Snowflakes at dawn
"Wow! I never thought I'd get to eat something this good tonight" Heisuke said as he chomped down on his food.
"Thanks Yukimura! You can always cook our food from now on, alright?" Shinpachi said with a grin then he pulled Heisuke's bowl of soup and licked it dry.
"OI!" Heisuke jumped up and grabbed his bowl, as usual a fight over the food started.
Chizuru who remained on the corner of the room giggled as she watched them. She didn't expect that it would be fun to be around them somehow but something or rather someone was making her uncomfortable at the moment. She glanced at Okita who was obviously observing her. As their eyes met he gave her that double edged smile of him. There was a sudden jolt of nervousness in her and so she turned away from him. She ducked her head and was about to excuse herself when Okita called her attention.
"Yes" she looked at him, keeping her composure.
"What's the hurry? You can stay and eat here if you like" he said, putting down his bowl. "Actually we've just ran out of something to talk about" he crossed his arms. "How about you tell us about yourself, Yukimura. Just to keep the ball rolling"
Saitou casted a quick glance at Okita then at Chizuru. He had an idea where the conversation was going. He noticed that Heisuke and Shinpachi shut their trap, curious with what's the serious conversation was about in their side of the circle.
"Now that's interesting" Sano stopped eating and turned to them. "How'd you got the position as errand boy here anyway?" he said with a sly smile.
"Is it just me or is the cat out of the box already?" Chizuru scratched her head and smiled at them. "Well it's not much of a story… I mean how I got here and all"
"Hhhmm. Really?" Okita was obviously enjoying the interrogation.
"It's something I'd rather not speak about but…" she had the whole explanation in her head.
Saitou interrupted. "Let's respect his privacy. His story is his to keep, if that's what he please"
"Eh? Don't be such a kill joy. This is just a little getting to know" Souji said with a chuckle. "Unless you know something that we don't" he looked at Chizuru with judging and accusing eyes. His lips curled as if to taunt her.
"Souji…" Heisuke turned to Okita finally realizing that something's up.
"Would you care to tell us about that little secret of yours, Yukimura?" Souji said teasingly.
"Secret? I don't have any …." She replied keeping her cool but she was sweating under her sleeve.
"Really? Then tell me all about you pretending to be a man when in fact you're a woman" Okita said with a serious face.
Shinpachi almost spitted the tea he just drank in surprise. "WHAT?! Yukimura is a woman?!" he pointed at her.
"I knew it. I'd always know a woman when I see one" Sano said scratching his chin knowingly with a smile. "Well, I don't really care for your gender but I want to know your motives for pretending to be a man. Is it just a coincidence that someone pretending to be a man lived in a temple where the headquarters was getting moved? And now she's offering her services to us running errands and all"
"Suspicious eh?" Okita added.
"Yukimura" Hiesuke muttered looking at her a bit disheartened with her secret.
Saitou cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention. "I know you guys think that she's a spy but she doesn't have the skill to be one"
"She might not be good with the sword but sending someone weak lessens suspicion" Okita replied. "They even send kids to do the job you know"
Sano grinned. "Besides a female spy doesn't have to be that good with the sword to gain information if she's a master in bed."
"I don't have any ulterior motives for helping out." Chizuru finally blurted out in her normal feminine voice. No point in pretending, now that the chicken is out of its coop. "Please just hear me out, there's a reason why I'm here pretending as a boy" she stood up with her fist clenched, feeling frustrated.
Saitou noticed that Okita and Sano would probably push her further into the corner. He sighed. "I knew that she was a girl and I know the reason why he's presented himself as a boy. Hijikata knows too." He spoke in hopes to get her out of hot waters.
The door suddenly slid open. "What do I know too?" Hijikata appeared with a furrowed brow. Seeing Chizuru standing looking upset and the look on everyone else's face he instantly knew what was happening. "What's the fuss all about? I can hear your voices from down the hall" he entered, Kondo-san, Sannan and Inoue followed him and they sat at their usual spot.
