I woke up completely hungover next to Chizuru. She was still asleep, mouth agap, in her orange kimono that was totally opened, showing her nagajuban. She haven't even bothered to get the hairpins off and her hair were still arranged although some crazy strands were flowing around her face. Her white foundation could be found on the pillow along with her lipstick that was now not only on her lips but on her chin. She looked completely wasted but to be fair, I should probably look the same.
Her uchikake was in a corner, along with my hakama and haori. Just like her, i had still my kimono on and my hair tied up. I wondered how the others could have expected us to have a decent wedding night with all the alcohol they served us.
My head was pounding and I sat up to get rid of what remained of my wedding attire and pulled the sheets back on us, embracing Chizuru. She opened her eyes and smiled to me.
« Good morning. » i said.
« Good morning. » she replied and she put her hand on her forehead « my head hurts so much... »
« That's called a hangover. » i smiled « but i don't think that these help a lot. » i added, taking the hairpins out of her hair.
« I will never drink again. » she complained.
« It could be worse. At least, it's only a headache. » i replied, removing the last hairpin and freeing her hair.
« How can I make it stop ? » she asked, desperate.
« I know a remedy... » i said, parting the edges of her nagajuban with an agile finger.
The hangover was making my desire even bigger than usual and it was coupled to the knowledge that she was now my wife, exciting me even more. Plus, I wasn't lying. It could really help with the headache.
« Mmmmm... » she said with her arm on her eyes and I wasn't sure if it was a « yes » or a « no ».
I pulled on her obi and opened her nagajuban completely to brush my finger on her nipple. I sensed it tense under my touch and Chizuru started panting softly.
Looks like a « yes ».
I made her roll to position myself atop her and I started kissing the nipple i just touched while my fingers were now arousing the other one. She moaned and i took it in, making little circles with my tongue around it and sucking gently. My body was already ready and I did my best to try and ignore it so I could take care of her.
« Is it working ? » i asked her, trailing kisses to her other breast.
« Maybe... » she whispered, panting.
Her panting made my own body react immediately and i parted her legs with a knee for my hand to come exploring her womanhood while my mouth took the second nipple in. I rubbed on her sweet spot at the same pace of my tongue flickerings, making her escape moans and groans of pleasure and anticipation.
« Ha... Ha... Hajime...Ji...Ha... »
My mouth trailed kisses again on her navel and stomach and I inserted my fingers inside her, leaving the rest free for my tongue to work on it.
« Hajime-kun ! »
I stopped. That wasn't Chizuru's voice. I lifted my gaze to see that she also stopped moaning and was looking at me with a red face and wide eyes.
« Hajime-kun. » I heard Souji say again « it's pretty obvious that you're in here you know. Answer me or I'll have to come in ! »
« Ha. » i just said, already annoyed. If it was that obvious that I was busy in there, did he really have to interrupt ?!
« Sorry to bother you but there's a meeting and we expect you to be there. And Chizuru-chan too. Good morning by the way, Chizuru-chan. Well, it seemed to be good. »
« Souji, go away. » i said in my toneless voice but really irritated now.
« Come on, don't be so irascible. You had all night for this. » he chuckled « meeting's in five. »
I heard his footsteps go away and i sighed, still on top of Chizuru. My body was making me acknowledge its envy to tell everyone to go fuck themselves and continue to make love to my lovely wife but that wouldn't really be a smart move. We were tolerated in the Shinsengumi as husband and wife and our work shouldn't suffer from our relationship otherwise, we would betray the commander's trust.
Against my will, i rolled to the side and stood up to dress myself and she did the same.
« You should probably go to the bathroom to get rid of your makeup first. » i told her while putting my swords in my obi.
She nodded, as disappointed as I was. Any snide comments from Souji and I would probably kill him on the spot. I opened the shoji and stepped out.
« I'll go make some tea first. » i said to her « it's also effective against hangovers. »
She nodded again and I went to the kitchen to find Harada already making tea.
« Hey ! » he saluted me with a kind smile « I figured everyone is going to need some anyway. It was quite a party. »
« Ha. » i answered, grabbing some cups to help him.
« Chizuru's up ? » he asked.
« She'll join shortly. »
« Okay then. » he said, grabbing one more cup « I was a bit worried since I think it's the first time she drinks that much. Even if she's been a lot more reasonable than her husband... »
« True that she has a headache. Green tea will benefit her. » i said in my toneless voice.
« You know » he said with a wink « there's a remedy far more effective... Especially when it's a beautiful woman... »
I'm aware, thank you. Maybe we should just kill Souji. That would probably bring me a lot of peace of mind.
I threw daggers with my eyes and walked away with the tray of tea cups.
« And I thought marriage was supposed to make people happy... » i heard Harada mutter playfully in my back.
I brought the tea in Hijikata-san's office and gave some to everyone. I think some of them wanted to talk to me at some point but even if my face was expressionless, i couldn't help but have my assassin aura leak from my attitude. It should be impressive, I guess, since they didn't even try. Souji was leaning on a wall with his usual grin but didn't say anything. I was glad for that. I don't know if I could refrain myself from putting my sword on his throat if he did and that would be breaking the Code of Conduct.
Everyone sat down for the meeting and Hijikata-san started speaking.
« Kobayashi Tetsuya has resigned from his position of captain of the third division of the Shinsengumi. » he announced « he will take back his former rank as second. Is anyone in this room willing to apply to this position ? »
All eyes turned to me. I was a bit sad that Tetsuya did resign. He was a man of quality and his situation wasn't robbed. However, I couldn't ignore his desire to give me back my position in the Shinsengumi. I stood up and bowed to the vice-commander.
« Saito Hajime. » i started « I would like to offer my services as captain of the third division. »
« Anyone opposes ? » asked Hijikata-san.
No one did. These questions were nothing but a formality.
« Welcome back, Saito Hajime » said Hijikata-san « as captain of the third division of the Shinsengumi. »
« Thank you, Fukuchô. » i bowed again and sat down.
« Other subject » continued Hijikata-san « Matsumoto-sensei made a report on Saito Chizuru. She is now officially a doctor of the Bakufu and you may adress her as Saito-sensei. She is officially a Shinsengumi member as well in her quality of doctor and is of course allowed in the headquarters. »
« Thank you, Hijikata-san » Chizuru bowed to Hijikata-san in respect.
« Now about politics. The Shogun Yoshinobu is probably going to come to Kyoto in the next weeks. We do not have the date yet but we will be affected to his protection. The Choshu and Satsuma are trying to get an audience with the emperor, taking confidence into their victory in the west... »
We discussed the Choshu situation in the West during nearly one hour but it really wasn't looking good. The shogun retracted his troops, giving confidence to the rebels. They were starting to think that taking Kyoto could be a possibility and a few reports were already mentioning marching troops. Kyoto could be a battlefield very soon.