« What do you mean ? » I asked, careful.
Toudou should better have some solid arguments to accuse Sannan. Plus, with this statement, I was starting to feel very anxious at the idea that Chizuru was currently alone with the colonel.
« Since everyone is gone, Sannan-san is even stranger than before... He goes out alone and I've been following him sometimes. I never saw him actually kill someone but the murders got more numerous since the Rasetsu are alone here... And I don't know, he's clearly hiding something... »
« Do you have any idea what he could be hiding ? » I asked.
« No... But each time I followed him, I saw he was... meeting with women. »
« In Yoshiwara ? » I asked, surprised.
Sannan wasn't really known for his love of women. He was sometimes going to Shimabara in Kyoto like the rest of us but a lot less often than others, even myself. Going to see prostitutes or oirans on a regular basis wasn't really a behavior you'd expect from Sannan.
« No. » answered Toudou, shaking his head « he's meeting with them in the streets or in tea shops... They don't look like prostitutes or geisha but still, it's strange. »
« How many women ? » I frowned.
« Always one at the time when I witnessed it, but always a different one. » he scratched his head, uneasy « they don't... do anything... they just talk and smile and... That's just not Sannan-san... »
I nodded. Sannan's behavior indeed was unsettling but he still was a man and sometimes, even the most serious of us needed to let out some steam and be in the presence of the other gender. Especially when living in high proximity with only men and a single untouchable woman. His Rasetsu nature shouldn't help either. I saw how easily I could lose control during intercourses. Sannan, who couldn't rely on Chizuru's blood, was probably having the same instincts.
« The victims of murder » I asked Toudou « are they female ? »
« No » he said « not all of them... and they aren't the women Sannan-san met. »
« Then I do not understand what links his behavior to the murders. » I said calmly.
« It's just something I can sense... a hunch if you want. The only things I can say for sure is that there are more murders and that Sannan is meeting strange women at nighttime. »
« Alright. » I nodded « I will keep that in mind and talk about it to the commanders when they return. »
« Thank you, Saito. » he smiled « I'm glad you listened to me. »
« Hajime ? » I heard behind the shoji « are you ready to take me to the clinic ? »
« Ha. » I answered, standing up « Do you need something else, Toudou ? »
« No, it's fine. » he answered, getting up as well.
« You did a good job. » I praised him, knowing that Toudou lacked confidence and could use a bit of compliments « Keep an eye on Sannan, would you ? »
« Yes ! Saito, count on me ! » he bowed as if I was the commander or something. He didn't need to... We were equals.
I slid the shoji and Chizuru's eyes lit when she saw Toudou.
« Hi, Heisuke-kun ! » she said joyfully « how are you feeling ? »
« Fine, Chizuru-chan. » he smiled in return « no problem ! »
« Good ! » she nodded « I'll come and see you a bit later, your treatment is going to change a little. I'll explain everything to you. Shall we go, Hajime ? »
I nodded too and we headed out to the Matsumoto clinic. Chizuru followed the physician to get her vials and I went to Souji's room to find it filled with paper cranes like his room in Osaka. Haruhi really took the matter to heart.
« Otousan ! » she yelled, throwing herself in my arms.
« Haruhi, I'm back. » I replied with a small smile, closing my arms on her.
Souji stood up, chuckling and crossed his arms.
« How's Kondou ? » he asked bluntly.
« I'm afraid I don't know. » I said genuinely « Chizuru and I arrived before the rest after our retreat from Kofu. »
« Have you heard about Edojo and the shogun ? » he asked
« Sannan briefed me. » I nodded « You seem well. »
« Oh you know how it is » he waved his hand « It comes and goes. Perfectly fine some days and dying the day after. »
« Souji ! » scolded Haruhi « that word is forbidden ! »
« Which word ? » I asked, confused. Souji didn't curse...
« Dying. » he chuckled « Haruhi decided that I couldn't say it. »
« Yeah ! I'm making a lot of paper cranes to save you and it seems like you just enjoy weakening their power ! » she pouted.
I smiled sadly and so did Souji. Maybe we should tell her that paper cranes didn't have any real magical powers... Souji had an incurable disease. Paper cranes wouldn't do anything about it.
