Hijikata crossed his arms across his chest. "Which is why we have called you all here today. We have arranged a sparring session simply to gauge Haruno-san's skill and choose which division to assign her to accordingly." Toshizo turned to the woman herself. "Haruno-san, I apologize for not informing you of this earlier. It was a last-minute decision."

Sanosuke refrained from snorting in disbelief. No, it was not. Nothing you do is ever last-minute. Hijikata, who are you trying to fool?

If Sakura saw through his lie, she did not seem fazed by it. She smiled at the dark-haired male, a genuine and easy smile. "Do not apologize, Hijikata-san. If anything, I have been waiting for a chance to stretch my legs."

Hijikata nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. "In that case, let us not tarry any longer. Allow me to present your opponent for today."

Who-

"Hajime Saito."

"What? Has Hijikata gone mad?" Nagakura exclaimed beside him worriedly, his eyes shifting between Sakura and the captain of the third division. "We have got to put a stop to this, Harada. Sakura-chan cannot go up against Hajime. Saito's a monster with a blade. He could injure her or-"

"Nagakura, stop." Sanosuke put a hand on his companion's shoulder, earning himself a surprised stare. "Sakura will be just fine."

"How can you say that-"

"Nagakura. Observe."

They both turned to the middle of the training grounds where the medic and Hajime seemed to be exchanging pleasantries. The presence of the captains gathered in one place had attracted attention and the number of spectators appeared to have doubled in just a couple of minutes as more and more soldiers from all divisions came to satiate their curiosity.

Hijikata and Kondou approached Sakura and Hajime with the standard wooden training swords, handing them one each with a bow. Something that Kondou said to the woman elicited laughter from her.

Sanosuke grabbed Nagakura by the collar of his uniform and started dragging him closer to the spectacle. Stopping beside Souji, he let Shinpachi go, ignoring the man's curses.

"Harada. Still alive I see."

Sanosuke smirked. "I'm touched by your concern, Souji."

"Concern? Pinky was right. I am losing my touch." Okita crossed his arms across his chest. "Do you happen to know anything about this?"

"He does, the jerk, and he refuses to say a word-"

Sanosuke whacked Nagakura on the head. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Souji."

Okita stared at him for a few seconds before he snorted and looked back at the two people getting ready to spar. "You're a bad liar, Harada. Your eyes betray you."

They do, eh?

Sanosuke did not have anything to say to that. Leaning on his Yari, he focused his attention on the pair currently standing opposite each other. Hijikata said something to them – probably setting a few ground rules – and returned to Kondou's side a safe distance away.

Hajime fell into his battle stance and Sakura followed suit. If Sanosuke had any doubts before, seeing how easily her body readied itself for combat dispelled every single one of them. Grace and muscle memory of that caliber could only be achieved after years of hard-earned experience.

Hajime charged. A second later, so did Sakura.

They fell into a graceful dance, matching each other's movements in a way that was both enviable and beautiful to behold. Sakura ducked and leaped with an ease that left the men around them whispering among themselves.

The training swords clashed with a resounding 'crack' and for a moment, Sanosuke was certain that at least one of them had snapped in two. With impressive strength, Sakura pushed Hajime away, causing him to lose his footing and stumble back. Darting forward, she closed the distance and took a swing at him. Hajime just barely managed to block her strike, and to the astonishment of all watching, he retreated a few steps back to untangle himself from her.

"Souji…Souji, are you seeing this?"

"Shut up, Nagakura. I need to focus."

Heisuke whistled in unconcealed awe. "I've never seen Hajime struggle this much. Usually, the fact that he's left-handed gives him an edge but that doesn't seem to be of any use to him now."

"Where has Sakura-chan been hiding all this time? Look at her!" Nagakura's eyes were wide, his mouth forming a bewildered 'o'.

The woman backflipped to avoid having her legs kicked from under her. She landed on her feet with barely a thud and expertly dodged a barrage of swift swings.

Heisuke gasped. "She blocked it! That's Hajime's signature move. No one has ever managed to block that!"

A strange sense of pride welled up inside Sanosuke as he took note of the reactions of the people around him. A part of him wanted to go up to them and tell them "I knew it. I knew she was special from the moment I met her." Another part of him – a more primitive, possessive part of him – wished no one had witnessed how breathtaking she really was.

Do not let that get to you, Harada. It's you she held in her arms last night.

Hajime raised his sword and brought it down in a powerful swing. And then the crowd gasped loudly, a wave of hushed whispers that spread from one side of the training grounds to the other.

