Epilogue
Okita sat outside on the porch, enjoying the breeze. Things were almost back to normal. His men had welcomed him back after the hell his temporary replacement gave them. San-nan and Hotaru-san had recovered and are going about their business. Hajime had changed definitely over Tokio. Yesterday, he had bought himself a blue yutaka... No more black for him.
"Susumu, she won't take it back, will she?" He asked as Susumu stepped out onto the veranda. "No. That sword holds too many painful memories for Kitsune-sensei. She'll never take it back once she's given it away."
"It saved my life and Tetsu's...maybe more..." Okita touched the rough sheath. He had never noticed how beautiful its simple design was. "I should go back and thank her personally..."
"Don't. She'll never welcome you. Kitsune-sensei hates Hijitaka-san and the Miburou, well, mostly Hijitaka..." Whatever quarrels there are between Hijitaka and Kitsune, Yamazaki was not privy to them.
"What about Suzu?" Okita asked. Poor kid...
Susumu looked up at the clouds and shrugged. "That white-haired boy? Kitsune-sensei said he left soon after we did and she hasn't seen him since. Now, what's with Saitou? I just saw him with a new hairdo..."
Okita grinned. Poor Saitou's trapped and he doesn't even know it.
The old ramee-seller greeted the samurai politely. The youth had fine, almost delicate features. The swords he carried bore the Takagi crest on their sheaths. He asked about the Third captain Saitou Hajime who came often to eat his ramee. The captain had recently lost his taste for soba.
The ramee-seller wondered idly if he was an outraged kinsman out to avenge Satiou's repeated rejection of Takagi Tokio. If so, Saitou's in deep trouble. The youth seems a dangerous opponent. He prayed they will duel elsewhere. Sitting down and ordering a bowl, Tokio hid a smile as Saitou sat down next to her...
Author's notes:
I've changed Saitou's dietary preference. He's a bit like the RK Saitou now. I like the part in the manga (RK) where he arranges to meet his informant at a ramee stall but didn't tell the guy which of the dozens of stalls it is.
Poor Saitou is being stalked by his cross-dressing fiancée. Oh my... (To be continued? Maybe I'd follow this up with a romance...)
Anyhow, thanks for reading & reviewing my fanfic. A big Thank You indeed. Cheerio!