Closing in

It was a busy day in the temple as everyone was cleaning up the place in preparation for the number of people that would flood in that evening. A festival is being held just a couple of streets away from the temple and being the nearest temple to the event, it was sure that many people would drop by to pray and make a wish to gods.

"Yukimura" called one of the elderly monks, stopping Chizuru from wiping the floor clean. "We'd be really beat after this. I was wondering if you can go buy some dango for snacks. It would really go well with the tea given to us by that merchant yesterday"

"Sure. No problem." She replied with a nod. "I'd just go change." She said as she noticed that her clothes were covered with dust.

"Alright" the elder monk replied and went on his way.

She changed into her blue kimono and black hakama, which was brought to her by Hijikata just the other day. It was a hand me down and she had to patch part of the kimono but it fitted her perfectly. After changing she quickly went to the dango stall just around the area. The moment she went out the temple she remembered how Hijikata scolded her again about going out when he visited her but she can't refuse the old monks request, since it's one of the few things she could do to repay them for their kind heartedness for her. "Besides, the sun is up. What could go wrong?" she thought as she looked up the paper lanterns that lined the streets.

She returned as quickly as she can after getting her hands on the dango. As she entered the shrine grounds she noticed a man standing in front of the main shrine. She decided to just go pass him, since he was probably just another visitor, but she took a second glance at him and realized that she's seen the man before. The man's eyes caught hers and walked towards her, stopping only when he was a couple of steps away from her.

"You." He looked at her from head to toe. "Where are the elder monks?"

"He probably doesn't remember me" she thought. "They're currently in the building in the north end preparing for tonight."

"Is that so? Then can you bring me to them? I have some business with them"

She nodded. "Sure" then she started to walk ahead of him.

"So you stay here." he said with his low but soothing voice. "but you surely aren't a monk in training"

Chizuru stopped and turned to him. "Uhm…"

"You thought I don't remember you" he smirked.

She ducked her head. "Thanks again for helping me the other night"

He just looked at her and started to walk ahead. She caught up with him and walked next to him. Upon reaching the building where the elder monks were she handed the dango to an apprentice monk who was responsible for food.

"Excuse me" she knelt outside the room. Before she can say anything more the monks turned their way and stood up.

"Kazama-san" said one of them with a slight bow.

"Saionji, I believe we have something to discuss" Kazama said without even greeting the elder monks with a bow. Chizuru noticed that the monks don't seem to mind his arrogance around them. Saionji left and led Kazama to another room, followed by the two other elder monks. Chizuru wanted to eavesdrop but one of the apprentices called her to help in the kitchen.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

"You there" the familiar voice called Chizuru's attention and she stopped walking.

"Huh?" she turned around and saw that the man called Kazama was walking towards her.

"Are you aware that soon this place would no longer belong to the monks?"

"What do you mean by that? The monks would always be in charge of the place even if some people move in here" she explained, aware that he was talking about the Shinsengumi moving their headquarters in the temple.

"Well, they will be in charge of the place but things would change around here soon." He crossed his arms on his chest.

"And so?"

"This would no longer be a place fit for a woman. You should leave while you can" he said as he started to walk away.

Chizuru's jaw almost dropped. "My disguise…is it that bad?" she thought then followed him. "Wait!" He stopped and turned to her. "How did you…"

"How did I know?" he said then chuckled. "A man would never shriek like you do"

"Eh?!" she then remembered how she cried for help the other night.

He was about to turn away from her but she tugged his sleeve. "What's it now?"

"Please" she ducked her head. "Don't tell anyone…"

"Who would I tell?" he interrupted. As she looked up at him, he realized how innocent and fragile she looked with a faint glimmer in her eyes that enticed him to her. He smirked and leaned down, so that their face would be in the same level. He quickly but gently ran a finger down the side of her face. "Such a shame that a beauty like you would have to hide in men's clothing. I wonder why?" he smirked as she quickly moved a step back.

"That's none of your business" she said looking him in the eyes, trying to exude a tough aura.

