Chapter 1
After the whole night turning and tossing to fall asleep, Chizuru finally decided to get up. She hadn't slept this bad in months. Maybe it was the excitement of what had happened these past few days and of what was going to happen today. She stretched her arms above her head and stared at the dark purple kimono that hung over the folding screen in a corner of her room. Harada, Nagakura and Heisuke had bought the kimono for her for when a special occasion would take place. And today was such a day. Everyone in the Shinsengumi had prepared a small gift for Kondou, as a token of gratitude for leading the Shinsengumi for so many years. Hijikata had asked Chizuru to make an extensive breakfast. Most of the dishes had already been prepared, she just needed to cook everything and decorate it.
While getting dressed she remembered the other thing which made her excited. It has been a week since she confessed to Hijikata. It didn't take him long to give her a reply, it was quite obvious that he liked her too. All the captains knew about their feelings for each other, except themselves. After being pushed by Harada, Chizuru had gathered her courage and told Hijikata she liked him very much, maybe even loved him. Hijikata had been taken aback of course, but his face had softened quickly as he had seen her trembling hands. He couldn't promise to be by her side forever, as he was the vice-captain of the Shinsengumi but he would make her happy for as long as he would live. Chizuru had said that there wasn't a need for a promise, she just wanted to spent more time with him in a romantic setting.
The dark purple kimono fit her perfectly and the golden colored obi finished the look. She did her hair in her usual ponytail with a white ribbon and left her room to start the morning.
It was a peaceful morning, the only sound came from the birds and the kitchen. But it didn't last long, soon voices were being heard from outside, which turned into screaming, playful screaming. Chizuru opened the door to the outside to take a look at the people who were playing around. She saw the baka trio messing around in the snow, throwing snowballs at each other and pulling at Heisuke's hair to bring him down into the soft snow. Chizuru giggled at the side of three grown man laying in the snow, causing them to turn their heads in unison towards her.
"Chizuru-chan…" Harada said and got up.
"We were just messing around," Nagakura laughed and helped Heisuke on his feet.
"I know, don't worry. Maybe you could help me with finishing the preparations for breakfast?"
"Yeah sure."
After an hour breakfast was ready to be served. Chizuru slid the door open to the connected room to the kitchen. Nobody was there yet.
"Are we too early?" she asked and turned around towards the others.
"I don't think so. The others are just late," Harada answered.
"We'll search for them, you can go to Hijikata-san, Chizuru-chan," Nagakura said before he quickly walked away, followed by the other two. Chizuru stood there in the door opening with a slightly flushed face. Whenever someone said his name she would get all nervous, as if would pop up from behind her.
On her way to his room she thought about what she would say if she saw him. Even though they had shared some romantic moments she still didn't know how to behave around him, always getting too insecure about her actions.
She knocked twice on his door and asked if she could come in. There was no answer so she opened the door a little bit. Hijikata laid on his futon in the middle of the room. His hair was all over his face and the ground and he had pushed away the blanket.
"Hijikata-san?" Chizuru slowly got closer and kneeled down next to him. She pushed his hair to the side of his face and neatly put his blanket back. "Hijikata-san?" she asked again and touched his shoulder.
Hijikata turned on his side, opened his eyes and closed them again, to block away the sunlight.
"Breakfast is ready," Chizuru whispered.
"Hmm," Hijikata murmured.
"Didn't you sleep well?"
Hijikata slowly got up, his eyes still closed. "I don't know. I just couldn't fall into a deep sleep," he said with a sleepy voice.
"That's okay, just take it slow. I can bring you breakfast at a later time?"
"No, I'm awake." He opened his eyes and looked at her through his bangs. "I don't want the food you made to get cold. And it's for Kondou-san, I don't want to disappoint him by not being there."
Chizuru nodded and wanted to get up, but Hijikata softly grabbed her hand. "You look beautiful."
Chizuru's face turned into a deep shade of red and her eyes nervously darted form his face to her hand to the wall and back to his face. "Thank you," she managed to say.
"It's the truth, please remember it."
Chizuru nodded again. "I will."
He let go of her hand and stood up. "I will get dressed quickly, will you wait for me outside?"
"Yes." She also got up and walked to the porch to wait for him. He didn't say it often, that she looked beautiful. Just as the touched, she need to get used to everything. Hijikata had made clear that he liked it when she got nervous, it meant to him that she really likes him.
A few minutes later he opened the door and took hold of her hand again. They were matching, in their purple clothes.
Had in hand they made their way to the eating room. The door was open and everyone was already sitting on their usual places. Just before entering the room Hijikata let go of her hand, knowing it would make her uncomfortable. They sat down, each on one side of Kondou.
"You went all out with breakfast this morning, Chizuru," Kondou said.
"Yes. It is a special moment."
"Why, if I may ask?"
"To show you our appreciation and gratitude," Nagakura answered.
