***Dear loyal readers: Don't freak out! Change is a good thing. We are currently editing and revising the story. We have learned lots of new things about the time period and the Shinsengumi and are making changes to make this as historically accurate as we can. Please read each chapter as it is reposted and let us know what you think of our changes!***
Authors' Notes
As: We've got some disclaimers for you, since Suki's picky like that. Apparently we must inform you that all characters from "Rurouni Kenshin" belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, characters from "Peacemaker Kurogane" belong to Nanae Chrono, characters from "Hakuouki: Shinsengumi Kitan" belong to Idea Factory, and all historical characters belong to…themselves. So there! Please keep in mind, however, that we have manipulated – I mean, developed – these characters to fit different roles…and we're only giving you these references because that's where we got the ideas (and because Saito uses the Gatotsu! heck yeah!).
Suki: And so you would know what they look like! How could you forget a detail like that?
As: …Sorry. Right now they just look like 10pt font to me.
Suki: Saito looks like a hybrid of his RK and HSK selves. Okita, too. Hijikata, Kondo, Yamanami, Nagakura and Harada all look like their PMK counterparts with a bit of HSK thrown in.
As: Actually, right now they look like Romans – Times New Romans, with awesome abs – which brings to mind the music for this chapter! We suggest listening to the "Gladiator" soundtrack. It's perfect!
Suki: One more thing! In case you couldn't tell, there are two of us writing this. Myself (Suki) and my friend Aiphos Sender (As).
As: And by "writing" we mean…this was a role-play. -cackles maniacally and wanders away to work on the next chapter-
Suki: …Whee! I'm gonna go watch Saito kill Usui for the umpteenth time
Chapter I
Shikei
Frost clawed at the night sky, its smoky fingers fading just before reaching the stars. Obscured by low clouds, the silver moon winked and slipped into a shadow. With eyes too accustomed to fire and glass – eyes unfamiliar with the dark solitude of midnight in the wilderness – she watched. The sea lapped her hands and the icy sand upon which she lay. Everything was quiet until a shrill cry filled the night air, followed by an explosion of noise and color and the cheering of distant voices. She listened in sluggish confusion to the light-hearted evening festival of a nearby fishing community. One sardonic thought lazily crossed her mind: 'If they're so eager to welcome this cold season, why are they still in the warmth of their streets?'
A few of the children seemed to share her opinion. Determined to seem fearless, they ventured beyond the warm glow of the village to carry their celebratory gaiety into the wilderness. It was one of these girls, calling to her friends to hurry and catch up, that literally stumbled upon the body. She shrieked as her feet struck cold flesh and flew into the air, spraying clumps of sand. Scrambling to her hands and knees, she answered the concerned shouts of her friends with another shriek. "There's a body here! I – I think she's-"
The eyes opened again and a rattling whisper escaped thin blue lips. "Please…h-help!"
/\/\/\/\
With amber eyes narrowed, a tall youth marched swiftly down the hall of the Yagi household. His long hair was tied loosely at the nape of his neck and the traditional set of daisho were at his left hip. He wore white hakama over a pale mint-green kimono. Over this, he wore a light blue haori with a white mountain border on the hems. He was the ideal portrait of a soldier who knew that no detail was too small to heed, nor any order too insignificant to obey without delay.
The captain of the First Squad, Okita Souji, had informed him that Vice Commander Hijikata Toshizou wanted to see him. He exited the house and scanned the gardens, knowing that he would find the vice commander there. Sighting two men conversing together under a stand of orange-leafed trees, the soldier approached them and cleared his throat to announce his presence. Vice Commander Hijikata stood to his left and gave him an appraising glare. The young man ignored the look, instead focusing his attention on the Commander Kondo Isami, who was shaking his head and rolling up some papers. "Honestly, Toshi-kun. What a mess."
Hijikata closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was obviously trying to keep his patience. The soldier they had summoned folded his arms, a look of equal impatience darkening his own face. They were wasting his time. "You wanted to see me?" he prompted. His eyes shifted from Kondo to Hijikata and back again. Hijikata opened his dark eyes, trying not to roll them rudely in the process. "Yes. We have an important assignment for you, Saito-kun," he began, a faint grin crossing his face when he saw Saito's annoyance.
"Saito-kun, we want you to assassinate Serizawa Kamo." The young man stared at him in open surprise. "Assassinate Serizawa-san?" he questioned. "Yes. In the direction he is currently moving, it won't be long before he leaves us entirely. We cannot risk his selling us to the Imperialists," Kondo answered. He crossed his arms and gave the boy a curious look. "Complete this assignment successfully and you will be promoted to captain of the Third Squad – something I do not doubt you are more than competent to handle, given the level of your current skills."
Saito hesitated. They were asking him to kill a comrade – a superior, no less. He was not ignorant of the shameful actions of Commander Serizawa, and he had some experience in the art of assassination, but… He lowered his gaze, shifting uncomfortably. Kondo straightened his back sharply, popping it with a sigh. "We want you to do this, Saito-kun, but it is not an order. If you do not-" "If you're too weak to fulfill this assignment," Hijikata interrupted, "we'll extend the offer to someone of higher caliber."
Saito clenched his hands into fists but kept them hidden in the long sleeves of his haori. Weakness was not the issue. He lifted his narrowed eyes and shook his head. "I think I-" Hijikata huffed derisively and dismissed him with a wave. Saito felt a chill settle over him. He took a deep breath and turned to leave. As he began walking, Hijikata voiced a warning. "If you value the lives of your comrades so highly, I suggest you not share this with any of them." Saito froze, acknowledging the threat in silence before continuing his retreat.
He reentered the Yagi home distractedly and nearly collided with an older man that rounded the corner and stepped onto the stairs right in front of him. How did Inoue Genzaburo, the so-called "Elder" of the Roshigumi, keep his swordsman's spirit so quiet? He could sneak up on anyone – even Saito! "Excuse me, Elder," the young soldier said with a slight nod. The older man's left eye twitched. Though he was one of the eldest members of the Roshigumi, he was only in his late forties. Sometimes the exaggerated age-respect grated on his nerves. Nevertheless, with the young lieutenant of the Fifth Squad it was forgivable – only because he less than half Inoue's age. "Saito-kun," he replied, nodding.
As they passed each other, Saito briefly reflected on his position in the Roshigumi and how it could change very shortly. He had joined their ranks in February. It was now mid-September and he was the youngest lieutenant. He could be a captain if he changed his mind and killed the commander. How odd that, in order to receive the approval of his superiors, he would have to kill one of them. The concept itself did not bother him, but for some reason the bribery made the task seem beneath him. He was called cold by the other Roshigumi and had to agree. His subordinates were intimidated by him, of course, but so were some of his superiors. Was that why Kondo wanted to offer him the "promotion?"
"Saito-san!" Okita Souji, the ceaselessly energetic captain of the First Squad, waved at him from the common room doorway. "Do you want to go get some soba? Harada-san and I are going!" Saito really couldn't say no. He loved soba, and would not – could not – pass up an opportunity to have some. He agreed blithely to the invitation and within half an hour they were walking through the streets of Mibu towards the restaurant.
