When we arrived at the headquarters, i saluted her politely before getting back to my men. As requested, Tetsuya made me a full report of the round but nothing really of importance had occurred. The eyes of the members of my unit were going to Chizuru, probably curious about what i must have told Hijikata's page. Had i been scolding him ? Was it about discipline ? Did he break the code ? Questions were howling in their gaze but i didn't have nor the envy nor the necessity to explain myself. I thanked my second for the report and went straight to my room. I was thinking about meditating a bit to calm myself from what the kiss had awaken in me but Souji entered directly after me, ruining my plans.
« Ara, good afternoon, Hajime-kun. » he said with a smirk and i knew already that i wasn't going to enjoy that conversation.
« Souji. » i replied politely.
« Guess what ? I just saw Chizuru-chan coming back from a round. And she was wearing something that i found rather unsettling. »
Here we are. Straight to the point. I can't do anything without you noticing, can I ?
« I see. » i just said and i feigned disinterest.
« Yeah, she was wearing a white scarf that looked exactly like yours... But i thought, no way, that can't be Hajime-kun's. Why would he give her his scarf ? He basically never takes it off... But now i'm here, i can't help but wonder... Where's your scarf, Hajime-kun ? »
I sighed and met Souji's playful emerald gaze aiming directly at me.
« Around Yukimura's neck. » i said calmly since the answer was so obvious that i couldn't really avoid it.
« I wonder why is that, though... » he muttered with a grin « what could possibly be the reason for her to wear it... »
« She was cold near the Kamo. It's always a bit more windy near the river. I lent it to her for a moment and forgot to take it back. »
« Is that so... I'm so disappointed... » but his voice was teasing and not expressing disappointment at all « i thought that maybe she could be hiding something underneath... She was blushing red... »
« Frostbite i guess. »
« In March ? With the weather getting better ? Maybe... » he paused, probably waiting for me to say something else but i didn't « anyway, there's a meeting, you should come in the common room. »
« Alright. » i acknowledged and i followed him outside.
When i entered, everyone was gathered, including Chizuru who was giving cup of hot tea to everyone. When she came closer to us, Souji grabbed her arm.
« Hey Chizuru-chan ! Are you feeling ok ? » he asked her.
« Yes, thank you Okita. » she replied politely.
« Oh great. So if you're not cold anymore, maybe you could give his scarf back to Hajime-kun. »
I nearly spitted my tea and i saw Chizuru's eyes looking at me, seeking help.
« It's ok, Yukimura. You can give it back to me another time. » i told her in my toneless voice.
« But if she's healthy, there's no reason for her to keep it... » objected Souji.
His grin was mischievous. Hiding something to Souji had always been a real challenge but today, he was even worse than usual. The other captains, hearing the dialogue, reported their attention on us, wondering why Chizuru wasn't taking my scarf off and why i lent it to her in the first place.
« Alright. » she said and she took her hands to her neck to remove the scarf. My eyes dropped on the floor, i didn't wanted to see the eyes on me when they'll notice the red and purple love bite ornamenting her neck.
« Thank you for your scarf, Saito. » she told me, handing me the white fabric.
I grabbed it and waited for the others to react but nothing came. I lifted my eyes to look at Chizuru and saw that her skin was immaculate. I was pretty sure that the treatment i gave her neck should have let a less temporary mark. Had i dreamed it ? Or did i bit with less violence than i thought ? Anyway, that was unexpected but relieving. I put my scarf back around my neck and met Souji's pout, filed with disappointment.
« Ara... I really thought something interesting was hiding underneath... I guess you'll stay a coward forever then. » he whispered to me.
« I'm not a coward. » i said in a harsh voice and he shrugged with disinterest.
« I wonder if i will have the chance to see you two together before dying » he said.
« Souji, don't say that. »
He knew that i was aware of his illness, alongside Hijikata-san, Kondou-san ans Yamazaki. But joking on it like this was something i couldn't bear myself to do. That's the moment Hijikata-san chose to storm in the room followed by Kondou-san.
« Sakamoto is back in Kyoto. » he said without even saluting us.
« I thought he was in Satsuma working under the command of Katsu-sama ? » asked Toudou with a puzzled look.
« We don't really know. We have a lot of contrary intels. He's supposed to work in Satsuma with Katsu-sama but also meet with a lot of Satsuma, Tosa and Choshu officials. » explained Kondou-san « and he's been seen in Kyoto with helmsmen of these clans. »
« These are all clans opposed to the shogunate. » said Nagakura « it's clear that he's up to no good. »
« And Kyoto is under our jurisdiction » added Harada with frowned eyebrows « Let's round up and show him who we are. »
« We can't. » sighed Kondou-san « the Aizu told us not to touch Sakamoto. We mustn't act rashly. »
« Even if we don't act, the Mimawarigumi is already on the move anyway. »
« So we just sit on our asses and wait for them to steal the glory ?! » asked Nagakura, furious.
