Chapter 10

The sun was setting when I walked my way back to Shinsengumi headquarters. As I approached the main gate, my eyes caught the image of a woman nearing. She looked very gentle and beautiful. In her arms was a wrapped package in purple. Noticing my stare, she bowed as she paced quicker towards me.

"Excuse me. Are you the maid in Shinsengumi?" She asked as she smiled.

"Yes, I am. Is there anything I can help?" I returned with a question.

"Here is this month's cloths I have weaved for them. Please send Kondo-sama and Hijikata-sama my regards." She passed the package to me and bowed. "Well then. I need to pick up my son from my neighbour. Farewell." She excused herself.

"Who was that?" I wondered but I didn't realize I was sounding my mind out.

"Who was it?" A voice asked, surprised me and making me jolt successfully. It was Souji.

"What are you doing?" Staring at Souji suspiciously, he started to make a dumb face; I supposed it was a dumb face. He looked somewhat uncomfortable. His posture also looked weird. His arms were crossed over his stomach but something seemed off.

"What are you doing, Sayo-chan?" Instead of answering me, he decided to return the same question to me. Something was definitely wrong. I paced around him, scanning for the smallest change in him. Souji stayed still but his shoulders were raised which meant that something was wrong.

"What are you hiding?" I placed a hand on my waist while the other hand held onto the package.

"Meoow~" A voice seemed to come from his stomach which he tried to hide. It was obvious that it was a kitten.

"Why do you need to hide a kitten?" Finding no reason for him to hide the kitten, I stared at him; confused. "Anyway, just now there was a woman handing me this package saying it's the cloths she has weaved for this month. Who is she?"

"Ah, it must be Miyuki-san. She is wife to a former soldier of Shinsengumi." Souji explained as he got the kitten out from his clothes into his arms. It was a ginger kitten with big grey eyes. My heart suddenly beat fast. What is this cute creature…? It was as if the nature was calling out for me to touch the ginger cat. I reached my hand out and patted the cat. It made a happy meow which warmed my heart magically.

"Former?"

"Yes. He died chasing a robber. Well, there were many obstacles. We send Miyuki-san money every month for her and her son but she just won't accept it so she uses the money to weave cloths for us." Souji smiled gently as he scratched the kitten's chin.

Come to think of it, Hijikata was super rude.

"I see…then, what is wrong with the kitten?" I asked.

"It wandered in this morning and I have been playing with it but Hijikata-san saw me and asked me to throw it away." Souji sighed sadly, pouting as he poked the kitten's moving paw.

Hijikata sure was rude.

"Souji…have you ever thought of taking revenge?"

"What?" Souji seemed surprised. "Against Hijikata?" For a moment we were staring at each other, smirking. "Oh, yes I do." Souji said, smiling wider. Upon the idea, he took my wrist swiftly and pulled me along.

"W-wait! Where are we going and what are we going to do?!" Due to the sudden movement, I tried my best to keep up with his speed. However, there was this excitement rising within my chest. It would be a fun adventure!

Pulling me towards the rear of headquarters, I found myself familiar with the place. It was the bushes…outside of Hijikata's room. The kitten meowed as it looked at Souji with its innocent eyes. Souji placed his index finger on his lips, asking the kitten to be silent. It was almost magical that the kitten produced no more sound after that.

"Since Hijikata-san doesn't like cats…we will put this cat inside his bed while he is asleep." Souji whispered, his grin still wide and playful.

"Is he asleep?"

"He should be. Hijikata usually takes a very short nap during this time so we have to be fast—"

"—And stealthy!" I added as I grinned as well. "But…He won't kill the kitten right?"

"As I have told you. Hijikata-san is a very delicate person! He won't!" Souji ensured but I just couldn't stop frowning and worrying. "Trust me." He smiled.

"Alright." I nodded. Thus, we tip-toed our way towards Hijikata's room. Carefully leaving our footwear, we climbed up and slid open the door cautiously. Since Souji had to hold onto the kitten, I had to open the door. Sliding it open carefully, I could feel my back wet with cold sweat. Gulping before sliding it again, my eyes caught the sleeping figure move. Freezing in place, I held my breath. After making sure that Hijikata was still asleep, I proceeded to breathe slowly as I stepped inside. Souji followed shortly after that.

