WARNING: THIS STORY IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. IT CONTAINS MATURE CONTACT -you get the point-
In other words, it is rated R -for a reason.
A/N: O.o WTF? Shinpachi was actually four years older than Saitou and Okita? And 6 years younger than Kondou ! Wow... That kinda(!) shocked me..He seemed so little in the PMK series..And he was so cute..I couldn't find the info on Heisuke anyway...Hmm.. Can someone tell me how he died or any other information about Heisuke Toudou?
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own them, by living in the 1800's there's no way I could and even in 1900, cause you know, those guys are usually dead and probably at the age of 70.. They are real so no one really owns them..
One more thing..I have the knowledge that HARADA SANOSUKE really has a wife from a brothel which is a shock considering his personality.. I heard that is it not necessary to marry the woman you slept together in those days...Lol..
The names of their wives are made-up.
Sugimura/Nagakura Kizuisen and Harada Akihana. I don't know much Japanese names and I hope those would be right..
Title: Wolves of Mibu
Author: Chibi-nin-Adara
Summary: Life of a wolf, before and after of the war. Note: Existence of OC's and some made-up events.
Warnings: There isn't any definite reality in the death of Heisuke Toudou. It is only my imagination from a fanfiction about his death and I don't know how true it is. If there is any credit, it goes to the writer of that fanfiction-sorry I neither remember the name nor the author. If you have any knowledge about any event that happened in reality, please contact me from: appreciate it. Ja!
Chapter One: Makoto...
1869
2nd Year of Meiji,
"Oi! Shinpachi!"
The thirty year old stopped in his tracks, stiffening slightly as the familiar voice reached in his ears. The light crimson locks were falling on his eyes that were reflecting pure sorrow from what he had experienced in the last two years, the whole success and defeat.
He could clearly remember the fantastic lights of the Gion Festival, turning into his nightmares.. Six year before, there were all of them in this time of the year...
The voice was bitter, sarcastic, a reminder of the "good-ol'-days„ . The owner of the fake-energetic voice was also capable to understand the meanings of everything that went through the other and himself.
The best-friends had avoid each other by the sake of the new Japan.
When the taller men reached the other, there were some words spoken within their eyes. They both took the news, the end of the battle,the loss of friends which reminded the hurting memories...
No words were there to exchange as two men walked slowly in the streets of Mibu, different than their usual selves, mostly quiet and looking at the ground. Once they passed those streets along with the light blue- white uniforms, in proud but now, both were in their black kimono's and escaping from looks. It isn't like they lost their power, they just lost their interest.
They weren't joking since the death of the third, Toudou Heisuke. It could hardly called death but the memory of their best-friend's lost hurt them whatsoever. The assassination was made by them, mostly Nagakura because the other companion refused to go, excusing himself because he could not...
"Gomen..Heisuke.."
"Iie..." His looks read inside his heart, performing a soft smile -unbelievable along with his situation. "Sa-yanoora, Shinpattsan.." And for an hour, before Yamazaki arrives to check on him, Nagakura Shinpachi stayed with his friend, talking with him, telling him what went on while he was away... When he was about to leave by force, he whispered his last words at him..
"Matte, ne..Heisuke.." He painfully gave a half smile; the ones he performed when they were making sarcastic comments and as he muttered a 'Ja ne' he left without ever looking back...
"So..." Shinpachi finally said after ordering their sake's in where they thought -without considering to each other's thoughts, because each knew what the other thought- it would be good to sit and talk for a while in peace. "Sano...How was life treating you?"
He would have laughed at his own sarcasm but he prefered he didn't since the question was sincere.
And they started to talk about the last two years; the Meiji years. The burden of 'not-having-a-sword' and the feelings of emptiness that hount both of them..The half-heartedly laughes could be heard time to time.
"Hahaha! Yeah and remember the time when Saitou catched us talking about it and Heisuke-"
He suddenly stopped. The expressions on both's face changed into a clear pain.
