Disclaimer: Peacemaker Kurogane belongs to Nanae Chrono.

Chapter Two: The Yamoya sweet shop

Mibu Village, March 10th, 1863.

The weeks had passed in a blur, so fast that Souji woke up thinking it had all been a dream.

Ever since Kiyokawa's announcement at Shintoku Temple on February 24th, the mood in their group had soured. They had come to Kyoto because they believed they had been called by the Shogunate as a defence. When Kiyokawa made his speech about how they were actually to serve the Emperor and thus must go back to Edo as the Emperor expected, the Sheikian dojo members had found it ridiculous.

"Our loyalty lies with the Shogunate," Kondo had quietly said. "We will not be accompanying you back to Edo."

Kiyokawa had been enraged that some of the Roshigumi were actually staying behind, and spent some time trying to persuade them otherwise, but to no avail. Their argument had come close to violence, but they still did not leave with the rest of the Roshigumi.

Knowing that their presence in Kyoto without being under governance would become an issue, Kondo and Serizawa had submit petition to Aizu. Until official word came back, they would wait.

Meanwhile, Okita and the others had been passing time by practising swordsmanship.

There hadn't been time for real sightseeing, and with the tension following Kiyokawa's speech, the men had decided they didn't feel like it anyway. Only Yamanami and the comedian trio, comprised of jokers Todou, Nagakura and Harada, had managed to get away to Shimabara, and came back with dreamy expressions and praises.

As for Serizawa and his men, well it seemed as though all they ever did was go out and drink. Even though Serizawa was the obvious leader of his group, he left everything up to Kondo, Hijikata and Yamanami. This infuriated Hijikata, but since it granted him more power in their affairs, he couldn't complain.

"Morning Nagakura-san!" said Okita brightly as his passed his red haired friend. "Will you be joining me for practise this morning?"

Nagakura paused, then turned and raised his eyebrows. "Won't you give a man some time to recuperate before you try and kill him again?"

Though his tone was humourous, his claim wasn't entirely false.

Okita was well known for getting carried away once he had anything remotely sword like in his hands. He was a talented swordsman, and back at the dojo, he'd been an instructor, and the youngest one at that. But he just couldn't adjust his power to meet others, and so often ended up hurting his friends without meaning to.

"I really am so sorry," Okita sounded remorseful. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Nagakura laughed lightly, scratching his head. "Heh, well it's good to know anyway."

Then seeing as Okita still looked downcast, he added, "Of course I'll join you. As if I'm scared." He snickered. "Let me just go throw cold water on Sano and Heisuke. Those bastards came back late last night, and they haven't been practising at all." He was suddenly grave. "They need a good beating from you, to put them back in their place."

Okita laughed, despite himself. He watched as Nagakura strolled off with a wicked smile on his face. Being the smarter of the trio, he loved to torture them so. He giggled as he thought of the look on Harada-san's face after he'd just been doused with a bucket of cold water.

Every now and then, he'd cheerfully greet the men who passed him by. He was good at memorising names, and already he knew each man in Serizawa's group.

"Neguchi-san!"

Okita waved as he paused in front of the fusama screen leading into the training hall. The samurai walking towards him was tall and thin, and reminded him of a stick insect. As the man saw him there, Okita knew all too well what the brief expression on his face meant. But he couldn't care less. Souji beamed as he blocked the man's path.

"Okita-kun," nodded Neguchi, with a sour look on his face.

"Ah, I knew you'd join me for an early practise session," said Okita happily, hands on his hips. "Well, you're right on time!"

"I'm pleased," said Neguchi, looking anything but. Souji knew his samurai pride would not allow him to decline a match. Excited that he had definitely caught someone to spar with him, he enthusiastically slid back the screen, and gestured for Neguchi to enter first. Reluctantly, the man did so.

Then Okita slid the screen shut, and cheerfully walked towards the shinai on the wall, only to find Hijikata standing between him and the rack .

"Oh hello," Okita was surprised. "I wasn't expecting you, Hijikata-san...but it's great to see you here! And right on time too. You and Neguchi-san can be first, if you like."

"I hate to burst your bubble," laughed Hijikata, "But Neguchi is not standing behind you anymore."

Without looking, Okita sighed. "I knew he'd escape," he said, shaking his head. So much for samurai pride. He grinned. "That means me and you first."

Hijikata shook his head. "No sparring today."

"What?" exclaimed Okita in disbelief. "But I thought you wanted us to practise, practise, practise! Isn't that what you said?"

So I did," answered Hijikata in an irritated tone. "But I didn't mention maiming or murder, did I?"

"You're being melodramatic," sniffed Okita, turning away. "As if I would be so cruel."

"You broke Hirama's arm," Hijikata pointed out.