Even Sanosuke himself watched with wide eyes as Sakura blocked the bone-crushing blow not with her sword, but with her bare forearm. He resisted the urge to run over to her to see if she was ok. His worries seemed to be for naught though. She appeared completely unfazed, and there was not a single sign of discomfort marring her features. Even from a distance, he could see that her eyes were bright.

"Sakura-chan blocked that with her arm?!"

How is she not in pain? Hajime is a master swordsman, but she went up against six ronin back at the Ikeda Inn and wiped the floor with their faces. I saw it with my own eyes. How did she not dodge that?

"Is she…Is she smiling?"

Souji nodded, equally as curious as Heisuke. "For someone who just lost, she looks awfully pleased with herself."

Sakura stepped back, lowering her arm. She bowed respectfully and then flashed Hajime a wide smile. "Thank you for the spar, Saito-san."

"Saito Hajime wins!"

Hijikata's announcement was followed by a round of applause. Hajime's subordinates cheered him on, many of them running up to him to congratulate him on his victory.

Sanosuke, more preoccupied with questions about the medic's wellbeing than with the victor, followed her with his gaze as she headed to where Kondou was. They exchanged a few words, and Kondou placed a hand on her shoulder with a smile. Sakura appeared content, as if she had just accomplished something only she knew about.

Before he could walk up to her, Nagakura threw an arm over his shoulder. "Harada, you asshole! You knew! You knew and you didn't say a thing!"

Sanosuke smirked, shaking the other man off him. "I told you, Nagakura. I wanted to see your face once you finally saw for yourself. And I was not disappointed. They way your jaw dropped, I expected your tongue to roll out at any moment."

"How long?"

Sanosuke shrugged, glancing at Souji in the corner of his eye. "Since the Ikeda Inn incident. Who do you think saved our hides, Souji?"

The other man regarded him with interest, his green gaze calculating. "Your eyes betray you, Harada. You might want to keep that under control."

Even though the hair at the back of his neck stood on edge, Sanosuke appeared unaffected. "I don't know what you're talking about, Souji."

Okita huffed, looking almost insulted. "Yes, you do. Nagakura is an idiot, but I am not."

Sanosuke watched Okita leave, frowning slightly. What does he…?

"I'm not done with you, Harada! I demand an explanation. How could you keep Sakura-chan a secret? Where did she learn all that? Do you think she could teach me-"

Sanosuke chuckled, shaking his head at his partner's antics.

It was going to be a long day.

XxxxX

Sakura hummed to herself as she checked on the soldiers still trapped in the infirmary. Even though she had not been able to go all out the way she did with Naruto and Sasuke, her morning spar with Hajime had certainly helped with lifting her spirits.

It felt good to finally be able to stretch her muscles after so many weeks of relative inactivity.

She wiped the brow of a soldier, checked his vitals, and made him swallow a vitamin pill of her own creation before moving on to the next man. Her fingers moved deftly, repeating standard procedures that she could perform with her eyes closed.

She was changing a soldier's bandages when she felt the presence of someone entering the room.

"Saito-san," she said without turning to look at him, more focused on her patient. Tying one last knot, she shifted her eyes and attention to the captain of the third division with a smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"Haruno-san. Why didn't you dodge that last attack?"

Of all the things he could have said, Sakura had not expected that. Tilting her head to the side in a show of innocence, she clasped her hands in front of her. "I'm sorry, Saito-san, but I'm afraid I don't understand. You won fair and square."

The man frowned, shifting on his feet in agitation. "That's the problem though. I did not win. You let me win."

"Again, Saito-san, I don't know-"

"Let us not kid ourselves, Haruno-san," he cut her off resolutely. "You were in position and perfectly capable of not only deflecting it but of simultaneously hitting my right side which I carelessly left open. And yet, instead of securing victory, you allowed that blow to land. Why?"

Sakura sighed. If she were to be honest, she was a bit impressed. She had not expected him to see through her little ruse. Not so easily, at least.

Lesson learned, Haruno. You hate being underestimated. The least you can do is extend the same courtesy to others, even when they do not know ninjutsu.

Squaring her shoulders, she put a kind smile on her face.

"You're a master of your trade, Saito-san, and you are clearly observant. Surely, you saw the crowd that gathered to witness our little show?"

The man nodded. "I do not see how that's relevant to my question."

Sakura rested her chin on her palm. "Oh, it's very relevant, Saito-san. You see, more than half the soldiers affiliated with the Shinsengumi were there. I'd venture a guess that most of your division was among them."