"Yeah...Heisuke.." Shinpachi softly said, looking away...
"Ne, Sano, Haven't seen Heisuke for a while, wonder where is he..." The red headed exclaimed slightly worried as he took the steps along with his friend, to where they were called to.
The taller figure shrugged.
"Who knows.."
The leaders of Second and Tenth Squad entered the room they were called to, to see Hijikata Toshizou standing- a bit angry from their side.
"Harada, Nagakura.." Hijikata said, not even facing them. ""The law of the Shinsengumi states that all who abandon their duties will be executed!" ..."
"Say..Shinpachi.." Sanosuke started to speak but Shinpachi looked away.
"Sano..I can't..It was hard to live it once, I can't live it again..."
He understood.
"Hai..." The two unvoluntarily said after Hijikata told them their mission but neither had the courage to stand up to Hijikata...At least they had their answer about where Heisuke left to...But it was no relief..They left it without any other word and didn't spoke until they had reached some place, where no one could hear them...
Neither spoke. Unlike their tough appearance, both were about to cry for the heavy mission that was assigned to them. The words clearly said: "Find Toudou Heisuke and slay him immediately." But Hijikata put it with other words, but they understood...
"Tomorrow...We'll do it..Tomorrow.." Shinpachi said before leaving Harada Sanosuke alone in his own thoughts..Right now, they both had to spent some time alone...
"How's your wife, Sano? Is she still beautiful?" Shinpachi asked, with a smile which can only compared to a shadow of his old smile.
And the laughter is not even compared to the Captain of the Tenth Squad once had with full of his heart...
"She is..She is..And how's yours?" The grin took the place of the frown but the unshed tear never left the eyes of them...Not for years..
"Where is Sano? I hoped he would come too.." The words spilled from the enemy's mouth.. The familiar smile hurt Shinpachi to no end. They were both in pain mentally as their physical wounds didn't hurt at all.
"He wouldn't..." Instead of couldn't.. But Heisuke understood anyway...
They both held their war stance to each other but neither attacked. For at least half an hour they spent talking, along with several clashes of their blades just to not let anyone interfere.
"Did you get longer?" Heisuke asked with a soft smile. The teasing they shared now and then.. And the answer was never late.
"Nah, it's just you getting shorter. You look older Heisuke.." Nagakura grinned- not fully, the weight of the blade had started to pressure on his right arm.
Heisuke shrugged with a laugh.
"I heard girls like mature men."
"What? Beautiful or good?" Shinpachi asked playfully. He missed the familiar teasing and jokings with his friends...Friend.. He sure missed Heisuke..
There was no doubt Sanosuke was also thinking about the same thing..
The two shadow behind the paper door acted so slowly as if they weren't fighting at all.. Sanosuke guessed that they weren't. He did wanted to see him once more, say goodbye but it meant killing him and...No matter how bloodthirsty Harada Sanosuke could get he could ever be, there were two person who he would never kill even with the thread of his life. And both of them were fighting inside and...He knew if Shinpachi lost, He would have to kill Heisuke himself.. And so, even with a pain in his heart, he hoped Shinpachi to win this fight...
"Oi..Sano, come to dinner tonight to us ne? I'm sure she will be pleased to see you.." Nagakura said after looking out to see the weather was getting darker. His friend looked at him grinned.
"FOOD!" He exclaimed..
"Nee, Sano.." Shinpachi cut his words with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't your wife feeding you properly?" He joked.
"Sure she does but Aki didn't come with me to here, she's looking after the children you know.." Sanosuke grinned with the happy thought of his family. He suddenly stopped as something occured to him and a questionable look was sent towards the shorter man.
"Say, Shinpachi..You never told me about your wife?" He said, remembering asking him about his wife of his sudden marriage.Sure, Harada knew about his marriage but there was no ceremony nor meetings.
And everything seemed more disturbing when Shinpachi looked away, bothered by the question..
