She glanced up at him and Sanosuke found himself enthralled by her green – so, so green – eyes looking at him from under thick, rosy lashes. She tilted her head to the side in a way that was so innocently seductive he had to wonder if she was doing it on purpose.
She smiled – a brilliant smile, that knocked the breath out of his lungs – and bowed her head respectfully.
"My name is Sakura. Haruno Sakura."
XxxOxOxOxxX
So, as you see, Kakashi-sensei, all I did was make a great first impression.
Thank you, I accept your congratulations.
Sakura was certain the sarcasm in her report wouldn't be lost on her old sensei. Good. That sly fox deserved it.
Now, let's go back to what you didn't do.
And that's warn me that I was willingly entering the den of a pack of wolves. And when I say wolves, I mean the ravenous kind…
XxxOxOxOxxX
Sakura stood uncertainly outside the room the Shinsengumi used for their meals. Boisterous laughter reached her ears, and she felt her lips lift in a smile. Whoever was on the other side of the door was having fun, and she could certainly use some of that. Sannan's injuries hadn't been hard to heal, but watching a man on the verge of dying always took it's toll, despite the happy ending.
A hand landed on her shoulder, and she turned to look up at her companion.
Despite Naruto's insistent refusal to see her as anything but a virginal maiden – "No man is good enough for you, Sakura-chan! Who's the asshole that's bothering you this time? I'll give him a piece of my mind! Back me up here, Sasuke-teme!" – Sakura had eyes and could definitely appreciate a good-looking male when she saw one.
Harada Sanosuke was easily one of the most impressive men she had ever laid eyes on. And that realization spoke volumes, considering she was from a village that seemed to spawn good looking men every other day.
Sanosuke towered over her person, having at least 7 inches on her. With his long auburn hair, dark amber eyes, and broad shoulders, he cut a dashing figure.
"No need to be nervous. They may be loud, but all of them are pretty decent guys. You'll fit right in." He winked at her, a friendly smile on his lips that Sakura couldn't help but reciprocate.
"Thank you, Harada-san. I apologize for keeping you from your duties for so long. I'm sure you had better things to spend your time on than showing me around. I did not mean to be an inconenience." She knew that it wasn't her fault per se, but she still felt slightly guilty that this kind man had been tasked with babysitting her until dinner time, when she was supposed to meet the rest of the Shinsengumi. He was a captain, she had learned, and he probably had a whole slew of more important responsibilities to see to.
"Eh? What's that, now? Time spent in good company is never wasted, is it? Also, last I checked, my name was Sanosuke, not Harada-san." His grin was honest and warm.
Sakura looked up at him in surprise, before her eyes softened. "Aa. Only if you call me Sakura."
"You got yourself a deal, my lady! Now, let's introduce you to the rest of these rascals."
He pushed the door open, and Sakura's senses were immediately assaulted by the smell of freshly-cooked food and the sounds of at least half a dozen people enjoying themselves. They didn't even turn to glance at the newcomers, and she felt Sanosuke sigh beside her.
Clearing his throat, he took a step forward. "Oi! Settle down for a minute!"
They paid him no mind, and Sakura was certain that two of them on the right side of the table were one insult away from starting a brawl.
With a shake of his head, Sanosuke slammed a fist on the table hard enough that everyone felt it. At once, the attention of the whole room was on them, looks of shock on their faces, and making Sakura want to laugh.
"Settle down you uncivilized charlatans!"
"Ne, Harada, what got your pants in a twist?"
"Shut it, Todou!"
"Huh, who's the cutie beside you?" A man with short reddish-brown hair, cerulean eyes, and a headband tied around his forehead looked at her questioningly, but Sakura refrained from answering herself. She'd allow Sanosuke to handle this.
Her auburn-haired companion cleared his throat and addressed the room. "Now that I have your attention, you swines, allow me to announce that starting from today, we'll be in fine company. Meet our newest addition, Haruno Sakura."
Understanding that to be her cue, the kunoichi stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Nice to meet you. I hope to be of service to you all while I'm here."
"Ne, fine company? Service?" The man from earlier, Nagakura, examined her curiously, rubbing his chin. Then, his eyes widened. "No way! Did they hire a concubine for the Shinsengumi?!"
