I own nothing but my OC.

Chapter 35: The Calm Before the Storm

November, 1867

Chizuru and Sumiko were sweeping the leaves away out in front of the entrance to the Fudodo Village headquarters, the place where the Shinsengumi had moved after the big confrontation with the oni a couple months ago.

"Chizuru. Sumiko. You gotten used to it here yet?" Sano asked when he and his men returned from patrol.

"Hai." Chizuru said, smiling. "It really is a wonderful headquarters, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It's a bit smaller, but that just means there's less to clean." Sumiko added with a slight smirk. They didn't need as much space anyway with Itou's group gone.

"Well, the monks at the Nishi Hongwanji Temple got this mansion for us." Sano said, smilingly wryly. "I bet they're glad to be rid of us. Having us around made things more noisy."

"We were even attacked by the oni there…" Chizuru said.

"Heh. A group of oni attacking a temple… It sounds so surreal, like something out of an old legend." Sumiko said, shaking her head. "Where's Abe no Seimei when you need him?"

"Yeah." Sano agreed. That was one thing they hadn't tried yet. "But thanks to all that, we got this sweet mansion. Guess we should be grateful to those oni." The two girls smiled wryly as a cold wind blew. Sumiko shivered when it hit the back of her neck and tucked her hands into her sleeves, while Chizuru exhaled on hers, trying to warm them with her breath.

"Cold?" Sano asked. "Would you like me warm your hands?" He asked, holding his own out to them.

"N-No. I can handle this amount of cold on my own." Chizuru said. Sumiko smiled wryly, knowing she was just shy about holding a guy's hand. That was pretty forward for back in the day, after all, though she was pretty sure San hadn't meant it that way.

"Sano." Shinpachi said, alerting them to his presence. They could hear the smirk in his voice. "What're you makin' a move on them in place like this for?" He teased.

"Stupid! Don't equate me to you!" Sano retorted, rounding on him. "What I feel is pure affection."

"What're you callin' 'pure' affection?" Shinpachi asked tauntingly with a stupid grin on his face. "You know what you are? A big sourpuss! You should be more like me, go right in for the kill!"

The two girls smiled wryly and laughed at their antics, but then a more solemn expression came over them when they thought of what Heisuke might have said if her were still there.

'Until recently, Heisuke-kun would've been out here with us, too, huh?' Sumiko thought as she looked up at the grey and overcast late autumn sky. Her expression mirrored the somber mood of the sky above. 'It will be happening soon, won't it…?'

—∞—

The Kodai-ji Temple,
Headquarters of the Guardians of the Imperial Tomb

"They're restoring Imperial rule? Damn those sneaky Bakufu bastards!" Shinohara exclaimed, banging his fist against the table he was seated at across from Itou. Neither of the two men were aware that Saitou, who was in the hall just outside the room they were in, had stopped to listen in on their conversation.

"With this, Satsuma and Choshu are no longer charged with overthrowing the government, yes?" Itou said.

"Was this Sakamoto's doing? Who's side is he on!? He's a naïve nationalist that wants to change the country without spilling any blood!" Shinohara said hotly.

"A sword that's too clean can prove dangerous, can't it?" Itou said thoughtfully. "As with Sakamoto and the Shinsengumi."

–∞–

Saito had left and was on his way to pay a visit to a shrine, when he passed a man dressed in worn and ragged clothes who was sitting on the side of the road with a beggar's cup. Saito paused and reached into the sleeve of his kimono. He removed a couple of yen wrapped in a twisted sheet of paper and dropped it in the cup before continuing on his way.

"Thank you kindly." Yamazaki said in a raspy voice as he lifted his head, tucking the secret note safely into the worn-out kimono he was wearing for his disguise.

—∞—

Shinsengumi Headquarters

Chizuru was washing some rags by the well, while Sumiko was off wiping the porches, when she began to feel as though she was being watched. She looked up and turned around to find Yamazaki standing there, as if he had been waiting for her to notice him.

"I'd like to speak with you." He said.

"Okay…" Chizuru said, blinking, wondering what he could want.

Yamazaki led her to a private room where they could talk and very carefully made sure no one was around to eavesdrop before closing the doors.

"Even amongst the officers, only a handful of people know about this," Yamazaki said as he took a seat across from her, "but Okita-san has contracted a certain illness. You know about it, don't you?" He asked sternly.

