^=.



ON A COLD WINTER'S DAY



Things were going smoothly this time, the job was nearly finished. He only 
needed one more piece of the puzzle and he was here to get it. Carefully he
peeked around the corner and saw the object of his interest entering the
public bath-house. He was observing the organisation for a longer time
now and this man, Takeshi, seemed to be the powerbroker. Well, he could be 
patient if he wanted to be and he wasn't as inhuman as a certain person he was 
working for. Not that this wasn't a good position... snooping around and
spying out people was something that suited his natural habits better
than he had first thought. This interesting, fascinating job was surely
a reason why he could bear his insufferable superior... Gods, what would
he give for just one word of acknowledgement, respect or acceptance from him.

The door of the bath-house opened and he stiffened, alarmed, carefully keeping
his traitorous straw-like hair out of sight. With this 
daydreaming there was a good chance he had nearly missed the man he
was spying out for weeks now. The time was right. It was the time he liked
the most: The time to scare the shit out of his delinquent.

But the street was too lively and he surely didn't want to attract too much 
attention. His cover was important and he didn't want too many people
realise who he really was, for whom he was working.

Furtively, never leaving the shadows of the houses, Chou followed the man 
closely down the road. Obviously Takeshi had immensely enjoyed the hot bath 
and the little extra service this special bath-house offered, he was cheerfully
greeting sellers and people passing by, was looking after some extraordinary
beautiful women with a smile around his lips. Well, he didn't know it yet, but
he enjoyed his last minutes in freedom without horror. Only the man with the
broom-like hair secretly following Takeshi high on the heels knew better.

Takeshi turned left into another street, less lively, less lightened, but
still with the same satisfied posture, self-content behaviour and cheerful 
habit that he had already shown on the other street.
It was the time to catch his prey.

Speeding up his pace, Chou reached his aim with a few steps and without
a warning he kicked him hard in the back. At times like these he loved his 
job. The man was taken by surprise and landed -nose first- in the dirt of
the street. Faster than he had expected Takeshi recovered from his shock...
not that he wasn't prepared. As Takeshi turned, his to-be-prisoner already 
faced one of his swords, the tip only millimetres from his nose, with the 
slightest move there would be a scratch.

The delinquent's eyes widened in shock, Chou had already realised earlier that
this man didn't belong to the toughest type and a wicked smile from Chou 
caused Takeshi wetting his pants. Well, this didn't promise to be much fun, 
the object of his investigation for the past weeks was already scared to hell.
There was not much more he had to do and when he dragged him now to his 
superior, Takeshi would most likely die on the spot out of pure horror. 

"Seems you are out of luck lately, Takeshi."

"Wh...Wh... Why do you know my name?"

Threatening, smiling even more wickedly -if this was possible- Chou leaned 
forward
"I know everything about you. I've been watching you."

Phew, the man was really a coward, he was wetting his pants again. What an 
awkward situation. Disgusted, Chou turned up his nose.

"Re... Re... Really?"

"I know everything about this silly conspiracy against the government you
are planning."

His 'victim' made a last attempt to be brave, sweat-pearls running down his
face
"Conspiracy? Government? What are you talking about?"

All Chou needed to do was to move his sword threatening down to Takeshi's 
throat
"Confess."

Quickly the man's face brightened as if he suddenly understood
"A, it is THIS conspiracy you are talking about!"

"Save your breath for later and get up. We are going to see my boss."

"And... and.. who is your boss?"
With trembling voice and shaking legs the man stood up and Chou pushed him
with his swords into the right direction.

"You got to know him early enough. Believe me, after being interrogated by him
you wish you were never born."

Chasing the trembling, fearsome man through Tokyo's streets wasn't the
most amusing thing Chou could think of. After his prey had shown his face of 
being the biggest coward he had ever met, most of his fun was ruined. 
On top of that it began to snow, the freezing cold started to creep through
his cloths.

He was really happy when he noticed the police-station in front of him
and he could shove Takeshi into Saitou's study, handing the responsibility 
over his prisoner to his boss with this act. He noticed Takeshi
wetting his pants once more as he saw Saitou behind his desk, leaning lazily
back in his chair and smoking one of those damn inevitable cigarettes.
How much more hold this man in his bladder? Hopefully this was the last time.

"Here is the head behind the assassination plan."
Chou kicked his prisoner forward, making Takeshi stumble and landing on
Saitou's desk, a few papers landing on the ground, the acidic smelling liquid 
from the wet pants dropping on the precious floor and on some of the even
more precious papers.

