Rock...

Paper...

Another period of silence.

Amused amber met giggling honey-hued orbs.

Scissors!

Tomo, having her hair tied like a bunny-head squealed joyfully when she present her small fist to the red-haired samurai.

Rock.

While the said samurai have already worn out his muscle cheeks; tired of laughing his heart off since the game began. He presented a two extended fingers in front of her.

Scissors.

Again, Sano was defeated by a two-years old girl in rock-paper-scissors games.

"Oh my, Sano-san. Your bad luck has us impressed!" Heisuke quickly covered his mouth shut when Sano shot him a sharp glare.

"Told ya she's herself is a deity of fortune! Right, Tomo?" Shinpachi's remarked went neglected as Tomo vivaciously perched behind Sano's back and grabbed his shoulders with her small hands before a high-pitched voice deafening his ear.

"Let's go, ji-chan!"

From behind the shoji door, Kondo-san was watching her daughter from afar as Sano carried her on his broad shoulders, with her small hands trying to reach the cherry blossom petals at the edge of one of the branches. As he hold her legs tight to prevent her from falling down, Sano held one hand to the branch and pulled it down towards her.

Her face was gleaming brightly, gentle autumn breeze swaying her bangs as she plucked the petals, looking on it for a moment, taking a scent of it before she tucked it into a a small basket in her hand.

"-san."

An instinctive smile flashed on his fatherly face.

She's starting to adapt herself with the captains... I'm glad.

The captain of the Roshigumi muttered inwardly with a wide grin... Yet with a sorrowful face.

"Kondo-san?" A hand landed on his shoulder, disrupting his head trip. Blinking his eyes as if to recover himself, he then turned to his back, only to see his faithful comrade on his side...

Hijikata.

"What's wrong, Kondo-san? Is everything's okay?" His brows knitted gingerly upon seeing Kondo-san's expressions. It's quite rare for him to see such face on his usually gentle eyes, especially in this season where they just got a new additional troops into the group.

Giggles of excitement echoed from the yard before they turned to see Sano was stepping on Ryunosuke's back as leverage to reach higher into the cherry blossom tree. Sounds of groans in pain soon followed.

"Higher please, Ryunosuke nii-chan." Seeing Tomo trying hard to reach one of the white blossom petal, Souji cheering generously from the sideline.

"Shut it! He's too damn heavy! And why me?!" He growled between his gritted teeth, fingers clawing into his knees in his desperate struggle to support Sano's weight.

"Careful with Tomo, Sano!" Shinpachi added from the sideline. Shocking enough, his face was as tense as a father watching his daughter about to get kidnapped.

"Don't worry, you worrywart! Ryunosuke, move a bit to the right!" Sano said from above the half-dying man.

"Sano-san! Try to stand on your heels then!" Thanks to Heisuke's thoughtful comment, Ryunosuke's cries had rose to a higher octave.

Hijikata and Kondo-san quickly joined them in the yard. Petals of lively fresh pink cherry blossom scattered on the ground. The breathtaking scenery unfolded before them, painting the sky as bright blue sky, with countless of cherry blossom petals dwindled into the air before they touched the pale grass on their feet. The setting was so enthralling one might could mistake it as a live picture. Both of the higher-ups watched the carefree captains with an unfathomable face. As if on cue, a petal of of the pink petals softly made a touch down on Hijikata's hair. He picked on it, taking a quick look on the soft frond before a small tender smile grazed his lips. But the smile soon faded into a pity one when he saw the pain look in Ryunosuke's face.

Am I the only one who thinks he's next to perish?, His eyelid closed lightly as if paying his respect, You have my honor, Ibu-

"ki...?"

Before he knew it, he was kneeling on the ground in a very unlikely position as a higher-ups. Instantly all eyes turned to look at him. All cheering immediately stopped. Gasps of surprise sounded, sending a faint blush rushing to his face.

Quickly recovering himself on his feet, he turned to his back furiously, hiding his embarrassment behind his stoic face, "Just who is it-" A calm, collected voice interjecting him.

"My apologies, Fukuchou. I'm having trouble carrying these bags and trays and I didn't see you standing there."

Guess who it is?

"Making others stumbled doesn't make us forgot you just fall down yesterday you know... Hok-kun..." Souji taunted smugly as his jade eyes locked to the owner of the azure blue orbs. The intensity of the piercing gaze sent shivers down their spine.

Almost casually, Saito replied under his breath, "I'll make you fall tomorrow."

"What? Did you said something?" Seemingly ticked off, Souji countered the stormless captain again.

"Nothing." Souji answered, breezeless.

"Poor Hijikata-san. Did they purposely forgetting him who was caught in the accident in the first place?" Heisuke murmured to Shinpachi, looking at their Vice-Commander whom currently like a volcano waiting to erupt, bursting out its powerful, deadly magma.

Sensing a small movement on his lower half, Hijikata looked down. A small hand was pulling Hijikata's grey hakama.

Innocently, Tomo shoved the small basket filled with cherry blossom petals to him, "May Tomo haf the petal?" Pointing her small finger to the crumbled petal in Hijikata's curled fingers.

While Souji and Saito...

Souji's attention riveted to the tray covered by a piece of cloth in Saito's hands, "Funny enough, Hajime-kun. You're carrying tray again? It's not red bean buns again, is it?" His memory flew to yesterday's event.

"Why would Saito-san want to eat buns? It must be mochi!" Shinpachi commented.

"I bet it's dango!" Heisuke cried.

Saying nothing, Saito then revealed the snacks under the cover...

"Red bean buns?!"

Helping Ryunosuke back to the hallway and patted his back ever-so-gently, Sano took a final look to the cheerful surroundings. A small smile touched his lips before he quietly seeped out from the crowds to the other side of the compound.

"Ji-chan! Tomo already hav enough... Huh?" Tomo stopped on her tracks as her eyes searched frantically for Sano's figure. She went to the weakened Ryunosuke at the hallway but getting no reply as his eyes had shut tightly, panting heavily. Spinning around, she continued to look for him but he was no where to be found.

"...Ji-chan?"

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Author's block mode now deactivated!