Hello everyone! I am back after a long period of studying, but my board exam is over! Thank you so much to everyone who continued to support this story while I was away, whether it was through subscribing, reviewing, or just reading! It really means a lot to me since it tells me (maybe?) that this story still continues to interest readers even if I cannot update all the time.

Also, I really appreciate every review that comes my way! I see these reviews as a way to gauge whether I am able to express the characters in this story as they deserve, and whether the story can capture the hearts of those who want to immerse themselves with the setting, the environment, the psyche, and the cultural differences and barriers that the characters in this story face. Hopefully I am able to do this story justice, as long as it takes me, because I believe their journey is one worth pursuing. I look forward to following them as they figure everything out in this new and complicated world! (Phew, formalities out! But I truly feel this way :3)

As a reward for all of you (hope you like it!), this chapter will be a little longer than usual. As always, thank you for reading!

xoxo shadowonaqua

Small disclaimer: I own none of the characters except my own interpretation of Chizuru's personality.

Another small note: I somehow couldn't attach smaller numbers to some words in the text for the purpose of explanations, so I instead tried to italicize the Japanese words that I thought may be unfamiliar to readers. There are more explanations this time around as Chizuru is using many Japanese terms for various ingredients, but hopefully the descriptions at the end also can be a source of side info for anyone who is curious enough. Let me know what you think!

Last small note: I have a Tumblr page now! It has the same username, and I opened it as suggested by a friend since I am currently writing a fanfic. I haven't done much so far other than reblog a few things that I thought were cool, but my actual posts will probably be Hakuoki-centric. Feel free to follow and request one shots or other scenarios from me on Tumblr! Although if you PM me here too for a request, that's not a problem either :)

Chapter 6

"Do we have to cut our hair again? I miss having my long hair like this…" Heisuke complained as Nagakura tried to push him into the hair salon's door.

"We are getting many looks while being out here, and weren't you the one who didn't want people staring at you?" Harada smirked as he watched the younger captain scratch his head in embarrassment.

"I can't decide if I want to deal with the stares and keep my hair as is, or just cut it again..." he mumbled. "Chizuru, what do you think?"

The young woman shrugged, "As I said a few minutes ago, it is completely up to you. I don't mind either way if you get your hair cut."

"Really?" Okita nudged her with his elbow, "But you were talking about how good our hair looked on the way here."

"When I say that it's your choice to get it cut, I do not mean that I don't like your hair. I think you guys look very cool right now. But, even with modern clothes on you all stand out with the period-style hair," she clarified.

"Suits me. See y'all at some point," the First Division captain smirked as he pushed the door open and entered the salon.

Hijikata frowned and rubbed his chin in deep thought. "Are you sure about this, Chizuru? Having us get our hair cut will cost a lot, right?"

"Don't worry, Hijikata-san!" the young woman smiled, "I don't mind spending a bit now for you all to feel more comfortable in this era."

The Vice Commander grunted in acknowledgment and appreciation. Harada had spoken to him a few hours before about the amount of money she spent on their clothes. Hijikata also knew that she was working part-time and studying as a full-time student. He was not sure how long she would last in taking care of them, and his mind raced with possible ways to earn money. Of course, he would need to discuss all those options with Chizuru due to not being familiar with modern civilization, but he decided to take one thing at a time. "We'll pay you back. Promise."

She chuckled, "Don't worry about that right now, go on in if you want to. I will miss your long hair, though, if you do decide to get it cut."

"Then, maybe I should keep it as it is now?" a small smile emerged from Hijikata's usually stoic face.

Her lips turned upward as she shrugged again, "Up to you! Anyway," she began while turning towards the other men, "I'll head inside. Feel free to come in, even if you don't want to cut your hair."

"Heisuke, let's just go in! What if your hair get caught in a tree branch again since it's so long?" Nagakura grinned as he pulled the younger captain into the salon.

"Dude, you were the one who BRAIDED my hair into a POTTED BONSAI, damn it!" Heisuke exclaimed in exasperation.

"Your fault for not being aware while napping!"

"You know what? Maybe I WILL get my hair cut so that I can braid it into a rope and whack you with it!"

"But that won't work anymore, shrimpy Heisuke! Ya just told me your secret!"

"Shrimp?! If anything's shrimpy it's your brain!"

Chizuru tried to stifle her laughter. Even people from back in the day played pranks on each other… they know each other so well. Despite the humorous thoughts that fluttered in her mind, she muttered a quick apology to the hairdresser in sight as she glared at the loud duo. "I'm so sorry, I'll get them to quiet down."

"Are they getting haircuts as well?" the stylist answered in a curt tone.

"Some of them are still deciding, but yes, there will be a few more."

"Who is paying?"

"I will be."

