In the morning, I dressed myself quickly and headed out. The spring sun was warm above my head and the pain was absent, replaced once more by the discomfort. I had been able to rest at night effectively and I was feeling amazing again. Since I was one of the first up, I went to help some of the men with the rice porridge that would be the breakfast of the day. That done, I found a spot a bit further where I could practice my moves. The sun wasn't troubling me, almost as if I was back to being a human. I repeated all my basic cuts and a few more movements before the camp started to be too busy for me to practice in calm. Everyone was waking up, moving like a beehive and I sensed that something was wrong.
« What's happening ? » I asked, getting closer.
« There's an imperialist patrol nearby, they're getting closer to the camp. » said a soldier « Harada-Kumichô went to intercept them. »
I nodded and spotted Nagakura in the distance. I went to him to get a full understanding of the situation.
« Man, Saito » he sighed « Sano took some men to stop some scouts but honestly, we're screwed. »
« How so ? » I asked.
« Two third of our men fled during the night and the men waking up are starting to notice that their comrades are gone. Two hundred missing men... Fuck man, we're so screwed... And Kondou-san won't listen. He's ready to attack anyway. »
One against ten with soldiers who never held a gun before ? What on earth is Kondou-san thinking ?!
At that moment, we noticed Harada running our way and yelling.
« Everyone gets ready to defend their lives ! » he shouted « the enemy is here ! »
He stopped barking when he arrived near us and Hijikata-san and Kondou-san also joined.
« What happened, Sano ? » asked the vice-commander.
« It wasn't a patrol of scouts, it was a decoy. » he said « the whole army is coming our way. There are about a hundred who will be in our position in minutes and the rest of their forces in about one hour I think. I counted three thousand men. »
One against thirty...
We stayed silent, all the eyes on Kondou-san, waiting for his orders which we hoped would be reasonable ones. He looked at the camp, us, clenched his fists, gritted his teeths... Eventually he sighed when the first lines of enemy soldiers were appearing on the horizon.
« Sound the retreat. » he said and we all felt a bit relieved that he finally decided to make a wise decision at last.
« About time ! » said Nagakura with a smile before yelling « everyone retreat ! Second division, with me ! Let's gain some time for our comrades ! »
« Tenth division ! » yelled Harada with a wink at Nagakura « Let's assist them ! No way they fight alone ! »
« Saito. » said Hijikata-san « you know what to do. »
« Understood. » I nodded, gritting my teeth because of my lack of division and my inability to help my fellow captains.
I ran back to the tent and found Chizuru dressing up.
« Quick, we have no time. » I said, grabbing her kodachi and Kazama's katana « leave the rest. »
« I know, I heard. » she replied, finishing to tie her hakama.
Outside, I was starting to hear the clatter of the swords and the gunshots and I grabbed Chizuru's hand. She took the swords from me and put them in her obi. We get out the tent to find already chaos around us and I ran, not letting go of her hand, to get cover in the forest.
« Where are we going ? » she yelled.
« We are retreating to Edo. » I answered without slowing my pace « Hijikata-san ordered me to make you escape. »
« But... If there are wounded soldiers... » she panted.
« The imperialists are three thousand. We are only a hundred. This isn't a battlefield, it's a graveyard. » I stated « There will be no wounded. »
She opened wide eyes in horror and I deciphered that she was worried about our friends.
« They'll be safe. » I told her even if I had no guarantee « keep running. »
She followed me through the woods, clenching to my hand but I could feel that she was getting more and more exhausted, unable to cope with my speed. In the distance, I wasn't hearing any blade clashes anymore but just a few gunshots, far from our position. I slowed down, letting Chizuru catch her breath.
« Are you alright ? » I asked, concerned.
« Y...yeah... Just... a minute... please... » she panted with both hands on her knees.
I thought she was going to vomit. Her face was so pale and she had so much trouble breathing that it wouldn't have been surprising after such an effort so early in the morning and without breakfast.
« We need to walk if you cannot run. » I told her « We can't stop here. »
« Okay... » she nodded and we started walking, following a trail.
We didn't walk long though before I heard footsteps. We hid but were surrounded by a dozen men, probably a scout patrol who was going after our retreating men. They spotted us quite easily and got closer, pointing their swords at us. At least, they weren't riflemen, a dozen swordsmen should be easy to get rid of. I recognized a familiar face on one of them, although I've seen him more often in a blue haori than in a black imperial uniform.
« Keisuke. » I saluted my former unit member.
« Saito-Kumichô... » he replied, not believing his eyes.