Saitou frowned. Takeshi panicked. Chou started to feel uncomfortable.

Saitou grabbed Takeshi by his hair and forced him to look up to him, before
stubbing out the cigarette on Takeshi's hand -lying on some important 
papers- accompanied by a scream that was heard all over the police-station.

"And this is the great Takeshi threatening half of our government with death?"
Laughing he dropped the man's head back on the desk and, already too weak to 
stand on his own legs, Takeshi broke down.

Anticipating Chou awaited Saitou to comment his excellent and hard work during
the last few weeks. There had to be a benefit... and if it was only a reward 
in form of cash.

"Great. The moron ruined my whole work from this morning. Chou, clean up this 
mess and start investigating about Ito. There is rumour that he is planning to
organise an ambush in Tokyo soon."

Chou couldn't help but stare at his boss. This had been the hardest job he
had ever done, he had worked and lived like a DOG for WEEKS outside in the 
beginning of winter and all he got was an order to clean up a mess and without
a reward or a thank he was send to the next case.

Screaming he run out of the room, ruffling his hair, followed by an astonished
look from Takeshi and a glance from a grumbling Saitou.

*****

Chou needed a few hours to calm down and when he finally got back to the
headquarters, Takeshi had already confessed, signed a paper and was securely
arrested. He met Saitou half-ways from the arrest-cells to his -in the
meantime- cleaned office.

"Feeling better now?"
The sarcastic under-tone was nearly driving him insane again, but his 
superior's next words let him stop short.
"We have to exchange some facts about the new case. It is better to discuss
this sensible matter in a more discreet location than this station full of
eaves-droppers. Come over to my house tomorrow night."

Dump-folded Chou stopped dead in his tracks. Had he really heard what he 
thought he had just heard? Saitou had practically invited him to his home?
What a great honour!

He needed some minutes to recover from his shock, when he re-gained his senses,
Saitou had already vanished into his study and had closed the door behind him
demonstrative, indicating that he didn't wish to be interrupted anymore.

What had he exactly said? Visit me at my house at night?

The rest of the day Chou literally spent in trance, fascinated by the great 
honour his boss considered him worthy of. From time to time he checked
the notice in his hand, which Saitou had given him with an address on it.


*****

There it was, this was the house Saitou had sent him to.
He was a bit late, but what mattered. His boss was always late also, being
on schedule or being tidy wasn't one of his virtues.

Determined Chou opened the gate and furtively cast a glance around. It was his 
first visit at Saitou's house and to be honest, he was nosy how it looked 
like. 

Well, the size of the house was proof enough that -despite the
fact that Saitou was his superior- he couldn't earn much more money.
It was quite small with a slightly larger garden around. 

The way to and around the house was covered with small white gravels, 
thoroughly raked and cleaned from fallen leaves and dirt. An inevitable 
Koi-pond was right beside the entrance, water floating over a moss-covered 
stone into the pond, making a calming murmuring sound. The first snow-flakes
made an interesting contrast on the deep-green moss. 

In the distance, half-hidden from the house,
he noticed a maple-tree and a plum-tree, the twigs bare, the leaves had
fallen to the ground earlier this year. Most of the small garden was
planted with small grasses, large bamboo and some moss-covered stones laid 
around, carefully arranged, looking as if nature itself had placed them there.

It was time to announce his presence, he had the bad feeling that Saitou
wouldn't be very pleased when he found him standing in his garden and snooping
around.
"Excuse me! Someone home?"

Feeling a bit impatient and unsure he moved from one feet to another. What
should he do when his boss wasn't home? Waiting outside? Coming again later?
But...

"Ha! Ha!"

His blood froze in his veins... this wasn't Saitou's voice... it wasn't a 
man's voice at all... it was a child's voice....

Chou had to look down to see who was greeting him. A KID? A.. BOY? A... BABY?

The boy was crawling towards him and he was crawling incredible fast, now the 
baby had nearly reached him and Chou felt sweat pouring from every of his 
pores, running down his face. 

He could almost feel hot breathing in his neck, Saitou in his worst mood 
challenging him, ready to pierce him with his favourite attack. 

A fact that would turn reality if something happened to the child -most 
obviously Saitou's offspring- while he was around. Maybe he would 
already be in afterlife when the child cried out loud in his presence. 

Knowing the father's temper, the kid would surely do everything possible to 
get him into serious trouble.

