Yamazaki cleared his throat. "We have reason to believe that Choshu rebels are plotting an attack on Kyoto. We do not know when or how many of them there are, but we do know that a high-ranking official will arrive in town within the month. He'll probably use an alias and a disguise, but our contact from within reports that they will be staying at Shimabara."

Souji crossed his arms across his chest. "Shimabara? Seems like a strange choice of accommodation for a rebel leader."

Sakura hummed thoughtfully. "Or a really clever one. Shimabara is very crowded. It's easy to get lost amidst the myriad of faces that come and go every day. It's also a place that one wouldn't think to search when looking for paramilitary officials."

Hijikata nodded. "That is correct. Yamazaki, will our contact be able to tell us the name of the place the rebels will be staying at?"

Yamazaki nodded. "He'll send us a coded message with the place once he finds out. He will help us identify the leader when the time comes."

"Good. That leaves us with one last obstacle to overcome. We need to find a way to infiltrate the place and get close to him to make the arrest."

Souji snorted sarcastically. "You're not asking for anything difficult, are you, Hijikata?"

Sakura cleared her throat to gain their attention. "I have an idea. And you're not going like it."

XxxxX

"You cannot be serious."

Sakura rolled her eyes at Sanosuke's disbelieving expression. "For the hundredth time, Sano-kun, I am very serious."

"But Sakura-chan, what you suggest is dangerous."

She shrugged. "Everything we do could potentially be dangerous. After all, I've done this before."

Heisuke looked at her questioningly. "You have?"

"Of course I have, Todou. What, do you think I've never been on seduction missions before?"

"Seduction what?"

Sakura snorted. "Close your mouth, Harada, lest you catch a fly. These missions are an important part of our training back home."

"What exactly do you do on those missions, Pinky?"

The woman glanced at Souji. "I get close to the target, seduce them, get them piss drunk either on sake or some opioid, and extract the information I want. Piece of cake."

"That's…disturbing."

"No, Hajime-kun. That's useful. After all, I never allow anyone to touch me."

"You don't?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Of course not. What do you take me for, Todou? I pose as a consort. Doesn't mean I am one."

Hijikata stared at her thoughtfully. "Say we agree to this plan of yours. We have no clothing or the slightest idea how to prepare you. How are we going to get you in Shimabara unnoticed?"

Ignoring Sanosuke's grumbling, Sakura smirked at Toshizo. "Leave that one to me."

XxxxX

"Akemi-chan! Hello!" Sakura beamed at the younger girl the moment she opened the door.

"Sakura-chan?" The younger woman's eyes brightened. "Sakura-chan! What a wonderful surprise! Come in, come in."

"Thank you, Akemi-chan. How have you been?"

"I've been good," she said as she led the medic to a low table with brightly colored futons thrown around it. "I took your advice. I walk home with a coworker these days. She lives just down the street."

Sakura smiled. "That's good to hear. I was worried about you, you know."

"Would you like some tea, Sakura-chan?"

The woman shook her head. "Thank you, Akemi-chan, but I can't stay for long this time. I still have to go on my rounds around town. I do have a favor to ask of you, however."

The younger girl smiled. "Of course, Sakura-chan. Whatever you need."

"Do you think you could help me find work in Shimabara?"

"Eeeh? Why would you do that?"

Had the situation been different, she would have laughed at the girl's expression of genuine shock. She giggled. "I have a really important task to complete, Akemi-chan. You see, it has been brought to my attention that many girls in Shimabara do not have access to proper medical care," she lied easily, "and as you very well know, those girls are either too poor or too proud to ask for help."

Akemi nodded sadly. "I know, Sakura-chan. Some of my colleagues are like that. Also…"

Sakura frowned at the way the girl trailed off. "Also? What's wrong, Akemi? Is anyone giving you trouble?"

"These men have been visiting Shimabara lately. They aren't good men, Sakura-chan. They scare the other girls and they scare me too. They don't care if we say no. They…they stop at nothing."

Ronin bastards.

"Don't worry, Akemi-chan. I'll make sure you stay safe. That's a promise."

The younger woman's eyes widened, before they turned sad. "But I don't want anything to happen to Sakura-chan either. You've already put your life in danger for me once."

The pinkette reached out and took the girl's hand. "Now, now. Don't be upset, Akemi-chan. That's why I need to enter Shimabara undercover. To find out more information and get those girls and you the care you need. Can you please help me with that? It'll be our secret."

Akemi nodded eagerly. "Whatever you need."

Sakura smiled. "For starters, I need an outfit…"

XxxxX

"Sano-kun, will you please stop pacing? You're giving me a headache."

Ignoring her, Sanosuke crossed his arms across his chest in agitation. "Can you please explain to me why you are so dead set on going today? According to the reports, the rebels won't be in town for another two weeks."

