November 1865
Yamazaki spent two weeks looking for an okiya willing to help us. It wasn't an easy task. To okiyas, reputation was everything. An okiya who was known for openly having spies in it would be the end of it. If you'd asked me, i would have replied that the task was impossible but the ninja seemed full of ressources and Chizuru got taken as an undercover maiko. I was pretty anxious about it but i just hoped that Souji was right and that she would be safe. I had been very busy lately so i wasn't the one who talked to her about the job, Yamazaki did. But i was going in the courtyard anyway to see her off for her first day, or should i say, first night. When i arrived, i was surprised to find not one, but two maikos waiting in the entrance of the headquarters. Even with white fondation, eyeshadow and lipstick, i could recognize Chizuru and her chestnut eyes. I always wondered if i saw her with makeup, or Yuki without, i would find them similar. I knew now that eyes aside, they had nothing in common.
Both maikos were wearing the mishidashi hairstyle, made with their own hair and that alone was enough to tell that they were geikos in training and just starting their formation, still virgins. The other maiko next to Chizuru had her hairstyle even better, probably because she had naturally longer hair. They were also light brown while Chizuru's were from a darker shade.
Another sign showing they were beginners were the shoes, okobo, reserved to maiko, and the color of their strips. Red indicated a new maiko. Later, they could wear yellow or blue.
Unlike oirans, they were wearing a very tight kimono, not loosened, and had an imposant obi tied on the back. Yuki and her collegues were always wearing theirs tied on the front, easier to remove for customers.
Harada and Nagakura were with them, probably incapable of missing an occasion to witness beautiful womens and the vice commander and Souji were there too.
« I'm sorry, Chizuru-chan » sighed Harada « i see all the effort put in your hair and outfit but your collegue here is so gorgeous... You look pale in comparison... »
« I agree. » nodded Nagakura with a very serious face « she's the most beautiful woman i've ever seen. Would you like to spend a night with me, my lady ? »
The maiko tried to jump feet first to attack the two of them, yelling insults in a voice that lacked all the refinement you would expect from a woman of her standing.
« Bastards ! I'm gonna have your heads ! Get lost Shin ! And you too, Sano ! »
Toudou ?!
My eyes widened in shock. The beautiful woman next to Chizuru was Toudou in disguise.
« Shut up Heisuke ! » ordered Hijikata-san as i was approaching « and stop gesticulating like this ! You're going to ruin your kimono ! »
Toudou calmed himself, daggers in his eyes while Souji, Nagakura and Harada were laughing so much that i thought they would collapse.
« Why do i have to do this ?! » complained Toudou with a sulky pout « why not ask someone else ? I can't walk with something this tight... and those shoes... They're torture ! And i can't even wear my swords !!! »
« Ora, would you rather send Chizuru-chan alone ? » asked Souji with a smirk.
« And with all my due respect, Heisuke » continued Harada « you are the skinniest, you have the longer hair and the most feminine little face »
« I'm not feminine ! » he yelled in response.
« Yeah sure, maybe we should send Shinpachi instead ! » replied Harada again.
That sentence left a rather disturbing image in my mind and i shook my head to get rid of it.
« Why not you Sano ? Or Okita ? » he continued growling.
« They're too tall. » cut Hijikata-san « now stop your little act and do as you're told. You are only there to keep an eye on Yukimura. Chances are you won't even have any customers. »
« If anyone tries to get near me, they're dead, you hear me ?! And if i'm just supposed to guard her, why can't i be like a bodyguard or something ?! Plenty of geiko have some ! »
« Enough ! » bellowed Hijikata-san « we cannot afford you to be recognized. You're going as a maiko and that's it ! »
During all the altercation, Chizuru had kept quiet, eyes on her feet.
« Are you all right ? » i asked her.
« Ye... Yes ! » she blushed « i just hope i'll be up to the task... »
« Do not worry. They probably will give you simple tasks and a formation. And customers would not expect a new maiko to act perfectly. » i told her to reassure her.
She stayed silent but lifted her eyes and smiled at me. I was stunned by her beauty. With all that makeup on, she really looked older, more mature. Her gaze was filled with love, just like that night at Gion's and i felt remorses for not being able to be with her as much as i wanted, for being on missions all the time, for always pretending like i didn't care when others were here and for not taking time to be alone with her. But the integrity of the Shinsengumi was something i wasn't willing to play with. Chizuru and I would have to wait for better times. Times when we wouldn't have to hide and i could propose to her. She knew it, I knew it.
« Okay, the guard is here to take you to the okiya. Have you chosen your name yet ? » asked Hijikata-san to the two maikos.
« Can i keep Chizuru ? » she asked shyly.
« No. But if you worry, we can choose something close... Chiyoko suits a geiko. »
« O... Okay then... » she said with hesitation.
« What about you Heisuke ? »
« I don't want to be called by a fucking girl's name ! » yelled Toudou.
« You're a maiko for god's sake ! » shout Hijikata-san in return.
« Fine ! I'll be Hisae, resistance, is that fine with all of you ?! » he yelled, looking at each ones of us in the eyes with defiance. « Let's go, Chiyoko-chan. »
Souji was with the guard a bit afar and the two maikos joined them shortly, walking at a slow pace with their okobos and tight kimono. Chuckling, Harada and Nagakura watched them until they were out of sight. In no time they were joined by Souji and the three of them exploded in laughter.
« You all calm yourself and dismiss. » said Hijikata-san, frowning. « Saito, you come with me. I've got something to ask you. »
« Ha, Fukuchô. »
I followed Hijikata-san to his office and sit in senzai, waiting for instructions.
« Saito, would you mind being affected to night patrols again ? » he asked.
« I will do as ordered, Fukuchô. But ain't the Rasetsu taking the night shifts ? »
« Yeah. They are. I want someone to team up with Sannan, just to be sure everything's all right. I had the Watch keeping an eye on Rasetsu since they had this affectation but i need Shimada and Yamazaki for other purposes. I know you will do your duty according to your orders and I also know Sannan has you in great estime. He would probably prefer teaming up with you than with someone like Nagakura. »
I could see the sense in that. Nagakura and Sannan were always cordial with each others but since the colonel drank the Ochimizu, the first captain was erupting more often about it. They would probably argue a lot if they were to team up.
« Thank you for putting your trust in me, Fukuchô. » i said, bowing.
« No, thank you, Saito » he replied with a small smile « for alway complying with everything that is asked from you. »
« I live for the Shinsengumi. » i simply said.
« We all do. »
I bowed a last time before exiting the office. The night was beginning to fall, i went to the back of the compound to find the Rasetsu and inform Sannan of Hijikata-san's orders.