During the Hamaguri Rebellion Aimi meets someone who reminds her of her mother.

The Choshu continued to harass the city of Kyoto. With the current state of unrest, war was brewing. Even the townspeople of Kyoto anticipated it. Kondou called everyone into the main room to announce that the Lieutenant-General requested the Shinsengumi join with their forces to push back the Choshu and guard the Imperial estate. To Chizuru's surprise, she was joining them. She'd told Harada and Nagakura she wanted to help if they were called, but she never expected to march alongside Kondou. He invited her himself.

Souji and Heisuke were still recovering from their wounds sustained during the Inkeda Incident. They would stay at the compound with Sanan. Chizuru was gathering bandages and supplies. Aside from being a messenger, she would help with the wounded.

Aimi entered the hall after returning from her patrol of the city.

"It really looks like the Choshu are going to attack. Everyone is ready for it. Some are even leaving the city altogether," Aimi informed them of what she observed on the streets of Kyoto

"You're back just in time. Change your clothes and grab your gear, we're heading out." Nagakura pointed at her feminine kimono.

"No, you're staying here." Hijikata shook his head.

"What?" A chorus of voices all rang out at once.

"Yukimura is going, why not Aimi-san?" Heisuke asked pointing at Chizuru.

"Sanan needs her here," Hijikata said.

Aimi glared at him. Hijikata glared back. His hands on his hips. She mimicked his stance and squared her shoulders. The tension between them hung heavy in the air.

"Why is it Chizuru can go, but I have to stay here?"

"Because she's smart enough to stay out of the way and not let her mouth get her into trouble." Hijikata's jaw clenched.

"Toshi, Aimi-chan will be leaving for Edo soon, but is that a reason to keep her here?" Kondou asked.

"Is she not an officer of the Shinsengumi?" Saito asked. "Until her resignation is official, there is no reason to keep her from active duty."

Chizuru nodded. If she were able to go, then so should Aimi. Aimi was far more capable of defending herself, than she was.

Hijikata sighed. "I'm not gonna be the one falling on my sword when Mitsu loses her shit over her getting hurt." Hijikata jabbed a finger at Saito and Kondou. "It's on the two of you. Do you want that burden?"

"Very well." Saito nodded.

"I take responsibility for Aimi and Chizuru." Kondou scratched his chin. "In your headgear and scarf I think you'll pass as a young man. Do you still have your padded kimono?"

Aimi's eyes grew wide, and a slow smile curled her lips. "Yes sir! If you'll excuse me, I'll go change." She bowed and back out the door, and rushed to her room.

"You shouldn't encourage her, Kondou-san." Hijikata's voice pitched with exasperation. "She has a chance to get away from all this shit and live a normal life."

Chizuru bit her lip. She wanted to put all this behind her and live a normal life, but Aimi was different.

When they first came to the Shinsengumi and were both confined to their rooms, Aimi trained everyday. Even when they didn't allow her weapons. Chizuru always knew where to find Aimi when she was sent to deliver a message. She would be training with whomever was instructing that day. But it didn't stop there. She would train by herself, if no one was available. Kondou, Okita and Saito were the only ones who didn't discourage her.

Chizuru wondered if Aimi would be able to put aside her blade and be happy running a household and raising children? Aimi was graceful, refined, and very elegant in her girl's clothes. Chizuru didn't think any woman could surpass her beauty when she was dressed so elegantly. But it was when she began working with the Shinsengumi, that her inner beauty really began to shine. She had a sense of presence and self-confidence about her. Could she find that same sense of purpose as someone's wife?

Kondou and Hijikata were sending her to Edo to protect her from Takeda. The day Takeda took Aimi out of the compound alone, Chizuru ran to Hijikata and told him everything. She'd swallowed the lump in her throat and detailed the way Takeda watched her, trying to get her alone. And how he scurried off anytime one of the captains was within shouting distance.

Chizuru hadn't seen Hijikata that angry since the day they interrogated her over what she and Aimi had seen. Even though his anger wasn't directed at her, Chizuru shrank back from it. He'd rushed out and grabbed the first person he'd found. Explaining to Harada along the way. Harada even scolded her for not saying anything earlier.

