Disclaimer: I do not own Peacemaker Kurogane.

Hai, the Shinsengumi vacation destination is the onsen!

Chapter 2: Annual Vacation

"Harada-san?" Tetsu blinked in disbelief. He was being cradled in the arms of the Tenth Patrol Captain, Harada Sanosuke. Harada gave a bellow of laughter and set him down on his shaking feet. Eighth Patrol Captain Toudou Heisuke ruffled the redhead's hair. "Tetsu-kun, you've grown taller by sooo much." The man held his fingers a few millimeters apart.

"Feel okay?" Harada asked. Tetsu nodded.

The sound of running footsteps came around the corner. "Ichimura! Are you…" Suzu gaped as he recognized the two Shinsengumi captains. What are those thugs doing here?

"Aha, the bell boy! Take our bags!" Heisuke grinned as he pointed at the luggage on the ground. "There's more in the bus!"

Cursing under his breath, Suzu went to unload the bags. Makoto-san had told them to expect some guests today. But she never mentioned they'll be Shinsengumi. "Yaraaa!" Suzu staggered backwards as a super-genki lass in a Hello Kitty coat leapt out of the bus and attacked him with a toy sword.

"Yoko! Stop!" Yoko squealed as her redhead father caught her. Second Patrol Captain Nagakura Shinpachi apologized to Suzu on his young daughter's behalf. Like father, like brat, Suzu decided as he nursed his bruises.

Tetsu watched in amazement as the others disembarked from the bus. He recognized the Yamzaki siblings and Demon Hijikata. Where was Okita-san? He circled the bus, expecting his former partner to pop up and surprise him. Finally, he asked Ayu-nee. "Where's Okita-san?"

"Sorry, Tetsu-kun, he didn't come with…" Then her mouth gaped. She stared off into the distance with her eyes wide. Tetsu looked off in the same direction. A cab had parked in front of the onsen.

"San-nan?" Yamanami was helping Akesato down from their cab. The Comedian Trio descended on the pair.

"You lied when you told us you were visiting family!" Harada exclaimed.

"We are, hers,"The vice-chief replied. "Akesato-chan!" Everyone was surprised when Makoto came running out and embraced Akesato like a mother would a daughter. "Suzu-kun! Tetsu-kun! Take in their luggage and show our guests to their rooms."

"Yoko, four years old," Nagakura introduced his little girl to Tetsu. Yoko was a bright and energetic child with her father's red hair and round green eyes. She squirmed uncomfortably in her father's arms like a restless kitten.

"Say, do you have a crèche here? I want to join my chums in the bath…"

"Why did you bring her then?" You oughta have left her with your wife…

"My woman walked out on me yesterday evening after we quarreled. I can't get a babysitter…" Shinpachi pleaded with the boy. "Just while I take a nice soak…"

Evening before at the Nagakura household, Shinpachi was playing with his daughter when his wife came in with her shopping. "Darling, I will be going to the station soon. We're going to the onsen this year."

"Honey, that's nice. Look at my new platforms…" She kissed him on his forehead and took out a pair of Prada platforms form her shopping bag. Shinpachi sweatdropped at the sight of the twelve-inch platforms.

"Er, you're not gonna wear those when you're with me, are you?"

"Why?"

"I think you'll be too tall for me…"

"What!? I slave away as an O.L. doing O.T. while you do stupid things like waste your pittance of a salary on Hello Kitty merchandise! And you think I'm too tall for you?! That's it! I'm going back to my mother's!" SLAM!

"Darling… what I mean is you'll be too tall for me to kiss… Hey! What about Yoko-chan?" Must be PMS. Shinpachi stared at his daughter. Maybe he ought to send her to his mother-in-law… Wait! His in-laws have migrated to Brazil…

Yoko bonked Tetsu with her toy sword. They didn't have a crèche. Before Tetsu could answer, a screech sounded up the driveway.

"Oryo! A traditional Japanese inn like you always dreamed of!"

Their latest guest rode a Harley Davidson. His steed was bright silver. He wore his hair in dreadlocks under a cowboy hat. A slender young lady was perched behind him. Like him, she wore a biker jacket and a cowboy hat. Hers was decorated with rhinestones. Ryouma recognized Tetsu and waved to him.

"Howdy there! How's Bike Demon Kid Oki?"

The gang at the onsen were in for another surprise as they entered the lobby. There was a lady reading the morning newspaper there. She was…

"Tokio-san!" San-nan greeted her. "We thought you have gone on your honeymoon with Saitou by now." Saitou had married his fiancée last week in a quiet ceremony in the presence of a few close friends. Okita was not present there due to his work.

"Where's the groom?"

"Not back yet. He went to meditate under some waterfall before dawn," Tokio smiled.

"Hotaru!" Makoto called out. "Tell the cook our guests have arrived. Tell him his daughter's finally brought home a man." San-nan blanched. Akesato patted his hand in reassurance. Her blue eyes twinkled mischievously. San-nan ran his fingers through her blond hair and kissed her cheek. Looks like they'll be hearing wedding bells again soon.

"Hai!" Hotaru went to the kitchens.

"Pretty gal," Heisuke raised an eyebrow. Maybe he could try scoring one this year… He spent the past two years on duty at the station. "Hey, Hotaru-san, what's for breakfast? We've just got here on the overnight…"

Makoto checked the guest list. "That should be everyone, except the religious group…" she went off to her office. Hijikata sighed. Not quite. Okita would have loved such a vacation. He missed his perky partner. How's the boy doing? He wondered.

Author's notes:

Poor Nagakura. He's left holding the baby. Yoko ishis spoilt daughter who's Hello Kitty crazy to boot. 3 men & little lady? San-nan's meeting his future in-laws... Father of the Bride in the works! And imagine biker Ryouma & his chick in the traditional onsen..

Hotaru's working at the onsen as well. Hijikata misses Souji.