I own nothing but my OC.

Chapter 27: Painted Lips

January, 1867

Chizuru was walking with Okita's patrol through the city when she heard a familiar voice call out to her from among the crowd.

"Chizuru-chan!"

Chizuru stopped looked over to see a pretty girl in a yellow kimono smiling and waving at her.

"Osen-chan!" Chizuru said excitedly, rushing over to talk to her new friend. It had been awhile since their last meeting. Okita stopped when he noticed Chizuru wasn't following anymore and back tracked to find the two girls talking.

"What a coincidence. I was just about to pay a visit to your headquarters." Sen said.

"Huh?" Chizuru said, surprised.

"Actually, I heard from a geisha, one of my acquaintances, that recently, many strange warriors are using the Sumi-ya regularly for meetings." Sen said, lowering her voice in an attempt to be more discrete. "It seems they are making some dangerous plans, like attacking the Shinsengumi headquarters."

"!" Okita's expression darkened slightly when he heard that. "But even if your information is true," Okita said, alerting the girls to his presence, "it's impossible for us to just brazenly lay an ambush in Shimabara. I know!" He said thoughtfully, lifting his head as he glanced pointedly at Chizuru. "Hey, why don't you help us out for a bit?"

"Huh?" Chizuru said.

—∞—

"No way!" Heisuke protested when they all heard Okita's plan later that evening. "It's too dangerous for Chizuru to go undercover in Shimabara, right, Sumiko-san?" He asked, expecting at least her to back him up on this.

"Well…" Sumiko said thoughtfully, looking carefully at Chizuru to make sure this wasn't just something Okita had pushed her into. In theory, it was a good plan, but there was still a hint of danger involved, not to mention the unpleasantly high possibility of having to deal with perverts and drunks… "What do you want to do, Chizuru?"

"I… I want to do what little I can to help everyone." Chizuru said earnestly, determined to do her best.

"I'm against it." Hijikata said, furrowing his brow. "What should we do if the worst happens?"

"But the clock is ticking." San'nan said. "I believe letting Yukimura-kun act as our spy is the best way to gather the information we need." The room was silent for a moment as they all debated internally on whether or not it was worth the risk to Chizuru. Sumiko was going to suggest that maybe she could do it in Chizuru's stead, but seeing how determined her friend had been to help and how down she looked to hear how reluctant the others were to let her made her change her mind.

"You guys are overreacting. She's a big girl." Sumiko said, sighing. "If it's just to disguise herself as a geisha and listen in on those samurai's conversations, then even Chizuru can do it. And she doesn't have to do it alone. I can go in with her. Between the two of us, we should be able to cut the time it would normally take for one person to cover the Sumi-ya in half, right?" She asked, winking at her friend.

"Hai!" Chizuru agreed happily, glad Sumiko was backing her up on this one.

"I think you're underestimating the danger." Hijikata told them. "Even if you're skilled with a sword, you won't be able to take it with you while pretending to be a geiko. You'll be defenseless."

"Hijikata-san, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself even without a sword." Sumiko insisted. "If you need proof, Shinpachi-san will help me demonstrate an example for you."

"Eh? I will?" Shinpachi said, taken aback.

"Yes." Sumiko said, standing up and walking to the center of the room. "Just come at me however you like."

"… Do I have to?" Shinpachi asked reluctantly, not liking where this was going at all. He had done enough sparring with her to know how this was most likely going to end. "Can't I just vouch for her?" He asked Hijikata.

"Oh? Are you scared, Shinpachi-san?" Okita asked with a sly smirk.

"N-No!" Shinpachi retorted a little more nervously than he meant to as he stood up and stepped up to face her. "Okay." He said, taking a deep breath and a moment to preparing himself. "Arhh!" He charged at Sumiko. In one swift, fluid motion she grabbed Shinpachi by the arm and pivoted on her heel as she flipped him over and pinned him on the floor. Hijikata and Kondo, who had never actually seen this for themselves before, stared at her, stunned. After a moment, she released her hold on poor Shinpachi.

"Why does it always seem like you're picking on me?" Shinpachi asked her in a low voice as she helped him up.

"Sorry." She apologized with a wry smile. "I just thought it'd look more impressive if I proved I could beat someone with your muscles." This seemed to cheer him up considerably, as he retreated back to his spot next to Sano with a proud grin. Sano smiled wryly and shook his head. Sumiko had figured out how to handle Shinpachi pretty well, hadn't she?