"You'll meet her tonight, alright, Sano?" His friend finally said, facing with him with a fake smile.
Not really understanding the meaning of his behaviour, Sanosuke let it go and shrugged with a nod.
So unlike her usual self, the eyes of amber sparkles softened and she embraced him softly.The hints of emerald danced in her eyes while the eyes of her companion widened with the shock of her moves.
"You will not be alone..."
Her soft voice was hanging in his brain, the melody of the whisper repeating itself.
She felt his lips on hers and his arms on her shoulders.. As if she was waiting for it, her eyes closed slowly and enjoyed the soft touch of warm promises.
"So..Shall we go?" Shinpachi said as he rised from his seat, leaving the price on the table and looking at his old friend for an answer. He smiled gladly as the man also rose to his feet and nod.
Once again, the streets were under the feets of two ex samurai's of the Mibu-ro. Neither of them were carrying something around the waists of their black kimono's. The two men walked through the humans, some eyed them knowing their identities and some of them not even caring about the captains of the fallen Shinsengumi.
The steps of Shinpachi stopped as he reached a familiar door of his residence. Sanosuke stopped after a short while and realized that they have already reached.
Meanwhile Nagakura Shinpachi was having hard times while considering the thoughts of his wife, when she saw Sanosuke.. A great shock indeed... For both of them.
"Okaeri-nasai Yo-"
The excited voice of melody was heard before the door slowly opened after the sound of knocking on the wood caused by calloused hand. From the gap between the wall and the door, there stood a woman in her most enchanting sight, a slender figure carrying elegantly the shades of pink on her kimono with sakura design. The soft locks of sorrel hair were falling from her shoulders with two little braids of her hair wrapped around each other dexterously hold with a simple designed kanzashi. Her face hold the beauty of many woman would envy and would make many man fall in love, the soft white skin revealing the emerald hints in brown of her eyes which were opened widely by not the shock of seeing her husband there every night, but seeing the companion of his that night.
"...shie" the ruby lips fisnished her sentence for her in a whisper.
The face of the guest was not quite different from the woman's. His dark eyes covering all of his thoughts of how she might end up being Shinpachi's wife and how he might not know it. 'He was, afterall, right by not exposing her name.' the thought crossed his mind as he realized how much she changed and turned into a delicate charming woman...
"Sanosuke-san!.." Finally the words left her mouth.
"Kizui!.." The voice of his was unsure as he turned his head to look at Shinpachi just to see that he understood it right, he really was married with her..
The exam would be made with Toudou Heisuke, the announcment was made by Kondou Isami.As for a referee Okita standed at the dojo,watching the slim man with curious eyes. For a male, he was thinner than usual and seemed kind of effeminate, Okita pondered slightly if he would be able to draw a katana by that non showing strenght of his. But ofcourse, Okita had no doubt after finding a sparkle in his eyes, somehow waiting for the match that was mentioned.
Finally the awaited time had come and there stood two men, holding their shinai's in their position. From the corners, the Shinsengumi captains were watching. Heisuke, in his Shinsengumi uniform, looked at the figure wondering if he could win or not. Meanwhile, the opposite side, in black hakama and gi was nerveously holding on the sword, hoping to pass the exam so she could join the Shinsengumi.. The reason of his wishes was mostly because of his family, he had told Kondou. His father was ill and he needed medical help and money was needed for it.
First attack come from Heisuke, fast as expected from the Captain of the Eight Squad. He, with an instinc blocked the attack coming from his left to his neck and draw his shinai. His right feet slided to his back as he dodged another attack and thrusted his own sword into the air before realizing Toudou had long ago noticed the upcoming attack and moving to his back. Swinging to his back he felt the bamboo's collide. Clutching tighter he spinned it around Heisuke's and resting the wood at his neck.
Okita's desicion of the attack reached their ears, first round was won by Naisho Haku.
