Aizu sent us two hundred men instead of the three hundred we expected but their borders were getting tensed too. It wasn't surprising. The day before the battle, I had another meeting with Otori, Brunet and also the commander of the Nihonmatsu retainers. The later was accompanied by a younger man, about my age, maybe even younger.
« The SatCho force has more men than we had anticipated. Yet, our strategy was good and you are not planning to change it. So this is the plan we had decided upon. » explained Otori, showing them on the map « if everything goes according to plan, we should intecept them here and your corp, Kimura-kun wont even need to fight. »
Haruhi entered with some tea as the younger nodded. He was holding his head high and everything in him was showing he had the true warrior spirit.
« I agree » nodded the Nihonmatsu commander « I would rather keep Jutaro's corp as last line of defense. »
What does this corp has that makes it so special for everyone ? It's like they all want to protect it. Is he the daimyo's son or something ? No. The lord's name is Niwa... Then who is this Kimura Jutaro ?
« Thank you for your trust » bowed Kimura with all the humility you can expect from a samurai « we will protect the castle is they ever come at our doors. »
« How many are you ? » I asked.
« Sixty two. » he said
Is that a joke ?
I turned to the others and they all seemed very uncomfortable. The Nihonmatsu general sighed and explained to me while taking a cup of tea.
« Jutaro commands our boys who wish to defend their domain but are too young to be on the battlefield. That's why they will be our last line of defense. »
« That is true. » bowed Kimura again « our bushi are between twelve and seventeen years old. I am the oldest and that's why I have been appointed commander. The Shonentai will not disappoint. »
I regretted immediately to have asked the question while Haruhi was there. That was going to send ideas in her mind. Twelve... The youngests in his corp were twelve...
« I see. » I nodded.
I glared at Haruhi but nothing in her gaze or posture showed any reaction to the Shonentai. When she finished distributing the tea, she bowed politely and exited the tent. I wasn't fooled though, I knew that I was ahead of a very unpleasant conversation about why twelve years old boys could fight and ten years old girls couldn't.
The meeting continued until everyone knew exactly his role to play in the upcoming battle and then, we all parted ways. When I got out, Shimada was waiting for me outside.
« What is it ? » I asked him.
« Heisuke's waiting for you in your tent. » he bowed. « He has found Sannan. »
I nodded and took the direction of my tent. Finally, Toudou has found Sannan. Did he kill him ? Did he find Chizuru's researchs ? I entered the tent and was immediately greeted by Chizuru's excited voice.
« Hajime ! Welcome Home ! Heisuke's here ! » she said with a smile from ear to ear and a sparkling gaze.
« I know. » I nodded before turning to Toudou « you had a safe trip ? How did you know we were there ? »
« I met Hijikata in Sendai. He told me I'd find you here. » he said.
« Where's Haruhi ? » I asked.
« She's coming. » assured Chizuru « I sent her make some tea for Heisuke. »
« I see. » I nodded « so, Toudou, you've found Sannan ? »
« Yeah, he's in the Sendai province but not too far from the Aizu border. He's occupying a sake brewery with his Rasetsu. I mean, ours... »
« I see. » I cut him when Haruhi entered with the tea, serving cups to everyone. « Haruhi. »
« Yes, Taichô ? » she bowed.
« Take the rice powder, the oil and everything you need. I want both your swords sharpened and oiled. Go do it outside. » I ordered.
« Hai ! » she bowed and she took everything that was necessary for her task and headed out.
« The kid's nice but I nearly didn't recognize her. » commented Toudou « Why does she look like Souji ? »
« He cut her hair. » I said « and according to her saying, it's Kondou-san's haircut. »
« Kondou's huh... » he whispered pensively. « Why are you making her wear a man's uniform and sharpen her blade ? »
« Toudou, Sannan. » I ordered to recenter the subject.
« Yeah, so, I found rumors about a village and a witch and I didn't pay much attention to it at first because I wasn't really looking for a girl but more for a murder wave but then it hit me. That could be one of the women Sannan was meeting with before he disappeared. So I investigated and I found the brewery. I have seen some men that I recognize as being in the Rasetsu Corp and I saw the woman but not Sannan. I'm sure he is there inside though. »
« That woman » I asked « Did you recognize her ? Is she one of Edo ? »
« No, she's neither of them... » he sighed.
« What does she look like ? » I asked, sipping my tea.
« Tall, slender, with hip long ginger hair and silver eyes. » he said and I nearly spitted my tea.
Mika ?!
That was impossible, Mika was dead. Unless... Unless the tail Kazama had brought to Koan wasn't hers but just one of his sadistic games...
« Don't tell me she's wearing a white hakama on a auburn kimono... » I said, taking my forehead in my fingers.
« How do you know ?! You know this woman ?! » he yelled, astonished.
