Peacemaker Kurogane is property of Nanae Kurono. This is my first Non-Inuyasha fic. I hope all of you enjoy it. I reccomend the Peacemaker Kurogane anime and manga STRONGLY!
Shinpachi Nagakura, Heisuke Todou, and Sanosuke Harada were in the training hall bright and early sharpening their deadly Shinsengumi tactics. They decided to take a break and get something to eat and it progressed into another episode of their typical tomfoolery.
The trio of jokers whirled around the compound in a dust cloud of ravenous destruction. Todou, the youngest of the three, ran a solid meter in front of his two constant companions; Sanosuke and Shinpachi. They saw the back of Todou's dark brown hair and neatly groomed top knot and bolted ahead into a race.
"Hey! Todou!" called out Harada "You spindly little twirp! Why are ya running so fast?" Harada was a tall broad shouldered man, and an expert spear fighter. As he ran the folds of his clothing shifted back and forth revealing what he called his badge of honor; a scar from attempted seppuku. His shaggy brown hair was held back by a headband and still danced on the wind.
"What are you complaining about? At least you're that much closer to the food than I am!" called the shorter red-headed guy from behind him. No matter how much Shinpachi moved his short spindly legs, Harada would pull way ahead of him with only a few strides.
"He's racin' us Shinpachi! C'mon!" yelled Harada back at Shinpachi "Pick up the pace!"
Todou looked back at the large lumbering muscle man and the scruffy red-head behind him and started to laugh at the scene. 'I don't think anyone has ever seen such an odd pair!' Todou rounded a corner at top speed without looking.
SMASH! Todou ran right into something.
Harada couldn't stop in time and landed on top of his young friend Heisuke. Squish! Shinpachi tried to skid to a stop but after kicking up a dust cloud he fell right into the pile of his comrades.
"Oooh!" Todou rubbed his head and Harada rubbed his belly as they both sat up from the collision.
Shinpachi was the first to get back on his feet and dusted off his hakama. "Damn Todou, you need to watch where you're headed! You're lucky the big lugg here" he rapped Harada's large frame "didn't kill you when he fell on yo—" Shinpachi gasped when he saw his goofy friends weren't the only one's caught in the pile.
"Oh ho ho ha ha ha! It's good to see you men with such energy, but you should watch where you're going." Commander Kondo, head of the entire Shinsengumi, lifted himself off the ground and dusted off his clothing. "Ha ha ha…and so should I, eh?" Mr. Kondo extended a hand and helped Todou off the ground. Kondo's warm features sat contentedly on his squarish jaw. His eyes were a warm brown and he too wore his black and graying hair in a top knot.
"Sorry, sir" said Todou "We were just trying to get to lunch. Harada has been helping us with our spear techniques all morning and we were getting kind of hungry. I apologize for being so careless, Commander"
"Oh, don't mention it" blushed Kondo. 'I was just as careless.' "Well men, you should be on your way. I'm on my way to meet the Vice Commanders." The Commander marched away in a chipper mood.
Shinpachi said "I wonder why he's so happy?"
"Who cares, I hear Ayu has made some of her special red bean paste dumplings, sprinkled with extra care!" said Harada, distracted by the sound of his hunger pangs.
Heisuke was quick to remind them "Yeah, but if we don't get there soon it'll all be gone!" and off he ran. Then the three jokers continued their race.
It was a brilliant day considering how the sunlight shown brightly down upon Mibu. Young Tetsunoske Ichimura was griping to himself as he scrubbed laundry up against washboard next to the well. "Mmmna mna mna do the laundry, mna mna mnnnnaa do your chores, Mnn feed the damn pigs…grrrrrrr!" The fifteen year old boy had large brown eyes and distinctive spiky red hair.
He scowled down at the sudsy water until he shook with frustration. He stood up glaring down at the bucket of water and the washboard therein. He balled up his fist in a wet pair of hakama and screamed to the sky "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Souji Okita was the Shinsengumi's first unit captain. He was highly skilled swordsman, and a true warrior. However, when he was not on duty he was a gentle man, some would say effeminate. There was a pen full of pigs near the back of the compound, but one of the pigs in particular was often found in Souji's arms. The grumpy piglet soon became the first unit captain's pet; Saizo.
