Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

On a rare, peaceful Sunday, Tokio approached Saitou as he sat by the window, sipping his tea. “Hajime, how about we spend the day in town? Just the two of us.”

            Saitou raised an eyebrow, his mind already on the paperwork waiting in his study. “Hm, you think?” He kept his response short, albeit polite, but internally he had no intention of leaving the house.

            Noticing his hesitation, Tokio smiled gently. “Or... I could always go with Kaoru-san, if you’re too busy.”

            “Kamiya?” He muttered. “That sounds like a good idea.”

            Inwardly, he thought the only good part of having the Himuras as neighbours was this exact moment. While Tokio gathered her things, he quietly looked forward to a quiet day—until later, when he’d regret it.

*

Tokio peeked into Saitou’s study, her gentle voice breaking the silence. “Hajime, Kenji’s still playing with Eiji in our yard, but Kaoru and I are heading to town now. Could you please take him back to the dojo before lunch? Himura-san’s there.”

            Saitou barely lifted his eyes from his papers, a deep sigh escaping his lips. “Fine. I’ll deliver him.” His tone was as begrudging as ever, already dreading the idea of dealing with Kenshin.

            Tokio smiled, unbothered by his gruffnes, and quietly left. Meanwhile, Kenji was running around with Eiji in the yard, blissfully unaware of his fate being sealed.

            As both women walked through town, Kaoru suddenly halted mid-step, eyes wide with amusement. “Oh, no.”

            Tokio raised a brow. “What is it?”

            Kaoru chuckled, covering her mouth. “I told Kenshin to pick up tofu from the market before I left. That means... the dojo is empty.”

            Tokio’s eyes gleamed in realisation. “So Hajime’s going to have Kenji all to himself? Oh, he’ll love that.”

            Both women burst into laughter, picturing the ever-composed Saitou stuck with the energetic Kenji.

            “You think he’ll survive?” Kaoru asked between giggles.

            “Barely,” Tokio replied, her eyes twinkling.

Chapter Text

Saitou stood at the gate of the Kamiya dojo, one hand resting on Kenji’s shoulder to prevent the boy from darting off. Eiji trailed behind, looking bored but compliant. The dojo was eerily quiet.

            He knocked once, twice. Nothing. He knocked again, harder this time, but there was still no answer.

            The frown etched deeper into Saitou’s face. Of course, Battousai would be out when someone actually needed him. “Where is he?” he muttered, more to himself than to the boys.

            Kenji looked up with a bright smile. “Oto-san’s getting tofu!”

            Saitou stared down at him. “Tofu?” He paused, considering the absurdity.

            Kenji nodded enthusiastically, unaware of the growing vein of sarcasm. “Yep! Oka-san told him to, this morning.”

            “Of course she did,” Saitou scoffed. “A legendary swordsman, scouring the streets for tofu. How heroic.”

            Eiji, watching his father’s exasperation, smirked but said nothing.

            Saitou sighed, long and slow. He cast a glance around the empty yard, contemplating his options. None of them were good.

            Eiji, who had been quietly watching from the side, spoke up. “Should we go back to our house?”

            Saitou’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at Eiji, then Kenji. “Not like I had a choice,” he grumbled.

            Kenji’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “Oh, we’ll have so much fun, Saitou-san!” he exclaimed, completely ignoring Saitou’s scowl.

            Saitou gave him a sideways glance. “Fun? With me?” he asked. “The most fun you’ll have is sitting still and waiting for your tofu-chasing father to return.”

            Saitou still scowled as he herded both boys toward his home. Kenji skipped ahead, while Eiji trailed alongside, already accustomed to his father’s gruff manner.

            Kenji paused, grinning up at Saitou. “Are we going to play fighting? You can teach me your secret moves!”

            Saitou stared down at him, unimpressed. “The only secret move you’ll see today is how to stay out of my way.”