However, the naïve lieutenant soon discovered to his dismay that Captain Okita Souji was a liar. Apparently he believed that "going to get soba" and "watching Harada-san make a fool of himself" were the same thing. There they sat, sans soba, watching Captain Harada Sanosuke as he floundered in some geiko's drinking game. Okita was laughing at their maniacal antics while Saito drank the sake a maiko poured for him, not at all amused by the two captains. As he finished his sake and set the dish down, the girl tending him smiled sweetly and filled the dish again. She was pretending to be shy, chattering about the weather as if it were the most interesting topic in the world. Saito couldn't stand her; she sounded like a squirrel.
"Do all women talk about nothing but the weather? I think I'm losing my will to live just by listening to your annoying prattle. If I'm paying someone to talk to me, I want an intelligent conversation." The maiko's perfect, painted face fell and she gaped. For a moment she did nothing except stare in disbelief at Saito. He stared right back with cold eyes, daring her to make further comments on the "early chill." She wisely decided against it and turned away to join the drinking game instead. That was fine. Saito could pour his own sake.
Harada passed out a few minutes later and Okita excitedly sent one of the women to fetch an ink stone and brush. When she returned, Okita painted a ridiculous moustache on Harada's face and allowed the geiko to paint butterflies on his forehead. When they had their fill of laughing, the three women left the men alone and closed the door to give them some privacy. Saito, grateful for the reprieve from their incessant giggling, poured himself more sake and drank deeply. Okita spun the brush in his fingers and watched the lieutenant drink.
"Saito-san, I was speaking with Captain Harada earlier…about you," he began. His face was pale but he didn't seem nervous; he just looked tired. "Should I care?" Saito queried. He lifted his sake and studied it thoughtfully before downing it. He typically wasn't much of a drinker, but this particular teahouse had a magnificent brew. Okita smirked, accustomed to the lieutenant's curt and often abrasive manner. "I know you'd align yourself with Kondo-san if a division between the commanders were to occur." Saito gave a single nod of his head, his eyes meeting Okita's. "So?" Okita tapped the handle of the brush against his knee. "Well, if that's the case, why did you refuse his request this afternoon?"
Saito smirked. Of course Captain Okita knew about the plot! He was, after all, Kondo's favorite pupil. Saito shrugged and shook his head. "I'm curious. If they have talent like yours at their disposal, why did they ask me first?" Okita smiled wanly but gave no answer. Saito's eyes narrowed. "They didn't, did they?"
/\/\/\/\
"There is an art in needles: the way they can combine, create, and heal. I have always found this art to be most desirable, critical and elusive. I apologize for my incompetence; I am not yet a master artist." How could a doctor speak so much and accomplish so little? A few minutes and the entire village was aware of her condition. Mere moments later they had her off the beach and in the clinic of their resident surgeon. Yet half a candle later, she was still biting her tongue to hold in the whimpers while he removed splinters and stitched the deep diagonal gash on her back. She was ready to scream in aggravation – but then the honey-tongued doctor patted her shoulder patronizingly and pressed his hands heavily against his knees to stand.
"There we are, Li Shu-chan! Now, let Fobito-kun dress your wounds. I'll have a warm dinner prepared for us and we can get some proper rest tonight!" 'Wait…what?' She tensed her shoulders and felt her skin pull against the stitches. She was shocked that the surgeon actually had finished, but how could he expect her to let Fobito…? With unsteady fingers, the injured girl raked her tousled hair away from her eyes and glanced over her shoulder at the young man sitting on the other side of the room. He gave her a horrified look, clearly as uncomfortable with the idea as she was.
Li Shu clutched her torn robes to her throat with her right hand while shakily pushing herself up with the left. Fobito let out a startled objection but quieted immediately when the patient shot him a venomous glare, daring him to alarm his tutor. Her eyes had seemed brown before, but in her anger he imagined they were red. Covering herself with her damaged clothes, she proceeded to clumsily wrap bandages around her chest. After the first couple rounds, she had to humble herself and admit there was no way she could complete the task on her own. She lowered her face, letting her hair hide her burning cheeks, and held the bandages out to Fobito.
"Oh! Uh, I…" She pressed her lips together tightly and gestured anxiously with the outstretched bandages. If he didn't commence immediately, she was going to lose her resolve and her already thin patience. "Please," she grated, her thick accent causing a confused expression to cross the young apprentice' face. "Now!" she declared, a little sharply. Fobito took the bandages and hesitated once more. Somewhat comforted by the meager covering she had managed on her own, Li Shu turned away from him and raised her arms. "You to be doctor?" she scoffed. Sufficiently reprimanded, the apprentice dutifully wrapped Li Shu's torso to protect it from infection and then helped her into a borrowed sleeping kimono.
When he took her hand to help her stand, she was no longer sure if she should be humiliated in his presence or respectful; he had done an excellent job assisting her. She smiled. He faltered. They nearly fell and Li Shu cried out in pain. Apologizing profusely, Fobito led her to the main room where they knelt to eat with the doctor. He smiled and spoke jovially about utter nonsense and old news the entire time, asking Li Shu many questions that she seemed unable to understand or answer. After dinner, the doctor and his apprentice left their unexpected patient to sleep on a spare futon in the treatment room. She sighed and eased under the covers, holding her breath as she lay on her stomach and struggled to find a comfortable position. It was going to be a long night.
/\/\/\/\
Saito and Okita had to carry Harada all the way back to the Yagi residence as he was practically comatose and didn't respond when they tried to wake him. They had been gone most of the night. In just a few hours it would be light again. Okita whispered goodnight to his grumpy comrade but Saito turned his back on him, scowling and collapsing on his futon.
It seemed like he had only closed his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them again it was mid-morning and he was late for breakfast. Perhaps going without breakfast was just as well, as he was beginning to feel that anything he put in would come right back out. He had a horrendous headache and his stomach was tied in knots. Okita was unbearable. He had wisely chosen not to drink as much as Saito, so he felt perfectly fine. Harada, on the contrary, had become "ill" during the night and was given permission to stay in bed. If being a captain meant sleeping in and recovering quickly from hangovers, Saito decided he definitely needed a promotion.
'Oh…wait…'
As soon as he dragged himself out of bed and washed his face, Saito received orders to assist in the training of his squad outside Mibu village. Every step jarred the demon that was trying to shatter his skull from the inside. The sun was no help, its beams like blades that cut and stung his eyes. Fortunately, as he reached the designated training post, heavy clouds covered the sky and allowed his aching eyes to rest. Unfortunately, the clouds brought a torrential downpour with them, so the training was soon little more than a muddy brawl. While Saito blocked the flurrying onslaught of one of his men, he saw a rain-blurred figure under an umbrella approaching from the village side of the field.