"The presence of my subordinates should not affect battle."

Sakura clenched her fist on her lap. "Saito-san. You're a leader and that means you're responsible for the lives of the people you lead. They should look up at you, seek you for guidance and reassurance. Much like the way you look up to Kondou-san. Now, tell me, how would you feel if you were to see Kondou-san defeated by a foreign woman you knew little to nothing about?"

The man took an involuntary step back, and a look of understanding flashed across his face.

Sakura couldn't help but smile. "You see now, Saito-san? My victory would have meant nothing. An ego boost, perhaps, but little else. Your victory, on the other hand, meant everything to the soldiers that follow your orders on a daily basis. Their morale is strengthened by the knowledge that a man as capable as yourself is there to lead them to battle. Your victory was a demonstration of your skill and a reminder of why these men choose to follow you. It was very much deserved, I assure you."

For a little while, Hajime looked lost in thought, mulling over her words. Sakura simply waited patiently, pleased with herself. It was obvious that Saito was an overachiever, and he took nearly everything seriously. He reminded her too much of Sasuke. Though he was better at communicating than the Uchiha, Sakura figured he too was one of those people who needed a friendly push in the right direction from time to time.

Let it be known that Haruno Sakura never turned her back on brooding sword wielders with the social skills of a rock. She giggled inwardly at her own thoughts.

Finally, Hajime nodded, visibly relaxing. "Aa. I understand. You have my sincere thanks, Haruno-san. I'm in your debt."

"There is no debt to pay, Saito-san. Helping people is my job, remember?"

He regarded with interest, focusing his unmoving gaze on her, and for a moment Sakura feared she had somehow overstepped her bounds. Her worries were dispelled a moment later when she noticed a small smile playing at the man's lips.

"Aa. You are a peculiar woman, Haruno-san. I finally see why Kondou went to such great lengths to bring you here."

Sakura blushed under the scrutiny of his gaze. "Me? I'm just a medic, Saito-san. And please, call me Sakura."

"In that case, I have a request."

The woman nodded, intrigued. "Of course. What can I do for you?"

"I want you to become my sparring partner."

Sakura's eyebrow shot to her hairline in surprise, but she nodded eagerly, a grin spreading on her face. "Of course. It'd be an honor, Saito-san."

The man nodded, features relaxed. "It's settled then. I will seek you out when the time comes. I'll leave you to your work now."

"Thank you for coming to visit me, Saito-sa-"

"Hajime. My name is Hajime."

Sakura's momentary astonishment was almost immediately replaced by a happy grin, too pleased with the fact that she had finally managed to get on the stoic captain's good graces to care about maintaining a more composed façade.

He bowed his head in a show of respect and gratitude and made to leave. He was ready to step out of the door when Sakura spoke.

"You should smile more, Hajime-kun. It suits you."

For the first time since meeting him, Hajime's composed expression slipped, and a look of shock crossed his face. With a quick "Excuse me", he walked out and shut the door behind him.

Unable to control herself, Sakura burst out laughing at his embarrassment and hasty retreat.

Oh, Hajime-kun, you are easier to tease than even Souji.

Humming happily to herself, she returned to tending to her patients, though the grin remained on her lips.

She had seen the blush on Saito's face, and she was never going to let him live it down.

XxxxX

"Sakura! Come look at this!"

The medic lifted her eyes from the leather pouches spread before her when she heard Chizuru calling her. She turned to the old man across from her and gave him her kindest smile. Scribbling a bunch of measurements on a slip of paper, she gave it to the cheerful vendor.

"Here, Tanaka-san. I'm sorry you have to go through all this trouble on my account."

With a boisterous laugh, the leatherworker waved her off. "Don't worry your pretty little head over me, good doctor. These fingers are old, but they still remember their craft. I'll make you your new pouch in no time."

Sakura bowed her head, hands clasped in front of her in gratitude. "Thank you, Tanaka-san. Have a great day and please, be mindful of your back pain."

"I will, good doctor!"

Waving at the man, Sakura caught up with Chizuru, who was examining a cart full of herbs. "What do you have there, Chizuru-chan?"

The young brunette turned to her with a wide smile. "Look!"

Sakura took one of the flower petals and brought it to her nose, inhaling the sweet aroma. "Chrysanthemum. Pretty high quality too. Good job, Chizuru-chan."

Taking a small jar from the pouch hanging on her hakama pants, Sakura turned to the seller. "Good afternoon Nakamura-san!"