            Kenji’s grin only widened, completely missing Saitou’s sarcasm. “Great! I’m really good at that! And then we can spar!” he chirped, bouncing on his toes in excitement.

            Saitou sighed, wondering how Kenshin dealt with this boundless energy on a daily basis.

Chapter Text

As they arrived at his home, Saitou stood barricading the door, arms crossed, and looked down at the two boys. “Play outside,” he ordered. “Fresh air will do you good.”

            Kenji grinned up at him. “But Saitou-san, it’s more fun inside your house!”

            Saitou narrowed his eyes. “Do you have any idea how much peace I get with you two outside?”

            Kenji pouted. “We were outside all morning, Saitou-san. Can’t we stay inside now? Pleeease?”

            Saitou glanced at Eiji, who shrugged. “I must be losing my edge,” he muttered, stepping aside. “Fine. But if anything happens inside—,” he shot Kenji a pointed look, “—I’m sending the bill directly to your father. And if you run off—well, let’s just say I’m not chasing you.”

            Kenji, ever the optimist, bounced on his heels. “I’ll be good, I promise!” No sooner had the words left his mouth than he darted straight for the study, eyes locked on Saitou’s desk like it held the key to some grand treasure.

            Saitou, noticing the boy’s intent, cleared his throat loudly, his eyebrow twitching.

            “If you’re thinking of running off with anything from my desk,” Saitou said, “just remember: I’m a police officer. I’ve dealt with hardened criminals. A curious kid’s hardly a challenge—but don’t test me.”

            Kenji froze, looking like he was reconsidering his life choices. “Fineee…” he finally said, backing away slowly.

            “Good,” Saitou sat down and picked up his paperwork, hoping for a few minutes of peace. But of course, with Kenji, peace was fleeting.

            “What’s this?” Kenji asked, holding up a pack of cigarettes from the desk.

            Saitou glanced over. “It’s called ‘something that doesn’t belong in your hands’. Put it back.”

            Kenji carefully placed it down, eyeing the next item.

            Eiji, meanwhile, retrieved his shinai with an expression that said, This is going to be a long day, might as well do something productive.

            As Saitou sat silently at his desk, Eiji began practicing quietly with his wooden sword in the living room, determined to stay out of the chaos. Kenji, however, was more interested in Saitou’s sword, which was leaning against the wall.

            “Touch that, and you’ll regret it,” Saitou warned, not even looking up from his paperwork.

            Kenji froze, one hand already reaching out toward the gleaming weapon. He grinned mischievously and quickly switched directions, running over to Eiji instead.

            “Oi, Eiji! Show me how to do that cool move again!”

            Eiji glanced at his father in the study, waiting for approval.

            “Just don’t injure him,” Saitou muttered, eyes fixed on his papers.

            Kenji’s attention from Eiji’s move only lasted a second before he wandered over to Tokio’s painted vase on the table. Picking it up carefully, he turned it in his hands, the intricate designs catching his eye.

            “Is this a magical vase?” he asked, his voice full of wonder.

            Eiji glanced over, smirking. “Looks fancy enough to be magical,” he said, clearly amused.

            Saitou’s tone was as dry as ever. “Yes, it’s a highly classified, incredibly dangerous vase. Put it down before it explodes.”

            Kenji, wide-eyed but still curious, placed it back carefully, though his enthusiasm remained undimmed. “Really? I didn’t know vases could explode!”

            Saitou finally looked up. “They don’t. But if they did, you’d be the first to find out.”

            Kenji frowned, slightly confused. After a few more minutes of restless pacing, he wandered over to the alcove where Tokio placed her prized orchid. His fingers hovered above the petals, curiosity lighting up his face.

            “Oi, Eiji! What’s this flower? Can I pick it?”

            Before Eiji could stop him, Saitou’s voice cut through the room.

            “Leave it, or you’ll find out how much trouble a flower can cause.”

            Kenji slowly backed away, disappointed. “What are we doing then?”