As their fight continued, several man was actually surprised of the power of the fragile looking man. But with Toudou winning the second the third match was surprisingly Haku's, even though it was nearly because of a distraction of Toudou.
And after several more fights in that day, he was called to the room of Hijikata. Haku took nerveous steps into the room, to see three men; Kondou Isami, Hijikata Toshizou and Okita Souji. He bow after taking two steps and sat down on his legs, looking down, waiting for the reply to his will of entering.
After hours of investigation based talk between the samurais, the Shinsengumi was announced that Naisho Haku was given under the command of the Second unit.
Naisho Haku, was a promising young man for Shinsengumi and soon turned out to be reliable for the captains too. Being young as 18 years of age, he was getting along quite well with others. Especially Okita really enjoyed his companionship and often asked Nagakura to bring him too. Even though, Okita was only three years older than him, he was glad that now there is some other samurai who is actually younger than him- so 'Toshi' wouldn't make fun with him about that later, not that he listened-.
"Oo, Haku-kun.." Hokari Ryosuke, a samurai from First Unit greeted him as Haku walked towards them and smiled before bowing. "Why don't you sit with us?" Ryosuke asked him, noticing his awkward behaviour, Naisho Haku was generally an alerted man and always -for some reason- nerveous. But he was kind and understanding in some situations and that made other men his friends.
Nodding slightly a soft "Ha." was spilled between his lips. His uniform was large for him yet somehow he did not wished for a replacement, there were tight bandages around his chest and if someone there to ask him, he would just ignore the question gently. Somehow, the person would find himself in a different subject.
Stepping aside gently, Nagakura Kizuisen was the first one to get over from the shock that overwhelmed her. Shinpachi tugged his friend softly before entering his house with a glance of his wife. Sanosuke followed him, still looking at the woman whose eyes were following the shadows on the floor. The sound of the shoji door came soon after their steps through the hall.. Shinpachi opened another shoji door, to make his entrance into a room and followed by Sanosuke. After a short while, looks with questions in it hit him but Nagakura refused to give the answers until his wife stepped in delegantly, carrying one bottle of sake and two cups. Bowing slightly, refusing to look at Sanosuke, she sat down, forming a triangle with her, her husbands and their guests body. Taking her time, in the time of silence, she poured sake in the cups and handled those to each. After all the serving was done, she finally sat up and faced Harada. It was then, Shinpachi started to talk...
"I believe you know my wife.. Nagakura Kizuisen, recently known as Sugimura Kizui.." He talked in his usual voice, aware of the looks of Sanosuke and Kizui and actually enjoying it.
After the hard times of Meiji, Shinpachi had changed his name to Sugimura Yoshie and following him, Kizuisen decided to change her name also. Taking a different path than the sword, two of them tried to live a normal life by not including any kind of blades..It was hard, for samurai's to change their lifestyle, that is...
Naisho Haku was given on a mission along with Yamazaki Susumu, an operation of investigate. As he walked in the streets of Mibu, he noticed Yamazaki's look on him. Feeling uncomfortable, he muttered.
"Nanda?" He wasn't feeling well under his looks, the head of the spies usually creeped everyone out. He was a trustable, successful ninja but he rarely comforted anyone with his looks.
"You are different..Why is it?" He asked, without any hint of emotion.. As if asking if it is going to rain or not- Haku was also sure that Susumu wouldn't ask such thing, well, because he would probably investigate on water and find it out by himself if necessarily. Or else, he would say he doesn't care.
"What are you talking about?" Haku answered, panicking a little. By his uncomfort, Yamazaki raised an eyebrow -this was interesting. He kept a note in his head to bring it up later as they walked in a back street, a short way back to Shinsengumi...
"BAKUFU DOG!" A cry of war heard from behind Haku as he turned to see what was going on, but he was too late to take his sword out. The blade slashed his clothes and met with the skin as he took a step behind to make the attacker lose his balance. Before the man could fall, Yamazaki Susumu thrusted a sword in his heart and he fell on the floor lifeless.