With a well-placed strike he finished the fight and told his sparring partner to practice left-facing swings on his own. Nodding, the winded soldier turned away and hesitated upon seeing the man under the umbrella. He glanced back at Saito expressionlessly before hurrying away. Saito rolled his shoulders and faced the umbrella man who stood and watched patiently. In the midst of the mud-stained, bruised soldiers, the man under the umbrella seemed too clean and too composed. "Fifth Squad! That's enough practice for now. You're all making vast improvements! I commend you."
Saito narrowed his eyes. "We've only been out here for two hours, Yamanami-san." With a friendly smile that was startlingly genuine, Vice Commander Yamanami Keisuke shrugged and gestured for the men to disperse. When he rolled his eyes and moved to return with the others, the vice commander reached out and caught his shoulder, holding him back. "Excuse my rudeness, Saito-kun, but may I speak with you for a moment?"
The young lieutenant turned back and faced Yamanami squarely. "Yes?" Saito was much more comfortable with this vice commander than with Hijikata Toshizou, whom he very much disliked at the moment. "Is there something I can do for you?" Yamanami's smile became thoughtful and he moved his hand from Saito's shoulder to adjust the spectacles on the bridge of his bony nose before they slipped too far down. "Yes, there is, actually. Saito-kun, have you met Abe-kun, the newest recruit in the Third Squad?"
"Only in passing," Saito replied. He hid the frown that was attempting to crawl onto his face. Something felt strange, but he couldn't rationalize his feelings. Yamanami seemed unaware of the lieutenant's suspicion. "Well, he's a great swordsman and very enthusiastic about his enlistment. I'm rather fond of him myself; he's got a great sense of humor." Something glinted in the vice commander's eyes and he chuckled quietly before continuing. "He mentioned that next week he will celebrate his twenty-sixth birthday. Unfortunately, he's not going to be here because we've asked him to deliver a message in Edo. So, I was wondering what you would think about throwing a surprise party for him tonight at the Sumi'ya? It's his favorite tea house."
The frown succeeded in commandeering Saito's face. "I'm afraid I'm not very knowledgeable about such things." "But weren't you just at that tea house last night with Okita-kun and Harada-kun? I just want your opinion of the Sumi'ya. How is their sake?" There was definitely something else in Yamanami's smirk, but it was unreadable. "…It's good," Saito confided, "but potent." The Sumi'ya. Was that the name of the teahouse? He hadn't paid any attention. He was too angry about not getting his soba and then he was too drunk to remember the name. Indeed, he remembered very little of the night's activities after Harada's game and Okita's questions.
Yamanami narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded, more to himself than to Saito. "Sounds perfect. We'll announce it at lunch so everyone can attend. We don't often celebrate birthdays, so we'll let everyone party and pretend it's their celebration. Oh, can you let Captain Takeda know? Your squad has afternoon patrol, so you'll miss the announcement. Where is he, anyway?"
Saito rolled his eyes. His captain rarely participated in training. For that reason, almost all of the men had requested transfers, especially after a few humiliating cross-training exercises with other squads. Of course, that wasn't the only reason the men wanted to be transferred, and Saito couldn't blame them. He smirked. If Kondo had asked him to assassinate Captain Takeda Kanryuusai, he would have accepted the offer without hesitation. 'Ah, well. Maybe I can beat him up at the party.'
/\/\/\/\
Never before had the Sumi'ya been so full of raucous laughter and riotous men. All of the Roshigumi were present, and with them outnumbering the ten geisha nearly three to one, the women had their hands full. "More sake here!" "And here!" Saito sat in the corner nearest the engawa door, sipping his sake in silence and listening to the rain. He preferred drinking alone and had half a mind to go out and drink in the garden where it was a bit quieter. Even with the pouring rain, it would be more relaxing than sitting in the teahouse. He rolled his eyes as the geiko started to gather the men for a drinking game. It was probably the only way the frantic women could think to manage the soldiers.
While Saito fumed in his corner like a punished child, Okita and Harada threw themselves full-force into the game, laughing like maniacs as they got everyone else involved. At Okita's insistence, even Hijikata put on a less-severe scowl and lifted his sake dish to participate. Soon Saito was the only one not playing along, but no one else seemed to notice.
With a sigh, he eyed the bottle in front of him and considered his circumstances. He knew that if he drank much more, he would have a terrible hangover in the morning…again. He didn't want to talk to the others, however, and drinking seemed to be the only way to avoid that. He glanced back at the game just as a loud crash interrupted the laughter of the drunken samurai and then caused the volume to redouble. Nagakura Shinpachi, captain of the Second Squad, had passed out suddenly in the middle of the floor, breaking a wooden tray and a set of ceramic dishes.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Saito drained his dish and stood. Nobody saw him slip into the garden and vanish into the night – nobody except Harada Sanosuke. Hefting the smaller Captain Nagakura over his shoulders and exclaiming that he was still feeling a little ill anyway, he offered to take the sleeping captain home.
When Harada stepped into the half-flooded garden, there was no trace of Saito. 'That kid sure can disappear fast,' he mused. Shrugging to rebalance his load, he marched through the puddled streets back to the Yagi estate. When he arrived, he found Saito already in the large room that most of the men shared as sleeping quarters. Harada deposited Nagakura on a futon and sat down across from the lieutenant. "You feelin' a bit sick, too?"
Saito shrugged. "Not really. It's just too loud there." He scowled on the inside, hoping Harada wouldn't keep him up when all he really wanted at the moment was to sleep off the alcohol. He opened his mouth to ask about Nagakura but was interrupted by a slamming door and muffled voices in the room by the garden – the room where Commander Serizawa Kamo usually slept. A woman's voice chimed in with the distant conversation and Serizawa's laugh rang out. The party had followed them home, but now it was a private party.
Harada tensed when he heard the commander's laugh. His gaze fixed on the door. In a rare display of impatience, Harada began drumming his fingers on his knees. "Even here, with Yagi-dono and the children down the hall? That man and his women…" There was a dark tone of disapproval in his voice. He forced his eyes to leave the door and focused once more on Saito. "I hope he doesn't sully our name much more before – well, before it's too late to reverse the damage."
Saito stretched lazily, apparently nonchalant but inwardly unsettled. Captain Harada had reminded him of Kondo and Hijikata's request. He sighed. Harada didn't notice. He was listening intently to the distant voices. Shrugging, Saito took the rare opportunity to rifle through some reports that Takeda had delegated to him and began making notes. After nearly an hour, the door of their room slid quietly open and Okita peered inside. When he saw Harada and Saito sitting together his eyes narrowed and he cocked an eyebrow questioningly. "It's time."
The tall captain rose to his feet, inclining his head to the glaring lieutenant. "Excuse me, Saito-kun." Harada slipped out of the room, following Okita outside into the pouring rain. Saito turned his glare to the papers before him. In an angry flourish, he finished the last sentence he had been writing and put away the reports and ink. Though he was tired, he left the sleeping Nagakura alone in the room and went to the house's main entrance. Just as he slid the shoji open, four shadows dodged around the house and his suspicions intensified. Making sure his daisho was secured at his hip, he dashed out of the house and followed the silhouettes as they entered the gardens. They hesitated for a moment in the dim light of Serizawa's papered window. Soft snoring had replaced the laughter and voices.