"For all of them?" Chizuru nodded. "Do any of them speak English? This one doesn't, so I will need you to translate," she said while nodding towards Okita.

I forgot that they don't speak English… so English lessons are needed as well. The young woman made a mental note to herself while replying, "I'll translate for all of them too."

"Aren't they all lucky to have you. I hope they're all treating you well," another hairdresser who overheard the conversation walked up to the front. "I'll take whoever is next."

Chizuru chuckled and shook her head, "They're very nice to me." After translating for the group, Saito stood and approached the second hairdresser.

"What haircut would you like? And how about a shampoo?" she asked.

After Chizuru translated, the indigo-haired captain answered, "Shampoo, and please cut it so that it looks relaxed, somewhat above shoulder length."

"Oh, you're relaxed, Hajime? That's new," Souji teased while the stylist massaged his washed hair with a towel.

"I am always relaxed," Saito answered while following the hairdresser to the hair wash station.

Chizuru sighed in relief, for Nagakura and Heisuke had stopped their bickering. The rest of the captains sat in the waiting chairs, and she faced them, "After you guys decide to get your hair cut, what if I brought you to Little Japan?"

"Little Japan? What or where is that?" Sannan asked.

"It's an area in this city where many Japanese or people of Japanese descent live. They have some shops, restaurants, and a martial arts academy. I was thinking that we can potentially get bokken, some groceries, and English language books while there. We could also ask to visit the academy, if you want to that is," she answered.

One corner of Hijikata's lips turned up in interest, "That's a great idea. Will the owners there speak Japanese?"

"I think so? I have only gone to the grocery store in Little Japan, but at least the cashiers there spoke Japanese."

"That should work for us, then," the Deputy Commander commented.

"I think it would be easy for all of you to come across as Japanese exchange students, except for the fact that you might not know modern words…" Chizuru mumbled as she realized another potential hurdle for the captains to overcome. "At least you can communicate with some of the people there, though!"

"Don't worry, Chizuru-chan!" Nagakura exclaimed while grinning, "With you around, we'll figure things out here."

"Yeah! Everything will work out, Chizuru! And we'll protect you too," Heisuke nodded in affirmation.

She laughed, "Thanks, but I don't think you need to worry about protecting me. This area is relatively safe, and there are rarely any security problems."

"That is good to hear," Sannan spoke.

"Oh, also," Chizuru remembered and began to pull her phone out of her handbag, "the café that I work at is just a block or two from Little Japan! Let me text my boss to let her know that we will stop by, and I can ask her about what we discussed earlier."

"Text?" Harada asked.

She nodded, "Yep, text. I'm going to write a short, written message through my cell phone to my boss, and she should receive it in a few seconds."

Hijikata closed his eyes as he processed the information. "Is today's society very efficient with communication because of this?"

"Very much so," Chizuru agreed. "The pace of sharing information and communication is much faster because of phones, computers, and the internet, and so all of us can do much more in each day than we were able to back in the day."

"Internet?" Heisuke wondered aloud while looking confused.

"Ah, my bad," she scratched her head in embarrassment, "I forgot that many of these terms are new. I'll tell you about the internet when I get home, how does that sound?"

"No worries, Chizuru-chan," Harada smiled at her. "Take your time, we'll try not to overload you with too many questions at a time."

"It's okay, Sano," she shook her head, "it's just that explaining what the internet is will be easier if I show you how it works on my computer. If there is something that any of you are confused about, please ask!"

The captains all murmured their thanks, and they fell into a peaceful silence. Only a few minutes after, Okita popped out from behind the screen to sport a slightly shorter hairdo from what he had previously. His rustic red hair was now layered, and the natural volume allowed his hair to flare slightly outwards. In addition to his height and physique, the new hairdo easily made Okita look like a fashion model, and Chizuru's eyes widened. Okita-san doesn't look like he came from the 19th century at all now! He looks pretty good...

The captain noticed the young woman's look of surprise, and he smirked. "How do I look, Chizuru-chan?"

"You look good, Okita-san," she muttered quickly while turning her gaze to the floor. Face, don't turn red! Please!

He chuckled while sitting himself down next to the young woman, "You're avoiding my gaze, I wonder why…"

Just then, the hairdresser who worked with Okita faced the group, "Anyone else?"

And so Hijikata, Harada, and Heisuke were the last captains to get their hair cut. As each captain transformed in front of her, the redness on Chizuru's cheeks deepened in color, which elicited plenty of light-hearted teasing and laughs. Not my fault all of you now look like present-day actors who have massive fangirl followings and who would possibly flirt with every girl out there.

"Yukimura-san," Saito called as he placed his hand on her shoulder. All the Shinsengumi leaders were standing in front of her with amusement in their eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Uh, yeah," she muttered, standing up to face him. "I'm okay, thank you, Saito-san." He nodded, and she made her way to the front desk. "How much?"

