Hi everyone ! If you did the new Kyoto Winds route of Sakamoto, you may have recognized the events of the past chapter. I just finished the Sakamoto route and i really liked this event since it's very interesting to see that the Shinsengumi isn't the only militia in Kyoto, that there are rivalries and also because it gives a lot of informations about the geopolitical situation in 1866 where everything is slowly falling into place but the shogunate still tries to keep every clan satisfied under its banner. And it also shows how Ryouma Sakamoto is an interesting pawn and strategist. Anyway, i think it's the only Sakamoto event i will include because the rest is too foreign of the Shinsengumi and it wouldn't make any sense with Saito as a main character. Talking of the devil, let's get back to our Saito, scouting the roads of Kyoto to find Chizuru.
She was probably abducted. Sakamoto told her in Gion he'd like to spend more time with her. And, without a chaperonne. I had the intense feeling that she was in danger. I was experiencing fear for the first time since a long, long time. I was running in Kyoto methodically. First the big axes and the alleys adjoining, then further and changing of square. No place was left unsearched. I stormed into every shop still opened, every tea house... And i couldn't find her. I was desperate. Where could she be ? After the neighborhoods of the Nishi-Hongwanji, i tried the center, around the imperial palace, the Nijojô, the temples... I then went around Gion and followed the Kamo with apprehension, hoping not to find her floating in there. I then tried Shimabara and got into every pleasure house, from simple prostitutes to oirans.
The night was advanced already and the roads were less crowded, helping my endless search. If i came across Sakamoto, he would be a dead man. Even if it could bring hellfire to both the Tosa and Aizu domains.
My feet were hurting, my breath short, my chest on fire but it couldn't stop me from running. I felt like a headless chicken, running madly without getting any orders from the brain. My mind was only focused on finding her, my feet were moving on their own volition.
I went back all the way to Fushimi, out of breath and i couldn't care less for all the imperialists in the building of the Terada-ya. I began climbing it and found the opening in the roof from where Sakamoto and Chizuru escaped. I got down to get to Sakamoto's bedroom, hand on my katana but i found it empty.
Desperation hit me like a fist in the stomach. Where could she be ?
I exited Terada-ya the same way i entered, unnoticed, and back in the streets, i tried to think of a place i might have forgotten but nothing came to mind. It left only one possibility, they left Kyoto. I started running again through Fushimi but when i was exiting the city i heard my name from afar.
« Saito ! »
It was Shimada, panting and running my way. I stopped my course to let him catch up with me.
« Saito. I've been scouting all town for you. We have Yukimura. She's safe and back to the compound. »
The fear was still clinging to my heart but the relief was stronger. I nodded to Shimada and turned my feet, taking the direction of the Nishi-Hongwanji.
« Saito ! Wait ! Would you mind walking please ? » I heard Shimada yell behind me.
I slowed down and waited for him. When he was nearby, we walked together quietly. He wasn't wrong, stopping my frantic race made me realize how much it had exhausted me.
« Is Sakamoto with her ? » i eventually asked.
« No. He had been shot and Yukimura helped him get to the Satsuma domain for first aid. According to her and to Yamazaki, who was the one to find her, Sakamoto didn't wanted her to perform first aid on his body so she had no choice. It was either this or letting him die. »
She should have chosen the other solution.
But instead of saying this, i nodded. It was not surprising coming from Chizuru. She was the daughter of a doctor and she valued life, the one of a friend just like the one of a foe. She would help anyone if she could.
We got back to the compound to be greeted by Hijikata-san's frowned face but his expression softened when he saw that we were both safe. He turned away and got back in his office and i went to my room. When i approached, i saw with surprise that the light was on inside and i could see a silhouette lying on my futon.
Chizuru ?
I opened the shoji to sigh at the sight of Souji sleeping on my futon. I sat next to him, wondering if i should let him sleep or kick him away.
« Souji. » i said softly.
If it didn't work, i would have gone sleeping in his bedroom. But it worked. He opened his eyes, at first confused, then smiled at me.
« Hey... Good morning. »
« It's still the night. » i answered as he sat up.
« Yeah... I wanted to wait for you to return but i fell asleep. »
I nodded. Souji had been sleeping more and more with his illness eating him away. It wasn't really surprising.
« Chizuru-chan is back. » he told me in a sleepy weak voice.
« I know. »
« Yamazaki found her. »
« I know. »
« Aren't you disappointed ? » he asked me.
« Why ? »
« Because you weren't the one to find her. »
« It's irrelevant. She's safe, it's the only thing that matters. »
« Suits yourself. It is said that the chase is better then the catch, anyway. » he said with a smirk, falling back on the futon.
I didn't answer and saw that he was on the verge of falling asleep again.
« Souji, let me help you to your room. »
« I'm fine... » he replied, sitting up again. « I'm just... » he fell back « Borrowing your futon for tonight. If that's ok with you. »
« Ha. » i nodded « sleep well, Souji. »
I exited my room, tired with all my running around Kyoto and worried for my best friend. I hadn't realize his illness was so advanced. His body was still pretty in shape though. When you looked at him, you couldn't guess he was a dying man but his behavior tonight showed that he didn't have much left. It was a matter of months now before his condition wouldn't allow him to get out of bed.
I started walking in direction of Souji's room which was pretty close to mine but i changed my mind and went to the back of the temple, not far from the Rasetsu headquarters. I stopped in front of Chizuru's room and looked around me. Everything was quiet, the Rasetsu were out on their rounds and the rest of the compound was asleep. I called her name in a low voice, nearly a whisper.
« Yukimura. »
I used her surname in case someone was listening. I wasn't sure what i was doing here and maybe she was asleep anyway, but I missed her and had been so afraid for her that i needed to see her right now. A visceral need in me awoke. I needed to see with my own eyes that she was well and unhurt. As she wasn't responding, I sighed and started to turn over when the shoji slighy opened.
« Saito ! » she whispered in surprise.
She was only wearing a nagajuban, white but thick so it wasn't see-through at all and her hair were loose, circling her face and cascading on her shoulders.
« May i come in ? » i asked her, aware that it was an unseemly request.
She nodded and opened the wooden panel in full to let me in before closing it.