Nodding sharply, one of the taller figures clad in black took the lead, drawing a katana and kicking open the door. In an instant the peace of the night was shattered and a woman's shrieks overpowered the sound of the drumming rain. Men shouted, and deeper in the house a child cried out in pain. Saito sprang into action, an inexplicable rage filling him. He entered through the opened door as the others had and met with a grisly sight. Two women lay together in a pool of their own blood. Down the hall he could see a man's body sprawled halfway in the Yagi family's room and halfway in the hall.
As he returned his attention to the room he was in, Saito realized suddenly that he was not alone. He took a step back just in time to avoid a singing wakizashi. "The hell?" With a furious snarl, his attacker lunged at him and tackled him through the doorway, knocking him into the mud outside. In the dim light, Saito recognized Serizawa kneeling over him. The commander recognized him in the same moment and spat distastefully before jumping to his feet and breaking into a run. He fled through the gardens and Saito sprang to his feet but hesitated, unsure of what to do. "SAITO-KUN! STOP HIM!" Hearing Okita Souji call out his name so desperately immediately quelled any qualms he might have otherwise had. In an instant, he was in pursuit of the commander.
Realizing that he was being followed, Serizawa leaned forward and invested all of his strength in running for his life. His comrades had finally betrayed him, but if he could just put some distance between himself and them, he could survive and even conquer them. All he needed was distance – but the boy following him was inhuman! His speed was incredible and regardless of the head start Serizawa initially had, his shadow was rapidly gaining on him. They were deep in the woods outside of Mibu already, but the next nearest village was still miles away.
Saito breathed deeply as he chased his prey. The air tasted like stale sake and smelled like hot blood. A feral grin lined his face. He was ready for the kill. All of a sudden Serizawa slowed and turned to face the young lieutenant, glowering at him coldly. "Are you really going to test me? The brat of the Roshigumi? Kondo has grossly underestimated me! I'm insulted!"
Saito rolled his eyes. He had a surprise for Serizawa: an attack that was, as yet, unnamed. He pulled his left hand back, bracing his katana's hilt in the palm of his hand and balancing the blade with his outstretched right arm. The stance was only slightly familiar to Serizawa, who recognized it as a bastardized form of Hijikata's Hirazuki. "Choose your words wisely," Saito taunted, "because they'll be your last." He took another deep breath to steady himself and then charged the short distance to his target. Serizawa sidestepped the blade, but Saito brought it out of the thrust immediately and used its momentum to carry it into a cutting side attack. Their swords clashed and Serizawa, in surprise, struggled to regain his footing.
Knowing the new move had given him an edge, and knowing that he needed that edge against the expert Serizawa Kamo, Saito pressed forward. He refused to allow Serizawa any reprieve, but the commander was not showing any mercy, either. He successfully struck Saito's right shoulder. Red blossomed over the young samurai's haori and streamed down his arm, staining his katana's hilt. With a growl, Saito launched another attack, finally overpowering Serizawa's defense and connecting – fatally. Like a wounded animal, Serizawa fought until he was cold. Saito dodged and countered most of the strikes, but his right thigh received a blow and he fell – just in time to avoid the last attack which would have severed his throat. The commander collapsed in the blood-stained mud, his eyes frozen in a glare.
Saito studied the commander's face warily for several minutes before daring to sheath his sword. He removed his tell-tale haori and tore it into strips to clumsily bandage his wounds. Bundling the remaining cloth, he struck the commander's wakizashi with a rock and sparked a small fire before collapsing a few steps away. His head was spinning and his stomach turning.
When the haori was completely consumed, Saito stood and stumbled, his vision blurred. He leaned on a tree for support, breathing slowly. After a brief rest, he began walking once more. He was sweating, yet freezing. 'If I get a fever, I'm going to put more holes in his corpse,' he decided vindictively. He walked a far longer distance than he had run before he began questioning his direction. Morning was swiftly approaching, but Saito's vision was darkening. He needed to find a way out of the woods soon, or he would be joining Serizawa as a corpse. He arbitrarily chose a different direction and was relieved when, several minutes later, he saw lights in the distance. He limped onward and emerged from the woods just a few steps away from a boy several years his junior.
"Hey, mister! Were you shipwrecked, too?" the boy asked. Saito leaned heavily on a tree trunk, baffled by the child's question. He felt ill, and silently berated himself for drinking so much sake while eating so little food for the last two days. Now that he had stopped walking, a burning sensation was mounting in his gut; he clenched his teeth against the pain and the nausea. The curious boy's friends had arrived and were looking at him, too, asking questions that he didn't understand. They kept asking about China and the sea, which made Saito feel not only nauseous but also dizzy. Suddenly, he could bear it no longer. He spun away and squatted, which he immediately regretted as the pain from his leg intensified. Without further regard for the boys or their questions, he ducked behind the tree and vomited.
"Ugh! He reeks!" "Master swordsman, are you drunk?" a disgusted adult voice queried. The voice sent shards of pain through Saito's skull. A man hesitantly put his hand on the samurai's shoulder to stir him. Saito choked and flinched away. The man looked at his hand and his eyes widened in fear. "Blood!" He turned and called to the boys frantically. "He's covered in blood!" There was a scattering of surprised whispers. Saito attempted, unsuccessfully, to stand. He groaned and shivered uncontrollably. The man was barely visible through the fog in his eyes. The man's lips moved, forming words that Saito could no longer hear, and then the young swordsman fell into blackness.
/\/\/\/\
"The lights are on; someone fetch Fobito-kun!"
The still night was suddenly shattered by excited shouts and pounding at the door. Li Shu pulled her blanket over her face and moaned. 'Is it another festival? Why must they make such a fuss?' The front door slid open and after a brief hush the servants began calling urgently for the doctor. Fobito scrambled out of his room, hurrying to the front door. A lantern in the treatment room flared to life and Li Shu heard the doctor fumbling about, gathering supplies as a servant laid out another futon.
The atmosphere suddenly became heavier as the body of the new patient was hauled into the house. The stench of sake and blood was overwhelming. Li Shu ventured a peek and felt her previous irritation vanish. 'Whoa…' She had been shipwrecked, half-drowned, and nearly frozen to death, but just looking at this man, who was hardly more than a boy, made her feel better about her situation. He was obviously a samurai – a samurai who had just battled to the death. Li Shu assumed he was the victor, and was grateful that she didn't have to see the less fortunate man.
This time, the doctor didn't prattle on about needles or art. The samurai was promptly treated and put to bed, but even after the excitement had quieted and the villagers had staggered to their own beds, Li Shu lay wide awake, staring at the narrow-faced man across the room. He smelled absolutely repulsive, yet this was the perfect opportunity – a convenience she had never expected. A samurai! She noted with an uncertain smile that, as filthy as he was, his sword was pristine. He had cleaned it before succumbing to blood loss and delirium. 'How responsible.'
