Disclaimer~ We don't own Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan, or anything relating to it. Zan nen desu ne?
Chapter One
Leave the Fighting to the Men
A small breeze whipped past the two figures that crept through the dark streets of the quiet town. The moonlight shone brightly in the night sky, momentarily revealing their swift moving bodies as they ducked in and out of the alleys. Another breeze sent a wave of pink petals into the sky; they danced around in circles before settling on the ground. The two figures stopped in the shadows of a building.
The taller figure turned and looked at her companion. "Do you need to rest?" she asked, a few strands of her long, red hair illuminated by the moon.
The smaller figure looked up and smiled, one of her blue eyes covered by a lock of brown hair. "Who needs rest, Sayo-san?" she asked, nonchalantly leaning against the building to catch her breath.
The taller figure gave a small smile and stood protectively between her and the opening of the alley. "Oh, my mistake, Asaji-chan. You looked tired for a moment. Shall we continue now then?"
The small girl let out a quiet sigh and nodded her head determined.
The two crouched down and surveyed their surroundings before darting into the moonlit pathway.
Suddenly a shriek pierced the quiet night air. The two girls stumbled into the closest alleyway as footsteps approached.
"Get down," Sayo hissed under her breath, clutching the sword around her waist.
Asaji nodded, nervously glancing at the sword; she didn't want it to come to fighting.
Just then three figures came into sight. Their ghost-white hair shone brightly under the moonlight, the swords in their hands swayed back and forth in synch with their awkward movements. Glancing back and forth, their menacing eyes took in every detail of their path.
Narrowing her eyes at them, Sayo looked deep into one's blood red eyes as he caught sight of the two girls.
A malicious smile crept on his face as he gave out a loud shriek. Sayo pushed Asaji back further into the shadows, giving her a stern look before carefully stepping out of the alleyway. Her sword was in both hands in a matter of seconds, and she held it out in front of her, challenging them with her stone cold face.
The three turned to her and swung their swords back and forth mockingly.
Taking a step forward, Sayo drew her sword back and was about to hit one when she saw someone approaching in the distance. Taking two swings, purposely missing both times, she took several steps back to avoid getting hit by their blades.
Suddenly the figures were in front of Sayo. They held their own weapons, and both turned in synch to smile at Sayo.
Surprised, Sayo watched motionlessly as one cut through the stomach of one of the white haired men with his powerful blade, while the other flipped his spear around before stabbing one, then the other.
"And that's why you should leave the fighting to the men, Ne, Sano?" the man with the green headband said, taking a heroic stance after the white haired men fell to the ground.
The other man, Sano, cleaned his spear with a sombre expression. "What were you thinking, taking these things on your own? Such an amateur fighter should run the other way."
"It was impulsive I know…I-" Sayo started.
"Well, it doesn't matter now," Sano said, turning to his companion. "What should we do with them, Shinpachi?"
Sayo took a step back, putting an arm in front of Asaji while looking at the two men warily. Asaji curiously stood on her tip-toes, trying to get a glance of the men.
"Oh?" Shinpachi said with a smile, trying to see over her protective arm. "There's another one?"
"Hmm? Oh, you're right."
"Um…" Asaji squeaked. "Thank you for saving us…"
"Yes, we owe you our lives,"
"Yes…" Sano said, clutching his spear with a powerful hand.
Shinpachi put his hand on his companion's spear, lowering it gently and whispering, "They're just little girls… What's the worst they can do?"
"They're witnesses; we can't let them—Hey!"
Sayo grabbed Asaji's arm roughly, and turned, pulling her away in an attempted escape. But before they could take more than a few steps, they found their feet hovering above the stone floor of the alley way. They two men had a hold of their shirt collars, and held them effortlessly up off the ground.
Asaji looked down at her captor. "As if I didn't already feel a height complex…"
Shinpachi smiled at her and turned to Sano, "So what do you suggest?"
"We should take them back to Hijikata-san. He can decide."
"Are you sure?" Shinpachi asked, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand.
"Yeah… We'll probably get caught if we don't…"
Shinpachi waved his hand. "Fine, fine. Well, let's go ladies."
As he said those words, Sano pulled out some rope that had been tied neatly to his belt.
"What's that for?" Sayo asked with wide eyes.
Shinpachi simply smiled as he and Sano tied up the two girls and threw them over their shoulders.
"Can't we be reasonable about this?" Asaji struggled with the rope, wriggling on Shinpachi's broad shoulder.
"You already tried to run once." Sano dismissed, looking over at her determined little face.