The crimson drops fell on the floor from the clothes of Haku as he desperately hold the clothings to his chest which was cut. Yamazaki looked up at him.
"Daijobu?" His eyes followed a thin leak of blood falling from his hand which hold his chest. Haku nod, wanting to distract Susumu before he saw the wound.
If the guy could read his mind...
"Let me see the wound." He asked, still without any emotion that could be heard from his voice. The reason to his wish to check the wound was mostly caused by the necessarity, if the wound is deep or not.
He was more suspicious as the samurai in pain shook his head, panicking.
"Iie.. Daijobu desu ne..." His voice cracked up with the pain. The less deep the wound was, the more the pain could be felt; Susumu thought. At least he was not dying, so the sword only touched the skin.
"Baka..I'm not going to do anything, why are you so scared?.." He muttered at him as he took a step and was really surprised to see Haku taking a step back.
"Nani?" Yamazaki questioned with the perfect expression of surprise attached to his face. Haku looked down as the ninja spotted a tint blush on his face and his clenched teeth. Finally, after a while, Naisho Haku looked up at him and bit his lower lip. When he spoke, Yamazaki Susumu understood completely the reason why he did not let him look in the first place.
The event was later told to Hijikata, but the wound was never mentioned..Neither the secret between them.
"Aa, Kizui.." Shinpachi said as if he just remembered. "I asked Sano to join us for dinner, is that ok?"
His wife softly rolled her eyes before smiling at him. Her eyes landed on Sanosuke as she politely nod.
"Ofcourse. I will be honored." She bowed softly before standing up and excusing herself out from the room to cook for dinner and also leaving the two men to speak of past.
Even though Yamazaki Susumu kept his promises, years later, at Ikeda-ya, his secret could no longer kept its existence.
"A WOMAN!" Hijikata angrily said to the figure in front of him, looking down with pure embarrasment. Kondou, who was next to Hijikata looked thoughtful and Okita, at the otherside of Hijikata looked serious. Not in his usual joking self.
Kondou put a hand on Hijikata's arm to calm him and glanced at him. Then he looked at the person sitting, bending. The clothes was changed from Shinsengumi Uniform to a white kimono, which landed perfectly on the body and exposed the curves.
"Please tell us the reasons, Naisho Haku?" Kondou said finally, his voice demanding for an answer and thinking of a solution other than seppuku- which would be probably Hijikata's decision.
"Hai.." The unfamiliar soft voice caused them to feel awkward. They were still shocked, not understanding the situation before and now the voice of one of their trusted man had changed into a melodic, calming voice. They never realized how beautiful she was, when she met them as a male. And now, in front of three pair of eyes, the white skin was revealed, the charming beauty captured itself without any touch of makeup.
"My real name is.. Hitome Kizuisen. My father was ill and I needed money for his medicine, my reason was not a lie but I did know that entering as a woman would be harder than entering as a man. This was the real reason of my disguise..."
Okita looked at Hijikata. He was impressed by her story and he had already faced with her braveness and hard work in the way of the samurai. Kondou also looked at Hijikata and that was when Hijikata nod softly.
"I will allow you with only one condition." He harsly said. The only reason in his mind was that he needed more men..Woman or not..
"If you continue disguising yourself as a man. Because otherwise you would only distract the others." He said looking at the girl who was performing a soft smile that also reflected itself from her eyes. Okita catched a sparkle in her eyes and hold himself not to make any possible jokes about the situation.
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A/N: Pretty long for a chapter ne:)
Anyways, I hope you liked the story and I promise I'll update as soon as possible. I would appreciate if you find any mistakes from Historical events nor any typing mistakes, please tell me. I may have mistakes because I didn't get English Education properly so :).
And I'm sure you all get that the italics are past and the regulars are the present. If you are confused any how, feel free to ask. If you want a direct answer, you can also mail me. :)
Dewa Mata!
Chibi-nin-Adara