/\/\/\/\
In the morning, the rain from the previous night had left everything drenched and muddy. As the servants set about cooking a hot breakfast, the doctor sent his apprentice to check on the patients while he, attempting to remain inconspicuous, stayed under his bed covers to keep out the chilly morning air.
Fobito stood at the door, looking in at the two incapacitated figures sprawled on the futons. He shivered miserably, wondering if they were still alive. He wished he wasn't. It was already too cold for his tastes and the last thing he wanted to do was change a girl's bandages and spoon-feed a killer. He took a deep breath and pouted longingly upon smelling the alluring aroma drifting from the kitchen. With a heavy sigh, he sulked into the room.
Since the thick-accented foreign girl didn't seem quite as frightening as the hung-over swordsman, Fobito went to Li Shu's futon first. She growled and swatted at his ankles when he tried to wake her. "No!" Stumbling back, the timid apprentice turned his attention the more cooperative, albeit unconscious, patient.
Li Shu grumbled about nothing in particular and slowly pushed herself to her knees. She couldn't keep her eyes open, squinting tiredly in the daylight. She heard a low curse from the samurai, a startled shout from Fobito, and a sharp metallic sound followed immediately by Fobito running and screaming out of the room. Li Shu cast a nervous glance over her shoulder but the samurai was not looking at her. In fact, he didn't seem to be looking at anything. He just looked…angry.
Saito was not in a good mood. He had no idea where he was, who the boy that had woken him was, or why he was in someone else's sleeping kimono. He sheathed his wakizashi and gingerly cradled his skull, afraid it would break like a fragile glass shell. Slowly easing himself down on his left elbow, he lay on his side and exhaled painfully. Everything hurt, and he still felt sick as well as hungry. Blinking away his exhaustion, he glimpsed a slight movement to his left and focused bleerily on it. A girl stared back at him with frightened Chinese eyes.
"Who are you?" he demanded hoarsely. The girl gasped. "I-I'm Li Shu!" Her reply was hasty and almost incomprehensible. She winced self-consciously and waited for his response. It never came. Saito carefully stood, no longer interested in staying in the room. He left the girl to fret alone. She reminded him of a nervous rabbit: jumpy, weak, and useless. He walked with measured steps towards the kitchen, following the smells of breakfast. His priorities at the moment were food, a bath, and regretting the evening's chaos. He would have to ask his unknown hosts about his location. He doubted he was in Mibu, since he had not been returned to the Yagi estate, but had no idea where he had wandered.
Li Shu watched with wide eyes as the samurai left the room, heedless of his own injuries. Antsy as the rabbit to which she had been silently compared, she stood and gasped at the pain. With a whimper, and gritting her teeth, she pressed her forehead and fists against the wall. Several minutes passed before she managed to catch her breath and ease away from the wall.
She arrived in the kitchen just as Saito was finishing his first bowl of steaming rice and was greeted with a cold glare. She gratefully accepted her own bowl of rice from the maidservant. Neither Fobito nor his master had chosen to eat with the patients, and Li Shu felt sure that she was not the source of their hesitation. Concentrating on her food, she ate the plain breakfast quickly, unaware until the last bite that she was still being watched. With the chopsticks halfway between the bowl and her mouth, she paused to meet the swordsman's glare with startled eyes.
"You shouldn't be here," he stated bluntly. He took another bite of his rice and finally looked away. Li Shu swallowed hard. She hadn't hoped to mask her race, but she had hoped that he wouldn't disparage her for it. Wasn't he even a little curious to know what was she doing so far from her country, wounded and alone? "I thought all Chinese girls had their feet bound so they could sit around and get fat," the samurai remarked indifferently. "Was your family poor? Is that why you're so skinny?" Li Shu squeaked indignantly. Saito smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."
The young Roshigumi casually rose from the table. Li Shu tensed. "Where you to go?" she demanded. "None of your business," Saito countered boredly. He pushed the kitchen door open and stepped into the corridor. His fever was returning. 'Just get back to the futon…before…' He rounded the corner and leaned on the wall. Too late.
Li Shu finished her rice and slowly pushed herself to her feet. She heard a thump in the hallway and felt a momentary spark of satisfaction that was quelled immediately by a wave of pain. Shaking her head to clear it, she followed the samurai into the hall and found him crumpled on the floor. She hesitated. He was obviously crippled by his injuries, but he was her one hope of redemption.
The girl offered a hand to the wounded warrior, but he was blind to it. Now Li Shu was getting dizzy as well. She leaned unsteadily against the wall and called for the doctor. Meanwhile, just beyond the papered windows, another stranger to the village listened to the ongoing struggle with a placid smile. Even in the daylight, the shadows seemed to converge around him and hide him from view. He tapped the dagger on his left arm, reassuring himself that it had not been misplaced, and climbed silently to the roof to wait.
/\/\/\/\
Saito opened his eyes and mumbled a curse. His headache had faded, but he was hungry again. At least the sun had moved to the far side of the sky. Someone had returned him to the same room where he had woken earlier that day. Now the sun had set and the scarlet glow of its retreat was rapidly fading from the sky, but Saito could clearly see that the annoying rabbit girl was still there and still staring at him. He was not in the mood. He covered his head with the blanket.
"Do you make it a habit to stare at sleeping men?" he snarled. He unconsciously gripped his katana. He felt uneasy. He had slept far too long, losing another day when he should have already returned to headquarters. When he finally did make it back, he would undoubtedly receive some heavy punishment. Hijikata Toshizou was not well-known for his understanding or gentility.
Shifting his position immediately changed his mind about the food he was craving. If he ate again, he might puke again. He took a deep, steadying breath and willed the nausea away. The Chinese girl nervously cleared her throat. Saito quirked an eyebrow expectantly. He hadn't let her speak before because he honestly didn't care what she had to say, but she seemed truly determined to speak to him about something that she considered important. Very well. He'd listen…and if she disappointed him, at least he'd have more ammunition for tormenting her.
"You samurai, yes?" Her heart was pounding painfully in her chest, and her voice trembled in response. She knew that, after he was made aware of the implications of her arrival in Japan, he was more likely to be annoyed at rather than grateful for the information, but she had to try. She shuddered and took a deep breath. "I to be emissary from China…" She peered at him sideways but noted with relief that his face was covered; he wasn't looking at her. "…send to inform Shogunate that dangerous criminals from Shanghai has take refuge in Edo; supply Ishin the foreign weaponry!"
Saito rolled his eyes at her poor grammar and considered her confidence disinterestedly. "…Even if that's true, why should I care? They won't come this far south until spring, if ever. In this weather, it would be a death march. Besides, I'm sure the Shogunate already knows." His persistent unease tightened like a knot in his empty stomach. He huffed in annoyance and stood, shaking off the blanket and stretching his sore muscles. He scanned the dark room, finding his kimono and hakama folded in one corner. They had been washed and stitched, but they would need to be replaced when he got back to Mibu.
