RK: Why hello there, beautiful readers. I'm so happy that a lot had been sending me messages regarding this story (uhmm, reviews are welcome too, hahaha). It made me more eager to update fast! Anyways, while I greatly appreciate your pms, there was one or two that actually caused me to almost drop the coffee I was sipping. So you guys want me to write smut for the pairings? Well.. *scratches head* I haven't written steamy contents in ages.. And we're still in the first part! Let's deal with those things when Ayane and Souji become best friends.
…which is never going to happen so forget it. Just kidding! Bwahaha. Let me introduce the fourth girl for now, ne?
Part I: A Fated Encounter? (Nice Meeting You, Mr. Sunshine)
"Breakfast is ready!"
Locks of titian hair bounced up and down as the girl excitedly went inside the house, right after releasing the wooden weapon she had been training with for the past hours. She snatched the tray of food from her mother's grasp—who wasn't in the least surprised by her action—and merrily went to the dining area, placing it on the floor as she plopped down and waited for her parents to join her. Her father, from whom she had inherited those energetic magenta irises, entered the room as well; followed by her mother who was holding a pot of steaming tea.
"Alright, let's eat! Itadakimasu!" uttered the girl after the married couple took their respective places facing their only daughter.
Megumi Saiga had always loved the rapturous feeling of enjoying a meal with her parents. Her mother was terrifically a great cook and her father always supplied jokes in their hearty conversations. That was why despite her wish for siblings, Megumi felt totally satisfied by having just her parents with her. They may be strict at times but they lavished their only child with many things other than love and attention—though they were aware that she wasn't really materialistic. Still, being a well-off merchant who traveled often to sell goods to nobilities, Megumi's father always brought her gifts from his journey. The only downside to it was that she missed her father's jolliness which was their home's source of warmth. Of course, she knew her worrywart mother did too; and it pained Megumi to see her dreary whenever they bid her father goodbye.
And today, he was going again, just after spending three days with his family.
"Aww, cheer up, Megu-chan! That expression doesn't suit my beautiful daughter's face. Anyways, I still wonder why you don't want to see your dear old papa smiling when you finally marry someone!" the merchant said, comically wiping fake tears from his eyes. "Right, Mitsuko?"
The older female smiled in response before answering. "She'll marry when she wants to, anata."
"But she's already seventeen! Don't you want to see our grandchildren blessed with both of our good looks too?" he whined. Megumi simply rolled her eyes; this topic had been brought up by her father ever since he returned from his last trip. When she queried why this was so, he had explained that he got so envious of an old man walking with his grandchildren on the street. "Seriously, father, are you that eager to become a *jii-chan?"
She expected him to drop the subject but immediately poured her slight frustration into a sigh when the middle-aged man nodded with much vigor. "You bet I am! But, Megu-chan, remember that my son-in-law must be strong, handsome, and will treat you like his princess or else I won't accept him! Ah, and he should be able to protect you from any harm—"
"If you're going to suggest marrying a samurai again, then I'll remain unwed for the rest of my life.." she instantly cut off her father's words. I know it's your life-long dream to become one; but father, marrying your daughter off to a samurai won't fulfill that..
Feeling a tad guilty due to her father's deflated mood, Megumi decided to steer their conversation to something else. "By the way, father, I'm positive that I've perfected the previous technique you taught me.. So, when will I learn a new one?"
The merchant's countenance brightened up as he replied. "You'll have to wait for my next return then. Ahhh, my cute Megu-chan's very talented! I'm so proud.." He paused to look at his wife when he abruptly recalled something. "Mitsuko, remember those rice cakes you packed for me? I let a patron of mine, a nobleman from Kyoto, taste one and he got so delighted that he ate them all! Well, he paid for it though, ahahaha. The bad thing is.. He asked if I can bring you with me in my next visit.."
Megumi's mother blinked a few times before answering. "I-I suppose I can come but.." Her gaze then went to her only daughter. "What about Megumi? We've never left her by herself here.."
Time for a little sacrifice, Megumi. "No worries, *okaa-san, *otou-san! If it's for only a week, I'm certain that I can manage."
"I know you can, but—"
"No buts, okaa-san! I promise I'll be fine on my own.." And I'll be able to visit Dr. Hasegawa's clinic after my training too!