            “Surviving,” Saitou said dryly. “And hoping your father learns to manage his time better.”

            Eiji, knowing his father’s limits, smirked. “I’ll keep him out of trouble.”

            Saitou, sighing, stood up from his desk, making his way to the door that separated his study from the living room. He glanced at the space filled with Tokio’s delicate things and frowned, already foreseeing the disaster Kenji could cause if left unattended for too long.

            “I’d better keep an eye on him myself,” he said. “It’s safer if he stays in my study.”

            Kenji’s face lit up. “Oh great! I can see Saitou-san’s sword again!” He darted into the study before Saitou could react, grabbing the sword.

            Fortunately, the boy wasn’t strong enough to actually unsheathe it, but he still struggled with the weight of the blade, dragging it awkwardly across the floor.

            Saitou groaned, already regretting letting Kenji back into his study. “Wonderful. The father already broke one of my swords years ago, and now his offspring’s aiming for the next.”

            Eiji’s grin widened, a spark of amusement lighting up his eyes. It wasn’t often he saw someone test his father’s patience so fearlessly. “I think this might be fun after all,” he giggled.

Chapter Text

Kenshin happily trudged through the town, tofu in hand, enjoying the peaceful stroll. But when he spotted Kaoru and Tokio strolling along the street, he came to a halt, surprised.

            “Kaoru, you’re here! Who’s watching Kenji?” Kenshin asked.

            Kaoru smiled sweetly. “Saitou—he was the only one home.”

            Kenshin paled. “Saitou? Watching Kenji?!” He groaned. “He’ll take it out on me for sure!” Without another word, he sprinted off in the direction of the dojo.

            In his haste, Kenshin rounded the corner—and slammed straight into none other than Saitou, who was dragging both Kenji and Eiji along. Kenji’s face was smeared with ink.

            Saitou, looking every bit like a man on the edge, shot Kenshin a dry look. “Here you are, finally. Did you decide to grow the soybeans and make the tofu yourself?”

            Kenshin, feigning innocence despite the obvious, greeted him nervously, “Saitou! What a coincidence! Thanks for looking after Kenji. So… did you have fun with the boys?”

            Saitou shot him a glare. “If by fun, you mean babysitting a human whirlwind, then yes, it was a real treat.”

            Kenshin laughed nervously. “What, uh... what did Kenji do?”

            Kenji, grinning from ear to ear, was happily dangling from Saitou’s sleeve like a small monkey, and Saitou, trying to untangle himself, gave Kenshin a withering look.

            “Your son,” he began with measured calm, “decided my study needed a bit of… redecorating. Ink. Everywhere. I’d say he’s got a future in the arts, but frankly, for now it looks more like vandalism.”

            Kenshin grimaced. “Kenji… wrecked your study?”

            “Oh yes,” Saitou glared, his voice, although cool, laced with despair. “I’ve had three boys, Himura. Three. Even when Eiji’s elder brothers still lived at home, none managed to wreck my study—or my nerves—quite like your son just did.”

            “I’m sorry about Kenji, Saitou... I'll help you clean up, that I will,” Kenshin, despite himself, chuckled. “He’s... enthusiastic, that he is.”

            “That’s one way to put it. Must’ve inherited that from you,” Saitou shot him another dry look. “You think I’ve forgotten how you used to charge into situations like a storm, leaving chaos in your wake?”

            Kenshin laughed softly, raising a hand in surrender. “Oro... I like to think I’ve changed, that I have.”

            “Pity your son hasn’t.”

            Kenji tugged at Saitou’s sleeve. “Oto-san says I’m like a hurricane.”

            Saitou glanced down at him, eyes narrowing slightly. “For once, Himura’s not wrong.” Then, shifting his sharp gaze back to Kenshin, he added, “Probably because someone lets the hurricane blow through unchecked.”