Pulling his clothing on over the sleeping kimono he had been given, he tied his daisho at his hip and moved to the door. He glanced back at the Chinese girl and saw desperation painted on her fearful face. He scowled, considering her words again. Why had she really come? No intelligent emissary would bother to travel so far to deliver news so trivial. The Shogunate already knew that China was supplying weaponry to the Ishin Shishi.
Li Shu bit her tongue and looked away, considering her options. She had to think of something that would merit his interest. She was not the one supposed to do this work, but she was the only one left who could. She closed her eyes and saw flames dancing on waves. The ship had carried massive quantities of gunpowder, but the Chinese were experts and they had taken all of the necessary precautions. An accident was impossible; only sabatoge could have led to the disaster that had cost so many lives and the entire shipment of weapons and powder. As the sole survivor, Li Shu felt obliged to prevent the complete failure of the mission, but what more could she do?
A sudden stab of pain in her lower left shoulder interrupted her thoughts. She stifled a cry, attributing the already dulling twinge to the injuries incurred during the explosion. Saito, who had seen the shadow at the window, did not. He narrowed his eyes and walked to Li Shu, ignoring her rising fear as he did so. He planted his right foot on her back to hold her still and brushed her hair away from her shoulders. Just as he had suspected: she had been attacked. He removed the dart and examined it closely. Whoever was trying to kill this girl was clearly on his first assignment ever…because he was pathetic. If the job wasn't his first, it was certainly his last; Saito would see to that.
Irritated, he crept outside and scaled the roof. The would-be assassin didn't even hear his approach. "You are the worst assassin I have ever had the pleasure of killing," Saito announced coolly. The other man jumped in surprise, turning to face Saito while reaching for his knife. He never had the chance to draw.
Li Shu blinked, trying to clear her foggy vision. She couldn't understand why he had come all the way over to her on an injured leg just to kick her and then walk away! She couldn't understand, and she could hardly even ponder the question. Her body felt heavy and her mind was a sluggish web of confusing thoughts. She rubbed her eyes and looked to the door that led to the engawa – the door that the samurai had opened. He had returned and stood there, silhouetted against the evening sky, his katana glinting red in the moonlight.
Saito watched the girl sit up warily and smirked at her unease. The poison on the dart had drained her energy, but she would survive. Even if her news was useless, he had paid her for it. He wiped his bloodied blade on the sleeve of his damaged kimono before resheathing the weapon. Li Shu's response was an impressive shriek that echoed in the room. She staggered backwards and turned to flee the room, terrified beyond reason. It was amazing how little the poison and pain effected her now. She ran through the clinic hall, all the way to the front door and out, racing to the woods surrounding the small village. She ran – right into the moonlit shadow of a smiling stranger. "Ah! Here you are."
Li Shu stared in surprise at the beautiful woman before her, baffled by the greeting. She didn't recognize her, but when she opened her mouth to question the familiarity of her salutation, something cold sang through her neck. She glimpsed starlight glimmering on metal before her head rolled off her shoulders. She watched, for the split second before her mind lost power, as she fell from her own body, a gurgled scream escaping her opened throat.
Without a backward glance, the successful assassin brushed her long hair over her shoulders and stepped into the dripping trees. Saito watched from the clinic engawa. From his distant vantage point, it was impossible to see the shadowed figure of the murderer clearly. Curiousity and suspicion gnawed insistently at him, so he hurriedly tied his zori to abandon the eerily silent village and follow the killer into the woods. Though she had killed effortlessly, she made no effort to disguise her movements and Saito soon found her walking calmly through the dark trees. Was she simply so confident that she feared no pursuit…or was she a fool?
Saito considered the little he had determined about the woman and decided discretion would be wise. He concentrated on shielding his swordsman's spirit like Inoue did, but couldn't be sure if he succeeded. Even if the technique worked, it was likely that she had seen him step off the porch to give chase. Dodging between trees, he studied her graceful gait and matched her pace, making no move to intercept her but following on a parallel course. Something about the woman's tranquil demeanor and fluid movements stirred both his approval and distaste. She cared not at all that she had just murdered a young, helpless girl. Who had sent her? Who was this woman?
She lifted her hands and Saito's eyes narrowed. He moved his left hand to his daisho, bracing himself. Was she planning to attack? Even a skilled fighter like him would tire with wounds such as his. Did she know that he was hurt? Did she know who he was? Was she an Ishin, perhaps sent to silence the girl because she had tried to warn him? Her pale hands moved again and Saito's eyes widened in dismay. As if to prove how unintimidated she was, the woman had slipped a lacquered comb out of her indigo kimono and began fixing her hair.
More than a little annoyed, Saito ducked and broke into a run, circling around like a wolf hunting his prey. Apparently he had succeeded in muting his presence; the woman tucked the comb into her now knotted hair and walked straight towards him, choking back a gasp of surprise when she suddenly found herself between him and an aged pine, his katana at her throat.
"Who are you? Answer quickly or you'll end up like the girl you just murdered!" Saito growled. Generally, he tried to avoid violence towards women…but this woman was not typical in any way. She gave him an indignant look before regaining her composure and smiling pleasantly. "Forgive me, master samurai, but I'm not to speak to strangers." She didn't seem scared at all. Now that he could see her clearly in the moonlight Saito was certain they had never met, yet something in her face was both familiar and repugnant. She reminded him of someone he didn't like, though he could not recall whom. He studied her expression in silence, but her dark eyes, which were politely lowered, were empty and her smile gave no answers.
This woman was deadly. Saito knew he had to be careful. Though he saw no weapon, he knew she was armed. He suspected that she would not hesitate to kill him just as she had Li Shu…yet she made no threats and he began to wonder if she was an ally rather than an enemy. She waited as he pondered her identity, her hands clasped dociley before her dark red obi, upon which orange fireflies danced. She was dressed for travel, though she carried no baggage and had no escort. She was completely alone, yet nonchalant. Why wouldn't a beautiful woman feel threatened by an apparently rogue swordsman? Even were she experienced in combat, she had to at least acknowledge that she was in danger.
The enigmatic woman's eyebrows arched slightly, as though she were losing her patience, but her smile curved knowingly. Saito recognized the sly expression and realized that he needed to act quickly. Whatever inspired her smile could not possibly bode well for him. "Who sent you?" he growled. "Your answer determines whether I put this sword in its sheath or through your throat!" She watched him smugly, like a lynx analyzing something out of place in her territory. Perhaps he was not masking his fatigue as well as he had his swordsman's spirit. The very thought exacerbated his condition and his hand became unsteady. A thin line of red colored the woman's pale throat.
She ignored the scrape of his cold blade against her skin, raising her voice in feigned concern. "You're ill, master samurai." He opened his mouth to retort, but with the speed of the animal he had just fixed her as in his mind, she kicked high with her right foot and knocked the blade out of his weakening grasp. With him effectively disarmed, she used her momentum to swing around full-circle and kick him square in the chest. There was a satisfying rush of breath as he fell to the ground and she stepped gingerly over him. "You should rest," she counseled in an amused murmur. Then the beautiful assassin sprinted away and left him lying in the soggy leaves.