Not far from Tetsu's spot Souji Okita sat outside Vice Commander Hijikata's room with Saizou in his arms. He heard Tetsunoske's scream and covered his mouth in order to hide his laugh. 'That boy. He really is an interesting one. What an unusual spirit!'
A strong masculine voice came from the shadowy room behind him. "What's so funny Souji? Do you think a page who neglects his duties is humorous?" Toshizo Hijikata asked while brushing up on his calligraphy.
"No, of course not" Souji replied looking down at his pet pig. Saizou scowled up at Souji, and caused a smile to cross the feminine man's face. When Souji blinked his large warm violet eyes down at the piglet, it couldn't help but oink with delight.
"Then why do you laugh, Souji?" asked Hijikata, putting down his brush. Hijikata's rugged handsome features stayed in the shadow of his room.
"Oh, I don't know. It's just been so quiet around here lately. It's nice to have Tetsu liven things up a bit, I guess." Souji smiled at the sky and then let Saizo run around the yard freely. "Don't you think?" he asked as he leaned back and let his legs swing. He let the sun kiss his fair skin and the slight breeze dance in his hair.
"Mrf" was the only verbal response that he got. Hijikata watched his old friend with his pig and couldn't help but feel a warm calming feeling overcome him. 'There's something about Souji…something special about him…' Hijikata's musings were interrupted by Commander Kondo's arrival.
"Good morning gentleman!" bellowed the Commander Kondo. "What a bright and sunny day!" He smiled at Souji and then at Hijikata.
Hijikata could not help but notice Mr. Kondo was tense. His smile was tenuous and he fidgeted with his thumbs. "Mr. Kondo," asked HIjikata as he puffed some smoke. "What is it that you need to discuss with me?"
"Oh, Toshi…well…I think I should wait for Yamanami to get here before I bring up the subject. Plus, I'm sure you have official business to get through first" said the Commander trying to delay the inevitable.
Saizo came back and hopped up into Souji's arms. "I know what it i-is! I know what it i-is!" teased Souji.
"How—Souji, how do you know?" asked Commander Kondo with warm hearted irritation.
"Souji," scolded Hijikata "if it is a matter of security I insist you keep in mind what I've told you about discretion."
Souji bent over and picked up Saizo again. He then stood up with a big grin on his face, a squealing Saizo in his arms and said "Mr Hijikata, it's not so bad." He flapped his hand at the Vice Commander. "It's actually good news! I'm very happy for you Commander Kondo!"
Hijikata's smoke rose as his eyes scanned the scene before him. Mr. Kondo could almost see the Vice Commander's shrewd brain working behind his eyes. 'Toshi will not like it, but it's too late. She's already on the way!'
The second Vice Commander, Mr. Yamanami appeared around the corner and waved with a friendly smile at his comrades. Hijikata could hear Yamanami's greetings and rolled his eyes, but kept his comments about the man to himself. Ymanami and Hijikata never got along. Their basic philosophies always seemed to clash.
The three powerful leaders of the Shinsengumi sat in a room with the doors shutting out direct sunlight. After going over the intelligence that Hijikata's spies collected and coming up with countermoves for their enemies, the Cho-shu, Yamanami smiled brightly and said "So I hear we will have a visitor, Commander!"
Kondo scowled and said "How does everyone know?" He looked over at Hijikata and saw his stony eyes glaring at him as the demon commander puffed smoke from his long thin pipe.
"Know, what?" Hijikata said sharply. "I have protocol for visitors Commander, you know this. We cannot have a breach in security!" Hijikata's anger was on the rise.
Yamanami tried to relax the demon Vice Commander. "Toshi relax. It's not a dangerous visitor. It's on—"
"Don't Toshi me! Anyone is a potential spy. They will have to delay their arrival until I can do an adequate check!"
Yamanami spoke up saying "Really, Mr. Hijikata, it isn't necessary. The visitor is—"
Hijikata slammed his fist on his low table to emphasize his point. "That is EXACTLY my point! It is" Mr. Hijikata slammed the small table between them "ALWAYS necessary, Mr. Yamanami! Anyone can be a spy. ANYONE!"
