A/N: First of all, thank you for reviewing, following and adding this story to your favorites! Really! Thank you so much, everyone, for your support, for your nice words, for everything! I mean... it's chapter 10 and this story is getting so much more love than I thought it would get! I can't thank you enough! It's a dream come true~ *blushes*

Second. Long time, no see. I apologize. The amount of studying I had to do was maddening, reschedules all over the place and computer viruses threw me of my planning completely! I took my last test for this exam season just three days ago. And I tried to update as fast as possible, despite the fact that I am not yet completely finished with ch.11. I am sorry for keeping you waiting! I hope you understand. *sighs*

And I hope you like this chapter! New meetings and new characters are slowly introduced. More will also appear in the chapter that follows this one, so keep your eyes open! Also, I have a small announcement at the ending note, so look for that as well!

As usual, special thanks to my beta-reader, who is putting up with me and supporting me all this time!

Fiery Green

~Chapter 10~

His smile. . . was all she could think of. . .

The mere sight burned her cheeks ablaze. Her heart was flaring and clenching, eyes glowing in admiration. . . simply because of a mere stretch of his lips. . .

Chizuru shook her head. Acquiring back her sense of reason, the reign over her own body, hunting away all remnants, treacherous bits of infatuation and resuming a proper posture was nothing but a tedious process. She forced her brain to work and assume a healthy state of mind in such a panic that even her eyes protested due to the physical and mental strain.

Chizuru was sure her lips must had been oddly parched for many lengthy moments. Her breath was escaping in arrhythmical small bursts.

He was truly an enigma to her. So inexplicably impish at times, improper, perhaps even vulgar and yet now. . . he was glowing like a blissful child. His smile was more stunning than anything she had ever witnessed before.

In a very unsettling, unfathomable way the overwhelming Sun of Edo seemed to have finally found its better in the face of Okita Souji. . . so illuminating that to Chizuru felt as though his eyes and lips were shining brighter than any sun or stars.

She abruptly blinked away from her thoughts. Chizuru needed to gulp hungry intakes of air before she could properly register that the voices, that up until then were joyfully dancing about, were silenced and that the characteristic sound of steps disappearing into the distance soon followed; it felt like a nudge to her ears.

"Chizuru-chan?" His voice stormed into her mind so fiercely and yet so calmly at the same time it was impossible not to respond to its inviting softness.

"Okita-san." She even surprised herself with her steady reply.

"Yukimura arrived to our Headquarters in search of you." The still voice of Saito eased the arduousness of her task to explain why she was suddenly found in the Palace Grounds. Truly, Chizuru was thankful he decided to offer a brief explanation and it was no longer required of her to approach the matter at hand. It felt nearly impossible to start muttering excuses right now. If the task was left in her hands, Chizuru was sure they would all be waiting for many, many silent seconds for her to offer words she had not even a single idea how to address or even voice out at all.

Souji's eyes slipped away to cast a brief questioning glance at Hajime. "Is that so?" he drawled and turned to Chizuru, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

Finally paying proper attention to the fact that the words Saito used to explain could have been easily misinterpreted, especially by a man such Okita Souji was, she rushed to clarify. "I came to-" she swallowed hardly, still struggling to somehow embolden herself, "your Headquarters in order to look for Toudou-san, Harada-san, Nagakura-san and you, Okita-san. I felt I had to...apologize."

She thought she saw an unidentified shadow of understanding traversing across his bright green hues that stared at her very intently. Chizuru could do nothing but proceed to do what she had done a million times today. She bowed, although this time her curtsey resembled more of an abrupt, nearly aggressive, tilt. "I am truly sorry. I apologize if I have offended you," she offered, desperately prompting herself not to lose her composure under his insistent stare.

It felt as though many moments passed, but in truth not even a second had elapsed before Souji let out a small raucous chuckle. Only half a breath after. . . .

"You know, Chizuru-chan. Last time you thought you had offended me it was because of a very stupid reason. So, please, enlighten me. What is that you are apologizing for this time around?" he teased, leisurely adjusting the scabbard of his sword to accommodate himself better.

Chizuru nibbled at her own lip in a pensive manner, gesture hidden by her bangs standing as natural draperies right before her eyes, shielding her face from the person standing before her. She refused to resume her proper standing posture; not before she could be given the right to do so.

