The Courtship of Lady Tokio

Disclaimer: all character rights belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha etc. This is a fictionalized account based in part on historical facts.

Prologue

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl from the land of Aizu. Many men came from far and wide to seek her hand in marriage, and all she refused with a gentle smile. She refused men of power, men of wealth, handsome men, famous men, men who threatened her and men who begged for her consent. The years passed, and times changed, and people all but forgot about the girl once called "The Flower of Aizu". Until one day, her marriage to a strange man, of unknown background and from unknown parts, was announced. People wondered at this news and asked why? Why now? Why this stranger? They asked her, but she just smiled her gentle smile.

Few there were who ever knew of, and none there were who knew the whole tale of the courtship of Lady Tokio.

Author's notes:

Long time reader, first time writer, as it goes. Japanese girl who has been obsessed with Saitou Hajime and the Shinsengumi ever since he appeared in Rurouni Kenshin. And while there are quite a few Saitou-Tokio fics out there - takes off hat in supreme acknowledgement of Angrybee and MadamHydra - I just really wanted to write my own... I suppose that is the prerequisite of all fanfic authors. As I said, this is my first attempt, so all comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated. By the by, for all Saitou fans out there, check out the NHK Taiga Drama of 2004,"Shinsengumi!", with Saitou Hajime played by the impossibly cool dirty hero Odagiri Jo. (*Updated April 2011 - NHK has a new Shinsengumi series on their satellite channel, based on Shiba Ryoutarou's "Moeyo Ken".