"Ahem. I see your point." Hijikata told Sumiko, clearing his throat. Just how many martial arts did this girl know? "However, this doesn't change the situation for Chizuru." Chizuru bowed her head in disappointment.

"Vice-commander. I will infiltrate the Sumi-ya with Yamazaki and guard the safety of Yukimura." Saito said.

"Please leave it to us." Yamazaki said, bowing. Hijikata sighed.

"That's your plan?" He asked, with a wry smile. He could tell they were all determined to let Chizuru do her part. Well, it might be for the best. Even if they wouldn't have to worry about Sumiko's safety, it was hard to imagine her being able to pull of being a geisha. Chizuru would probably have a better chance of not being found out in that sense.

"Hai." Saito and Yamazaki replied dutifully.

"Don't worry." Sano said as he and Shinpachi got up and crossed the room together to reassure Chizuru. "Well also head to Shimabara once we've finished our patrol."

"Yeah. Chief is a heavy drinker." Shinpachi said, earning a few chuckles from Kondo and the others.

"Is it really all right?" Heisuke asked dubiously, still worried about Chizuru.

—∞—

The next day, Sumiko and Chizuru had gone to Shimabara early to meet up with Sen and her geisha friend, who would be supplying the with their disguises and helping them infiltrate the Sumi-ya. It must be a small world after all, because Sen's acquaintance had turned out to be Kimigiku-san.

"Oh, so you're the famous Osen-chan, huh? Nice to meet you." Sumiko greeted the younger girl, bowing politely. "Thanks for taking care of our Chizuru."

"My pleasure." Sen said, smiling. "So, you're the Sumiko-san I've heard so much about?" She asked, looking at her with keen eyes. Sumiko made a handsome man. Her disguise seemed to suit her more than Chizuru's did.

"Well, that may depend on what you've heard…" Sumiko replied, smiling wryly. "But, yes, I'm Miyagawa Sumiko." Chizuru smiled, glad the two of them were finally able to meet.

"Nice to meet you, Sumiko-san." Sen said, smiling.

"And it's nice to see you again, Kimigiku-san." Sumiko said, bowing to the geisha. "We had a lot of fun last time."

"Yes, as did I." Kimigiku said, smiling, as she returned her bow. "It is a pleasure to be able to dress you as well this time."

"Haha, well, we'll see." Sumiko said, laughing a little nervously. "I may need a little more work than Chizuru…"

–∞–

"Ahh!" Sen gasped with delight as she took in the appearance of the two girls after their transformation into geikos. They had gone the full nine yards this time since they were going undercover as professional geishas. Their pretty faces had been washed smooth with flawless white. Their delicate lips had been painted crimson, and the pink shadows brushed onto their eyelids helped their long black lashes stand out even more dramatically against their pale faces. Their long locks were pulled up in elegant hairstyles that complimented the shape of their faces and showed off their slender necks. Kimigiku was helping them make some final adjustments to the richly colored and extravagantly decorated kimonos that they were wearing. The color scheme for Chizuru's outfit was predominantly red with dark-blue and light green, and purple; while Sumiko had been given an outfit that was predominantly light-blue with black, pink, and red.

"These clothes really suit you." Kimigiku said.

"Yep. Chizuru's a real beauty." Sumiko said, smiling proudly at her friend.

"I was referring to you as well, Miyagawa-san." Kimigiku told her, smiling wryly.

"It's true. Sumiko-san's really pretty." Chizuru said, smiling. She had always thought so, but in the geisha garb, Sumiko shined even brighter than she had before back when they were still living in Edo.

"Eh? R-Really?" Sumiko asked surprised, blushing. "That… Hearing that makes me kind of happy…" She said a little shyly, playing with the sleeve of her kimono.

"Hmm." Sen hummed, smiling in amusement. So the valiant 'Aniki' had a cute side to her, too, huh? Well, she was a girl, after all. "Show some confidence!" She told Sumiko and Chizuru. "You're both really beautiful, after all. You make handsome boys, but you make even more beautiful women!" She said brightly, giving them both a little pat on the back. Chizuru and Sumiko glanced at each other and smiled. Chizuru was still a little nervous about their assignment, but she felt better knowing that Sumiko and the others would be nearby if she needed them.

—∞—

"Well, we should just drink something while waiting for our turn." Sano said as he, Shinpachi, and Heisuke walked along the porch facing the inner courtyard of the teahouse later that evening.

