A conversation at a crossroad.

[saitoh_hajime]

“There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroad, afraid, confused, without a road-map. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back.” –Lucas Scott


To read what happens next, go to Staring the Day, Saitoh Family Stile, followed by Release to the Wild. 

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[tokio_takagi]

He gave her a smile, one of his true, genuine smiles. She hadn't seen one of those grace his face since their marriage eons ago. It meant that he was very happy for which she was very pleased. It meant a lot to her to know that he could feel that way again, especially after the events of the past three years.

She was sure that he could see the amusement on her face as he further explained about his favorite gun. Only he would describe a transfer in that way. She wasn't worried about competition from another woman, and never would be. However, the man loved his firearms (and katanas back in the day), not surprising since they were what kept him alive in dire situations liked the two of them faced at the Sunshine Café.

"Takagi Tokio, will you marry me?"

To Tokio this was truly a heart melting moment. She felt she was close to exploding with joy. In her mind there were no sweeter, more longed for words than those four that he'd just said to her.

She answered with no hesitation. Certainty in her voice. "Yes, Hajime. Of course I will." She punctuated her answer with a light kiss on his lips. She was sure that her face radiated the boundless joy that welled from deep inside her.


"Thank you, Hajime," she whispered to him, pulling back a little from the light kiss she'd just planted. Her best smile spreading across her face, she leaned in to him again, giving him one very passionate smooch, indicating that she was pleased beyond words that he had asked her properly. There was no need to spell it out to the man. He would pickup on it.

"Before we tie the knot," she told him giving him one more light kiss on his lips, "there are some things that I want you to know." Some were light, some were of a more serious nature, but all she needed to tell him was sincere.

Now that she knew they were getting married, Tokio recognized there would be no better time than now to clarify what she thought was the cause of their communication glitch, which caused this whole marriage misunderstanding in the first place. In this era the poor man was going to have to get used to having an attorney for a wife, a woman who couldn't help but outline all the pertinent facts relating to a case, not only at work, but in their household, as well. There was no time like the present to let the Major know what he'd really gotten himself into when he decided to resume the marriage they shared all those years ago.

"This misinterpretation of our feelings toward each other happened, in my opinion, because neither of us," she stated matter-of-factly, "wanted to push, pressure or presume anything about a future together, giving each other the utmost consideration to make an unbiased decision in this 'Matter'." She couldn't help but emphasize the last word. The attorney had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, but she couldn't take the brightness out of her eyes or the smile crinkles surrounding them. Oh. he was going to spend the rest of their life together trying to make up for that one, for referring to their marriage as a mere 'Matter'.

She very lightly poked him in the stomach with her index finger to get his attention, even though she was fairly certain she had it already. But it was tit-for-tat since he'd flicked her gently on the forehead, one of his favorite gestures of affection during their first marriage.

"Hajime, you are not off the hook for referring to our impending marriage in that manner, as a "Matter'," she told him indignantly before continuing with a low, sultry tone of voice, "I don't think I need to spell out to you when and how you can make this up to me completely," even if he had to wait until they were officially married to accomplish that mission. She ended with a twinkle in her eye.

Tokio's expression became more thoughtful before continuing. "There is something else," her eyes softening as she spoke, her voice taking on a serious tone, "When you leave me could you please...turn around and look back before you go out the door." It had been one of the more heartbreaking things she had to endure all those years ago. When he left her to go on assignment...he never...ever, looked back...he only kept moving forward. She never told him how sad it made her feel, because she always wanted to see his face just one more time in case the worst happened.

Her voice took a lighter tone again as she finished what was on her mind. He was going go think she was dictating the terms of a contract after everything she'd spilled out to him in the kitchen this morning. "There is one last thing I want you to do for me after we are married." She gave him a sly smile. He may not like this one, since he was so dedicated to getting his work done whether it was at the precinct or finishing up at home during his stint with the MPD after the Bakumatsu.

"If I catch you up out of bed doing paperwork in the middle of the night, you have to promise me that if I ask you to come back to bed, you will do it and stay with me at least until I fall asleep again." The man never did get enough sleep in those days and Tokio was going to do her best to make sure that didn't happen in this era.

At least he had let her have her say and hadn't tried to shut her up this time by kissing her.