Megumi's lips curved into a sly beam at that and for a moment, she forgot how good her father was at reading people based on their facial expressions. She slightly gulped when a frown made its way to his visage and as she feared, her father had found out what she was thinking. "I'm confident that you will, Megu-chan. I have one reminder for you though: don't you dare go and see that young physician while we're away, am I clear?"
Megumi was about to complain when Mitsuko voiced out her agreement. "Your father and I both know about your dreams of becoming a doctor but that Kyouya Hasegawa is not one to be trusted, my dear. Aren't you aware about the gossips? They said that he recently became very picky about his patients."
"With the tension between the bakufu and the *Ishin shishi, no one can really be trusted. Not even doctors.." the middle-aged merchant added.
Sensing that there was no point in arguing with her parents—and she loved them too much to disobey them—Megumi suggested that they pack everything they need since they had to go before high noon. Nevertheless, the doting couple was hesitant to leave their only child by herself so in the end, they left the house just a couple of minutes before sundown. Indeed, it was the first time that Megumi was alone in their modest home but at least, her parents were together. It's like I've set them up for a weeklong date. A giggle escaped her lips at that thought as she wheeled back inside.
Walking on the veranda, her magenta orbs caught sight of her father's spear leaning against a wooden post. He probably forgot this when we were training last night. I don't know where father keeps this but oh well, their room seemed like the best choice. Despite the fact that the middle-aged merchant had always wanted to become a member of the warrior class albeit not coming from a samurai family, he didn't acquaint himself with the katana and instead, trained himself in *sojutsu. After being wed to Megumi's mother, Mitsuko, he hoped that he would have a son with whom he could pass his knowledge to. Unfortunately, fate was not on his side and they were gifted with a daughter instead. Still and all, the married couple couldn't have been any happier with their little girl.
At the age of nine, Megumi's father resolved that he would teach her the art of wielding a spear despite her gender and Mitsuko's opposition. Little Megumi was very obedient and she improved with each passing week. The titian-haired lass was extremely ecstatic when she first held a real *yari—she was thirteen at that time—yet her father told her that he would give Megumi her own after he taught her everything he knew. Influenced by her father's dreams, she imagined that if she were a boy born with samurai blood, she would most likely be a spearman.
Notwithstanding that thought, Megumi's ambition steered in a different light than that of her father's after an incurable disease swept their former hometown in Edo—claiming the lives of her grandparents and close cousins. Terrified that their only daughter might contract the illness as well, her parents then moved to Osaka. It was then and there that Megumi vowed to help others by becoming erudite in the medical field. Immediately after moving in their new home, she befriended the local physician in their neighborhood and a few others in the nearby villages. Little by little, she learned the basics such as first aid and treating mild cuts. By observing and helping in the clinic of her medic friends, eventually, she became knowledgeable enough to create herbal medicines, antidotes, etcetera. Megumi got so engrossed in the medical field that if given the chance, she was a hundred percent sure that she could perform a difficult procedure just like a real physician.
For two years, her parents had permitted her to assist the local doctor of their town until last year when a young physician named Kyouya Hasegawa came and established a clinic of his own. Obviously, Megumi opted to make his acquaintance in hopes of learning something new; yet as months go by, Kyouya's reputation got tainted by malicious rumors. Megumi disregarded them but when her father then commanded her to stay away from him, she had no choice but to obey.
Her short reverie was cut as her attention shifted to the florid comb on the low table near the corner where she placed her father's yari. Of all the things mother could've left behind. Didn't she tell me a lot of times that she won't be able to live without that comb? Megumi took the forgotten item and the spear once more, exiting her parents' room and hastily traipsed outside their home. I hope I can still make it to them.. Running as if she could fly, she gripped the spear tightly and prayed that her parents haven't gone too far.
She smiled in relief when her father's wagon came into view, parked in the middle of the street. Panting hard, Megumi neared the horse-drawn vehicle only to find that all of the merchandises were gone; and so were her parents. Panic seized the girl and she frantically looked for them while she clutched her father's spear.
After a few minutes of her nerve-wracking search, Megumi ceased in her tracks and felt her heart stopped at the scene that had met her. There they were, her strict but loving parents, lying on the ground in a pool of crimson. Gone was the light and laughter in her father's eyes, now replaced by lifelessness through magenta mirrors. Her mother, the ever-resplendent, older version of Megumi, had her torso slashed as blood stained her kimono. Megumi wanted to scream and cry but no words came out of her lips. The smell of her parents' blood was defiling the oxygen she breathed inside her lungs. She remained there, standing in front of her parents' corpses, paralyzed by the horrifying and crippling truth that they had left her; that they would never again grace her with their presence; that they were dead.
