A/Note:

Haha! A second chapter in two days!

Thank you very much to my reviewers:

nakigaoyuu (1) ~ Yes, fluffiness to come!

Spirit kagome ~ Thanks for the encouragement & nice to hear from new reviewers!

StariChanx - I'm glad you enjoyed all this... Saitou and Chizuru are adorable.

Guest - Sen and Chizuru are definitely cute together - I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

nakigaoyuu (2) ~ I was thinking of your comments while writing the chaper below...

*\(^u^)/*

Chapter 48 – Tea for Two

Kimigiku watched the two warriors with approval as they deftly cleared the dishes and carried them into the kitchen area. It was very unusual to find men who were both willing and able to assist with such things. She was forced to concede that it was a side of the Shinsengumi that she would never have believed had she not seen it for herself.

Saitō and Harada both appeared to be a little surprised to find two servants in the kitchen, although how they supposed that Kimigiku had run the establishment without help was beyond her. Then again, they probably didn't know what to expect. In fact, like all of the great Oni clans, the Okikurune had been served by the same families for many generations. In the distant past, these servants would have been lesser pureblood Oni; now, the retainer-families were entirely made up of less powerful part-Oni and their descendants.

The shinobi took Saitō-san aside while Harada-san spoke with Sen-hime's domestic staff.

"If you wish to go out into the gardens with Chizuru-sama for a while, Harada-san and I can finish up here. Amagiri-san will not mind."

Saitō hesitated.

"I beg your pardon, Kimigiku-san, but I believe that Amagiri-san wishes me to prepare for the Second Trial as soon as possible."

"I'm sure that he does," the tall Oni woman replied, "however, I can assure you that he was giving you a chance to spend some time with Chizuru-sama when he told you to return once you had finished assisting me. He can have a rather… dry… sense of humour at times. You will notice that he factored in time to meditate; it was not because he thought you would become distracted by doing the dishes."

Kimigiku watched him consider her words. His response was not quite what she expected.

"These days, I am easily distracted, Kimigiku-san. It concerns me. However, I would appreciate having a little time to speak with Yukimura-san before I return to my studies."

"Then I will arrange for it. Please wait here."

Harada-san returned with her to the reception room. Amagiri had already left – she couldn't really blame him – and the two young women were chatting animatedly across the table to each other. Chizuru-sama was asking questions, apparently, and Sen-hime was trying to answer them in a way that would provide information about the Oni without making her cousin more anxious.

Both of them looked up when Kimigiku and Harada-san entered the room, and suddenly the family resemblance through their mothers was uncanny. Kimigiku had to turn away and pretend to look out the window so as to conceal tears – the first that she had felt of this kind in many years. She sensed Harada's eyes follow her and realized that her careful actions had not deceived him. He was developing unusually strong abilities for a part-Oni, she thought, as she quickly composed her face and outer presence. She was smiling again a minute later.

"Chizuru-sama, Saitō-san has a few minutes grace before he resumes his studies with Amagiri-san. If you will meet him in the kitchen – through that door and just down the corridor – I believe he would appreciate the chance to speak with you."

The young woman rose with more alacrity than grace and bowed. She was still getting used to being in a woman's kimono, Kimigiku thought critically. However, she clearly had her mother's odd combination of sweetness and determination, and her movements showed the promise of ability yet to be developed. Her father had been a formidable warrior for a pacifist. She felt a wave of sadness and anger; losing the Yukimura clan had been a blow for all the Oni. Fortunately, the Yukimura Heir seemed to have her current priorities firmly in mind.

"Thank you, Kimigiku-san. Please excuse me Osen-chan, Harada-san…" Another bow and a smile for Harada, and she hurried out of the room.

There were a few moments of silence and then Sen-hime looked at Kimigiku.

"Would it be alright for me to go out like this, Kimigiku?"

She rose, the expensive silk settling about her in soft folds. Kimigiku looked at Harada-san.

"What do you think Harada-taichō? You know the humour of the city better than most at this point, I believe."