The older hairdresser smiled as she took in the image of the young woman in front of her surrounded by handsome Japanese men. In her eyes, Chizuru looked younger than a college student, and the nature of her clothes indicated that she is not affluent. Therefore, the older woman simply responded, "$100."

"Huh? Wait, I thought…" the Shinsengumi's current host spluttered in confusion.

"I gave you a discount," the lady continued as she peered into the eyes of a now-flustered Chizuru.

"You gave me a third off the original price! That's too much…"

"Nonsense! We're glad to help you fix them up."

At that reply, the young woman's eyes watered. "Thank you so much, Ms.," she expressed her deepest gratitude.

The older woman nodded and gave another wistful smile as she accepted the money, "No need. Use the discount well to feed yourself, young one. You need more meat on your bones."

"Yes, Ms.," Chizuru answered. She knew that she lost some weight compared to the year before, especially since she has been spending more time studying and less time making full meals for herself. However, she has been reducing her own intake so that there was enough food for the commanders and captains, and she was not aware of how quickly the weight loss would become visible to others.

Once the machine rang to confirm the purchase, the hairdresser peeled off the receipt and handed it to the young woman. "Take care of yourself, and make sure these men take care of you as well."

"Yes, I will. Thank you so much!"

"Have a wonderful day, young one!"

[薄桜鬼]

The captains gazed at the grocery store in awe upon entering through the sliding doors. Even though Chizuru had told them that the Japanese grocery store is smaller than the average supermarket in the city, the men had never seen anything else like it. Back in the day, shops sold their groceries along the side of the street, and every customer tried to haggle the best price for the freshest ingredients. On the other hand, items of interest in the store were clearly marked with price tags, and inventory ranged from fresh produce all the way to tables and electric kitchenware.

Chizuru chuckled as she observed the fantastic expressions that each of the men had. While Heisuke and Nagakura's jaws dropped, Okita's eyebrows were raised. Saito blinked as his pupils flittered across the store, and Sannan muttered about how impressive the store was. As she grabbed a cart from the front and began to push it forward, Harada joked that the grocery store would be the best place to stay during an apocalypse or war, and Hijikata openly voiced his opinion on the manpower needed to keep the inventory stocked.

The men were so drawn to the grandeur of the store that Chizuru noticed she had left them behind. "Are you coming?"

"Hai, hai," Okita responded, and the men joined her in the produce section. "What are we getting?"

"Oh, oh, can we get sakana?" Heisuke asked jovially. "We haven't had that in the last few days!"

"You mean to say that you don't want more tofu?" Harada teased.

"That's not what I meant…" the youngest captain's cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

"Heisuke, you're going to hurt Hajime's feelings," Okita nudged the now short-haired Heisuke, which elicited a child-like pout.

Saito sighed, "I'm not upset. We haven't had any meat or fish, so it would be nice if we could have some."

"Then let's get some meat and some fish, in addition to vegetables," Chizuru answered. "Any preferences?"

"Get whatever you would like, Chizuru," Hijikata spoke, and the men all confirmed. "We're not picky eaters."

"Then how do eggplant, Napa cabbage, green cabbage, carrots, onions, green onions, yam, nagaimo, daikon, potatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, cucumber, shiso, mitsuba, and zucchini sound for fresh produce? If you want to, we could also get some natto, or anything else that catches your eye."

"Sounds good to me. Having all of this is a luxury," Harada smiled.

"No green onions for me, kitty," Okita grinned, "but otherwise good."

"It's Chizuru."

"Hai, hai, I got it," the First Division captain smirked.

"Anyway," Chizuru continued after seeing the other captains nod, "Go ahead to the meat section in front! I think you guys will be impressed. Catch up to you soon, I'm going to get the vegetables and some fruit."

By the time Chizuru reached the men, not only were the men still frozen in fascination at the sights in front of them, but also were close to drooling as they eyed the racks of fresh meats and fish displayed down the aisle. Each piece of beef, duck, pork, chicken, or lamb was neatly packaged and labelled at the front display, and the butcher in the back was working on slicing the pork belly into thin pieces. One display over, freshly-caught mackerel, salmon, tuna, and more were placed on ice, and a sign hanging above indicated the many cleaning methods that the station offered. If only they could afford to buy every type of meat on display, the men all thought.

Chizuru laughed as Heisuke trotted over to her, excited and hyper. "Chizuru-chan, can we get some saba? I haven't had that in so long! Please?"

"Of course, Heisuke! Is there anything else you guys want?" she asked before requesting a scaling and cleaning service from the store employee.

"Hm… can you cook meat, Chizuru-chan?" Nagakura asked.

