Hakuoki (c) Otomate (Idea Factory)
Impeccable
Chapter iv
Previously:
Chiaki smiled. "Would you like to go back to your sewing? Or would you like to stay out here a bit longer?"
"I-I'd like to stay out here with you a bit longer...if that's fine with Saito-san and Okita-san."
Both sisters looked over at the two captains.
"Well, we did say we'd keep you company..." Okita trailed off.
Saito sighed. "Only for a little bit longer. After that, Yukimura will have to go back to her assigned room."
Chiaki bowed down to Saito in respect. "Thank you, Okita-san; Saito-san. You have my deepest gratitude. Even if you are told to kill me."
Chizuru hugged her older sister in response.
"Dinner with the captains of the Shinsengumi?" Chiaki asked again.
"Yeah. Let's go, I'm sure you don't want to miss dinner with your dear sister." Okita said, a smile appearing.
Chiaki stiffened. She contemplated on the idea. But...what if Okita was just lying to her? He'd done it quite a few times in the days passed. Saying her sister was going to be here and it all ended up as a lie so he could bring her along – like what a page should be doing. But then again, this was dinner.
Chiaki stood up after thinking it through. At the moment, Okita had no reason to lie to her. She was riding her bet on that thought.
"Then...let's go."
"Alright. But you'll be heading to the main room. I'll go and fetch Chizuru." Okita said.
Chiaki frowned slightly but simply nodded, knowing full well why they were still cautious to keep them separate. Chiaki entered the main room, seeing Harada Sanosuke, Nagakura Shinpachi, and Toudou Heisuke.
"Oh, and here comes the first guest." Harada said.
"Oh, that's great! One more to go now!" Nagakura's stomach growled.
Chiaki went to sit across from the three men. She waited patiently until Toudou started talking to her.
"Oi. Why are you always so...what's the word...? Cold? Chizuru is just shy, everyone can tell. But you, you seem cold y'know?" Toudou asked.
Chiaki looked at the youngest captain of the Shinsengumi. The other two men honed in on their conversation.
"...Cold...?" Chiaki laughed lightly. "That's quite the joke Toudou-san. If I were to call someone cold, I would say Saito-san is the cold one." Chiaki stated honestly.
Toudou blushed at his own statement. Harada and Nagakura laughed.
"Really, Heisuke. Asking such a simple question." Harada said.
"J-Joke. She called it a joke!" Nagakura couldn't stop laughing.
"Sh-Shut up!" Toudou demanded of the two.
Chiaki couldn't help but laugh lightly once again. "I apologize Toudou-san. I didn't mean to make you lose face."
Toudou looked at Chiaki. "Eh? Ah! No! You're fine! And uh...I mean...I just kinda did assume you were cold...besides...you're probably older than me. Calling me 'Heisuke' is fine."
Chiaki nodded her head slowly. "Of course, Heisuke-kun."
"Uhm...well..I'll just go and see what's taking Hajime and Souji so long then..." Heisuke left the room.
Nagakura relaxed after he left.
"Really, who asks a question when they already know a person who has a cold attitude?" Harada asked, laughing lightly.
"Really. But..." Nagakura looked over at Chiaki.
Harada's eyes followed Nagakura's, looking at Chiaki. Chiaki was looking at the two men as well, albeit slightly amused herself. Especially after Heisuke's little bout. Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Chizuru, followed by Heisuke, Saito, and Okita. Chizuru smiled at the sight of her sister.
"Onee-san!" Chizuru said happily.
"Chizuru." Chiaki face fell into a soft smile upon her safe arrival.
Chizuru was placed across from Chiaki, who was sat between Okita and Saito.
"You guys're late." Harada said.
"You kids're late. Who's gonna answer to my crying stomach?" Nagakura complained.
"You mean 'growling' Shin. Really, he's so simple-minded sometimes..." Heisuke commented.
"You guys oughta apologize to my stomach! He wanted to dig in, but I said, 'No, we've gotta wait for 'em'"
"You're such a softie Shin...All right guys, it's time to eat, and that means every man for himself." Harada announced.
As soon as everyone had their first servings, Nagakura quickly started a food fight...in terms of stealing food from others. Harada apologized to Chizuru and Chiaki about Nagakura and Heisuke, but Chizuru simply said it was fine.
Chiaki simply nodded and continued to eat her food in silence, a habit that she had even before she was caught by the Shinsengumi – to not talk during a time of eating. Chizuru understood Chiaki's habit, living with her since she was a baby.
