The song i mention in this chapter does exist. It's a traditional folk song named Sakura Sakura. You can find countless versions on Youtube if you want to listen to it ! I learned it fifteen years ago in junior high school and never forgot it so i thought of it immediately and i enjoyed a lot putting it in this chapter. The poem also exists. Enjoy !
May 1866
Since we didn't have the occasion of doing a banquet for New Year's Eve this year, Harada suggested that we all go for a day to witness the blooming cherry blossoms and eat a bento underneath. At first, Hijikata-san refused but Harada and Nagakura eventually persuaded him, saying that it would be a good occasion for us to get along with each others. Of course, they didn't mention who wasn't really getting along but we all understood very well that they meant Ito and Miki. Hijikata-san allowed it but only the high ranked. We couldn't afford to leave the compound without surveillance and the Rasetsu weren't supposed to exist. Plus, the streets of Kyoto still needed their rounds.
I gave the commandement of my unit to Tetsuya, as usual. He was always taking my place when i was on mission and i trusted him to get the work done. I also gave a promotion to Tairo, the youngest of my unit who was always taking care of my haori. I named him second for the time Tetsuya was captain. Tairo was really a man that i appreciated. He wasn't a hothead, had a great capability of analysis and most of all, was one of my most talented swordman. He always had been a bit better than the rest of the squad but the gap grew bigger when i became instructor. Tairo was never missing a training session in iai and he was improving very fast. He often stayed a bit after the training session to ask some questions and try some variants of the movements we studied. When we were having street altercations now, he was the last to unsheathe but still the first to stike. I had a kind of proudness when i witnessed all the progress he made. His promotion was fully deserved and no one contested it although he was the youngest.
Toudou was on kitchen duty and Chizuru decided to assist him which i personally thought was a good idea since she was the best cook in the compound. The rest of us didn't have much to do so we just hanged out outside, sipping some tea, waiting for the bentos to be ready so we could all go together. Harada had chosen the spot for the viewing but he didn't tell anyone since he wanted to keep the surprise for Chizuru. She was very excited about going out. Another very excited one was Souji although i couldn't understand why. He had a smile on his face since morning that wasn't erasing. Everyone could see that he was preparing something and i just hoped it had nothing to do with our secret. He had been keeping it perfectly for two months already but Souji was unpredictable.
« Cherry Blossoms are so romantic ! » said Nagakura with a wink « Heisuke'd better get the best of it ! »
« What do you mean ? » i asked, confused.
« Shinpachi ! » scolded Harada with a smile « leave the kid alone, would you ? »
« But Heisuke had been in love with Chizuru-chan for so long ! » chuckled Nagakura.
« Do i have to remind you that Chizuru-chan already told him she wasn't interested ? » replied Harada.
« Yeah but that was before ! » winked Nagakura « with all these months as geiko, they grew closer, lived in proximity... And even now, they are in the kitchen together preparing some bento made with love... » he put his hands on his heart in an exaggerated manner and blinked quickly « the spring is here, the feelings blossoming like sakura... Perfect day to for Heisuke and Chizuru to confess their feelings for each other ! »
Souji couldn't resist to guffaw loudly and everyone looked at him.
« Oye ! What's so funny ?! » yelled Nagakura, wounded in his pride.
« Nothing, i'd just like to see that ! » he laughed.
I sighed, sipping my tea, trying to ignore the little jealousy blossoming in my heart. Even if Chizuru told me she'd stay by my side, i couldn't help but think that maybe Toudou was a better fit for her. They were like best friends already, he was making her laugh, they were the same age... and i'm sure he wouldn't care about making their relationship public, at least among the captains, while i was condemning her to secrecy. If she eventually chose Toudou over me, she would have every reason to. And that was probably why it was making me so jealous.
My tea finished, i stood up and started getting away in anger, although my face was impassive.
« Oye ! Saito, where are you going ? » asked Harada.
« I want to see if there is help needed in the kitchen. » i replied in my toneless voice.
« All right » said Nagakura « just try not to interupt a moment between those two lovebirds ! » he laugh and the others joined him.
My fist were clenched and knuckles white but i didn't turn to look at them when i went toward the kitchen. I entered after announcing myself to find Chizuru making some Onigiri and Toudou sitting on the table.
