I got Haruhi a brand new wakizashi. It wasn't an excellent blade but it wasn't a toy either. I explained to her how to oil it and take care of it, and she wasn't allowed to unsheathe it in the castle or alone in the courtyard. She could do it only if I or Souji gave her permission. She was wearing it with pride and as long as she kept it in her scabbard, I never forced her to take it off, even at the dinner table. I explained to her that she was a warrior now and that she had to act with honor and she listened very seriously. I was proud of her.
Yasha Koan met us outside the castle and said that his daughter had found Kazama's tracks even though they were old. They followed them, running for a day to be sure it wasn't a false lead and they could tell us for sure that Kazama went east, towards Edo. That was relieving. By foot, I could join Edo in two weeks if I walked normally, maybe a bit less. That left me an entire week to rescue Chizuru before getting back to the Shinsengumi with her.
According to my promise, I released Kaoru and gave him to Sen. I let him choose which finger to chop and he cried even before giving me his hand. Pathetic. I took his left ring-finger and told him he should thank Sen because she was the one who saved his worthless little life. Sen assured me that he would stay under high surveillance in the Yase clan and I hoped she was telling the truth. The minute I were to see him on my path again, he would be dead.
I prepared a few supplies, at least for the first few days. I'd probably have to hunt or stop in inns along the way but I prefered to be cautious. I kept the brown wool kimono too. It was warm and the weather was getting colder, February approaching.
I took only a few hours to get ready and meet everyone who came to see me off outside the castle gates.
« Hajime ! » said Haruhi, handing me one of the two sandogasa (traveling straw hats) she was carrying « Souji said you'll need one, against sunburns ! »
I nodded with a smile and saw Souji wink at me. Sunburns were a cute euphemism for the pain that the daylight was making me endure. I took the big hat out of her hand and put it on as she put on the smaller one on her own head.
« Why are you wearing one ? » I asked, confused.
« I don't wanna be sunburnt either ! » she said with conviction and that's when I noticed her tiny bag.
« Haruhi, you're not coming. » I told her coldly.
« I am. » she replied with the same coldness.
« No you're not. It's too dangerous and we are going to walk a lot. We won't be able to stop because you are exhausted. » I explained with a tone not open to discussion.
« You told me I'm a warrior and that I should act with honor. » she objected, furrowing her brows « and now you are telling me that as a Saito, I can't act honorably and rescue my family ? »
« You're nine. »
« Nearly ten ! » she objected again « I want to rescue Chizuru-neechan too ! »
« Saito-san » said Yasha Koan « that decision is yours but I can promise that I can assure her safety personally. If she can walk, nothing prevents her from coming. »
Nothing ? Kazama, the SatCho, the bullets and even the wolves and bears for all I know... Is that nothing to you ?
« If Koan says he can assure her safety, these are not hollow words, Saito-san » added Sen.
« It's not the place for a child. » I replied firmly.
« Then you are tarnishing my honor and I'll have to seppuku to reestablish it. » said Haruhi, crossing her arms.
First Chizuru, now Haruhi... Why does everytime someone becomes a Saito, they get so stubborn ? I really should stop giving my name to everyone...
« Alright. » I nodded and I saw her eyes widen in excitement « but you walk, you do not complain and I am NOT carrying you. Am I understood ? »
« Yes ! » she bowed « I'll obey all your orders, Kumichô ! »
Kumichô... I'm no captain anymore. I don't have any division...
« New rules. » I added « You follow orders, you never unsheathe your wakizashi and if there are enemies, you hide. I don't want you to fight anyone. »
« I'll hide, I promise. » she nodded very seriously.
« You break the rules and you are no longer a daughter of mine. » I continued harshly.
« I understand. » she nodded again.
« Go put on a kimono without the Saito kamon. » I ordered her and she ran to her room, turning her head a few times to make sure I wasn't tricking her.
I turned to Yasha Koan and Yasha Mika and they both nodded with foxy smiles. With their thin faces and bulging cheekbones, they really looked like ones. Haruhi came back with a pink kimono and her brown hakama. Pink wasn't the most discreet color to walk in the forest but it still was better than to have the mark of a shogunate affiliated captain on her body. In case of capture by imperialists, she'll be safer this way.
She hugged everyone with a wide smile and turned to me, bowing with respect, her wakizashi on her side.
« Let's go. » I said, and we departed.
Haruhi had legs shorter than ours but she followed without complaining once. We walked until twilight and set camp in the forest. We were avoiding roads and with them the SatCho checkpoints. I took some rice balls from my bag and gave some to Haruhi who was starving. Koan and Mika refused politely and informed me that they would hunt. I nodded and took the first quarter while they were away, Haruhi already sleeping next to me, her head on my lap. I couldn't help but think that it wasn't too late to take her back to Osaka. I wasn't sure why I allowed her to come. I knew Souji wouldn't have let her seppuku. Maybe I wanted to be with her. Maybe losing Chizuru was making me want to keep the rest of my family near, where I could protect her. I had no clue. Yet, I was throwing her head first into danger.
I passed my hand into her hair, long and ebony as her mother's used to be and I looked at the sky, starting to fill itself with stars.
Are you still watching over her, Yuki ? Please don't let anything happen to her...
I waited for an answer but none came. I heard some footsteps and put my hand on my katana but that was just Koan and Mika, coming back with two rabbits. Mika started to make a fire and I stopped her.
« Wait. We can't draw attention. » I told her, grabbing her wrist.
I took my hand off almost immediately, ashamed that I dared put my hand on her, and apologized.
« Don't worry, Saito-san. » said Koan « no one will see the fire. »
« It's getting dark, it will be visible from afar. » I objected.
« No. » he sighed « look. »
I looked and my jaw dropped. I could see the rabbits roast but there was no fire and no fog. Then I could see the fire again.
« Sorcery... » I whispered in disbelief.
« Only a simple illusion. » replied Koan. « No one will see the fire appart from us, I can guarantee it. »
« Do not pay attention to my father. » said Mika with a smile, her gaze fixed on the rabbits. « He likes to demonstrate his talents. »
« They're the only thing I have left. » he smirked to his daughter.
Is it a common talent amongst Oni ? Can Chizuru do that too ?
I had a lot of questions but I didn't want to intrude. They offered me a piece of the rabbit and I took it, happy to have a bit of meat to go with my rice. I didn't wake Haruhi up, she was totally exhausted.
« Mika. » ordered Koan « you take the second quarter. I need to rest. »
« You always do, old man. » she replied playfully.
« Be careful with your words, young girl. » he scolded but I could see that these kinds of verbal exchanges were nothing but a game to them. They were very close. Never would I have dared addressing my own father that way.
Koan laid on a blanket and fell asleep almost immediately. His loud snores were soon the only sound echoing in the forest.