Happy (belated) New Year!


Chapter Twenty-Two: Festival Fun


Before broaching the subject with the kids, I decided to accept Hanzo's offer, and go to the harvest festival, taking Sora and Tsukiko along to give Chiyome a bit of a break seeing as Nobu had been aiming to go to the adult's celebration which going by her expression when he left, would involve some of his homebrew.

Saburo had initially elected to remain behind, but due to the fact that his grandmother strong-armed him into taking his siblings and the rest of the village's children, his quest to find the alcohol stores was once again put off. So instead of spending his evening incoherent, he was forced make his way to where we were loading children into the back of the wagon, his younger brothers under his arms, and his little sister jogging behind him, one thumb in her mouth. "They tried to run for it," he said by way of explanation.

Accepting this with a grin, Hanzo relieved him of Kiyoshi, placing him in the back between the twins. Daichi, the eldest of the siblings was allowed to sit up top with Mizu and Michi, while Hotaru was happy enough sitting on Asuka's lap. Ignoring her brother in favour of Kotone and Mariko, Tsukiko was being equally snubbed by Sora, who was plotting an adventure with Shiro and Shota, blissfully unaware of our discussion at the very back of the wagon.

"Twelve kids, six grownups." Hanzo counted, "That makes about two each?" Shrugging as she pulled up the guard in anticipation of any dodgy driving, Chihiro pointed at herself, and then at Itsuki and Ranmaru.

"You sure?" I asked, receiving a steadfast nod in return, "Okay, if they give you grief, just let me know."

"Bump coming up!" Mizu called, making every passenger hold onto something. The left side of the wagon bounced up, Hanzo and Asuka flying into us. With quicker reflexes than I would've attributed to him, Saburo caught Asuka's shoulder with one hand, the other carefully stroking Hotaru's hair to keep her frightened whimpers to a minimum.

However, I was a little too preoccupied to congratulate him, what with Hanzo's face an inch from my own, with his hands either side of my legs to steady him. Apologising hurriedly, he was pushed back into his seat thanks to the next corner, the action doing nothing to cool his face. Quirking her head to the side, Chihiro raised an eyebrow, smirking when I scowled at her.

"Mizu, you crazy ass!"

"Can't hear you, the horses are too loud!" The kids giggled at this exchange, too busy indulging in the sound of words forbidden to them to notice the discomfort of their chaperones. Ranmaru did glance at me, but his suspicions were quickly removed by something Itsuki said, laughter coming out instead. A year ago, he would've said something, out of loyalty to Oda or just to embarrass me. Things really were changing.


Despite her best efforts to the contrary, Mizu eventually got us all into town alive, coming around to lift the pin keeping the guard in place. Passing Hotaru to Chihiro, Asuka began passing children down, relying on Hanzo and Saburo's ability to keep them from running off to investigate the first stand they saw.

"Alright, now, there's going to be one adult to a pair of you guys, got it?" They explained, much to the dismay of their crowd. After a brief argument that had Mizu threatening to take us all home again, it was eventually decided that she'd stick with Chihiro's group and the twins, while Hanzo and Saburo shared the duty of the boys apart from Michi, who eagerly took Asuka's hand along with Mariko.

Shifting Hotaru to me, Chihiro nudged Kotone towards us, ruffling her hair slightly. "Everyone meet back here after the fireworks display, got it?" Mizu ordered, getting several nods in return. "Alright, see you then."

Bouncing Hotaru back onto my hip, I looked at both girls, "Well, where do you guys want to go?"

"Monkey man!" Hotaru laughed, briefly releasing her thumb to clap her hands together.

Her suggestion was approved by Kotone, who nodded and pointed down the main street, "He was there last time."

"We'd better find him then." I smiled, taking her hand in my spare one, and beginning to navigate the crowds. The atmosphere was absolutely enchanting, even to a girl who within a few days would have to begin claiming that such things were for children. Then again, seeing as nobody but Ranmaru knew when my birthday was, and it was all too easy to imagine him forgetting, maybe I could hold onto the feeling for a little longer.

