Searching for Paradise
Act Twelve
"How can you expect me to hire you when you've all ready screwed up!"
Hitomi flinched. Oh boy, she was in for it now. Not only did she escape from Soujiro during the tour but she all ready had a bad word in with the demon vice commander, Hijikata. Ugh, what did a girl have to do just to be with her soulmate?
"I'm so sorry Hijikata." She dipped her head down before the three commanders in a desperate plea. "But I promise you, I'll work hard here."
"And just what brings you here?" The demon asked with his left brow raised in interest. "Shimabara must feed and dress you well enough. It makes you look suspicious quitting that job for one here."
"I'm no spy, Hijikata." She lifted her head and looked the harsh commander in the eye. "I've come here for the job and I'm not leaving until I get it."
"Is that so?"
"But Hitomi," Yamanami spoke out from his seat to the right of Hijikata, "Why have you come here, you continue to evade answering the question."
Hitomi felt a sudden rush of heat hit her cheeks. She ducked her head between her shoulders and hummed to herself. It was her undying love for Katsuke that kept her coming back, but how could she explain that to someone like Hijikata? Would he even understand?
"I want to be closer to my soulmate."
She could feel the air in the room change. She knew that her explanation would stun the three older men. Another woman in her situation could only understand her reasoning. It didn't matter if she sounded stupid, it only mattered that she stayed close to her beloved.
"Ah!" Kondo's voice caused Hitomi to look upward. "Its an old fashioned love story!"
"If I may ask," Yamanami lifted his finger into the air. "Who is your soulmate?"
"His name is," She felt the heat on her cheeks grow deeper and hotter. "Katsuke Nakamura. He's the man I want to spend the rest of my life with."
"Ah!" Kondo laughed, as he fanned himself gently, "How sweet!"
"It's a great story!" She awed. "It started out when…"
"That's enough." Hijikata was quick to cut in and interrupt the female. "I don't want to hear your story, I want you to know this. I don't trust you. I don't like you and I don't want you working here, got it?"
She gasped. What was happening, wasn't she promised the job earlier by Yamanami? A sudden burning sensation behind her eyes caused her to bit her lower lip. She couldn't cry, not here. She shut her eyes tight and suppressed the urge to hiccup. This couldn't be happening.
"But," Hijikata spoke again, now in a calmer voice. "We need more housekeepers."
"What?" Hitomi said without thinking. "Does that mean I have the job?"
"Not yet." Yamanami answered with a single finger lifted. "But we're giving you a chance."
"You can come a few hours a day and work here to prove your worth." Kondo continued for Yamanami. "Until we can trust you."
"But…"
"If you don't like it, you don't have to work here." Hijikata growled. "You've been blessed with the opportunity to work here, don't screw it up."
"So," Yamanami broke into a warm smile. "Are you going to take it?"
"Yes." Hitomi didn't have to think about it. The answer was clear. "Yes I will."
XoXoX
Katsuke hated sweeping. Not only was it time consuming, but it was exhausting. Ugh, why could Tetsunosuke take up this job for her? Was it so hard to get some help around this place? As far as Katsuke was concerned, Tetsunosuke had the easy job of washing the dirty laundry. Repeatedly ducking dirty clothes into cool, refreshing water, it just screamed 'easy'.
"Almost done here, Katsuke." Tetsunosuke said aloud. "I'm on the last piece of clothing."
"Yeah, yeah." Katsuke adjusted her weight and leaned against the broom. "Just keep those clothes comin'."
Tetsunosuke perked up from his work and glared at Katsuke. "What are you complaining about? You're not washing them and then hanging them! You're just sweeping!"
"Hey!" Katsuke was quick to shove her broom to the side and stand up for herself. "Sweeping is hard! Much harder than washing clothes!"
"Huh?" Tetsunosuke broke out into a goofy grin while he cocked his brow. "You always say you have the hardest job, no matter what it is. If you were washing the clothes and I was sweeping, you'd still say the same thing!"
"No I wouldn't!"
"Not to mention washing these clothes is a lot harder than just sweeping." The redhead managed to cough out a few giggles.
"You're such a brat!" Katsuke balled her fist and shook it at the younger Page.
"Look who's talking!" Tetsunosuke barked back.