"No, I don't." Chizuru lied solemnly, remembering the promise she had made with Okita never to talk about it to anyone else.

"Really?" Yamazaki asked.

"Hai." She replied quietly.

"You seem to be someone who can be trusted." Yamazaki said as his expression lightened, surprising her."I'd like to ask a favor of you. If something were to happen to me, please look after Okita-san in my stead."

"If something were to… just what does that mean?" Chizuru asked, concerned.

"You're the only one I can ask." Yamazaki said. "Aside from Miyagawa-san, you're the only one who has any understanding of medicine and knows of his illness. I know Miyagawa-san is aware of this secret as well, but ever since the incident when she was injured a few months ago, I've been thinking it would be better to have more than one medic around, in case something should happen to prevent her from being able to perform as a doctor for a while again." He explained as he pulled a bound collection of medical notes from his kimono to give to her.

"What is this?" Chizuru asked.

"Methods to heal the troop's sick and injured, compiled under Matsumoto-sensei's instruction." He replied.

"Yamazaki-san, you did this all on your own?" Chizuru asked, impressed by the thickness of the book and detailed notes. It looked just like the health log Sumiko kept.

"When I am absent, and Miyagawa-san is unable to act for whatever reason, please consult this and undertake treatment." He said. "I'll speak to the commander and vice-commander."

"I… I'll do whatever I can to help. But… But I can't replace you, Yamazaki-san!" Chizuru said earnestly. The way he kept making this sound like some sort of goodbye worried her. Yamazaki stared at her for a moment, surprised.

"Okay." He replied with a small smile.

"I'll do my best." She said, accepting the book of treatments.

"I'm counting on you."

–∞–

"Sakamoto was cut down!?" Shinpachi exclaimed when he heard the news from Inoue later that evening.

"Harada-kun, apparently your scabbard was found at the scene where Matsumoto was killed." Inoue said, repeating the nasty rumors he had heard.

"Huh!?" Sano said incredulously.

"Oh, jeez. Sano-san struck down Sakamoto Ryouma, huh?" Okita said, causing the three men to glance over at him as he entering the room in his sleeping kimono, unable to keep still after overhearing such an interesting conversation. "I wish you would've invited me."

"Don't be stupid!" Sano said, furrowing his brow. "My scabbard is right here, isn't it?" He pointed out, holding up his sheathed sword, scabbard and all. "Wait, should you even be up?"

"No, he shouldn't." Sumiko said sternly, frowning, as she came out after Okita with a blanket to put around him. "But you try making this hardhead stay put."

"If I didn't get up once in a while, I'd just keep on sleeping." Okita said.

"Well, in any case…" Shinpachi said, standing up. "It looks like someone is trying to pin this on the Shinsengumi." Sumiko furrowed her brow as she recalled what history she knew about this point in time.

In November of 1867, the Restoration of Imperial Rule sent the Bakufu and Imperial court into a new era. But less than a month later, Sakamoto Ryouma, who had played a key role in the Restoration, was assassinated. Once again, the Shinsengumi was inexorably pulled under the great wave of the changing times…

"Everyone, gather 'round." Hijikata said as he came to call them together for a special meeting.

–∞–

"Saito?" Sano asked as he furrowed his brow, surprised to see their former fellow Shinsengumi member sitting amongst them again.

"What's he doing here?" Shinpachi asked.

"Let me guess, as of today, Saito-san will be returning to the Shinsengumi?" Sumiko asked calmly, catching Kondo, Hijikata, and Saito off-guard.

"What? Was she right?" Okita asked after seeing the surprised look on their faces.

"Sharp as always, eh, Sumiko-san?" Hijikata asked, furrowing his brow as he smiled wryly. Really, this girl… that was supposed to be a secret! Just when did she figure it out?

"What's going on here?" Sano asked.

"By Toshi's orders, Saito-kun infiltrated the Itou faction as our spy.

"Huh?" Sano said, stunned.

"Jeez, Hajime-kun. You did somethin' that fun and kept it a secret from me?" Okita asked with a wry smile, slightly chagrined.

"It was supposed to be a secret from everyone." Hijikata said, glancing pointedly at Sumiko.