"Are you guys bullying Yukimura?" Kondo asked, knowing that the guys can be mean sometimes especially to a frail looking kid like him.
"No we were just trying to find out why Yukimura is pretending to be a boy, that's all" Souji replied.
"Huh? A what?!" Kondo looked at Chizuru.
Chizuru just wanted to run to Hijikata and hide behind him, to keep her from the confused and judging stares but she sucked it up. She ducked her head. "I'm sorry. He's right. I'm a woman"
"You are?" Kondo looked at Hijikata who just nodded.
"I'm sorry. I was going to tell you but it was something so trivial I forgot about it" Hijikata replied crossing his arms.
"We still have to hear what she has to say though" Okita said looking back at Chizuru.
Chizuru gave them a deep bow. "I'm sorry everyone. I was the one who asked not to reveal my identity. The monks took me in knowing that I'm actually a girl." She looked at everyone who was attentively listening to her. A quick glance at Hijikata and she noticed the creases in between his brows as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was originally from Edo. I lost my family and came to Kyoto to look for my father but he's probably dead now" she paused as she mentioned her father.
"I had to pretend as a boy to make travelling more convenient and safe. I tried my luck looking for my father here but just a couple of days here and I ran into some robbers who took all of my money. I had no other place to go so I went to this temple, hid and slept in the shrine for nights. They found me and took me in since I've got nowhere else to go. I became their errand boy soon after." She looked down with a frown. "My troubles led me here and nothing else."
"So that's why…" Kondo looked at her with pity. "Yukimura" he called her and smiled when she looked up to him. "It's alright. You lied but I understand why you did so. It must've been pretty hard on you."
"That's it? So we just let her stay?" Sannan inquired.
"Well we can't just kick her out from the temple. She came here before we were even here and she's got no place to go" Kondo crossed his arms in deep thought. "Hijikata, you knew all along?" he received a nod and an exhausted sigh in reply. "Well what should we do?"
He knew the answer but he can't appear to be all on her side. He ran a quick look around the room and everyone was waiting for an answer. There was silence.
Heisuke then scrambled forward and raised his hand. "I…" he opened his mouth and everyone turned to him. "I think it's just fine if we let her stay. I mean she's been around us for a while now and it didn't seem to be a problem"
"He's got a point. Besides I won't feel that good if we threw out a woman who's no longer got anywhere else to go. She isn't interfering with our affairs so I don't really mind if she stays" Shinpachi supported Heisuke.
"Saitou, do you have anything you want to say?" Kondo glanced at the man who just listened with a straight face.
"As long as she doesn't meddle in our affairs I couldn't care less if she stays or go. I suggest that she keep up the act as a boy though." Saitou replied simply then sipped his tea which has already turned cold.
Chizuru looked around once more and decided to speak up. She ducked her head. "Please. Allow me to stay. I really have nowhere else to go"
Kondo sighed. "Of course I won't kick you out." He gave her an encouraging smile and continued. "You can continue helping out around here as well, I don't mind. You've been making really good food and tea and Hijikata seems to trust you. You can stay, Yukimura"
"Ah!" She beamed at him. "Thank you very much" she ducked her head once more. "Thank you"
"If that's the case then please leave us now. We've got things to discuss" Hijikata said rather coldly.
"Yes" she ducked her head and quickly disappeared from the room.
~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~
"What are you doing out here?" Hijikata inquired upon spotting Chizuru curled up on the stairs in deep thought.
"Nothing" she replied weakly without even looking up at him.
The sun hasn't even risen yet and dawn was always the coldest at this time of year. Hijikata sighed. He was sure that no one was around so he stood closer to her. "You did well back there."
"I'm sorry. I caused you trouble."
"Tsk. I told you I handled it already so stop mopping around"
She looked up at him. "Sorry" she then gave him a smile.
Upon seeing her smile he looked away. "Jeez. Don't give me that look"
"Eh? What look?"
"Nothing" he crossed his arms.