"I wasn't planning to ask" he said with a small laugh. "See you around" he muttered as he started to walk away.

"Huh?" she took another step but stopped when she saw Hijikata walking in front of a small group of men up the stairs. "The Shinsengumi. I should go tell the monks" she went to a nearby tree and left her broom before running off to one of the main building.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Hijikata saw Chizuru standing in front of the temple with a broom in her hand as he was nearing the top steps of the temple stairs. "She's really doing her part to help out" he thought, a small smile escaped his lips. That was when his eyes met those of a man who was just making his way down. He noticed that the man's eyes were crimson and his hair was pale, surely not someone he's seen before.

A slight smirk formed on Kazama's lips as his eyes met with a man who was followed by those who wore a light blue haori. On an instant he knew that he must be one of the leaders of the Shinsengumi. "Interesting. I never thought I'd run into these guys today" he diverted his look as soon as the man with the dark stern eyes turned his gaze away from him. "Shinsengumi huh?" he thought as he continued down the short set of stairs.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

"The Shinsengumi would be moving here in a few days." Chizuru thought as she sat down one of the stone benches behind the shrine.

"Sakura" a soft voice called her from behind one of the pillars. Chizuru stood up and went to the source of the voice.

"The ninja!" she exclaimed.

"Hijikata-san has a message for you" Yamazaki handed her a letter folded into a crane.

Chizuru received it in her palm and smiled at it. "Thank you..." the moment she looked up the ninja was no longer around. Quickly, she went to her room and undid the folds.

"I won't be able to drop by the temple till we move our headquarters. Tomorrow at noon, meet me at the old shrine where we used to meet." She read the letter with his voice in her mind.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Chizuru was walking in a quick pace, wanting to arrive to the shrine earlier than Hijikata. There weren't that much people on the streets so it was easier to move around. She was already near the shrine when she saw Kazama who was walking towards her direction. She didn't slow down despite noticing that he has his eyes on her.

He held her arm as soon she walked pass him. "You should try doing a better job at pretending like you don't see me. What's the hurry?"

She looked at him. Her heart started pounding both with the sudden fear from the dominant aura he emits and friction as they touched. "I just have to go somewhere. Why should I tell you anyway?"

He chuckled, smelling her tension as he held her, so he let her go. She continued on like nothing happened. He noticed that she was heading for the direction of the old shrine. "Hey, you!" he called.

Chizuru stopped to look back. "Hhmn?"

"Don't you stay at a huge temple?" he asked crossing his arms casually as he locked his eyes with hers. "But you still walk this far to visit that rundown shrine. What are you? Planning to be a holy woman?"

"What if I do? It's really none of your concern" she replied with a pout as she started to get annoyed with Kazama. "This guy. Why do I have to keep running into him?"

He smirked at her. "If you become a holy woman then I'd never get a chance with you"

She was taken aback with what he said. "What chance?"

Kazama was about to say another word but noticed that someone was walking towards their direction and it wasn't just anybody, it was the man from the Shinsengumi which he saw the other day.

"Till next time" He smiled slyly then turned to go.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

"Chizuru" Hijikata called in an indifferent manner with furrowed brows as he was nearing her.

Chizuru almost jumped in surprise. Turning around, she was greeted by Hijikata's stern face which told her that he wasn't in a good mood. She was about to say something but he walked past her then towards the shrine just after a path lined with aged trees.

"Uhhmmm…Is something wrong?" she asked as soon as he stopped walking.

He turned to her still with the same expression on his face. "I didn't knew that you were acquainted with someone here in Kyoto"

"Oh no! He must've seen me speaking with that Kazama guy" she thought. "I'm not acquainted with anyone…"

"Then who was that guy? He looked like someone who was pretty glad to see you" he interjected.

"Eh?! No…I just ran into him here."

"Do you know him?" he asked in an irritated manner, one of his furrowed brows rising a bit as he spoke.