Harada had been smiling at Sen-hime, but at this he gave the shinobi a sharp look. He had developed a great respect for the shinobi's information-gathering skills. He wondered how the Shinsengumi's own rapidly-developing shinobi would do with the kind of Oni Gifts that Kimigiku-san evidently had at her disposal.

"I'd say that it's safe enough, at the moment. There is turmoil below the surface, for sure, but the streets are reasonably quiet. However… the Princess will certainly attract a great deal of attention dressed as she is." He turned fully back to Sen-hime, who had walked over to her shinobi and the Shinsengumi captain. "You look very lovely, Sen-hime, and I'm afraid that I'm not exactly hard to recognize. I would be happy to escort you dressed as you are now, but we won't go unnoticed."

Harada watched the girl's face as she carefully considered her options. He liked her enthusiasm, and the way that she cared about people, but he could also see her clearly, now, as the young ruler of an ancient race. She wore her expensive clothes without arrogance but also with the kind of easy familiarity that spoke of years of experience. He was curious how long ago her mother had died. Even if it had only been a couple of years, it meant that she had carried her present burden since she was no more than fourteen years old. Since he had seen no older male in the house – other than Amagiri-san, who was clearly a guest – he was forced to conclude that she had no regent making decisions for her.

"I will change into something more appropriate for walking in the city," Sen said at last, with some regret.

"You don't need to," Harada found himself saying. "If you aren't worried about being seen in my company – and you can keep your kimono from accumulating too much dust – then I will be happy to offer you my protection against both rogues and rabble alike."

"Why would I worry?" Sen's magenta eyes sparkled.

Kimigiku's response was strictly prosaic, however.

"Because people will wonder who you are, Princess. And because if anyone from the clan hears of this – which they will – then you'll be asked a lot of questions. That's just how it goes."

Sen closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her face was composed.

"You're right, of course, Kimigiku. Harada-san, will you wait for me here? I won't be long."

"Of course, Sen-hime," the red-haired man responded. He felt too much sympathy for her disappointment – and respect for the way that she kept it out of her face and voice – to make the old, old joke about how long it took women to get ready to go out. Besides, he had a notion that the princess tended to be efficient when she set her mind to something.

Kimigiku gave him an unreadable look as she left the room. It was impossible to tell what she thought of him. Did she approve or disapprove of her lady's interest? Was she wishing him back with his troops doing drills?

Harada himself wasn't perfectly sure why he was here. He moved restlessly to the window and stared out into the sunlit front garden. Part of it was the feeling he'd gotten the first time he'd seen her, when her grin had made him want to grin back. Also, it was difficult not to appreciate it when a cute and powerful princess found you attractive. At the same time, she was a little overwhelming when you took into account that she was a demoness from an ancient lineage that put her into the same league as the country's imperial family. Harada tended to fall for more traditional women. Was it a need to be needed? He knew from long experience that he enjoyed looking after people and helping those who couldn't protect themselves.

Chizuru-chan was far more conventional than Sen-hime in that sense, even though they were both Oni and technically both heads of their families. And yet, instead of sitting at home, waiting for her missing father to return, she had cut off her hair, dressed herself as a boy, and left behind a quiet, middle-class life to undertake the arduous and dangerous road from Edo to Kyoto. As annoying as it was, Harada thought that Saitō had noticed that strength in her before the rest of them. Except possibly Hijikata, who seemed to be aware of things like that as a matter of course – and then take it for granted that people could perform the impossible, including and especially the Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi.

I'm here because she likes me and I wasn't quite myself last time and we both deserve a chance. And she had courage in a way that you didn't often see – like the courage to make Chizuru look her best even though she knew that Harada might still be interested in the other girl. So… why wouldn't he be here? The Princess was kind and generous, as well as pretty and smart enough and brave enough to be making her own decisions not only about her own life but the lives of those around her. And not perfect. Somebody perfect would be rather unbearable.