Out of all the things he could have said, Sakura never saw that coming, and she felt heat rise to her cheeks, both in embarrassment and anger. Before she could respond – and by respond, she meant wipe the floor with the man's face, first impressions be damned – a spear whooshed past her and lodged itself in the wood, right above Nagakura's head.
"You bloody idiot! Sakura's not a concubine!" growled Sanosuke, fist clenched. "She will be the Shinsengumi's personal medic from now on, though you lot deserve to get your asses kicked!"
"A medic? It's an honor to have one of your kind looking after us, Haruno-san. I am Inoue Genzaburou."
The new voice pulled Sakura's eyes to a middle-aged man with black hair pulled in a bun and gentle brown eyes. For some reason, his kindly visage reminded her of Iruka-sensei, and she found herself giving him a soft smile.
"Nice to mee you, Inoue-san. Please, call me Sakura."
After introductions were finished – Hajime Saito, she decided, was only a little better than Sasuke at communicating –, Sanosuke led Sakura to two empty seats, and she quickly found herself sitting between Harada and Nagakura Shinpachi.
With a sheepish expression on his face and scratching the back of his head, Nagakura turned to her. "Uh…I'd like to say sorry. You know…for thinking you were a concubine. I was just…surprised is all. Aside from Yukimura, women aren't all that common in this house."
Huh, another woman lives here? That's interesting.
Watching him squirm while apologizing was entertaining, to say the least, and Sakura wanted to snort in amusement. Managing to contain herself, she smiled at him pleasantly. "Don't worry about it, Nagakura-san. No offense taken, I assure you."
"None of that, now," he said with a wide smile. "Nagakura-san was my father. I'm just Shinpachi, Sakura-chan."
Sakura-chan? His grin was contagious and so reminiscent of Naruto, that she found herself unable to do anything other than return it. "You got yourself a deal, Shinpachi."
She felt someone nudge her shoulder, and she looked up to see Sanosuke smirking down at her, his amber eyes glinting. "Oi, that's my line."
Laughing lightly and suddenly feeling bold, Sakura winked at him. "Watch it, Sanosuke-kun. At this rate, I just might end up stealing your captain status away from you too."
What the hell am I doing? This is Ino's domain, not mine! Get a grip, Haruno, this is only your first night here! Really, she hadn't meant to add the familiar suffix at the end of his name, but it kinda slipped out without her realizing until it was too late.
Beside her, Shinpachi exploded with laughter, throwing an arm around her shoulders in the overly friendly manner that she usually associated with Naruto.
"Damn, Sano! She got you good! It's gonna be so much fun having you around here, Sakura-chan!"
The young woman laughed along with him, positively affected by the man's friendliness, until she felt a tug on her hair. Glancing down, she noticed long fingers playing with the tail of her braid, and her eyes traveled up the taut muscles of a strong arm to land on Sanosuke's face.
She tilted her head to the side questioningly, suddenly uneasy under his intense gaze. The reddish light of the lanterns spread around the room made his hair appear almost as if it were on fire, and only highlighted the deep amber hue of his eyes. If she looked closely enough, she could make out golden veins around his pupils.
His lips lifted in a lopsided grin that made Sakura's breathing hitch. "Aye, it's gonna be fun indeed."
XxxOxOxOxxX
You threw me in an organization full of rowdy men, Kakashi-sensei.
With no prior warning!
They thought I was a concubine, sensei! A concubine, of all things.
What the hell did you tell Kondou-san? Did he even know who he was expecting?
If anything, I ought to blackmail Shikamaru into arranging so many meetings for you, that you won't be able to pick up that garbage book of yours for a whole month! You know I can do it. You also know I'm not above actually doing it.
You do remember what happened to Naruto the last time he decided to be an idiot, right? If I can convince Teuchi-ojisan to stop serving Naruto ramen for a week, what makes you think I won't burn your Icha-Icha collection?
A word of advice: using Tsunade-shishou's old sake drawer as a hiding spot is not a smart move.
How do I know? Don't underestimate the love Pakkun feels for me, Kakashi-sensei. I'm the one he runs to when he's out of shampoo.
Speaking of Naruto, please tell him that I want to find my apartment exactly as I left it. Breaking in to sleep in my bed just because he misses me is not an excuse to wreck my kitchen whenever he and Sasuke decide they want to cook.