Katsuke poked out her lower lip and turned away from the kid. Ugh! How much longer was she going to have to put up with such brats? First it was Susumu then this? Enough was enough!
Susumu…there was a problem that was only going to get worse with time.
WHAM!
The sensation of a hard, wet object slam into her side. She couldn't help but release a rather girly yelp after the wet shock. The coolness of the object soon began to spread across her side, causing a dark moist spot in her yukata. She gathered herself without hesitation and whirled around to see Tetsunosuke standing behind her, with a satisfied look on his face.
"What's your problem?" Katsuke shouted. "I'm soaked!"
"I'm sorry, it slipped." He said in a simple tone while he shrugged his shoulders.
"Go ahead!" Katsuke puffed her cheeks in anger. "Laugh it up!" She then threw her arms over her chest and turned away from the smaller boy. "I'm going to change. You can finish the sweeping yourself!"
She didn't stay to hear Tetsunosuke's reply; no doubt it was a spiffy one. This was enough to drive anyone mad, but Katsuke's temper wouldn't let this go easily. She would get that pup back if it were the last thing she did! That little redhead had it coming to him; it was only a matter of minutes.
XoXoX
Nakamura wasn't such a bad kid; after all he was fun to play around with. They had bonded in some strange way, a way that no one else could understand. There was a lot about the newest Page that was wrong, no doubt, but how could he help that look of helplessness he gave him? So what he wasn't a great swordsman, with some strict training, Katsuke could be at least worthwhile! Perhaps Tetsu had more potential but Souji certainly wouldn't mind training the both of them.
In any event, he hadn't spoken with Yamanami's Page that entire morning! How many times were the commanders going to let Katsuke get away with sleeping in? He missed breakfast completely! It was time to pop into the younger man's room and pay him a much-needed visit. It didn't take more than one minute to reach Katsuke's small closet room. Was there a point in knocking? Souji shrugged off the though and placed his hand on the door. With one solid pull, the door slid wide open.
As he expected, Katsuke stood in the center of the room but he was missing his clothes. Souji tilted his head to one side and stepped in further. The sound of his feet dragging across the floor alerted the Page and caused him to jerk around.
His eyes grew wide. What was on Katsuke's chest? No, it wasn't a flat chest…he had breasts! Souji felt his jaw drop open and his back fall against the wall of the closet.
Katsuke was quick to release a loud yip. She wrapped her pale arms around her chest. Upon hearing her scream, Souji also released a squeal of shock. What had he just seen? It couldn't be true, could it? This had to be a mistake!
"Katsuke, you're a woman?"
XoXoX
Brats can't be reformed. A life filled with privileges and luxuries was something that could not be burned from a selfish child's mind. At least, that's how Susumu saw things. And if one brat wasn't enough, now he had two to deal with now. First it was that little twit, Tetsunosuke but now there was that idiot, Katsuke. It was enough to make his blood to boil.
Not only was Katsuke disrespectful in every sense, she wasn't even a real she.
She was the worst representative of the Shinsengumi in the entire history of their kind. She was worse than a man. Her loud, boastful rants and opinions were enough to make Susumu want to reach out and choke her. She was a dishonorable, not only as Yamanami's Page but also as a human being.
And to think they wanted to mold her into a Watcher. How disgraceful.
It went against everything that he stood for. Everything his family stood for. She was a ditz, she was loud and she was rude. Nothing could change that. And watching her prance around the HQ acting as if she were a man? It was embarrassing.
He was there that day he 'fought' with Souji. Ha, what a joke. Not only did she treat an honorable fight with the Shinsengumi's best swordsman like a prank, but also she lacked any real skill in fighting. Pitiful, really.
He was going to scare this girl off, if it was the last thing he did.
Susumu sat in his room and allowed the silence of the air to fill his ears. This peaceful environment was the only act that could extinguish is burning rage. He sat with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He counted the inhales and exhales of his lungs as he sat in the silence. This was just what he needed.
"Susumu?"
He flinched. Ugh, what now? "What?" He returned the call.
"Susumu," Shinpachi's muffled voice vibrated in his ears. "Kondo wants to see you."
