Author's Notes:Woot,chapter four!Anyways,?
"Alrighty, men! I think we have everything we need!" Fuyumi said.
"Why do we need so many things?" Heisuke asked.
"Because I'm going to make a dish my father loved," She answered.
"I see," Heisuke said.
"And I'm also planning to make some dessert."
"That sounds great!"
"And possibly some sake!" Fuyumi said in a happy tone.
"Sake?!" Shinpachi asked," I'm in!" The four laughed together as they walked back to Shinsengumi headquarters. They soon found themselves in the kitchen together.
"Do you need any help, Tachibana-san?" Sano asked.
"No need to be formal, you can call me Fuyumi-chan!"
"Alright, do you need any help, Fuyumi- chan?" Shinpachi asked.
"Just the vegetables to be washed, peeled, and cut, sorry there's so much." Fuyumi apologized," I wanted it to be a great feast tonight."
"Don't worry, we can help out," Heisuke said.
"Thank you, guys!"
At the basin, Sano washed all of the vegetables, Heisuke peeled the vegetables, and Shinpachi cut the vegetables, while Fuyumi makes the rice, prepare the miso, and steams the ginger fish.
"Finally! Last of the vegetables!" Sano said happily," My hands look like dried up plums."
"Ha ha ha," She laughed, "I'm sorry," Fuyumi apologized.
"It's nothing too serious, Sano," Shinpachi said and laughed a bit, "Ow!" He said. There was a small cut on his finger, his blood started to ooze out a bit while he released a deep sigh.
Fuyumi looked over at Shinpachi and walked towards him, "You should be more careful," She said and ripped a small part of her kimono and wrapped it around his bleeding finger, "Here, this is just temporary," The young woman said tying it into a bow.
He nodded his head and looked at Fuyumi for a bit, "Uh, thank you…" He said, "I'm sorry…" Shinpachi apologized.
"Hee hee, don't worry, I get cuts too," Fuyumi said with a giggle, "Why won't you got check on the miso, and can you add some sea salt?" She asked and handed the small jar of sea salt to the young captain, "I can finish cutting up the vegetables for you."
"Thank you, Fuyumi-chan."
"Shinpachi! And you said it's not too serious, you should be more careful!" Sano teased him.
"Oh shut up, you prune!" Shinpachi yelled back as he adds a tablespoon of sea salt in the broth of miso.
The whole kitchen's aromas fill up the hall. It smelled good, really. You can smell the fresh cilantro and green onions. The ginger from the steamed fish ran up Sano's nose as a smile formed on his face, "I-it smells amazing!" He said with happiness.
"Hee thanks," Fuyumi said smiling and continued to cut the vegetables placing the ones that were already cut in a large tub.
"I think that will be all, thank you very much, Sano, Heisuke, and Shinpachi." She said and placed the vegetables in a large pan. Quickly, Fuyumi added some herbs, and soy sauce into the vegetables. The three captains nodded their head and walked out of the kitchen. "I'm glad they helped, otherwise I'd be dead by tonight…" Fuyumi thought to herself.
"Oh, Fuyumi!" A familiar voice walked in.
The young woman turned around and discovered it was Tetsu, "Tetsu?"
"Do you need any help?"
"Umm… Just the whole hall to be set up, I'm still cooking," She said.
"Alright, I'll get working on that! Oh and the food smells delicious!"
"Thank you." She watched Tetsu run off the set up the hall and stirred up the vegetables as the steam rose up. She adds a bit more soy sauce and continues stirring.
Then placed the steamed fish with ginger in large, decorated plate. She set the miso aside and checked on the rice. It was fresh, fluffy, and just how she wanted it. Fuyumi dumped all of the vegetables in four large dishes. There was a lot of food. But there was still desert on its way.
"Maybe not yet…" Fuyumi told herself and carried out the tub of rice out of the kitchen and placed it into the dining hall. Quickly, Fuyumi discovered Tetsu almost done setting up.
"Oh Fuyumi!" He called out, "Do you want me to grab out the other things?!" Tetsu asked.
"Don't worry, I'll grab it, you can start putting rice into the bowls thank you, I'll do the rest!"
"Alright then!" Tetsu nodded his head and went on with his duties Fuyumi gave him.
The young lady placed the tub of rice down and brought down the miso, vegetables, and steamed fish. She even worked on the desert a bit. The two worked together. Placing each dish where they are supposed to be. And making last adjustments. "I'll be right back, Tetsu." Fuyumi said and headed back to the kitchen.
"Alright then, Fuyumi-chan!"