Right outside her room, Sakura could hear doors opening and people starting their daily routines. She had no doubt that her captain would be knocking on her own door soon enough.
Things with the Shinsengumi are going great. I've been going on patrols around the city these past few months, on top of my duties as their medic. You have no idea how prone to injuries these people are. Very eager to draw a sword too.
Oh! I have my own katana now. I suppose I failed to mention that in previous reports. It's not on Kusanagi's level, of course, and let's be honest, chakra blades are few and far between. Can you imagine Sasuke's face if I were to return home with a sword better than his though? Why, I'm almost tempted to try just to see him seethe.
Mine was a gift from the Shinsengumi, and more specifically from Sano-kun.
Remember how I told you that these people seem to love getting injured?
They are also prone to exceeding, infuriating, Naruto-worthy recklessness…
XxxOxOxOxxX
Eight months ago…
Her first couple of weeks with the Shinsengumi passed uneventfully and without any solid clues as to what exactly it was that these people wanted from her.
Kondou, for all his kindness and honor, was as tight-lipped as one could get, and whenever she brought up the subject, he'd simply dismiss it with a "You'll learn everything when the time is right" and a smile.
In order to fill her days with something other than sitting in her room, waiting for her employer to be truthful with her, she had started going on rounds around town during the day. Information-gathering, mostly. The local apothecary, an old man with a wagging tongue, was a fountain of gossip, and he was more than willing to share.
He was also dead-set on setting her up with his grandson, an arrogant twat of a samurai that Sakura had only met once and never wanted to see again.
From what she had learned from the apothecary, the city did not have a practicing doctor. At least not until Dr. Matsumoto returned from his trip. It made her wonder if that was the reason Kondou had requested her presence.
She had come at a convenient time, that much was true, for soon after her arrival a food epidemic hit the Shinsengumi hard and many men were out of commission. Food poisoning wasn't something to lose sleep over, especially when she was on the case and providing the needed care but having a large part of your men unable to fight was.
Still, if he intended to have her grasping at straws and keeping her away from Konoha for no serious reason other than to play nurse, he had another thing coming.
However, that theory was quickly squashed.
No one went to the lengths he did to find a medic of her caliber just to have someone bandage the wounds of his men. It was pretty obvious that Kondou was hiding something major from her, and for the life of her, she was just one step away from marching over and demanding answers, orders be damned.
Aside from when she took her meals with the other captains, Sakura hadn't seen a lot of Sanosuke, Shinpachi or Okita. Which was a terrible shame considering those three were a constant source of entertainment. She understood the responsibility that came with being division captains though. They were the first to rise and the last to rest.
Which was why, when Sanosuke knocked on her door late one evening, she was more than a little surprised. Even more so, when she saw the somber look on his face. It did not suit him, at all.
"Sakura. I need you to come with me." His voice did not hold the warmth it usually did whenever he addressed her, and his eyes were burdened with worry. It made her uneasy.
By the time he finished his sentence, she was already pulling her boots on, checking her pouch, and covertly making sure that all her hidden weapons were in place. "Sanosuke? Is something the matter? Is anyone injured?"
"Not yet. Come. Kondou will fill you in once we reach the meeting room."
Not yet? Sakura frowned but followed him wordlessly, inwardly listing all the places on her person that hid senbon needles. If there was one thing these hakama pants were useful for, that was hiding weapons.
They hurried through the compound, and Sakura couldn't help but notice a general uneasiness permeate the air. Men hurried around, and she could see a bunch of them sharpening blades and checking their armor. The compound was like a beehive, with soldiers and officers running back and forth as if demons were chasing them.
Are they preparing for battle?
Something was obviously going on, but she kept her mouth shut. Sanosuke hadn't offered any information and she wasn't going to burden him with questions. She'd find out soon enough.
Sanosuke opened a door and waited for her to walk in first before closing it behind them. Many of the others were already there, and aside from some nameless soldiers, there were a lot of familiar faces amidst the crowd. It was not difficult to pick up on the tension in the room, and Sakura immediately steeled herself for what was to come.
Hajime approached them the moment the door closed. "The spy Souji arrested finally talked. We'll be going on the raid tonight. Things aren't looking all that good, Harada. Kondou has but ten men able to fight. The rest are either stationed elsewhere with no way to return fast enough, or sick. The food poisoning epidemic really did a number on them."