"N-No.. O-Okaa-s-san.. O-Otou-san.." her voice broke with every syllable she uttered.
Without warning, Kyouya Hasegawa stepped out of a corner and neared the stunned maiden. "Megumi, what are you doing out here?"
She couldn't find the ability to speak. Her thoughts were clouded by the harsh reality that fate had taken the lives of her parents. Refusing to believe the truth, she walked towards the young physician and violently shook his shoulders. "D-Dr. Hasegawa! P-Please save them! Save my parents! They're—"
"They're gone, Megumi."
The girl sank to the ground, irises wide and hands trembling while tears flow mercilessly on her cheeks. "N-No.. Th-That's not true! No!"
Kyouya unabashedly wrapped his arms around her, stroking her luscious titian tresses with gentle fingers. "Come with me."
Suddenly registering the questionable fact that the young doctor was unreasonably present in the murder scene of her parents, Megumi pushed him away; standing back up to point her weapon to him. "Y-You.. Tell me, what the hell are you doing here, Dr. Hasegawa?!"
Also moving in a standing position, Kyouya dusted his garments and stared at her with a blank expression written upon his facial lineaments. "You should've never seen this. Oh well, if you're looking for an explanation regarding your parents' deaths, then let me give you one. Your father was an established merchant who knew a lot of people; which was why months ago, we had asked him to secretly supply arms to the Choshu forces. However, he refused and we've suspected that he had his loyalties to the *Kyoto shugoshoku. Obviously, traitors like him must be eliminated. Your mother was more or less, an accomplice, so she ought to die as well."
My parents were killed just because of some baseless suspicions?! They weren't a part of any political bullshit! Megumi's anger was devouring her as she breathily asked, "y-you're a member of the Ishin shishi?"
"Yes. And if you're going to ask, well, I'm not really a doctor. I'm a pro-sonnō jōi samurai from the Choshu-han. Now, this might sound ridiculous but Megumi Saiga, I've grown fond of you. Think about it, you'd make a fine wife for a warrior fighting for a good cause such as myself. You will—"
Blood in place of words came out of his mouth as the girl impaled her weapon in his stomach. She then removed the crimson-stained spear while she watched Kyouya cough more blood and fall beside the two dead bodies. "Are you fucking insane?! You're asking me to come with you and be your wife when you killed my parents?!"
Megumi suddenly heard voices shouting the fake doctor's name.
"T-They didn't die by my sword.. I-If I can't have you, then you must die here as well!" vociferated Kyouya, prompting the enraged girl to realize that her parents' real murderers were the ones calling out for him. Deprived of options, Megumi kneeled and held the cold, bloody hands of her parents for an ephemeral moment before she ran towards her father's wagon; riding the horse and directing it back to their house.
Once she got home, rain poured from the heavens while Megumi cried her heart out and sobbed for her loss; the spear falling from her grasp and down to the muddied ground. They're gone.. My parents are gone.. Then, in time with the roar of thunder and lightning, she perceived that there's a great possibility that her parent's killers would also come for her. Scurrying to their room, she removed her soaking garments and quickly put on her father's clothing. His pants were too big for her so she opted to wrap the ends with white bandages; causing them to appear baggy. Her titian locks were carelessly tied in a low ponytail as Megumi ran to her own room, hastily placing her needed things—including her mother's comb—in a satchel.
Getting her father's yari from the ground, she rode the horse again and with one final look at her beloved home, Megumi pulled its reins and left—unconcerned that her wet clothes were sticking onto her skin as she battled against the heavy downpour; while her tears continued to fall without end.
After a few days, Megumi found herself wandering in the capital. She came to Kyoto hitching a ride in a cart full of fresh vegetables owned by a farmer from a certain village—where she sold the horse to a wealthy man in order to buy herself some food. Enveloped by grief, Megumi was going aimlessly at life, taking action in whatever comes first in her mind; which was why she somehow got to Kyoto. Still, she cared not and concluded that if this sense of purposelessness went on, she might as well take her own life.
"The Shinsengumi is raiding a store a few blocks from here!"