In a peculiar way it seemed like Okita-san. . . hesitated to burst into laughter for an infinitesimal, barely noticeable second. Quite honestly such a claim made no sense whatsoever, considering the nature of his playful character. That brief time during which she let out a breath and he was holding his, that brief time during which hours seemed to stop ticking by, wordlessly, waiting in a frozen state for Okita to respond to her curtsey in any manner possible, that brief time that was put to a stop after the heralding of his melodic chuckle... It seemed as though—

Could he have really deliberated over if he should tease her at all? Could he. . . harbor certain thoughts in mind about the incident the day prior? Could the brief second, shorter than a full heartbeat's time, warrant such deep pondering out of Chizuru? Or was it simply instinct? For, deep down, Chizuru knew that, despite her impertinent behavior, she was not solely to blame for what occurred. She was not about to voice this thought of hers out loud, but she could not help wondering about the prospect of Okita-san feeling. . .guilty of sorts.

Chizuru shook her head, quickly erasing any kind of ridiculous thinking she had about a man such as him feeling even remotely at fault. He was a Captain of the Royal Guard of Edo, a man of great standing, a man of beauty, a man holding not only authority and respect but also—

Such a man would never blame his own self for such foolishness. It was her fault for overreacting and betraying the fact that she was not at all knowledgeable about how the world works out of the Sannan's store, how men handle young, naive women like her.

She bit her lips for a second before deciding to respond. "I stormed out of the room very rudely. I shouldn't have. Please, if possible, accept my apologies and forgive me."

Souji's lips, involuntarily or not she could not know, curled up into a half-smile. "There is nothing to forgive, Chizuru-chan. You had your reasons, no?" he titled his head meaningfully.

Slowly straightening her posture, she hardly contained herself from gasping. What he had just uttered strangely acted to stress her previous thinking. Could he really consider himself part of the awkwardness of the situation? Was he considering himself culpable?

She did not respond whatsoever. And he didn't offer any other detail on the matter. She had to admit that, after his last words, it was mostly apparent, or at least heavily insinuated, that he knew very well what his teasing and witty remarks caused to a demure girl like her. Frankly, she never thought such a thing was possible.

Souji sneered under his breath. He was not about to apologize. He was too proud to do so, even though he, deep down, knew he was the one at fault. Or at least that he took a very important part into leading the situation towards where it finally headed. He was a proud man, yes, but he did feel somewhat bothered by this... misunderstanding.

"Is that the only reason you came here?" His probing question had her frown. All men she apologized to posed the same almost incredulous question. What was so strange about it? She had to apologize. Therefore she came to do just that. It was a fact, though, that her knees nearly buckled in dread before she finally decided to do so.

On the other side of the spectrum Souji was slightly, just a little tiny bit, hurt. The answer her beautiful eyes offered insinuated that she did not arrive in the Headquarters just to meet him. And, obviously, she had paid her cute apologies to the rest already. It made something within him sting and kick in raging unexpected vehemence.

"You shouldn't be here." Hajime's steady, cold and yet lacy voice perked up suddenly. For a moment, Chizuru thought he was speaking to her. But he wasn't.

Souji's green eyes whipped away to level Saito with a stare. He nearly did not pay any attention to the man. "Hijikata-san spoke of house arrest, Hajime-kun. The patio is still a part of the Guard's jurisdiction grounds," he countered, folding his arms over his toned, still partially exposed chest.

Hajime sighed. "I think you purposefully omit the piece where he mentioned 'Not even dare go out of your room'," he noted nonchalantly.

Souji chortled wickedly at this detail, making Chizuru slightly furrow her eyes in puzzlement. Saito fixed the other man with an icy glance, just on the verge of resembling a glare.

"Hajime-kun~" he intoned. "No need to be so strict." Souji snickered, barely managing to hold his laughter at Saito's expense. "I am sure Chizuru-chan here," he stepped closer to the girl meaningfully, "would love to be shown around the Palace, hm?" he winked at her expectantly, nudging her to play along his shenanigans.

Oh, how dearly she wished to visit the glorious Royal Palace. And yet a voice in Chizuru's head was screaming in protest. She dampened her lips and tried to compose herself before explaining. "I fear that I have to return. I've left Sannan-san alone and—"

"Please don't tell me you think Sannan-san cannot handle his store by himself," Souji taunted, rolling his eyes.

