January 1866
The work that Chizuru and Toudou were doing as undercover maikos seemed to have come to fruition. We finally had an information about a merchant who just like Kiemon before the Ikedaya incident, was gathering a large quantity of weapons on account of the Choshu. Nagakura and Souji were sent to confiscate them, following Shimada's intels. I learned about it in the late afternoon. Still assigned to nights patrols, i was sleeping during the day. It was when i woke up to eat a bite that i saw them all coming back to the compound, their men carrying the said weapons. There were a lot of katana and matchlock riffles but also a few more modern ones with different bullets in it that you have to reload less often. I didn't have a great interest in it. I had never been good with distance weapons and to me, anyway, they weren't honorable ones.
« Oye ! Hajime-kun ! » yelled Souji from afar. « You want a new sword ? It's on me ! » as i shook my head to refuse, he continued « what about a brand new gun ? »
What are you, a weapon seller now ?
« It's unworthy of a samurai. » i simply said and he shrugged.
I went to take my breakfast, or if you could say that in the afternoon. It was composed of miso soup, natto and rice. The miso soup had some tofu in it and a small smile painted on my face when i remembered Chizuru's words.
« It's your favorite food ! I noticed you always seemed to smile more ! »
That girl had always been so observant. I wondered if she would continue the undercover mission now that some weapons had been found. Only Kondou-san and Hijikata-san could know. I was missing her. I've grown accustomed to see her everyday and now, i could only see her from afar sometimes when i was patrolling in Gion. I couldn't wait for her to come back and start accompanying me again on rounds, share tea with her, why not teach her a little more iai... And be with her, solely with her. I wondered if at some point, i could have the opportunity to propose to her and make our relationship public. My mind began to imagine a life with Chizuru as my wife. It wasn't an unpleasant thought. My spirit then replayed memories of our kiss at night, under the lanterns of the festival. How i was desperate to have her in my arms and how i wanted to take her. I calmed myself. I could share these kisses with her but no more. I would not be the one to dishonor her. When the Choshu will be defeated once and for good and the shogunate stable again, then i will have no reason to fight so much and i will devote myself solely to Chizuru. Until then, i had no right to touch her even if she was returning me my feelings. It was frustrating, sure, but it was better this way.
I finished my meal alone and cleaned my plate before going outside. Souji and Nagakura were still there, showing their treasure to the men.
« Come and take a look at least, Hajime-kun ! Don't tell me you don't like swords anymore ? Getting soft huh ? »
I sighed and approached them. The men were all impressed by the few advanced guns but i had eyes only for the blades. Some of them were from very good facture. Probably Bizen. I took one in my hand to have a better look.
« Go ahead Saito ! Take it if you want ! » yelled Nagakura joyfully.
« No one's taking anything ! » i head Hijikata-san shout, walking toward us at a quick pace with furrowed brows. « This is the property of the Bakufu ! Someone's gonna come and collect it all ! »
« But Toshi ! Some of the men have their blades in such a state... New ones would be perfect for them ! »
« You have no idea what we've been through today to bring them back here ! » said Nagakura, not afraid to stand against his commander. « The men deserves to get some ! »
Hijikata-san sighed and his expression softened a little.
« Okay... I want a full inventory of everything that's here, what had been taken and by whom. The Bakufu only cares about the guns anyway. » as a cheer erupted froo the men, he added « and if someone makes a fuss, i don't care who it is, i take everything back. »
« Alright mother hen » said Souji with a smirk and the commander looked at him with daggers in his eyes.
« This is also applicable to you, Souji. » he said in an icy voice before going away.
There was silent for a moment before Nagakura broke it with his powerful voice.
« Okaaaaay ! Who wants what ! Ask uncle Shin, i have everything you might desire ! »
I put the katana back. It was a fine blade but i only trusted my own. I was taking so much care of it anyway that it was in perfect shape. The katana displayed before me all found their new owner and i reported my attention on the shorter blades.
« May i take this ? » i asked Nagakura.
He looked at was i was holding with perplexity. It was a tanto, a short blade with it's scabbard. It measured one shaku and it's tsuba, it's guard, was very simple without any engraved details. It was really one of the simplier weapons here but i didn't owned a tanto yet and you never know when you might need it.
« Yeaaah... Sure, Saito... Take it. But wouldn't you prefer something better ? » he asked with an understanding smile.
« The men need these more than i do. What i want is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the men are equipped aptly. » i replied in my toneless voice.
« Alright then... One tanto... Sai... to... Ok it's yours, i registered it ! » he said while writing on a paper Souji brought him for the inventory requested by Hijikata-san.
I bowed and returned to my room to display the tanto on a shelf. I thought for a moment about putting it under my futon in case of attack but i was trusting my katana better. I always kept it near me and it didn't fail me once. I didn't know what i'd do with this tanto. Probably never use it. A blade that didn't have to draw blood. Is that what i was starting to aspire to ?