We rode all morning and all afternoon without any interruption. We didn't have any food left anyway so our only meal would be the one we would take at the camp. When we arrived, I dismounted and put a cloth over Kaoru's head to avoid any confusion amongst the men. Chizuru was loved by everyone and if people were to witness her that thin and weak (and not pregnant anymore), gossips would spread at the speed of sound. I led him to a prison cage and left him there.
« I'm sorry to keep you like this but I warned you that you'd be in custody. You will have to cope with this roughness until I find a better option for you. » I apologized « Toudou will bring you some rice porridge. »
I decided to assign Toudou to Kaoru's surveillance. I needed all my men against the SatCho and Toudou couldn't fight in the open. It was the most logical choice. That settled, I gave back the two horses to the Aizu warriors, thanking them for their help, and I searched for Chizuru, Haruhi and Keisuke.
I went to my tent first and found it empty. I let down the researchs and changed myself, my uniform completely stained with blood. I took another shirt and waistcoat and kept my trousers which were still pretty clean and I headed out.
« You » I said, recognizing the warrior who was training with Haruhi « Suzuki-kun, right ? Do you know where is Mori ? »
« Hai, Taichô ! » he bowed « Mori-san is keeping an eye on your wife, Taichô. »
I lifted an eyebrow, confused. Why would Chizuru need protection ? What did she do again ?
« Where are they ? » I asked.
« Dancing, Taichô » he said, uncomfortable.
« Dancing ? » I repeated, believing that I misheard.
« Yes, Taichô, dancing. Well, you wife and daughter are. Mori-san is just looking after them because you weren't there so he wanted to make sure that their honor wouldn't be tainted in your absence... » he said, uneasy.
« Where ? » I asked.
« In the encampment of the Frenchmen. »
These bastards...
« Alright. » I nodded and I headed to the Denshutai section of the camp to find Brunet and his men and get my wife back.
I didn't need to search long before I heard the music which didn't sound like anything I knew and I supposed I was getting close. I found the source of the music, a wooden instrument that was played with bow like a kokyuu but that the frenchman was holding in his neck. The other frenchmen were dancing with farm girls and in the middle, Chizuru and Haruhi. The man dancing with Chizuru was acting like all the others so I supposed it was normal to them but my blood was boiling to see him with his arm around her waist and the second one holding her hand, making her turn around in rhythm with the music. The one dancing with Haruhi though was holding both her hands and he was also less close. I guess he couldn't dance like all the others with the height difference. Both the girls were laughing and seemed to have a lot of fun so instead of scolding them, I tried to ignore my jealousy until I could get a full understanding of the situation and put on my impassive mask when I joined my second who was looking at Chizuru from the side.
« Keisuke. » I saluted him.
« H... Ha ! Taichô ! » he yelled « I'm sorry ! I... They... »
« It's alright, Keisuke. » I nodded « you do not need to protect them anymore. »
« H...Hai ! » he stuttered « I... Their honor is untainted, Taichô ! It's... They don't... »
« It's alright. » I repeated.
« Hajime ! »
Chizuru had noticed me and she got her hand off her cavalier's shoulder and ran to me to throw herself in my arms.
« Ca.. Careful, Chizuru ! » I said, surprised and anxious.
Am I the only one thinking about our baby here ?!
I detached her from my body and saw the disappointment in her gaze but I had no choice, I had to maintain a certain image.
« Otousan ! Welcome home ! » yelled Haruhi before she came closer too.
I couldn't help but smile to see them this radiant at the idea that I was back. I passed my hand into Haruhi's hair and turned back to Chizuru.
« I have your books. » I stated.
She served me a wide smile and her eyes were sparkling with proudness and relief.
« Are you hungry ? » she asked « have you eaten something ? »
« Not yet » I confessed « but I'm fine. »
« Saito-san, I am so glad to see you here. » said Brunet, bowing to me as suitable.
As a way to show him that I respected him and his men, I extended my hand for him to shake it. This way, we exchanged greetings from both our cultures and we were on a level of equality.
« What is happening here ? » I asked Brunet, perplexed.
« A bal musette. » he replied with a laugh « may I offer you a drink ? »
« That would be very nice, thank you, Burunee-san. » I bowed.
He asked me to follow him to the other side, near the musician and served me a cup of green liquid. He served a cup for him too.
« Normally during bals musette, we would drink wine but I'm afraid we don't have any left so this is Chartreuse. It's an alcohol but moreover, it's a cure and an elixir of long-life. It keeps men healthy ! You have to drink it in one gulp, ready ? Kampai ! »
« Kampai. » I repeated before swallowing the content of my cup.
My throat was on fire, my mouth was numb and my chest was aching because of the strength of the drink and its taste. It tasted like fresh grass. Who could drink that from their own volition ?!
« Another one ? » he asked me with a smile.
« Thank you, Burunee-san but one is enough. » I said with respect.
« Just like Chizuru-chan » he laughed « she spitted it all out and coughed for minutes. »
« Why is she here, Burunee-san ? » I asked, looking at my wife who wasn't dancing anymore but talking with Keisuke and Haruhi.
« Our people have been requested to go home » he said with a sad smile « we are the one who refused and that makes us deserters. We do not regret our decision because we believe you fight for what is just but now that the summer is here, some of us were kind of homesick. Just like Matsuri are the heart of the summer in Japan, bals are their equivalent in France and so, we organized one to raise a bit the moral. As you observed, our dances require partners so we asked your wife and daughter to come and dance with us. »
« I see. » I just said.