"Things are getting more turbulent here in the capital" she stood up and turned to him. "Please take care of yourself"
"I will"
"I better get going. Someone might get up early and see us"
He placed a hand on her head. She looked up at him and caught that smile she rarely sees lately. "Go get some more sleep. You might still grow up"
"Even hibernating won't help me gain an inch"
He removed his hand from her head. "Don't worry. They may seem scary but they're a good bunch" he leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. "I'd be back in three days"
She felt her cheeks heat up. "Alright" she nodded.
He moved away from her and started to walk back to his room. She watched him disappear from her sight before returning to her room as well.
~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~
Hijikata have returned from his trip and Chizuru was sitting outside the steps of her room waiting for him. She was looking at the ground which had patches of snow here and there. She rubbed her hands together and clasped them. It was still dark and the sun won't appear till the next couple of hours. Suddenly something fell on her shoulders and familiar hands rested on them.
"We should really pick a better time to see each other." Hijikata said softly as he leaned down, his face next to hers.
She placed a hand on her shoulder and managed to grab a cloth. She pulled it off her back and held it in her hands with an elated expression on her face. "Thank you…you shouldn't have" she nestled the purple haori in her arms.
"I wanted to get something prettier but you still have to dress as a man" he sat down next to her. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he watched her hold his gift dearly. That's how he wanted to see her, free from worries and contented "But would I be able to keep you smiling like that?" he asked himself, knowing how terrible things are getting. He's got a lot on his hands and she might get dragged into chaos. Also they have to jump into action anytime and anything can happen in the midst of battle.
"Is something wrong?" Chizuru noticed how he was staring at her. He looked away and didn't respond. She reached for his hand and held it. His heat was transferring to her. The sudden contact sent bolts of desire throughout her body.
"I'm just thinking" he looked at her.
"About what" she moved herself closer to him.
Instead of a reply he got up and scooped her in his arms. Chizuru gasped and held tightly unto his sleeve in surprise. Quickly he got into her room, shutting the door firmly behind them. She placed an arm around his neck as he knelt to put her down the futon and started kissing him. It's been a while since they got this intimate and their urges are bursting.
His hands, which masterfully taken her clothes off, caressed her skin as he pulled her closer to him, making her body forget how cold it was outside. Sitting on his lap, she started trailing kisses in his shoulder then hid her face in the crook of his neck as he started fondling her mounds. She sat up then sat astride on his lap. She pulled the collar of his kimono off his shoulder with her teeth, leaving her hands busy removing his hakama. She shivered as his fingers ran down her backbone then traced a line to her hips which he held, pulling her to him. They paused to look at each other and began to kiss avidly.
He missed every inch of her. The way her skin feels against his, the way she tasted and her soft moans that drives him crazy. He placed both his hands on her bottoms. Lifting herself up on cue, she slowly filled herself with him, making him let out a moan. He felt her nails dig behind his shoulder as she started to move herself with his guidance. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. They paused to catch their breath and exchanged a kiss as they did so.
She placed a hand on his cheek which he took and kissed. "The sun's coming out soon"
"No, we still have a lot of time" he replied as he slowly laid her down. "I've held back long enough" he muttered with a small groan as he started moving in her once more.
She chuckled. "I know"
~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~
Chizuru opened her eyes and found the space next to her empty. It was already morning, that short while for burning passion was over. It wasn't that long but the time they just spent together compensated for their longing. She stroked the empty side of her futon and she can still feel the heat from his body in it. She closed her eyes and remembered the man who laid there next to her and smiled. She rolled to her side and reached for the purple haori. She sat up and wore it over her bare body, making her feel like she was still wrapped around his arms.
Note: If you've read this far, THANKS A BUNCH! Please do leave a review, it would be well appreciated :)) This is it for now... I've posted a number of chapter in one go since I'm finished with some of them but I just don't get to post them right away...so yeah :3 Not sure when I'll get to update this but it should be soon, since I've got the next chapters lined up already.
