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..
Hokari Ryosuke is also an original character, a good man in the first unit.He is also in the list of people who didn't ignore Kizui's existence after her reveal along with Souji, Susumu and Heisuke.
The speech between Toudou Heisuke and OC Kizuisen is actually copied from NHK SHINSENGUMI (the conversation between Toudou and Hide).I don't own any of the products above, which include Shinsengumi.
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.
A/N: I know that Boshin war was on 1868, and Harada Sanosuke left after the war but please go with it since I couldn't find anything else to do. It's fiction, and there are no history novels of Japan here..If you have any knowledge about any event that happened in reality, please contact me from: appreciate it. Ja!
Warning: This chapter is not suitable for children.
Chapter Two: Mikomi...
1866
Hopeful days for Japan... Hints of the Meiji Era..
The sun was dancing on sapphire, the air was filled with cheerful speeches of the womans and the excited talks between the males and the playful laughs of the children. There was a lone figure, in a black kimono, silently gazing into the playful light on the water. His arms were supporting him with the help from the railing of the bridge. His face took no smile nor his heart had any hope.
"The Shinsengumi are going to demolish if they don't change.."
He took out the image of Heisuke as he turned quickly around, startled with the soft touch on his right shoulder. He saw a familiar face as his eyes wandered on the person who just patted his shoulder.
A young lady, around the ages of 20 was standing with the curious eyes landing on his own eyes. A fine-made kimono was wrapping itself around her body, exposing a slender figure. The shades of blue dancing on her silk clothes as her soft voice completed the image..
"Nagakura-san.."
"Ha-...Kizui-san." He didn't know how to call her. The anger of betrayal and the remisincing of the memories kept rising his feelings. From the first time he learned that his best man was actually a woman, he tried to avoid her. From the first time he captured a sight of the samurai as a woman...
They walked together, by her request. Two steps between, no matter how it was unlike her usual self, she acted as a lady should. He looked uncomfortable but he let it go, after entering an inn- to talk quietly and no one around to hear.
"I'm sorry about Hei-" She started but he made a sharp move.
"Don't." He simply said. The events of the last week still capturing his mind, the death of his best friend and later -the departure of his other best friend. All happened so soon.
After hours spent by drinking sake, and with silence, Kizuisen looked up from the window to see the day was turning into the night.
Shinpachi knew her mostly as Haku. Even in her normal self she was tough and still a good samurai. She was still a respectful member of Shinsengumi. And even though she looked as a 'delicate young lady' she wasn't acting like one. She never showed any emotions and without her friendship and understanding, she was practically a female version of Hijikata in fights.
"The day is over.." She said as if she didn't say he wouldn't have know. He nod and take another sip from his sake. He could feel he was softly getting drunk but he still had his mind. He silently enjoyed the taste of the warm liquid.
"Why are you so bothered about?" Her voice hold a whining in it, wondering why he was drinking too much sake and pouting all the day. Sure, she knew the reason but she also knew that..To get over a sorrowful incident, the best way was to talk through it.
"There's no one left." He finally said, after drinking one more cup of sake. Both were shocked to hear him answer, her and himself. He shrugged off the feeling, talking wouldn't hurt...much.
"There are lots of-" She started with a smile that trying to cheer him up but she was cut off with a soft whisper, unexpected words to come from Shinpachi.
His eyes meeting with hers, she could read the sincere pain and sorrow inside her captains eyes, the violet of the dawn meeting with the pigment of earth. The first time she saw him so sad.
"I don't want to be alone..."
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 hands on her shoulders.. As if she was waiting for it, her eyes closed slowly and enjoyed the soft touch of warm promises.
He did not know why he suddenly broke the embrace she offered to him and brushed his lips over hers. No matter how much he tried to get over her in his mind, he could not. And turned out to fight with her and he went uncomfortable around her. Under his hands, he felt the warm skin from the thin silk. Sliding it down slowly, his hands grasped her shoulders, surprised to feel how fragile and soft it was. The skin was soft as the silk itself.
She mentally smiled in her brain, 'Thank you' she thought happily, as she silently thanked her fate.
The dojo contained many Shinsengumi who were practicing. Reaching to her ears, she could hear the voices of the men. Reaching there, she smiled softly. For the eyes of the samurai's, she was a male: Naishu Haku. Her long hair was in a high ponytail like most of the men and she was wearing her large Shinsengumi Uniform of Silver, white and blue as usual..
"Haku!" She heard someone call her and turned back to see who it was. Her captain, Nagakura Shinpachi, walked towards her with a grin as his friends followed him. Captains of the Second, Eight and Tenth was always together.
"Ohayo, Nagakura-san, Toudou-san, Harada-san." She politely greeted them, lowering her voice in a bolder tone.
"Ohayo!.." Heisuke smiled.
"Ne, Haku.. Souji, Saitou, Ryosuke, Suzuki and us are going to drink sake tonight. Care to join us?" Sanosuke grinned widely. She understood the meaning of it, they were -helping- him in some matters, as they -secretly- invited him/her to -Shimabara-... It was actually understandable, most of the mens of Shinsengumi had their -needs- but the invitation make her uncomfortable, realizing the awkward situation to be.