Saito closed his eyes tightly as he struggled to catch his breath again. The air had left his lungs all at once, causing his chest to ache. He tasted a familiar metallic bitterness in his mouth and turned onto his side, coughing and then spitting. The sight of fresh blood on the leaves dragged an angry growl from his burning lungs. He stood with the aid of his katana and turned to give chase, the pain temporarily numbed by a heady rush of adrenaline. He was surprised at how fast the woman was able to run in a kimono; nevertheless, he was rapidly overtaking her.
As he ran, his thumb rubbed the belt cord of his daisho. A smirk crawled onto his face as he unsheathed his wakizashi. He threw it at the tree next to the woman's head. It struck the trunk with such force that the bark splintered and cracked. The woman's startled cry mingled with the sharp sound of shattering wood. She skidded to a stop, bracing herself against the scarred trunk. Realizing that the wakizashi had been thrown and was not still in his hands, she spun around in alarm, her dark eyes wide.
A large, cold hand caught her by the throat and angry amber eyes glared into her chocolate eyes. She seemed transfixed by the odd color, unable to look away despite her earlier show of etiquette. Saito pushed her roughly against the wounded tree. "Answer my question," he growled. "I do not like repeating myself!" Her breath rasping in her strained throat, the woman sank her nails into his hand and bared her teeth. "Why should I? You haven't…told me your…name!" Though she was obviously struggling just to breathe, the coldness in her voice was palpable. Who was this fearless, icy creature?
"I'm not the one who got caught cold-heartedly killing a defenseless girl," Saito reminded her in a grating voice, unaffected by her sharp nails. He cocked his head to the side and smirked. "Besides, you never asked for my name." The woman narrowed her eyes, clearly unrepentant. "She was a spy! And you…" Aware that she could never hope to overpower him, she decided on an alternate plan of action. He wasn't paying attention to her legs; he hadn't learned from his first mistake. Shifting her weight, she rammed her left knee upward sharply, right between his legs. "…are a fool!"
Pained expletives hissed through his clenched teeth. Saito's knees buckled and he collapsed, releasing his assailant as he fought to breathe past the excruciating agony. One hand clenched the pine needles on the ground while the other protected his injured pride from further abuse. The urge to empty his gut was almost overwhelming, and the smell of blood was no help. When he hit his knees he tore the stitches in his leg; soon the blood was spotting his patched hakama.
Without a single shred of pity in her countenance, the assassin pushed Saito onto his back and kept him pinned with her foot planted firmly on his already bruised chest. "I won't ask forgiveness for what I must do, but…" She withdrew a bladed marohoshi jutte from her obi and pointed the blade at his chest. Saito managed a thin breath and grimaced in anticipation. So this was it. This was how the great Saito Hajime's life was going to end: killed by a seemingly dainty woman wielding a weapon meant only for defense, in the middle of the woods, probably no more than five miles from the security of Mibu village. Was there anything worse than such a dishonorable death?
Saito glared defiantly up at the woman who had bested him. "Your name…" he whispered hoarsely. "At least allow me that honor." A smirk flitted over her pale face. "Yes. It's your right," she acknowledged, her voice smooth and low. "I will answer both of your questions. No one sent me; I've come of my own accord to aid my brother. My name is Hijikata Naomi." She saw recognition flicker in his pain-filled eyes and hesitated, the blade still hovering above his chest. She had never seen this boy before. How did he know her? "…And who are you?" she queried warily.
There were worse things than death; this female killer was the embodiment of that fact. 'Hijikata's sister! No wonder she seems so familiar!' "Saito Hajime, lieutenant of the Fifth Squad of the Roshigumi," he answered. "I work with your brother." Hijikata Naomi narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. "Prove it," she hissed. "Your brother writes horrible haiku!" Saito mentally slapped himself. He had blurted the first thing that came to mind without thinking.
He watched his potential executioner's eyes widen briefly and her expression tighten. She bit her lower lip and stepped suddenly off his chest, dropping the jutte as her hands flew to cover her mouth. The blade pierced the earth a hair's breadth from Saito's right ear, the rust-colored tassel tickling his brow. Hijikata's sister made a strange noise and then Saito realized with a shock that she was laughing! He heaved a sigh of relief. Apparently, speaking without thinking wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It seemed that he was safe from death…for the moment.
…End Chapter I
Death Penalty
Historical Notes
Hours and hours of reading books and researching were done for this story. We shall be kind enough to share the fruits of our labor with you.
Geiko and Maiko - This is what the Kyoto Geisha refer to themselves as. It means "Women of art" and "Women of Dance." Geiko and Maiko live and work in Gion. Gion IS NOT the red-light district. It never has been. Shimabara was the pleasure quarters, and the women who worked there were called Oiran or Tayu.
Serizawa Kamo - (1830?-September 18th, 1863) Serizawa was a commander of the Shinsengumi alongside Kondo Isami. He was known to drink and cause fights. One such incident occurred in Shimabara, the red-light district of Kyoto. He lost his temper while drinking and wrecked the restaurants, causing the closure of it. The final straw was said to have been when he took the only cannon the Shinsengumi had and destroyed a fabrics dealer's home because he would not give him money. It is said that the lord of Aizu, Matsudaira Katamori, ordered Kondo to have Serizawa assassinated. According to most accounts, the assassins were Hijikata Toshizo, Okita Souji, Yamanami Keisuke, and Harada Sanosuke. Serizawa and the woman he was sleeping with were both killed, along with Hirayama Gorô and his woman. It should be noted that there are things less know about Serizawa. One would be that he was good at drawing and enjoyed sharing his pictures with children. Not much else is known about him.
Saito Hajime - (2 January 1844 - 28 September 1915) He was born Yamaguchi Hajime to Yamaguchi Yuusuke and Masu. His father bought their samurai rank and was said to belong to the shogun's information network. Saito had an elder brother named Hiroaki and an elder sister named Katsu. Saito left Edo after he killed a Hatamoto (literally meaning "Bannerman," a direct retainer of the shogun). Little is known about the circumstances that led to or directly followed the death of the Hatamoto. Saito fled to Kyoto, there changing his name to Saito Hajime. He worked briefly at a dojo as an assistant master before joining the Shinsengumi (then the Roshigumi). As a member of the Shinsengumi, he was said to be a mysterious person that was not given to small talk. There is a theory that Saito was a spy and assassin, but his family disputes this. He was captain of the Third Squad in the Shinsengumi and is said to have had skills comparable to the feared experts Okita and Nagakura. He is rumored to be responsible for the assassinations of Takeda Kanryuusai (captain of the Fifth Squad) and Tani Sanjuro (captain of the Seventh Squad). He began using the name of Yamaguchi Jiro in late 1867. It was under this name that he took command of the Shinsengumi in May of 1868 due to the incapacitation of Hijikata. When Saito and Hijikata parted, Saito continued to fight with the Aizu army until the end of the Battle of Aizu. It was thought that he was killed in action, but he was actually living as a Prisoner of War under the name Ichinose Denpachi. After his release, he was exiled to the harsh lands of Tonami. It was here that he married his first wife, Shinoda Yaso. It should be noted that Takagi Tokio and Saito resided in the same house for some time before Tokio moved to Tokyo. Saito and Yaso were married on August 25, 1871. They lived a very poor life as peddlers for a few years before, at some undetermined point and for unknown reasons, they separated. The last record of Yaso was in 1876. On June 10, 1874 Saito traveled to Tokyo to join the police department. Saito's name changed one last time to Fujita Gorô. The marriage between Saito and Tokio was sponsored by high-ranking men of Aizu, including Matsudaira Katamori, the former Lord of Aizu. They were married in either the fall of 1874 or the spring of 1875. Saito fought in the Seinan war as a member of the police. With Tokio, Saito had three sons: Tsutomu, Tsuyoshi, and Tatsuo. Tatsuo was adopted out to the Namuzawa family (relatives of Tokio that were on the verge of their family dying out). Saito retired from the police department in 1891. He worked at a museum as a security officer and then he worked at the girl's school where Tokio worked, again as a security officer. Saito died from a stomach ulcer on September 28, 1915. He died sitting up in his living room. He was known to be a heavy drinker and it is believed that this contributed to his ulcer. Soba, Saito's favorite food, was a food that many people suffering from stomach ulcers ate. Even today it is highly recommended to stomach ulcer patients. Saito rarely spoke about the Shinsengumi. One of Saito's grandsons said that, as an elderly man, Saito was frequently assaulted.