A raid? While so severely shorthanded? Sakura frowned, thinking of all the bedridden men. Her medicine was certainly helping them, but they weren't in any condition to fight.
Sanosuke nodded curtly. "Hijikata and I have twenty-four apiece, right?"
Saito nodded. "We might end up dividing the troops. Kondou's men will head to Ikeda Inn and Hijikata's troop will go to Shikoku Inn."
"So, you think we'll take 'em along on this one? It's a night mission. It'd be perfect…" Sanosuke's brow was furrowed, his eyes troubled. "We lost a couple the other day but there should still be a few left, right?"
Hajime shook his head. "They won't be seeing combat for a while. They're having some difficulty adjusting."
Them? They? Sakura listen to them wordlessly, trying to make heads or tails of what exactly they were talking about, though she came up empty-handed.
"They stop listening to orders the moment they see or smell blood. It's rather inconvenient."
Sanosuke sighed. "They are harder to kill too…" As if suddenly remembering that she was there too, his head snapped to her. Sakura regarded him contemplatively, a hard look in her eyes. These bits and pieces weren't enough for her to see the whole picture, but they were enough to plant a theory in her mind that was anything but pleasant. She narrowed her eyes at Sanosuke, and he had the decency to look at least a little bit guilty. She resolved to force the truth out of him later, even if she had to pin him to a wall until he talked.
Before any of them could say anything, Kondou walked in the room, dressed in the white uniform that Sakura knew was for charging into dark areas. All conversations ceased, and they stood awaiting instructions. Sakura had a good idea what her presence there meant.
Kondou's expression was somber, but not unkind, and as he addressed his captains, Sakura could just barely make out the kind of nervousness that she once used to feel before battle too.
"Saito, Vice-Comander Hijikata is almost ready to depart for Shikoku Inn. You're with him. Make sure none of the ronin escape."
Hajime, always serious and unnervingly silent, whispered a curt "Understood," and turned to leave. Glancing at Harada, he nodded curtly, no doubt in a way of wishing them good luck, and walked out of the room without another word.
"Sano, you and Okita are with me. Ikeda Inn is ours to handle. Nagakura and his men have already set up a perimeter around the Inn to make sure the ronin don't escape before we manage to get to them. We'll need every man we can spare. I have already sent Heisuke to the infirmary to round up those well enough to hold a sword-"
"Kondou-san." Sakura's voice cut the man off resolutely, and suddenly all eyes were on her. She kept her gaze fixed on the older man, unfazed by the multiple pairs of eyes watching her with various degrees of curiosity and indignation. "There's not a single soldier in that infirmary that will make it through the night if you take them with you. They will be a liability in their state, and I can guarantee you that you will return with your forces irrevocably depleted by the time the sun rises."
Kondou stared at her contemplatively. "I admire your medical prowess, Sakura-san, but a raid cannot be a success without men to carry it out. I'm afraid we have little choice in the matter."
"With all due respect, Kondou-san, but that's where you're wrong."
Her words were followed by curious whispering, and Sakura was certain she heard one of the captains, a Kanryusai Takeda, spit out something along the lines of "This woman doesn't know her place!" She felt Sanosuke shift beside her, but she made no move to acknowledge anyone other than Kondou.
"What would you have me do, Sakura-san?"
"Take me with you. Let me accompany you on the raid."
"A foreign woman on a raid! How dare you!" the captain from before, Kanryusai, exploded angrily, glaring at her.
"Sakura, what are you doing?" Sanosuke whispered harshly in her ear, but she did not budge. A part of her – a prideful, slightly arrogant part of her – was itching to punch a wall and watch their faces as it crumbled under the might of her fist. She'd had enough of people underestimating her for this lifetime and the next.
"Sakura-san, I cannot in good conscience lead you to battle and so readily jeopardize your safety-"
"Kondou-san," she cut him off for the second time that day. "You trust Kakashi-sensei's judgement enough to accept me in your home and your ranks. You allow me to take care of your sick and injured. You've already put a lot of faith in me, so please, let me repay that faith. You will find that Kakashi-sensei has taught me well." She finished her sentence with a genuine smile, and she could already feel Kondou's resistance slipping.
