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Chapter 12: Those Who Come from Darkness

Shinsengumi Headquarters
July, 1864

"We've received a formal request from the Aizu clan." Kondo announced to all assembled troops. "They want us to mobilize and subjugate the Choshu." The was a collective gasp as the men began murmuring excitedly amongst themselves.

"That's awesome!" Sano said.

"Even Aizu has finally acknowledged our actions." Kondo said, looking deeply touched at the thought.

"All right! This is the Shinsengumi's shining moment!" Heisuke cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

"The hell are you talking about? Heisuke, your wounds ain't healed yet, so you gotta stay behind." Shinpachi reminded him.

"Eh!? No way!" Heisuke exclaimed, blanching in extreme disappointment.

"Well, the injured need to rest and stay on standby, right?" Okita said, smirking slightly.

"That applies to you, too, Okita-kun." San'nan said.

"Huh?" Okita said. He glanced accusingly at Sumiko, but she just turned her head away, looking innocent.

"Though you may object, you shall stay here with me." San'nan ordered calmly but firmly. No exceptions. Heisuke and Okita heaved heavy sighs of defeat. Chizuru smiled.

"Sumiko-san. Yukimura-kun." Kondo said, calling the two girls to attention. "Will you accompany us as well?"

"Huh?" Chizuru said.

"Chizuru!?" Heisuke asked.

"I'm not asking either of you to join us on the battlefield. We could use a medic and someone to help with relaying messages and carrying the wounded." Kondo explained.

"We won't force you." Hijikata said. "Decide for yourselves whether or not you want to go." Sumiko bowed her head in thought, but didn't take long to make her decision when she looked at the faces of those around her.

"Of course I'll come. Someone has to look after a bunch of rough guys like you." She said with a slight smirk, earning a few chuckles from the men.

"I…" Chizuru said a bit hesitantly, remembering how she had almost gotten in the way the last time when she rushed into the inn without thinking. She shook her head. No, things would be different this time. "If I can be of any use at all, I'll go, too." She said more determinedly.

"Mm." Kondo said, nodding in approval at the two of them, while Hijikata looked on silently.

"Sumiko! Chizuru! You gotta work enough for us, too!" Heisuke said, referring to himself and Okita.

"Yes, I'll do my best!" Chizuru replied enthusiastically.

"Your going is not a game." San'nan said rather coldly as he looked at both girls. "Ensure that you are not a hindrance to the others."

"Ah! Yes…" Chizuru said, bowing her head, blushing slightly in embarrassment, while Sumiko furrowed her brow slightly. What he said wasn't wrong, but couldn't he have been a little nicer about it?

"All right! Let's do this!" Shinpachi declared boldly, getting to his feet.

"Yeah!" The rest of the men cheered. During the commotion, San'nan silently slipped out of the room alone and started walking along the porch. He paused in his steps for a moment to stare at his left arm. Though the wound had healed, he still couldn't use it the way he wanted. His hand trembled as he tried to make a fist with it.

—∞—

The Shinsengumi's day to shine had come. Once again, the troops were assembled and in uniform, ready to march out to support the Aizu clan, as formally requested, in order to help drive back the Choshu forces that sought to enter the imperial palace.

"We of the Shinsengumi shall now mobilize that we may protect the city of Kyoto!" Kondo declared as he addressed the troops. The men all cheered in response. The took up their banner and started proudly marching out of the headquarters in formation. It was the start of the event that what would later be called the Kinmon Rebellion, and was the beginning of a fierce battle that would engulf the city of Kyoto.

"Ah-ah. I wanted to go too!" Heisuke said, sighing, as he stood at the gate with Okita and San'nan to see the others off. "Staying behind here is way too boring! Okita laughed, smiling wryly, as he silently seconded that emotion.

"If you simply let your wounds heal, you can return to the front lines soon." San'nan reminded him with a slight smile. "But I, on the other hand…"

"Ah…" Heisuke said, lowering his head regretfully. He should have kept his big mouth shut.

