« Alright then » continued Kondou-san « can someone go and fetch Yukimura, please ? »
« I'll go ! » said Souji, standing up.
« Thank you, Souji. » he replied with a smile.
« Kondou, is this really necessary ? » asked Harada with an understanding smile « I'm sure the both of them would rather talk about it in private. Chizuru-chan has no idea, right Saito ? »
I shook my head to deny. It was the right thing to do to ask for permission to Kondou-san before i even speak with Chizuru. How would I have looked like if she accepted and Kondou-san forbade it ?
« Yukimura is still without any news from her father and she has no other family. » said Kondou-san with authority « She is under my protection and I will be witness that she actually consent to this marriage. »
« You really think Hajime-kun could force himself on her without her consent ? » asked Souji, lifting an eyebrow.
« It has nothing to do with this, Souji. » explained Kondou-san « it is costumery for both families to come to an agreement. Saito asked me to represent him and Yukimura is under my care therefore I represent her too. If she agrees to marry you, Saito-kun, I'll give you both my blessing »
I nodded and stayed put. I felt a rock in my chest filled with anxiety. It reminded me when i started to have feelings for Chizuru and wouldn't confess to her. Could there be a chance that she opposes that marriage ? I didn't think she would but now that the question had to be asked, there still was a hint of doubt.
« So... I go ? » asked Souji.
« Yes, please, Souji. » answered Kondou-san.
I turned to Souji who had his usual grin painted across his face and I couldn't stop myself but to warn him.
« Souji. No snide comments. » i said firmly.
« Come on, Hajime-kun... Who do you think I am ? » he replied and his grin grew wider.
I just kept looking at him and he finally sighed to mark his disappointment before exiting the room.
« Fine. I'll be a perfect gentleman. » he said as he closed the shoji.
Silence invade the room once more. Harada and Inoue were the only ones to smile to me and I could sense the disapproval of both Nagakura and Hijikata-san. The last was still frowning when he opened his mouth again, breaking the silence.
« How long have you been involved with her, Saito ? » he asked in a commanding voice.
« I'm sorry, Fukuchô but the answer to that question depends on your definition of involvement. » i answered calmly, bowing to my superior.
« When did you claim her ? » he specified, frowning even more.
« I believe it was last winter, Fukuchô. » i admitted.
« A year ?! » he said with anger « and you left her in dishonor all this time ?! »
I stayed silent. I knew he was right and that no justification could ever be enough for this kind of dishonorable behavior.
« How long have you been involved with her romantically ? » asked Harada.
I looked at Hijikata-san, wondering if I had to answer this one but he just looked at me with furious amethyst eyes.
« Three summers. » i answered again.
Harada let out a long whistle and i knew he already made the connection with the Gion festival and the yukata I bought with his help. He turned to Hijikata-san and genuinely smiled.
« See, he waited a long time before claiming her. I'm sure Saito didn't have any wicked intentions. »
« That is correct, Fukuchô. » i explained again « It was a moment of weakness. It had always be my intent to marry her before I spoil her. Now, I want to take my responsibilities. »
« Come on, Toshi » said Kondou-san « Don't tell me you never claimed a virgin, I won't believe you. »
Hijikata-san furrowed his brows even more then let out a long sigh and his expression soften.
« It's not the same. No one cares about the virginity of commoners and farmer girls... Yukimura is the daughter of a doctor that depends directly from the Bakufu... Plus, judging by the recent events, she is from an illustrious clan... But I guess that if Saito is indeed taking his responsibilities then no harm is done. »
« Thank you, Fukuchô. »
At that moment, Souji came back in followed by Chizuru but surprisingly, also by Toudou and Sannan.
« What are you both doing here ? It's morning already, you should be sleeping. » asked Hijikata-san.
« Okita-kun asked us to come for the meeting. He said there were very important informations to share. » replied Sannan with a smile.
« You really had to bring Heisuke, you sadistic fuck ? » muttered Nagakura and Souji just smirked in return.
« All right, it's a good thing. » said Kondou-san « this way, everyone is here. Good job Souji. Now, everyone sit down. »
Everyone obeyed and Chizuru took her place at the back but Kondou-san stopped her.
« Yukimura, come forward and sit in front of me, please, next to Saito-kun. » he ordered.
She obeyed and took position next to me, facing Kondou-san. She bowed to him and waited for the instructions or informations that Kondou-san had for her.
« Yukimura, Saito-kun has expressed his desire to marry you. Do you consent ? » he said with his kind smile.
I would have loved to ask her myself but this was protocol and i had to submit to it. Anyway, I guess it was easier to have Kondou-san asking the question for me. I would probably have stuttered like an idiot and blushed and she would have laughed.
Chizuru oppened wide eyes and turned to me in disbelief. I nodded with a small smile. The rock became heavier in my chest, gaining weight with every second of silence. Her mouth was agap and i never saw her face as red as it was in this instant. Her eyes although wide, were sparkling like never before, showing her joy.
« Yukimura ? » asked Kondou-san again.
Chizuru turned to Kondou-san, realizing that an answer was expected from her and that all the eyes of the room were directed towards her in anticipation.
« I... I... « she stuttered with a flustered face, looking all around her in panic.
I extended my hand to put it on hers, resting on her thigh and she seemed to calm down a little. She eventually closed her agap mouth and flashed me the biggest smile ever when she answered.
« I consent ! » she said with excitement.
The rock in my chest vanished as soon as she uttered those words and i smiled to her in return. My hand on hers closed, sealing that she was soon to be officially mine.
« Come on, Saito ! » yelled Nagakura, his anger forgotten « What are you waiting for ?! Just kiss her for gods's sake ! »
I looked at Kondou-san and he chuckled while nodding. I turned to Chizuru again and felt my cheeks becoming as red as hers. Never before had i kissed her in public. It just felt... wrong ? No, that wasn't the right word... But I felt my shyness coming back like a wild horse. I leaned over to kiss her with restraint, just a small one, and I parted from her lips almost immediately. Everyone laughed gently, without any mockery and that was it. Kondou-san gave us his benediction. I couldn't wait to marry her.
« All right, everyone can go now. » said Kondou-san and people started to stand up.
« Kondou-san. » i said « There is one more thing. »
« Five years of silence and now he won't shut the fuck up... » muttered Nagakura, complaining whiie sitting down once more.
« What is it, Saito ? » asked Kondou-san with a smile but also a bit of annoyance.
« I would like to request to make my relationship public amongst the Shinsengumi and allow Chizuru to dress as a woman. »
« No. » said Hijikata-san firmly « the code of conduct forbids girls into the compound. Yukimura will still have to pretend to be a man. »
« With all due respect, Fukuchô, no one in the compound is fooled by her disguise. There are a lot of gossips about her and mostly, they think she is your mistress. Or worse according to other men. Making my marriage public could calm these rumours that are tarnishing both Chizuru's honor and yours. »
I paused to let the information sink in and Hijikata-san frowned while Chizuru hid her red face.
« What do you mean, worse ? » he eventually asked.
« Forgive my words, Fukuchô, but they believe she's a prostitute that you keep for your own use. Toudou can attest that I am telling the truth. »
I tried to say it as politely as possible and avoid the words I heard so many times before at the Guardians's headquarters. Whore. Slag. Slut. But even without those words, my sentence was sounding so dirty that i was feeling ashamed of myself.
Hijikata-san looked at Toudou who confirmed my words. He sighed and exchanged a look with Kondou-san before speaking again.
« Give us a few days to think about it. Now everyone dismiss. »