She shook her head. "Not really. That guy…" she started. She thought of telling him that he saved her life but that might infuriate him even more if he learns that she got into trouble. "He went to the shrine to talk to the monks the other day, that's where I first met him."

"And?" he said sounding pissed.

"And we talked a bit when I brought him to the monks."

"I did saw that guy in the temple that day when there was a festival" Hijikata suddenly remembered the man with the crimson eyes. "What business did he have with the monks?"

"I don't know. I helped in the kitchen afterwards"

He didn't say anything more then walked towards a nearby tree for shade, since the sun was at its peak, then leaned back. Chizuru stood next to him and stole glances at him in the short while of silence between them, trying to see if he was still in a bad mood.

"Chizuru" he turned to her. "When we move to the temple in 4 days, we'd be busy moving our things and assigning quarters on the first day. Try not to come out the whole day since the place would be sprawling with men. I don't want you to get into any incident that might cause your identity to be revealed."

"Alright" she said with a nod.

"We have to let them know though that you exist to give you a chance to work under me. I was thinking about making you my attendant"

"An attendant" she muttered, listing in her mind the responsibilities that might cover.

"I was actually considering sending you someplace else" he glanced at her and saw the mix of surprise and fear in her eyes. "What we're doing is pretty risky; I don't know how things would unfold. It would be hard to fool anyone that you're man for a prolonged period of time. It might be easy to pull it off if it was just short encounters"

"But…but…. I don't want to be away from you" she looked at him with a pretty upset look in her eyes. "I'd do my best to keep the secret! I promise I'd try not to screw up. I'm practicing to move more like a man and I can even speak in a manlier voice"

He chuckled and placed a hand over her head. "I said I was considering the idea but obviously we're not going through with it" he took his hand away from her head. "Just trust me. We'll pull through"

She smiled warmly at him. "I'm just glad that I'd get to see you more often and I'd be of use to you"

"What are you saying?"

"I mean, if I'm your attendant then I'd be able to do something to pay you back for everything you've done for me so far" she said blushing slightly as she clasped her hands together.

"Stupid" he said with a low groan. "What I did wasn't a debt you have to pay. It was something I decided myself."

"But…" she muttered.

"Chizuru" he straightened up. "Staying beside me wouldn't be easy"

"I don't care. It doesn't matter where you go. I'd follow." She looked at him with conviction. "And no matter what happens in the future. I promise to stay with you" She reached for his hand and held it gently in between her palms.

He snickered, held her cheek and caressed it with his thumb. "It scares me when you promise me things like that"

She lifted his hand which she was holding, brushed her lips on the back of his hand and planted a kiss on it. "I'm so happy I get to see you today"

"You're making it harder for me to control myself when you act like that" he sighed then his face suddenly turned stern once more. "By the way, Chizuru, I don't want you talking to that guy again."

"Hijikata…" she muttered.

"If he even tries to flirt with you tell me and I'd give him a taste of my wrath" he scowled.

"Is he jealous?" she thought, flustered with how he was reacting. "Alright…"

"Things are different now Chizuru. You're mine, you get that?" he said strictly. She noticed that his pale cheeks seem to have a hint of a blush, either from the heat or from saying those words to her.

She nodded with a giggle. "Yes sir!" she replied chirpily.

"I'd have to get going. I have to meet Kondo-san in an official's house just around the area. Go back to the temple immediately" he turned to leave with a small contented smile on his lips.

She nodded and walked a couple of steps behind him. Upon reaching the road they went their separate ways.

Note: The cranes... I don't know if there is origami that time but I was writing on paper the day before I wrote this chapter and I ended up using that paper for origami *instead of throwing it into the trash* hence the idea for the letter hahahaha Also all this time, as i was writing this, I never once imagined Chizuru wearing the pink kimono and white hakama she wore in the series (the colors gave her gender off) but to point that out I decided to give her a new set of clothes in the story hahaha blue and black seems manly. *I'm just blabberin' here hahaha never mind me*. And yeah Kazama... I don't dislike him but I like the competitive air between him and Toshi so yeah...