"I didn't think he would freeze the way he did," complained Okita. "I would have tried to stop myself if I knew."

"Enough of this already," grumbled Hijikata. He ushered Okita back towards the door. "I have important work to do today. I suggest you refrain from adding to my headaches. Just go out and relax for a while. You know, out of all the men here, you're the last person who'd need practise to keep his swordsmanship in shape."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Okita turned his head, in the direction of the Yagi family's part of the residence. "You know, Hijikata-san, I might just take your advice. Katsu-chan has been pleading with me since yesterday to take him to the sweetshop."

Hijikata snorted. "Well there's the perfect reason."

IIIIIIII

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Okita seemed doubtful as he followed the seven year old skipping ahead of him. They had already passed several shops selling food and delicacies, and he had thought the sweetshop would be located there.

Okita turned his head and saw a shop with the sign 'Yamoya silk shop' on the front. "Katsu-chan, stop for a moment..."

The eleven year old at his side grabbed the back of his little brother's kimono, pulling him to a stop. "What's wrong?" complained Katsu, wriggling to get free. "The sweetshop's just over there!"

"Okita-han told us to stop," scolded his brother Asano. "You shouldn't be so rude."

Okita was puzzled. "It's just that this is where all the clothing shops are. I wonder if maybe the sweetshop was back in the last street?"

Katsu vehemently shook his head. "No, it's right there, Okita-han!" He pointed to the left side of the street. Souji squinted at the sign. "Yamoya Sweet shop," he read, smiling.

"See, I was right!" said Katsu triumphantly, giving his older brother a look.

Okita laughed as he followed after him. "So you were."

Upon entering the shop after the boys, who practically ran in there with excitement, Souji found his senses overwelmed by all the delicious smells. Looking at all of the different sweets out on display, from the plain ones to the finely shaped ones, he almost felt like a delighted child again.

"This place is amazing," he uttered finally. "Something tells me I'm going to be coming here a lot from now on."

"Well, I'll hold you to that."

Surprised, Okita turned and saw a plump middle aged lady smiling at him. Her hair was in a tight bun, and she had rosy cheeks. She looked just like someone who ran a sweet shop, Souji found himself thinking as he smiled back at her.

"I'm Hakano Midori," she added. "And you young man, who might you be?"

"Okita Souji." He bowed, then curiously asked, "Is this shop one of a chain? Because I thought I saw a Yamoya silk shop on this same street."

"That's right," answered Midori, beginning to wrap up the sweets the boys had chosen. "The Yamoyas are a wealthy merchant family. They have several businesses."

"I see," said Okita, his gaze wandering to the pinkish yellow candies sitting on a side shelf. Moving closer, he stared at them.

"Interesting," he murmured. "The colour, it reminds me of--"

"Dawn?" offered the lady with a smile. "Yes, everyone says that. Our young sweetmaker is always drawing inspiration from nature in her sweets. Currently, she's made dawn, sunrise, sunset, and dusk. But we've run out of the others at the moment." She laughed. "You can have 'dawn' though if you like."

"I'd love to Midori-san," said Okita apologetically. "But unfortunately, I don't have any money with me today." And not tomorrow either, thought Souji. Or the day after that. Or even the week after that. Right now, they were as poor as they could get.

"You're with those boys now, aren't you?"

Okita glanced at them, they were busy eating their sweets already. "Yes, I am."

"Well then, it's free for you too." Midori went over and emptied a few sweets into a brown piece of paper, which she promptly wrapped and held out for him to take.

Okita looked confused. "It's free?"

"Our sweetmaker absolutely insists that it is for these boys. And since you're with them, we can make an exception for you too."

"But..how do the Yamoyas feel about that?" Okita was curious, he kept picturing some snotty well dressed people. All the merchants he'd ever seen were like that.

"Well, Meko-chan is a Yamoya, and this is her shop, so I would say she knows best."

There was something familiar sounding about that name, he thought. "Do the Yamoyas also own a grocery store?" Okita blurted, suddenly.

"Why yes they do," said Midori, surprised. "Do you know them, Okita-han?"

"No...well I mean, I think I saw that sweetmaker you were talking about at the Yagi residence, which is where I'm staying. She was giving Masa-han groceries for free."

Midori laughed. "That's our Kameko, alright. So, what do you think of her?"

Now it was Okita's turn to look surprised. "Pardon?"

"Kameko. You were introduced to her weren't you? She and Masa-han are very good friends." She laughed, then leaned closer and whispered, "Masa-han introduces her to all the young gentlemen she meets. She intends on matching her up with someone, since she is of marrying age now."

Okita wanted to ask why he was being told all this, but he was given no chance to say so, for Midori was already continuing her little story.