What a bother. Susumu allowed his eyelids to open before pushing himself up from the floor. He stood up straight and adjusted his clothing to his liking. He approached the sliding door and opened it without hesitation. Shinpachi's image before him told him this meeting wasn't urgent. The smile on his round cheeks was anything but critical.
"Thank you." Susumu said in a dull tone, shutting his room door behind him in the process.
Shinpachi gave a shallow nod of his head before continuing on his way. Susumu then proceeded down the long hallway. What could this be about? Then again, why would Kondo send for him if that were the reason? Ugh, this better be good.
Before he could think twice, he found himself standing in front of the three commander's meeting room. He leaned forward, toward the door and spoke in a soft tone, "Sir? You wanted to see me?"
"Ah, yes." Kondo's voice answered in reply. "Come in."
He didn't wait a second; Susumu reached out and pulled the door open. Before stepping into the room he made eye contact with his three superiors and bowed. He pulled his torso up and stood straight before entering the room. He shut the door behind himself and took a seat several feet in front of the three commanders.
"Yes sir?"
"We wanted to let you in on a mission we had planned for you." Kondo was quick to the point.
"Yes, of course."
"Susumu, we want you to go undercover and spy on Tora's troops." Kondo continued. "You will portray your female identity and go in as a servant girl at a restaurant."
"That's fine." Susumu said with a dip of his head.
"Tomorrow evening." Kondo lifted his index finger.
"Yes sir." Susumu placed his and on the floor and preparing himself to stand once again.
"Wait, Susumu,"
He flinched. Did Yamanami just ask him to wait? He retracted his arm into his lap and turned his attention to the four-eyed commander. The older male sat in front of him with a gentle smile on his lips. Why was he smiling? Did he know something Susumu didn't?
"Sir?"
"We wanted to inform you that you will not be going in alone." Yamanami spoke in a lively tone.
"What?" He felt his eyebrows fall over his eyes and his upper cheek twitch.
"Now Susumu," Kondo's voice cut in to defuse the situation. "Let Sannan explain."
"We have a new female recruit that needs training." Yamanami said as he lifted his fingers to his glasses. "I would like you to show her how to spy properly." He then adjusted the frames on his face.
"New female recruit?" Susumu felt his cheek twitch harder.
"More like new female idiot." Hijikata spat under his breath.
"You're talkin' about that girl, aren't you?" Susumu's lip began to curl in disgust. "Nakamura?"
Susumu watched the three commander's jaws drop in shock. Yes, he had known about Katsuke's secret, and for a good while at that. It was no surprise to him; it was obvious to anyone who looked hard enough.
"You knew?" Kondo asked his jaw still locked open.
"Not that it matters," Hijikata lifted his hand. "She's not a member, she's a maid-in-training."
"She's helping me Watch?" Susumu asked.
"Yes," Yamanami answered for Hijikata, "We want her to help you and Ayumu as much as she can. We're not sure if she'll be a Watcher just yet, but we're testing her out."
Susumu dipped his chin downward. He looked at the ground and fought back the urge to shout at his superiors. No, there was no way he was going to let an imbecile like that woman come in and disgrace his name. But…what choice did he have?
"And if she fails?" He asked his eyes still focused on his lap.
"Then we have serious problems on our hands." Hijikata replied in a swift manner. "That's why we want you to accompany her. We know you can get her out of hot water, if needed."
Susumu felt his hands clench the fabric of his clothing. Working side by side with her? It would be the worst mission he had ever been assigned. She was stupid, worthless and no good! She would never make a decent Watcher, Susumu knew this for certain.
But he couldn't go against his superior's orders. It wasn't in his make up to disobey his masters in any way; this was something he was going to have to do. Whether he liked it or not.
"Yes sir."
XoXoX
"Katsuke, you're a woman?"
Katsuke felt her heart jump into her throat. Her pale hands wrapped around her body in an attempt to hide her identity, but it was too late. Souji had discovered her truth. She was no the man she set herself out to be. She was just a helpless female.
What was she going to do now? Her secret was out for sure! She would be thrown out of the Shinsengumi and put back out onto the streets! No, this couldn't happen, not when she was just beginning to fit in!
"Souji, I can explain…"
Katsuke watched Souji open his mouth to reply when the sound of footsteps interrupted him. Souji turned his chin over his shoulder to ensure the door was shut tight. He then dashed toward Katsuke with his arms extended. She felt a burst of heat hit her cheeks as Souji wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. What was he doing?
