« Chizuru. » I called her softly, caressing her face.
She was still sleeping and I needed to fold the tent so we could march again towards Kofu. She opened her eyes, still blurry with tiredness and passed her fists on her eyes.
« Good morning. » she said, sitting up.
« I apologize for disturbing you but you need to get dressed and get out if you want anything for breakfast while I fold the tent. »
« I'm not hungry. » she said, a pout on her face.
« As a doctor, you should know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. » I objected « Now, go. »
She put on her kimono and hakama and headed out grudgingly. I folded our futon first and stepped out with it to keep folding the rest. I looked at Chizuru from afar, eating a rice ball without any envy, but I was still happy she obeyed me and ate. She'd need energy to keep walking. When my work was done, I put the tent with the others and joined her.
« Yukimura. Sorry. Saito-sensei. » said Hijikata-san, coming our way « are you gonna be ok ? You look pale as a ghost. »
« I'm fine. » she replied with a genuine smile.
« You too, Saito ? » he asked, visibly concerned.
« I beg your pardon, Fukuchô ? » I replied, perplexed.
« You two seem to have caught the same thing, you both look pale. » he stated, crossing his arms « are you gonna walk ? »
« I am in prime condition, Fukuchô. » I bowed « My health shouldn't be of any concern to you. »
« Nonsense. » he sighed « you are one of my best elements. I have every right to be concerned about you. »
« It's okay, Hijikata-san » insisted Chizuru « Hajime's fine and so am I. »
« Okay then » he smiled « if you need a halt or something, just ask me. I'd rather enter Kofu with healthy warriors if I can get the chance. »
« Understood, Fukuchô. » I bowed.
The vice commander went away and Chizuru looked at me with concern, caressing my cheek.
« Hijikata-san's right » she said « You do look pale. The effects must be wearing off. »
« They have been for a few days already but it doesn't impede my ability to perform my duty. » I answered calmly.
« Until it does. » she replied with a sigh « Are you okay in the daylight ? »
« Ha. » I lied.
It wasn't really a lie. Compared to what I endured between Osaka and Edo, this was nothing. But it was true that the pain was here again, replacing the discomfort. I knew that it was going to increase slowly until a bloodlust episode but I still had time.
« Okay... » she just said.
I was surprised that she was abandoning that easily but I was glad for it. I was truly considering her offer, not because I craved her blood but because the logic of her arguments did convince me a little. That said, I still wasn't ready to take this directly from her. Maybe in vials ? We'd see when we'd come back to Edo, if we did, which already was unlikely.
« Alright everyone starts moving now, we still have a hella walk ahead of us » shouted Hijikata-san « Shimada, Saito, come here. »
We joined the vice commander at the head of the column to take our orders. I left Chizuru a bit behind but where I could see her. Even if she hadn't been my wife, I was assigned to her protection and a target never left my sight before. Chizuru wasn't an exception.
« Shimada, we should be able to reach Kofu tomorrow morning. » said Hijikata-san « you go and scout ahead. »
« Very well, Fukuchô. » bowed Shimada.
« Fukuchô. » I said « allow me to assist Shimada. »
With the tragic loss of Yamazaki back at Fushimi, we had no Watch anymore and two scouts were always better than one.
« No Saito. » he shook his head « I have something else to order you. »
« I see. » I replied, a bit disappointed.
« Shimada » barked Hijikata-san « what are you still doing here ?! »
« My apologies, Fukuchô. » bowed Shimada before he went to perform his duty.
It was a mystery to no one that the general mood was glum but Hijikata-san seemed particularly on edge.
« Saito. » he addressed me « in case of conflict or ambush, I want you to flee. »
« Pardon me, Fukuchô ?! » I said with wide eyes.
« If we can't get into that castle, we'll all be doomed. I want you to take Saito-sensei out of here first as soon as I order the retreat. You are assigned to her protection. »
I tightened my fists but my face stayed impassive. I didn't want to run and leave my comrades to fight and die to ensure my escape. Yet, this order was a way to keep Chizuru safe.
« Understood. » I nodded.
« Thank you, Saito. » he said with a small smile « You are always here to comply with all my stupid wishes. »
« I do not think they are stupid, Fukuchô. » I objected « In any case, I am glad you gave me the opportunity to protect her. »
« Yeah well, that girl never asked for all that... » he muttered sadly « she's no warrior and yet, she tolerated us for four years now and followed us, helped us, treated us when we were injured... It's only a return of courtesy not to let her die unnecessarily. »
I never once before heard the vice-commander praise Chizuru this way. He really should think that our mission was suicide for him to make peace this way with his doubts and thoughts.
« You're one lucky bastard, Saito. » he said to my surprise « try not to forget it. »
« I won't, Fukuchô. » I nodded.