« What you see here is a pale imitation, I'm afraid » he chuckled « it looks a bit ridiculous with only our violin... Normally we are supposed to have lanterns and a wooden floor to dance, more musicians, a shitload of wine, entire porks to share, maybe a bonefire and a lot of girls ! » he laughed some more « in villages, bals musette are the occasion to get lucky with the girl you fancy when their father is too drunk to notice a thing and the alcohol makes the maidens less shy. »
I understood that there were memories of these kind of moments that caused him to laugh but that didn't really reassure me about the presence of my wife and daughter amongst them.
« I see. Well, have a nice evening, Burunee-san. » I bowed « We are going back to our encampment. »
« No, no, no ! » he protested « you would do me a great honor if you stayed. Otori said he would stop by as well, please stay and enjoy yourself ! »
I didn't really think I could enjoy myself at this kind of celebration. Their alcohol was disgusting, I didn't know how to dance and the only person I was desiring to « get lucky with » was untouchable. Yet, before I could try to escape again, Brunet adressed my wife.
« Chizuru-chan, come and show your husband how to waltz ! » he shouted.
Chizuru came with a wide smile and I tried to protest.
« N.. No... » I said, my ears already red « I don't dance. »
Yet, my wife seemed so happy to share that with me that I let her lead me on the dance floor. She took my left hand and put it on her waist and put her own hand on my shoulder, our right hands holding each other's and our baby between us.
« Are you sure this is reasonable ? » I asked, looking at her belly « you tire a lot more easily now and I'm not sure dancing in your condition is very wise. »
« Don't worry » she smiled « I'm wearing the hara-obi and it's a great help for my back. It offers a lot of support. »
« I told you this obi was an asset. » I nodded, pleased.
« Okay so let me remember » she said, focused but blushing red in embarrassment « you're the man so you're supposed to lead and I'm... I'm not sure yet what I'm supposed to do but its with three sliding steps like... one, two, three, one, two, three and then we turn and... since it's musette we turn on the left... which would probably be easier for you since you are left-handed but... gods, this is so hard ! I'm sorry, I suck... » she sighed.
I tried to follow her guidance but our dance was very clumsy and far from the grace the other dancers had. I stopped for a few seconds and looked around to see how the frenchmen were doing it. I analyzed their steps and when I understood how I was supposed to move, I took the lead and guided Chizuru. She opened eyes like saucers and smiled widely when she realized how my steps were assured. We were dancing and swirling like autumn leaves or cherry blossoms in the wind and she started to laugh, happy.
« You're good ! » she praised, surprised and delighted.
« I'm a fast learner. » I nodded.
« That's more than fast ! » she laughed.
« I'm a spy. Mirroring is part of my job. » I stated.
I was a good spy and a good swordsman and therefore, I was adaptable, good at imitation and had a good coordination. I never thought I would ever use my talents to learn how to dance though. As a man, I never needed to, dance was for women. I knew some geisha dances from spying missions but nothing near this waltz. Dancing with someone else, in so high proximity, was very strange. I was lucky it was my wife because never would I have dared putting my hands on any other girls here.
The music of the violin was guiding my steps and I didn't need to look at the other dancers now. My gaze was solely focused on Chizuru's smiling face, filled with delight and joy. I had to admit, it was rather pleasant to dance this way with her. She was radiant, her eyes sparkling in excitement and love, and I was feeling like I was falling in love with her all over again. Our child pressing on my stomach as I was pulling her closer only added to the blissful joy of being with her. She was my everything and I was loving her more every day that I spent with her. She was always making the best of me emerge to the surface of my soul. I was a ronin, a monster and a killer but with her, I could be more. I would never be able to repay her enough for everything she was doing for me.
The music stopped and I decelerated and eventually stopped too. Chizuru lifted her face towards mine with a loving smile and I replied with the same. I leaned over to kiss her with restraint but still pouring all my feelings in it. I loved her and I needed her to feel it. From the side, I heard cheers and hands clapping and I detached myself from my wife's lips to throw an assassin gaze on the frenchmen mocking me but they weren't the ones clapping. Instead, my eyes met those of numerous of my Shinsengumi warriors.
« What are you all doing here ? » I asked with furrowed brows, feeling the red invading my face but trying to keep a toneless voice.
« It's my fault, Taichô ! » said Suzuki, embarassed « I thought that maybe you'd be furious and if you were to fight for your honor, well you might have needed backup so we came... »
I looked at all my warriors, their sword ready and their big smiles, and I got even more red. They saw me dancing in proximity with Chizuru. That was highly inappropriate from someone like a Taichô. Yet, I kept my composure and tidied myself before adressing them.
« Everybody dismisses. » I said in my toneless voice « those who haven't eaten yet, go grab something to eat. Curfew in two hours. »
I turned to Chizuru and Haruhi and told them to go back to camp too. I thanked the frenchmen for their hospitality and saw their disappointment that we had to leave but I embarrassed myself enough for one night already. I started walking towards our encampment, Chizuru and Haruhi a bit behind as suitable and I went to share a meal with my men while the girls got back to the tent, Chizuru already exhausted. She needed to lay down or sit after so much efforts.
I took a bowl of the rice porridge and sat amongst my men but their stupid smile wouldn't leave their faces. It wasn't a wry or mocking one but it was still making me pretty uncomfortable. I hated to give informations about my emotions, either to friends or foes. Moreover, I was supposed to keep an image of authority and I didn't think that dancing and kissing my wife in public was a very smart move for that purpose.
My bowl finished, I gave it to the men on dishes duty and headed back to the tent to see if Chizuru was satisfied with what I brought back from Sendai.