She glanced at him over her shoulder as she checked her pouch one last time. "I need to familiarize myself with the environment and get a better understanding of the layout of the buildings. Map out escape routes, potential hiding places, good vantage points. It's a process."

"I don't like this, Sakura. At all."

"You don't have to like it, Sano-kun. All you have to do is see the advantages and make sure to behave tonight. I won't have you ruining my cover, you hear me?" She took one last look at her room, sweeping the space with her eyes to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. "Alright, I think I have everything I need."

"Except sound judgement, you mean?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it. I'll be fine." She flashed him a smile. "After all, you and some of the others will be there, correct? You'll keep me safe."

Sanosuke groaned, running a hand through his red ponytail. "The moment I realize something's not right, I'm getting you out of there. No questions asked."

Knowing she had won, Sakura beamed at him. "It's a deal!" Linking her arm through his, she started dragging him out of her room. "Come now, time is of the essence and I need to give you guys a few pointers before I go find Akemi to get ready."

They found Souji, Shinpachi, and Heisuke waiting for them by the gates.

"Alright, now that you're all here, a few ground rules." She stared at each one of them pointedly. "You don't interfere unless I signal you to, you don't do a single thing that might blow my cover, and you don't come anywhere near me unless absolutely necessary. The moment you enter Shimabara, you forget all about me. We've never met, you don't even know my name. To you, I'm just another geisha. Are we clear?"

When no one answered, Sakura glared at them. "I said, are we clear?"

Souji scoffed. "We heard you the first time, Pinky. We get it."

"Good! Now, I must get going. Make sure you arrive after sundown. Wish me luck!"

The men watched her go with varying degrees of annoyance and worry on their faces.

"Pinky better stay safe."

Sanosuke nodded. "She will. She has to."

XxxOxOxOxxX

When Harada, Nagakura, Okita and Todou crossed the gates of Shimabara, it was already two hours past sunset. The place was already bustling with life as it usually was, but for the life of him, Sanosuke could not bring himself to feel any sort of excitement.

"Where did Pinky say she was going?"

"Sumiya. That girl, Akemi, works there. She promised to get Sakura in and give her proper attire."

Souji nodded. "Well, we have given Pinky enough time to prepare. Let's head to the House. Hijikata said we have a couple of hours to scope the crowds without raising suspicion. That should give Pinky enough time to do her thing."

Sanosuke grunted in agitation. "Let's get this over with."

"My, Harada. I've never seen you so displeased to be surrounded by beautiful women before."

"Shut up, Okita."

The walk to Sumiya House was a relatively short one, despite familiar faces stopping them to exchange pleasantries ever so often. The three-part ageya had a large frontage on the street, and by the looks of it, people were already starting to flock to the entertainment house.

Sanosuke and the others knew their way around, so they immediately headed to the large banquet hall on the first floor. Able to accommodate at least a hundred people at any given time, they knew that would be Sakura's post for the night. That girl, Akemi, had managed to get her inside but new geisha were never allowed to enter the private rooms before proving themselves in the common hall.

Sanosuke didn't know whether to feel relieved that Sakura wouldn't be called to…entertain in a room, or agitated that she'd be around a whole slew of drunks and degenerates.

The banquet hall was nearly full, but they managed to find seats that allowed them a good enough view of the main entrance and two of the side entrances that the geisha used. They were immediately welcomed, and sake was brought and poured for them by girls that looked vaguely familiar.

"Harada, if you keep looking at everyone like that, you're gonna get us kicked out. Relax."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Souji."

Okita rolled his eyes. "You're glaring, idiot. And Pinky's not even in the room yet. You're going to give us away."

Heisuke surveyed the room over his cup. "There are a lot of people in here. Are you sure she's not somewhere around already?"

"Are you really saying that we're gonna miss Pinky? Have you seen the color of her hair? She stands out."

Sanosuke sipped at his drink. That's what I'm worried about.

"But won't that make Sakura-chan even more recognizable? Everyone in town knows of the good doctor."

"Yeah. Women and children and the elderly. Not people that frequent Shimabara. Doesn't matter if the whole of Kyoto knows her name, anyway. All that matters is that to the rebels coming in, she'll be nothing but a pretty face and an attractive body."

"Watch your mouth, Souji."

"Don't go all protective on me, Harada. All I'm saying is that it makes sense for her to become a familiar face around here. That way, when the time comes, no one will question her presence." Souji sighed. "When did I become the voice of logic amongst a bunch of morons?"

Sanosuke took another sip of his sake, hoping that the alcohol would help calm his nerves. Under normal circumstances, the lively atmosphere of Sumiya coupled with the beautiful women willing to fulfil his every need would have been enough to make him unwind and enjoy himself.