« No. We are going to rescue Sakamoto. » said Hijikata-san calmly.
The commotion in the room was deafening. No one could believe what the vice-commander just said.
« Toshi, you can't be serious ! » yelled Souji « everything points at him being an enemy of the shogunate ! »
« If the Mimawarigumi gets to him, relations between the Aizu and the Tosa will become hell. And in the best scenario, we could exchange informations about the Satsuma and the Choshu against his protection. » explained Hijikata-san.
« I see. This sounds reasonable. » agreed Nagakura.
« You're a real snake sometimes, Hijikata, but damn if you don't get stuff done... »
Hijikata-san ignored superbly Souji's snide comment and turned to Chizuru. I was starting to not like this at all.
« Yukimura, you're going to help. »
« M...Me ? » she asked in disbelief.
« That's right. Sakamoto won't listen no matter what we say to him but he might give you a chance. »
Thinking of last year's Gion festival, i wasn't really enticed by the idea of having Sakamoto and Chizuru together in the same room. This man was a flirt and his interest in Chizuru made my blood boil in jealousy but i stayed silent. Orders were orders. And orders were above feelings of any kind. After a brief look in my direction, Chizuru shook her head in agreement.
« Understood. »
« Thank you, Yukimura. » said Kondou-san with a genuine smile « i'm gonna head to the Aizu to inform them on our plans. »
« I'm going with Kondou. » said Souji.
« You don't get to pick where you want to go, Souji. » objected Hijikata-san.
« I hate Sakamoto, he hates me. I don't want to risk my neck for his. » said Souji in a harsh voice.
« All right, i'll take Souji with me. » said Kondou-san before the situation could escalate.
« You always go so easy on him... » muttered Hijikata-san but he didn't object. « Harada, Shimada. You stay at the compound. All the others, prepare yourself and everyone meets up when she sun gets down at the entrance of the compound. Do not wear your haori. Dismiss. »
I didn't need any preparation so i went outside to practice a little before the departure. At sundown, i met with Hijikata-san, Chizuru, Nagakura and Toudou outside the compound. Yamazaki went ahead of us and was supposedly waiting for us outside Terada-ya, where Sakamoto was stationed. We ran in the streets of Kyoto to get to Fushimi but Chizuru was a bit behind, panting.
« Are you okay, Yukimura ? You seem to be out of breath. » i asked her.
« It's... ok... » she panted but she kept running.
« It's just up ahead » yelled Nagakura to her from the front of our group « we need to get there before the Mimawarigumi. »
She nodded, breathless, and didn't stop. Shortly after, we arrived at Terada-ya. Yamazaki approached us and informed us that the magistrate nor the Mimawarigumi were there already. Hijikata-san ordered me to accompany him to stall them and Chizuru stayed with Toudou and Nagakura to get Sakamoto to safety.
We met with the Mimawarigumi soon enough and tried to prevent them from storming the Terada-ya but they were well trained and numerous. I found Nagakura and Toudou outside the inn.
« Where's Yukimura ? » i asked them.
« She went inside with Yamazaki. » Nagakura answered as i looked the soldiers getting in. I followed them without a second thought.
« Saito ! Come back here. » yelled Hijikata-san in his commanding voice and my body froze before i turned back to the vice-commander.
« Yamazaki and Yukimura are going to come back. We can only wait. » he told me and i nodded.
« Here ! They're on the roof ! » i heard some soldier yell and i lift my eyes.
Chizuru !
I clenched my fists, powerless. She was on the roof with Sakamoto and some soldiers. Gunshots were exchanged. She could fall or get a bullet at anytime. I saw her be distracted by something and then disappear from the roof with Sakamoto. After a few minutes that felt like hours, i saw Yamazaki coming our way.
« Fukuchô, i distracted the soldiers. Yukimura fled with Sakamoto. » he reported to the vice-commander.
« Good. Where are they ? »
« I... don't know, Fukuchô. » said Yamazaki and i felt color leaving my face.
« What do you mean, you don't know ? » asked Hijikata-san, frowning.
« I haven't given full instructions to Yukimura. I suppose they got back to the compound... »
But when we arrived, Yukimura was nowhere to be found. I turned away, ready to scout all of Kyoto's streets if i needed to.
« Saito ! Where are you going ?! » asked Hijikata-san. « I sent both Yamazaki and Shimada already ! »
« I'll find her. » i said calmly and the resolve was burning so intensely in my eyes that he didn't try and stop me.