Megumi didn't give a damn about the chatters of the townsfolk but when someone uttered the word 'Ishin shishi', her feet automatically moved as she tightened her hold on her spear. Arriving in front of the said establishment, she witnessed a number of men clad in similar hued haori arresting what she heard were secret members of the anti-shogunate faction. Those guys in light-blue uniforms are most likely the Shinsengumi.. Bursting out of the store, a man tried to escape and ran away. Megumi couldn't simply stand and watch another bastard belonging to the same group that had murdered her parents flee to safety so she catapulted herself into the commotion and instantly sheathed her yari to his stomach—not unlike what she had done to Kyouya.
The wounded man was easily caught by the Shinsengumi soldiers; yet to her surprise, they also grabbed hold of her arms. "L-Let go of me! Is this how you thank someone for helping you stop that Ishin shishi guy?!"
"Release him!" shouted a deep, authoritative voice from behind them. They did what they told as Megumi twirled to regard whoever gave the command. Exasperated magenta irises then met a pair of azure eyes twinkling in mild amusement. The man adjusted the green bandana on his forehead before opening his mouth to speak again. "Well, thanks for helping us, erm..?"
"It's Meg—I mean Mamoru.. And you are?"
"Captain of the second unit of the Shinsengumi, Shinpachi Nagakura!" he answered immediately.
"I see. Then I'm glad to be of assistance to you, Nagakura-san." And I hope you torture those you've arrested. On the contrary, you can just end their lives here and now.
Megumi had already rotated to leave when Shinpachi called out to her. "Wait a second, Mamoru-kun! Say, are you interested in joining us? You're short for a man but I think you got the skills. And we're in need of recruits as of late so.."
Me fighting that cursed loyalist faction alongside these guys? I think I've finally found my real calling. Watch over me, okaa-san, otou-san. I swear that I'm going to avenge your deaths.
"With pleasure. But you better be sure that I get to kill some Ishin shishi bastards.. Deal, captain?"
At the Shinsengumi headquarters, Megumi was introduced to the commanding officers and the other captains. Even though Shinpachi was the one who coaxed her to join, the chief appointed her to the tenth division, led by Sanosuke Harada, due to the fact that the red-haired captain was also a spear-wielder. Luckily, they haven't found out her real gender. Nevertheless, since she was disguising as Mamoru Saiga, she was to share a room with the other soldiers of the tenth unit. Pretending to be a man in front of her new comrades during meals and sword practice proved to be one of the hardest things she did in her entire existence. Notwithstanding her difficulties, most of her fellow soldiers were kind enough to guide Megumi in her first day as a member of the Kyoto special police force.
The tenth unit was assigned for evening patrol yet their captain permitted Megumi to stay in the compound instead. She grabbed that opportunity to sneak into the bathhouse and cleanse herself, making sure that no one was inside. Megumi also went to the huge sleeping chamber where she would spend the night with her fellow soldiers and fixed her futon a couple of distance away from the others. This is going to be a long night.. She opted to take a quick shut-eye while she still had the entire room for herself.
After a short period of serenity, voices reached her alert ears, signaling that the men had gotten back and causing Megumi to forcibly pull herself from her nap's embrace. She cracked one eye open to see them enter the room while they chatted among themselves.
"Haven't you heard? Another boy was given his own room!"
"You mean the other *bishounen from Captain Toudou's unit? Heh, seems like they really favor those with girly faces!"
Megumi wasn't catching up to her comrades' talk so she asked—in the lowest pitch possible to make her voice sound mannish—what they were discussing.
"Hey guys, Mamoru-kun's still awake!" one soldier cheerily voiced out.
A tall lad with an impassive visage was the one who answered her question. "Yo, newbie. Well, apparently, there were two soldiers from the eighth division who got special privileges like having their own rooms and dining with the captains."
"The first one to get such privileges was Aoi Katsu from Captain Okita's group. And he too, looks too pretty to be a man," added another soldier.
"Yeah, but according to a first unit soldier whom I befriended, he's deadly as hell."
Their conversation about the enviable treatment the three effete men received and their physical appearances went on, causing Megumi's sleepiness to dance away while she listened to them. I'm starting to be tempted into using my looks to get my own room too.
"Or maybe it's because they're not sword-wielders? I heard from an acquaintance that Takuya Tsubasa fought with a naginata and Hiroshi Mikoto uses short dual blades.."