Keisuke was the only man in my unit who followed me when I left to be a Guardian. I always thought he died at Aburanokōji and seeing him well was satisfying even if we were now on opposite sides.
« Well, that's a surprise ! » I heard in a familiar voice « Saito Hajime and Hijikata's little slut ! »
This presence was a lot less satisfactory. Miki Saburo, Ito's little brother, took a step out of the rank to come closer, a grin on his face.
« Miki. » I replied without bowing.
I wasn't keen on fighting, especially alone and with Chizuru to keep safe, but if I did have to fight, then I was happy that Miki was the one on my way. We had unfinished business together. I hadn't forget his disrespect towards Hijikata-san, Chizuru and the assassination attempts against my person.
« You ran back to the Shinsengumi with your tail between your legs like an obedient dog as soon as my brother was dead. » he smiled « how pathetic. »
« I believe you are mistaken. » I stated « I never followed your brother in the first place. My loyalty never faltered. »
« Then you are the one who made them kill my brother... » he gritted his teeth « Kashitarou could have had a high position in the new government... He was skilled... And you decided that he had to die. »
I didn't answer and put my hand on the hilt of my sword, waiting for him to come at me.
« And now... You're all alone, far from your army and fleeing to protect Hijikata's precious whore. » he chuckled.
« Again, you are mistaken » I replied in my toneless voice « This is my wife and she has never been the vice-commander's. »
I knew there was no point in telling him this, especially since he was soon to be a dead man. Yet, I couldn't stop myself from correcting him and protecting Chizuru's honor. No one would ever treat her like a whore again and get away with it. No one.
« Is that so ? » he laughed « man, did you fool everyone with that stupid puppet face of yours ! I never trusted you from the start. »
« That makes both of us. » I replied « now are you gonna let us pass or should I end your life, Miki ? »
He grinned and unsheathed his sword. Alright then. If he wanted a fight, he'd have a fight. I kept my guard up but my sword sheathed, unfazed. I would come at him with a iai technique, ending the battle even before it could start. Miki was a talented swordsman and I respected his skills. Unfortunately for him, I used to train with Nagakura and Souji and I also beat Kazama. He was no match for me despite his confidence. I saw Keisuke stiffen. He knew, him, what was awaiting his superior.
Miki leaped forward with a blow aiming at my abdomen and I evaded it, unsheathing in the same movement to cut deep in his flank. He didn't dodge it. There was no way he could have dodge it. He fell on his knees with a grunt and I slit his throat without a second thought. A year ago, I would probably have made him suffer more and enjoyed it but water had flown under the bridge. Miki meant nothing to me now, killing him was unsavory.
I turned to the other swordsmen and they attacked me all at once. Well, nearly all at once. To their surprise, I wasn't fighting alone and Keisuke began cutting open his imperialist comrades, fighting by my side. In no time, the both of us had only corpses at our feet and Keisuke took a step back to throw himself on the ground.
« Kumichô ! » he yelled « I made a terrible mistake when I left ! Please allow me to serve under your command once more ! »
I thought for a second. Keisuke did follow me to the Guardians because of his political beliefs. He was an imperialist. Yet, during my time with Ito, he never tried to kill me or betray me. He wasn't a traitor.
« Keisuke » I said « Tetsuya's dead, Nobuo's dead, Katsunoshin is dead... Everyone is dead and there is no more third division. »
« Then allow me to be a part of its rebirth. » he said firmly, lifting his gaze off the ground.
I lent him a hand and he stood up. I bowed to him genuinely and that seemed to unsettle him.
« It will be Hijikata-san and Kondou-san's decision, Keisuke. » I told him « But if you are ready to face these men, then I allow you to accompany us. »
« Thank you, Kumichô ! » he bowed frantically « and Yukimura-kun ! »
« Saito-sensei. » I corrected.
« Alright ! » he nodded, confused « Pardon me, Saito-sensei ! »
« It's okay, Keisuke. » she smiled « I'm happy to see you well. »
He kept apologizing and bowing frantically but we had no time for this. I started walking again with Chizuru, Keisuke following us. I got closer to my wife and whispered in her ear.
« I know you probably think you know that man » I said in a low voice « but we can't deny the possibility that his intentions aren't honorable. Keep your guard up, your mouth shut and your swords close. »
« Understood. » she nodded.
I had no doubt she'd do as I said. She was smart and would watch her mouth. As for the rest, if Keisuke tried to harm her, I would show him how deep the gap was between our swordsmanship skills.