"You cannot be seriously considering this!"
I'm gonna beat the crap out of that Takeda guy one of these days…Sakura tightened her fingers around the fabric of her hakama pants behind her back, willing herself to remain calm as she continued to listen to the man list all the things she was going to make difficult for them if she were allowed to join the raid.
She nearly gasped out loud when she felt a hand covertly grasp her clenched fist and slowly untangle her fingers from the now wrinkled fabric one by one.
"Relax. He's nothing but an uptight son of a bitch." Sano's whispered words worked to douse the flames of anger in her belly, and she sent him a grateful smile over her shoulder before Kondou's voice brought her back to the matter at hand.
"Sakura-san, my plan was to fill you in on tonight's mission and warn you to be prepared. Should any of us return inured, our lives will be in your hands."
That's exactly the point! How was she supposed to keep them from dying, if she stayed confided to a room while they were out there fighting? Sanosuke, Shinpachi, Okita, Heisuke…What if one of them gets seriously injured and they do not make it to me in time? How would she ever manage to deal with having the power to help but not managing to because she hadn't been freaking there? Damn it, Kondou! Let me come on the damn raid! She was ready to protest, when the man raised his hand and smiled at her.
"However, I suppose you will be a lot more useful to us at the scene itself. After all, we can't really foresee who will be injured or when. Can anyone think of a better way to avoid fatalities than having our very experienced medic right there with us?" Kondou's expression was serious, no doubt to keep up the necessary appearances to convince the other captains, but his eyes spoke volumes. "Sano, I'm placing Sakura with you."
The young woman smiled at him and bowed her head, thanking him inwardly. Her smile slipped from her lips however, when she heard someone scoff.
"Are we supposed to babysit a woman now? Have we really fallen that low?"
Alright, that's it. I hope Kanryusai likes the sound of his bones cracking. Narrowing her eyes, Sakura was ready to march over and shove her fist down the man's throat, when Sanosuke's broad-shouldered frame stepped between her and Takeda.
"Kondou has spoken, Kanryusai. Now would be a good time to cease your yapping." Despite his considerable height, Takeda was shorter than Sanosuke, who stared down at the man with hard amber eyes.
"What is it to you, Harada?"
"Kondou has spoken. Are you challenging our Chief's orders?"
"Tsk!" Takeda scoffed again. "You better free yourself from whatever spell that wench has put you under, Harada, or it'll be the death of you. Mark my words."
Sano scowled, his anger taking over for just a minute, and he made to step forward when Sakura put a hand in the middle of his back to stop him. "Don't bother, Harada-san," she told him softly, shifting to formality in the presence of others. "It's not worth it. Let us not waste another minute. Nagakura-san is expecting us, and we can't leave him hanging." Her voice was gentle, placating, and she hoped it'd be enough to stop the argument from escalating. She wanted more than anything to beat the smugness off Takeda's face, but she would not have Sanosuke getting in trouble on her account.
Sanosuke regarded the man with angry eyes for a few more seconds before stepping back and making for the door. Sakura sighed in relief. With one last smile to Kondou, she bowed to him and the rest of the captains, and followed the auburn-haired man out of the room.
XxxxX
Sakura and Sanosuke arrived at Ikeda Inn right on time to overhear Nagakura and Okita's conversation.
"Not sure whether they are brave, or stupid, for meeting right next to a government building…"
Okita crossed his arms across his chest. "I knew they'd be here. After all, they've always me at Ikeda before."
"Sure, but the night Furutaka gets arrested? That seems just sloppy to me. Aren't they afraid of looking suspicious?"
"Well, obviously this is a bit less than normal. They are meeting at the Ikeda Inn, aren't they?" Okita had a grin on his face, and Sakura was glad to see their spirits high despite the upcoming bloodshed. She could use a bit of lighthearted banter, especially after the disastrous meeting with Kondou and the captains.
As if on cue, Shinpachi spotted them and a large grin split his face as he waved them over cheerily. "Sakura-chan! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be back at the infirmary in case something goes wrong? Kondou said so yesterday."
The young woman smiled at him. "Just a simple change of plans, Shinpachi. Kondou-san reconsidered and decided to send me on the raid with you. I should be more useful as your medic here, ne?"
