Disclaimer: The usual. Don't sue please. Enjoy the fanfic.
Chapter 11: Winter Snow
"Have a little, it'd warm the blood." Suzu regarded the sake with suspicion. The last time he had heard someone say that, he had woken up after his drink to find he had been sold to a brothel. After Ikeda-ya, he had sought shelter with someone whom he thought was a friend of his sensei, only to be duped into slavery. He had lost his swords, including the one he got from his late brother.
It took a while for him to escape. The chance arose when a customer got careless with his sword. Suzu grabbed it. That was the first time he had killed. He fought his way out into the streets. He probably would have died there if that weirdo Sakamoto hadn't come running in the opposite direction with the entire Second Patrol after him.
Somehow, the weirdo recognized him as Yoshida's page. Suzu had escaped certain death with Sakamoto's help. The guy's idea of escape somehow involved running into every other sword-wielding patrol unit in Kyoto. If he hadn't already had white hair, he was certain he would have after his escape.
It was with great relief that they made it to Katsura's hideout relatively intact. Sakamoto bullied the man into taking Suzu in. Katsura had to vacate his hideout really quick after Sakamoto's surprise visit. Gunshots do irritate neighbors, as much as loud-mouthed samurai. That was how Suzu wound up at Himura's. Poor Katsura had gone further up into a mountain monastery to restore some inner peace in his life.
"Suzu?" Kenshin's voice brought him back to the present. Suzu declined. They were sitting in the frosty yard. Kenshin's plan had failed so far. After Kenshin's home-cooked meal, Tomoe and Saya had started up a little girls' talk. The boys can hear their girlish giggles from inside.
Kenshin himself was starting to have doubts. It's alright if Tomoe and he were alone. But having Suzu and Saya about is proving to be complicated. How can a woman be uninhibited if she knows her kid sister's in the next room? In frustration, he had sought out Suzu for a drink in the yard. Too bad Suzu doesn't appreciate sake.
"Sake helps one better appreciate nature's beauty.
In spring the cherry blossom,
Summer the starry sky,
Autumn the falling leaves,
Winter the flying snow."
"What's that?"
"Something my sensei used to say," Kenshin grinned as he emptied his cup. "Of course, I believe he drinks to forget what a lousy potter he is." He thought fondly of Hiko at his kiln. Hiko had chosen to live as a hermit.
"So where's he now?" Suzu tucked his knees up to his chin. It was getting cold.
"Holed up in his mountain shack, drinking his sake and cursing his baka desa for running off to fight a revolution. We had our differences, fought and I left before he could throw me out," Kenshin smiled with tenderness. He loved his sensei even if they rarely saw eye-to-eye. "I pray he remembers to cover himself at night and not pass out drunk while admiring the snow. His temper's terrible when he's sick."
"Kenshin, do you want to come in? It's getting cold." Kenshin stood up at the sound of Tomoe's voice. With a smile, he took the sake jar and entered the house. Suzu followed.
"Saya?" Saya grabbed his sleeve and pulled him hurriedly into the back room. Then he caught a twinkle in her eye. Of course! Tomoe's making her move on Kenshin as much as Kenshin's making his...
Suzu spent the next hour or so playing beanbags with Saya and trying hard not to be bothered by the passionate sounds coming behind the door.
Saya is relieved that Tomoe had finally decided to profess her love for her special someone. Too bad all Saya had given Tetsu was a kiss. But Tomoe had seemed troubled after her brother visited. Was it something back home?
Saya had made the beanbags herself with Tomoe's help. The last time she played this game was with Tetsu. She looked up and was disappointed to see Suzu instead. The three of them had played cards once until Suzu's scary master came. Tetsu was scared so badly, his brother had to carry him home.
"Saya, I'm tired," Suzu crawled over to his side of the room. Girls! He yanked the blankets up over his head and wondered if Saya realized she was crying.
A fire broke out in the district of Shimabara in Kyoto. Its source was believed to be a lit lamp knocked over by a stray cat in the kitchens. The fire spread quickly through the building, trapping workers and guests alike.
When it was finally out, two very frantic members of the Shinsengumi waited in the crowd of onlookers. One was the second-in-command, Yamanami Keisuke, the other Toudou Heisuke.
Hana's body was recovered from the rubble untouched by flames. She had been choked to death by the smoke. They found no sign of Akesato's remains. Yamanami will later receive the scarf he had given her in a package sent out before the fire started. Akesato has vanished. No one knew if she was even in the building when the fire started.
Passing by, Saitou chanted prayers for the dead. He gave thanks his marriage is turning out fine so far. His wife Tokio is both gentle and understanding, even if she is a bit plain to look at. His friends all seem to be ill-fated in love. He hoped Heisuke and San-nan wouldn't bother him too much later. He wondered if he had made a mistake with Tetsu.
Author's notes:
Ryouma has made his entrance and will continue to intrude in later chapters. I don't know if Kenshin's immediate boss is Kastura, but let's suppose it is. Akesato has disappeared. Saitou is still very PMK.