Nervously Chou rubbed his hands on his trousers, unsure how to react to the
baby, now sitting in front of him, smiling brightly and warmly greeting up to
him, reaching out his little arms wanting Chou to take him up. The kid's 
confidence that he wouldn't hurt him -he, Chou, a complete stranger-
was astonishing. His mouth was getting dry.

"I'm sorry, I hope he hasn't bothered you."

He needed a second to digest the next shock. A tall woman was coming from the 
back of the house, nearly running towards him with shuffling, small steps. She 
was far taller than the average woman....
Her hair was traditionally arranged but in a state of total confusion. In
every possible direction strands were sticking out, her kimono and obi were
in slight disorder also. She didn't seem to bother as if she was walking around
like this every day.
The boy turned around, his arms now reaching out for the woman.

"Mummy."

Now Chou could not only feel the hot breathing of Saitou and his 'Aku Soku Zan'
in his neck, he could also feel the tip of the cold blade directly behind his
spine. The hair in his neck began to stand up on its own account.

The woman looked at him, smiling heartfelt, welcoming, now he knew
that the child had inherited the smile from his mother. There was no 
doubt, it was Saitou's wife.

"This is the Fujita house, my husband isn't home yet." She picked up the 
little boy and settled him on her hips "You must be Chou, he told me a great
deal of you. You can wait here until my husband returns from work."

Barely he realised that his mouth was standing open.
He had no choice to think twice about the offer, and he had certainly no 
choice to refuse it with a proper protest in his current state of mind.

Faster than he could wink he found himself sitting in the middle of a room of 
the house, his swords lying beside him, waiting for a meal she had announced
she would prepare for him. He found some peace and quiet to recover from the
shock of discovering that his boss had a 'cute' boy and a charming wife, and
that he better not messed with them. His life wouldn't be worth one Yen then.

'tshock, tshock, tshock'

Chou noticed that his time alone was limited as he heard the shuffling sound,
and panicking he saw the little boy crawling towards him. 

What was he supposed to do with a kid? SAITOU'S child?
Surely he couldn't throw him high in the air and catch him with his sword as 
he had used to do it with the child of the Kyoto swords-smith.

Before he could finish his thoughts, the boy was sitting in front of him,
smiling wide and trustingly up to him. The first sweat-pearls were appearing
on his forehead, no doubt.

"Excuse me." Relieved Chou turned to the voice, Saitou's wife was back with a
tray in her hands before he could do something stupid, maybe causing the 
child to cry... he still felt hot breathing and a cold blade in his neck.
"I am sorry for taking so long."

She set the tray in front of him and cast a glance at his side to her son,
now sitting close to him, still smiling up to him with wide eyes.
"I hope he hasn't bothered you."

Embarrassed he laughed and scratched himself in his neck
"No, no, not at all." There was no way he would tell her how uncomfortable he
felt.

"Oh, great. Could you do me a favour, please?"

He stopped his chop-sticks half-way to his mouth. What could she want?

"I need to see a friend and since you and Tsuyoshi understand each other so
well, it would be very kind of you if you could take care of him for a few 
minutes. I'll be back as fast as possible." Apologising she looked at her son 
"Usually I wouldn't bother you with it, but Gorou isn't back yet to take care 
of his son and I have to clear an urgent business with her."

Chou didn't know why and how, but he heard himself answering
"It is no problem, I'll take care of him."
Great. His big mouth had tricked him once more.

Relieved she stood up and retreated through the door she had entered the room.

It was time to taste the meal she had served him. He had already tried the
rice, it was delicious, not to mention the soup he tasted next. Also 
delicious. The fish was the best he had eaten in a while. Slowly he 
began to envy his boss for coming home in the evening and being served with
food like this every day. 

When had been the last time he himself had been served and cared for by 
someone like this? His sister had taken care of him when he was younger, but
she always had been busy with her customers and had had not much time for him 
left. But the scarce time she had had for him she had taken well care of him. 

The boy beside him stirred, obviously tired of smiling and staring up to him.

"For you!" Astonished Chou looked down at the child holding out a flower,
wanting him to accept it. 

Still the boy had this smile plastered on his face, so different from Seta's 
constant smile which had always send a shiver down his spine.

This boy's smile made him feel welcome and home, a fuzzy feeling in his 
stomach warmed his body from inside. A strange feeling for him.

Maybe he could get along with the boy without problems, he seemed to be 
different from his father. Chou took the flower from the boy who still smiled 
up to him, happy that his present was accepted.

How could he entertain a child?