            “Well, I’m not quite as good as the Wolf of Mibu at growling boys into submission, that I’m not,” Kenshin laughed. “Maybe Kenji should spend more time with you, Saitou—pick up some of that famous discipline.”

            Kenji’s eyes lit up, and he bounced on his feet. “Really? Can I? Saitou-san is fun!”

            Saitou’s eyebrow twitched. “Fun? I’ve been called many things in my life, but never that.”

            Kenshin chuckled as Kenji tugged at Saitou’s hand, undeterred. “But Saitou-san plays the best games—he always finds and catches me!”

            Saitou sighed, glancing down at the boy with a mix of resignation and mild disbelief. “Kid, that’s called patrolling. And with you around, it’s a full-time job.”

            Eiji laughed in the background as Kenshin said, eyes twinkling, “Who knew you had a hidden talent for babysitting? Maybe all that time patrolling since the Bakumatsu was just practice for handling tiny tots.”

            Saitou frowned. “Since when did our dynamic change, Himura? I’m supposed to be the one who annoys you, not the other way around.”

            He cast a sideways glance at Kenji, who was now poking at his sword. “And how is it that this kid isn’t scared of me at all? I’ve spent years building this fearsome reputation.”

            “Maybe Kenji just figured out sooner than the rest of us that you’re softer than you let on,” Kenshin laughed, reaching out to stop Kenji from trying to pull Saitou’s sword from his waist. “I’d say he’s well on his way to being your new favourite.”

            “Soft, huh?” Saitou’s eyes narrowed further, his tone dry as he muttered to himself. “I must be getting old.”

            Kenji reached up, offering Saitou a bright, innocent smile, and Saitou hesitated before giving him a single reluctant pat on the head. “And here I was thinking one Himura was already more than enough for a lifetime.”

            “Too late, Saitou,” Kenshin smirked. “Looks like you’re stuck with another one.”

            Eiji, watching with a smirk of his own, added, “And I think Kenji-kun’s winning this round.”

            Kaoru and Tokio caught up, both laughing as they took in the scene. Kaoru grinned, her hands on her hips. “Well, since we’re all here, why not just make it a family outing?”

            Saitou groaned. “I should’ve listened to Tokio when she suggested a peaceful day out—just the two of us. Now I’m stuck with you,” he glanced at Kenshin, “and your personal tornado.”

            Tokio chuckled softly and looped her arm through Saitou’s. “Come on, Hajime. It’ll be fun.”

            For a brief moment, Saitou stiffened, taken aback by the affectionate gesture. But then, with a resigned sigh, he allowed himself to be led down the cobblestone pavement toward the shops.

            As they made their way through town, though, Saitou’s eyes caught sight of Chief Uramura and his family strolling down the opposite side of the street. Uramura waved cheerfully, his wife and teenage daughter following suit with a polite nod.

            Saitou felt a groan rise in his chest. The last thing he needed was to be caught having a family outing with Battousai.

            Kenshin and Kaoru, walking a step behind, exchanged knowing smiles. “Saitou, they’re waving at you,” Kaoru teased.

            “Great,” Saitou said dryly. “Because this day wasn’t already perfect.”

            Kenshin chuckled. “Look on the bright side, Saitou—at least they didn’t invite us for tea.”

            Saitou grunted. “If Uramura decides this is a family bonding moment, I’ll personally reassign him to night patrol for a month.”

            Kenshin looked confused. “I didn’t know you could assign duties to your chief.”

            Saitou shot him a sharp look. “I have my ways.” Then, with one last pointed glance at Kenshin, he added, “Next time, I’ll be the one going out for tofu.”

            Kenshin laughed as he cradled Kenji, who was now dozing peacefully. “I’ll hold you to that, that I will.”

            Saitou merely grunted.

            And with that, the tale of neighbours—of unlikely friendships and unexpected outings—drew to a close, leaving the Wolf of Mibu to wonder how he’d been roped into Kenshin’s ever-chaotic circle in the first place.

—fin—