"Oh, Sakura-chan, welcome back! How may I help you?"

Handing the jar to him with a smile, she pointed to the dried yellow flowers. "Could you please fill that with chrysanthemum?"

"Ah, good eye like always, Sakura-chan."

The medic waved his praise off. "Thank you, Nakamura-san, but all the credit goes to Chizuru-chan here. She noticed the petals."

"Ah, imparting your knowledge, good doctor?"

The young woman shrugged. "Just doing my duty. Were it up to me, this world would have more healers than soldiers."

"Aa, may your dreams come true, Sakura-chan," he said, handing her the jar.

Accepting the jar from the man, she put it back in her pouch. "Thank you, Nakamura-san. Please let me know when the medicine for your stomachaches runs out and I'll fix a fresh batch for you right way."

"You're too kind to this old man, lassie."

Sending him a cheeky smile, the medic feigned an expression of shock. "Old man? Why, you can't be older than forty!"

Laughing loudly, the man turned to his grandson, a boy no older than ten that Sakura had seen many times before. "See, Hiro-kun? That's the kind of girl you bring home to your parents."

"Can't argue with that."

Both Sakura and Chizuru whirled around at the sound of the new voice, only for the medic to blush to the roots of her hair when she saw who it was, and his words registered in her head.

"Harada-san, Nagakura-san!"

"Heyo, Yukimura, Sakura-chan! What are you guys doing here?"

Regaining her composure – a feat that got progressively harder whenever Sanosuke was around – she cleared her throat. "After the morning spar, Chizuru-chan and I decided to head into town for supplies. I need to make more medicine for the injured in the infirmary, and check if anyone in town requires medical assistance."

Turning to the old vendor, she handed him a few coins. "Here, Nakamura-san. I trust that's enough?"

"More than enough, Sakura-chan." He turned a critical eye to the men, recognizing their uniforms. "No trouble here, right lads?"

Before either Sanosuke or Shinpachi could answer, Sakura plastered her most cheerful smile on her face and addressed the vendor. "No need to worry, Nakamura-san. These kind gentlemen here, as well as many others from the Shinsengumi, have helped me many times before."

She glanced at the two men in the corner of her eye, hoping that they would get her message and keep quiet. Apparently understanding what she was trying to do, they remained silent.

The vendor raised an eyebrow. "They have?"

"Oh, yes, of course. You see, sickness and injury do not care if it's night or day, and many a time I've had to walk the streets after sundown."

Nakamura looked almost scandalized. "Sakura-chan! You should know better! The streets are dangerous for a young lady such as yourself."

"But that is where these brave samurai come in, Nakamura-san. They keep me company and make sure I'm safe whenever I have to answer a call or make my rounds after dark."

"Huh, won't you look at that."

Sakura nodded, smile in place. "I really trust these men, Nakamura-san, and you should too. They are honorable and always make sure that I'm within the safety of my home before leaving."

She was no fool. She had noticed from the very beginning that people seemed mistrustful of the Shinsengumi, and despite the slight improvement since the Ikeda Inn incident, Sakura still thought it rather unfair. She hoped that by playing her cards right, she would be able to change the peoples' opinion for the better.

Nakamura looked skeptical, but he nodded after a while, going as far as to offer Sanosuke and Nagakura a good-natured smile. "Well, if the lass says you're a good sort, then I believe her."

Sakura bowed her head in thanks. "Have a great day, Nakamura-san."

"You too, Sakura-chan." He turned to Sanosuke and Shinpachi. "Keep the ladies safe, you two."

Brimming with excitement, Nagakura pumped a fist in the air. "Yes, sir!"

Sanosuke's reaction was a lot milder but he still bowed his head to the man in respect.

They said their goodbyes and started walking deeper into the bustling marketplace. It was only an hour past noon, and the people were running around, completing errands, or trying to sell their goods.

With Shinpachi and Chizuru walking a little ahead and engaged in lively conversation, Sakura turned to Sanosuke, who was walking beside her. "I don't remember giving you the green light to go on patrols, Harada."

He flashed a wide, unabashed grin. "Oops."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Had I known you'd flee, I would have tied you to the bed."

A smirk that was equal parts shameless and challenging split his face, and Sanosuke lowered his mouth to her ear. "Is that a promise?"

His hot breath caressed her skin, making the hair at the back of her neck stand on edge. "You," she started, "are an incorrigible flirt."

"It's one of my many charms, my lady."

