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Chapter 9: The Ikedaya Incident
While Chizuru went with Okita's group, Sumiko went with Heisuke's, hoping they might have a better chance of finding her father if they split up to cover more ground. Unfortunately, Sumiko didn't seem to be having much luck. Everyone she asked either had no idea what she was taking about or hurried away to avoid talking to her because they had seen she was with the Shinsengumi.
"You guys aren't very popular, are you?" She asked Heisuke, smiling wryly.
"No. Unfortunately some stuff happened, and we ended up getting a bad reputation because of a few rotten apples." He explained, sighing.
"Must be tough." She said sympathetically.
"Ah! My baby!" A woman suddenly cried. They immediately stopped and whipped their heads around to see what was wrong. Heisuke didn't see any baby, but Sumiko must have, because she took of like shot, diving in front of a speeding cart, and rolling out of harms way just in time as she scooped something small up off the ground and cradled it in her arms.
"Phew!" Sumiko said, sighing in relief. "That was dangerous…" 'I guess some things never change no matter what era you're in…' She thought, smiling wryly.
"Here you go, ma'am." Sumiko said with a charming smile, handing the sweet little calico kitten in her arms over to the frantic woman that came rushing over to reclaim her 'baby'.
"H-How cool…" Heisuke said as he and his men stared at her from across the lane with wide eyes. It was a little extreme to go that far for just a cat, but that didn't change the fact that it had been pretty damn impressive. "… So manly."
Sumiko waved goodbye as the woman thanked her and walked away.
"What…?" She asked, stopping short when she noticed how they were all staring at her.
"Can we call you 'Aniki'!?" Several of the men asked excitedly.
"Huh?" Sumiko asked, feeling extremely confused.
"You guys!" Heisuke shouted indignantly on her behalf. "Get back to work! We're supposed to be patrolling."
"Uh, what just happened?" Sumiko asked hesitantly.
"I think you just turned half of division eight into your followers." He said, sighing as he shook his head.
"What? Why!?" She asked, flinching in shock.
"You're too manly for your own good." He told her, patting her sympathetically on the back.
—∞—
"That's quite the accomplishment." San'nan said once they had all returned to headquarters and gathered together for a discussion. And, no, he wasn't talking about Sumiko's daring rescue of the cat. Apparently, Okita's group had gotten into a tussle with some rough characters on their side of town. Hijikata was in the process of interrogating the guy they had arrested as they spoke. "You confiscated the ammunition that had been transported to the shop, and captured Shuntaro Furutaka, Choshu spy and crime boss."
"We really got lucky, huh?" Okita asked.
"It's no laughing matter." San'nan said seriously. "You received word the shop owner was a Choshu spy, yet you continued to let him be, did you not?"
"You don't think bad about Shimada-kun and Yamazaki-kun?" Heisuke asked, pointing the two men sitting just behind himself and Shinpachi.
"Please, pay no mind to us." Yamazaki said.
"We'd kept up our watch over the store, but things were at a standstill. It was thanks to Okita-san and the others that we were able to catch Furutaka.
"In hindsight, that is." San'nan said.
"How admirable of you all." Shinpachi said. "In contrast, Souji is—"
"The fault is mine." Chizuru said, speaking up on Okita's behalf.
"Chizuru…?" Sumiko said, surprised. Why would it be her fault?
"When I heard my father had been seen, I went to the shop without thinking of the consequences." Chizuru explained. Sumiko nodded in understanding. Yeah, she could see that happening.
"The responsibility for your lack of supervision falls to Okita-kun." San'nan said.
"About that…" Hijikata said, entering the room. "I allowed her to leave, so I am also responsible. They're not the only ones to blame."
"Hijikata-san. Has Furutaka said anything?" Sano asked as Hijikata took a seat. Hijikata scanned the faces of all those present before answering.
"They'll set fire to Kyoto on a day the wind is strong, and take the emperor away to Choshu." He stated.
"Set fire to Kyoto!?" Kondo exclaimed incredulously, appalled.
"That just means they'll kidnap the emperor, right?" Heisuke said. "They talk about revering the emperor, but the don't respect him at all!"
"If they wanna set fire to the city, those Choshu guys have got a screw loose!" Shinpachi added.
"They're panicking now that Furutaka has been captured." Hijikata said. "They're sure to meet tonight to come up with a course of action."
"Where would the Choshu hold a meeting?" Kondo asked.
"Going by what we've seen, I think it'd be at either the Shikokuya or Ikedaya." Shimada said.
'Ikedaya…they don't mean…" Sumiko thought, struggling to keep her pokerface on when everything suddenly clicked into place. 'That can't be happening tonight, can it!?'
"All right. Send word to the Aizu clan and the Shogun's representative." Kondo said. "Toshi. Assemble the troops!"
"Mmn." Hijikata said, nodding in approval.
—∞—
"Is this all the men we can mobilize?" Hijikata asked once everyone able to come had donned their uniform haoris and assembled in formation.
"I'm very sorry. If not for my injury, I could…" San'nan said regretfully.
"No. We need you to keep watch over things here, San'nan-kun." Kondo said.
