Hijikata Toshizo enjoyed the simple things in life. Haiku, smoking, meditating, sleeping.. food. Most didn't know it, but Toshizo had a love of food. He personally picked Ayumu out for the chef position in the Shinsengumi. Besides the fact the she was an excellent watcher, and kunoichi in general, she was the best cook he'd ever seen. She was quick and efficient, yet she put a great deal of care into the preparation of the food. Back in the early days of the Shinsengumi, he often-times sat with her, watching her as she prepared breakfast, when every one was asleep. But, as days went on, he stayed less and less because of the work put on him due to the growing number of officers.
He never got a chance to talk to Ayumu herself; she rarely did missions, and he wasn't exactly a regular in the kitchen. He always found her sweet and caring, and was always interesting conversation - Not to mention the fact that she was gorgeous beyond belief. She looked similar to her brother when he was under-cover as a geisha.
He took a puff from the pipe lodged between his thin lips, closing his eyes. He pondered over her on occasion, and often he'd think of visiting her, but he decided against it every time. If he went to look for her, if he found her, they'd start talking, and he'd end up missing from his room for hours on end. Okita would get worried, or he'd be wanted for something, and an officer would go into a panic, not knowing what to do without him there.
He took a blank scroll from a pouch near his bed, grabbing a brush and inkwell from the shelf on his other side. He furrowed his dark brows in thought as he dipped the brush in ink, preparing to write.
After a moment, began to stroke, making lines down the scroll paper, which, translated into English, read:
"Her small hands create
So many amazing things;
Those hands astound me..."