Kotone suddenly gave a cheer, releasing my hand to chase after something that she had seen. "Hey, get back here!" Wriggling determinedly, Hotaru had soon followed her example, her stumpy legs making it far easier to chase after her.

Ignoring the people giving small yelps, throwing my apologies over my shoulder, I finally caught her shoulder, pulling her back in time for Kotone to laugh excitedly. Bending slightly to catch my breath, I didn't register the small girl demanding another trick of the performer, who put it off long enough to rest a hand on my shoulder, "Okay there?"

Nodding, I managed to stand straight again, fixing my little escapees with a stern glare. They had the good grace to look guilty, their eyes dropping to stare at their feet. The effect however was somewhat dulled by the small brown creature on the ground there, "Monkey! Monkey!" Hotaru giggled, tugging on Kotone's yukata as though she hadn't noticed.

Laughing good naturedly at their excitement, the performer picked up his little friend, propping him on his shoulder. It was then I noticed the actual design of his clothes. Over a red one sleeved shirt and brown jacket, he wore some kind of yellow long coat with white fur trimming certain areas. And his hair was tied in a very high tail, far longer than mine, in a lighter shade. "That's right, this is Yumekichi, my travelling companion."

"He's so cute!" Kotone cooed, stretching her arm upwards to try and stroke him. Kneeling down to their level, the performer guided their hands slightly, receiving their giggles in return. As he told them the story of how he and Yumekichi had met, the small little monkey clambering down to sit on Hotaru's shoulder while he did so, my eyes fell on the weapon propped against the wall behind the performer, a large nodachi that could easily be mistaken as a spear due to its size.

Just as my suspicions were growing, Maeda Keiji stood up straight, announcing his name with all the showmanship afforded to him, bowing when the girls pounded their hands together. Hiding my own grin behind my hand, I was unprepared for Keiji to turn, flashing a smile that must've aided him a lot on his travels. "Alright little ladies, me and Yumekichi have to get going, or we'll never get where we need to go."

"Where's that?" Hotaru asked, waving goodbye to Yumekichi, who pleasantly returned the gesture.

Looking left and right as though fearful we could be overheard, Keiji knelt down again, whispering loudly, "The One Eyed Dragon."

Too young to properly understand, Hotaru thought he was speaking about a real dragon, her eyes gazing up at this apparent hero. Kotone opened her mouth to set her straight, but stopped at the finger I had on my lips, my wink promising her a reward for keeping quiet.

Scooping the toddler up, I bounced her on my hip, bowing my head to Keiji, "Good luck on your travels." The girls giggled something similar, gaining a little chirp out of Yumekichi. As we waved goodbye to him, watching him meld into the crowds with laughter, Kotone suddenly tugged on my yukata, pointing excitedly at the dango stall.

Without waiting for my approval, she immediately raced forwards, and was picking her flavours just as I arrived.


Too entranced by the sword tricks the ronin is performing, the boys' ears are closed to the conversation behind them, Saburo blowing out another breath. I catch it, sending a miffed look to my friend. "I don't like it; it doesn't sit right with me."

" Barely anything does half the time. Face it, they're part of the village now."

"I know, I just," Saburo hesitates, unsure of how to put his sentence, "Oda's the reason we're in that village in the first place."

The ronin picks a volunteer from the audience, Daichi running forwards fast enough to trip onto his face. Smirking a bit, I applaud politely, "Hanzo, I'm serious."

My hands freeze against the will of my mind, hovering in their clasped position, "You don't have to remind me what Oda did to the villages. But neither of them are Oda."

S ighing, Saburo shrugs, flashing a thumb's up to Sora when he looks round, snapping back to business the second his attention returns to the sword. "What stopped you?" At my look of confusion, he elaborates, "The three of you were sent to kill Oda. What changed?"

"Nobu got drunk." Saburo snorts, the answer entertaining, but not unexpected. "I had to stop watching and step in. Then, Sayomi came into the mews." My mind is lost for a second, mentally comparing the girl trying to act like a noblewoman to the girl who mucked about with Ranmaru.

