Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin doesn't belong to me. Belongs to Watsuki-sama, Jump, Sony, etc. I'm a poor high school student so suing me won't get you much. %

A/N: I came up with this idea when I couldn't sleep. It seemed so brilliant at the time, so I had to do it! It's an alternate pairing, Okita Souji and Tokio. Well, it's kinda like a love triangle. It takes place during the Bakumatsu where Tokio and Saitoh aren't married yet. I've never seen this plot done before so I wanna give it a try. You might be wondering about the title. Well the wolf part makes sense, but since the Oki in Okita means rushing water, water, etc. I decided to use that…uh, ya! *does thumbs up*

Warning: This is probably gonna be historically incorrect. This is just a fanfic meant for entertainment, so please don't flame me! Gomen nasai history!! I even did some research on the Shinsengumi . @_@ Ehhh! Oh well…

Another note:

"Italics"-thoughts.

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 Wolf 's Tears Flowing into Rushing Waters

By:fUsHiChOu

~Prologue~

Memories Revisted

Meiji Year 11…

"Hajime…" Like everyday, Tokio was patiently sitting in front of the house waiting for her Hajime to return. "He MIGHT return home today. Kami-sama, please let him come home today. It's been so long…" She thought about what happened between them ten months ago. A tear was about to escape her eye, but Tokio held it in, trying to be strong…

(Flashback-10 months ago)

"I'm leaving again," said Saitoh, trying to hold in his emotions. His own words shattered his heart when he saw the sad expression on Tokio's face. Tokio forcefully closed her eyes and sighed under her breath, a lone tear streaked down her porcelain face. Their eyes met, Saitoh could tell she was about to cry, he cringed at the very thought of causing her even the slightest inch of pain. This broke his heart even more. He hated doing this every time he left, it always made him feel heartless; but he had to leave. Duty calls…again.

Tokio looked at her husband with gentle eyes and spoke in a soft voice, "…I-I understand Hajime.  They need you." Saitoh looked deep into her eyes, into the very windows of her soul. Her dark auburn orbs were glistening with a cascade of sorrowful tears. He wanted to scream, but he solemnly replied, "…Maybe you would've had a better life if you chose…HIM. He would've been more of a husband than I would ever be. I can't stand to do this every time I leave you…you deserve better…than me."

There was a brief moment of silence between them. This was the first time Saitoh ever mentioned HIM in years. Emotions were screaming to come out, but Tokio and Saitoh both stayed quiet.  Memories of heartbreak and tears filled their minds. What if she chose HIM instead of her Hajime? Tokio tried to shake the thought out of her head, but it kept coming back like an eternal mantra. "Souji-san…"

Reluctantly, Saitoh stood up and left, saying nothing. He walked out and closed the door behind him. Tokio immediately ran up to the closed door and leaned her head against it. Her trembling hand slid down the door as she fell onto her knees. Tokio begged, despite the sobs that marred her strong voice, "Hajime don't leave me! Anata…aishiteru…" Her voice was slowly fading into gentle weeping.

The tears kept cascading down, her cries grew stronger, but so did her will to speak to tell him her heart. "Anata. I chose YOU. I know we may not have the kind of marriage most people have but…but that's what makes my love for you even stronger. I will always be here waiting for you. Even if you choose never to return, I will still be here because I love you. But please don't leave my life…forever…"

Saitoh stopped. He leaned his back against the door. He felt her presence on the other side, as if her own forehead was leaning against his back, begging him to stay. The door was the barrier holding them apart, but it wasn't their only barrier; and Saitoh knew it. Their real barrier was the memories of long ago, of two loves conflicting in a time of war and helplessness.

He titled his head upward and looked up at the ceiling. Reluctantly he replied with no emotion, "I'm leaving now…" On the other side Tokio looked blankly at the door. She told him all the words that were imprisoned within her soul, yet he was still leaving her? She poured out her heart, but he refused her? But then Satioh softly said, "Aishiteru koishii…" Then left. "Aishiteru koishii…" The words kept ringing in Tokio's mind. Even if he didn't say it directly, those words were her only hope, "He will come back. Someday…"

(End of flashback )

"Tokio-san, daijoubou?" asked Eiji with concern in his eyes. It's only been a few months since Saitou brought the orphaned boy to live with her, and since then he has become a son to her. "D-daijoubou Eiji," answered Tokio, "Just waiting if Haijime comes home today. That's all."

"Saitoh-san'll come home soon, don't worry. He'll come back because you're here Tokio-san, even if he is an uncaring baka. Eiji smirked. Tokio laughed, "Deep down inside I'm sure Hajime cares for you like a son."  Eiji laughed hysterically at the idea, but deep inside he did admire Saitoh like he admired his own father.

Tokio reminisced about Saitoh's last visit, before their intense conversation, "Remember that time you accidentally ate his share of the soba Eiji? He was about to lose his temper on you, but he cooled down and forgot all about it."