Shocked Chou realised that in the few seconds he had been thinking, the boy
had started to examine his swords. What would happen if he was even scratched
from one of HIS swords... he didn't want to imagine. Quickly he took the swords
back and laid them securely behind him.
"That are very special swords, you can play with them when you are older."

"mmm?" The boy only glanced up to him with interest in his eyes "Special?"

"Yes, I am a sword-hunter and I am collecting seldom swords."

Much to his surprise the boy cheered up and smiled even wider "Cool!"

Well, even the child couldn't deny who his father was. Maybe he could
tell how he got the swords and what was special about them. He reached 
behind and took the first one.

"Look, this one I got on Nagoya. It is made from a seldom ore giving the blade
an extraordinary strength..."

He could count the occasions with the fingers of one hand on that one had 
listened to him this interested, and he didn't notice how time past while he 
was talking.

The only thing what let him stop, was, when he realised a body leaning 
against his own... the boy was sleeping! Maybe his stories hadn't been as 
interesting as he had thought. Longingly he looked at his patiently waiting 
tray , unreachable for him without waking up the child sleeping against him. 
And he really didn't want Saitou to come back, finding him together with his 
crying son.

"Oh, I am sorry."

Much to his relieve, unnoticed by him, his boss' wife was back and took the 
child carefully from his side, quickly preparing a sleeping place in the room 
and placing the slumbering child at it.

Apologising she looked at his half-eaten meal
"He disturbed you and you couldn't finish your meal."

"Oh, it doesn't matter. Actually I wasn't very hungry" Thanks to God he was
a good liar.

"EXCUSE ME! Someone home?"

A shouting interrupted them from the entrance and immediately the woman jumped
up.
"Please excuse me, I'll be back soon."

Quickly she hurried to the entrance and he concentrated back on his tray. That
the meal was cold couldn't change the fact that it was excellent and he would 
never waste good food. He himself was a too bad cook to not enjoy this meal.
A murmuring was heard from the entrance and suddenly.. a cry

"AAAAA!"

"HAND ME SOME MONEY!"

Faster than lightning he was on his feet and running towards the entrance, 
only to see his superior's wife being threatened by a scum holding a large 
knife.

He was ready to draw his sword and shocked the beggar noticed him
"A man?"

But what happened next surprised, no, astonished them -him and the scum- both.
The seemingly frightened woman longed behind her, grabbed a stick leaning
on the wall and pointed with the tip against the intruder's throat. 
Faster than they both could wink.

She had nothing more of the frightened, devote woman she was before, she was 
looking real threatening, even to him. 

The beggar began to tremble from head to toe and dropped his knife, facing the
woman ready to impale his throat with the stick.

Chou stopped and re-sheathed his sword, it wouldn't be necessary, the intruder
had no courage left.

The next events astonished him even more, but the scum was really shocked:
Her eyes softened, compassion could be seen in them and she lowered the 
stick.
"You are hungry, aren't you?"

Slowly, still frightened, the beggar nodded. Now Chou realised his skinny
body as the wretched kimono gaped open at the front. The man was on the 
verge of starving.

"Wait a minute, I'll bring you something to eat."

They could both do nothing but stare behind her as she walked back into the 
house and they both stood rooted to the place until she returned with a bento 
in her hands.
"Here, enjoy your meal."

Too astonished to thank her or to answer, the scum left the yard and Chou
went together with this resourceful woman back to the room where the boy was 
still sleeping. 

Was this woman feeding half of Tokyo? She had had enough prepared food handy
for himself, for the beggar.... hopefully there was enough left for his boss.

"Why did you give him something to eat?"

"Didn't you see? He was only hungry, nearly starving, it is only natural that 
he wanted to survive and tried to get some food."

"But he attacked you, he threatened you and you had the upper-hand. You could
have kicked him out."

"He only would be back on the street then, without help and without perspective
that his situation could improve. He is only an individual that had bad luck
in his life. He isn't a person that is bad from his heart, and it is important
that people like him know that they are not left alone."

The woman was definitely different from her husband, that was for sure.
"You think there is a difference between this man and a criminal?"

"Yes, I think everyone deserves a second chance in his life when he had 
bad luck. And surely every human deserves to have food to live on."

Chou had to think about his own past, about his fellowship with the ten swords.
He had been given a second chance by working for the secret police force now.
How much of it was this woman's doing?

Interested she looked at him
"How is your family doing?"

Family? Like his parents or Yumi?
"I have no family left."

