It was another typical day at the Shisengumi headquarters. Early in the afternoon, just as all the members had finish training in the hall and were taking a rest in various locations, a loud shout pierced the peaceful atmosphere.
"TATSU-NII!! YOU PROMISED!!" The shout came from no other than the infamous redhead page of the demon vice-commandor. Tetsunosuke stood at the entrance of his brother's room, where he was hunching over the pile of books on his desk. Fist clenched and an expression of childish anger was written on his face.
"TATSU-NIIII!!!" the shout, as loud as it was, had a hint of whine to it too. "YOU PROMISED!!" He shouted again.
Almost jumping at first at the sound of his yell, even though he should have been used to it now, after two years, Tatsunosuke gave a weary sigh and turned reluctantly.
"What is it now??"
"You promised that we would go to town to buy candies yesterday!! And tomorrow is today!!" he stopped shouting, after succeeding in getting his elder brother's attention.
Tatsunosuke sighed again, softer this time. Now he remembered. In order to keep him quiet after he was scolded by Hijikata-san, again, he had made a half-hearted promise to take him to the candy shop at town to buy his favourite Kyoto candies. He didn't think that Tetsu would remember it and pester him now.
"Gomen, Tetsu, but I have a lot of work to do today. Maybe another day?" he said, and prepared for the bombshells that were going to be hurled at him.
"NANI!! THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY EVERYDAY!!" Tetsu resumed to shouting again. He put his hand over his eyes wearily. He was going to have a head of white hair earlier than Okita-san.
"Okita-san!!" Just then, Tetsu, distracted and bounded out of the room. Judging by the noise outside, Okita-san had saved the day again, but not his hair though.
"WOAH!! OKITA-SAN!!" he listened as his younger brother exclaimed, and he could imagined the two eyes going big at the amount of candies in his cupped hands.
"Arigatou, Okita-san." He and his younger brother said stimulately, he with a lower octave and Tetsu a higher one.
The young Okita Souji, still in his patrolling uniform, smiled cheerfully and put a finger to his lips. Tetsu closed his hands and looked around, before running to his room. Okita laughed.
"Arigatou, Okita-san. You saved the day again." Even as weary as he was, he managed a weak smile.
The young man waved his hands. "Maah maah, it's nothing. I like Kyoto candies too." He took out a small parcel and opened it, taking a small brightly colored candy from it. He offered the parcel to Tatsu, which he took one too. He thought that the candy was a bit too sweet.
"Ja, I have to change out of this. Excuse me." He said and left. He could now return to his work peacefully.
…
I stood at the entrance of the Shisengumi headquarters, and told the reason of my visit to the two guards outside.
It was in the afternoon, and the compound looked deserted. I forgot to asked the guards where the kitchen was, so I wandered around, hoping to find someone whom I could ask. The sun kept all the members inside, I noted.
As I walked around, I came into a yard, with a well at the far end. Rooms were on my right side, and my left was a sort of mini barn, after that only walls. I looked at the closed rooms; not much sound came from it.
I went to the mini barn; it turned out to be a pig stay. A small one, at that, with the pigs huddled in the end where there was a lot of shadow. A few was basking under the sun, and as I squatted down to inspect, one particular pig stared up at me with suspicious eyes. I cocked my head slightly; it continue to stare at me. Really…it's just a pig. Probably going to be slaughtered tomorrow or in a week. It looked fat and well fed though; maybe it'll be eaten tomorrow.
Suddenly the pig jumped; no, leapt, at me. In reflex, I dodged sideways-- and knocked into a pair of legs. My eyes widened; somebody was here?? Why didn't I sense any presence?? Because of the sudden pair of legs behind me that I did not expect, I lost my balance and toppled backwards, my hands flinging out in attempt to catch anything for support.
Firm hands caught me behind; at once I regained my footing gracefully. Too gracefully. After all, I was wearing a kimono and in the Shisengumi compound. Ladies with proper manners would have fallen ungracefully; shrieking as they fell.
"You dodged that one pretty well, Miss." A light voice said.
The hands released me and I backed away; turning around, I bowed and apologized, being as humble as I could.
With my head bowed, I saw the hands, surprisingly young and fair, arranged his white clothing before mentioning me to stop. I rose; and stared into the eyes identical to Kichisaburo's, except that in this one there was a hint of youth in them that could not be found in Kichisaburo's. Long, blue hair, untied, flowed behind his back.
First Company Captain—Okita Souji.
Murderer.
A happy smile spread on his lips.
"Is it so surprising to see me?" he asked, smiling. I blinked and shook my head briefly, willing all the thoughts to go away.
"Hai. A little."
"Well, this is the Shisengumi headquarters." He laughed. I stared at him, not quite believing that this was the legendary Okita Souji, laughing so cheerfully. How could he laugh so happily when he had killed almost half of our men? It didn't quite fit, as much as rumours went.
"By the way, who are you?" he stopped laughing and regarded me curiously.
"Hajimemashite, I'm Itoe Akiko. I'm here to fill in for the temporary cook you advertised."
"Temporary cook? Aah! The kitchen is that way," he pointed to somewhere behind me, which I turned around to see. "But you will have to see the vice-commander first."
"Where is the vice commandor, then?"
"I'll show you. By the way," he gestured at the pig who leapt at me, now outside the stay. "This is Saizou."