Out of the blue, a bulky soldier went over and snaked an arm around Megumi's shoulders. "Our very own Mamoru-kun doesn't use a sword as well! Plus, he's also a bishounen.. Sooner or later, you'll be treated like them, too. Awwww, I'm so jealous!"
Unused to being touched—most especially since she repulsively remembered how Kyouya had embraced her that fateful night—Megumi removed his arm and excused that she was thirsty. She traipsed towards the direction of the well but as thoughts of the fake physician and the murder of her parents pervaded her mind, Megumi didn't realize that Shinpachi was standing near it, staring at her with a puzzled look. She also didn't realize that she had begun to cry unconsciously and was shocked when she heard his voice. "Hey, Mamoru-kun.. What's wrong? Men aren't supposed to show tears, you know.."
Megumi forced her tears to stop yet it only worsened her hiccups. "S-Sorry, sir. I-I'm going back.."
In her haste, she bumped into someone, causing her to fall in her rear. Megumi was about to apologize but was halted from doing so when a gentle hand helped her to get up. "You okay?"
"Y-Yes, I.." she paused as she stared upon a young man, about the same height as her, with glowing caramel orbs and bronze hair. Based on the men's description, this must be Takuya Tsubasa..
Another effeminate lad, whom she recognized as Hiroshi Mikoto due to her raven locks and cerulean eyes, came to stand beside Takuya. Shinpachi then stepped towards them to introduce Megumi. "Remember the short spearman I told you about a while ago? This is him. His name is—"
All of a sudden, Takuya dropped the question she feared the most. "You're a girl, are you not?"
Eh..?
Ehhhhh?! How did he..?!
Takuya pointed a finger to her clothing before she spoke once more. "You should've bandaged your chest if you plan to walk around in your sleeping yukata."
At those words, Megumi quickly covered her bosom with her arms, not seeing the flabbergasted expression upon Shinpachi's face—which was beginning to redden with each fleeting second. I'm done. I'm so done. They'll certainly remove me or worse, make me commit seppuku. Why did this have to happen when I finally found a way to avenge my parents' deaths?!
"Nagakura-san, I think we ought to tell this to oji-san.."
Hiroshi walked over to her and led Megumi to the direction of the captains' rooms as Takuya and Shinpachi went to get Takuya's uncle, or rather their chief. She and Hiroshi stood on the engawa; with Megumi anxiously waiting for the two to return. When Shinpachi finally came back, he politely asked Hiroshi to go first. And as he regarded the titian-haired girl, he comically placed his hands upon his head and said, "I knew it! Ha! It's ridiculously weird of me to think of a man as cute! Wait till I shove this revelation on your face, Sano! So, why didn't you tell me in the first place, Mamo—erm..?"
"I have my reasons, Nagakura-san. If it's alright, I'd like to explain everything when we're in front of the chief so that I won't have to repeat myself.."
Sighing in defeat, Shinpachi beckoned her to follow him to a spacious room. Inside, she saw Takuya, Hiroshi, the commanding officers, and a chestnut-haired bishounen whom she guessed to be Aoi Katsu, all seated as if this was an important meeting when Megumi knew that they would simply discuss the date of her death. After she and Shinpachi sat down, she was asked to state her real name and her real reason for agreeing with the second division captain to join the Miburo. Unable to contain the pain she was feeling, tears slid down her cheeks once again while she narrated the murder of her parents and her desire for revenge.
"Saiga, the Shinsengumi acts as protectors of peace in Kyoto. We can't have anyone with a mindset for vengeance in our corps," emphasized Hijikata, the vice commander.
"I know! But won't I be performing that too when I kill anyone, especially those damned loyalists, who stand in the Shinsengumi's way? What difference will it make?" she protested, holding on to that tiny light of hope that maybe, just maybe, they would still let her be a full-fledged soldier. I'll bow in front of every captain if needed! I've nothing more to lose! Megumi thought as she indeed positioned herself into a bow.
"My, my.. She sounds like Souji and its giving me the chills. The decision rests in your hands, Kondo-san," asserted Aoi. For a few seconds, they were silent; and when the chief was about to speak, Takuya unfortunately beat him to it. "I think we ought to give her a chance, oji-san."
"I agree, however—"
"Then it's settled. Let me introduce myself formally to you, Megumi-chan. My name's Tamaki Tsubasa. Both Hinata and I are under Heisuke-kun's unit. Similar to you, we're pretending to be men and go by the names Takuya and Hiroshi. Oh, and my deepest condolences."