"Huh," Okita stared at her strangely. "Seems a bit strange for Kondou. He's not usually one to change plans at the last minute."
Sakura directed her jovial smile at him. "I'm not one to judge Kondou-san's decisions. After all, he does what he thinks is best to keep the lot of you safe. Wouldn't you agree, Okita-kun?"
He regarded her for a moment and smirked. "Minx."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sakura tilted her head to the side innocently, though it was obvious to both Nagakura and Souji that she'd had a hand in Kondou's change of heart. Sanosuke simply chuckled.
"Ne, don't be afraid, Sakura-chan. We won't let anything bad happen to you."
Oh, Shinpachi, your ignorance is cute. "I'm positive I'll be just fine, Shinpachi. But I really do appreciate the sentiment, thank you. After all, it's my job to keep you alive, isn't it?"
"Well, we're expecting the Aizu reinforcements so we should be good either way. Still, if Sannan's recovery is anything to go by, you can't be too terrible at your job."
Sakura snorted, smirking at Souji teasingly. "Oh my, Okita-kun. That almost sounded like a compliment. You're losing your touch."
Nagakura laughed, and even Sano – though still tense, courtesy of his argument with Kanryusai – cracked an amused smirk.
Sakura smiled to herself, pleased to see them optimistic. It was easy to feel at ease around these men, she realized. A bit too easy, perhaps, and she was certain that stemmed from their willingness to lay down their lives for their leader and friends. It was a sentiment she could relate to all too well. There was not one thing she wouldn't do for Konoha and Team Kakashi.
As she watched Shinpachi and Okita try to rope Sanosuke into an argument about sake, she felt positive that things would be alright.
XxxxX
It became glaringly apparent that things would not be alright when the reinforcements from the Aizu Domain never arrived.
It was already well into the late hours of the night, and the captains – including Kanryusai, much to Sakura's dismay – were getting restless.
"Damn it," Shinpachi cursed. "It's getting pretty late."
"What do you want us to do Kondou? We can't just sit here all night."
The Chief had been quite for some time, especially after it became clear that there were no officials coming, but when Okita spoke, he finally stood up to speak.
His eyes were determined as he addressed his captains. "We can't wait here any longer. Souji, Nagakura, and Harada, you're coming with me. Kanryusai and Todou, you two secure the front entrance. No one's getting out." His captains nodded at him and then Kondou turned to her. "Sakura-san, please remain out here and ready to get your hands dirty. Todou or Kanryusai will let you know if anyone requires immediate medical attention. Please keep yourself safe. Should the need arise, our lives will be in your capable hands."
"Understood." Sakura nodded, though she did it more out of courtesy than real intention to follow his orders. She had the suspicion that Kondou did not believe her either, but she did not dwell on it. She'd watch the situation closely, and if she thought even for a second that something was amiss, she'd barge in and bring the place down, no questions asked, and orders be damned.
While the others prepared, Sakura inspected the Iketa Inn from outside, noting all the possible entrance and exit points. The second floor wasn't too high off the ground, so there was a possibility that one or two rebel soldiers might try to escape from the windows.
Perhaps a couple of traps around the perimeter could help with that…Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Sanosuke looking at her strangely.
"Sano? Is everything alright? Is there any muscle you would like me to look at? Are you feeling sore from training? Lightheaded? We need you to be in top shape-"
In a gesture that caught her completely off guard, the man chuckled and flicked her forehead airily. "Oi, stop it. I'm perfectly fine. It's you I'm worried about."
"Worried? About me? I'm not the one ready to barge inside a building full of enemy soldiers."
Not right this instant, at least.
"Things are going to get dangerous, Sakura. Even out here. I want you to be careful. You have to be careful."
Touched by his concern, she took his hand and squeezed. "I'll promise only if you do too. You go in, you get the job done, you come out. No heroics, no stupidly putting yourselves in danger."
His deep amber eyes bore into hers for a moment, before he squeezed her hand in return. "Aye, you got yourself a deal, my lady."
Sakura smiled. "Good! Now, put that spear to good use, and keep your head on your shoulders." Despite the two swords strapped to his side, she knew for a fact that his Yari was his weapon of choice. She thought it was oddly fitting.