"Hey, don't worry about being a freeloader or anything, you two." Okita said to Chiaki and Chizuru. "Just eat your little heart out, okay?"
"I-I know. I can't help but feel a little bad though..." Chizuru admitted.
"Well, if you let that get to you, you're gonna lose. You have to protect what's yours." Saito said, protecting his food from Nagakura's chopsticks.
"O-Okay!" Chizuru said hesitantly.
Chiaki placed her food down after finishing. No one had dared to take food from her or from Chizuru.
"Thank you for the food." Chiaki said, earning everyone's attention.
"Ah, you finished already!?" Nagakura asked, seeming bewildered.
"Yes."
Okita laughed. "Well that's not bad."
Heisuke took this oppurtunity to snatch some food from Nagakura. "Yosh!" He said in success, causing things to go back at it's pace.
Suddenly, the door opened. Everyone turned their attention to the person at the door – Inoue Genzaburo.
"Gentlemen, do you have a moment?" Genzaburo said, which quickly made the atmosphere change in a 180 turn.
Chiaki frowned at the feeling of the atmosphere. She didn't like it. It felt as it the tension would literally kill her.
"I've just recieved word from Osaka. Sanan has been gravely injured in battle." Genzaburo announced.
"What!?" Chizuru let out, earning a look from everyone.
Genzaburo went on to explain just what had happened to Sanan.
"Is he going to be all right?" Chizuru asked hesitantly.
"It wasn't his sword arm that was wounded. He's almost certain to survive, but wielding a blade will be...difficult for him."
"Oh, thank goodness." Chizuru let out a relived sigh.
Chiaki looked over to her sister.
"He should be returning here in a few days. Now please, excuse me. I must speak with Kondou." Genzaburo left the room.
Chiaki got up immediately, letting out a deep breath. She turned to Okita.
"I would like to leave this room please. The air is too suffocating to my liking..."
"Hm? But you seemed fine when we first caught you guys."
"I was forced into that situation. I know I have an option to stay here or leave the room." Chiaki said.
"Onee-san..."
Okita let out a sigh. "Fine, fine. I'll take you back to the room. Sheesh."
Okita got up and lead the way back.
A minute later, a loud thump was heard, causing Chiaki to turn back.
"Don't go. That's probably Shinpachi or Sanosuke." Okita said.
Chiaki forced herself to turn back, breathing in the fresh air from the outside.
March came into view. A month had passed since Chiaki and Chizuru were held by the Shinsengumi. Hijikata Toshizo still said no to letting them out. It was really putting the pressure on Chizuru. Seeing Chizuru stress over their father, put Chiaki in a bad mood. Chiaki was following Okita inside headquarters once again. It was her job as his page. She had also done well to keep her real identity on the down-low for so long. None of the rank and file were suspicious of her or Chizuru from her observations.
Whenever Okita went out to do the routes, whether at night or during the day, Chiaki was told to stay put in his room. It wasn't hard, it was just rather...boring. When she heard Saito pass the door, she stopped Saito.
"Saito-san." Chiaki called from inside Okita's room.
Saito opened the door.
"I'd like to ask a question."
Saito stayed silent, allowing Chiaki to continue.
"Is it...is it possible for you to bring me a calligraphy set?"
Saito continued to stay silent. He then nodded his head ever so slightly. "That will be fine. I will return later with the items you wish."
"Thank you, Saito-san."
Saito left just as quickly as he came.
It wasn't until Okita came back did Saito come back with the calligraphy set.
"Heh. You do calligraphy?" Okita looked at the whole set. A small table, a few different types of brushes and the ink.
"Yes." Chiaki lifted her right sleeve.
Okita watched as she started to dip the brush in the ink and write on the paper. Chiaki finished in seconds.
"Shin...sen...gumi...?" Okita read slowly.
"I think it's very befitting." Chiaki said.
"Well, the characters don't look all that bad. Then again, it's calligraphy. Not bad, I have to say." Okita said, laying on his futon.
Chiaki looked back at him. "...thank you..." Chiaki said, a small blush forming on her cheeks.
Chiaki had never really been complimented on her calligraphy before. Sure her village would compliment her calligraphy all the time, but they were just kind like that. Hearing someone like Okita to even compliment her work, she felt...satisfied.