Now they were sending Aimi to Edo. Okita's family agreed to take Aimi in as one of them, and requested Kondou escort her to Edo as soon as possible. If not for the increase in Choshu movements, Kondou would have taken her to Edo weeks ago.

"I'm ready." Aimi's entrance drew Chizuru from her thoughts.

The ninja stepping through the door looked nothing like Aimi. With the scarf and headgear, only her eyes were visible. She had lined them, altering the shape of them. Chizuru was impressed how much she looked like Yamazaki with longer hair around her face.

"I suppose that will do. You better follow orders out there. This isn't the streets of Kyoto where you can charm your way out of trouble." Hijikata waved her off toward Saito and her division.

Aimi stood beside Saito while they waited. Sweat dripped between her shoulders from the heat, but she wouldn't complain. Saito wore more layers than she did, yet he never seemed to break a sweat. They were finally settled at the Aizu camp at Kujo Beach after hours of getting the runaround, thanks to a lack of communication between their superiors. This was little better than staying in Mibu, but at least with the reserves they had a chance to do something to help.

At the Fushimi Magistrate Chizuru fought to hold her tongue. She was outraged over the treatment the Shinsengumi received by the officials of the Judiciary Commissioner's men. They were under the Kuwana Domain. While allies of the Aizu, their relationship was strained at best. The Shinsengumi could ill afford to cause trouble for Aizu by offending them. Aimi understood her anger. She'd nearly said something herself, but after standing up to Hijikata earlier, she felt it best to keep her mouth shut. Since the incident with Takeda, she felt he blamed her for how things turned out. She knew she was the victim in all this, but a small part of her wondered if Takeda would still single her out if she hadn't approached him at the tea shop months ago. Hijikata's harsh words at headquarters, suggested he felt that way.

She looked his way and found him watching her, his jaw clenched. She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. She wouldn't cower, no matter how angry he was. His actions earlier didn't make sense to her, not as her commanding officer. He closed his eyes and let out a breath.

She turned to Saito. "I will check our perimeter." She needed to feel like she was doing something. She didn't have Saito's endless well of patience.

"Yukimura, go with her." Hijikata nodded in her direction.

Chizuru jumped up and followed. Aimi slipped into the shadows and led them down stream. She found a shaded section of shore and knelt, scooping some water with her hands to drink.

Chizuru knelt and did the same. "Um...Do you want to go to Edo?"

Aimi let out a bark of laughter. The sharpness of it cut. "What? Who wouldn't want to get away from all this crap." She played it off but tears stung her eyes.

"I thought you'd be happy there, you wanted to go before."

"Kid, that was before. But, I guess not much has changed has it?" Aimi shook her head. "Guard your tender heart, if you don't, some guy will break it."

Chizuru stared at her hands. "His heart is broken too. It's why he's been so mean lately."

Aimi shrugged. "I doubt he has a heart to break. Men put women in three categories, there's family, the kind you marry, and the kind you have fun with. Since he swears he'll never marry..."

Chizuru stared into her eyes. Aimi sighed and shook her head. She couldn't leave the girl thinking what lay before her was worse than fighting to survive each day. Chizuru was already confused enough by it all.

"I may not like it, but a woman has a duty to her house, just like a man does. I grew up in a school that trained girls for marriage into noble families. Everyone there knew the end goal was to be a wife. That getting married was their job. This..." She waved at the camp behind them. "All of it was a diversion. It was fun while it lasted, but I gotta grow up sometime." She ruffled her hair and gave her a bright smile. "If I'm lucky, my...husband...will let me come back to Kyoto to see you."

Chizuru threw her arms around her. "You're like a sister to me. I hate that you have to go. I wish you could stay and be happy. I wish Hijikata-san..."

