If there's one last thing she's given a chance to see one last time, it's to see them happy.

What kind of life they're living, she wondered. How would she greet them if they see her?

She put her hand above the heart that throbs painfully.

She set her eyes before her, a very interesting city.

The sky was slowly being covered by dark, angry clouds.

It's alright. She remembers the route.

A smile formed at her lips, eyes closed as she reminisced.

Would they remember her, she wondered once more before moving forward.

~'~

No one remembers her, it seemed.

But that's alright. They're not them anyway.

She passed a store and saw a silver perm. She smiled. She would like to have another parfait so she went inside... Only to find out he's with a companion. She swore she saw his companion living in the streets the last time she was here.

But that's alright. There's still time she'd saved.

She passed by a snack house and her stomach rumbled. She smiled. As she walked inside, a beautiful girl in a short kimono welcomed her. Before she can reciprocate a greeting, a familiar face has shown up. It was the spy... and is he asking her for a date? They seemed to have forgotten about her as they locked themselves to their own bubble.

But that's alright. She can come back later.

She passed by a host club and was stuck in the crowd. She smiled. She ought to excuse herself when another familiar face was thrown at the crowd before her. She looked back and saw a pretty lady in a peach kimono smile and raised her fists. Kondou-san laughed affectionately as people go away from the mess. Seems like he didn't noticed her.

But that's alright. She doesn't want to interfere.

She passed by the Shinsengumi compound and was struck by its silence. She smiled. It's a perfect scene to surprise them! She sneaked in, feeling silly for acting like a thief, but she stood frozen when there's a large, white dog staring at her at the hallway. They stared at each other for a few more seconds before the dog barked, wagged his tail and went back to where he came from. She followed.

From there, she can hear voices. One was dearly familiar, one was foreign to her ears. She peeked from the corner and saw a young man with glasses carrying a tray with two cups and a bottle. The other put his cigarette in the ashtray and looked up. A rather deep voice, rough with edge, said something that made the other smile and shake his head. The new voice sounds kind and gentle, a friend she didn't know he had. Her heart throbbed again but she pretended not to notice. They were seated at the engawa. They started talking silently after seconds of stillness and quiet. How she wished she could join them for a cup of tea with tobasco.

But that's alright. He seemed content with a slight smile on his face, and that's enough.

Strangely, the compound was empty except for the three she saw just now. No one was around. Maybe something's going on Kabuki district that's why she saw a lot of them in there? She was about to go back when she came across his room.

Her brother's room. She laughed. What kind of secrets she's bound to find? It's silly, really, but she missed him. She slowly slid the door. She's not surprised no one was there. But the room was clean and looked like it was properly maintained. His files were organized and no unmentionables was found anywhere in the room nor his closet. She felt prouder than ever, for raising this amazing boy who grew up to be an excellent young man.

But where is he? Hmm, is he on Kabuki District too, or he's patrolling on other areas? She almost sighed. And it's a special day, too.

She eyed the notebook sitting rather conspicuously at his table, the only one not arranged. Sure, she may have poked through his things enough to make herself angry if she were in his shoes but this calls for emergency as she has no way of contacting him. Yes, definitely an emergency.

She opened the notebook and a little skim was all it took to know it's some kind of journal with reports mixed in in accordance to date. From the first pages, he was always keen on obliterating a certain Vice Chief which made her laugh, catch a suspicious long-haired samurai, protecting Kondou-san and torture Yamazaki. It's all about Shinsengumi and his division... until she reached the middle part. Silver, glasses, dogs and a certain redhead that keeps on popping up whenever he reports to his patrols in Kabuki district. Curious.

Just when she's to turn a page, a note fell from the notebook. Confusion etched to her face as she read his itinerary for the day.

May 26

6:00 am - morning practice

8:00 am - pester china Kabuki District Anniversary

11:00 am - bomb Hijibaka's patrol car

1:00 pm - annoy china Afternoon patrol at the park to the bridge

3:00 pm - flower shop

3: 30 pm - snacks and spice shop

4:00 pm - cemetery

6: 00 pm compound

8:00 pm - evening training

11:00 pm - aneue


Happy [belated] birthday, Mitsuba-chan!

This was supposed to be a short one shot, what happened?

Wish me luck to end this next chapter, I don't write angst, ugh.

Chunchun