Then Eiji smiled, "That's because YOU entered the room, Tokio-san. Well I better go lookout for Saitoh-san. Who knows? He might actually come back home today," Eiji went off to the main road, leaving Tokio alone once again.

"That's because YOU entered the room…" Tokio smiled, "Arigato, Eiji," As she sighed, Eiji yelled as he ran up to her, "Tokio-san! Tokio-san! Saitoh-san's here!" Tokio's eyes brighted as she saw a familiar figure sauntering toward her.. This wasn't the Hajime she knew. He seemed almost like a ghost from the past, wandering aimlessly toward home.

Saitoh reached the house. Tokio wasn't sure how to greet him anymore. Ever since he left, she felt their relationship would never be the same. As Tokio was about to stand up, Saitoh held out his hand to her. "Tadaima," he said softly as he helped her up. Both of them just stood there, unsure of what to say to each other.

Finally, Tokio built up the courage to speak to him, "Hajime I…" To her surprise, Saitoh took her into his arms. At first, she was confused by the sudden outburst of love. "He's never greeted me like this before. Only a simple, 'Tadaima' and that was it. Is something wrong? Mou, I should stop being so paranoid…" Tokio let go of all her superstitions and enjoyed the rare event. She smiled, forgetting all the sadness of ten months ago.

Eiji just stood there, in shock. He decided to leave the two alone. This wasn't something he should get involved in.  After a brief pause, she looked up at her husband's eyes. His usual intimidating glare softened into melancholic amber orbs. He was deep in thought. Tokio felt more comfortable around him. That made her feel awkward, "He's changed. He's not the Hajime I last saw ten months ago. He's the man I first met more than a decade ago."

Saitoh held her gently as if she was a fragile porcelain doll, afraid to break her delicate form. He was shocked by his actions, for the first time, he showed so much emotion towards her. It felt both awkward and right at the same time. Randomly, he replied, "I-I found his grave, just a few miles out of Kyoto, in the mountains. It's not to far from here."

Tokio's eyes widened. She heard of Okita's death ten years ago. Sometimes she pretended it was merely a rumor, but she knew it was true. She remembered seeing him cough out blood, the tuberculosis slowly wearing down his strong body. All those years ago he died, and no one knew where he was buried. It was like a precious treasure hidden somewhere in the unknown.

People said his body was burned with the rest of them, to stop the spread of the disease; but a hero like him deserved a true burial. Tokio could never accept it, she knew he eternally slept somewhere. Finally she knew…

They let go of their embrace, both unsure of what to do next. Then Saitoh calmly said, "I'll take you there, if you want. It's a beautiful place. Okita deserves a grave with some peace and quiet." Tokio looked down at the ground. She longed to see where he was buried, but she knew a visit would bring back sad memories. She decided to take a risk anyway, "I'll go. I promised him…before he died."

Tokio walked into the house to pack some food for the trip. Outside, Saitoh stood near the entrance, smoking. She knew he and Okita were like brothers, but she was the person pulling them apart. Shaking her head, she tried to shake off the guilt. This was something she had to do, despite her uncharacteristic fears. It was a promise.

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Eiji tagged along, but he was silent like the rest of the party. Silence seemed appropriate for a trip like this. What was a mere hour seemed like eternity. No one saying a single word, only the sound of their footsteps caused noise. After a few minutes, Saitoh finally broke the silence. "There's his grave. Only a few steps away."

Looking around, Eiji was annoyed. There was no marker, not even a rock. How could a great hero from the Bakumatsu have an unmarked grave? All he saw was green grass and a non-blooming Sakura tree with some mountains in the background. It was a beautiful place, but it seemed so unfit for a legend like Okita Souji. Eiji stared up at Saitoh, an expression of confusion and annoyance filled his face.

Like a mind-reader, Saitoh coolly replied, "I know it looks unfit. I was surprised like you are right now, but this is the place. I met one of his doctors when I was in Tokyo." He pointed at the Sakura tree, "He told me they buried Okita near that Sakura tree over there."

Tokio softly walked up to the tree, her feet barely brushing the emerald grass. She pressed her palm against the tree, Tokio felt a familiar presence near her. "Souji-san. I fulfilled my promise…" An abnormal breeze danced through the air, causing the barren tree to sway with the wind. The sudden breeze brought back memories of a time long ago, but never forgotten. A time buried deep within Saitoh and Tokio's hearts, until now…

~To be continued…~

A/N: Finally. I'm done with the prologue. The flashback was really angsty. I never knew I could be so dramatic. ^^ I know Saitoh seems a bit OOC but I think he would act a little differently around his own wife. Well that's my opinion anyway. *shrugs* Please review! Kudasaiii! Shinsengumi fics are hard to write, especially when it comes to Saitoh and Tokio's relationship with a little Okita here and theres. I need all the help I can get. Arigato for reading! Now you can go on to the next chapter! ^^