Aimi held her tight. "Awe, kid, don't cry or I'll start and that won't be pretty." Aimi lifted Chizuru's chin and wiped her tears. "It will be alright. It's not what I wanted, but it's not like I didn't know it was a possibility since I was a little girl." Aimi never thought she'd be in a position to marry. She was an orphan without a clue to her lineage and didn't have to worry about her family choosing her husband. Becoming a dancer, and later a nurse were admirable alternatives. It was also why she thought someday she'd marry for love.

"Are you really going to meet the shogun?"

Aimi's shoulders slumped. "That's what the letter from the family said. The shogun demanded an introduction to see if I'll make a suitable bride." She grimaced. "I don't know who, only that it isn't Takeda. Anyone is better than him." Aimi bit her cheek, unless he was old and fat, and had no teeth. Aimi blinked back the tears again. Why couldn't they have at least told her his name? The not knowing frightened her.

"We better continue checking the perimeter and get back. Hijikata-san has enough to deal with without us adding to his burden." Aimi stood and lifted Chizuru to her feet. "Hey, cheer up kid. It could be worse. It could be you going off to get married to a stranger."

Chizuru gave a pained laugh. "That would be terrifying."

The boom of a canon broke the silence of dawn. Chizuru jumped to her feet, her eyes wide as saucers. Aimi envied her ability to sleep through the commotion of camp. She herself had little sleep that night.

"Well, looks like you missed your chance to sleep in my lap, Aimi." Sano nudged her shoulder.

She shook her head at him and laughed. "I'll go to my grave filled with regret, good sir."

Over the weeks Sano and Aimi had moved past the awkward stage of his interest and found a strong bond of friendship. That, and he had found someone.

"Still, Masa would be jealous." He grinned at her. "Don't pine for me, Aimi. My heart belongs to another." His eyes took on a dreamy look as he thought of her.

"I'm crushed you know. To think someone turned your eyes from me so easily." She pretended to wipe a tear. "Don't die out there today, I don't want to take Masa news of your death." Sano's division was the rear guard. If they were forced to retreat, he and his men saw the rest of them away safe before retreating themselves. His position was possibly the more dangerous of them all, aside from those who first rushed onto the battlefield.

"I wish you weren't leaving, I think the two of you would become good friends." Sano patted her shoulder.

"Well, now's not the time for goodbyes, we've to teach some rebels some manners first." She winked at him and rushed to join Saito. Hijikata led Souji's Division. While Kondou added Heisuke's men to his own.

"Stop!" An Aizu soldier yelled out.

Hijikata turned on him with a glare. Over the last day, Hijikata had let Nagakura do the yelling for him. He kept his cool, and treated each official with civility and respect. He'd clearly reached his limit. "Did you just tell me to 'stop'?" His voice cracked like a whip and the man shrunk back. "You may be content to sit on your fat ass, but my job is to stop the Choshu from attacking."

"But we don't have orders to join the fight."

"Orders? If you had any honor you'd forget about orders and do what you signed up to do!" Hijikata whirled on his heel and marched off.

Aimi couldn't help but smirk. "So long boys, too bad you can't play today." She tossed them a mock salute.

The man closest to her sputtered, his eyes wide with surprise.

Saito thinned his lips and gave her a sharp look. She bit the inside of her cheek. She may have dressed like a man, but her voice was decidedly feminine. Oh well, it's not like it was a secret, just not something they chose to flaunt. There were a lot of men who opposed the idea of women fighting.

Aimi'd like to think the Aizu soldiers were spurred to move because they wouldn't let a woman show them up, but she admitted Hijikata's words affected them even before she taunted them. She'd watched the ranks as he barked at the officer and more than half stood or reached for their gear before he stopped speaking.

They found the Hamaguri gate and stopped short. The signs of battle left its mark in the ruined gate, as well as the blood and bodies still littering the ground. What they didn't see, however, was their enemy. Saito, Yamazaki and Sano rushed off to learn what happened. Chizuru covered her mouth and nose with her arm. Aimi wondered how a doctor's daughter could have such an aversion to the sight and smell of blood.