"I don't think you know what that word means. Or how to count."

Breathe, Sakura. I need to remember how to breathe.

She put a hand on his chest, meaning to push him away, but immediately regretted it. His skin was warm to the touch, and she could feel hard muscle rippling beneath her fingers as they walked. Her mind was flooded with images from the previous night, and of the auburn-haired captain bare chested in her bed.

With a profession like hers and her teammates' propensity for getting injured, she was no stranger to the male physique. After all, long term missions often called for teams to change clothing in front of each other. And if there was one thing shinobi were good at even in times of peace, that was keeping in shape.

But this was not Naruto, or Kakashi, or even Sasuke.

This was Sanosuke. Red-haired, broad-shouldered Sanosuke with his spear-wielding hands, and his golden eyes and a smirk so sinfully kissable-

She pushed him away abruptly, huffing in an attempt to hide her flustered condition, and quickened her pace to walk beside Chizuru and Nagakura, who were completely oblivious to what had transpired.

She heard him laugh and dared to glance at him over her shoulder. She found him watching her and the moment he caught her eye, he winked at her playfully.

Kami have mercy on me…

XxxxX

"Oh man, I'm beat!"

Sanosuke snorted. "You did absolutely nothing today, Nagakura."

"Shut up, Harada! Making the ladies of Kyoto swoon is exhausting work."

"Don't flatter yourself, Nagakura. The only lady that approached you today was a cat."

He could hear Sakura and Chizuru's amused giggles behind them, and he threw them a wide grin over his shoulder. They had about another hour or two of sunlight, and Sanosuke could not wait for a proper meal and the chance to rest.

The Shinsengumi compound had just come into view when Sakura spoke up from behind them.

"You guys go up ahead, and I'll catch you later."

"Eh? Is something wrong, Sakura-chan"?"

The woman smiled, waving his concerns off. "Nothing to worry about, Shin-kun. Just an errand I need to run. A bit of extra herb picking. Did you know that jasmine only blooms at night?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Nagakura, Yukimura, you two return home. I'll accompany Sakura and make sure she stays safe."

The medic shifted her eyes to him, an unreadable expression on her face.

Sanosuke threw his hands up in mock surrender. "You heard the vendor from before. I gotta keep my lady safe."

She stared at him for a few moments, before relenting with a deep sigh. "Fine. You can tag along." The, she turned to Yukimura and handed her a jar. "Chizuru-chan, take this to the storage room where we keep the other herbs. I'll teach you how to brew it in the morning."

"Thank you, Sakura! I can hardly wait."

Saying their goodbyes to Nagakura and Yukimura, Sanosuke and Sakura turned around and started walking in the opposite direction. In the corner of his eye, Sanosuke watched her, taking in her relaxed shoulders and easy stride. She started humming to herself, and he let her, content with basking in her presence.

And yet, something feels off…

They started following the river and it did not take long for him to realize that they were walking towards the woods. They crossed the first cluster of trees, and Sakura immediately started examining plants here and there until they found themselves in a small clearing.

Abruptly, her whole countenance changed. Her face hardened and she focused her gaze on the tree line, crossing her arms across her chest. "Alright, I think I've had enough of you sneaking around. Why don't you come out now?"

Almost instantly, two figures emerged from among the trees, and Sanosuke immediately tensed, his hand on his Yari.

"My, little girl. You have a good head on your shoulders. Too bad it's not gonna do you any good once I take it."

Instinctively, Sanosuke jumped in front of Sakura protectively, spear at the ready. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he growled out two names he knew all too well.

"Kyo. Amagiri."

TBC

Ok, can we talk about how cute a flustered Hajime is?

Once this fic is over, I'm tempted to write a HajimeXSakura one just to explore all the ways Sakura could make him blush. To be honest, I'm considering following this fic up with a series of one-shots featuring different Hakuōki men and Sakura, though Sanosuke will always be my favorite. We'll see though! This story has a long way to go.

Alright! Kyo and Amagiri are here and that only spells trouble for our favorite couple. As I said in a previous author's notes, this story will follow Kyoto Winds but many, many things will play out differently. Sakura will – obviously – be the main focus so Chizuru's story will be pushed to the back. Because hell yeah, I want my Saku-chan to be recognized and appreciated for the amazing woman that she is by bad guys and good guys alike.

Anyway, I'll stop my rambling here.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! If so, I'd love it if you could drop me a review to let me know how you liked it. Reading your thoughts always makes my day.

Until next time,

Lots of love!