I own nothing but my OC.
Chapter 11: Aftermath and Recovery
The Shinsengumi banner for 'Sincerity' fluttered slightly in the morning breeze as it was held high while the entire company marched proudly back to headquarters together with their wounded. Even though they had just spent the night fighting fiercely to protect them, the townspeople gathered in the street stared at the blood-splattered warriors with open looks of open fear and trepidation.
"That's the… Shinsengumi." One man said with a trembling voice as the passed.
—∞—
Shinsengumi Headquarters,
Several weeks later...
A couple of sparrows could be heard chirping in the courtyard as Chizuru brought over a tray of medicine and water for the injured captains to take while Sumiko did her rounds checking the progress of the rest of the wounded. Okita and Heisuke had recovered enough to be out of bed.
"This is medicine." Chizuru said, smiling pleasantly, as she placed a packet and cup of water in front of San'nan-san as well.
"Oh, my. Am I taking it, too?" He asked. "The wound to my left arm has gotten better. Miyagawa-san removed the stitches yesterday."
"But Hijikata-san told me to bring it for you." She said. San'nan glanced at Hijikata and saw that he was staring expectantly at him, watching like a hawk, while he waited for him to take the medicine.
"San'nan-san. Let's just give in." Okita said, furrowing his brow as he swallowed the bitter medicine. San'nan smiled wanly as he reluctantly picked up the packet of powdered medicine.
"If the vice-commander orders it…" He said, furrowing his brow slightly, as he braced himself.
"Was this medicine specially prescribed?" Chizuru asked curiously.
"The Ishida medicinal powder?" Sano asked, knocking back some himself. "Well, yeah, I guess it's special."
"Ishida medicinal powder?" She asked. She couldn't recall having ever seen or heard of her father or Sumiko using it before. Was it new?
"Hijikata-san's family makes it." Okita said.
"That's right. If your body's been cut up, no matter how much it hurts, this'll heal you right up! That's Ishida medicine powder! C'mon, give it try!" Heisuke said animatedly, imitating the kind of sale pitch that might be used by a medicine seller. "I wonder how it really is…" he said, lowering his voice, as he opened his mouth wide and poured the medicine in. "Ugh! Gross!" he exclaimed, cringing at the bitter taste.
"Care to try me?" Hijikata asked darkly, raising his fist in a threatening manner. Heisuke had better finish taking it, or else…
"Eyah! G-Give me a break… I can't go getting' more injuries, can I!?" Heisuke exclaimed, shrinking back, as he rubbed his bandaged head, earning a laugh from the others.
"Yeah. It'd be a problem if you broke him after I went through so much trouble to fix him." Sumiko said as she entered the room, smiling wryly, as she sat down.
"It's not fair that you're the only one who gets out of taking it, Sumiko-san." Heisuke said, pouting slightly. It was only a minor cut to begin with, but for some reason, her wound had healed twice as fast as it should have.
"I guess it does pay to be a freak of nature sometimes." She replied with a cheeky smirk.
"It's good that it didn't leave a mark, though." Sano said, smiling. "It'd be a shame to scar a pretty face like that."
"I wouldn't have minded. I got wounded for a good cause, after all." She said, smiling. "Besides, aren't scars like badges of honor?"
"Oh! You said something manly again." Shinpachi said, grinning. "Maybe I should start calling you 'Aniki', too?"
"Please don't." Sumiko deadpanned. "I get enough of that from Heisuke's group."
"Yes." Inoue said, smiling as they all laughed, before adopting a more serious expression. "Still, to think there were fighters who could even harm Okita-kun and Toudou-kun…"
"Yeah, I was lucky he decided to let me off the hook." Sumiko said. "I bit off more than I could chew attacking him."
"Next time we meet, I will be the winner." Okita stated calmly, though it was clear he was still bothered that the other man had gotten away.
"It seems they claimed that they weren't Choshu." Saito said.
"Yeah." Heisuke confirmed
"However, the Ikedaya supposedly cleared out its other guests that day." Saito stated.
"Meaning what?" Shinpachi asked thoughtfully.
"They may have been from another clan, spies who'd sneaked in for some reason." Saito suggested.
"But why? For what reason?" Sano asked. Saito shook his head. He couldn't say for sure. They all sat in silence for awhile and pondered what this turn of events could mean.
—∞—
Chizuru and Sumiko were clearing away the cups and taking them to be washed. Hijikata followed them out to have a quick word.
"Hey." He said, stopping them. "Go with Harada on patrol today." He told them.
"Huh?" but today's not our day to go on patrol with them…" Chizuru said, confused.
"Shut up and go." He said calmly before turning and walking away. Sumiko blinked as they stared after him. What was that all about…?
—∞—
GONNNG~
A temple bell chimed as the sun began to set, bathing the streets of Kyoto in an orange glow. As Chizuru walked down the street with Sano's group, she noticed most of the people on the streets seemed to be either giving them nasty looks or going out of their way to avoid them.
"Um, Harada-san? I get the feeling people are avoiding us…" She said.
"Hm? Ah, following the Ikedaya incident, they've come to completely hate us." Sano replied.
"But why?" Chizuru asked, confused. "All of you work to protect the peace here in Kyoto."
"Kyoto folk are Bakufu-hating Choshu toadies, that's why." Shinpachi said as he walked up with Sumiko and his group to meet them.
"Nagakura-san!" Chizuru said.
"Why don't you try raising your voice some more?" Sumiko suggested, sweat-dropping. "I think there are still some people on the outskirts of the city who haven't been offended by you yet." Shinpachi just laughed.
"Yo, Chizuru-chan! Learn anything about your dad?" He asked the younger girl cheerfully. Sumiko hadn't had any luck on her end.
