Hello, all. Behold: Shichi. I'll try to explain as best as I can. But first: I don't own the Darren Shan Saga, though there's very little of it anyway. The Shinsengumi and Choshu belong to history, save for my OC's. (And trust me, it's hard to tell who's historical and who isn't.) I do own, however, a forty-dollar Shinsengumi haori, and some fake blood. Also, a rubber seal named Schrodinger.
Okay now. This time period (1864 to about…1868/9) is now known as the Meiji Restoration. From 15 or 16-something-or-ther until 1868, (the end of the story) Japan was ruled by feudal lords called Shoguns. (Think middle-ages Europe. ShogunsBig lords, DaimyoLittle lords, SamuraiKnights, ect, ect.)
Pretty much, American Commodore Mathew Perry came to Japan in 1853 telling them to quit doing that stupid isolation thing and open up to the world. They said no. The next year, he came back. With cannons. So they agreed, forcing Japan into lots of unfair trading deals with the West. Some people got pissed (imagine that) and decided they wanted to toss away the Shogun and put the Emperor back in power. (Under the Shogun, he had no power.) Plus, they decided they hated foreigners, and wanted to get rid of them. Coincidentally, a lot of these people were from a little township called Choshu. We call these filthy rebels Choshu, therefore, for the most part. Then, there were the people fighting for the Shogunate, including the Shinsengumi. (Though they're not the only ones, and were thought to be pretty unimportant until the Ikeda-ya Incident.)
Remember: Ronin doesn't change his name until after Jaden's death, so in this story, he is Roden. Speaking of names, these ones are all written in Japanese format, so the family name is first and the given name is second. (With one exception later on in the story.)
A change in scenes in the story is my typical squiggly lines:
A total change in time periods, where the story returns to Ronin, Toklata, Sakura, Katie and Ishin, is represented by a line of sevens: 7777
Only a few terms to learn this chapter:
-san is the basic honorific. Equal to Miss, Mrs., or Mr. in English.
-sama is one of the highest honorifics, showing deep respect or seniority. Lord is probably the closest equivalent. Of course…Jaden uses it mostly in sarcasm, so…
-Chan is a super-cute honorific used for either girls who are friends or peers, or (more often in this story) a cute young child or pet. Jaden usually calls Okita by Sou-chan or Souji-chan—even though he's twenty when the story starts—because he looks a lot younger than he really is. It's also endearing, but not too personal. Plus, he looks like a girl. (-Shinsengumi protest angrily in the background-) She also calls Roden by Ro-chan, but that's only to annoy him.
The lack of an honorific is only used when two people are very close. Usually family, close, longtime friends, or lovers only get the privilege of not using an honorific. Or, in some cases (such as Hijikata and Jaden) it shows disrespect. Samurai usually address even their enemies with an honorific, so to avoid it in that case shows much loathing.
Shishou is (even in 1864) a very outdated term for one's master or mentor. I imagine that it was used way back in Jaden's time. She and Roden-kun are probably the only people still using it…
A Gi is…well, the top part of a samurai's (or any other men's) basic outfit. You know…it looks like a robe, but cut off at the wait, where it's tucked into those wide-legged pants that look like skirts but really aren't.
A Yukata is…pretty much just a robe with a neat little tie in the middle. No skirt-pants are worn with it.
A haori is an overcoat for a gi or yukata.
And Hakama are…those wide-legged pants that look like skirts but really aren't…
(Okay, just go look at some samurai pictures and you'll figure this all out.)
And finally, an engawa is like a porch or terrace that surrounds a house all the way around, (I bet they're fun to hide under) and a shoji is a sliding door in a wooden frame, but covered with rice paper or some other thin material.
Anyway, I hope that's enough background for now. The rest of the war will play out… Now!
ShichiStrictures of the Shinsengumi (as written by Hijikata Toshizou)
1. You must not stray from the Samurai's Code.
2. Desertion is not permitted.
3. You will not raise funds without permission.
4. You will not engage in litigious matters without permission.
5. You will not engage in private fights.
All violators will be forced to commit seppuku, without fail.
In addition:
1. If the leader of a unit is mortally wounded in a fight, all other members of the unit must fight and die on the spot. Also, even in a fight where the death toll is high, it is not allowed to retrieve the bodies of the dead, except the corpse of the leader of the unit.
2. If a Shinsengumi member engages in a fight with a stranger, be it duty or not, if he is wounded and can't kill the enemy, allowing him to run away, even in the case of a wound on the back, seppuku is ordered.
-Cherry blossom, a single bloom is still a cherry.
-Lost with knowledge, lost without. Such is the way of the law.
-Spring Moon, seen through the gateway of the temple.
-Spring Moon, cold while sleeping in a tumbled-down shack.
-Spring Grass, remembered until their colors change.
-North of the Water, the spring moon is south of the mountain.
-Though my body may decay on the island of Ezo, my spirit guards my Lord in the east.
-Seven Haiku, written by Hogyoku (Hijikata Toshizou)
June 5th, 1864. Day.