"Depends on what kind of cooking style you want, Nagakura-san. What are you thinking?"

"Hm, I'm not sure," he answered honestly, "we didn't get to eat much meat back in the day."

"Did you all usually eat fish?" she continued.

Saito responded, "Fish was our main source of protein. We didn't have animals to eat back then, and our food was rationed based on what the Bakufu could give us."

"I see," Chizuru nodded, "then how about I get some pork belly, saba, and chicken thigh? I'll cook you guys some modern and more traditional Japanese meat dishes over the next few days, and you guys can tell me how you like the saba to be prepared."

"Sounds wonderful, Chizuru," Sannan smiled. "I cannot wait to try your cooking."

"Oh, Sannan-san, getting cordial too?" Okita teased while smirking.

"I am simply stating my thoughts, Okita-kun," the Deputy Commander's eyes glistened in amusement.

Harada chuckled, "What can we say, Sannan-san voiced what we were all thinking. Right, Hijikata-san?"

The Vice Commander grunted, and Nagakura laughed, "Remember when Hijikata-san burned the whole pot of miso shiro? To this day, I still don't get it how you did that!"

Hijikata simply ignored the continued teasing that came from the baka trio and turned to Chizuru, "Can you handle getting this much?"

She nodded, "My paycheck comes in tomorrow, actually, so I should be okay!"

"Alright, but let us know if we need to draw a line for today. If you don't have enough for bokken, then we don't need to get them today, either."

"Thank you, Hijikata-san."

So as Chizuru wandered to the dry ingredients section with Heisuke, Harada, and Nagakura tailing behind her, the other four captains explored the kitchenware area of the store. As Okita picked up a small, ceramic rice bowl with cartoon pandas painted on the inside, Saito whispered, "Socho, Fukucho, I would like to ask a question."

"Yes, Saito-san?"

"I may be wrong, but do you think that someone is watching us?"

Hijikata sighed, and Sannan simply pushed his eyeglasses at the bridge. "I was afraid you would notice as well," the Vice Commander answered.

"Are we sure it's not those girls who have been staring at us from across the store?" Okita smirked while shooting a flirtatious glance at the flustered women down the same aisle. More giggles erupted as the small female gathering shied their gazes and reddening cheeks away from the sharp green eyes a few feet away.

"No, I think it is the man standing near the apples. He is facing us, and though his head is down, he has been with the apples ever since we arrived," the Third Division captain noted.

Hijikata continued to browse through plates and teacups while deep in thought. Saito waited patiently for a few minutes, and only when the commanders did not say anything did the captain ask, "What should we do?"

"I think we should continue as is for now, for we would not want to cause a disturbance in this store. Hijikata-san?" Sannan responded.

The Vice Commander nodded, "Saito, stay here and monitor the man. Help me to choose a nice bowl and utensil set for Chizuru-chan so that she can also have full meals along with us. Note the price so that we can pay her back later. Sannan-san, please notify the others. Souji, come with me, we're going to pick some eggs and milk."

"Eh, Hijikata-san," Okita pouted as a joke while watching the Deputy Commander nod and walk away, "why are you giving Saito all the fun? You know that this would be easier if we just talked to him and killed him if he showed any aggression."

"We have no weapons on us, and physical violence is punished in this era," the older man sighed.

"Mah, how inconvenient," Okita drawled as his gaze flicked over to the suspicious man. "I'd love to have my katana with me right now."

"Souji," Hijikata warned.

"Hai hai, Hijikata-san, no need to get riled. I'll be a good boy."

A few aisles down, Sannan approached Chizuru and the other captains. "Sannan-san, you're joining us now?" the young woman asked.

"Yes, if that's alright?"

"Of course! I'm deciding on another kind of tea apart of sencha. Is there one that you would happen to prefer? Or would like to try? Those guys can't decide," she smirked while pointing her thumb at the baka trio who were ogling at the female models plastered over the instant coffee boxes.

Sannan shook his head, and Harada laughed while throwing an arm around Nagakura and yanking his gaze away from the attractive picture, "As we said before, Chizuru, we don't have a preference. Usually it's Hijikata-san that drinks the most tea out of all of us since he works so much."

"Right, Chizuru-chan," Nagakura started while throwing Chizuru a pleading gaze, "can we get some sake?"

"I'm not of age yet though, Nagakura-san," Chizuru replied regretfully, "so I can't purchase any alcohol for you. Sorry…"

"Now worries, Chizuru-chan! We'll live… for now," the Second Division captain teased her while ruffling her hair.

Sannan smiled as he observed the interactions before him. Heisuke turned to him as he noticed the Deputy Commander's eyes flicker to the front of the store. "Sannan-san, is something wrong?"

The older man focused on the younger captain, "Have you noticed anything?"