Yet this conversation was making me uneasy. I wondered if the vice commander had some feelings for Chizuru during our time in Kyoto. He never made any moves on her but Souji did say the day I married her that Hijikata-san probably wouldn't have minded if Chizuru exited the party with the wrong husband.
« I damn hope so. » he scolded gently « otherwise, I'd have to make that a direct order. »
I smiled a little at Hijikata-san's humour when I heard some hooves in the back of the column. Horses were coming our way.
« It's about time... » muttered Hijikata-san as I saw more than fifty horses and their cavaliers join the head of our ranks.
« I apologize for my tardiness. » said Kondou-san with a bright smile « I bring sixty men with me. »
« I was starting to wonder if you'd be here in time, Kondou-san. » smiled Hijikata-san.
The arrival of the commander, with sixty warriors and horses, lifted immediately the general mood. Appart from this cavalry, we were all on foot. These horses really could be an advantage in battle against swordsmen and even against rifflemen if their guns took time to reload.
« About time Kondou-san shows up. » commented Nagakura with a smile, for once.
« Yeah, that really pumped our guys up. » added Harada.
Chizuru was walking with them and smiling too, from ear to ear. I met her gaze and came closer to her. As her personal bodyguard, I mirrored her steps to be at the exact same speed, just like I did the days before. There was a bit of sweat on my face and that was the only exterior sign of my growing pain but of course, Chizuru noticed it, alert as she was. She went away for a few seconds to ask one of the foot soldiers for his wide jingasa (war hat) and gave it to me with a smile. I accepted genuinely and put it on, ready to walk for hours in the sunlight until we finally reached our destination.
We settled another camp not too far from Kofu but far enough not to be spotted by enemy scouts. The attack would be held in the morning. This time too, Chizuru went directly inside the tent to nap but I stayed a bit with the other captains and Kondou-san. The commander was so confident in our victory that I was torn between admiring him and considering him a fool.
« With that cavalry, we are now up to three hundred men and we have some more still stationed in Edo for backup when the castle will be ours. » he explained, ecstatic.
« If... » muttered Harada.
« We have no report that the imperialists have taken Kofu yet. » frowned Kondou-san « we still have a chance to get there before them »
« Yeah sure... » grumbled Nagakura « and then we'll hold a castle with three hundred men against an army of riflemen. »
« Are you gonna tell me you're afraid, Nagakura-kun ? » barked Kondou-san.
« I'm not afraid to give my life for a cause but I don't see the point of risking my life unnecessarily. » he answered, raising his voice.
« Maybe you should remove these things on your hip if you can't act like a warrior. » stated Kondou-san.
Electricity was starting to fill the air between the three of them. I thought that Kondou-san was particularly unfair to Nagakura. Back at Toba-Fushimi, the second division captain volunteered to be on the front line during the assault on Gokounomiya shrine. His courage and will as a warrior were unquestionable. The commander was once more demonstrating that his new title as a daimyo was clouding his judgment. Before it escalated though, Shimada returned from his scouting.
« Kyoukuchô, Fukuchô and Kumichô. » he bowed « I'm afraid I have bad news. »
« Surprising... » muttered Nagakura but Hijikata-san silenced him with a glare.
« The SatCho has taken Kofu castle. » said Shimada.
« Taken ? » replied Kondou-san with wide eyes but he was the only one surprised with this news.
« Maybe if our commander had prepared this campaign instead of drinking in inns, we could have arrived before them, but no ! Partying was far more important ! » commented Nagakura angrily.
« Watch your mouth, Shinapachi ! » scolded Hijikata-san with force. « We will not tolerate another comment of this nature ! »
Kondou-san was looking at the fire, thinking. Our chances of success just dropped even more. If they were holding the castle, they had the higher ground and the fortifications to protect them, let aside their advanced weaponry.
« How many are they ? » asked Kondou-san after minutes of silence.
« I am not sure, Sotchô. » answered Shimada « There seem to be a thousand under the Tosa commander Itagaki Taisuke but I have no idea of the number of Satsuma and Choshu troops. »
« A thousand... » repeated Kondou-san again.
« Kondou-san, you have to order the retreat. » said Nagakura, expressing out loud what we were all thinking deep down.
« There will be no retreat ! » shouted Kondou-san with force « we have fundings and equipment from the Bakufu, they are counting on us. »
« That's suicide, Kondou-san ! » yelled Nagakura « we are one against three at best and we have the lower ground ! »
« What is happening ? » I heard from behind and I turned to see Chizuru, still sleepy, walking our way.
I stood up and came closer to her, taking her hand to bring her back to the tent. There was no need for her to hear all this and worry all night about the outcome of the next battle. I laid next to her and took her in my arms to reassure her and make her fall asleep again.