Chizuru sighed, mentally blaming herself for having no talent whatsoever at being a rhetorician, handing conversations and arguments in a more comfortable manner that did not testify her naivety so openly. Since the very same rebuttal was presented to her twice, she surmised her argument was probably considered very weak. Equally weak as her resolve had been.

"Souji." The admonishing tone of the voice could hardly pass unnoticed anymore.

Souji heaved an indignant sigh. "Do you really expect me to be cooped up in my room all day, Hajime-kun?"

Saito's eyes widened in confusion. Wasn't the answer obvious enough? "Those were Fukucho's orders," he defended callously.

"And?" At the sneering and peeving grin of Souji's, Hajime found himself unable to counter. A passing thought reminded him that it often felt as if it was impossible to reason with Souji. As if everything he was told and instructed to do fell into deaf ears. At times like these Hajime could, to a certain degree, sympathize with his Fukucho's ire and indignation towards the First Division Captain.

He minded little of Souji himself and his -at times very vexing, that's true- habits. What worried and unsettled Hajime the most was that his comrade's impertinent behavior became known to a civilian in the most crude and unpolished manner.

He leveled Souji with another glacial, meaningful glare and nodded towards the girl. Souji stifled a chuckle. It was obvious to Hajime that Souji understood his worries, but paid no further heed; as though it was no concerning matter. For Hajime it certainly was. Therefore, he took action.

"Yukimura." He asked for her attention in a manner very much demanding. The small girl turned to regard him curiously. "Now that your work is done, I have to escort you outside. Forgive and forget," he stressed emphatically, "Souji's display of disobedience."

Souji's emerald hues widened only to narrow into slits a moment after. "What are you doing, Hajime-kun?" the oozing current of anger slowly made its way out of Souji's pores in a trenchant rhythm he was unable and reluctant to inhibit.

Hajime silently huffed at the obviously challenging tone of his friend. "Don't make a scene," he warned, eyeing Souji closely.

"The girl came to see me. Wouldn't it be rude to refuse her?" Souji emphasized, nearing Hajime with a great sense of purpose; a purpose evoking quite belligerent emotions from both parties.

"No. She did not come here to see you specifically," Hajime coolly countered, voice openly calm, but dripping with the force of his tacit intention to answer Souji's challenge with one of his own. He could not afford to let this slide. Not before the eyes of a civilian. Too much were at stake.

Fingers itched and twitched, eagerly breathing out pleas to grasp the blades at the men's sides.

Chizuru's eyes darted back and forth incredulously. She unconsciously lifted her hands to cup her face and press worryingly at her lips. She could feel her skin crawling at the mere thought that she had accidentally been caught up in a cauldron of slowly boiling anger.

It was preposterous to even think of. Confronting a matter as trivial -at least that was her impression- as that resulted in a staring battle. They were standing just on the very rim of causing blades to unsheathe and cut their wielder's opponents. How was this even possible? As far as she was aware, those two men were friends. Just a while ago, even when they paid a visit to the shop, they seemed to place great trust to each other. What had erupted within them so abruptly?

Could it be. . .Chizuru's fault?

She did what felt right and possible at the moment. She stormed between them, raising pacifying hands.

"Please, please! Don't do this!" she could only utter, eyes starting brimming with silent begging, desperate pleas. But the two aggressive sharp pairs of emerald and azure did not even veer to regard her. They were locked in stern grips.

"What's with this ruckus?" a stern, steady voice suddenly boomed as the owner swiftly made its way through the corridor which Chizuru only previously used to arrive.

She whipped her head towards the direction of the voice, only to meet two tall men. The man standing at the left, with spiky hair colored a sweet but pale brown, half of them secured in a top-knot at the back of his head, was almost worriedly staring at the duo at Chizuru's sides. His dark kind eyes were veiled with confusion, brows furrowed in concern. Chizuru noted that he was wearing a light beige traditional Edo short sleeved tunic-like garment underneath a white robe held in the middle by a similarly white obi. He carried himself with grace and elegance, but, strangely, he did not give out any feeling of noble blood coursing through his veins.

