Chapter Two

Sakura petals fell from its trees and landed on the ground soundlessly. The wind breezed by rather softly and comforting. The sight itself was simply breathtaking. It almost seemed like it was raining Sakura petals.

Kumi smiled to herself and reached out a hand, letting a pink-colored flower land on her open palm.

"Suteki ne..." [1] she whispered with a soft smile, admiring the beautiful flower on her palm. However, the once soft-colored pink hue of the flower turned bloody red and melted into what looked like blood. Her eyes immediately widened in panic. Suddenly, she started hearing pained shrieks. The once beautiful and peaceful sight she was seeing had turned into a bloody sight. Dead and mutilated bodies littered on the ground instead of the pink flowers that had fallen from the trees. The flowers themselves had turned into blood and decorated her hands with its daunting shade.

"Kumi!"

She looked up at whoever called her and saw the frightened stature of her mother. She immediately stood up, ready to come to her mother's aid but stopped when she saw a Choshu rebel behind her beloved mother.

"Kumi! Run!"

The rebel raised his sword and swung it towards her mother, cutting her head off of her body.

Her body shook in fear and she let out a loud screech of terror.

...

Kumi bolted up, sweat trailing down her forehead. Her breaths came out ragged and quick. She tried catching her breath, finding it hard to breathe for some odd reason.

"A dream..." she whispered, holding her forehead. Flashbacks of the attack came flooding back to her. She buried her face on her hands.

"It wasn't a dream...! It happened!"

If that wasn't a dream...then where was she? Realization hit her. She looked around her and found that she was not in a room she was familiar with. The room was simple with one window that led out onto a garden. There was a small table in the corner and a wooden dresser near the window. A lantern was situated not far from her. She looked down and found herself lying on a mattress. Not only that, her clothes had been changed.

"Where am...I?" she asked to herself. She looked out the window, having heard the cheerful chirps of the birds.

How nostalgic...

The door of the room suddenly slid open. Her head had automatically looked at the direction. There she found a woman who carried a tray of food. The luscious aroma of its contents reached her nostrils, letting her know that she was hungry.

"Ah, you're finally awake," the woman said kindly as she closed the door behind her and approached her. She knelt beside her and settled the tray on the floor. Looking back at her, she gave her a kind smile.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

Kumi merely looked at her for a few seconds before she finally decided that it was fine to answer.

"I am fine," she replied briefly. The woman before her simply smiled.

"My name is Ayumu. Ayumu Yamazaki. But you can just call me Ayu-nee. Everyone does anyway," she introduced to herself in a rather cheerful way.

Kumi simply looked at her, unsure whether she should introduce herself or not. However, with that kind smile on the woman's face, she couldn't help but trust her and smile as well.

"It is nice to meet you, Ayumu-san. My name is Kumi Suzuki."

"Maa, maa! No need for formalities! Just call me Ayu-nee-, dear!" She said with a wave of her hand. "You talk like a princess. Ah, then again, your clothes from before looked expensive. Oh! Speaking of your clothes, they were unfortunately ruined but I kept them just in case..."

Kumi fell silent and let her eyes gaze at her hands. Ayumu sensed this and decided to change the topic.

"Souji-san found you in the river, floating and unconscious. He then took you here in the Shinsengumi headquarters," Ayumu explained.

"Shinsengumi...?" Kumi asked, brows furrowed in a confused manner. She had ended up in Mibu? Was that how far the waves had taken her?

"Don't think too much about it," Ayumu said, interrupting her thoughts. "You're in safe hands," she assured as she handed her the chopsticks and settled the tray by her lap.

"Hijikata-san would like to speak with you later on after your breakfast. I'm sure you'll need the strength to speak with him. So - in the meanwhile - have some food! It's not the best but I'm sure it's bearable," she said with a silly grin on her face.

Kumi looked at the food served before her and let out a small smile.

"Itadakimasu..." [2] she said before holding her chopsticks and started eating.

Somehow, she felt that a part of her had gone missing.

"Anou..."

A voice sounded outside the door of the room Kumi was in. After she had finished eating the food Ayumu had prepared for her, the woman gathered the tray and parted with her. She had told her that someone would pick her up and lead her to the so-called Hijikata-san. As far as she knew, this Hijikata she spoke of was the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi. The rumors about him weren't particularly pleasant... Though, she remembered her father mentioning him once and had commented that he was a fine man. Yet, she couldn't help but still feel nervous to meet him.

"Hijikata-san has summoned your presence," the voice spoke again. Kumi stood up and winced, reminding her of the pain she had acquired on her right foot from last night. Ignoring it, she walked towards the door. Sliding the door open, she saw a young boy kneeling by the floor. His eyes were big and he had spiky red hair. Said boy stared at her, almost as if he were dazed at the sight of her.

"I understand," she said.

The boy shook his head, ending what she presumed his trance, and nodded. He stood up and made the motion to follow him.

"I'll lead you to his room," he said. Kumi said nothing and followed him after she had the closed the door of the room she was just in. The walk to the vice-commander's room was quiet and short. She was too exhausted both physically and mentally to even make a short conversation with the young boy with her. And the fact that her right foot was aching rather painfully did not help the very least.

"Hijikata-san, I've brought her," the boy announced. He opened the door of the room in front of him while he knelt on the wooden floor. She knelt beside him, all the while uttering no word.

"Hn," acknowledged a man whose voice was deep.

Kumi raised her head and peered at the man inside the room. There he saw a grim-looking man who had a long black hair tied behind his head and wore a black kimono. He held a smoke pipe in his hand and blew smoke out of his lips mindlessly.

"You may leave us now," he said, dismissing the young boy. The young boy left, not before giving her a glance. Kumi walked inside the room as the door behind her closed. She sat in front of the intimidating man, not uttering a word. The man in front of her didn't seem to plan with talking as well. She figured he was waiting for her to speak first.

"My name is Kumi Suzuki," she started, trying her best to sound steady and calm. She ignored the redundant scent of smoke that wafted in the room.

"Suzuki..." he repeated. His eyes suddenly narrowed. It was almost as if he didn't want to believe it. "Heiress of the Suzuki throne...why are you here?" he asked.

Kumi refused to meet his eyes as her hands gripped the hem of her sleeves tightly. Her voice shook as she spoke, the dreadful events from the other day replaying in her head once again. The blood...the mutilated bodies... She didn't want to remember it anymore!

"The Suzuki domain was ambushed last night. The manor was set in fire whereas Hideaki Suzuki and Megumi Suzuki were..." she trailed after, trying her best from crying. Still, a few tears had slipped out, landing on the back of her hands. "They are dead. They were killed for the sake of my safety."

Hijikata's eyes grew wide, smoke pipe now forgotten.

"What?" he exclaimed, tone outraged. He tried to calm down when the young woman in front of her let out a sob. He held his forehead, letting out an aggravated sigh.

"Tell me," he said in a deep voice. "Who had ambushed you?" There was no mistake that a hint of anger was to be found in his deep voice.

Kumi bit her lower lip as her eyes narrowed in rage.

"Choshu..." she whispered.

"Those damned Choshu!"

つづく...

[1]- "Beautiful..."
[2]- "I humbly receive."

Not much comment about this chapter. It was longer than the first draft and it's more detailed. PFFFT. Review please? c:

~Jiru