« Hey Otousan, you want to see my progress ?! » said Haruhi, changing the subject « I'm not hurt anymore and I'm training hard ! »
« Are you also diligent with your other lessons ? » I asked.
« Yeah » she nodded vigorously « I can read a lot now and I also learned history and maths. »
« Maths ? » I repeated « with Souji ? »
« Yeah » he chuckled « Look ! Hey Haruhi, Five imperialists want to hurt Kondou-san. How many are left after I unsheathe my sword ? »
« Zero ! » she laughed.
I escaped a small laugh as well. Not sure it could be called maths though. I should have anticipated Souji's particular sense of humour.
« If these are maths lessons, I'm starting to wonder what's the content of your history ones. » I said.
« I'm messing with you » replied Souji with a smirk « her lessons are by Matsumoto-sensei, not me. I'm only her teacher in kenjutsu. »
« Isn't it difficult without a sword ? » I asked, remembering that Souji told me he couldn't lift his sword anymore.
The both of them exchanged a look and I wondered if I hadn't said something I shouldn't have.
« We manage. » nodded Souji and I didn't push the subject.
« Saito-kun » said Matsumoto-sensei behind the shoji « your wife is ready to go. »
« Alright. » I replied, standing up.
« Chizuru-neechan isn't coming here ? » asked Haruhi.
« She's... Tired... She has trouble standing and walking. » replied Matsumoto-sensei.
That was enough for me. I slid the shoji open and looked at the doctor with concern.
« Anemia ? » I asked.
« Exactly. » he nodded « She wanted me to take more than her body actually could give. The blood will produce itself again but she'll feel dizzy for a few hours. And in her condition, you should take her back so she could rest efficiently. »
« Understood. » I nodded.
« Why does Chizuru-neechan want to take away her blood ? » asked Haruhi.
« It's nothing. » I told her.
« Is her blood ill ? » she asked, clenching desperately to my kimono « is it poisoned ? Is Chizuru gonna die ?! »
« No. » I sighed « it's to make medecine. »
« Medecine ? » she asked, confused.
She knew what Rasetsu were. She knew I was one and she was good enough at keeping secrets for not telling anyone. I decided to tell her the truth.
« The medicine for the Rasetsu. » I explained « Chizuru's blood is the main ingredient. »
« Her blood... » she repeated « isn't it dangerous for her ? »
« No. » I smiled to reassure her even if I wasn't convinced. « You heard the doctor, she's just tired and the missing blood will produce itself. There is no danger. »
« They use blood... » she thought intensely « for the medecine... »
I didn't answer. I already told her too much. I crouched and took her in my arms to tell her goodbye.
« You keep the secret. » I told her.
« I promise. » she nodded and I reported my gaze on Souji.
« I'll be a tomb. » he chuckled.
« Souji ! » scolded Haruhi but I couldn't help but smirk at his dark humour.
I went in the entrance of the clinic to find Chizuru smiling at me with a bag filled with little crimson glass vials.
« Can you walk ? » I asked.
« I think you'll need to help me. » she admitted.
I took her bag in one hand and lifted her up to carry her princess style.
« I asked for support, not this. » she frowned.
« It's easier for both of us » I stated « I can walk at my speed without you being a bother and take you back quicker. »
« It's the first time you call me a bother... » she pouted.
« Not a bother » I corrected « since I'm carrying you. But as long as you're going to stay stubborn and make decisions that take a heavy toll on your body, you will need me. »
« I will always need you » she said with a tender smile « even if one day I become wiser. »
« I can't wait for that day to come. » I replied with the same smile.
« Just kiss already ! » yelled Souji in the background which immediately caused Haruhi to chuckle.
I didn't answer and thanked Matsumoto-sensei before heading out, taking Chizuru back to the inn. I carried her to our room and made her lay on the futon. She fell asleep nearly immediately and I carried the vials to Sannan for his experiments to show him my good faith before getting back to her. I laid next to her and felt the tiredness taking me. I hoped Keisuke could find Kondou-san and Hijikata-san in time.