This is the first time seeing Hijikata-san's sleeping face… Couldn't help but to stare, I found my cheeks getting warmer.

"Sayo-chan, the blanket!" Souji whispered as he got the kitten out of his clothes.

Pulling a little of the blanket up, I gave him a thumb. Souji then placed the kitten in. Once the kitten was in, we hurried ourselves out. Of course we didn't just leave the kitten there. Who knew what Hijikata would do? Stationing ourselves outside of the room with our eyes fixed on the kitten's movement and Hijikata's movement, we watched with the tension rising.

The kitten poked its head out of the blanket and scanned around. It meowed and Hijikata's eyebrow twitched. The kitten then got out of the blanket and climbed above the blanket, heading towards Hijikata's chest.

Gulping the lump in our throats, Souji and I exchanged stares. After a moment, we turned our eyes back to the kitten which was about to put its paw on Hijikata's lips. When it set its paw and another paw on Hijikata's lips, Hijikata's eyebrows knitted together into a frown. It was causing Souji and I pressure as we watched. However, what was worst hadn't come…yet. Souji and I quickly took our heels out of the place when our eyes caught the sight of the kitten lifting one of its hind legs.

It's going to pee on Hijikata-san! We cursed within our hearts but at the same time we were holding back our laughter for the moment.

"SOUJI! GET BACK HERE!" There it was the alarm to inform us the perfect time to laugh our hearts out. "SAYO! YOU TOO!" Hijikata howled.

Laughing our hearts out as we ran, we didn't expect to end up in the yard in front of the councillor, Itou Kashitaro's room. The door was slightly open which invited us to peek inside. Inside we found another target of our mischief.

"What to do?" Souji asked; whispering.

Scanning at the councillor, I could feel the streaming of ideas exchanging within my mind. Soon enough I came up with a superb idea. "Get some papers and we will meet in the kitchen. I'll put these stuffs in the kitchen meanwhile too."

OnO/

"Good." Smiling due to my accomplishment, I was proud of my achievement. After mixing sago with water to make sticky base, I prepared enough cooked rice to crush in my palm.

"Sayo-chan! Here are the papers! What are we going to do?" Souji entered with leaves of paper. There was this grin of excitement radiating from our faces; I could sense it.

"Bring the papers here. We only need two papers. Put them down." I told him. Once he had set the papers down, I smothered the crushed rice on them. After that I scooped the sago with a spoon and set it evenly on the paper. I also made sure I didn't put too much as the paper was fragile. Once they were ready, I handed one for Souji and the other one for me. "Off we go." I grinned widely.

Returning back to where Itou Kashitaro was, we were happy to see that he was still asleep. As a precaution, we nudged him with our feet, which was…inappropriate but we had to make sure he was sound asleep like a baby. He was indeed sleeping like a baby. Oh what a golden chance we had!

"I am sorry…Itou-san…" I whispered as I lifted up his pants to reveal his quite hairy leg; Souji did the same to the other leg. We slowly placed the paper down with the sago facing his leg. Itou must have felt something which caused him to shift his position a little but it didn't rouse him awake.

Exchanging glances with Souji, it was as if we could telepathy. We knew that we had to leave him alone. Thus, we left the room and kept a watch behind bushes in the yard.

Perhaps Itou was sensitive by his skin that he woke up soon enough. He was oblivious to what had happened to him until he felt something on his leg. He pulled his pants upwards and found out the paper. He began touching the paper and tried to pull it off but it wouldn't go away. Itou then became panicked.

"What is this?! Utsumi?! Where are you Utsumi?!" He called for his most trusted comrade who came rushing in. "Utsumi! Get this off me!" Itou pleaded. Utsumi approached close and did his best. However, the sago which was mixed with water at the right amount worked very well as glue that it also pulled off Itou's hairs on his legs. Itou groaned in pain as Utsumi peeled the paper off. Unable to bear longer, he begged Utsumi to peel it in one pull for the other leg.

"OUCH!" Itou wailed.

Couldn't hold it in any longer, Souji and I released our laughter and at the same time shed some tears too.

OmO/

"Have you two reflected on your deeds?!" Hijikata hissed. His arms were crossed and his eyebrows were knitted together. He was mad but there was this tickling sensation within Souji and me which almost caused us to laugh again. However, we knew how to hold ourselves back.