He sighed, not really seeing the garden or even the glass of the window in front of him. Then he deliberately came back to the moment, gave his reflection a mocking smile, and turned to wait patiently for Sen-hime to come back. At least he wasn't thinking about Saitō and Chizuru, that was a bonus. Then he started in surprise, because Sen-hime was standing just inside the door watching him.

"You were deep in thought, Harada-san," the princess said gently.

"You're saying I didn't even notice the door opening behind me?" he demanded incredulously.

"I… don't know. I mean, obviously you didn't. Maybe I didn't want to be noticed? It wasn't on purpose, Harada-san."

For a moment, Sen's self-confidence wavered in the face of his suspicion. She wondered how Chizuru-chan had faced such looks for so long, especially since Harada-san seemed a lot more approachable than Saitō-san.

Then she found Harada-san at her side, looking apologetic.

"Gomenasai, Sen-hime. It's perfectly likely that I wasn't paying attention and you are used to being quiet – in every way – around people who are trying to think. You were being considerate – shall we leave it at that?"

He received a dubious look in return and then her usual, irrepressible twinkle returned to her eyes.

"As you wish, Harada-san," replied the petite Oni, bowing a little theatrically with her hands pressed together.

He bowed deeply in return.

"You look very nice in those colours, Sen-hime," he told her, with perfect truth. The muted, patterned pink kimono suited her, and the touches of gold were not ostentatious.

"Thank you," said Sen, with a small, mischievous grin. "I'll be less noticeable in this, since it's not so obviously expensive – but at the same time I don't usually wear it outside since it draws attention to my eyes…"

"I see," Harada drawled, readily catching his cue. "I take it that there aren't very many pretty girls in Kyoto with deep pink eyes? But you know, it's an opportunity for me. I've never told any lady before that her kimono brings out the pink in her eyes…"

Sen-hime gave the adorable gurgle of laughter that he'd heard before. With very little effort at all, he set aside his earlier musings.

"You know,", he said as they made their way to the front door, "I have heard that ladies and gentlemen in Europe and the United States of America walk arm-in-arm with perfect propriety. Do you think we could undertake such a perilous adventure?"

She turned a little pink, but smiled demurely.

"Yes, I think we could. Besides, I will need sandals with reasonably high soles to accommodate this kimono and that always makes walking hazardous. So I expect that taking your arm for balance will truly be necessary."

He laughed at her assumption of innocence.

"I'm guessing your balance is very good," he teased.

"Well yes," she confessed. "But it makes a very good reason for doing something that I want to do anyway."

"Absolutely."

"And it will keep you from walking too quickly for me," added Sen, as she chose a pair of sandals from the engawa and allowed Harada-san to help her descend the steps.

His bright amber eyes glanced down at her, narrowing in amusement.

"I know better than to walk too quickly for a lady as charming as you," he told her.

"Oh, but what if I cease to be charming?" she lamented. "Will I then be cast off? How sad…"

"I think that you're a bit of a rogue, Sen-hime."

"Sometimes," she agreed, apparently unconcerned. "But mostly I don't get the chance to be, you know."

The unexpectedly serious answer caught him off-guard. He wondered again what it must have been like to rule a people as a young – and female – teenager. Tactfully, he decided not to ask. But it made him realize that her situation was not really an easy one.

"Where are we going, my lady?" he asked, deciding to take her at her word by offering her his arm. In truth, he'd never seen a foreigner couple, but he had heard the custom described.

He settled her small hand into the crook of his elbow, and she assured him that it was extremely helpful to be able to use him for balance.

"I don't really know," she admitted, referring back to his question about their destination.

"You don't know the neighbourhood?" Harada asked in some surprise. "And here I suspected that you knew most of Kyoto rather well."

"No, no, you misunderstand me – I just don't know which of my favourite seven shops to pick… they're all so good!"