At his name being called, Saizou leapt again and this time, was caught easily by him, and he cuddled it in chest.
"Anou…is that your pig?" I said as I followed him. People don't usually don't keep pigs; they either keep birds or something.
"Hai." He answered immediately.
I looked around as we walked. It was a good time for me to collect my thoughts. I shouldn't have been surprised; this is Okita Souji, after all, and it was almost an easy task for him to crept up behind people. Unlike me, it was a disgrace.
"Hijikata-san!" he called in his sing song voice, out to a open room, and I caught the smell of tobacco.
"Hijikata-san! There's somebody here to see you!!"
"Who is it?" a gruff voice said.
At the question, I stepped forward into full view of the room and bowed, not before seeing the famous vice-commandor of the Shisengumi, Hijikata Toshizu. Nicknamed: The demon commandor. A pipe stuck out at the end of his mouth, he was hunched over a low desk.
"Hajimemashite, watashi wa Itoe Akiko des. I'm here to fill in for the temporary cook you advertised."
I felt his eyes on me as he considered his decision.
"Itoe-san, you will be working here for only temporarily until our cook comes back." After a long silence, he finally announced.
I bowed lower. "Yoru negaishimas."
He replied with a snort, and returned to his work. I turned to Okita-san, and he smiled at me.
"I'll show you around."
…
"Shinpachi, Sano, look!" A excited Heisuke beckoned to the other two members of the Comedian Trio. They came creeping over, backs hunched down like thieves. Together, with Heisuke first, then Shinpachi and finally Sano, they peeped out from the wall.
"Woah, that's a kick ass beauty!!" Sano exclaimed, loud but not loud enough for the two people beyond to hear.
"Who is she??" It was Shinpachi, and he was grinning.
"Souji's secret mistress?" Heisuke joined in.
"If he ditches her, I'm going for it." Sano drooled.
Kei sensed three presences on her right. She turned and the Comedian Trio ducked behind the wall. Okita appeared not to have notice it, or if he had, he didn't show it.
"This is the kitchen." He announced, opening a wooden door. She entered it and surveyed around. "All your tools are here, you just have to find them." He giggled. She found herself looking at him once more. It didn't fit. It didn't fit at all.
They went out and Okita spotted a man walking down the corridor.
"Saitou-san!"
The man, his hair tied up in a ponytail like all members, stopped and came over a while later. Hajime Saitou, Third Company Captain. She bowed and introduced herself.
When she looked up, she found eyes that resembled dead fish eyes boring into her. He looked so dull, like he was going to fall asleep any moment. His gaze was both penetrating and dull.
"It's nice meeting you, Inoue-san. I hope you know how to cook plain hot soba." He said slowly, before turning to Okita. "I must excuse myself first, Okita-dono. Have a good day." He said dully, and wandered off.
"Okita-san!" a voice rang out clearly.
Both of us turned to see a red headed boy waving as he ran towards us, a jubilant smile on his face.
Did Shisengumi hired brats? He looked so young, about 12 years old. Or was it some relatives of the members here?
"The candies were very good, Okita-san." He beamed, and looked questioningly at me.
"I'm glad you like it. This is Inoue Akiko, who will be our temporary cook for the time being. Inoue-san, this is Ichimura Tetsunosuke, Hijikata's beloved page." I bowed politely.
The boy's eyes faltered a bit, as if he was recalling something.
"…Neh, Okita-san, Ayumi-nee-san has been gone for almost a week. Shinpachi-san's cooking is not bad, but I really preferred Ayumi-nee-san's." Tetsu said, and it was more directed to Okita than me. After he said that, he lowered his head.
"Neh, Inoue-san…are you a good cook?"
"…I'd like to think myself as so."
"…then I will be looking forward to your cooking tonight. I'll see if it can compare to Ayumi-nee-san's." he raised his head, a serious look in his eyes.
Is that a challenge?? I silently mused.
"Tetsu," Okita said warningly, but neverthless still playfully. "You're being a bit rude, you know."
"Sumimasen, Okita-san, Inoue-san, but I still have page chores to do." He said before running off. I watched his retreating back amusingly; what an interesting boy.
"Is Ichimura-san related to the previous cook?" I asked as we walked again.
"Tetsu-kun?? No—he already has his own brother here."
I was silent as he led me on, showing me the various places in the compound. I only nodded and replied when it was necesasry.
Walking behind him now, I couldn't believe that this was Okita Souji. That child-like innocence and playful smile did not connect to the ruthless Shisengumi we all feared. Maybe the rumours were just rumours. Maybe he wasn't the real Okita Souji. Like a replacement; to where the real one was hiding somewhere.
Just as I wanted to believe—
--that Okasan wasn't killed, and he wasn't her murderer.
A few times I got a full view of the small pig nestled between the tangle of arms. I stared at it—it returned the stare with a series of "Buki, buki!" which I had no idea whether it was meant to be friendly or not.
Saa, I guess I will find out sooner or later.
Hajimemashite: more or less means a polite way of saying nice to meet you.
Yoru negaishimas: I'm not sure if this is the right spelling of romanji, but it means please advice. The sort of things you see on kung fu movies where they bow before fighting.
a/n: I hoped I potrayed the PMK characters well. This is my first PMK fic. (have I mention that before?) btw, what is a mary-sue?