Shinpachi laughed, shaking her slightly, "A very sad attempt, by the way."
"Why did you have to try to run, Onee-san?" Asaji pouted, looking over at her sister.
Sayo gave her a look that seemed to say "shut up!" from Sano's shoulder, resting her chin on her bound fists. "Don't take this personally, but you had some rather… ominous expressions."
"I'm deeply offended… Why ever would you think that of us gentlemen?" Sano said as they began to walk along the dark streets.
"Well if you haven't noticed… the two of us are tied up and being carried over your shoulder… Doesn't seem too polite me."
"This is the way of the Shinsengumi." Shinpachi smiled proudly, and elbowed his friend. "Taking women hostage. Ne, Sano?"
Sano gave him a crooked smile, his eyes flicked to Asaji as she spoke. "The Shinsengumi…? Awh…We really are doomed then, huh?"
Shinpachi's smile broadened, "I wouldn't be surprised. We are pretty ruthless…"
"You girls don't stand a chance."
"Will we be able to say our goodbyes? I had a small cat back in one of the alleys that I was starting to think of as family…" Asaji said sadly, going limp on Shinpachi's shoulder.
As they walked past empty shops, no lights could be seen besides that of the large round moon. Their path was dusty beneath their feet and the only sounds were those of their footsteps and the occasional cricket singing outside the small village.
A man stepped out from one of the many patches of darkness, blue robes fluttering behind him as he moved in front of the four, hoping to join their party.
"You know… stealing is considered a crime, even for the Shinsengumi. You could have just paid the 500 yen," the man spoke, motioning toward the two girls.
"Hey! I'm worth way more than 500 yen… wait, we are not prostitutes!" Sayo yelled, and began to struggle, trying to free herself in hopes of correcting the man physically for what he had said.
"500 yen…? Prostitutes? Shinsengumi? I'm so lost!" Asaji cried.
Shinpachi and Sano began to snicker at the accusation.
"Eh, that's what they all say." The man waved his hand dismissively as he fell into step next to his comrades.
"Nice of you to join us, Souji." Sano greeted, somewhat sarcastically. "We're almost there."
"Where exactly are we going?" Asaji asked.
"Some place where all our problems will be solved," Shinpachi replied.
"I don't like the sound of that..."
After a few more moments, the men somewhat gently set the two sisters on the ground.
Before she examined her surroundings, Asaji promptly raised her tied hands up to them men expectantly.
Shinpachi raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you want me to do with that?"
"I think she wants you to hold her hands," the new member to their party, Souji, said with a smile.
"Oh, in that case..." Shinpachi said, starting to reach down.
Asaji pulled back her hands and glared at him.
"Oh? Was I mistaken? That can't be right," Souji said; he walked over to her and took her hands in his own, holding them too tightly for her to let go. "See? You just didn't do it right."
Shinpachi rolled his eyes as Souji smiled and leaned to Asaji. "Don't try to escape. Or I'll kill you," he whispered to her, his smile broadening as he leaned away.
Asaji quickly turned to Sayo, a worried expression on her face.
Sayo tore her eyes away from her sister to glare at Souji. "Are you going to untie us? Or do we have to hop wherever you insist on taking us?"
"Whoa now, no need to get angry," he replied before turning to Sano. "Who are these girls, anyway?"
Sano hesitated before whispering something to him.
Souji's good natured smile quickly faded. "Why are they still alive?"
Shinpachi scratched the back of his neck, clearly trying to find the right way to explain their actions.
Sano grabbed Sayo's hands tightly in a restraint as the door slid open and in walked a man with a powerful presence.
His long black hair flowed behind him as a breeze from outside whipped past him, continuing into the small, dark room. The moonlight illuminated the right side of his face, while the light from inside the room showed the rest of his stern, yet somehow soft, expression. His long robes swayed a bit before the breeze died down. His deep purple eyes gave the room a glance over before focusing on the two bound girls held by the hands of the Shinsengumi members.
"What is this?" he asked.
"It seems Sano and Shinpachi here thought it would be fa funny joke to keep these girls alive after seeing things they shouldn't have," Souji reported, looking at them. "I'd be willing to take care of them if you need, Hijikata-san."
He smiled as the two nervously struggled against their restraints.
"Why do you need to go right into thfe violence, Souji?" Hijikata asked with a sigh as he sat down.
Sayo and Asaji, with the help of the three Shinsengumi members, were thrown to the ground in front of the man they both knew was the deciding factor of whether they were to live or not.
Translation Notes:
Onee-san - Elder Sister