Harada had to laugh again, but after a minute he came to a gentle halt and looked down at her, his eyes suddenly intent. The Oni princess met his gaze without asking why he had stopped, and didn't protest – or say anything at all – when he gently traced the line of her jaw with his free hand. The gesture made her flush slightly, and she raised her chin almost defiantly when she was unable to control a sharp intake of breath.

Reluctantly, Harada dropped his hand. He felt confused to a degree that he hadn't felt in almost a decade. Uppermost in his mind – although firmly under control (which showed that he was no longer fifteen) – was the thought that it would be an excellent idea to kiss the rather adorable face resolutely looking up at him. Also vying for attention was the idea that the Princess Sen had committed her feelings rather more than she should have, but was trying very hard to guard herself, not for her own sake but for his. Finally – and this was the piece that fell into place as the other two ideas made themselves heard – he realized that he was being an idiot by unconsciously refusing to take Sen-hime seriously just because he was still feeling bruised over recent events. (Although anyone would be baffled by Chizuru's absolute preference for the least romantic and possibly most dangerous person on the planet.)

Sen continued to wait in silence for Harada to decide what to do. Her anxiety was well-hidden, and she was getting her heartrate back under control as well. She could read his thoughts almost as well as if he were speaking aloud to her, but she kept that to herself as well.

"It's okay," Harada said at that moment. "I know you can probably tell what I'm thinking. It's not your fault. You can be a little scary, you know. I mean – in a good way." He shook his head at himself for being inane. "You're really cute, but you're also a bit scary. That's just part of who you are."

"Yes, that's the problem, isn't it?" she answered quietly. "But you scare me too. The reality of… liking somebody… is different from the theory. In theory it's wonderful; in reality it alternates between the best and the worst thing ever and doesn't let you concentrate on things that are also very important."

Fortunately, they weren't very far from the house, and the laneway to the road was both shaded by trees and completely empty other than the two of them.

"I won't say you're wrong." Harada continued to look down at her, but he transferred her hand from his arm into both of his own hands, which was a lot more comfortable now that they were face-to-face. "Although I can't help but wonder why me. The way I understand it, a pureblood Oni princess should be the prize of the century, right?"

"What do those two things have to do with each other?" Sen asked, her voice acquiring a distinct edge. "People seem to like who they like, from what I've seen and been told, and I have worked very hard to avoid a marriage based solely on the convenience of my clan and my race. And not just for myself either."

"Gomenasai. That was really… stupid of me. I beg your pardon, Princess." Harada inclined his head, so that he no longer met her eyes. One of his hands tightened almost painfully around hers; the other ran distractedly across his hair. "I can't believe I did that. Please let me pretend for a moment that I wasn't a complete idiot."

"I would say that you were insensitive and hurtful rather than stupid. But alright."

Harada blew out a soft, rueful puff of air.

"Ouch. Okay, I deserved that." He considered his next words very carefully, feeling the pride and apprehension warring in the girl in front of him. She's sixteen, you moron. And you've been too freaked out to realize that it's got to be pretty lonely in her spot. She said – pretty much straight out – that she likes you. All she wants is a chance, and really, so do you.

He raised his head so that she could see his eyes again and managed a slightly crooked grin.

"The fact that you want to give me a chance even when I'm behaving like this is pretty amazing. I'm not exactly a man of leisure, but it would be great if we could get together when we're both free. To see where things might go. Even though I'm worried that Kimigiku-san is going to beat me over the head if I screw things up – or maybe just on general principles."

Sen-hime managed a small smile of her own and then abandoned pretense and breathed a deep sigh of relief, becoming perceptibly more relaxed.

"You're crushing my hand," she ventured, her eyes starting to recover their former sparkle.

"Ah. Good point. I guess I'd better buy you extra dango to atone for it."

With a challenging look, he raised the (allegedly) injured hand to his lips and lightly kissed the knuckles. This time she was visibly embarrassed, but also pleased. For form's sake, however, she withdrew her hand and he let it go.

"You are very forward, Harada-san," Sen remarked, trying vainly to sound put-upon. In fact, she was suddenly feeling just as shy as she should have been in the first place.