The other man, whose stentorian voice echoed in the patio, was equally, if not more, imposing. His dark violet eyes were glowing like oddly colored fires. His silk long locks, that even put every woman's hair to shame, were held together in a long high ponytail. He was wearing a dark violet short sleeved top trimmed with white, accentuating his muscles, and a long flowing light gray hakama. His arms were mostly covered by black leather arm-guards shimmering under the scorching sun. If anything, he had an overwhelming presence.

As if pulled by invisible strings, Saito's tense posture suddenly loosened and his shoulders sagged in mild relief. He veered towards the two men, openly ignoring Souji's still undeterred stance.

"Kyokucho. Fukucho," he acknowledged and bowed respectfully.

"Saito-kun," the shorter-haired man neared. "What happened?" he questioned in confusion, eyes wandering to both men. "Souji?" He urged the other officer to offer a proper explanation.

Only then Okita followed Saito's example and finally relaxed from his previous tense position. Powerless at the face of his father figure, the man he admired with an avid passion.

"Kondou-san." He only murmured his acknowledgement, retiring from the battle at last.

Chizuru was at a complete loss. At a loss for words, or thoughts, or spirit. It was nearly impossible to entertain even the simple thought that she was honored enough to stand right before the Commander and Vice Commander of the Royal Guard of Edo. It made no sense whatsoever for her to be there.

She soon found herself gasping for air, closing and opening her mouth as if following a secret rhythm of a folk song the moment brown eyes came to rest on her in bewilderment.

"And who might this young lady be?" the man wondered. His question should have made her wince or cower, but instead it felt warm and kind, perhaps even considerate.

At the same time, violet hues snapped towards her only to dart a mighty glare. "What are you doing here?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned to his men. "What were you thinking, bringing a woman here, you fools? Even you, Saito. I expect you to thoroughly explain exactly why a woman was allowed into the Palace Grounds. Speak the hell up!"

Hajime was unable, perhaps out of his own disbelief, to grasp those words properly. It was unsettling to even consider that his Vice Commander's fierce tone was aimed towards him as well. His blue eyes widened in shock. It felt atrocious to think that he was held accountable for this mess in such an unheard of manner. Hijikata-san had known him better than that. . . surely. Hajime would never dare to admit what he contemplated over out loud, but the truth was that, admittedly, Hijikata-san had been entirely wrong in his guess of who was to blame. Judging objectively the mere facts alone, one would conclude that not even Souji could be held responsible for the appearance of a commoner at the Palace. That was the truth.

"Toshi." the Commander placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, that sadly did nothing to pacify the other man. Fortunately, the gesture did serve a similar purpose.

Toshizo's eyes glowed fiercely in response to the fact he was currently unable to near the first Division Captain. Kondou's hand was restraining his movements. His fists were clenched so strongly that his knuckles had turned worryingly white. His jaw tensed, his teeth gritted. To say he was angered would probably be an understatement.

"It's your fault, isn't it?" he pointed an accusing finger, held back from attacking by Kondou's steady hand alone. "You purposely disobeyed orders! And, of course, the great Okita Souji would never stop there, would he?" he sneered, veins pulsating in ire. He turned to measure the girl one more time and promptly veered towards Souji again. "Can you even understand the repercussions of this? Bringing a woman here, Souji? Are you out of your fucking mind?"

Chizuru had frozen in place, unable to react in any way. The intensity of the man's words was so tremendous, that she could almost feel torrents of tears welling up at her eyes. Thankfully, those tears were never shed. She had never seen a person more openly irate in her entire life. The most unsettling matter of all was that Souji did not even attempt to deny these accusations. And Chizuru, luckily or not, was in perfect position to know that said accusations were anything but accurate. Partly, at least. It was not Okita's fault that she had been audacious enough to come here.

Her behavior certainly warranted the appointment of a gold medal. How else to award her... explain that she initially came here to ameliorate matters and yet managed to greatly worsen everything to an almost ridiculous extent?

She had to take responsibility. If her previous behavior was considered even remotely rude, then how this one should be described?

"Please, sir! This is not Okita-san's fault! I came here to—"

His glare suddenly intensified, if possible. "I don't give a damn if you came to the Gates on your own accord or not! He knows that bringing women here is—"

"Please listen to me!"