The three men then heard a familiar raucous headed their way. "MR. KONDOOOOOOO!" They heard a familiar pair of heavy feet thumping repeatedly down the walkway towards their room. "MR. KONDOOOOOOO!" screamed Tetsu as he ran along the walk way. The three men could see the spiky haired silhouette through the thin paper of the sliding screen. Tetsu yelled from outside as if he was yelling through a wall of concrete and not a simple shoji screen. "YOU HAVE A VIIIIIISIITOOOOR MR. KONDOOOOO!"
Hijikata wasn't sure who he was angrier with; Tetsu for being his loud and obnoxious self or Commander Kondo for hiding the arrival of his visitor for so long. He looked at Kondo then at the spiky silhouette roaring for the Commander. 'The boy first, Kondo second.' "Tetsu!" snapped Hijikata. "I will not tell you again! Wait to be addressed, brat! We will take your message when we are ready for you!" Hijikata turned to Kondo. "As for you…"
Tetsu mindlessly blurted out "BUT SHE'S HERE, MR. HIJIKATA! COMMANDER KONDO'S NEICE! AND SHE'S BEAUTI—"
The screen opened with a crack and a domineering Vice-Commander peered down at Tetsu who was trying his best to look around Hijikata into the darkened room. Hijikata said with a sternness that stopped Tetsu's fidgeting "Commander Kondo will receive his visitor when he is ready. Now…." 'Did Tetsu say she is here?' "YOU WILL GO AND FINISH THE LAUNDRY!"
Tetsu said "Yes SIR!" and grumbled as he jogged away "I..mrggle grumble…jus wanna be….damn…grrr."
After Hijikata took his seat he eyed Kondo up and down and waited to hear what he had to say about the situation. Instead of Kondo Yamanami spoke up "Toshi, it really isn't necessary for you to treat the boy so harshly. He was only doing his duty."
"He will learn to do his duties with respect to those around him" replied Hijikata quickly. "And hopefully more quietly."
Before Hijikata could lace into him, Kondo said casually "Sanno, Toshi, I think it's time you met my niece, the Lady Umeko."
The palanquin arrived within the scheduled hour. Mr. Kondo, and his vice commanders were there to greet their new guest. Hijikata was distracted by thoughts about the information he had received the night before from Susumo the watcher until the flap of the palanquin was pulled aside and the flower from within stepped out.
Mr. Kondo spoke out of the side of his mouth to everyone. "Remember, she's a lady raised in the court manner, so be gentle, and polite!"
Umeko walked towards her uncle. Hijikata noted her approach 'She walks and looks around demurely, yet there is something there. Is she hiding something? No one is free of suspicion. Anyone can be a Cho-shu agent.'
She stopped about seven paces in front of the leading trio and bowed deeply. Mr Kondo spoke first. "Oh, my little niece you've grown quite a bit since I saw you last! Ha! Haaaa!"
She rose and said "Uncle, though it's been many years I have always remembered the kindness in your eyes." She smiled brightly and lit up the courtyard.
Tetsu had returned to his chores, but was able to watch the scene from the well. When he got a look at the Commander's niece Tetsu slowed in his scrubbing. Harada, Shinpachi, and Todou marched up around him and also gawked. "Heeeeey," said Todou "Who's the babe?"
"That's Commander Kondo's neice…" said Tetsu abandoning his chore.
The three taller men looked at him in surprise. "Huh?" "Wha?" "How?"
"You guys forget!" said Tetsu turning to them tapping his thumb into his chest "I'm the one who sends messages around here!"
The Commanders niece bowed deeply to Sanno and saw his abacus. "You must be Mr. Yamanami, I'm truly honored to meet you." Her eyes searched him up and down and took in all the details that she could about him. The way he stood, the folds in his clothing, how he held his hands, how much dirt was under his nails…everything. When she rose again she said "My uncle has told me an awful lot of good things about you" and she smiled.
He blushed and scratched the back of his head with his abacus. "Well thank you Ms. Umeko. That's…uh…that's very nice to hear" he responded.
She turned to Vice Commander Hijikata and bowed just as deeply. With a more serious voice she said "You must be Vice commander Hijikata." She examined him in the same way and found a man, who unlike Mr. Yamanami, was comfortable with his power. When she rose she found him looking down his nose at her. She said "My uncle has told me a great many things about you as well."
Hijikata raised an eyebrow but kept his scowl in place. "Did he?" He glanced at Commander Kondo who smiled nervously back at him.