Okita shifted, looking over at Chiaki after hearing her say, 'thank you'. The girl was most definitely interesting. Even after his threats of him killing her. Okita's instinct was right on her. She's easy to watch. Not that much work. Just add Chizuru's name in it, and she was up and running around. Okita only felt a twinge of guilt, but it was overshadowed by the amusement of Chiaki's actions towards her sister.
April 1864
Chiaki was awoken by Okita. "Oi." Okita poked her.
Chiaki immediately woke up. She looked over at Okita with drowsy eyes.
"Yes...?"
"Don't you want to go wake your sister up?"
Chiaki's eyes shot open. It's been a few days since she last saw Chizuru, and it's been awhile since she actually talked to Chizuru.
Okita couldn't help but laugh. "Let's go." He said, getting up.
Chiaki got up and stretched a bit before following Okita out of the room. They passed some rank-and-file as well as Sanan.
"Good morning, Sanan-san." Chiaki greeted politely.
Chiaki knew that Sanan's arm was injured, and he never really wielded a sword when he came back. Chiaki not once spoke of it, out of respect to the man. She knew that a samurai's life was for their lord and with their sword.
"Good morning, Yukimura." Sanan greeted, albeit, a bit coldly, but it didn't seem to affect Chiaki.
Chiaki and Okita moved on. Okita opened the door to Chizuru's room, seeing that Chizuru was still asleep.
Okita moved next to Chizuru as Chiaki shook Chizuru lightly.
"Wake up, Chizuru." Chiaki said lightly, waking her sister from her deep slumber.
Chizuru opened her eyes, being met by Chiaki and Okita.
"Hey...I guess you're concious now, more or less. Could you hurry this along?" Okita asked Chizuru.
Chiaki looked up at Okita with a slight glare.
He ignored her glare. "You don't understand what you got yourself into, do you? You're getting free room and board you know, so can't you at least wake up on time like your sister?"
"You're...Okita...right? And the other person is..." Chizuru squinted her eyes a bit. "Onee...san...?"
Okita smiled, a bit annoyed. "You should know this by now. Yeah, I'm Okita Souji. Did you fall on your head last night?"
Chiaki's senses were alerted, thinking that what Okita said was a possible option. Chiaki quickly started to move to help Chizuru up, but Okita stopped her.
"What are you doing? What if she really did fall on her head?" Chiaki snapped at him by accident.
"Oh? Talking back to me now?"
Chiaki stopped, clenching her teeth.
"Besides, I was just joking." Okita said, moving his hand back to his side. "Can't you take a joke?"
Chiaki mumbled something.
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"...not when it involves my sister..." Chiaki said, letting herself look down at Chizuru's face, who was still drowsy.
Okita stared at her before sighing. "Really, you just have no fun." Okita looked down at Chizuru. "You've got cooking duty today. If you don't get up and get moving, we won't make it in time for breakfast. If that happens...Well, I'm a forgiving soul, but some more...narrow-minded...people will be furious."
Chiaki looked at Okita. Okita looked back at her with a smile.
"It's a joke." Okita mouthed to her.
Chiaki tilted her head in confusion. Okita shook his head.
"AH!" Chizuru jumped out of bed, surprising Chiaki.
"Why, good morning there Chizuru. Who knew you were so bad at waking up?"
"Oh! U-Uhm, I'm really sorry!" Chizuru said to Okita, a bow followed after.
"Don't feel bad about it. Not like you can change the fact that you already caused me a lot of hassle."
"I'm sorry..."
"Chizuru..." Chiaki said, getting her attention.
"O-Onee-san!?"
Chiaki nodded. "Don't let his words get to you." She told Chizuru.
"Oi, oi. What are you trying to tell her?" Okita sighed. "You're already a burden, so you could at least be a little useful around here. Why should we let you stay if you're just going to get in the way all the time? Kinda silly if you ask me."
Chizuru had nothing to say back. Chiaki shook her head.
"If I remember correctly, you guys want us to be useful in searching for our father, yet we have had no chance at all...so...please, don't take it out on Chizuru like that." Chiaki said, avoiding eye contact with Chizuru and Okita.
"Onee-san!"
Okita rolled his eyes and got up. "I'm heading to the kitchen ahead of you then, Chizuru. So hurry up and get ready. Let's go." Okita said.
Chiaki got up, but not before a hug from Chizuru, and left.
End of Chapter
AN – Sorry for very slow updates. Here is the next chapter! Last update for the year of 2014 for this story. :) Enjoy the Holidays.
On another note, I love how you readers love this story. It keeps me happy. :D