Harada, who was perfectly aware of this, thought she was adorable, and it caught him off-guard for a moment. Nevertheless, he had no difficulty finding a suitable retort:

"So I've been told, Princess. However, in my experience it is much better than being backward. In either case you run the risk of irritated fathers and brothers – not to mention demon shinobi – just by going out with a girl, but at least if you're forward you've gained something for your pains."

"I… see your point, Harada-san," acknowledged Sen, not bothering to stifle a giggle.

Harada, glancing sideways at her, saw that she was herself again and found himself admiring her unusually light brown hair, which shone with reddish-golden highlights in the early afternoon sun. He couldn't quite help feeling a little uneasy about this venture, but for the most part his natural optimism had returned, which was good. And he couldn't help it if he wondered what it would be like to kiss somebody who could feel what you were feeling. But he managed to keep that thought private, which was another triumph.

In the end they went to the closest of Sen-hime's "favourite" shops. Harada insisted on buying tea as well as dango, just to see the princess' eyes light up as she laughed.

"Not sake, Harada-san?" she asked demurely, sipping her tea but keeping one hand rather covetously over a stick of the sweetened dumplings.

"Well, not here. Although it occurs to me that you may be familiar with some truly inappropriate locations due to your connection to your chaperone – who, I must add, is either being tremendously discreet or completely failing in her duties."

He reached across the table and brushed a line of slightly sticky crumbs from her lower lip. She blushed, but obviously appreciated the gesture.

"She's my bodyguard, not my chaperone."

"Really?"

"Well… maybe a bit of both," Sen conceded, her cheeks warm from more than just the sunlight streaming in under the shop's awning. "However, I am truly in your hands, because she promised not to come with me this afternoon."

"That's no way to discourage improper advances, Osen-sama," scolded Harada in mocking tones.

"I have complete faith in your propriety, Harada-san."

"Then you deceive yourself, my lady. I am not at all respectable you know."

"I know… But once I'm done eating – and you should eat yours, they're good – I will still ask you to escort me home."

"Hmmm. And what's my incentive for this?" She was easy to flirt with; he just had to be careful not to go too far…

"Fear, probably. I think that my bodyguard and your Vice Commander would make a formidable team, don't you?"

"Absolutely. I'm ready to go when you are, Osen-sama."

Sen-hime laughed.

"Coward."

"Are you tired of me already? I'd rather escort you home with due care than have Hijikata-san punish me. I might not survive, and then I'd hardly be in a position to appreciate my ill-gotten gains – so to speak. I'm a very practical man, you know."

"And a complete flirt."

"Well, it takes one to know one, they say," he responded promptly, helping her up once she had swallowed the last of her food.

"I've been corrupted," Sen protested.

The shopkeeper's wife, who was clearing a nearby table, smiled indulgently. They were a very good-looking pair, she thought, although she thought the girl was rather above the station of her admirer. Her husband had told her, in rather worried tones, that the man was a member of the Shinsengumi, but she hadn't needed that information to recognize the wary eyes and hard muscles that indicated a man used to fighting. In fact, she'd been surprised to see only one sword at his waist, rather than a daisho, because he carried himself like one of the warrior class, rather than a farmer or other peasant.

Harada thanked the serving woman for her help with a charming smile and then explained to Sen-hime that it wasn't necessary to corrupt a natural such as herself. She only shook her head at him.

"What happens if you corrupt me?" he asked, feigning concern.

"That's not possible," she retorted.

"Because I'm incorruptible," he concluded triumphantly.

Harada was surprised when Sen-hime didn't immediately respond. In fact they walked for several minutes in companionable silence before the princess spoke again.

"Actually, I think it would be rather difficult," she said thoughtfully. "To corrupt you, I mean. You're honest to a fault, mostly, and very loyal. But at the same time you're just cynical enough to question things when you need to."

This time it was the red-headed captain who was silent.

"How can you possibly know me so well?" he asked eventually.