"Aye." He gave her hand one last squeeze before he took his place beside Kondou, spear at the ready. Kondou glanced at them and at their answering nods, he ran inside the inn.
"We are the Shinsengumi, retainers of the Lieutenant-General of the Aizu Domain! By imperial decree, you are all under arrest! We act with the authority of the government! Resist and you will be shown no mercy!"
He certainly knows how to make an entrance, doesn't he?
What followed was a cacophony of screams, yells and the unmistakable sound of steel being unsheathed. Things descended into chaos quickly after that, and despite her faith in the Shinsengumi's abilities, she couldn't help the worry that welled up inside her. Through the open door of the Inn she could see bodies on the floor, and she was certain the dark spots on the windows were blood splatters. So far, two rebel soldiers had tried to flee only to meet a swift end at the hands of Heisuke and Kanryusai.
She bit her lip, willing herself not to barge in before the time was right. Still, it was hard to go against her own instincts. She was a combat medic, and into the fray she belonged.
She heard the sound of pounding feet upstairs, the screams of men dying, the wet thud of bodies dropping to the floor.
And then she heard something that made her blood run cold.
"Okita! Damn it, Okita's down! We need backup!"
Sakura sprang to action before she even registered that the distressed voice was Sanosuke's. Ignoring Heisuke's yells to stay back, she jumped over the body of a fallen ronin and barged in the Inn.
The inside of the building was true chaos. Most tables were either broken or upturned, the curtains were tattered beyond salvaging and most surfaces were painted red. Unfazed by the sight, Sakura located Sanosuke fighting off four rebels, trying to cover Shinpachi as he tried to haul a bleeding Okita over his shoulder.
Cursing under her breath, Sakura ran to them, and immediately took hold of one of Souji's arms.
Shinpachi's eyes widened when he saw her. "Sakura-chan! Are you out of your mind? Get the hell out of here! You'll get yourself killed!"
Ignoring him, Sakura examined Okita, her sharp eyes taking in every scar, and cut. Despite the excessive amount of blood, Okita's injuries weren't life threatening. A broken wrist, a cut right above his eyebrow, and a long but shallow slash wound that reached from his knee to his inner thigh. Her relief was short lived when she heard Sanosuke grunt in pain when one of the ronin managed to land a hit.
"Shinpachi, you need to take Okita out of here. Carry him out and make him chew on one of these," she said, handing him a small pouch full of soldier pills. "It will help him until I manage to take a good look at him." While the Shinsengumi's chakra network was severely underdeveloped, the soldier pill would ease the pain a little bit and help with the bleeding.
"I need to help, Harada. I need-"
"You need to take Okita out of here, right now," she repeated sharply. Shinpachi didn't look all that good either. He was pale and the exposed parts of his skin were marred with cuts and bruises. "Leave Sanosuke and the ronin to me."
"Sakura-chan, you-"
"Now, Captain Nagakura!"
Her words couple with the hard expression on her face left no room for argument, and Shinpachi had the good sense not to oppose her. Picking up Okita, he looked at her one last time. "I really hope to see you outside, Sakura-chan."
Sakura smirked at him "I'll treat you to the best sake of your life once this is over." Without waiting for his response, she turned to where Sanosuke was still fighting, though she could see the state he was in. He wouldn't be able to keep it up much longer. The battle still raged, and while she had no idea of knowing how things were upstairs, she couldn't quite bring herself to worry about Kondou right then and there. Half a dozen ronin were closing in on Harada, and that made her blood boil.
Gritting her teeth, her anger fueled by the sight of Sano bleeding, she picked up the katana of a fallen rebel soldier. She could feel chakra spike right beneath her skin, eager to be released and do what it knew best: protect her precious people.
"Six against one? Hardly seems fair."
Sanosuke turned to look at her over his shoulder, his shock visible on his face. "Sakura! Get out of here! You'll get yourself killed!"
Despite knowing that the panic in his voice was merely worry for her wellbeing, she found herself scowling. "You guys need to stop assuming that I can't protect myself," she said harshly, keeping her eyes on the ronin and clenching her fist around the katana's hilt. "Now, you sorry excuses of men have two options," she started, addressing the rebels. "You can either lay down your weapons and surrender or you die here like the dogs you are. The choice is yours."
One of them laughed. "You hear that, boys? The little girl has some bite in her."