"No. Not at all…" Chizuru said regretfully.
"I see." Shinpachi said. "Well, if not today, there's always tomorrow, right?"
"Hai!" Chizuru said, perking up. Sumiko smiled.
"Shinpachi. Anything out of the ordinary?" Sano asked.
"Nope. Not on the surface." Shinpachi replied more seriously.
"On the surface?" Chizuru asked.
"There are rumors that more Choshu guys are gathering here in Kyoto." He explained.
"Eh?" Chizuru said. There were more of them?
"Things are lookin' suspicious again, huh?" Sano said, furrowing his brow.
'Just what is going to happen to Kyoto?' Sumiko wondered, furrowing her own brow slightly. Once again, she found herself wishing she had paid more attention in history class. She had memorized when most of the major events occurred and who would be involved, but the details in between about how certain outcomes were achieved were really fuzzy…
"Sorry, but you all go on ahead." Sano told the rest of the men. "We've got something to take care of."
"Hai." The men replied obediently, marching off to return to headquarters without question.
"Eh?" Shinpachi said as he and Sumiko turned to stare after them.
"Shinpachi. Sumiko. You come, too." Sano told them. "Well, let's go." He said, glancing at Chizuru before walking off to lead them to their destination. Sumiko, Chizuru, and Shinpachi exchanged curious glances before following after him.
"Hey, Sano. Where are we going?" Shinpachi asked after awhile.
"Well, never you mind." Sano told him with a slight smirk as he glanced back over his shoulder.
"Never mind, you say?" Shinpachi asked dubiously, wondering what his friend was thinking leading them so far off course.
"What's that sound?" Chizuru asked as they left the alley and walked out into a street filled with light and music. The girls' eyes widened slightly as they took in all the sights and sounds. The sound of flutes and bells filled the evening air, and in the middle of the street was richly carved float with glowing paper lanterns. It was beautiful.
"Ah, that's right! It's time for the Gion festival…" Sumiko gasped, recognizing the familiar scene. She used to come to this festival with her parents… She couldn't believe it was already July.
"Right. Tomorrow is the second half of the Gion festival." Sano said. "This is your last chance to see the Yamahoko parade. Pretty great, huh?"
"Hai!" Chizuru said, smiling as she admired the floats.
"Mn. It's been a while since I've seen this, but it's still just as beautiful as ever." Sumiko said, smiling softly.
"Oh, you like these kinds of things that much, huh?" Sano asked, smiling.
Sumiko smiled even more, and her normally strong voice took on a softer and sweeter tone as she began quoting one of her favorite poems:
"In my life
As in the twilight,
A bell sounds.
I enjoy the freshness of evening."
"Oh. Not bad." Sano, said impressed. She had a good voice.
Shinpachi smirked and began reciting another poem:
"The sound of the bells of the Jetavana Monastery,
their ring is the transience of earthly things,
the color of the flowers of the sal tree imparts
the truth that the prosperous shall decay.
Neither shall the proud endure;
they are little more than a dream on a spring night.
Even the mighty perish at last,
and are as dust before the wind."
"What was that?" Chizuru asked.
"The opening lines to the Tale of Heike, right?" Sumiko asked.
"Oh, you know it?" Shinpachi asked, smiling.
"My father owned a copy of it." She replied, smiling at the memory of the worn out book sitting on the shelf in their home library.
"That so? I haven't actually read the whole thing, but hearing the musicians just now made me think of it."
"Even the greatest splendor will fall to ruin. It means nothing lasts forever." Sano said solemnly.
"Will fall… to ruin…" Chizuru said thoughtfully, looking down.
'Nothing lasts forever…' Sumiko thought somberly, thinking of all the people she had come to care about in the Shinsengumi, and the unfortunate ending that she knew awaited most of them. The two men glanced at the girls and saw that they were both now wearing solemn expressions instead of smiles.
"Say, Shinpachi, you've confused the festival band's music with the bells of the Jetavana Monastery, haven't you?" Sano said, teasing his friend in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"It wasn't me! Heisuke said that!" Shinpachi retorted defensively, blushing slightly out of embarrassment.
"But you took what he said at face value, right?" Sano said, pointing at him.
"Sh-Shut up!"
"Pfft. Heheheh! " Sumiko and Chizuru started laughing, smiling at their antics. Regardless of what was to come, they were all together here, now. So, they might as well enjoy the ride while they still could.
The guys smiled, relieved to see the girls smiling again.
"Wanna see it closer?" Sano asked them.
"Huh? But…" Chizuru said, blushing, surprised when he grabbed her hand.
"Is it really all right?" Sumiko asked. Shouldn't they be getting back before they got in trouble?
"Yeah, what if Hijikata finds out we took our time getting back?" Shinpachi asked.
"As it turns out, it was Hijikata-san who instructed us to take out time." Sano revealed, smiling.
"Eh?" the other three said, surprised.
"I guess he meant it as a reward for the two of you." Sano said.
"Yeah. I wouldn't have expected that. Not from him." Shinpachi agreed, grinning, as the girls glanced between them.
Sumiko raised an eyebrow. Hijikata had a funny way of showing affection—telling them to 'shut up' and then arranging a treat for them…
"He may not look it, but he's a thoughtful guy." Sano said, noting the expression on her face.
"Well, then…" Shinpachi said, taking Sumiko by the hand. "Let's go!" He cheered as he and Sano took off, pulling the girls closer to the floats.
"!" The girls gasped, surprised by the sudden lurch forward, as they made their way through the crowd, but the girls soon recovered and smiled excitedly as they joined in on the festivities.