Her warm smile and cheerful behaviour froze
"I am sorry to hear this."

"It isn't as hard as it might sound. My parents died when I was still a child
and my sister took good care of me then." (author's note: 1)

"Then how is your sister?"

"She had to work as a prostitute to earn money for us both. She fell in love
with one of her customers and later died for him in an attempt to save his 
life."

Sadly she lowered her eyes
"I'm sorry to hear about this."

"There is no need to feel sorry, it happened some time ago and I feel
satisfied with my life as it is now."

He cast a glance around to the sleeping boy and the charming and caring
woman in front of him. Maybe there was still something lacking in his life.

Compassionate she laid her hand across his own
"I think everyone is a very special personality and deserves a fulfilled live 
with peace and love. And you, you are a very special person also."

He had no chance to answer, because suddenly he had a tray in his face, his
nose was bleeding and he heard the woman cheering up
"Hajime! You are back!"

"Seems so."

"You have a guest."

"I told this idiot to come tomorrow. Can't he listen for once? What is he 
doing here with you?"

"He waited for you to come back, I think he has some business to discuss with
you."

"You did even give him something to eat."

"I can't let guests sit here without serving them, that would be very 
rude, Hajime."

By the time Chou could see again and the first thing he saw was the boy 
stirring in his sleep, slowly waking up by the voices of his discussing
parents.
"Daddy!"
Catching Saitou's attention immediately. 

Unbelieving Chou observed his boss
picking up his son with care, settling him on his hips as his wife had done
it earlier. 

Much to his shock he noticed the boy snuggling closer to Saitou's
chest, still dizzy from his slumber, liquid dropping from the child's opened 
mouth on the same uniform jacket his boss always was curious about keeping 
clean. Now Saitou's wife stepped closer and leaned her head against her 
husband's chest as well.

Fascinated Chou observed Saitou's features relaxing and somehow proud and
caring looking at his little family.

Chou rubbed his eyes. This sight couldn't be true... His boss 'softening'?
But it reminded him of a time long ago... when Yumi was still caring for him.

What about himself?
Was it already too late for him? To have a family by his own? Would
a woman actually live with him? WAS there a woman that could even consider
to be his wife? To raise a family?

A cold breeze from outside made him shiver. There was a warmth and a loving
in a family he had only experienced for a short time when he was a 
child. A warmth and love only a family could give.

Sadly, with a last glance on the unity in front of him, he turned to leave.

Attentive, Saitou's wife turned
"You are leaving already?"

With a fake smile -he was depressed by now-
"Yes, I still have some work to do."

"Exactly my line." Saitou remarked.

"Hajime!" Embarrassed the woman clasped her hands in front of her face "Then
let me pack you a meal for later. You were barely able to eat what I gave you
earlier."

Before Chou could react, she was on her way, leaving him with his boss and
Tsuyoshi alone. 

Saitou didn't waste much time.
"Can't you listen for once, you good-for-nothing? I told you to come
tomorrow."

Was there a possibility to defend himself? He really hadn't listen closely
"erm, I am sorry... I'll come for the briefing tomorrow then."

The slight nod of his boss was barely perceivable.

"Here, your bento." Smiling brightly, Saitou's wife was back, handing him
a carefully wrapped box.

"Thank You very much." With a last glance on the little family Chou turned 
and left the house. 

Saitou was dismissing him appropriately
"Don't waste so much time and get your job done."

The last thing he heard was the woman's -once more- embarrassed voice
"Hajime!"

Well, a family was something special and unique indeed. He found the flower
Tsuyoshi had given him and thoughtfully he looked at it, played briefly with
it and placed it securely back into his jacket. A faint sweet odour. 
The perfume lingered on his fingers. A piece of being home and welcomed. 
Having a hot meal, hot bath and a warm bed every evening and night.

"He is really a lucky man."

Chou didn't notice the weird stares he received as he was playing with the 
flower between his hands and walking down the street. He was thinking about 
the luck of having someone caring around.


*****

author's note 1:
According to Manga volume 10, page 19, Chou IS Yumi's brother. He calls
her 'nee-san' there with the Kanji for 'elder sister' maybe I am 
misinterpreting, but I don't think so. Please inform me when you think
I am wrong, e-mail is in my profile.

So much for now...
there is still a second chapter in my mind about the happenings between 
Hajime and Tokio after Chou left =^^=. Let us see...
erm, I know it is 'a bit' OOC for Chou (at least I think so).

Ja ne,

Mara