She abruptly lifted her hands to slap her mouth shut. It was nearly impossible to believe this passionate clamor was just released out of Chizuru's lips. The incredulous stares of the four men standing before her were enough proof to strengthen this very notion.

Such was the wave of shame that overwhelmed her after this outburst that her knees almost buckled. She proceeded to do what she felt only appropriate once more. She bowed. This time, though, she curtsied so deeply it almost resembled kneeling.

"Please accept my apologies. But you have to listen to me for a moment! This is not Okita-san's fault. I am not here for... such a reason." She defended, not even daring to take a glimpse of the Vice Commander's eyes. "I work at a shop in the Market, near the slums," she heaved out a breath. "I... I behaved very immaturely yesterday and came to offer my apologies to your Captains." She nearly cried, "I beg of you, do not blame Okita-san. The responsibility is entirely mine."

Many moments of uncomfortable pregnant silence elapsed. Until a voice dared ask, "Is that true, Souji? Saito-kun?"

Saito nodded affirmatively. "It is."

Souji rolled his eyes and folded his arms stubbornly, taping his foot against the pavement. "Does it even matter, Kondou-san? Hijikata-san has already judged me as guilty."

The man cracked his knuckles emphatically and heaved a sigh. "And I am wrong in this? What are you even doing out of your room? You were supposed to be enacting your sentence now!" His voice was thunderous still, but had significantly lessened in ferocity. Chizuru was thankful that her words seemed to pacify the formidable intensity of the man's anger up to a certain degree.

No answer was offered back.

"Souji, answer him," the Commander urged, his voice suddenly laced with a sense of ordering, submitting purpose that could hardly pass unnoticed. The very veneer of it seemed to have changed since the last time the man had spoken.

Okita huffed in response. His next words came out barely audible than a, dare Chizuru say guilty, murmur. "The children asked me to play with them, Kondou-san. I had promised them to~"

"Couldn't you have asked for my permission first, then?" Hijikata pressed, interjecting him.

Okita's jade hues slowly cast an elusive look at the Guard's Vice Commander. "Would you have given it, Hijikata-san?" he challenged.

"If you had explained like an adult," Hijikata stressed meaningfully, "Then I would have. But you did not even consider this option, did you, Souji?"

"Toshi, Toshi!" his name was called twice for emphasis. "What is done is done." Kondou momentarily paused to release a sigh. "I think we owe this young lady a proper apology for rushing to conclusions."

The quartet whirled towards her direction. She dared not raise her head or utter any word on the matter. Until the distinct sound of nearing steps reached her ears and strong fingers crawled under her chin, lifting her face upwards. She could not help but open her eyes questioningly.

"You have guts," the Vice Commander acknowledged and nodded encouragingly. "Not petty audacity. Guts. You seem like a righteous child. You dared raise your voice over mine to defend Souji." Chizuru could not conceal the blush that tinted her cheeks. "Impertinent, yes, but brave. What is your name?" he inquired, violet eyes staring intently at her brown ones.

"Chi- Yukimura Chizuru, sir," she spluttered a little but ultimately managed to stammer out coherently. His fingers finally disappeared from her face, allowing her to finally draw in a proper –and much needed- breath.

"Yukimura-kun, then!" The Commander smiled kindly and stepped closer to her. "I am Kondou Isami, Commander of the Royal Guard of Edo. This man here is Hijikata Toshizo, my trusted Vice Commander. I apologize for scaring you. It must have been a horrible experience to witness such a scene, child."

"Seeing Hijikata-san acting like an old lady in menopause surely is a horrible experience."

"Don't make your situation worse, Souji!" the man in question warned and fixed his subordinate with another frigid glare.

"No." Chizuru breathed out. "I should be apologizing for raising the tone of my voice so discourteously. I am terribly sorry. I did not know how to react and I. . . panicked." She nibbled at her lower lip nervously, pushing a strand of hair behind her small ear.

"All is well, child," Kondou assured and smiled heartily. "But, you said you came here to apologize in the first place...?" he blinked in confusion.

"That's admittedly hard to believe. Why would anyone come to apologize to Souji?"

"That's mean, Hijikata-san." Souji pouted pseudo-innocently, slowly gaining back his usual composure and demeanor.

