Author's Note:


Have you ever heard the problem… you have two men and offer them this deal… if neither of the two talks they both get 2 years in jail. If one talks then the other gets 5 years in jail, while the other gets off with only one year. I don't remember where I heard it but I really like that problem. Without complete trust and faith you both loose.

Ryu: is referring to the style of swordsmanship or martial arts that you study. Like for example if you study Iaido…

Oh, and plum blossoms mean devotion in the Japanese flower language.


Chapter 12: Plum Blossoms


Yamazaki stood there staring at the opposite wall thinking about everything that had just happened and what it meant for them.

Yes, they had leverage over Tokio-san… but was this right thing to do? Was this something he should report to Ishida? Maybe… maybe not, but either way the girl's life was now in danger, but worst of all he had a nagging feeling that if Serizawa should discover the truth all of their lives would also be sacrificed, with incredible ease. That was just like that coward Serizawa. Kill anything that proved the slightest bit of an obstacle.

"I can't believe we are doing this."

Saitoh just ignored him. He was having troubles believing they were doing this too but he wasn't going to admit it anytime soon. He knew he had just gotten a whole lot more than he had bargained for.

"I'm sorry it took so long."

Tokio stepped out of her room closing the shoji behind her with a gentle thud. She was dressed simply, with her long hair pulled up in a ponytail on top of her head, and her clothing was simple and sparse, just as any other 'man' of the Shinsengumi's.

Still Susumu thought to himself. She really did look like a woman; to be honest it was harder to believe that people actually believed she was a man. Well, even if she were a girl those that had seen her spare would say that she was a man.

Susumu sighed to himself, as he led Tokio down to the courtyard where Isami-sama was waiting for them.

How was he not going to tell him the truth about her? Surly Isami-sama would notice and then every one of them would be ordered to commit hara-kiri. If he was just honest… but then this was for Isami-sama. He had to remember that. He was doing this to help Isami-sama.

This was going to work out somehow. Maybe if he waited until they got the information that they needed and then confessed… that would be every bit as dishonorable as not having told him from the start.

Fate was an incredibly ugly taskmaster.

"Okita-san, Yamazaki-san I trust you will not be so late in the future. If my skills are worth so little to you…"

"I'm so very sorry Isami-san." Okita cut in with an incredibly deep bow. "It was all my fault, please don't blame Yamasaki-san for my tardiness. I take full responsibility."

Saitoh saw the small hint of a smile on Isami's face and he knew that he wasn't truly angry. It took a lot to make Isami angry. About as much as what Serizawa had done to him, and little Tokio at least had the humility to apologize.

Those two would get along fine. To that he had no doubt. Still Tokio had a secret that was one that needed to be feared, he could only hope that there would be no further mistakes. One false move and all their lives would be ended in shame.

Saitoh practiced in one corner of the dojo where everyone stayed away from him. Few members of the Shinsengumi talked to him, but that was fine with him. People who talked when practicing where a disgrace to whatever Ryu they studied. They were the ones that died quickly in battle.

His mind was focused and sharp but not like normal. Today it was difficult to keep his mind on his bokken but instead he found his eye drifting back to Isami-sama and Tokio-san. They were sparing on the other side of the dojo.

He wasn't surprised by how skilled she was. Even though she had floundered in combat he had seen enough to know not to underestimate her abilities with a sword. She could even be called a prodigy of the blade. It's just that she lacked the stamina and the strength that a man would have. That's why she had been defeated.

Still it was amazing how she had adapted the sword style to suit her small feminine frame, the question now was could she become stronger than she was now.

His eyes focused on his bokken and he knew the answer she was probably telling herself.

If there is a will then there is a way.


Susumu sat outside. He just couldn't bring himself to look in and see the two of them sparing. Would Isami find out?

He bit at his fingernail, as he stared out at the yard and prayed.

"Yamazaki-san?"

He glanced up to see Hijikata calling his name. This was getting worse by the second.

"Good morning, Hijikata-san!"

"Are you all right? You look a little pale this morning. Perhaps some exercise would serve you well. Would you take a walk with me?"

"Yes sir, of course sir."

The two of them strolled down the pathway together in silence until they were away from anyone that might overhear.

"So what have you learned from our little Okita-san this morning? Saitoh and you spent a little too much time upstairs for just waking him up."

Susumu could feel the tension in his stomach knotting up. What was he going to tell Hijikata!


Chapter 13: to be continued…