"Chi…..Chi…..Chizuru."
Jerking awake Chizuru turned to see pain filled eyes looking back at her. "Souzou!" She jumped over and laid a gentle hand to his face and smiled. "Finally your fever has broke."
His eyes never wavering from hers. "Katsu….and….Sano….suke?"
Brushing his sweat soaked hair from his face Chizuru smiled as she shook her head. "They are fine. They went to the river to catch us something to eat. They have helped me a great deal since you got hurt."
"How….long…."
Touching his lips with her finger Chizuru sighed. "You have had a fever and in and out of consciousness for five days now. I was starting to worry that you weren't going to wake up. So were the boys. Just rest and get your strength. I promise when you are strong enough I will explain everything. Okay?"
With a sigh as he let his eyes close Souzou smiled. "Okay." Then he drifted off into another sleep. But this one he wasn't breaking as heavy in. This time he could clearly hear everything, and not mumbled or hazy either. 'I wonder what her truth is going to be?'
Chizuru smiled as she watched as he entered a peaceful sleep. Not one that was restless and deep. 'Thank God he woke up.'
"We are back Chizuru!"
Turning around she smiled as tears streamed out of her eyes. "Shhhhhh. He just fell back asleep."
Katsu and Sanosuke looked at each other and then to Chizuru as they dropped the fish and rushed to the other side of their Captain. "He was awake? Does that mean that he is going to be okay?"
Nodding Chizuru smiled. "He isn't completely out of the woods yet but that fever is gone and he was awake long enough to ask about the two of you."
Their eyes dancing as they looked up into hers both boys smiled and laughed as they high fived each other. Then they looked down at their Captain and sighed. "We have to tell him what we heard Chizuru. About what Suzuki said. I wonder if he will be willing to do it or not?"
With a smile Chizuru looked over at him and winked. "Don't you remember him and Suzuki talking about had admirable the Shinsengumi were even though they used to be your enemies? I am sure that if it was something that Suzuki wanted that he would be more than willing to do it."
"But we have to go to Kyoto to see them and the….."
"Enough."
Sanosuke's eyes went wide as he turned to see Souzou glaring at him. "Captain."
His eyes narrowed. The way they talked about Suzuki it was clear that he was dead now. "Tell…..me. What…did he say."
His eyes looking down as he fought not to let his tears spill, Sanosuke sighed. "He said that he wanted to let Isami Kondou know that he was calling in the favor that he owed him. That he was to take down the Imperial Army the only way that the Wolves of Mibu know how."
With a sigh as he closed his eyes. "Then as soon…as I can walk….we head for…..Kyoto."
"But Captain…."
"They aren't all as bad as you think they are Sanosuke. A promise is a promise. I guess now is as good a day to tell you guys the truth about why I was on the battle field that day." Chizuru looked up as all three eyes looked at her. Though in Souzou's she could have swore she something more in their depths as he met her tear filled eyes.
Dropping her head and her shoulders Chizuru sighed. "I was out there that day fighting along side the Shinsengumi. None of us knew anything about the Seikihoutai or what they stood for. All we knew was that you guys sided with the Imperial Army and that is who we were fighting against. I tried to flee along with several other men but I tripped at hit my head that was when everything went black. When I woke up I was sitting in the Seikihoutai camp."
His eyes wide Katsu just looked at her. "So that is why when your father showed up you sent him away. You lied to us about your father because….."
"Because I didn't dress like the Shinsengumi. I thought that since I was with the Imperial Army if I played the innocent bystander that it might save my life. I thought for sure that if you knew why I was really there and who I was there with, that you would have killed me on the spot. The times when Souzou scolded you both about dogging the Shinsengumi I wanted to speak up to tell you that he was right about them all." Then her eyes half closed. "Well most of them. One of them still scares me but that is thanks to my father."
"Chizuru…Yukimura. That…..is y our…..real….name…right?"
"Yes." Chizuru narrowed her eyes and didn't even try to hide the venom that came out in her voice as she spoke about her father. "Though when he showed up he revealed truths to me that I never wanted to think that my kind sweet doctor father could have been capable of. The man that was my father is dead and gone now. I do not know who the man is that took his place."
Smiling as he closed his eyes Souzou let out a small sigh. "So you had every intention on slipping away from us in Osaka to go to the Shinsengumi base there didn't you."
"I did. But I didn't expect there to be so little difference between you and the Shinsengumi. I see both sides, I understand both sides but I just don't like the fighting. And my father has made it worse."
Leaving his eyes closed Souzou smiled. "Don't worry Chizuru. We can't be seen in any town at all. Not even you until we get to Kyoto. The Imperial Army is not going to make a move on us when we get to the headquarters of the Shogun and the Shinsengumi. I hope some more camping is going to be alright with you."
With a smile as she whipped tears from her eyes Chizuru nodded. "Not at all. Souzou. Could…"
"I have known he was nearby since your confrontation with your father. I could hear you but couldn't open my eyes or say anything. Call him. The more to protect you and the boys the better."
"Him?"
Chizuru stood up and looked down into the confused faces of the boys. "A friend from the Shinsengumi has been nearby all this time. Susumu Yamazaki. He has been helping to keep us safe from anyone who would hurt us."
Sanosuke's eyes hit the ground as he sighed. "If Captain says to bring him here I won't say anything. But I won't like it."
Chizuru then gulped some air and then placed her fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill whistle and then smiled as Yamazaki seemed to drop out of now where to stand next to her. "Yamazaki this is Souzou Sagara, Katsu and Sanosuke."
"Sanosuke?" Yamazaki blinked as he looked down at the pint sized Sano. "He resembles Sanosuke."
Glaring as he crossed his arms Sanosuke turned his back to the Shinsengumi. "I resemble him because I am him."
Smiling Chizuru laughed. "Not you. One of the Captains of the Shinsengumi. Sanosuke Harada."
Yamazaki sighed as he turned and met the pain filled eyes of the Seikihoutai Captain. "I have been following you since I saw Chizuru with you. The first time she knew of that was the night you camped and she brought he blue rose to camp."
"I see. So then you know….."
"Yes. I know what the Imperial Army did to you and that for that we are both on the same side now. Whether it is by choice like in the Shinsengumi's case. Or force like yours. But I do know that my report to Toshizo Hijikata and Isami Kondou will spare all your lives."
"Report?"
"On how you all risked your lives to keep Chizuru safe. Not many of the Captains will admit it but having her with the Shinsengumi has made things more light hearted. Her not being there has put a black cloud over the Head Quarters."
"I can see how that would happen."
Chizuru stood there with the boys looking back and forth between Souzou's black eyes and Yamazaki's amethyst ones. There was a quiet conversation going on there and she wasn't sure how to read it. But at least they were being civil to each other. Then she smiled as she sighed. 'If only they would let Souzou and the boys in the Shinsengumi. That would make it perfect. I don't know why but the thought of not being near him makes me sad.'