"What can I say? It's a gift." Sumiko said, shrugging. "I felt something was off about Saito-san's decision to go with Itou's group, but I figured I should keep it to myself, since it seemed like you guys were trying to keep it all hush-hush…" Even if Saito hadn't been famous for his infiltration of Itou's group in the future, the move hadn't matched his personality as she understood it.

"I appreciate it." Saito said calmly. If someone had spoken out of turn, it could have blown his cover and put the entire operation at risk.

"Well, I get why Sumiko didn't say anything, but Kondo-san, that was pretty mean of you guys." Shinpachi said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, it was top secret." Kondo said, sweat-dropping, as he smiled apologetically at them and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry we had to keep it under wraps. Although, Miyagawa-san still figured it out…" He added with a nervous laugh.

'Thank goodness, Saito-san.' Chizuru thought, smiling at the return of one of their prodigal sons.

"Chizuru." Sumiko said, getting her attention. She smiled wryly at her friend and nodded at the door as she stood up. The guys probably wanted some privacy while they discussed their next plan of action.

"Ah! We'll go make some tea!" Chizuru said, also getting up and heading for the door.

"Yeah. Make it nice and hot, please." Kondo told the girls.

"Hai." Chizuru replied as Sumiko opened the door, and both girls left.

"About Itou's faction…" Saito began after a few moments. "In terms of their movements, they're clearly trending toward aggressive action against the Shinsengumi."

"Aggressive action?" Inoue asked.

"In order to break the Bakufu, Itou will probably leak information about our Rasetsu Unit." Hijikata said grimly. "They're also the ones who've spread rumors about Harada being involved in Sakamoto's murder, attempting to bring down the Shinsengumi."

"What!?" Shinpachi said incredulously.

"Itou Kashitaro… That crafty bastard!" Sano cursed, furrowing his brow.

"We have another problem facing us." Saito said. "Itou's faction is working toward a plan to assassinate the Commander of the Shinsengumi."

"Kondo-san?" Okita asked, narrowing his eyes slightly as his expression darkened.

"That's how things stand." Hijikata said as Sumiko and Chizuru returned with a tray of tea and began sliding the door open. "Itou-san must die, period."

"Heh!?" Chizuru gasped.

"We're taking on the Guardians of the Imperial Tomb?" Sano asked.

"It can't be helped." Kondo said.

"What about Heisuke?" Shinpachi asked.

"If he draws sword against us, we'll have to kill him." Hijikata said sternly, furrowing his brow.

"Hijikata-san!" Chizuru gasped, horrified, as he stood up and stalked past them to leave.

Sumiko frowned and furrowed her brow as she bowed her head in dismay, but she wasn't surprised. She knew this had been coming for a while. There was a heavy silence in the room as the girls glanced from Hijikata's retreating back to the others still in the room. Chizuru clenched her fists in her lap.

"Are you serious? None of you have a problem this!?" Chizuru asked, appalled.

"That's not it all, Chizuru." Sumiko said grimly after seeing the looks on their faces, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder to calm her down before she got too carried away and hurt them even more than they already were by the difficult situation they found themselves in.

"The truth is, Toshi wants to help him, too." Kondo said somberly. He stood up and quietly stepped past them to leave and follow after Hijikata.

"So do we." Sano said regretfully as he also stood and headed for the door. "We all want Heisuke to come back." Chizuru looked down sadly as he passed and the all the others began to leave, too.

"I'm sorry. I lost my composure…" Chizuru apologized remorsefully, turning to bow to them as they walked away. The only one who remained in the room now was Saitou.

"This is the end of the Guardians of the Imperial tomb." He said, causing Chizuru to lift her head and look back at him. "If we want to help Heisuke, now's the only time."

"It won't be just them we'll make enemies of, will it?" Sumiko asked. "I'm sure Itou has friends in high places…"

"His faction has made secret ties with Satsuma." Saito replied quietly.

Sumiko furrowed her brow. Just as she thought…

"In that case, I'll leave Heisuke to you, Chizuru." Sumiko said, closing her eyes. "I want to stay and keep an eye on the others. If Satsuma gets involved, an oni might show up…"

"!" Chizuru gasped, but she furrowed her brow and nodded determinedly. "I understand. I'll do my best."

"I know you will." Sumiko said, smiling sadly.