"Yeah. Sounds fun." Shinpachi agreed. "We can thoroughly enjoy Chizuru as a geiko again, too." He added with a grin laughing.

"Will she really be all right?" Heisuke wondered out loud, still thinking about Chizuru. Sumiko would be fine since she was tough, but poor Chizuru… "She's servin' sake to those perverted drunks and flatterin' them, and bein' touched by them… Ahhh!" Heisuke groaned miserably just thinking about it.

"Heisuke, what are you mumblin' there?" Shinpachi asked as he and Sano turned back to look at their friend while he agonized over Chizuru's predicament. Sano smiled slightly as he correctly guessed the cause.

"Good, we'll leave Chizuru in your hands." Sano told Heisuke. "There's a discussion us men need to have." He put his arm around Shinpachi and started leading him away.

"Huh? What discussion?" Shinpachi asked, not getting it.

"Now, now." Sano said. "How about we go check on Sumiko-san real quick?" He suggested instead of explaining. "I think the she might actually be one I'm most curious about seeing this evening. After all, we've never seen her dressed as woman before, have we?"

"Oh! You're right! We'll definitely have to look in on her." Shinpachi agreed. "That 'Aniki' in women's clothing… I can't even begin to picture it!"

"Hey, hold on you two." Heisuke called after his friends, but they just kept going, determined to do a little spying on Sumiko while he had some alone time with Chizuru.

"Pardon the intrusion!" Shinpachi said cheerfully as he threw open the door of the room Sumiko was supposed to be in.

"Oh." She said as she turned around, surprised to see them so soon. "Is something wrong?" She asked, concerned. Sano froze as he stared at her, astounded by the transformation. There were practically sparkles in the air around her, and she looked so enchantingly elegant and beautiful, that it felt as though she should have been surrounded by blooming flowers. He couldn't believe this delicate woman before him was the same person that had so easily flipped and restrained Shinpachi the previous evening. He had thought Chizuru's transformation had been amazing the last time, but Sumiko's was downright miraculous…

"Ah, sorry! We must have the wrong room." Shinpachi apologized bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck, as he started to close the door.

"It's the right room." Sano said, stopping him.

"What? It can't be. We're looking for Sumiko, remember? Look at this girl! She's a total babe! She obviously has to be their top—"

"It's me, Shinpachi-san." Sumiko deadpanned bluntly in her usual tone, dropping the geisha act completely.

"Eh!?" Shinpachi shouted incredulously.

"Shh! Are you trying to blow my cover?" She asked, frowning slightly in annoyance. He didn't have to look that shocked! "Don't attract any unwanted attention. Come inside and close the door if you want to talk."

"Hai, hai." Sano said, giving his dumbfounded friend a push into the room so they could sit down and have a chat. "Well, I can't say I blame you for being so surprised… for a moment, I thought I was looking at a different person, too." He admitted as he sat down. "After all, a while back you said these things didn't suit you, but you look pretty good." He told her, smiling wryly as he stared appreciatively at her new appearance.

"Yeah, the image I had in mind was something closer to Hijikata in drag." Shinpachi said. Sumiko and Sano sweat-dropped as they stared at him.

"You have a real way with words, Shinpachi-san." She commented dryly, extremely chagrined, as she tried to control her blush of embarrassment. "You want me to kill you?"

"And you have breasts!" Shinpachi exclaimed pointing at her chest.

"Of course I have breasts!" She shouted, glaring at him incredulously. Seriously, just what did he take her for—Did he think she was a man pretending to be a girl who was pretending to be a man!?

"No! I mean—of course you have them!" He floundered, glancing at Sano for help. Unfortunately for him, Sano was taking Sumiko's side on this one. There were some things you just shouldn't say to a woman. "B-But before they were pretty much non-existent, and now they're there! What did you do, stuff your kimono? They look real…" He said, reaching out a hand towards her chest to test his theory.

SMACK!

"That's because they are!! I've just been strapping them down this whole time!" She snapped furiously, slapping his hand away before it could land. "Hmph! Whatever!" She said, furrowing her brow, as she stood up and headed for the door. "I thought you guys came in because you had something important to tell me, but if all you're gonna do is tease me and mess with me, then I'm leaving! I'll go find somewhere else to play spy. Maybe Chizuru's having more luck…" She slammed the door shut behind her and stalked off in a huff. Sano sighed heavily.

"You just had to open your big mouth…"