What the.. They're girls?! Does this mean..
The chestnut-haired man offered her a smile when Megumi dragged her gaze towards him. "I suppose you want to know if I'm a girl too, huh? Well, yes I am. I'm Ayane Katsu but the boys from Souji's group know me as Aoi. Welcome to the Shinsengumi, Megumi-chan."
Obviously trying to will his exasperation away, Hijikata had his face covered by one hand, removing it after a short while to scold the chief's niece. "Tsubasa, Kondo-san hasn't stated his resolve yet! Why the hell did you give away your disguises?! And you too, Katsu!"
"I-It's fine, Toshi. Either way, I've already decided to let her remain here. Saiga, you need to keep on pretending as a man like Katsu, Mikoto, and my niece. And since they all have their rooms near the captains' sleeping quarters, you'll have your own too." Yosh! Special privileges! I should've initially told them about my gender had I known it'll end up like this..
Sannan, the general commander, agreed to Kondo's verdict without objections. "If Saiga-kun proved to be as skilled as Nagakura-kun previously told us, then it would be a waste of her talents if we simply threw her out, ne? Ah, and I suggest that we group the ladies in one unit to avoid more conflict."
"Then I'll talk to Heisuke and Harada-kun tomorrow about transferring Saiga to the eighth division so that only Katsu would be separated from the girls.." replied the chief.
Ayane's orbs widened after hearing Kondo's utterance. "Wait a second, Kondo-san! Why can't I join them too?!"
Hijikata then cleared his throat, causing Ayane to look at him. "I think it's about time we inform you about our debate regarding your promotion as the first unit's vice captain. Katsu, I've no intention of inflating your ego but your reports for the past month and a half have been.. well.. good; in contrast with Byakuya Matsuda who was—"
"I'm positive that the current vice captain's just too afraid of Souji especially when he spouts idiotic threats and nonsense. That's why he's performing poorly," quibbled Ayane, unconcerned that she had just cut off Hijikata.
"Who's spouting nonsense, Ayane-sama?"
All heads turned towards the doorway to stare at Souji, donning the same feline smirk Megumi saw this afternoon during her initial encounter with the troop captains. He seemed to have just recently awaken, the sleepiness in his emerald irises were still present in addition with his bed hair. "Oh, if it isn't the shorty Shinpachi-san brought."
Kondo gestured for him to take a seat as he told him the whole situation and Megumi's real gender. When the chief had finished explaining, Ayane opened her mouth to continue her complaints. "As I was saying earlier, you guys should blame Souji for Vice Captain Matsuda's performance. Oh, but thanks for noticing my hard work, Hijikata-san! Still and all, I'm requesting to be with my fellow ladies in Heisuke-kun's division.."
"Hmm, but Ayane-sama, wouldn't it be better for you to take Megumi-chan's place in the tenth division instead?" suggested Souji.
Ayane's cheeks flared before she made a response. "S-Shut up! And how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me Ayane-sama, you pest! It's annoying as hell!"
"Not until you quit addressing me as 'Captain Green' in front of my own group.."
"You're such a dumb brat! Didn't you know that it was Hinata-chan who pointed out your rare eye colour to me?! I bet she finds 'Captain Green' appropriate for you too! Ne, Hinata-chan? It suits him very much, right?"
The others may not notice it but Hinata's pale face reddened in the slightest bit before she gave Ayane a nod. Souji's signature smirk then disappeared from his catlike lineaments; he seemed to be taken aback by the retort of the currently beaming Ayane. "W-Why you..!"
Megumi watched as Sannan quietly exit the room and Kondo sighed helplessly while the two refused to cease from throwing banters to each other. Hijikata furiously rubbed his temples; she feared that any minute now, the vice commander wouldn't be able to contain his rage. Tamaki had an impassive expression upon her countenance and Hinata looked adorable trying to persuade Ayane and Souji to quiet down lest the increasing noise rouse the other captains. And I suppose, that'll cause more headaches for Hijikata-san..
All of a sudden, Shinpachi poked her arm, slightly jolting Megumi yet she met his gaze nonetheless. "Those two won't stop until the oni no fukucho erupts so we better leave before that happens. Let's go, Megumi-chan!"