"If I may, what Yukimura claims is true." Saito confirmed and inclined his head affirmatively.

"But why?" the kind Commander wondered in puzzlement.

"Does it really matter now?"

"Souji!" Hijikata warned again, ordering him to silence by eye-contact alone.

Chizuru started, "I work at the Blacksmith Store Sannan Keisuke and~"

"Sannan-san?" Hijikata's violet eyes widened incredulously, snapping away from Souji to examine her meticulously. A moment later they sharpened and narrowed into scrutinizing slits.

"Sannan-kun's Blacksmith Store?" the other man repeated, hoping to grasp a better sense of these words. "I did not know he took a-"

"Kondou-san, please wait a second. Don't rush to assumptions." Souji interrupted, nearing closer. "You might find it hard to believe, but this girl here is Sannan-san's apprentice."

"Apprentice?" Kondou-san parroted in even greater disbelief. "But— Sannan-kun owns a Blacksmith store. How can—" He stopped himself after an inner realization. Kondou glanced over the girl carefully and intently studying the apron the girl wore. It certainly looked as though she—

"You. . . forge blades, Yukimura-kun?" he inquired once more. Chizuru hesitantly nodded. "Impossible," Kondou murmured scratching his chin and slightly titling his head to the side, trying to decipher what exactly Sannan seemed to have discovered in this feeble looking young lady. It hardly made sense. But Kondou Isami was not a man that judged people strictly by their appearance. Still, this combination of facts and events felt very uncanny, it was impossible to inhibit this surge of confusion.

Hijikata huffed. "I really do hope this is not one of your tricks, Souji."

"Oh? Is it so hard to trust me, Hijikata-san?" Souji frowned, attempting to put the man's latest outburst behind, green eyes gleaming devilishly.

"Souji is speaking the truth," Saito defended calmly once more, attempting to ameliorate the previously dire situation.

"You do understand that is hard to believe, don't you?" Hijikata turned to eye Chizuru closely. "It's peculiar enough to hear Sannan-san took in an apprentice. To even think this apprentice is a girl..."

"Chizuru-chan is quite skilled, though," Souji rushed to explain, grasping the chance to gather positive points for himself in the girl's book. "She sharpened my blade. And she's the one who forged Heisuke's new sword," he remarked, gracing her with one of his trademark enticing grins. Chizuru could easily sense the power of the blush now marring her expression.

"Toudou-kun's sword, you say? But that's quite a—"

"Kyokucho, Fukucho!" Kondou was suddenly interrupted, words stumbling by the insistence of the male voice, dripping with a sense of demanding abrupt hastiness, that urgently called. Chizuru raised her head only to meet with a relatively short and slim young man with sharp purple hues. His brown hair was cut short, but a single lone strand gently flowed and traced behind his steps as he hastily neared towards the group. He was wearing a light green robe held together by a black belt equipped with numerous tools Chizuru could not easily recognize at this distance. By his unfamiliar appearance alone and his strange equipment she was certain he was not a mere civilian.

"Yamazaki-kun," the Commander acknowledged, his gaze suddenly stern upon sighting the new arrival and his own grim expression. It was obvious the man had something very important to convey. His tense posture and balled fists silently spoke of the precarious and worrying information that reached Susumu's ears moments ago.

Yamazaki only spared a single quick, but very measuring, glance at the unfamiliar girl and promptly turned to the men, clearing his throat. "I have a message to deliver. The King urgently requires your presence." He explained and needed utter nothing more. The two-highest ranking individuals nodded and gestured to the man to follow them towards the Headquarters.

The kind Chief veered towards Chizuru at the very last second. "It was nice meeting you, Yukimura-kun. Please pass our cordial greetings to Sannan-kun."

She bowed and nodded affirmatively. "Of course!"

The man smiled heartily and soon disappeared along with Yamazaki. Hijikata did not omit to fix Souji with a very meaningful and frigid glare that spoke of many orders of its own before he, too, padded towards the other two retreating figures.

Uncomfortable silence ruled.

