Prisoner of the Shinsengumi for the last week, Nakamura Keiko finally gets to talk to someone instead of just staying silent in her room. Almost making friend with Yukimura Chizuru, the young girl who lives with them, their unborn friendship is aborted when she learns that Keiko is also in search of her father, Yukimura Koudou, apparently for revenge.

The following days, Keiko did not receive any visits from Chizuru. Not knowing about what happened, she thought maybe she had hurt her in a way she ignored. Since she couldn't leave her room yet, she was unable to apologize properly and sadly went back to her katas all day long. Sometimes, the guys charged of guarding her exchanged some banalities but quickly retreated to their silent watch after a while. It was mostly Saitou, Yamazaki, Inoue or Shinpachi.

Another day, nothing happened.

The next day, she broke her toe on the tatamis while executing a kata. Stupidest accident ever, but not a first for her.

On the third day, Sannan-san came to ask questions. She said nothing.

On the fourth day, still nothing.

The day after… nothing.

The sixth day, a stray cat wandered on her veranda. It was awesome and made her day. It lasted about thirty minutes.

Another day, nothing happened.

One evening, when she was coming back from a sanitary trip after her meal with her escort, Yamazaki, she found Harada practicing in the garden just in front of her cell. It lasted for a moment, his spear piercing and whipping, but he stopped when he became aware of their presence.

"Ah! I was waiting for you. I'm on watch duty for the next couple hours".

His smile soothed the prisoner a bit. Harada was actually the nicest person she had met until then and he always engaged in interesting small talks when he came to visit. Yamazaki led her into her room, her prison, and left them without a word, which was is usual demeanor in almost every occasions. Keiko still kind of appreciated him though, because he had tended to her toe and never asked any questions. He closed the door upon leaving, but the young woman could still hear her new attendant practicing next to the pond. It took about half a minute, the time for Yamazaki's footsteps took to fade away, for her to crack the panel open a little and peep at Harada from inside the room.

"Do you mind if I watch?" she blushed as she asked through the door, but waited for an answer.

Sanosuke took a little time to think about it and gave her his response:

"I don't mind, but come and sit where I can see you, on the veranda."

Intimidated but actually relieved to step out, Keiko advanced to the end of the platform and sat, letting her legs hang from the dais. It was dusk and the sky was fading in pink and dark blue, some lazy clouds drifting slowly. The young woman had forgotten to look around from time to time, she had been too introverted in the past days, and opening up to the outside was a life-saver. Her eyes slid on everything with pleasure, and she also admired the weapon her guard was holding; a long red spear with golden parts, handled with precision, grace, and strength. More than anything, she appreciated to be elsewhere than in her quarters. The young woman let her eyes wander in the garden some more and didn't even notice when Harada resumed his training, his faint grin showing that he was relieved to see she was enjoying to be outside.

Hijikata-san, who hadn't seen their prisoner since her interrogation, came by later that evening and found them still in the garden. They were still occupied at the same activity, and nothing seemed suspicious. There was a sense of calm and peace in the area. He was about to leave when Keiko saw him from the corner of her eye and ran back to her room, thinking he might not appreciate her being so freely roaming around. Plus, she had the impression that this one might just be the most severe captain from the bunch and wanted to stay on his good side. The oni-captain sighted and walked to Harada, who had stopped his training when the young girl returned inside. He was about to speak in self-defense, but he was interrupted by Hijikata's cold and precise voice:

"She may hang out if you or one of the guys is there. None of your men must know about the presence of a woman here though, so be cautious." On a lower tone, he also added to be heard of only his fellow captain: "Try and find what she wants from Koudou-san. We won't get anywhere while just keeping her here. Dying would be a greater end than just rotting in her room, so find her some occupation before she gets the wrong idea of fleeing this place".

He left the same way he arrived, nodding slightly when he saw Keiko bowing heartily for his kindness. That felt like treason. It wouldn't prevent him from sleeping that night though.

Once he was gone, the young woman went back outside and picked up where she had left: stargazing. When Harada's shift ended, he found her resting on the wooden pillar of the veranda, fast asleep. He giggled a little, surprised to see she had gotten, maybe, a bit more comfortable around him, but also felt a bit embarrassed to peek on a sleeping woman.

"Just like a little child. What an unusual sight!"

The arrival of Shinpachi woke her, and she stood up to regain her room for the night. Before she shut the pannel, she bowed at Sanosuke and thanked him whole-heartedly for letting her out for so long. She had her cheeks reddened from the outdoor air and she seemed refreshed. Embarrassed, he nodded and left his place to his comrade, shutting his mouth on the passage to avoid any unnecessary comment he might (would) have said about the whole thing.

Shinpachi and the others serving as guards were used to hear their prisoner walking and yawning for long periods of time before she went to bed in the early morning. That night however, he didn't hear her for the first time since she arrived. In the room, the young woman had fallen asleep on her futon the second she laid on it and slept soundly until morning.