"Oh…" She frowned, and actually seemed a little distressed. "Could you… not ask that just now? I haven't been spying on you, if that's what you're thinking of. I know all the Shinsengumi captains by sight and by reputation, and Kimigiku brings me information that she thinks may be of interest. But it's really nothing like that. I just…"

The princess trailed off, and Harada decided that she really wasn't going to explain. He filed it away as something to ask about another time, though.

"Setting the how aside," he said as lightly as he could manage, "I'm glad that you think so highly of me. It's nice to know that there's one person in this city who has faith in my character."

He had not intended it seriously, but discovered that he had meant it nevertheless. It was frustrating, sometimes, keeping peace in a city where three-quarters of the citizens hated you.

"It must be very hard," Sen said sympathetically. "But I do think highly of you – and of many of the leaders of the Shinsengumi, now that I know them better."

Harada nodded, repressing an unexpected pang of jealousy. Not only was there nothing to be jealous of, since he himself thought highly of a number of the Shinsengumi's officers, but it wasn't remotely reasonable to be jealous over a girl he was only just getting to know.

They turned off into the lane leading to Sen-hime's house, each apparently lost in thought. Just before they got within sight of the house, Harada put a hand on Sen-hime's shoulder.

"Wait a moment, Osen… I mean, Sen-hime."

She looked up at him, much as she had before, except that she seemed a little happier now.

"Yes, Harada-san? And I don't mind if you prefer Osen-sama, that's fine too."

He nodded, but put the question aside. He had almost called her Osen-chan, but that had only been because there was something else he wanted to say.

"It was nice to go out with you, thank you. And I don't know exactly what it is you see in me, but thank you for that, too. I hope – I think – you've had fun too?"

Sen-hime nodded emphatically, magenta eyes shining.

"Yes. It was just about perfect. I'm glad that… you enjoyed going out together." She drew a deep breath and rushed on before he could interrupt. "I know it must seem very strange to you, but I do like you very, very much."

Then she stopped and blushed.

With less than his usual self-command, Harada wrapped both long arms around her, lifting her slightly off the ground, and kissed her hard on the lips. Then he set her down carefully, took her into a far gentler embrace, and proceeded to kiss her at some length, although somewhat less thoroughly than he might have had she been a bit older or a bit more experienced.

From Sen's perspective, as first kisses went, it was incredible and she felt weak at the knees. She also noted that Chizuru-chan had given quite a reasonable description of the sensation (which could not really be put properly into words). Apparently – and this was a mere side-thought in the rush of sensation and emotion currently filling her brain – there was more to Saitō-san than she had supposed.

Harada-san was still holding one of her hands, she noticed. She gave him a smile that she suspected was extremely sappy. It couldn't be helped.

When he seemed to have her attention again, Harada cleared his throat.

"So, um, hopefully you're not going to have me beaten up by anyone right now?"

"Oh no," Sen replied rather dreamily.

"Right. Well, that didn't go quite as I'd planned. What I'd meant to say wasn't 'do you mind if I kiss you now?' – although it turns that it would've been a good question to ask."

Sen-hime looked a little hurt.

"What I was trying to say – until you distracted me," Harada tried again, taking both of Sen's hands, "is that I think I like you very much too. And, by the way, you're definitely a natural at kissing."

They were both a bit flushed – Sen far more than Harada – and Sen's eyes were lit up like pink lamps.

"I knew that I would like it. I finally found somebody to describe it to me and her description was very encouraging."

"No regrets, princess?"

"No! What would I regret?"

Harada hugged her close, tucking her head under his chin. Now it was up to him to keep her happy and not let her down. He didn't quite understand what had come over him; he thought it was the way that she told him how she felt, without coyness or games. He just hoped it would somehow work out for both of them, as unlikely as that seemed.

It was with considerable reluctance that they went back inside to find out where everyone had gone.

END

A/N: And what did you think of Harada and Sen? Weren't they cute?

Thank you to all my readers, reviewers and those new readers who Favourite or Follow this story!