"Ah..." Chizuru hesitantly started, but was met only with the two men silently but worriedly staring at the three who just departed the scene. She had no way to know more neither about the man named Yamazaki nor about what kind of message he wished to deliver so hastily. An order from the King himself... She presumed it was something very important and crucial. But it would be blatantly rude to ask for any details. And Chizuru had absolutely no intention to be ushered into prison for asking about information she was not supposed to be aware of whatsoever. After all, she came here willingly. How ridiculous would it be if she came here just to be kedged into jail?

There was also the matter of Sannan-san. She had no intention of exploiting his kindness simply for idle dawdling.

"I am sorry. I have to leave. . .now. . ." she mumbled. No acknowledgement or answer was given in return.

Chizuru decided to receive this silence as an answer by itself and after inclining her head, she spun on her heel to leave—

"Wait!" A strong hand wrapped around her wrist, securing her in a grip strong and mighty and at the same time gentle, soft and pleading. She slowly turned, only to see green eyes staring down at her. His hues observed her injured hand, casting a single furtive glance. But he paid no poignant comment to this. Instead he flashed a faint but fervent smile.

"Chizuru-chan, you don't look like you meant a word you said. You don't really want to be forgiven at all, do you?" She held is gaze in puzzlement. "Don't just disappear on me like that again."

She blushed a magnificent vermillion at those words, only remotely and distantly registering that he was holding her too closely for her liking.

"Just to avoid any other misunderstandings, what do you say I treat you around, hm? Talk things over."

. . . Eeehhh?. . .

"But, Okita-san," she nearly panted. "I really need to leave and—"

"That's fine. Hajime-kun would rejoice to haul me into my room now anyway." He frowned, glancing at Saito for a moment. The indigo-haired man nodded quietly. Souji turned back to the girl. "How about tomorrow? My patrol ends at early afternoon. What do you say about meeting me just out of the slums, near your store?"

She blinked in confusion. Just what was he implying? It didn't make any sense.

"But~"

"Chizuru-chan~" He needed only stress her name in that sensual way of his to make her vehemently nod, coerced by the might of his alluring grin and mesmerizing intense green eyes.

He finally let go, eyes bright, gleaming with mischief as they always did. "Oh and," he added as an afterthought, "I am very curious to know how our talented Chizuru-chan managed to injure her hand. Do not forget to tell me all about it. Tomorrow, alright?"

"Y—yes."

Steady, decisive steps echoed throughout the hall while the man padded towards his desired destination. As if answering to his demanding march, resounding clicks reached his ears. Incessant spurts of metal rings traveled towards his sensing pores, echoing after stubbornly clashing against the white walls that covered the left side of the hall and the cumbersome while steles that spread along the right side. Beyond them laid the magnificent night sky and the playfully twinkling constellations. Subtle moon light breached the shield of columns and gently brushed against the surface of the opposite wall. The faint light, though, was not hindered by the size of the steles alone. A lone figure cast a shadow that was impossible to miss.

Amagiri ceased his steps, veering to the right. His eyes ventured beyond the columns and towards the banister of the spacious balcony. He was met with a sinister grin that spread the owner's lips in an unsettling and wicked manner. If he did not know better, Amagiri would have sighed at the apparent, most likely completely ungrounded, amusement of his comrade.

"Yo!" Shiranui waved leisurely for a very brief second, refusing to move away from the place he had settled comfortably for the past half hour. It would be considered rather unbecoming for a Palace Executive, a high official, to spread himself in such a way over the balcony's banister of all things. But Shiranui Kyo had his own quirks and habits that unfortunately were an integral part of his personality and, consequently, impossible to get rid of.

"Shiranui," Amagiri Kyuuju acknowledged laconically. Kyo continued undeterred to deftly press his agile fingers upon the trigger of his beloved weapon and twist it around, loving every minute of unsettling agitation the repetitive clicks caused to the taller man. Amagiri, however, chose to wisely ignore the provocative sound.

"I presume there must be a reason why you are currently idly sitting by his Majesty's room," Amagiri said, refusing to waver from his place as well.

Shiranui clucked his tongue poignantly. "I wouldn't say 'idly'" he half-angrily spat back.

Suddenly reminded of how many documents awaited for him inside the aforementioned room and vividly facing the reality that Shiranui was so leisurely prostrating himself over the banister, while a mountain of paperwork demanded attention, caused a spark of anger to erupt within the muscled man. He opted, though, not to show his true feelings, like he always had, and instead approached and confronted the matter in a diplomatic manner. "Do you prefer to name this differently?" he challenged, gesturing to the spectacle.