"Hell yeah, I like them feisty!"
"Don't hurt her too bad. She's a pretty little thing. We can have our fun with her later!"
Oh, I'll make you regret ever being born. She was beside Sanosuke now, and she took a second to assess his condition. He didn't appear too hurt, but exhaustion was clear in his stance and labored breathing. Despite that, he put his body between her and the rebels, raising his Yari to defend them both when the ronin charged at them.
She ducked under his arm and ran forward. She leaped into the air and her leg shot out, catching the man raising his weapon right in the chest and sending him flying backwards. He slammed against the wall and fell to the ground, his sword spinning away uselessly. The second man swung at her, but she ducked underneath, fell to her knees, and slipped the blade of her katana through the flesh of his chest. He bent forward with a groan and blood gushing from the wound.
A third ronin tried to catch her at a disadvantage while she was still kneeling, but she reached up, wrapped her arms around his head and flipped him over her. He smashed down hard on his back, his neck broken and angled hideously. She leapt up just as another rebel swung at her, but she caught his blade with her own effortlessly. She held the blade even, a perfect, undaunted horizon, just like Sasuke had shown her. Doing a backflip to untangle her weapon from his, she planted her feet down and propelled herself forward at a speed that the ronin couldn't have hoped to match. Like a knife through warm butter, the sharpened blade of her katana easily separated his head from his shoulders.
Drenched in the blood of the rebels, her pink hair appeared almost red, and her eyes shone in the darkness, harsh and cat-like.
XxxxX
In his twenty-four years of living, Harada Sanosuke, Shinsengumi captain of the tenth division, could count the times he had been shocked to the core on one hand.
Watching Sakura – that slip of a woman with her pink hair and doe-like green eyes – slice through half a dozen men twice her size was a revelation.
She moved with the grace of a dancer, fierce as a tiger and deadlier than a viper. She swung the katana expertly, the sword one with her arm, with a kind of ease that was equals parts intoxicating and enviable. Her limbs moved fluidly, as if each part of her body had a mind of its own but always in perfect harmony as a whole.
Her braid, swishing around wildly, was drenched in blood, as was the rest of her. It was a morbid realization, but he couldn't deny that battle and destruction suited her, the blood splattered on her cheeks making her eyes blaze with an unearthly green glow.
There were just two men standing, both glancing at each other uncertainly, and for a moment Sanosuke understood them. How could he not when he himself could not move a muscle as he watched the otherworldly display before him?
Kondou was still fighting upstairs and it was highly likely that more ronin were hidden about, but for the life of him, he just could not look away. He did not want to miss a single second of Sakura's deadly dance.
"This ends here." Her voice, hard and cold like the steel in her hand, cut through the air and she charged before either of the ronin could react. One minute she was there and the next she was beside them, sword raised and bright and red. Both ronin fell to their knees, slumping forward, dead before they hit the ground.
For a moment, Sakura stood in the middle of the room, taking in the level of destruction and her own handiwork. In that frozen second between life and death, Sanosuke watched her, taking in her countenance hungrily. The katana in her hand glinted in the cool moonlight slipping through the broken windows, and he thought it oddly fitting that something as pure as moonlight would shine on her right after she had taken six lives like it was nothing.
Finally, after a few seconds that felt more like hours, the woman turned to him, her expression of harsh determination slipping into relief at the sight of him still alive.
She smiled at him – a brilliant smile that reminded him to breathe again – as she jogged to his side, with her hair flying about rebelliously, her cheeks painted red, and her eyes alive with the kind of fire that only one who lived for battle could feel.
Months later, Sanosuke would argue that was the moment he fell in love with Haruno Sakura.
TBC
Hey guys!
I hope you're all well and living your lives to the fullest. This chapter came a bit earlier than expected – despite being super long –, but only because I had a big portion of it already written.
We got to see a bit of Sakura action here. She still hasn't shown them everything of course, but fear not! All will happen in due time. Hey, our girl trained with Sasuke, she must show off her new katana-wielding skills. :P
As you can see, I'm not going to shy away from the romance or from making Sanosuke fall in love sooner than my usual pacing. Sakura-chan deserves to be loved and dear Sano is here to provide!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please read and review! I always enjoy reading your thoughts!
Until next time,
Lots of love!