« You wanted to see me, Sochô. » i said, entering Ito's room that was basically his office too since the Guardians headquarters weren't as big as the Nishi-Honganji.
Everytime I was calling him Sochô, I had the feeling I was betraying the Shinsengumi by giving him the title that was Kondou-san's, and Kondou-san's only.
« What did Heisuke-kun had to say to you ? » he asked.
« Nothing of importance, Sochô. He came across a former friend today. »
There was no point in lying to Ito. Toudou was very bad at hiding things and covering him would only had made Ito suspicious.
« Shinsengumi ? » he asked with a foxy smile.
« Ha, Sochô. » i answered.
« Who ? »
« Yukimura. »
He chuckled gently and i tried my best not to silence him by tearing his vocal cords out of his throat.
« Is that so... He perfectly knows that any interaction with the Shinsengumi is forbidden. I'll have to have a conversation with him about it but I'm not surprised the slightest. The boy has always been drawn to this little slag... »
The use of that word really triggered me and i froze, impassive. I couldn't wait for the day when I'll finally make him swallow back these unrespectful words.
« Saito-kun, do you still have some kind of loyalty to the Shinsengumi ? »
« My loyalty resides in the side i chose. » I answered.
« That's not a very convincing answer... »
« I left to become a Guardian. My loyalty goes to you and you only, Sochô. » i lied, bowing to Ito.
« Then you wouldn't mind a little mission in the Shinsengumi's headquarters ? » he said, still with his stupid smirk.
I couldn't believe my ears. He really was giving me an opportunity to penetrate the Shinsengumi headquarters.
« I will do what is expected of me so you could be witness of my allegiance. » i bowed in respect.
« Good. Then you are going tonight. I want to have informations on the Ochimizu and I also want you to try to find out if Heisuke-kun is a double agent. If he is, you'd probably find some paperwork about it. »
I nodded and bowed, exiting the room. That was an occasion that was too good to be true. As Guardians, we weren't allowed to have any contact with the Shinsengumi but if Ito was sending me spying, then i could wander the headquarters without rising any suspicion. Well, in the Guardian's minds at least. I was going to go to the Shinsengumi tonight anyway. I had to see her. Now I had an excuse for going. It really was perfect.
I walked to the new Shinsengumi headquarters peacefully. I noticed since the beginning that I was followed again. A spy, sent by Ito, to spy on the spy... What a pity to be the commander of a militia in which you can't trust any of its members. Pathetic.
When i arrived near the headquarters though, something caught my eye. A suspicious shadow. That wasn't Ito's men, nor Shinsengumi. I followed my instinct and took another path that i knew would lead me to face the mysterious guest. I stayed in the shadows and saw two familiar faces. Chizuru and Amagiri, the Satsuma man, who was holding her tightly while running towards me. And Chizuru didn't seem to be here from her own volition. I took my fighting stance, still hiding and got ready to stop them but Amagiri froze.
« Gha ! » escaped Chizuru in surprise. « Why did you stop ? »
« I felt like if I kept running, my legs would be cut from my body. » he answered calmly with his deep voice. « Why don't you show yourself ? » he asked.
Perceptive... i thought before stepping out to reveal myself.
« Saito ?! » yelled Chizuru and having my name out of her lips warmed my lonely heart.
She clearly couldn't believe her eyes and she blinked a few time to be sure I was really there. My face stayed impassive, focused on my opponent.
« How strange that i should meet you here. » i said without letting emotions leak out my voice.
« Will you let me pass ? » asked Amagiri « i am in quite a hurry. »
« Why is she here ? » i asked, frowning a little. « Let me tell you what I see. You have attacked the Shinsengumi headquarters and abducted someone under their protection. I'm afraid that with these informations in my possession, I cannot let you go freely. » i said coldly.
I saw Chizuru relax a little. Could she decipher my concern behind my emotionless mask ?
« I was led to believe you were no longer a part of the Shinsengumi. » continued Amagiri. « You have no business here. »
« My relationship with the Shinsengumi is irrelevant. What is relevant is the girl. »
I stayed cold but I silently hoped Chizuru could hear my words, really hear them and understand what they meant.
« I highly doubt she accompanies you of her own free will. » i continued.
« That is true » replied Amagiri « what is you intent ? »
« Isn't it obvious ? » i said.
I threw myself forward, unsheathing my sword and cutting in a single movement. If Amagiri hadn't dodge my blow, Chizuru would have been cut in half along with him. I saw her eyes widden in fear as my sword pass a few millimeters away from her ear thanks to Amagiri's quick reaction.
« You're fast. » congratulated the tall man « a shame you are only human. »
« If you intend to fight while holding her, you will undoubtedly loose. » i said, ignoring him. « I was under the impression her life mattered to you. »
He didn't react and gauge me with his cold blue eyes. He and I were the same kind of men, capable to see through lies. I tried to be as convincing as I could when i spoke again.
« Make your decision. Her death means nothing to an imperialist like myself. »
Chizuru shivered and I ignored her. I would explain later, when she would be safe.
« Fine. » said Amagiri eventually and he released Chizuru who ran towards me and got in my back, under the protection of my blade. She didn't hesitate a second and i was glad for it. « I will pretend your ruse has defeated me for tonight. Goodbye. »
I wanted to go after him and kill him for daring abducting her but Chizuru was my priority and so, i watched him go away, my guard up in a defensive stance.
When he was gone, i sheathed back my blade and turned to her. She was still wearing the yellow yukata with the fireworks and she was so beautiful i could die. She wasn't wearing my wakizashi nor her kodachi though.
I thought earlier that i would kill to see you again in this yukata but i never thought i would actually have to draw my sword.
I stared at her, not knowing what to say to her after all this time and all that she had been through. I wanted my words to be meaningful, not stutter stupidly like an idiot. I didn't have the time to say anything though before she threw herself against me, arms holding tight around my chest.
« I missed you so much ! » she said, burying her face in my neck.
She was breathing deeply, as if she was trying to fill herself with my scent and i closed my arms around her too, holding onto her with only the tips of my fingers, as if I was afraid to lay my hands on her.
« That was my line. » i told her, nose in her hair and she chuckled nervously.
I smiled for the first time in months. I buried my face deeper in her hair and closed my eyes, the heady spices driving me crazy. Her sole presence in my arms made all my sorrow disappear and i wanted to lift her up and bring her back with me, never letting her go again.
« Mmmff ! »
A noise caught my attention and I opened my eyes abruptly, pushing gently Chizuru away from my body. Alert, i heard some footsteps approaching and i put my hand on my katana, ready.