„Ah, Toshi, you´re finally awake!" Isami glanced at his children and his best friend and started to laugh.
„What about that many snails?"
„Toshi killed the Emperor!" Tama said in reply.
„Well, last night Yamanami-san had told us about the procession of Shogun Iemitsu about 200 years ago, when he visitited the Emperor in Kyoto." Souji startetd to explain. „This morning Tama-chan told me that she eventually would like to see a procession. And she would like to see the Emperor coming to Edo so that we could go and see him. But this will never happen anyway and there will be no other processions the next few weeks. Therefore, I wanted to re-enact a procession of the Emperor for Tama-chan."
Once again Toshi was impressed by Soujis acting abilities. The second Isami encountered them, Souji had turned into the sweet little brother that Isami liked to see in him. This sweet little boy didn´t exist at all and everybody except Isami (and maybe Tama) was well aware of that. But at that very moment Soujis eyes were shining with pure innocene and he spoke with so much enthusiasm as if there wouldn´t be anything more important in the world as to fulfill the wish of a little girl ( who would have forget about this wish in a few days anyway). Even Toshi had to admit that Soujis performance was most convincing.
Hearing the explanation about this mess, Isami couldn´t help laughing. Toshi knew he had lost this stupid game.
„That was very nice of you, Souji."
Like Toshi had expected, Isami falled for Soujis passionate explanation. That the whole point of this stupid situation was to make him literally get up on the wrong foot would never cross Isami´s mind. Toshi didn´t bother to tell his side of the story, he knew his best friend wouldn´t take it seriously anyway.
"Please suspend the snails later and clean the engawa."
was all Isami had to say before he returned to the dojo.
„Haaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiii" Souji and Tama answered simultaneously, both beaming with joy.
„But at first, we´re going to search a new Emperor!" Souji declared after Isami had left.
Before Toshi could talk back, he took Tama by the hand and run with her towards the fields. Just before they were turning around the corner, Souji stopped and turned round to Toshi, grinning confidently and then sticked his tongue out at him.
„YOU-" Toshi started in rage, but Souji started to run again and disappeared with broad laughter out of his sight.
„See you later, Hijikata-san! Better watch out if you step outside your room next time!
Owari :-)
It was fun to translate my on ff, but my english was so much better years ago. Hope you liked it anyway, my sister thinks this story is too crazy. But I think it goes well with Soujis character in Hakuoki. Poor Hijikata-san:-)
As for Tama, I had to change her age because if I remember correctly, she was only about one year old when her father and the others left for Kyoto. So my story takes place before they left, with Tama about 4 years old and Souji being about 17 years old.