Spring had shown its most beautiful side, the Sakura blossoms covered the streets and gardens in their last dance before summer. A warm south wind filled the air with the exotic smell of flowers and the lively song of the birds. The day to day activities of the Shinsengumi increased, more fights had started, new intrigues were forged and old enemies had returned to town. Still each captain had continued instructing Chizuru in the art of the sword until her growing belly had been more a hindrance than even she would take into account. They had protested at first, but the young woman insisted that her training was more important than ever before, to protect the unborn child. She had won them over fairly easily, but had given in, once she was not able to hold up with the physical lessons any more. Her theoretical lessons with Sannan did not stop thou.
They were sitting in a room overlooking the garden, brooding over an old text, Chizuru deep in thoughts about the tactical value of the notes, when Okita knocked and entered without invitation. A happy grin on his face and a tray with strawberry in one hand, he opened the shoji doors into the garden and sat down facing the greenery.
"Ne Sannan-san, don't monopolise our little hime. She has been looking at your dusty books for the last two weeks. Give her a break and let's all enjoy the wonderful weather."
"Don't you have anything else to do, Okita?" The bespectacled Shinsengumi asked with a sight.
"This is quit the complicate text we are working at, and you are intruding."
To their surprise Chizuru stepped in: "Besides it was me who insisted on going through it, not Sannan-san." Smiling she looked up at the young warrior. "But you are right, Okita-chan. I have been reading for some hours now, my thoughts are starting to mix together. And the weather is way to good to stay inside the whole day!"
She stood up, rearranging the folds of her kimono she had started wearing again, since she did not train actively any more, and made her way to the veranda. Her instructor followed, a pillow in hand for their princess to sit on. "Indeed, we have been studying the whole morning. Chizuru-chan has been very adamant about gathering knowledge in the past weeks." He said sitting down and taking a piece of fruit for himself.
"I have nothing else to do now!" The brunet protested, munching on her own red delicacy and grabbing a second one already. "You boys don't let me do anything any more. Kondo-sama even prohibited me from doing any housework. And you have been fussing all over me, as if I had turned into glass. " Chizurus frustration was apparent now. A third one of the fruits found it's way into her mouth. Okita started laughing, while Sannan grinned amused behind his own snack.
"Ne Okita, that is not funny at all!" The soon to be mother scolded him. "I feel so useless sometimes."
The warriors had learned to identify her mood swings by now and the young swordsman tried to calm his friend. "We only want the best for you, Chizuru-chan. It can not be easy to do all the things carrying such a weight in front of you. And I'm not saying you are fat," Okita reassured her. " That child of yours is just very big and strong." He grinned victoriously as she sight.
"Besides", Sannan added. "We like to take care of Chizuru. It makes all of us feel more... fatherly... towards the little one. And the weather is not helping either, didn't you say yesterday, that it was to warm to even get up some of the mornings?"
Chizuru sight gain, closed her eyes and enjoyed the peaceful feeling that mid May day was presenting them with.
Ever since Chizuru was officially to heavy with child to carry on her daily routine, all members of the Shinsengumi looked out for her. Shimpachi and Sanosuke proclaimed themselves her official bodyguards and accompanied her to the market, the shrine or the medic, carrying any purchases she made for her.
On the other Hand, Heisuke had taken over any and every of her tasks at the Shinsengumi household. Cooking, washing and cleaning, whenever her turn, the young warrior jumped in with renewed energy and hushed her away, because Chizuru tried her hardest to at least be useful somewhere.
Saitou and Okita decided to entertain her, whenever she was not in her lessons with Sannan. If their flower had her head and heart on funny things, it was less probable she decided to take whatever matter she thought incomplete into her own hands. The captains had quickly learned, how many things the young woman managed for their house on a daily basis and that, if they wanted to keep her from worrying, they had to full fill every task to her standards, or pretend they did and keep her occupied otherwise.
The two swordsmen took turns going out on walks with Chizuru, reading or playing any games they thought suitable with her. Soon she had learned the rules for Shogi and Go, of which she preferred the first one, and some of the cruder dice and card games that Okita was fond of.
The one who catered to any and all of the young mothers wishes was, surprisingly for all, Hijikata.
From the first day they had decided that Chizuru would stay with them, the demon commander had started looking out for her desires. He was the first to greet her in the mornings, he accompanied her to every meal, when his duties allowed it, and he was the one to see her of to bed at night. If he could not be present, he appointed one of the other captains to replace him.
Chizuru had been delighted to see how much her favourite captain cared for her. She enjoyed every moment of his company, sometimes even stalling to have just that little bit more time with him alone. He did not seem to mind at all.
One night, the two of them were sitting on the porch before her door, she decided to see how far he would go.
"If I asked you, " Chizuru made sure to look the vice commander in the eye. "to bring me the head of the shogun, would you do so?"
The man at her side stared at her for a long while. His hands clenched on the hilt of his katana before he answered in all honesty.
"If that is your wish?"
"No!" Chizuru grabbed his free hand with her own two and hold them tight. "I would never wish for you to get hurt because of me in any way. Why you would indulge in such stupid wishes, I do not know." She exclaimed, quieter she added: "But I'm very happy, none the less."
His tense shoulders relaxed again and she rested her head on his arm for a while, before retiring that night.
The rest of the captains supposed it was their seconds silent, but heard felt apology to their hime, for his hurtful words the day of the announcement. Nobody even imagined the real reason behind the demon commanders tame behaviour.
The peace of June had slowly turned into unrest throughout the following month. Even thou the men tried to keep Chizuru uninformed, more and more rumours of an upcoming battle made their way into the Shinsengumi headquarters. Small riots that broke out, fights that got to the very portal of the building and the disquiet of the soldiers told the young woman, that something was very wrong.
Ok so the next chapter is hear.
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