"Iie, iie..But thanks for the offer.." She panickly said.
She cursed under her breath as she realized the grins on the comedy trio's faces, that believed they knew everything.
"Don't worry, Haku-kun.." Shinpachi put his arm around the panicked guy. He softly patted his back as they turned to train more, leaving her stunned behind.
"See you tonight.." She heard one of them saying but still in shock to stop herself from nodding...
"Kuso.." The curse left her mouth in a whisper, realizing what she had brought herself into...
Her eyes wandered on the shortest figure of the comedy trio who was beating the tallest in spar. She couldn't help but to smile when Shinpachi ran away laughing as Sanosuke followed him with a spear he just picked out. She, unnoticedly hold her arms around her shoulders, remembering how close he was.
She felt his hand wandering on her shoulder, lowering to her arm as his lips claimed hers. The heat rised to her face as red spread on white soft skin. She blushed madly as she noticed the new sensation of wood at her back, the cold contact under the soft silk dress. She let her arms join behind his neck, allowing him to move on her.
Feeling the weight on her, she let him take off the kanzashi that put her hair into a stylish model. The locks fell on the floor as his hand caressed her cheek and broke off the kiss, just realizing what he had done.
His eyes landed on hers as the honey coloured eyes opened slowly, carrying the shock of his sudden act. His surprise was mostly because she did not stopped him. Her red lips were slightly agape and wet, caused by the previous kiss. After watching her for a second, he get off of her rapidly. Not facing her, he could see the image of her face in his mind and he could feel the aching in several parts of his body.
Still having the sensation on her cheek caused by his warm touch, she sat up to see him standing, looking at the wall.
"Gomen-nasai." He softly said, feeling the natural instinct to apologize from her, for attending to take away her purity. He turned his back and left the room, not even looking at her who blushed more if it was ever possible.
She just answered with being silent and continueing her presence in the room, her hand is on her lips, remembering the softest touch of his lips.
He walked through the streets, using such vulgar language in his head, cursing with any word he might come up with, clenching his teeth in anger. How he lost his control, how did he made things get so out of hand. He could still remember the fragile thing under his hands, ruby lips and soft skin...
"Nani? Is it that you like him?" The sarcastic tone of Yamazaki Susumu reached her ears as she turned back to see he took a bored expression.
The softest shade of pink appeared on her cheeks as she shook her head. "No no, it's not what you think!" She said in a whisper, fast compared to normal speeches.
There was a mocked eyebrow, raised at her for an answer. "Is that so?" Was the only words that was left before Susumu walked away.
Long, delicate fingers reached to the wood part of the Shoji door, making a fist she hold her hand for a second. Taking a deep breath, her joints met the wood- three short times, releasing a sound of knocking- a warning for the one who was inside the room. Hearing no answer coming from the place, she decided to enter.
Opening her fist, her fingers grasped the opening point of the sliding entrance, pulling it against herself. Her eyes met with his as she took a step inside. She had seen the person, sitting and looking down. She closed the door before sitting in front of him. He couldn't help but noticing the tresses of sorrel whispering from her shoulders and landing on her kimono perfectly.
"It is rude..." She softly started to speak."To leave a lady alone in an inn...Let alone, doing this after kissing her." He sighed as he waited for her accusements or yellings or things like that..
"Shikashi.." He looked up at her, surprised and alarmed any how. He did not expected a 'but' coming from her. He was acting as a thoughtless bastard and he left her without any other word than an apologize. She smiled softly and that made him more confused than ever. "Shikashi.." She repeated. "I'm not a lady, so I don't mind."
Looking at his face, she could see the thoughts clearly. She noticed that he wanted to say 'No, you -are- a lady' but she also knew that he know if he said such thing she might accuse him.. And it was something else if he didn't said anything.. She softly let out a giggle.
"Although..I might say I'm a bit broken.." She talked to him, as if it was nothing, the speech of hers was usual- as if she was talking about a recent mission with him.-
"I do know I'm far away from being a desirable woman but you didn't need to show it like that.." She bitterly said.
"It's not that." Shinpachi finally said, turning his head to look away, maybe it was a good time to examine the painting Heisuke bought long ago. Even though he did not looked at her, he knew her eyes were wide and wondering. But before she could manage to speak he continued.
"I didn't left- because I don't.. like you.." He knew, if he looked at her he could lose his power once more.
"Lately, Nagakura-san has been avoiding me... " Kizui complained to Heisuke, throwing a rock at the lake, where they were sitting on the side. He was in his Shinsengumi Uniform, he was out to patrol before Kizuisen spotted him and they decided to take a walk together.
"That's not true..." Toudou answered, watching the girl pouting. The soft breeze whispered to her ear as soft locks of her hair danced in the air.
The girl was wearing the shades of azure, a representive of the sky with the softest touch of the blue on her obi.