Fuyumi quickly checked on the desert, fine as usual. "Tonight's desert will be sweet potato soup!" She announced with pride.
"That sounds pretty good." A voice said. Fuyumi turned around to discover it was Shinpachi.
"What brings you here, Nagakura-san?" She asked, "Dinner is almost ready, I'm just going to let the soup settle while we're all eating," Fuyumi said, "So how was training?"
"Just stopping by to see how it's going," The small man answered," And training? Same old same old…"
"I see so do you like sweet potatoes?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Just wondering," She said with a smile and walked out of the kitchen to wash her hands, "You can start going to the dining hall, but don't eat it yet."
"I won't!" Shinpachi exclaimed and walked towards the dining hall.
Fuyumi smiled and walked into the training hall and other places where the other members would hang out, "Dinner's ready!" She yelled. The members eagerly run into the dining hall. There was a bowl of rice, pieces of fish, ginger, and vegetables. Not to mention the piping hot bowl of miso soup. It wasn't really much of a dinner… More like a feast for the emperor!
"This is amazing…" One said.
"How rich," Another said.
"It smells delicious!" Sano cried out.
"Can we eat now?!" Tetsu asked.
Fuyumi laughed and looked at everyone who looked like they were dying and couldn't wait to devour all of the food, "Itadakimasu!" Fuyumi cried out and smiled.
"Itadakimasu!" The whole room cheered and began their dining.
"It tastes good as it smells!"
"T-this is amazing!"
"Thank you," Fuyumi said embarrassed.
"It's so much better than having some of your shit, Shinpachi!" Sano and Heisuke teased.
"Shut up!" He yelled back, "At least you have food." Shinpachi said stuffing his mouth full of rice and vegetables," Thought I do have to admit, your cooking is amazing, Fuyumi."
Fuyumi's face flushed a bright red, "Again, t-thank you very much…." She said embarrassingly, "Who's up for some sake?!" She asked excitedly.
"Me!" Shinpachi chimed.
"Me too!" One cried out.
"Me three!" Another cried out.
"Don't worry, I'll serve you guys so sake, but not too much, or you might end up like me a few months ago!" She laughed.
"It's just like having Ayu-nee around!" Tetsu said quietly. The room all of a sudden got quiet, but few continued to dine. Sano punched the back of Tetsu's head,"OW WHAT WAS THAT FOR!" Tetsu screamed out.
"I don't want Ayu to be mentioned around…" Sano answered.
"I'm sorry," Tetsu apologized.
Fuyumi's smile disappeared and walked out of the dining room, "L-let me grab the sake, okay?" She mentioned and slowly walked down towards the kitchen. "Ayu-nee?" The name echoed in her head, "Maybe I shouldn't ask."
Fuyumi walked into the sake storage and poured herself a cup. The sake was blissful and warm. She poured herself another cup and smiled, "I'm glad they like my cooking…" She said to herself and drank a few more cups. "Okay I think that's enough!" She told herself and clumsily walked back to the dining room. Filling one cup at a time.
"Are you drunk, Fuyumi?" Shinpachi asked as he watches Fuyumi pour a cup for him.
"W-why?" She asked embarrassed.
"Because my cup is overflowing."
"AH!" She scream, "I'm extremely sorry, Nagakura-san!" Fuyumi apologized, "I guess I had a cup too many!" She admitted and laughed a bit.
Everyone started to join in and laugh. It was a wonderful feast with everyone. "Oh I need to check on the dessert!" She jumped up and ran back to the kitchen. The dessert was done and finished simmering. "Perfect!" Fuyumi said and walked back to the dining hall, "Anyone up for sweet potato soup?" She asked.
"I'd love some!" Tetsu said.
"Sweet potatoes for me too," The small one said. Soon after, most of the men asked for not only dessert, but for seconds also.
"I'm glad I've made a lot of food…" She thought to herself.
"Not only is she good with sword, but she's pretty talented at cooking too, don't you agree, Toshi?" Kondo asked.
Hijikata didn't answer; he just took a sip of sake and looked Okita. "Gochisosama…" Hijikata whispered to himself and walked out.
"Thank you for this wonderful feast, Fuyumi." Tetsu said slurping the sweet potato soup.
"What manners," Heisuke said with a chuckle.
"It's no problem! Thank you," She said, "It's a real honor to serve my cooking to you guys…" Fuyumi said happily and smiled, "Can you help me clean up, Tetsunosuke?" Fuyumi asked.
"Sure, there are a lot of dishes to wash."
"I can help you out," Fuyumi said and started to clean up Hijikata's meal.