'Oops! I left out a pretty important word! Diplomacy to the rescue!' she thought. "Yes," she said gaining the Vice commanders attention again. "A great many honorable things." Hijikata did not relax as she thought he would, but only gained a stance that told her he was suspicious of her and that she was not welcome by him. 'Damn. Uncle tells me he is the stubborn one, too!'
Umeko and Mr. Kondo spent a little while together while a room was prepared for her. She sat with her uncle while he was served some afternoon tea, and helped him with his calligraphy. Umeko was then shown to her room by a woman named Ayu. She was undoubtedly the Shinsengumi's best cook and the only other woman on the compound.
Ayu said "Well, this is all I can offer fer now. The men have the run of the place, and not all of us were notified of yer arrival." Her accent gave away the fact that she was a local to Kyoto.
"I apologize for that" said Umeko bowing slightly. "I myself wasn't sure where I was to be sent next." Umeko sighed and then said "This room is delightful and will suit my needs well. Thank you Ayu."
"Okay." 'What did that mean? Not bein' sure of where she's bein' sent. Hm? I'll have to remember that.' "Lunch is served in an hour, yer uncle's room is in the next set of rooms over there, an' I'm two doors down over here."
"Right. Thank you."
"If there's anything you need let me know!"
"Yes, of course."
Late into the night, Umeko slipped out of her room and inaudibly slid the screen shut behind her. She walked barefoot in her white sleeping kimono down the walkway towards the training hall. Little did she know that in the wake of her path Hijikata was meeting with Susumo in his room.
"Very good Susumu. That will be all for this evening" said Hijikata.
"Yes, sir" replied Susumu trying his hardest to keep his native accent in check.
As the young ninja left his room Hijikata stopped him by saying "Susumo, one more thing." Susumu halted and awaited his master's orders. Hijikata said "I would like you to collect information about the Commander's niece. I would have preferred you to do so before she arrived, however I was not informed until today."
Susumu didn't have the heart to tell Hijikata that he too knew Umeko was arriving. 'How did the Commander get this one around Vice Commander Hijikata? That old guy sure is a clever one. Well, I guess that's why he's the Commander and Hijikata is still the Vice Commander.' "Of course, sir. I will do what I can."
Umeko heard a sliding door from behind and dove around the corner with speed and agility. 'Who the hell is up this late at night! I guess I should put this idea to rest until I have a better feel of everyone's schedule. Maybe I'll just go search out the washroom. I have had to pee for quite a while, but with all these men roaming around it's impossible to get any privacy! I wonder how Ayu does it!' She backed off the wall and walked back around the corner, right into Susumo's chest. Umeko fell down onto her bum and looked up at the young and stern face staring down at her.
Susumo said "You'd better watch where yer goin' missy. We'll all be watchin' you" and he leapt vertically up over the roof then out of sight.
Umeko was surprised by the brief encounter and thought to herself 'Geez, I can't even go to the bathroom without being watched! Forget this! I'll hold it until I die! C'mon Umeko," she told herself "you know that isn't what he meant."
She walked back to her room and slid her door shut behind her. She walked past her futon and kneeled down in front of the sword stand that she set up in her room. In the moonlight she caressed the two sheathed swords sitting on the stand. She grasped the hilt of both the katana and then the wakizashi. She closed her eyes and bowed her head.
"Oh my husband. I will live for you. You asked me to, and gave your life so I may stay here in the earthly realm. I will miss you until our spirits are united again in the afterlife. For now these swords are all I have of you. They are all I have left of our love. I will make sure you are avenged!"
She closed her eyes to enjoy the echo of the blade against the sharpening stone hidden inside the shaft. She performed a quick draw technique and her posture was that of a trained warrior.
Early in the morning Umeko dressed herself and walked to the kitchen to find Ayu cooking. "Good morning Ms. Ayu."
"Oh my heavens! What are you doin' here Ms. Umeko? You're our guest! Git out!" she said with a smile. Ayu kindly placed her hands on Umeko's silk covered shoulders and walked her towards the door. "Enjoy the sun, write a poem. I don't think Mr. Kondo would take kindly to the idea of his one and only niece gettin' all fussed up in the kitchen." She waved the visitor out of the kitchen and said "Shoo! Shoo!"
