Chapter: 34
It was near year's end, and I was outside in the cold weather sweeping the compound.
"That should do it."
"Cleaning I see. You're certainly hard at work."
"Oh. Hello Kondou. It's really gotten cold lately, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has indeed. I've been in Kyoto awhile now, but I still can't get used to the weather."
He rubbed his hands together and blew on them, in a mostly vain attempt to warm them up.
"Chizuru picked up a bunch of dead leaves earlier, so we were thinking about roasting sweet potatoes later. Would you like some? They'll warm you up."
Kondou gave me alittle wry smile."Roasted sweet potatoes, huh? I used to enjoy that. A long time ago..."
"Oh... You have been quite busy lately. I hope you are taking care of yourself."
"Hmm? Oh, right... Well, if I'm busy, then that means that the Shinsengumi is needed. It is an honor."
"True."
In the last several weeks, Kondou and Hijikata had left the temple often to go meet with important shogunate officials. They probably scarcely had time to breathe, let alone relax. At that moment, Hijikata appeared.
"There you are, Kondou."
"Oh, Toshi. Where were you? I was looking for you. They have chosen the next shogun. It's going to be Lord Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu."
"Him, huh? Well, let's hope he lives up to the rumors."
"Why must you find a dark side to everything?"
"Who is Lord Hitotsubashi? I don't really remember much about him."
"They say he is very intelligent; some even going so far as to call him the second coming of Lord Ieyasu."
He glanced over at Hijikata, perhaps looking for corroboration. He found none.
"At any rate, he has a quick mind, and the emperor trusts him. How could he be a poor choice?"
"...Alright, he's smart. I'll give him that."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Forget it. Doesn't really matter who the shogun is to us anyway. We're just here to fight for him."
"That's right. If we do our best, that means the shogun and the shogunate are safe and secure."
Only twenty days after Lord Yoshinobu had been officially inaugurated as the new shogun, the emperor passed away. It was especially hard on the emperor's sister, Kazunomiya, who had been married to Lord Iemochi and was intended to be a symbol of Imperial Unification, but everyone on both sides was shocked by his death.
He was succeeded by the Imperial Prince; a young boy of only 15 years. In the turmoil, the activities of the Choshu Domain went uninvestigated. The entire country of Japan found itself thrust into a rapid motion.