"Yeah, I heard it coming from over there!"
Wait that was Sanosuke's voice. Before Katsuke could speak, Souji's hand came over her lips and held her jaw shut. He pushed her deeper into his chest and leaned against the exiting door.
"Are you sure?" Shinpachi's voice was next. "I thought I heard it coming from over there."
"They're looking for us." Souji's warm breath hit her earlobe.
She could feel the burning sensation of tears building behind her eyes. She shut her eyes tight and clenched her fists. How could she be so stupid? How did she end up in this type of situation? This moment would mean the end of her life.
What would happen if everyone found out? Would she be punished? Would she have to commit seppuku? No, she couldn't think about that! It was too painful to imagine. Ending the search for her family just because of an immature mistake? Now her life was ruined.
She released a whimper as she resisted the urge to cry. Her breathing picked up in speed and her chest began to ache. Was that her heart, why was it hurting? Never had she ever felt so sorry for herself in her life. The hole in her heart began to grow as the pain of her depression deepened. She could feel the strength in her legs give way and she began to collapse in Souji's arms.
She could feel Souji holding her with all of his strength. Not once did he release her, he continued to hold tightly to her weakened body. As she became louder with her whimpers, his grip became stronger. "Quiet…" Souji whispered into her ear once again.
Seconds turned into hours as the couple stood together in the small closet. How long was this search going to continue? Katsuke felt her hands lift up from her sides to Souji's hand. She placed her hands over his while she ached. She didn't want to be touched, not here, not now. Everything was done now; she only wanted to be alone.
The sounds of Shinpachi and Sanosuke soon faded and silence once again consumed the area. Katsuke felt Souji's warm hand release her jaw. She dropped to the floor and hid her face between the palms of her hands. She couldn't cry, not in front of Souji but she had never felt pain like this, when would the stinging stop?
What was going to happen now?
"Here."
Katsuke felt her chin lift from her hands. She focused her attention on the tall, slender man who stood before her. He held the fresh clothes that she had planned on wearing in his hands. He bent down to her level and extended his arm toward her. She glanced down at the yukata in his hand before looking back into his large, kind eyes. Why was he smiling?
"Get dressed."
"Souji…"
"Katsuke," Souji whispered in a light voice, "Why are you doing this?"
She refused to look at him any longer. She turned her nose away from him and faced the ground. She wasn't sure how to answer his question. What could she say that would make any sense to him? After all, that had happened in the past two months…? Everything they had talked about, everything they had done together, it was all a lie. Not only was she lying to herself, but she had lied to Souji, the one person who had been nicest to her.
She was a disgrace.
"I'll keep your secret."
Without thinking she jerked her head upward. She locked gazes with the man kneeling before her. He looked back at her with such compassion and sympathy; it was enough to make her heart melt. What was it about his eyes that made her so comfortable? It took away some of the pain that welted in her heart.
"Whatever you have to do here, and the reason why, I'll keep it a secret."
She felt her eyes widen. The urge to cry came to a sudden halt as the smile continued to spread over his cheeks. Why was he so warm? Without even touching his skin, she could feel his warmth.
"I wanted to see you, I missed you at breakfast."
Katsuke forced herself to snap back to reality. Him, Souji? He wanted to see her? For what?
"When you sleep in like that, everyone misses you in the morning."
Everyone? Since when? They cared, since when had they cared about anything she did? It wasn't like they were friends or anything! What was this supposed to mean?
Her eyes moved down to herlook at her nude body and squealed. She was nude! Now she was even more embarrassed now. Ugh. She snatched the clothing from Souji's hand and wrapped her body with the fabric. She looked at the friendly male to see that he had stood up straight and was holding back a fit of giggles. The first man to see her nude and it had to be Souji! This just wasn't her day.
"We'll talk more about this some other time." Souji replied with a chuckle. "Right now, let's get you something to eat, you have to be hungry. Hurry and get dressed!"
Katsuke watched as the man carefully opened the exiting door. He looked back and forth, from right to left before leaving the room. He shut the door behind himself, leaving Katsuke to herself.
"Thank you Souji…"
Act End.