Shinpachi discreetly gave Tamaki and Hinata a thumbs up and then walked as silent as a brawny man like him could towards the exit, glancing back at Megumi as he beckoned her to stand and go outside as well. Once they were both out of the room, Megumi followed the copper-haired captain despite having no idea where he was heading. He brought her into an empty room and told her the location of the other girls' chambers. So, I'm neighbors with Katsu-san whose room was next to Tsubasa-san's and then Mikoto-san's. She then informed Shinpachi that she needed to collect her things in the large room designated for tenth unit soldiers. "Let's just ask Sano to get them for you in the morning. Do you think that they won't notice your.. erm.. nevermind. A-Anyways, it's too risky for you to go back there..!"
Megumi arched a fine brow at that. Actualization surged over her when Shinpachi took another swift glance at her bosom and she gifted him with a rather loud slap to the cheek. "P-Pervert!"
"I-It's not like that! I-I swear that my thoughts are clean!" he retaliated instantly, the shape of her palm already showing on his skin. "W-What I'm telling you is that.. You should flatten them with bandages just like what Tamaki-chan said.." F-Flatten..?!
Shinpachi gulped at the sight of her infuriated look, realizing the mistake in his suggestion. "M-Megumi-chan..? I'm saying this out of pure concern! I'm not a pervert!"
Megumi turned her back to him, breathing in and out to calm herself. It wouldn't do any good to her if the commanding officers found her beating the life out of the second unit captain moments after they had just given her a second chance.
Sensing that the girl was indeed angry with him, Shinpachi then left her and ran towards the direction where the captains' rooms were located. Megumi blinked in bewilderment when he did so yet she remained in her position. She got even more confused when she felt the smoothness of silk on her shoulders. "Huh..?"
"I'm lending you my haori since you can't have your stuff till morning.." He went to get this for me? "If you're still mad, come with me. I'll show you something.."
"Come with me."
Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered how those words had also escaped the lips of the man she loathed the most. Kyouya Hasegawa.. After losing her relatives from a fatal illness, Megumi had vowed to become a physician in order to save lives; but Kyouya had crushed that. Right now, the only thing she desired was to avenge her parents. And anyone brave enough to stand in her way would die by the blade of her spear.
"Uhh, Megumi-chan?"
Almost forgetting that she was supposed to be mad at him, Megumi gave the muscular captain a glare yet she acquiesced to his request. Shinpachi led her outside the compound as she tightly wrapped herself in his haori. They went to a hidden meadow not too far from the Shinsengumi headquarters. She was about to ask him why he brought her there when he pointed towards a tiny, moving thing that glows. Was that an insect..? Shinpachi took a small rock and aimed at the coruscating bug. As the rock hit the ground, more glowing bugs floated as they scattered around the two, illuminating the meadow. "What are those..?"
"Fireflies."
Megumi didn't say anything and Shinpachi smiled as he saw how absorbed the girl was at the beautiful dance the fireflies were making. "Pretty cool, huh? I accidentally found this place when I was a little tipsy on the way back to the compound. You know, just having some good time with the guys at Shimabara.."
A few minutes passed before Megumi decided to speak. "Fine. I'm not mad anymore, captain."
Shinpachi's beam almost reached his ears at her words. "Alright then! And to prove that I'm really a gentleman, allow me to introduce myself not to Mamoru but to Megumi this time." She nodded and he took this as an indication to continue.
"Yo Megumi-chan! I'm the second unit captain of the Shinsengumi, Shinpachi Nagakura! Nice to meet ya!" He then held her hand and Megumi's breath hitched at the contact. His hand is so big compared to mine.. She blinked rapidly when he motioned for a handshake and she found herself giggling afterwards.
"W-What's so funny?"
"Your introduction didn't sound gentlemanly at all!" she commented. His twin azure depths lose its twinkle for a fleeting second before they shined with vitality again.
"You finally laughed!" Shinpachi asserted. In a snap, Megumi's spirits dampened as she remembered that she shouldn't be feeling happy. She was supposed to grieve her parents' deaths and avenge them. The copper-haired captain's countenance also turned melancholic upon seeing her revert back to her doleful self. Megumi gasped when he placed his large hand to gently cover her magenta orbs. "Remember what I told you earlier when I still thought of you as Mamoru? A man shouldn't show his tears. For me, crying is sign of weakness.. But I know you're not a weak person, right Megumi-chan?"
With that, he removed his hand as sorrow devoured Megumi again. She felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes but Shinpachi was quick to wipe them away. "I-It's entirely different for women, however.. And I can't stand it when a girl cries."