It wasn't long before Saito returned with news. The Choshu had been driven back. Sano reported there was fighting still going on at the Kugo Gate. But before Hijikata could speak, Yamazaki returned with news of his own. The Choshu fighting at Hamaguri Gate had fled for Mount Ten'nou. Aimi looked toward the mountain. What purpose did they have in retreating that direction?

A smug smile lifted Hijikata's lips. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us, boys. Saito, Yamazaki, I want you to find out what happened here. Your job is to guard Hamaguri Gate."

"Yes sir"..."Got it." They both answered at once.

"Your job is a tough one, Chief. I know this is a bitch but we need you to speak with the Aizu bigwigs about a punitive expedition."

"Yes. Of course."

Aimi understood what Hijikata was asking of him. It was likely that Choshu rebels would escape to outlying areas. Without permission from the Aizu the Shinsengumi wouldn't be able to leave Kyoto without consequences. Hijikata sent Inoue and Takeda with him. Takeda gave him a smug smile and followed Koundou.

"Harada, take your men to the Kugo Gate and take care of those Choshu bastards. Aimi, go with them." His eyes narrowed. "I expect you to follow orders."

"You got it, boss." Sano spun on his heel and marched off with his troops.

Aimi stared at Hijikata. She couldn't see why he'd allow her to join where they were actually fighting.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Go on." Hijikata gave her a slight smile and jerked his head toward Sano.

She rushed off after him. She wasn't going to stick around long enough for Hijikata to change his mind.

The battle at Kugo Gate was still undecided. A number of Aizu soldiers from Hamaguri Gate fought with Choshu rebels. Sano ordered her to stay to the edges of the fighting. She glared at him, but he shrugged and rushed into battle ordering his men to follow.

"If you want into the Imperial estate you gotta go through us first." Sano stood his ground in the midst of the fray.

"Damn it! Is that the Shinsengumi?"

"Damn right it is. If any of you are looking for a glorious death, then come at me!"

The Choshu ronin attacked, but was soon cut down by Sano's spear. The battle resumed, but with the help of the Shinsengumi it was clear the Choshu were at a disadvantage. They muttered curses and broke off, retreating from the field.

"Don't let them escape!" An official ordered.

Aimi realized she was in the direct line of their escape and pulled her katana.

"Hey, hey now. You don't want to do that." The familiar click of metal sent a chill down her spine.

Aimi turned to see a man holding a gun at her. A cock sure grin split his face. She was unable to tear her gaze from him. There was something familiar about him.

"I hope you feel honored, because you get to play with me for a little bit." He shifted the aim of his pistol. A crack of thunder echoed as he fired over her head toward the Aizu soldiers behind her.

"Heh? Didn't my pistol scare you?" He looked at her and grinned.

"How kind of you to play with us, but don't you think it's a little unfair you're the only one with a gun?" Sano drew closer, but at this distance Aimi worried he was still at an disadvantage.

"Really? Naw, seems fair to me, besides you've got that big pig sticker there."

In a flash of movement Sano attacked, his spear aimed right for the strangers head. He leaned away at the last moment.

"You seem to want to play, but what kind of man charges someone with a gun?"

"Keeping a toy to keep others from playing isn't very warrior like of you."

The stranger grinned. "I'm Shiranui Kyo, or Mr. Shiranui to you. You may introduce yourself as well."

Aimi's heart slammed into her chest. Kyo! She knew that name. Her breath caught in her throat as realization dawned. Her mother's eyes stared out from his face, under the same blue-black hair the three of them shared. He was her mother's younger brother, he had to be. Who else could share such a strong resemblance?

"I'm Harada Sanosuke, captain of the Shinsengumi's 10th Division." His loud voice boomed out drawing her from her thoughts.

The two faced off, warming to the challenge the other offered. Aimi was uncertain what to think. Neither man showed any malice toward the other, as if this were just another sparring match to see who was the superior warrior. Sano was fast, Aimi knew his skill with a spear surpassed anyone with a sword. Not even Souji, or Nagakura wanted to fight him if armed with his spear. But against a gun? Did he even stand a chance?