But things aren't what they used to be, Harada, are they?

What pleasure could drinks, or women give him that would ever compare to the feeling of holding the one woman he loved in his embrace?

The geisha around him were undeniably beautiful and elegant, but none of them had soft pink hair or wild green eyes or gentle hands that could take his pain away with a single touch.

Huh, look at you, Harada. You're hopeless. He chuckled to himself. So, this is what it means to be in love. To choose her; to always choose her.

"Hey, is that-?"

"What's wrong, Todou? Close your mouth, or something might fly in."

"Guys, that's-!"

"Holy shit…"

"Harada, you may want to pay attention now."

When Sanosuke raised his eyes to where Souji was pointing, it took every ounce of practiced discipline he had is his body to keep him from choking on his drink.

Sakura walked in the room through one of the side entrances with poise one would expect from a seasoned geisha. Her kimono was a light teal color, with a white, gold, and pink flower pattern decorating the hem and sleeves. The obi was dark pink with gold trimming and a dark green obijime tied like a flower in the middle.

Against her naturally pale skin, the purple and blue makeup on her eyelids did wonders for her eyes, and he had no doubt that she would be stopping men dead in their tracks with just a look. Piled atop her head in an elegantly intricate updo, her hair seemed to sparkle under the light of the lanterns.

"Sakura-chan…She…She's…"

"Bloody gorgeous." Heisuke whistled under his breath. "I think I'm in love."

"Huh, won't you look at that. Who knew that's what she hid under the men's clothing and that smart mouth." Souji sounded disinterested, but the appreciative look as he drank in the sight of the woman was clear as day.

She kept her eyes low, and her whole demeanor screamed of demureness and innocence. The hostess directed her to a group of men sitting nearly across from them, and she immediately went to sit beside them. With experienced hands, she poured them their drinks, keeping up her façade of vulnerability.

Kami, that woman will be the death of me.

Okita turned to Sanosuke with a snicker. "Pick up your jaw, Harada. Someone might trip on it."

"Shut up, Souji."

He watched as she poured more sake into the cups of the men, offering them disarmingly charming smiles, and groaned.

This is going to be a long night.

XxxxX

Sakura sighed tiredly as she crossed the gate of the compound with slumped shoulders. She was certainly no stranger to pretending to be a courtesan for the sake of missions, but she had forgotten how exhausting it was to wear the attire for more than a couple of hours.

Her feet hurt, courtesy of the uncomfortable geta shoes she had been forced to wear, and she was certain her neck would be stiff all day long tomorrow if she didn't do something about it soon.

It was well past midnight by the time she reached the corridor leading her room, and she was ready to call it day, dreading the moment she would have to go through the same process all over again. She would take a dozen rogue shinobi over that any day.

Fortunately for everyone involved, the night had gone off without a hitch and for that she was thankful. She'd seen Sanosuke, Souji, Shinpachi and Heisuke and knowing their tendency to be overprotective - Sano especially - she had expected them to react when a couple of the men got particularly rowdy.

Thank Kami they didn't.

Dragging her feet the rest of the way, she felt her spirits lift at the sight of her door.

Huh? Is that-?

"Sano-kun?"

The man stood outside her room, leaning against the wall beside her door. He turned to look at her the moment he became aware of his presence and pushed himself off the wall.

"Sakura, you're back."

She smiled tiredly at him. "What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"I wanted to make sure you returned home safely."

Her smile widened, her heart fluttering in her chest. "You didn't have to, Sano-kun. I don't feel comfortable knowing that you go through all that trouble on my account."

"Sakura. Stop. It's no trouble. I couldn't sleep anyway."

Her smile slipped to be replaced by a worried frown. "Are you sick? Do you need me to take a look at your temperature? I could prepare you a sleeping draught-"

The man chuckled and patted her on the head. "Don't lose sleep over me, I'm fine. I was just worried about you."

Her green eyes softened. "Don't worry about me, Sano-kun. I'm a big girl, remember?"

He sighed, dropping his hand to his side. "A big girl who willingly puts herself in every dangerous situation that presents itself."

"We've had this conversation before, Harada. You know I can protect myself."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do I? Just the other day you admitted to finding Kazama Chikage in your bedroom. And you didn't report it to anyone. How's that protecting yourself?"

Oh, please, I'm too tired to deal with this right now.

With her patience already worn thin, Sakura scowled. "If this is your way of telling me that you're worried about me, then you're doing a terrible job."

His scowl matched hers. "Perhaps I wouldn't have to do this, if you thought before you acted."

Sakura felt like she had just been slapped. "You did not just say that. If I thought before I acted? Need I remind you that I literally had to put you back together after you went and got yourself stabbed twice?"