Rope. Nails. Candles. Kanesada. All in a neat line leaning on the outside of Shinsengumi Headquarters' back shed. Surely, Masuya the kimono-shop owner—no, Furutaka Shuntaro, aide to those damned rebels—was already suspended upside down by the boards in the loft of the shed. The extra rope waiting outside seemed pointless. Everything else, however, must have had a pointed reason for being there. Takoda Jaden didn't believe Hijikata Toshizou to be the sort of man who would leave his beloved katana—Izumino Kanesada—lying carelessly around.
Looking up at the dark, stormy sky through the branches of her tree-perch, Jaden smiled wryly, hating the rain despite the fact that it meant she could wander about during the day—though the skies were gray, not black, and her skin was irritated by the little bit of sunlight that was sneaking through the clouds—and happy only for the fact that she wasn't Furutaka at the moment. Whatever Hijikata was planning on doing to him was undoubtedly something that a medicine-peddler should never have had to have even dreamt of.
Some medicine-peddler the "Demon Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi" was.
She looked down and grinned as she noticed the alleged lifesaver himself crossing the yard slowly and grimly, heading towards the shed. She readied herself to jump out of the tree in front of him, which would thoroughly annoy him—and that was all she needed to make her day wonderful.
He was wearing a black set of ragged, worn-out hakama and a deep navy gi with a few holes throughout it, both probably on their last legs. His perfect black hair was up in a tight topknot—unusual for him in the sense that the stiff formality of it didn't seem to attract women—though as usual a few strands fell dangerously over his long face, and his awful, calculating silvery-blue eyes stayed deathly focused on the shed. Even when he stopped beneath the tree, to implore, "My, my, isn't it rather early for you to be around, Kistune?" his gaze didn't falter.
Jaden scowled down at him, earnestly caught, and tilted her head, cooing with false sweetness, "I was only curious, Hijikata-sama."
He shook his head gently and also feigned softness. "For shame, Takoda-san. Delicate hands such as yours should be left at home, cooking for your husband. Why aren't you there by his side?"
She was about to make the usual snide rebuttal, but he beat her to it, pointing roughly to the gate out front and taking back his usual cruel voice. "Oh, that's right. But then, who would marry a street kitsune who thinks she's a samurai? Now, get the hell out of my sight."
Noting even more irritability than usual, she slid down the tree trunk and let him win, muttering "Fuck you," as a final stand just loud enough for him to hear and comment inappropriately on, turning to the gate to leave. She paused halfway there and saw that Hijikata hadn't moved, as if he had known she would stop and look back.
"Hey Farmer-boy!" she snapped, putting a calloused hand on her hip and smiling again. He didn't turn to look at her. "Do you think they're really planning something big?"
Hijikata snorted, and Jaden knew that he was grinning now as well. "Whether they are or not, it's come to the point where it's our job to crush them," he explained. "For the banner of truth. For the Shogunate."
Jaden laughed shortly and cruelly. "I'm sure if you tell Furutaka that, he'll feel a lot better," she crooned, heading honestly to the front gate this time, not sure anymore if she really wanted to see what Hijikata was planning for the captured rebel. He may or may not have chuckled as she took her leave; the sound of the rain falling in sheets muffled everything, except for Furutaka's screams.
But then, it was possible that it was just the wind howling.
On her way out, she found another man, and her attitude changed immensely. "Good morning, Sannan-san," she said happily, bowing brightly and smiling up at the man and his subdued blue parasol and spring-green yukata.
The man smiled back, pushing a pair of large glasses away from the bridge of his nose so that he could massage it before stepping forward and covering her with the umbrella as well. He was shorter and smaller than Hijikata, with gentle brown eyes and a rounded nose that made his face seem friendly. His soft brown hair was pulled up into at refined topknot, but his bangs seemed to be too short, and fell lightly around his face. Rather than giving him a roughish air, it made him seem easygoing, however.
"Is something wrong?" Jaden asked, frowning.
"That I can't just live at Akesato's?" he offered jokingly, raising his hands in silent surrender when she bristled.
"If you lived there, when would I see you?" she asked skeptically. "Could you imagine? Without you, I would have killed Hijikata by now, and then Souji-chan would have to be Vice-Commander."
The man frowned briefly as he thought about the potentially disastrous consequences of that particular arrangement. Jaden continued.
"Anyway, you know how it says something about 'litigious matters' in the Strictures? What does that mean, really?"
He laughed. "Simple, Jaden-san." He then continued with a lengthy definition directly from a dictionary, and after that his own view on the word, before clicking his tongue with mock disappointment. "I thought you would know that, Jaden-san."
In truth, she had known, but had run out of things to ask him that she didn't know, but still wanted to hear him talk. Yamanami Keisuke did border on genius, she thought, and his voice was soft and calming, perfect to hear right after a bout with Hijikata. That thought and a well-placed moan from the back shed reminded her to mention to him that Furutaka would surely leak wonderful bits of plans to them, thanks to the Demon.
"Wouldn't that be exciting if there was a battle?" she implored, looking off into the distance. But when she focused again, Yamanami was frowning worriedly, almost grimacing. "Are you sure you're okay?"