Shiranui abruptly turned to cast a brief glare to the other man and soon signed, pulling himself in a proper sitting position; still upon the banister nonetheless, which frankly irked Kyuuju up to a certain degree.

"The bastard will be late."

The red-haired man clenched his fists tightly, mentally pinpointing who Shiranui referred as bastard of all people. It was no use pursuing that matter now, though. It was not the first nor will be the last time Shiranui refers to the King with words as inappropriate as that.

"May I inquire as to why?" he mouthed, glancing at the awe-inspiring doors that laid upon his path, right at the end of the hallway.

"Itou," Shiranui needed only utter. The man had accosted His Majesty, the King, many times this week in order to inquire about numerous matters that concerned his field of affairs; more accurately about the Festivities that were about to commence a couple of weeks later.

Kyuuju calmly glanced at the sky that stretched beyond the lean form of Shiranui. The moon was slowly filling up.

"The Moon Festival is hardly a pressing matter," he noted pensively with his bass voice. "I was under the impression he had already dealt with all matters at hand."

Shiranui huffed a strand of his hair away. "Apparently not," he murmured and suddenly his eyes gleamed with mischief. "Maybe he did and now just seeks permission to offer virgin girls as a sacrifice to the Gods." He laughed sadistically, amused at his own banter.

Amagiri stubbornly held onto his emotionless mask. "I find no amusement in such a hypothesis."

"Oh come on!" Shiranui rolled his eyes and hoped down the banister. "The chances that he asks for us two to join him in bed are far easier to gulp down than him asking for gals. That prick."

"May I remind you, Shiranui, he is the Minister of—"

"-Internal Affairs, geez." Shiranui sighed angrily again. "How much of an idiot you consider me to be, Amagiri? I am one of the King's right hand men too, am I not?"

Amagiri had to devote the best of his efforts not to shake his head in disapproval. But no matter the roughness of the character of Shiranui Kyo, none could ever deny his impeccable abilities. The two of them had always been considered the people closest to the King himself, integral parts of the Palace personnel, of the Kingdom itself.

"What did you want to talk to him about?" Shiranui suddenly asked, finally nearing the stern-looking man.

Deciding against keeping the information, since Shiranui would soon be made aware of them in the upcoming Council, Amagiri heaved a sigh and callously explained, raising the piece of parchment he held in his left palm. "This scroll arrived."

Author's Note

Chizuru is starting to show some guts when she needs to. Hijikata came out plenty scary already. Yamazaki -the desert ninja (heh!)- made an impression. Shiranui is kicking butts as always, but... who is the King? *winks* Souji's and Chizuru's first~ let's call it date is coming soon. New characters will also be introduced. And old ones will re-appear.

Also, I really hope I did a good job with the details. For example, Souji and Kondou. Even Souji's "Does it really matter now?" to Kondou's questioning "Why"... Of course he didn't really want Kondou to know exactly why Chizuru came to apologize. And that means he does think he is at fault. Oh, Souji, sometimes you are such a child.

Thank you for waiting for so long. I am really sorry. I tried my hardest to study for my tests, and I gave all my energy to realize my academic goals first. I didn't have the mind-set to write at all. I feel kind of rusty. And sometimes my writing style bothers me, so I'm thinking of changing it and- Anyway. Whining stops here.

And, about that small announcement I mentioned. I had a Tumblr blog for a while and at some point I made a side-blog to test new themes etc. It was initially meant to serve trivial purposes. But then I thought that this might actually be helpful. So I decided to make the side-blog a page dedicated to my FanFiction account. Since my updates might be scarce at times, I could use the blog to inform you about the delays, perhaps even post fanart I received or small previews and songs I listen to while writing. This story has a playlist, you know. Haha! How does that sound? If you're interested, the link is on my profile. The blog is named out of my pen-name here, Aen Silver Fire. I'd love to see you on tumblr as well. Never hesitate to drop by my ASK box too.

Thank you for reading!

And Thank you OniKuShita, Guest 2, 5namida, Unknown Person, u n fan, Guest, fallingwisteria, Anime craze k, MysteriousAcrobat for your reviews on the last chapter! Until next time!