The Eight Division captain sighed, "I was hoping I was wrong, but it feels like someone is watching us."

"Correct. Saito is currently keeping watch, as is Hijikata-san and Okita-kun. I'm sure I don't need to explain to those two either, but make sure that you watch over Chizuru," he leaned in and murmured in a near whisper.

"Will do, Sannan-san," the younger man replied tersely.

Satisfied with that answer, Sannan left the group and made his way to the fruit aisles. As his eyes met Hijikata's and the Vice Commander gave ever the slightest nod, the Deputy Commander approached the suspicious individual. "Sir?"

Beady eyes met the patient gaze that sat behind spectacles. "Whatddya want?" he replied brusquely in Japanese.

"I can't help but notice that you have been standing with these apples for quite a while. May I help you with anything?"

The short and balding man snorted, "Nothin'. Mind your own business, twerp."

Sannan raised an eyebrow in confusion at the new terminology, but nonetheless continued. "Well, if you'd like I can show you around the aisles to some fruits that are very popular among customers."

"I'm not here for fruits, so get the f*** away from me," the said man glared back at Sannan before dropping the apple back into the container and stalking out of the store.

Once the door closed shut, every captain except for Heisuke, who migrated with Chizuru to the baking section, congregated near the rice. As Hijikata and Okita chose a large 40 lb bag of short-grain hitomebore white rice and heaved it onto the cart that Harada pushed over, the Vice Commander grunted, "Sannan-san, what did you think?"

"He is definitely not a normal customer, to say the least. He also seemed rather offended that I talked to him although I am not sure why," the Deputy Commander smirked. "If anything, he knows Japanese."

"You must have scared him, Sannan-san," Okita grinned so much so his canines showed.

"Oh, I'm scary?"

"Always."

"Well," Nagakura continued, "it means that whoever is following us knows that we are Japanese?"

"Seems so," Harada agreed.

"Of all times to feel empty, it's now, eh?" Okita drawled.

"You're not the only one, Souji. Feels odd not having my baby strapped to me," the blue-eyed captain of the Second Division concurred. "So, what should we do?"

"We should keep on the lookout every time we are not at home. Also, make sure Chizuru doesn't know any of this. There is no need for her to be involved," Hijikata concluded. "What do you think, Sannan-san?"

"Indeed, Hijikata-san," the Deputy Commander concurred.

Right as the conversation ended, Chizuru walked over with a bright smile on her face, "I got everything! I chose sencha, kikucha, hojicha, and gyokuro for us! Also, here is some red miso, white miso, and Sendai miso. Natto, soba, udon, somen, mochi powder, katakuriko, anmitsu, coffee, curry roux…" she continued to list each ingredient that she placed in the leftover crevices of the cart. The men's jaws fell in astonishment at the sheer amount of food they will indulge in during the coming week, but Chizuru did not notice anything and asked, "Also, would you all like to try tonkatsu?"

"Tonkatsu? What's that?" Nagakura asked as Heisuke lugged over a large bag of flour, which he nearly dropped on top of the eggs if it were not for Saito's quick reflexes. Hijikata let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding.

"It's deep-fried breaded pork cutlet, served with a side of cabbage, a little bit of homemade sauce, and rice! It's one of my favorite modern-day Japanese dishes. What do you think?" she explained as her eyes shone in anticipation.

All the captains smiled at her enthusiasm. "Sounds wonderful, Chizuru-chan. We'll look forward to the meal," Harada answered.

"Sweet, then we'll need this," she pulled from behind her a four-pound package of thin-sliced pork chops and gently placed it into the cart.

"THAT MUCH MEAT?!" Nagakura exclaimed, and even Saito's eyes widened even more in surprise.

Chizuru laughed heartily, "Well, I noticed that all of you eat a lot, right? I normally would have said 'eat like pigs' but I didn't want to offend you, or the pig whose meat we will be enjoying, so I'm saying this nicely."

"I would like to eat you then, Chizuru-chan," Okita placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.

"Souji!"

"Okita-kun!"

Exclamations of surprise and disdain filled the air, but Okita simply ruffled the young woman's hair. "Just kidding! Wanted to try saying funny things like Chizuru-chan does. Yare yare, no one understands me."

"That was not proper, Souji," Saito closed his eyes and answered in a level manner.

"Besides," Heisuke grumbled, "Chizuru's embarrassed."

"No, I-I'm not!" she stumbled, surprised at the attention she was given. Her face still had traces of the blush that erupted from just seconds ago, and after a quick inhale she continued, "Anyway, I think we have everything! If not, I can always run by here on my way back from school. Let's go purchase these things."

Harada raised an eyebrow in surprise at Chizuru's seemingly nonchalant attitude as he watched her push the cart forward, and Hijikata leaned in closer. "Sano, what's on your mind?"