He blinked back to reality. "I'm fine. And if something were to happen, it would be pretty pathetic if one of the Shinsengumi's Great Vice-Commanders turned up ill, so..." He looked suddenly thoughtful and pressed the back of his hand to his forehead. "Actually…do you think I feel warm?"
"Oh no!" Jaden yelped, not bothering to check as she hopped behind him and pushed him towards the welcoming shoji of Headquarters' entrance. "You should have said so earlier, now I've kept you out here in the cold!"
"It's June," he laughed. "And everyone else is out patrolling as well. You're soaked."
"I won't hear it, Sannan-san! Go on!"
"Do I really look ill?" he asked suddenly, blinking and pointing to his face questioningly.
Jaden stopped. He didn't really look sick at all; his cheeks had a healthy flush and his eyes were just as kind and intelligent as usual. But he looked tired and apparently had a fever, so she decided not to take any chances and told him once again to get inside.
He smiled painfully but followed instructions, waving at her as he closed the parasol and stepped inside. It was at that point that Jaden realized the wailing coming from the shed had stopped somewhere along the line. Turning, she found Hijikata striding grimly towards her, blood on his hands but nowhere else.
She opened her mouth to make a remark, but he interrupted. "'Wait for a windy night and set fire upwind to the imperial castle,'" he recited. "That's their plan. Get your loved ones out of Kyoto tonight. Those bastards are gonna burn it. Burn it all to the ground unless we stop them tonight. We have to find them and cut them down. Cut them all down, like the rats they are."
Instead of replying, she grinned at the unmistakable wrathful bloodlust in Hijikata's normally smooth voice, eyes growing wide as he stormed past her and stepped purposefully on to the engawa, shoving open the shoji with dangerous force. She heard him continue on through Headquarters, rallying everyone there, and suddenly frowned at the lack of her own troops. Roden, she thought, could come watch the bloodbath with her, and then perhaps, he would finally respect the Shinsengumi as well. Finally.
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Sakura suddenly came to a stop, turning to look at Ronin. He at first appeared to be serenely asleep against the cave wall, but after several minutes of silence, looked up, his face even paler than usual.
"Had enough?" he questioned, frowning. "I don't blame you."
"Only for tonight," she answered quickly, before her true audience could protest.
"So… What?" Ishin asked after several more quiet seconds passed by. "The way you all talked, I've been thinking that the Shinsengumi was this really, truly awful pack of bloodthirsty animals. But they just sound like any small army in any war. This…Yamanami character sounds nice, even."
Ronin snorted. "Give them time. It's only the beginning; you haven't met the Demon Child or seen the consequences of those foul, cruel strictures yet."
"But these Choshu…" Katie went on. "They're pyromaniacs, aren't they? I don't see how the Shinsengumi is at fault—"
"Tell Itaru that!" Ronin snapped, glaring at the two of them coldly. Toklata looked up at him tiredly.
Sakura shook her head unhappily and sighed before they could continue. "Yamanami was always the misfit. That's…the real problem. He and Hijikata never got along. Someone should have anticipated that disaster. Jaden especially became very good at ignoring the problems that were right in front of her. Hell. We all did." She stood up and stretched tiredly, retiring quietly to a deeper part of the cave, where she had strewn her things. "Tomorrow," she continued carefully, "we can leave. I will continue the story, but I want you to understand: You can't pick sides. Neither one was right, though both were probably in the wrong. Everyone in this tale makes use of at least a few of the Seven Deadly Sins. Some of them use all seven." She looked quickly to Ronin, then quickly away again. "And if we were to pick out the most innocent of everyone involved…it would probably be Itaru. And he's an arsonist."
Ishin, Katie, and Toklata made similarly doubtfully worried expressions.
Sakura only smiled at them. "I welcome you to the bloodiest revolution in history. Good night."
A/N: Blood already? Yes, of course. Meet the Shinsengumi. Important points made in this chapter: (1) Yamanami, (The Saint) whose nickname is Sannan, which is a different way of reading the kanji for his name, and Hijikata (The Demon) may both be Vice-Commanders, but they're polar opposites. (2) Jaden and Hijikata don't like each other. (Ever.) But Jaden adores Sannan. (3) The Choshu are planning to burn Kyoto down and make away with the Emperor in the meantime. This plan, luckily, doesn't get very far. (4) There was a torture scene in there that I could have written, but opted out of. I will tell you the story, though. Legend goes that Hijikata hung the captured rebel upside down from the ceiling, pounded five-inch nails into his feet, took them out, put lit candles over the holes, and let the hot wax drip deep into poor Furutaka's calves. Yummy.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed/understood this first chapter. Leave any questions behind in a review and I promise to get back to you. Oh, and here's something new:
Next Chapter: Jaden finds Roden just a bit too late to watch the 30 Choshu men face off against the five Shinsengumi who find them, but arrives just in time for the aftermath, which she enjoys just as much. Roden has a feeling of foreboding, but Jaden ignores him and the pair frolics innocently to Sakura's abode. And who's this wealthy patron of hers? A cold, serious diplomat samurai? Not quite.