"I know what you're thinking, a pretty girl like her ought to have no trouble finding a man. But the odd thing about this is.." Midori paused, as though building up to a very dramatic twist. "Kameko has been proposed to by quite a few men so far, and yet she's refused every single one of them!"

"How odd indeed," said Okita, hoping his reaction was appropriate.

Midori's eyes were twinkling now as she surveyed him. Okita shifted uncomfortably. Why was she staring at him like that?

"Masa-han was right about you," she murmured in soft delight. "You really are the nicest young man. Tell me, are you married?" Midori was watching him carefully now, like a hawk.

Okita blushed. Katsu and Asano were watching him as well. But at the precise moment Okita opened his mouth to answer, a customer strode in asking for the finest sweets they had. Midori happily obliged and when she turned her gaze away from him, he felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Wiping his brow, he smiled down at the boys.

"Asano-kun, Katsu-chan, time to leave."

Once out, Okita inhaled the dusty air and gladly welcomed the outside noise.

"Do you want to have a race, Katsu?" Asano grinned at his little brother. "I bet you can't run as fast as me."

"No way!" exclaimed Katsu. He looked up at Okita. "Okita-han, can we have a race back to our house?"

"Be careful," he replied gently. Cheering, they took off, and Okita smiled as he watched them run.

He found himself thinking about what Midori had been saying to him. She was really no different from all the other woman back in Tama who would often introduce him to their daughters. He would be teased by his comrades when they'd hear about the proposals offered to him, but he'd always turn them down, even if the mothers boasted about how beautiful or good their daughters were.

In a way he felt sorry for the Yamoya woman, he knew too well how it felt to be badgered that way. But then, he thought, maybe girls felt differently. His two elder sisters had been happy when they received proposals. He shook away his thoughts, and started to unwrap the sweets.

"Excuse me."

He frowned and looked around, but there was no one there.

"Must be hearing things," he murmured to himself. Then from behind him he felt a tug and startled, he jumped.

Okita turned to see a flustered young woman with packages at her feet. He blinked in surprise.

"Sorry," she whispered hurriedly, glancing at the entrance to the sweet shop. "But since you look as though you just came from there, would you happen to know if the woman behind the counter is Midori?"

"Yes," answered Okita, staring at her. She was wearing the attire of a maid...yet looked familiar. "Are you Yamoya Kameko?"

"I am," replied the young woman, looking suspicious. She took a step away from him. "Why?"

"Oh no reason," said Okita amiably, a little surprised that she hadn't recognised him herself. "It's just Midori-san was telling me about you."

"I see," Kameko said coolly, yet her cheeks were the faintest pink. "Well, I'll have to apologise on her behalf. You see, Midori-han is an old family friend, and she has this habit of.." She paused, looking uncomfortable. "...intervening in others' affairs. You'll have to excuse her."

"I didn't mind," Okita smiled.. "I understand how you feel. Back when I lived in Edo, there were a few mothers there who used all sorts of excuses to try and get me to meet their daughters. I lived in constant fear of my life," he added.

She was staring at him.

Okita instantly regretted his words. As usual, here he was spouting his head off to a stranger. And telling them all about his life. Oh the shame. To his surprise though, she started to laugh.

"You know, that is the first time a man has actually joked about it in front of me," she said, shaking her head. "And I don't feel offended at all. " She smiled. "In fact, I find myself sympathising with you. Being hounded by a prospective mother-in-law would be much worse than being hounded by a suitor."

"I know," Okita agreed mischievously. "I'd have your suitors anyday."

"Meko-chan, is that you I hear outside?"

Kameko's eyes widened. "Oh no!" she exclaimed in a whisper. "Midori-han!"

"Just hide behind the wall," Okita said quickly.

"Meko-chan?"

Okita picked up the packages.

Midori stopped in front of him, puzzled. "Okita-han? Didn't you leave already?"

"Oh I was just busy enjoying my sweets," Okita smiled innocently. "Thank you so much for them."

Midori pinched his cheek. "Any time!"

Flabbergasted, Okita held a hand to his cheek as she looked around, hands on her hips.

Wearing a disappointed expression, she turned back to him, then frowned and noticed the writing on his packages. "Why, that's the name of this shop," she said. Her brow furrowed. "Meko-chan was supposed to deliver them..." She gave him an odd look. "How on earth did you get these?"

"Well a maid gave them to me," replied Okita. "She said she didn't have enough time to personally deliver them, so I said I'll help her by giving them to you."

"I see." Midori looked displeased.

Okita could guess why, but he hid his grin. Politely, he bowed. "Well here you are then. I'm afraid I must be off now, or I'll be late for a training session."

"Yes, yes," said Midori absentmindedly, taking the packages and going back inside the store. "Goodbye then, Okita-han."

Okita peeked behind the wall, and as he had guessed, Kameko was gone. Grinning, he made his way back to the Yagi residence.