Author's Note: This is a 'side-story' of sorts to the collection of 30 Romance ficlets called, Life the Saitoh Fujita Way, which is posted on ffnet. This series explores some of the encounters between Hajime and Tokio while they both lived in the Kurasawa's household in Tonami. Chronologically Tales in Tonami occurs between Chapters 11 and 12 of Life the Saitoh Fujita Way.
Tales in Tonami – The Beginning"Tokio-san?"
"Yes, what is it, Kurasawa-san?"
"A new resident will be arriving in a few days. He may be someone you know. I understand he fought outside Aizu castle during the war."
"Oh?" I respond with interest in my voice. There were many people who fought there during the Boshin War, far too many for me to know each one of them, but I suppose it could be possible.
"He was the commander of the Shinsengumi troops stationed there," I tell the girl. Certainly he was well known by everyone who was there at the time.
My breath catches in my throat. That can only be Saitoh-san. "Ah." I respond, my voice noncommittal and void of emotion.
"There was some business concerning him, between my husband, Heijeimon, and Matsudaira Katamori. I don't know what it was, but the result is that Saitoh Hajime will be living here at least temporarily."
Another mouth to feed, and another person to contribute dirty laundry to the wash, I think as I narrow my eyes. He and I did not always have the most….the most amiable encounters. It started out pleasantly enough, but went it downhill a bit after that training incident.
Even though I know who he is, I won't reveal that to Kurasawa-san, at least not yet. Before the fighting in Aizu started he was assigned to help train the Joushitai, the group of women combatants to which I belonged. Such an arrogant man; arrogant and interesting, I have to admit to myself.
I never thought that I would see him again. The surviving Shinsengumi members were taken away, and we never saw them after we were defeated. I always wondered what happened to him.