« Yes. » I nodded « that's Yasha Mika of the Yase clan and a damn Kitsune. My guess is that Sannan didn't meet with so many women but only with her under multiples appearances. »
Why would she be with Sannan though ? Even if her motivations were to have a Rasetsu fox child, I can barely imagine Sannan playing that little game without having something to gain. Or he's bewitched ? But if he were, the Rasetsu Corp wouldn't have followed him, would they ? Well, at least, if she's still after Rasetsu to have a fox cub, that means that she's not getting any from me, right ?
« Are there murders reported ? » I asked.
« Not a soul. » said Toudou « Maybe they're all cured ? They walk under sunlight without any problem... We should go, Saito. You're a Rasetsu too, right ? »
That was indeed unsettling. How could they walk into sunlight and not be weakened by it ? And without Chizuru's blood, how could they endure the bloodlust ?
« My duty is to lead the Shinsengumi here in Nihonmatsu. I can't afford a trip to Sendai. » I said.
« But Hajime » opposed Chizuru « what if there is really a cure there ?! »
« I can cope with my Rasetsu nature for a little longer. As soon as the Shinsengumi's situation allows me to move, I will go. » I reassured her « yet, it is not today. »
« Then, allow me to go with Heisuke ! » she said.
Are you insane ?! Are you really ready to go to a Rasetsu nest, five months pregnant, to find a cure that may not even be there ?
« No. » I shook my head « if it's true that there are no murders, then the situation isn't an emergency. »
« But... Hajime... » she tried and I silenced her with the iciest glare I ever sent her.
« You. Stay. Here. » I ordered before turning to Toudou « can I task you with her protection ? I can't bring you on the battlefield in daylight and you're supposedly dead. The fighting will probably start tomorrow. »
« Alright, yeah, sure ! » said Toudou, uneasy « I'll protect Chizuru-chan, don't worry. »
« Good. » I nodded.
« Hajime, about the researchs... » said Chizuru again.
It was only logical that she wouldn't let it go. It was her life's work and now, there was a chance for her to get it all back. If it was my battle, I wouldn't let it go either.
« Chizuru, I promise I'll go. » I said softly, putting less steel in my voice « Just not now. »
« But what if they move ? » she asked, desperate.
« It's unlikely » I reassured her « Sannan has connections in Sendai and if there are no murders, then they mustn't fear about drawing attention. »
« Okay... » she sighed grudgingly.
« Chizuru » I said « promise me you're not going to chase them. »
She turned her eyes away and I was glad I asked. Her intentions clearly had been to sneak away and go to Sendai. Toudou probably would have been easy to convince for her...
« Chizuru. » I asked again.
« Okay, I promise. » she nodded.
A weight got off my chest. With the upcoming battle, I needed to have all my mind focused on fighting, not on the possible suicidal whereabouts of my wife.
« I wouldn't have taken her, Saito ! » protested Toudou « especially like... like that. »
I nodded to show my trust but I knew Chizuru was full of ressources and particularly smart. Yet, i trusted her to respect her promise. Better safe than sorry.
« When are we gonna go then, Saito ? » asked Toudou.
« I cannot give you that answer now. » I sighed « but we'll go. Are you coping with the bloodlust ? »
« It's... » he gritted his teeths « It's... hard... It's getting harder... »
« Can I come in ? » I heard outside the tent.
« Ha, Haruhi. » I answered.
She entered and put down all the necessary tools that she used on her swords and got out the katana and wakizashi out her sash.
« Do you need anything, Taichô ? » she asked, polite.
« I already told you that you do not need to use my title when we are alone » I scolded softly.
« So Chizuru and Heisuke don't count ? » she asked, perplexed.
« Have you sharpened your blades ? » I asked.
« Yeah and oiled them too. » she smiled, proud.
« Show me. » I ordered and she ran to take her swords back and handed them to me.
I unsheathed the katana first and inspected it carefully. Again, I was amazed with the quality of its blade. I would kill to have a sword of this quality, especially now that mine was soon to be of no use. Satisfied with how she took care of it, I nodded and sheathed it back before taking the wakizashi out of its scabbard. It was still so new... She never really used it, at least not to cut through flesh. I was satisfied too and handed back both swords to her.
« Put them in your sash. » I ordered.
She complied and I looked at her with her two swords, her short hair and her black and white western uniform. She grew since the day I let her try my katana. At that time, the scabbard was touching the ground. How fast kids could grow...
« If you were in battle, which one would you use ? » I asked.
« My wakizashi. » she answered without an hesitation.
« Why ? » I asked.
« Because the katana is still a bit too long and heavy for my arms and... I don't want to use it before I proved I'm worthy of wearing it. Hijikata-san still has to test me. » she said.
« I see... » I smiled.
« Hajime... What's the point of these questions ? » asked Chizuru in a small scared voice.
« Haruhi. » I said « Tonight, you must take a good meal to get some forces and you must rest effectively. Tomorrow, you'll be on the battlefield. »