"This will get quite interesting, don't you think?" the maroon-haired captain murmured, and the Vice Commander simply nodded.

However, the other captains were so caught up in their own thoughts about Okita's actions that they all flinched in surprise when Chizuru coughed to get their attention. "Are you all done being distracted?" she teased.

"Ah, sorry, Chizuru…" Heisuke rubbed the back of his head.

"No worries," she waved her hand, "just making sure I didn't lose y'all. Should we go to the martial arts academy or bookstore after this?"

[薄桜鬼]

As Chizuru failed to anticipate the amount of groceries they would accumulate from one trip, the group head back to the apartment to store all the ingredients in the right locations. To her surprise, every captain from the Shinsengumi distributed the grocery bags among themselves and gave her none to hold. The chocolate-haired young woman could only follow in silence as she pondered the chivalry that these men had and the culture they grew up in. Nevertheless, she appreciated the help and the kindness they have shown her so far.

After organizing all the newly-acquired ingredients, the group slowly trekked their way back to Little Japan when they came across a flier tacked onto a wooden signboard next to the sidewalk. "Chizuru, what is this? They have swords and look like they're fighting each other. They also have the old hairstyle," Sannan asked while pointing at the Edo-period topknots in the picture, "did they time travel as well?"

"Ah, Sannan-san," the young woman caught up to him and viewed the flier, "that's an advertisement for a samurai movie."

"Samurai movie?" Nagakura piped up.

She nodded before continuing, "We have a form of entertainment called movies, in which actors that portray the story and characters are recorded, and the scenes in which they act can then be viewed on a large screen. That way, they don't have to act the same scenes repeatedly for different audiences, and you can see the entire story as recorded for the rest of history."

"That is truly amazing," Hijikata commented while nodding in approval. "The technology of this time is really unlike anything we knew in our old lives."

"Can we go see one, Chizuru?" Heisuke asked while skipping over to her.

"Of course! We can probably go next weekend once my test is over, how does that sound?"

"Yes!" the youngest captain jumped in glee.

"You're not forgetting us now, are you, Chizuru-chan?" Okita chuckled and smirked while putting an arm around Saito.

Chizuru raised an eyebrow. "Not at all. Why? Are you jealous, Okita-san?" she teased.

"Just checking, because I don't like to be left out," the First Division Captain whispered in her ear before making his way over to the Deputy Commander. His eyes gleamed in mirth as he noticed her cheeks redden once again.

His best friend sighed before turning to the young woman, "Yukimura-san, I apologize for his antics. If it is too bothersome, you don't have to bring us along."

"Nonsense, Saito-san," she shook her head while tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "of course you all can come with me and Heisuke. The more the merrier, and I really hope that you will enjoy your time here. Besides," she glanced at him with a kind gaze, "I like having all of your company."

"Sou desu ka," the indigo-haired captain murmured as he watched her walk off to join the others ahead of him.

"Oh, and Saito-san?"

"Yes?"

"Please call me Chizuru," she smiled cheerfully back at him.

His heart nearly stopped as she turned away and skipped over to the baka trio. How long has it been since we have received such a sincere smile?

Saito did not notice the group leave him behind, for in that lapse of concentration came a newfound appreciation for the unfamiliar world into which he was thrust, the young woman who happened to accept them into her home, and the fortune of being given a second chance at life. He thought he had no regrets in giving his life for the Shogunate, for the Shinsengumi, and for Japan. However, ever since he landed with the others in this society of the future, Saito wondered whether his actions, and that of the Shinsengumi, were the right choices made.

The Third Division Captain was still in a daze when the Vice Commander approached him. "Saito-san, is there something that concerns you?"

He shook his head, "No, Fukucho, but I do wonder if what we did in our past was worth it."

"Oh?" Hijikata murmured in curiosity while falling into pace with his former subordinate.

"If we knew the future would be like this, would we have done the same thing as before? Would we have chosen to stick by the life we knew if we had the knowledge that today's world is so much more safe and secure for the common people?" he murmured in his deep, velvet-like voice.

The older man hummed, his face contemplative as he considered all of Saito's words. A short period of comfortable silence enveloped the two friends as they continued to stroll behind the group. The Vice Commander then raised his eyes to meet those of the indigo-haired man. "Saito…" Hijikata started.

"I apologize, Fukucho," the Third Divison Captain interrupted, his eyebrows furrowed in thinly-concealed anguish, "please forgive my rudeness and insolence. My words, please do not keep them in your heart."

"I know," the violet-eyed man replied, his gaze sympathetic, "I know where your heart and soul lie, and I truly value the loyalty and trust you have placed in me. However," Saito peered into Hijikata's eyes as he continued, "I understand what you are thinking. Since we came here, I sometimes found myself wondering the same thing. If I knew what the world is like now, what Japan is like now, would I have continued down the same path? To be honest, I am not sure."