"You've led the Shinsengumi for so many years and brought us to victory many times," Sannan added.
"You guys…" Kondou was at a loss for words.
"Each of us has a small gift for you too," Heisuke said.
"You didn't have to do that. What I do is just what needs to be done."
"You do more than just the normal stuff. You were the one wanted to help Chizuru. you made the Shinsengumi a safe place for her to stay. You were the father many of us never had." Hijikata gave Kondou a small box.
Kondou accepted it while shaking his head. "You're all too kind." He opened the box and looked at the great variety of little foreign snacks. "Where did you gets these?"
"I just know some people," Hijikata said with a vague smile.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Thank you Toshi."
The whole morning was filled with giving Kondou all the gifts, eating and exchanging funny stories about the captains and Kondou.
When breakfast finally ended and the dishes and kitchen were cleaned with the help of everyone, Chizuru went to her room to change into her normal clothes. As she stepped out of the kitchen she was stopped by Kondou's voice.
"Chizuru, thank you again for all the effort you put in our breakfast this morning."
"You're welcome, Kondou-san." She gave him one of her sweetest smiles.
Kondou stepped closer and patted her head, something he had never done before. "I'm glad you wanted to stay here and help us out with the chores and such."
"I'm happy too, to have made that decision. It has made my life better than ever before."
A moment passed in silence to appreciate Chizuru being part of the Shinsengumi.
"Were you going to your room?" Kondou asked.
"Yes, I need to get changed to go out for some shopping."
"I think it won't hurt if you walk around in that beautiful kimono for the rest of the day."
"Are you sure?"
"Most of the men already know that you're a woman, but they keep their distance from you because of Toshi. He's kind of your personal bodyguard." Kondou laughed. "But it's better of someone goes with you then."
"Hijikata-san has a meeting right now, hasn't he?"
"Yes, is someone else alright?"
"Yes, of course."
Chizuru walked together with Saito past the stalls with sweets and snacks.
"Is there something you want?" Saito asked.
"Huh?"
"You keep looking at the food."
"Oh," Chizuru chuckled softly. "The dango shop we just passed looked very cute."
"Well, let's go then." Saito already turned around and walked back to the dango shop that she'd mentioned.
Chizuru followed him and bought some of the delicious dango. She ate them while walking, careful not to bump into other people.
Saito took over one of the bags she was carrying, to make it easier for her.
"Thank you," Chizuru said, catching a small glimpse of Saito's soft smile. He didn't smile that often, but when he did he looked quite handsome. Just like Hijikata.
They left the busy streets with shops behind them and walked past some houses to the HQ of the Shinsengumi. A few feet ahead of them lay a bunch of old blankets and clothes. They made their way around it, but just when Saito put his feet next to it, the blankets rolled towards him, making him stumble over the pile and his own feet. The bags landed on the ground, the groceries rolling out of it. Saito caught himself with his hand, trying not to lean on the thing that lay underneath him. He slowly stepped away from it and stood up.
"Are you alright, Saito-san?" Chizuru asked worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He bent down and pushed the blankets away to look at the thing that caused him to fall.
A little girl lay curled up on the ground. With wide open dark blue eyes she stared at him. She seemed scared.
"What is it?" Chizuru came closer and kneeled down next to him as she saw that the 'thing' was a girl.
"Are you hurt?" Saito asked.
The girl shook her head and kept staring at him.
"May we know your name?" Chizuru asked.
The little girl sat up. "Lulu," she whispered.
"Lulu?" Chizuru said, to make sure she heard it right.
Lulu nodded.
Chizuru took a good look at the girl. She wasn't older than 6, maybe 7 years, her kimono was light blue and had some dirty spots from sleeping outside. She had long dark blue hair, tied in a messy ponytail.
"Where is your family?"
Lulu shrugged her shoulder and shook her head again.
"Any friends in the neighborhood, people you know?"
Her head shook from side to side, causing tears to fall down on her cheeks.
Chizuru reached out and patted her head. "Don't worry, we will try our best to help you."
"Yukimura-kun-"
"Please, Saito-san, we can't let her stay on the streets."
"But we're the Shinsengumi, it's not our task to take care of homeless children."
"I know, but…" Chizuru really wanted to help her, but couldn't think of anything to reason with Saito.
Saito looked down at the girl. She seemed so lost, the tears were streaming down her face and landed on her kimono. Her stomach started to make noises, to indicate that she was hungry. They indeed couldn't let her stay here on the streets.
With a deep sigh, Saito handed one of the bags over to Chizuru. "Alright, let's take her with us."
"Really?" A smile appeared on her face and she stood up.
"Yes, you're right, we can't leave her alone here." Saito stretched out his arms and wrapped them around the little girl's middle. He picked her up and let her rest on his hip. His other hand held her back so she wouldn't fall backwards. "Let's go."