"My God…These two are such a bad combination for the others!" Itou complained, heaving a heavy sigh as if it was for goodness' sake. His hands rubbed his legs which were probably barren under the cloth. He seemed comfortable beside Hijikata though… oddly.

I wonder why Itou-san approaches Hijikata-san like that…What does he want from Hijikata-san? Hijikata-san even had to lie just to keep this man away… I wonder what is between them… When Hijikata's voice kept rambling at the background, my eyes found itself staring at Itou with deep curiosity. It was a fool of me to not realize that I was staring until Itou's eyes returned my gaze and…his lips grinned. Immediately, I turned my gaze downwards towards the tatami floor; pretending that I was guilty.

"Fine! Go back to your own post!" Hijikata hissed, dismissing everyone involved in Souji's and my mischiefs. However, remembering my obligation, I called out to Hijikata reflexively.

"Hijikata-san!"

"What is it?" He replied; sharply. He was still angry.

"There's delivery."

"I don't see you carrying anything." Hijikata stared, narrowing his eyes a bit towards me.

"I think I left it in the kitchen. Bye!" I said as I dashed out of the room; giggling.

"Can't you do your job properly?! It must be Souji's effects!" Hijikata roared as he stood up from his seat.

OuO/

Approaching the kitchen, my eyes caught the sight of the three idio—buddies. They seemed to be looking for someone. Nearing them, I poked at Heisuke's shoulder. They turned around and smiled widely upon my appearance.

"We were just about to look for you!" Heisuke claimed; grinning widely. Sano and Shinpachi as well had the same grin.

"What is it? I need to do delivery for Hijikata-san, so I hope you can finish your business quickly… I don't want any trouble with Hijikata-san." I said; pouted as I remembered what I had done. I tried my best to keep my laughter sealed inside. It would be bad if the incident spread throughout Shinsengumi—well, Hijikata's reputation would probably drop.

"We have a gift!" Shinpachi said in excitement

"Yeah!" Sano added.

"A gift?" I was sceptical but I was hoping for something definitely. "For me?" Pointing myself with my own index finger, I asked. In response, those three nodded in unison which caused me to feel slightly uncomfortable but who didn't want gifts?

Heisuke passed me a box made from rattan. It was only palm size so it was fairly small. Occassionally, it looked cute and they were lovely. I thought they only fooled around people so, who knew they could do something so sweet?

"Put those things down and open it!" Sano persuaded. He also made glances to Shinpachi and Heisuke. They seemed very eager to see my reaction. They seemed overly excited.

Putting down whatever I had in my hands, I held onto the box. Wondering what was in it only made me even more curious so I went ahead to open the box only to be shocked by the content. Worms and insects—cockroaches.

"OH MY GOD! GET THEM OFF ME!" I shouted in dismay. "YOU THREE ARE SO IN TROUBLE! GET THEM OFF ME!" My voice rose from within my belly and made me loud. Shouting as I threw the box away and shook my hands vigorously, I felt faint. "WHOSE IDEA IS THIS?"

"It's…AHAHAHA…a bet!" Those three buddies—idiots laughed out so hard that they were on the ground, smacking the ground as their eyes welled up in tears.

They could roll on the ground for all I care! Once I got rid all the disgusting creatures on my hands, I picked up the delivery and ran my way towards Hijikata's room. Cursing those three that karma would get them, I tried my best to forget the tingling sensation when those creatures crept up my arms.

How could they place bet on whether I would be disgusted or not?! It's just…UGH. Fine! I'll just skip their meals! They can cry all they want begging for food but I ain't giving! Frowning as I slowed down my pace into a walk, I made a turn to the left. Hijikata's room was there after my room.

Voices entered my ears and halted my steps. Listening closely, it was Hijikata with Saitou. It's so rare to hear him speak. He gives the serious vibe but…I just can't take him seriously somehow… Entering my room and waited for Saitou to finish his talk with Hijikata, I checked the bundle of love letters. I casually added another—which I had planned for a while. Smirking in mischief, I wondered what Hijikata would reply.

Unknown to me, the conversation stopped and a shadow was there by the entrance to my room.

"It's not good to leave the door open." A voice rang making me turn my head to see who it was. It turned out to be Saitou.