S aburo understands immediately, "What did you see?" "

Remember when Asuka impersonated Chiyome for a whole week, trying to look mature? And then you went and picked a fight with her?" I try to keep my smirk away, "Admit it, you preferred her like that." "

Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have landed myself a broken nose over it, would I?" When the display ends, and Saburo goes to collect Daichi, prying the pretend sword out of his hands, I expertly wrangle the other boys, their discussion forgotten for now.

H anzo Kobayashi, aged 17


The fireworks display lasted for around an hour, with Hotaru dozing off, only to snap awake again with a fearful wail. Ignoring her in favour of the large plate of sweets I'd bought for services rendered, Kotone's eyes lit up with every bang, her steady gaze never leaving the sky despite the intervals between each firework.

Eventually though, the pretty display came to an end, Hotaru sniffling again. Shrugging off my haori, I wrapped it round her, reaching for Kotone's hand, "We'd better go meet up with the others."

"Okay." Comically, the sweets began entering her mouth at a faster pace. Catching my amused glance, she gave a shrug, "The boys will just steal them."

"Save some all the same, it's a long trip back." Pouting slightly, Kotone did as she was told, saving her stomach from emptying on the way back, possibly more if Mizu was going to be driving again. However, our luck held, because it was Hanzo clambering up to the box with Chihiro, both of them missing their jackets. A quick glance in the back showed that theirs had been commandeered similarly to mine, wrapped around sleeping forms.

Gratefully taking his sister from me, Saburo's eyes flashed something, and when I looked at him properly, a hint of doubt evaporated, replaced by a trace of trust. Placing the pin in place as Hanzo gently urged us forwards, Itsuki collapsed against me a second later, not asleep, but definitely not up to moving just yet. Across from me, Mizu was in a similar position with Ranmaru, her fingers absently stroking his hair with increasing effect as his breathing grew heavier.

Casting a glance at the others at the top of the wagon, Kotone passing out her sweets after all, I raised an eyebrow at her. The second she caught it, her hand whipped away, clearly embarrassed to be caught dabbling in such sentimentality. "I won't tell," I whispered.

"Better not, samurai." Smiling absently, I settled back, allowing the journey to go by with only the noise of the horses and the conversation of what had happened at the festival. But Mizu's eyes bore into me, indicating that now was the time. "Itsuki, how would you like to stay in my house for a few months?"


"Roll up, roll up, collect your children here!" Saburo half whispered, gaining a small amount of laughter from the crowd of parents waiting for Mizu to release us all. At the very front were Chiyome and Nobu, the latter looking slightly wobbly, but the second Tsukiko was in his grip, he was more sober than the night guard on campaign. Actually that probably wasn't my best comparison.

Various other families collected their children; Asuka accompanying Saburo and his grandma home, while Chihiro took Kotone and Michi, Mizu herding the rest of them to various people until only Shiro was left, demanding to be carried home. Which just left me and Hanzo to deal with Ranmaru and Itsuki. Without me asking, he wrapped his arms around Itsuki, lifting her from her seat and beginning the slow walk back to the house. Catching up to him with a snoring Ranmaru on my back, I gently nudged what I could reach, "Thank you for tonight."

"Don't mention it."

Rolling my eyes at the response, I tapped him again, "I mean it Hanzo, I had fun."

Smiling a little, he shouldered my front door open, depositing Itsuki on the step while he slipped her sandals off while I performed the same action with Ranmaru. A hot blush came across my face when I recalled a similar scene, the actors of which had been embroiled in far happier times. Shaking my head to clear away the thoughts (I could not deal with nightmares, not this late in the game,) I was surprised to see Hanzo looking at me in concern, "Okay?" He whispered, scooping his bundle up at my nod.

A few short moments later, and they were both settled in the big room, left in their festival wear for now. I'd just have to make sure they washed extra hard tomorrow. Smiling as he closed the door on them, Hanzo sat down on the step, getting his footwear back on, "I'll get Saburo to bring your coat back tomorrow." He promised, looking over his shoulder. Following him to the front door, I was suddenly wrapped in one of Hanzo's arms, released just as fast, "Goodnight Sayomi."

"Goodnight Hanzo." Sliding the door closed behind him, I gave a small sigh of contentment, leaning my head against the frame. Then I yawned widely, setting my mind in the direction of my bed.