Still, tears flow down her face and onto the ground. "Y-You can't blame me. I lost my parents.. I lost everything!"
His hand then moved to gently pat her on the head. "I know. And I also know that I can't do anything to console you so just go ahead and cry."
Shinpachi immediately regretted what he stated for Megumi had indeed cried, louder this time, her voice cracking due to incessant hiccups. He was frying his brains out, trying to think of a way to somehow cheer her up. Gah! I really can't stand a woman's tears! Deprived of any choices, he hesitantly closed their distance and wrapped Megumi in his muscled arms while he continued to pat her head. They remained in that position for several minutes; now apathetic to the numerous fireflies surrounding them.
"N-Nagakura-san, I-I can't breathe.."
Shinpachi swiftly released her, scratching his copper mane as he stammered his apology. "S-Sorry.. I got carried away, ahahaha.."
"You're too big that you failed to notice that you're already squishing me," Megumi grumbled, her mood elevating in the tiniest bit thanks to the realization that someone was trying his hardest to comfort her and show her sympathy. Despite being both males, Megumi thought that the sensation she felt from Shinpachi's hug was completely different from when Kyouya embraced her. Grief still rendered her helpless and weak yet she couldn't deny that Shinpachi's unyielding warmth had somehow brought her solace. Just like the sun's rays.
"Well, we can't blame my wonderfully-sculpted body for possessing such strength, can we?" He joked, wishing that her tears would cease from falling. I know that you'll cry again tomorrow, and in the next days.. But for now, I hope to see you laugh one more time.
His prayers were answered when the girl tittered even while unbridled tears continued to well from her shields of magenta. "Wonderfully-sculpted? Seriously?"
Shinpachi pat her head again and smiled brightly despite her little jibe. Megumi forced herself to end her sobs, taking Shinpachi's hand in hers to offer him another handshake. "I'm really glad I met you, Nagakura-san. And thanks for lending me your haori too."
*Jii-chan – (ojii-san) an informal way of addressing one's grandfather (the suffix -chan, denotes affection in Megumi's part).
*Okaa-san – an informal way of addressing one's mother as opposed to haha-ue.
*Otou-san – an informal way of addressing one's father as opposed to chichi-ue.
*Ishin shishi – the loyalists or the anti-shogunate group who were firm believers of the Japanese political philosophy Sonnō jōi (which means 'revere the Emperor, expel the barbarians'). During the Bakumatsu period, the Ishin shishi utilized this as a slogan to force the Tokugawa shogunate to relinquish its authority.
*Sojutsu – the art or technique of using a yari.
*Yari – a nihonto in the form of a spear.
*Kyoto shugoshoku – this pertains to the Military Commissioner of Kyoto. Under the orders of the Tokugawa bakufu, the Kyoto shugoshoku was Lord Katamori Matsudaira from Aizu (which was the domain that funded the Shinsengumi and was also its first official supervisor).
*Bishounen – a Japanese term which pertains to a beautiful young man. Although most use this term regardless of age, bishounen is really meant for boys below eighteen. One can refer to an older handsome man as bidanshi instead (and since Ayane/Aoi is already nineteen, she ought to be considered a bidanshi, not a bishounen).
RK: Waaaaaah! Shin's so sweet and adorable! We'll see how he's going to help Megumi rebuild herself again in the next chapters.. ShinMegu ftw! Actually, I've read a couple of fics that portray Shinpachi as a womanizer and I was like, "no, he's not!" I think many had failed to capture his real personality because he's often seen drinking and going to Shimabara. In my opinion, he's really a good-natured guy who, like the other captains, would be faithful to his lover till his last breath.
Also, I'm not really sure if the Shinsengumi troops did have vice captains but it's fanfiction so I'll distort history as much as I needed for this work of mine, bwahaha. Anyways, I hope you guys didn't get confused by the names since I've included the girls' aliases in this chapter. And hurrayyyyy! *fanfare and confetti* I'm happy that it didn't take me a month to post a new chapter. Oh, and Heisuke's so lucky (or is he really?) to have three girls in his unit! Let's just hope that the others won't get too envious and bully him, lol.
Up next… The last female who would be entangled in the lives of the Shinsengumi is coming to Visions of Forever: You and I, Part I. Three sticks of virtual dango for the right answer!