He crossed his arms across his chest. "That was different. I was doing my duty."

Sakura scoffed. "So, it's your duty to get yourself killed? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Give me a break, Harada." She shook her head, shifting on her feet in agitation. "You know what? I don't care. Do whatever you want. Just leave me the hell out of it."

Brushing past him angrily, she was about to open her door, when she felt a pair of arms around her shoulders and Sanosuke slammed her back to his chest. Too surprised to say anything, she waited for him to speak first.

With a shaky breath, he leaned his forehead against the back of her head. "Sakura…I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take my anger out on you. I'm just…really worried. Worried that something will happen to you when I'm not there to help you."

Sakura's eyes widened in shock but softened a second later and she turned around in his embrace to face him. She pressed her hands to his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her palm.

"I…I'm sorry too, Sano-kun. I don't like depending on others to protect me. I need to pull my own weight and I work really hard to achieve that." She lowered her eyes, looking away from him. "I guess I…I don't know how to let others take care of me."

With gentleness that surprised her and made her breathing hitch, Sanosuke took her face in his hands. "I want to take care of you."

No, you don't, Sano-kun. I'm not worth it.

The earnestness in his amber eyes made her chuckle humorlessly. "It's rotten work."

He shook his head, rubbing circles on her cheek with his thumb. "Not to me. Not when it's you."

Her heart nearly exploded in her chest when he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Goodnight, Sakura."

She was left staring at his back as he walked away, too stunned to do anything put press a hand to her chest in a vain attempt to calm her frantic heartbeat. Her skin tingled where his lips had touched her; a fire that flowed and pooled at her belly.

What…What the hell just happened?

XxxxX

"Ah, Sakura. You're here, good."

The woman smiled apologetically at Kondou. "Please excuse my tardiness, Kondou-san. A soldier from the fourth division got injured during one of his rounds and I had to tend to him before coming here."

"Of course, of course. The wellbeing of our men takes precedence." He crossed his fingers behind his back. "Now, I have good reason for calling you here."

As Kondou drowned on about new additions to the troops and amendments to the rules of the Shinsengumi, Sakura dared steal a glance at Sanosuke who stood some distance away.

He was not looking at her, and he had not turned to spare her a look even once since her arrival. That was unlike the Sanosuke she knew. The man always had a smile and a kind word for her. She couldn't remember the last time she'd walked in a room and he hadn't come over to greet her.

Was last night…Was last night nothing but a spur of the moment thing? A ruse? Hell, did he simply have a bit too much to drink?

Sakura frowned and something ugly twisted in her belly.

Does he…regret it?

She averted her gaze, focusing her eyes on Kondou instead. She was painfully aware of the vines of hurt coiling around her lungs, making it hard to breathe.

Alright, Sakura. You've put your heart back together once before. You can do it again. You got this. Just breathe.

"However, the most important reason why I called you here has to do with the information Yamazaki brought us the other day. We have news."

Kondou's words broke her out of her gaze, and her ears perked up with interest, pushing thoughts of Sanosuke and her heart breaking to the back of her mind. She'd have no shortage of time and space to think on that in the privacy of her room.

Yamazaki nodded. "It has been brought to our attention that the ronin are moving faster than we anticipated. Whether they received new orders from higher above or their leader is in a rush to avoid arrest, the fact remains. The official will be here in less than a week."

"Are they trying to force our hand for some reason?"

Hijikata shook his head. "I doubt that's the reason, Souji. They are probably trying to feed us false information to throw us off their trail."

"How do we know we have it right this time around?"

"That's easy. You have me."

They all turned at the sound of the new voice to see a man walk in the room with a charming smile on his face.

"Good afternoon. I'm your contact and informant, Sakamoto Ryouma."

TBC

Ryouma my elegant, beautiful sweetheart!

How unfairly the game treated you. You and your sexy beauty spot.

I love Sakamoto. Simple as that. In all routes other than his I was like "Why you do this, Hakuōki?! Leave my lilac-haired baby alone!"

But fear not! No one's dying on my watch, Sakamoto included. This flirtatious heartthrob gets to live amongst the rest of our favorite boys and unknowingly cause drama, because hey, what's life without a bit of drama?

After all, the night is darkest right before dawn and things must get worse before they get better. And trust me, things are going to get worse.

Having said that, I have another one-shot up, the official the second installment in my SakuraXHakuōki series. It's a SoujiXSakura one-shot called "Komorebi", if you'd like to check it out. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

So far in the series:

"Fire and Silk" – (ChikageXSakura)

"Komorebi" – (SoujiXSakura)

My SaitoXSakura and HijikataXSakura one-shots are coming very soon.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

If you have a minute to spare, drop me a review. Reading your thoughts always makes my day.

Until next time,

Lots of love!