Umeko found herself wandering around the compound listening to the far off cries of the swordsmen in the training hall. She turned to follow the sound when she heard a more immediate threat coming from around a nearby corner.
"C'MOOOON LITTLE GUY!" said a booming voice.
"I SAID DON'T CALL ME THAT---HYAAAAH!" a smaller and gravely voice responded.
"OW TETSU THAT REALLY HURT!" said whiny voice. There was laughter coming from other voices, but Umeko couldn't hear the rest of the conversation from where she was. She started to turn away when the voices became a rampage that began to head her way.
Captain Nagakura chased Tetsu around the corner with a wooden sword. Tetsu tripped and the Captain was ready to give Tetsu what appeared to be a harsh blow with the wooden sword. Umeko observed the spiky haired and unarmed page and decided to intervene.
She took several quick little steps, pulled out her fan and opened it in the trajectory of the sword's stab. Just as the wooden blade sliced through the paper of the fan she quickly closed the fan around the blade. Gaining leverage from the closed fan she twisted it out of Shinpachi's hand and flung it across the yard.
The stunned captain just gaped as he watched his sword fly through the air and land a good distance away. Harada and Todou soon were at Shinpachi's side also stunned by what they had seen. Harada still looking at the dust settling around the sword said "Where on earth did a pretty lil thing like you learn a trick like that?"
With a genuinely sad look on her face she thumbed the torn edges of her paper fan. "My…It isn't polite to speak of those who have passed on, and it pains me to remember…" Quietly she explained "My husband taught me that trick in case I was attacked without him near. He was always fretting about my safety." She smiled and closed her eyes remembering her husband's handsome face. "Now that he's gone I have no home, but have to rely on the kindness of his allies and my relatives for food and shelter," her eyes opened again and Tetsu noticed a harder edge. "and little tricks like these that he taught me."
"Don't worry milady, " said Harada broadening his shoulders and brandishing what he thought was his most handsome smile "the entire Shinsengumi is here to protect you!"
Umeko raised her fan and smiled behind what paper was left on it and said "I'm safe? From a rowdy bunch like you who spend their days making trouble and picking on children?"
"HEY!" screamed Tetsu "I'M NOT A CHILD! I'M 15 YEARS OLD! I'M NO CHILD!"
Todou smacked Tetsu on the back of the head and said "Don't speak to her like that: she's a lady!"
Umeko smacked Todou and said "And he's just a—" she caught the look of the young man named Tetsu and thought the better of calling him a child again "he's unarmed!"
The three jokers stuttered while trying to think of a response.
"Well…"
"Uh…"
"You see…umm…"
While the men acted like boys she felt another pair of eyes on them and realized they were being watched. She decided not to acknowledge the watcher, but rather decided to get the feel of this pair of eyes before they revealed themselves.
Hijikata watched the entire exchange and became very suspicious of Lady Umeko. He decided to make himself known with a clearing of his throat. She jumped at the sound and so did the men. "What's going on here? Ichimura?"
"Oh Mr. Hijikata! You should've seen what Lady Umeko just did! It was amazing!" said Tetsunoske.
"Mmf. I don't care. You have chores to do. Get back to them" snapped the vice commander. "Don't the three of you have duties to attend to?" he asked the jokers. The three of them quickly made themselves scarce, leaving Umeko, alone, standing in the Vice Commanders shadow.
He told her "I'm watching you Umeko. Don't think you can waltz on in here and disrupt anything that happens in this camp. These men are forbidden to get involved with women, so you will find no husband here."
As he turned to walk away she said "Has anyone ever told you that you are the handsomest man on this base?"
He turned ready to lace into her for such an insolent remark, but found himself at a loss for words. It was a compliment, after all.
'Now that I have his attention,' she said frankly, "I assure you Vice Commander " Umeko bowed deeply and rose "there is nothing malicious going on in my mind" and then walked away.
Hijikata felt uneasy about the exchange, but unsure if it was because she was trouble, or it was because he could not see the real trouble. Hijikata thought 'I will discuss this with Susumu tonight. Now, I must find Souji. Where is he hiding?' A stray thought passed through Hijikata's mind 'She smelled sweet.' He soon filled his mind with other unrelated thoughts.
For those of you who aren't in the know...
Cho-Shu were a group of extremist exclusionists, meaning they wanted to restore power to the emperor over the Shogunate at any cost.