Aimi couldn't just stand idly by while Sano put his life in danger. And if this man were her uncle, she couldn't let Sano kill him before she had answers.

"I think that's about enough boys, don't you?" Aimi held her own pistol in hand. Cocking the firing mechanism with a decisive click.

"Aimi! I told you to stay back!" Sano's eyes were wide with concern.

"Ah, I see, the princess has her own pistol." He grinned at her and shifted the aim of his gun. "This was just getting fun and now you want to play too?"

"Well, not really, you boys can take care of yourselves, but you see..." Aimi hesitated and sent Sano an apologetic smile. "You look just like my mother."

"Huh? What the hell, princess. If you're trying to screw with me I'll end you right now."

"Aimi?" Sano lowered his spear. "Are you sure?" He looked between them and rubbed his knuckles on his jaw. "Well, damn. You guys have the same eyes, and..." He tilted his head. "You might be right."

Kyo shrugged. "I was told I look like my mother, but she died when I was like... I don't know... three or four? Sorry kid, but you're mistaken."

Aimi shook her head. "Your mother? No that can't be right. She said her little brother's name was Kyo...I'm sure she..." Aimi bit down on her tongue at the anger flashing in his eyes. Her mother had hesitated to answer who Kyo was. Had she lied to Aimi? "What was her name?"

"No way, I could say any name and you would just agree. Look, I don't need more family, sure as hell not some crossdressing princess."

"Aika...My mother's name was Aika." Aimi pointed at her katana and wakizashi. "She gave me these just before she died. Said they would help me find my family."

Shiranui ground his teeth together and stepped toward her. Aimi lowered her gun, she had to trust her gut instincts that he wouldn't shoot her no matter how angry he was.

"You're lying!" He held the gun to her head, his eyes cut into hers like daggers. Aimi held his gaze.

Sano's spear came up, ready to defend her.

She put her hand up. "No, stop. He won't hurt me." Aimi didn't look away from Shiranui

The flicker of respect in his eyes told her she made the right call. "How do you know, princess?" Shiranui reached for her wakizashi.

"Because you know I'm telling the truth. I can sense it." Aimi bit her cheek. She didn't know how to explain it, but she could read him as easily as she could read Chizuru or Sen. She just knew they weren't her enemies the first time they met.

His eyes narrowed as he studied the etching on the blade. He lowered his pistol and shook his head. "I still think it's just a lie to get me to back off, but you've got guts, princess. I'll give you that."

Aimi looked behind him. "Looks like your friends got away. You accomplished your task anyway."

"Heh? Well, I guess you're right." He held out his hand. "I still don't buy it. My mother was murdered when I was a boy. How do I even know this was hers?" He scratched his head as he stared at her. "Maybe you and I do look a little alike. Give me the scabbard, I'm taking this with me."

Aimi untied the scabbard and held it out. The hardness of his eyes kept her from pressing him. She wanted answers.

"You get a pass today, but next time I won't go easy on you, Harada. Or you, Aimi is it?"

Sano stepped between them. "Fine by me, I have plenty of friends, but I could use a good enemy. Let's save the fun for later, eh?"

"Maybe this time, but I'm not the kind of guy who enjoys the anticipation, if you know what I mean." Shiranui turned and sauntered off in the direction of the retreating Choshu. "I'll see you around, princess."

Sano tapped Aimi on the head. "You can't keep doing such crazy things, you worry me you know?"

"I'm sorry, but..."

Sano let out a sigh. "I get it. But damn. If he's your family then that really makes this a shitty situation for you."

Aimi bit the inside of her cheek. "Yeah. Um..."

"I'd keep this quiet, but there's no way you can explain losing a sword."

"I...Let's just not mention how he took it at gunpoint. Hijikata-san is already angry enough with me."

"It's not you he's angry with."

Aimi snorted. "Sure has a funny way of showing it. I'm the one he snaps at. If I'm not the cause then..." She turned from him. "Doesn't matter I'm leaving in a week anyway."

Next half is coming soon. Chizuru runs into Kazama again and Aimi has to explain to Hijikata the events at Kugo Gate.