Kondo Isami - (9 November 1834 - 17 May 1868) He was born to Miyagawa Hisajiro, a farmer. His original name was Katsugoro. In 1849, his skills caught the attention of the third generation master of the Tennen Rishin-ryu. He was quickly adopted by the master and his name became Kondo Isami in 1858. Kondo married a woman named Otsune in 1860. His only child, a daughter named Tamako, was born in 1862. In 1863, Kondo became the commander of the Shinsengumi. He was accused of being arrogant at times and, due to one such incident (the Kinmon Affair) Nagakura Shinpachi submitted a missive to the Lord of Aizu for Kondo's impeachment. There were a total of three captains that signed it (more on this later)! After the Battle of Toba-Fushimi in January of 1868 he returned to Edo. He fought an Imperial force but it was a loss. He was beheaded on April 25 (according to the lunar calendar) 1868. He was executed for the murder of Sakamoto Ryoma. (Ryoma's real killer admitted to the crime in 1870). It should be noted that Kondo's head went missing after it was displayed in Kyoto. He was said to own a Nagasone Kotetsu, but many believe that it was a fake. Kondo really did have the talent of shoving his whole fist in his mouth and liked to show this off.
Hijikata Toshizo - (31 May 1835 - 20 June 1869) The short, spoiled, cold-hearted son of a farmer. Hijikata Toshizo was the youngest of six children (six, in many cultures, represents evil; just a note), and apparently his parents simply couldn't stand him, so they kicked the bucket and left him in the care of his older brother. For those of you who have seen Peacemaker Kurogane, use your imagination for a moment and picture a five-year-old with the same high-and-mighty personality that the vice commander had. Pretty annoying, huh? Well, death can change things…sometimes. Obviously it didn't work with his parents, but when some random guy had to commit seppuku, Hijikata had a "change of heart"…momentarily. Yes, he overcame his Nobody-esque-ness and cried in public. Hijikata spent his youth as a medicine peddler (now everyone else who may not have seen PMK but has seen Rurouni Kenshin…you may chuckle. You should recognize this reference.) selling the family medicine Ishida Sanyaku. He also taught himself kenjutsu and was introduced to Kondo by his brother-in-law, who helped manage (and later helped enroll Hijikata in) the Tennen Rishin-ryu dojo. Since Hijikata was raised by his brother, who we assume had children, there is a possibility he had "sisters." Hijikata helped form the Roshi/Shinsengumi and spent the rest of his life as one of its leaders. He was known for his ruthless character, but in some ways this could be interpreted as honor, and it earned him the name "Demon of the Shinsengumi" or "Demon Vice Commander" (again…if you watched/read Peacemaker…snickering is permitted). Hijikata was killed at the battle of Hakodate, shot in the back (yeah. ow. please note: he didn't have the benefit of Hakuouki's "ochimizu") on May 11 (lunar calendar) 1869. It's believed that he left a woman in Edo…a woman who promised to wait for him until the war ended. T-T
Okita Souji - (1842 - 19 July 1868) His full name was Okita Soujiro Fujiwara no Harumasa. Okita began his training at the Tennen Rishin-ryu dojo at the age of 9. Kondo had already been adopted, but Hijikata was not yet enrolled. Okita was a prodigy; he had mastered the style completely by the age of eighteen. He was known to be honest, polite and always in good spirits, but he was also known to be strict and quick-tempered with his students. Before he left for Kyoto in 1863 he changed his name to Okita Souji Fujiwara no Kaneyoshi. He was a founding member of the Shinsengumi and was an assistant to the vice commanders. It should be noted that his brother-in-law, Okita Rintarou, become a commander of the Shinchogumi, the Shinsengumi's Edo brother. Okita was the captain of the First Squad. It was said that his Tuberculosis was discovered during the Ikeda'ya Affair. When Yamanami Keisuke was forced to commit seppuku, Okita was his second. This meant that Okita was the one to behead Yamanami, which was especially sad because Yamanami and Okita were said to have had a brotherly relationship. After the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, Okita went to Edo and stayed in the guesthouse of his brother-in-law and his family. Okita lost his battle with Tuberculosis and died alone on May 30 (lunar) 1868. Rumor has it that he died after he tried to kill a black cat. He was buried that night.
Harada Sanosuke - (1840 - 16 July 1868) Historically, Harada preferred to use a spear over a sword. During his youth he was made fun of as being a peon who did not even know how to properly commit seppuku. He drew his sword and attempted to commit seppuku, but ironically failed. Harada was the captain of the Tenth Squad. While in Kyoto, Harada married Sugawara Masa, the daughter of a local merchant. Together they had a son named Shigeru. After the Battle of Toba Fushimi, Harada and Nagakura left the Shinsengumi, ending a six-year relationship with Kondo and Hijikata. Harada returned to Edo wishing to be with his family. He ended up joining the Shogitai (the same group that Myojin Yahiko's father was a part of in RK). He was shot in battle and died two days later on May 17 (lunar) 1868. His wife, Masa, learned about his death in 1872 from Kishijima Yoshitaro, a former member of the Shinsengumi. There are some rumors that Harada never joined the Shogitai but instead escaped to China, where he became a violent bandit. Japanese soldiers met an old man claiming to have been a member of the Shinsengumi during the Sino-Japanese war around 1894, but the man's actual identity was never confirmed as Harada Sanosuke.
Other information you might need to know-
Saito Hajime is 19 at the beginning of this story.
Okita Souji is 19.
Inoue Genzaburo is in his mid to late forties.
Harada Sanosuke is 23.
Hijikata Toshizo is 28.
Kondo Isami is 29.
Serizawa was about 33 when he died.