"It is true! When I disguised as Haku, he spend most of his times with me...but now..." She bit her lower lip, and refused to meet with his eyes.
"That's because now he knows you're a woman...he always feels uneasy around women... " He answered her, trying to make her relax.
" ...yes, but... " She stuttered, to oppose his defence.
"You care about him that much, dont you?"
She raised her head to met with his smiling eyes, suddenly feeling very awkward but thinking deeply his question. After some time of silence she softly answered.
"...I dont know..."
"You really like him, right? Then, next time...I'll tell him how you feel! " Heisuke exclaimed happily, just as if he had found something.
"What? No! Heisuke-san, please, dont tell him about this...its a secret! " She panicked and shaked her head hopelessly. Heisuke looked at her and nod. He understood her wishes, she was probably right on her reasons why she didn't wanted Shinpachi to know she liked him.
"Ah...sumimasen...alright... "
Heisuke said before getting up and reaching a hand to her, for helping to get her up. She gladly took the offered hand and walked with him in little steps.
"Then...why?" She hesistated to ask but find herself talking any way. Her voice was hurt, and he had noticed this too.
Her eyes were open with the shock of his 'some-what confession'. She felt the fastened beats of her heart, creating a melody in her body. She looked at the man on her eyes, who had avoid her meanwhile. She couldn't help to remember the soft contact between his and her lips. The warm touch of his hands. The gentleness as he layed her on the floor.
"Kizui..I.." He started then stopped. She softly tilted her head to her side. Their gaze met when he turned his head to finally get a glance of her.
"I didn't wanted to hurt you." He finally said, looking in her eyes.
She closed her eyes and standed up, brushing off the non existent dust and stopping in the middle of her progress of brushing. It was then she looked up to meet his gaze and her eyes curved into a smile, a hurtful one.
"You wouldn't." She silently said before turning her back, hiding her unshed tears. So he -did- cared about her...
Just as she was about to open the wooden door, a soft voice captured her movements.
"Matte..."
The girl stood, holding back the warm salt liquid from her eyes. After a short while, fingers grasped her shoulders and forced her to turn her back, to face with him.
He leaned in and chrushed her lips with his. She startled, not expecting something like this to happen but soon she gave up. His hands softly took out her obi and slided the upper part of the kimono, leaving her with the inside of the dress- a navy kimono. He felt the softness of the silk and the body under it. Softening his kiss a little, he lead her into the room.
Her hands met with each other around his neck as he gently lay her on his futon. Without ever broking the kiss, his hands parted the cloth on her legs and his hands met the velvet skin, the softness of her body as a due to his hardness. Taking off the last piece of cloth covering her body, he broke off the kiss and looked at her body, the milky skin which amazed him and he, once more, leaned in to claim her mouth.
For few minutes, they kissed, both pondering whether the other would stop or not and secretly both wishing that the moment would never end. His body was pressuring hers but he did no movement other than softly caressing her skin as he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue.
She let her hands travel to his head as she get a hold on his hair. She opened her eyes and so did he, broking the kiss. His eyes hold questions, asking her thousands of times that if she was sure of it. Smiling warmly to assure him, she reached up and give him the most sweet kiss that anyone could ever receive.
Returning her kiss, he placed himself between her legs as she separated them. And the moon illuminated the room for the lovers of that night, the gentleness shone in his eyes and the happiness of her beign.
"Who would have know, eh, Heisuke?" Sanosuke told his friend, who was recently watching outside with a wandering look..
"Sou desu ne.." Heisuke said, turning his gaze to the other captains. Especially his looks stopped when he saw Shinpachi, who was sitting next to Sanosuke, seemed a little bit distant to the conversation- obviously deep in thoughts. " -He- turned out to be a beautiful woman, indeed." He said, knowingly eyeing Shinpachi.
Noticing the gaze upon him, Nagakura fastly raised his looks, answering the question without the necessary mark.
"Be careful while you're talking about a 'men' in my unit." He said without any emotion.. Heisuke and Sanosuke eyed him warily.
"Surely you can't deny, how beautiful she is..Can you, Shinpattsan?" Toudou exclaimed, searching the bothered men's eye deeply for any kind of answer.
The captain with the crimson locks on his head rolled his eyes as he considered the question. It had shocked him to see Haku in a woman's kimono, with a womans body -which perfectly clarified that -HE- was actually a -SHE-. He could not help to realize the milky skin and when he put the pictures together; he realized the -true- beauty under the softest touch of make-up on her face.
He didn't notice as he gave an answer and caused Heisuke and Harada grin as if they just killed all of the mens of Ishin Shishi.
"Yeah..She's beautiful."
He let his fingers wander between her hair, tangling, stroking as he watched the peaceful expression on her face. She cuddled the blanket over her while his arm was over her, as a protecting sign.
He could feel the heat radiating from her body as he drowned into deep thoughts.
"You will not be alone."
Why did she said that? How was she sure of it? And why he found himself believing her? What was the reason to all this, he wondered slightly..
He didn't know any of his answers..None of it.