Hijikata then paused as he watched Heisuke jump on Nagakura's back, and he chuckled, "All I am hoping for at this point is that we, the true last of the Shinsengumi, can learn from this world and all it has to offer. If we survive this and manage to return, then we will have a world of knowledge that no one else will have the luxury of obtaining, and the Shinsengumi can be even greater than before."

Saito absorbed every word and nodded, "Hai, Fukucho."

"You'll stay with us like before, Saito?"

"Always."

Just then, a loud yell erupted ahead of them. "SHINPAT-SAN! YOU ANIMAL HEAD!"

"Animal head?! You're running out of ideas, Heisuke!"

"Chizuru-chan?! Please help me, please, please, PLEASE?!" the teal-eyed captain continued to whimper.

Saito sighed as he viewed the sight before him. Nagakura and Okita were lying on the grass while laughing their hearts away, Harada leaned his arm and head on the nearest tree while containing his mirth, and Sannan shook his head while holding back a smile. Heisuke on the other hand, was close to tears as a squirrel that Nagakura apparently dropped onto his head adjusted itself into a comfortable position and munched on a large acorn. Lastly, Chizuru tried but failed to pick the squirrel off the young man.

"Shit," Hijikata's eyebrows twitched in annoyance. "Nagakura, get the squirrel off Heisuke. Heisuke, we don't have time for games."

"Hijikata-san?! I WASN'T PLAYI-"

"ENOUGH! Even though we're in a completely different time, I still get a headache from you guys…" the Vice Commander muttered as he stalked away from the group.

"Ooh, Hijikata-san's angry. Good job," Okita smirked.

"Damare! Souji, get over here so we can look at the bokken!" Hijikata yelled as the group approached the martial arts store.

"Mah, mah, Hijikata-san, you're scaring the locals," the First Division captain teased as he skipped over to the older commander and winked at the curious bystanders.

Chizuru, with her mouth agape in surprise and her eyes widened in confusion, watched the entire scene unfold. Harada laughed as he approached the young woman, "Are you okay, Chizuru-chan?"

"Ah, yes, Sano," she nodded. "Are they always like this?"

"I'd say so," the maroon-haired captain chuckled, "the antics never end among those guys."

"It must be fun for one but frustrating for the other, isn't it?"

"Ah, Heisuke and Hijikata-san may seem annoyed, but I'm sure it would feel odd for both if Shinpachi and Souji didn't act as they usually do."

"I see," Chizuru murmured as she observed Nagakura swing an arm around Heisuke and ruffle the shorter man's hair while he laughed and playfully punched his older friend in the shoulder. Her eyes watered as she took in the scene before her, but she blinked them away before anyone else could notice and proceeded ahead with a brisk stride.

I wish to see their smiles last for all of eternity.

bonsai: "Tray planting" in Japanese, bonsai is a Japanese art form that places small trees in containers and are designed to mimic the shape and scale of full size trees. This tradition has existed for over a thousand years, and aims to elicit contemplation from the viewer and appreciation for the effort and ingenuity of the grower. Furthermore, the practice of bonsai focuses on long-term cultivation and shaping of the tree or trees growing in the container. Therefore, bonsai are not used for food or medicinal purposes.

The Japanese practice of bonsai originated from the Chinese art of penjing during the 6th century, when embassy personnel and Buddhist students from Japan visited mainland China and returned with many Chinese ideas and art forms, including container plants. Over time, these plants appeared in medieval Japanese paintings and writings, and have become a major part of Japanese Buddhism. Prior to 1800, the art of bonsai was an esoteric practice of a few specialists despite interest from the public, but had expanded to become a widely popular art form and hobby by the 19th century. Following World War II, the tradition had spread to Western audiences, and international conventions for bonsai are held every year to host the increasing numbers and quality of bonsai specimens.

sakana: Currently the Japanese word for "fish," this term also refers to food eaten as an accompaniment to alcohol due to the word's origins from saka (sake) and na (food). This term can also refer to snacks, especially dried fish and salted fish roe. In the context of this conversation, Heisuke is referring to fish.

nagaimo: Also known as "Chinese yam" outside of Japan, nagaimo (or Dioscorea polystachya) is a flowering plant of the yam family that is native to China. Nowadays, it grows throughout East Asia due to its introduction to Japan prior to the 17th century. The tubers of nagaimo are unique as they can be eaten raw, while other yams must be cooked prior to consumption due to harmful substances that are present in the raw state. In Japanese cuisine, nagaimo is often consumed raw and grated. This form results in a starchy, mucilaginous texture that can be eaten plan as a side dish or added to noodles. Nagaimo is also used as a binding agent in the batter of okonomiyaki, and is used in the Japanese noodle dish tororo udon/soba.

