December 1866
Tairô had some decent funeral. He laid under a hill with all the other fallen comrades of the past years in a wooden casket. As his captain, i helped my unit dig the tomb. It's the least i could do for a man of his quality. I was rather surprised to see Hijikata-san, Kondou-san and Nagakura attending the funeral. Chizuru came too to say goodbye one last time to the boy who helped her train. Since this event, she hadn't touch a sword, even a bokken, probably feeling that she would betray his memory if she trained with someone else.
We went on with our daily lives. Chizuru and I were still polite with each other in our everyday interactions but we were now sleeping together most of the nights, if my shift allowed it. I took the habit to join her in her room since it was easier than the opposite. My room was in the quarters of the capitains while hers was further, where there were less people coming and so, it was safer for our secret. I bought a second futon that I left in her room because hers was a bit narrow for both our bodies and i couldn't really leave my room without a futon in it. I still needed it for the few nights when i was working until very late or had to go very early in the morning. This way, i wouldn't disturb her sleep.
I was amazed how we could keep our relationship secret for so long without anyone asking any questions. Except for Souji, i don't think anyone had a clue about us. Be that as it may, we were all very busy with the rising of the Satcho alliance between the Satsuma and Choshu. The ronins in Kyoto were becoming more numerous but also more raucous. Fights like the one where Tairô died were getting more frequent. Imperialists weren't hiding themselves anymore and would shout Sonnô jôi in the streets without any shame. Chizuru wasn't allowed to join every round now. Things were getting pretty dangerous and she was back to the old rules like not exiting the compound without a captain for example. It was a bit hard for her because she gained a lot of autonomy this past year but she understood that it was for her safety.
As i was coming back from my round, i saw Souji playing outside with kids again. I was used to this kind of scenery. Souji has been, was and will always be a kid and he was feeling at ease with them. He saw me too and greeted me with a wave of the hand.
« Oy ! Hajime-kun ! Come and play with us ! »
« I have a report to make. » i answered him calmly, removing my haori.
« Come on ! Why so serious all the time ?! »
The kids were behind him and singing. « Hajime ! Hajime ! Hajime ! »
« Shouldn't you be inside ? » i asked Souji. « It's still winter. »
« So what ? You're outside ! »
« I'm not ill. » i simply said and Souji lost his playful smile.
« Mind your own business. » he said, gritting his teeths and i turned around, knowing that he won't listen to me anyway. I said what i had to say, it was his choice now to listen or not. But staying outside like this wouldn't help him to fight his illness.
I went in the common room to find Hijikata-san but he wasn't there. Probably in his office. I annonced myself and entered to find him and Kondou-san with grim faces. I waited for them to explain what was happening and i hoped that it had nothing to do with Sannan or Souji.
« Ito is starting to recuit. » said Hijikata-san, arm crossed in disapproval.
« I don't think he is » replied Kondou-san « but he is indeed an imperialist. He talks a lot to the men about his political views. »
« He doesn't just talk. He's organizing meetings about the imperialism. I'm telling you. Ito is recruiting among our own men. And i can't allow that. » he frowned.
« If you'll allow me, Fukuchô, the code of conduct prevents Ito or any of our men from quitting the Shinsengumi. » I objected.
« I know that. » replied Hijikata-san, visibly annoyed. « But i still don't like it. Imperialism philosophy has nothing to do in our headquarters. But if we forbid these meetings, Ito will see it as a personal attack and i don't want him to go against us... I know that Takeda had attended one or various meetings but he's very evasive about it. »
« Toshi... i think you worry for nothing... » said Kondou-san but i had to disagree.
« i think you're right, Fukuchô. » i opposed « If Ito is recruiting in our ranks, we should know and act before it gets out of hand. »
If Takeda was indeed attending these meetings, it could be very bad for the Shinsengumi. Takeda was a master strategist, Ito a military advisor... and Miki, though i hated to admit it, was a very talented swordsman. If we had those three conspiring against us, we could be destroyed from the inside without even noticing it before it's too late.
« Saito. I want you to gain Ito's trust and assist to those meetings. If something is fishy, you'll report immediately to me and we'll take action. »
« Ha. »
« Saito-kun... » added Kondou-san, very uncomfortable « please be careful. Ito mustn't suspect that we have any doubts about him. »
« Alright. »
I exited the office and gathered my unit. The men wondered why because we were just coming back from a round but i just asked them « has any of you already been to one of Ito's meetings ? »
I saw them look at each other, uncomfortable and i gazed at each one of them, trying to find my information. They knew that lying wasn't an option with me and so, one if my men stepped up.
« I have. »
« You, Keisuke ? » i said with my toneless voice but inside, i was furious. A member of my division went to hear some imperialism nonsense under my watch. They should know better ! « Often ? »
« I... I went twice... I will not go again, pardon me, captain ! »
« No. Just say to Ito that for the next meeting, I want to come. »
I saw eyes widden before me. They couldn't believe their ears. I was respected because i was loyal, unfaltering and true to my beliefs, and now, i wanted to hear the imperialism ideas. To them, it didn't made any sense. To me neither but they didn't need to know that.