"It's too bad they can't use him at a time like this." Sano said quietly.
"It seems he'll be avoiding combat for awhile." Saito said.
"He has to if he wants to have any chance of that arm healing properly." Sumiko added grimly. He had pushed himself too much already, that's why it was so slow to heal now.
"Still no movement from Aizu or the representative?" Hijikata asked Inoue.
"We have yet to receive any word." He replied.
"Tch. They won't act without definitive proof, huh?" Hijikata said, irritated but unsurprised to hear that the bureaucrats were dragging their feet, as always. "Kondo-san. Let's move out."
"But we still don't know if it's the Shikokuya or Ikedaya." Kondo said.
"They apparently used the Ikedaya quite often. It's hard to imagine they'd use the same place on the night that Furutaka is captured." San'nan said. "Thus, it's probably safe to assume it's the Shikokuya."
"Still, we can't rule out the Ikedaya." Kondo said.
"Fine, we'll split into two teams." Hijikata said. "I'll go to the Shikokuya."
"Then, Toshi, you take twenty-four men." Kondo said, standing up.
"Kondo-san, you'll only take ten? That's reckless." Hijikata objected, concerned for his leader.
"I agree." Sumiko said, unable to keep quiet any longer, despite her general policy of non-interference when it came to major events that could affect the timeline. "Please take more people with you." She couldn't just let him walk into there knowing the Ikedaya would be full of enemies without saying anything. Kondo smiled.
"In exchange, I'll take Souji, Nagakura, and Heisuke." He said, glancing at the three captains.
"Understood." Hijikata said with a slight smirk. Those three should help make up for what he lacked in numbers.
"If it turns out ours is the one, come back us up." Kondo told him.
"Mmn." Hijikata said, nodding in understanding.
—∞—
Sumiko and Chizuru stood next to San'nan-san at the gate as they watched the troops head out with Kondo and his group in the lead.
"If it were me," Hijikata said lowly, walking up beside them, "I'd attack the headquarters while it's shorthanded."
"I agree." San'nan said. "There are many with grudges against us."
"Everything else, I leave to you." Hijikata told him before glancing at Sumiko. "Be prepared. We'll need you waiting on standby to treat the wounded." He said to her before dashing off to catch up with the rest of the men.
"Mm. Be careful." She said as they watched him leave.
—∞—
It was too quiet. The headquarters were virtually empty. After making sure her medical kit was completely packed and ready to go, Sumiko joined Chizuru and San'nan while they waited to receive further news or orders. She had just barely had time to sit, when Yamazaki burst into the room, dressed like a ninja.
'I knew it…!' Sumiko thought.
"Deputy-commander! The location is Ikedaya." Yamazaki informed San'nan. The deputy-commander furrowed his brow.
"How careless of me." He said, scolding himself. "I misjudged."
"Does Hijikata-san's group know yet?" Sumiko asked, concerned. She knew the Shinsengumi would come out on top in the end, but it didn't stop her from worrying about their new friends.
"No. I will inform vice-commander Hijikata at the Shikokuya at once." Yamazaki said.
"I'll start heading to the Ikedaya." Sumiko said. "Kondo-san may have to go in before backup arrives. They might need medical assistance soon."
"Thank you. Time is of the essence." San'nan said gravely. "Also, Yukimura-kun."
"Yes?" Chizuru asked.
"You go with Yamazaki-kun as well, please." He said.
"Huh? You want… me to?" She asked, surprised.
"Pardon me, but I can convey a message on my own." Yamazaki said.
"We don't know what could happen." San'nan said. "To ensure the message is delivered, two is better than one."
"Understood." Yamazaki replied dutifully.
"Yukimura-kun. You'll go, won't you?" He asked Chizuru.
"Hai." Chizuru replied determinedly.
—∞—
"Miyagawa Sumiko and Yukimura Chizuru, was it?" Yamazaki asked as the three of them ran from headquarters together towards the inns. "Unfortunately, I can't guarantee your safety."
"Hai!" Chizuru said in between breaths.
"We understand." Sumiko said, furrowing her brow, when she caught sight of the group of men coming from the opposite direction. They were all armed and probably ronin.
"You have business with the Shinsengumi headquarters?" Yamazaki asked as they halted to confront the men blocking the road.
"Uh, no. Nothin' at all." The foremost man said shiftily. He and his men seemed nervous, like they were about to do something they knew they shouldn't.
"Yukimura-kun." Yamazaki said quietly, furrowing his brow, as he prepared to draw his sword. Sumiko did the same, preparing herself for what was about to happen next. "No matter what happens, you must make it down this road. Got it?" Right now it was most important that they made sure they got the message to Hijikata, or it would all be over.
"H-Hai." Chizuru whispered, glancing at the two of them.
"Bastard!" The man who had answered suddenly shouted as he drew his sword and charged at Yamazaki. Yamazaki quickly drew his sword and blocked the attack.
"Chizuru, go!" Sumiko urged her, drawing her sword as the rest of the ronin drew theirs. "Yaaah!" She yelled, charging forward to backup Yamazaki and carve a safe path for her friend.
And thus, a long, arduous night of battle began.