daikon: "Big root" in Japanese, it is originally native to Southeast or continental East Asia. There are various forms of this root vegetable, with the Chinese and Indian varieties tolerating higher temperatures than the Japanese kind. Daikon is commonly cultivated and consumed due to its ability to grow in winter, to absorb nutrients deep in the soil, and to be stored for weeks if kept in a cool, dry place. In Japanese cuisine, daikon is commonly used in pickling, in sauces such as ponzu sauce, and in simmered dishes such as oden.

shiso: Also known scientifically as Perilla frutescens var. crispa, this plant belongs to the mint family and is a perennial plant that can be cultivated annually when in temperate climates. There are two forms: red (purple-leaved) and green. The red leaves are used in coloring umeboshi (or Japanese pickled plum), for the shiso leaf turns bright red when it reacts to the vinegar brine that wells from the plums as they pickle. The green leaves are commonly used as an herb in cold dishes such as somen, cold tofu, and sashimi.

mitsuba: Japanese wild parsley. It has a clean and refreshing flavor with a slightly bitter taste that is reminiscent of celery. The sprouts are often used in Japanese cuisine in salads and soups, or atop entrees or sushi.

natto: A traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis var. natto. It is usually served with soy sauce, karashi mustard, and bunching onion, and can be an acquired taste due to the powerful smell, strong flavor, and slimy texture. In Japan, natto is commonly consumed with rice or as a breakfast food, and has been around since ancient times. Natto is considered to be a healthy food ingredient due to its containing high levels of vitamin K, vitamin C, manganese, iron, dietary fiber, and protein.

saba: "Mackerel" in Japanese.

miso shiro: "Miso soup" in Japanese.

katana: Swords used by the samurai in ancient and feudal Japan. It is distinctive from other swords due to its curved, single-edge blade with a guard and long grip built to accommodate two-hand wielding.

The word katana was first used to describe a long sword that differed from the even longer tachi during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), and was first developed due to the Mongol invasions of Japan. Because the tachi were thinner, they were unable to cut through the boiled leather often used in Mongol armor, and would easily break off or chip after usage. During the Muromachi Period (1337-1573), the evolution of the katana continued, and samurai begin to wear the swords with the cutting edge facing up. As Japanese warfare continually focused on close-combat, the katana rose in popularity due to its quicker draw and decrease in response time. To facilitate its advantages, samurai also began to wear the katana thrust through a belt-like sash (obi), which allowed them to draw the sword and strike in a single motion. This differed heavily from tachi, which were worn with the cutting edge facing down and suspended from a belt.

sencha: The most popular type of green tea in Japan, it is produced throughout the tea season and represents about 80% of all tea grown in Japan.

hitomebore: A kind of Japanese white rice that is known to be chewy and fluffy, and a close second in popularity to koshihikari rice.

kukicha: A blended tea made of sencha leaves and stems. It is mildly nutty and creamy in flavor as it is made from parts of the tea plant that are excluded in most other teas, and it is also very low in caffeine.

hojicha: A type of Japanese green tea made by roasting sencha or bancha leaves with kukicha twigs over charcoal. The infusions have a light- to reddish-brown appearance, and the roasting replaces the vegetative flavors of other Japanese green teas, resulting in a toasty and slightly caramel-like flavor. Roasting also lowers the caffeine concentrations in the tea, which makes hojicha a popular tea to serve in the evening or after dinner.

gyokuro: Grown under the shade for three weeks before plucking, it is one of the most exclusive types of Japanese tea. This process results in a sweeter flavor and a richer color due to the higher amounts of chlorophyll in the tea leaves. Gyokuro is most commonly grown in the Uji region of Japan (the first tea-growing region of Japan).

somen: Very thin noodles made of wheat flour, and are usually served cold. The noodles are stretched when made, and the dough is stretched with the help of vegetable oil.

katakuriko: "Potato starch" in Japanese, it is made from the roots of the dog-tooth violet, but can also be made from potatoes. It is used as a thickener when dissolved in water, and often added to soups and sauces as well as meat and fish before deep-frying.

anmitsu: A Japanese dessert that has been popular for many decades, it is made from agar jelly and served with sweet azuki bean paste and other fruits and cherries.

tonkatsu: Also known as "deep-fried pork cutlet," it is a popular Japanese dish that originated in the 19th century. It was originally made of beef, but the pork version was invented in Tokyo in 1899. Tonkatsu was originally considered part of yoshoku cuisine, which refers to Japanese versions of European cuisine, but is now considered an important part of modern Japanese cuisine.

Sou desu ka: "I see."

Damare: "Shut up."