"Well, he means to keep quiet and get some rest!" Okita said, jabbing Heisuke in the side with his elbow.

"Ow! The hell are you doin' Souji!?" Heisuke shouted incredulously at Okita as he headed back inside, chasing after him. San'nan watched them leave out the corner of his eye before looking forward again. Although Sumiko didn't seem ready to give up on him yet, he couldn't see how he could possibly get better when he could barely even do the simple finger and wrist exercises she had assigned for him to practice. 'If I take that medicine… I may be able to wield a sword once again.' He thought.

—∞—

Fushimi Magistrate's Office

"In the name of Katamori Matsudaira, Lt. General of Aizu, we are the Shinsengumi." Kondo declared when they had reached the gates of their destination. "We hastened here, having been requested to protect the capital!"

" 'Requested', you say?" the samurai who had come out to greet them asked, furrowing his brow. "I received no such word."

"However, we have a formal letter!" Kondo insisted, standing his ground. "If you would pass it to your superiors—"

"Even if I did, the answer would still be the same! Now go." The samurai retorted, waving his hand dismissively. "We have no use for you Wolves of Mibu."

"How cruel. Calling them that!" Chizuru said.

"Better a wolf than a lapdog who only knows how to bark." Sumiko muttered, furrowing her brow in annoyance.

"Well, this is how others treat us." Sano said, smiling wryly, as he placed a hand on Chizuru's shoulder.

"But…" Chizuru said.

"Being the Shogun's rep falls to the Kuwana domain." Sano said. "If we handle this badly, it could bring disgrace to Aizu."

"Then, I take it slapping that fool would be out of the question?" Sumiko asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Most definitely." Sano replied with an amused smile as Saito stepped forward to whisper something to their commander.

"Commander Kondo, we'll get nowhere with the Shogun's representative. Let's leave the magistrate's office and join up with Aizu." Saito suggested calmly.

"That's our only choice. I guess we'll have to look for where the Office of Kyoto Protector has set up camp." Kondo said, glancing back at the others. Hijikata nodded in approval.

—∞—

The heat was oppressive and the cry of the cicadas deafening as they marched under the hot summer sun to find the Aizu. Sumiko and Chizuru waited outside with the troops with Kondo was let in to speak with the officials.

"Hijikata-san." Sumiko said, stepping forward. "While we have a moment, anyone who has water should drink some. If they stay out in this heat without hydrating properly, they won't be in a good condition when it's time to fight."

"Understood." He said, nodding in approval of the suggestion. "Did you hear that, everyone? If you have water, start drinking! Don't forget to replenish your liquids, or you won't be any use to us later!" The men began talking amongst themselves and pulling out their bamboo water containers to drink. They didn't need to be told twice. A few minutes later, Kondo emerged with new orders.

"We shall now head for Kujogawara!" Kondo announced, pointing to the direction they were headed. Everyone immediately stowed their water away again and followed their leader without hesitation.

—∞—

The sun was beginning to set by the time they reached the camp in Kujogawara.

"The Shinsengumi, on standby with us of the Aizu clan?" Asked one of the Aizu troop leaders incredulously when they broke the news to him. He glanced at one of the men beside him. The man shook his head. "I've received no word of that." He said proudly. "Sorry, but please confirm with our feudal residence."

Sumiko frowned in annoyance. He didn't look sorry at all. What was this a game of human hot-potato? They should go ask themselves, and know their pain of being sent on a wild goose chase.

"Again?" Chizuru asked, furrowing her brow.

"Your feudal residence?" Shinpachi asked impatiently, raising his voice, as he walked forward to stand beside Kondo. "They told us Shinsengumi to come to Kujogwara!"

"Hey." Kondo said quietly, holding out his arm in front of Shinpachi to remind him to calm down. "I want to talk to the head of your camp." Kondo told the Aizu samurais patiently. "Could you take me to see your higher-up?" The troop leader furrowed his brow, about to refuse, when he noticed all the intense death glares he was receiving from the rest of the Shinsengumi, who were running out of patience after having to march around all day in the heat.

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to reconsider…