« Do you need help ? » i asked Chizuru.
« Thanks Saito » answered Toudou « but everything's fine, we're almost finished. »
« It would probably go faster if you actually helped her. » i said in a harsh voice and he got off the table to get some rice.
Sometimes, i was a bit sorry that Toudou was so easily scared of me but that wasn't one of these moments.
« Notify us when you are ready. » i said, exiting the kitchen after they agreed.
They went much faster after that and in no time, we could go. Harada lead us a bit out of town, near the Arashiyama mountain. We sat under the cherry trees to eat our bentos. I saw that mine had extra tofu in it while Hijikata-san's had extra pickles, Souji's extra plums and Harada's extra eggplant. I smiled. Chizuru was always so caring for everyone, and so observant.
Miki and Ito ate with us before wanting to go on a walk, Takeda joined them along with Kondou-san. The rest of us stayed lying under the blossoming cherry trees until Souji eventually opened his mouth.
« Ara, these blossoms are so inspiring... Makes me wanna declaim poems... »
I frowned. Souji ? Poetry ? Is this some kind of joke ?
« I'd love to hear a poem ! » said Chizuru, enthusiastic.
« Alright ! Everyone listen up ! » he yelled, standing up and getting a little book out of his kimono. I recognized the book. It was the one he hid under his futon when i came in his room. He cleared his throat and took a theatrical position « you'll get lost in the way of love, whether you know it or not. »
I could recognize that it was supposed to be an Haiku but it was poorly written. I frowned again.
« Souji ! » i heard Hijikata-san say, furious « where did you get this book ?! »
« Ara... I may have found it in your office... »
Hijikata seemed to be on the verge of jumping on Souji to kill him.
« These are supposed to be for me ! Just hand them over ! It's an order ! » yelled Hijikata-san, trying to grab the book out of Souji's hand. I understood at this moment, along with the other captains, that the vice-commander was the author of that very bad poem.
« Hai ! Fukuchô ! » he said, imitating a deep voice that i recognized as being mine « anything for you, Fukuchô ! I'll die for you Fukuchô ! »
He handed the book and everyone exploded in laughter. I was a bit vexed but i couldn't help but smile. Souji was still the same old Souji. Chizuru was laughing so much that it was a pleasure for my eyes. Even if she was mocking me, i knew there was no evil in it.
« All right... nevermind... no poetry then... » said Souji, sighing. « How about other arts ? Can anyone do something ? After Toshi, anyway, you're not taking a lot of risks, it's gonna be better. »
Hijikata-san's eyes were throwing daggers at Souji, while he was putting the book in his kimono. Toudou answered him with enthusiasm.
« Hey ! Chizuru-chan can sing ! » he said and all eyes reported on Chizuru who shooked her head in denial.
« N.. No... That's not true ! » she stuttered.
« Yeah she can ! » he insisted « i saw it when we were maiko ! »
Everyone gave some encouragements to Chizuru who was blushing red and she finally accepted. During all the commotion, i stayed silent, looking at her intensely, wondering if she actually could sing.
She sat up in senzai and the silence installed itself as she took a deep breath. She closed her eyes, slowly, and opened her mouth.
« sakura sakura
noyama mo sato mo
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
asahi ni niou
sakura sakura
hana zakari »
My jaw dropped. The other captains's too. It was the voice of an angel. We all knew this song, talking about blossoming cherry trees, but it was like we were hearing it for the first time. There wasn't any shamisen to accompany her but still we could be touched by the beauty of her voice.
She was breathtaking, singing Sakura Sakura under the cherry trees, petals falling around her like they were dancing to the sound of her voice. Her eyes were closed, her head held high to let the sound surround us. When she started the second part, Toudou joined her, followed by Harada and we all started singing with her.
sakura sakura
yayoi no sora wa
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mini yukan
Even i was singing with her and i saw a smile draw on her face when she realized we were all singing together. I couldn't detach my eyes from her angelic face, singing her heart out and i wanted my heart to travel through my voice to reach her too. When the song was over, she opened her eyes, still blushing, and plunged them into mine. I knew at this moment that i had succeded.