8. The Saniwa Diaries
When he went home that afternoon, Yamano took out the books out of his bag and began to look at them. "I'll take some and you take some", Matsumoto had suggested earlier in the day, "and at the end of the week, we'll compare notes."
"Aren't we visiting Katagiri-san?"
"She says come back at the end of the week. I guess she's still recovering from her fall."
He opened the book on his bed and began to look for the oldest entry.
(This must've been after a few months)
Then he saw something that caught his eye:
***Sakura***
*6/9*
*I can't figure out why I didn't start writing a journal sooner. No one would believe me if I told them anyway.*
*I've been here for...months. I've lost track. Only that at the moment there are three in recovery, two teams out and the rest are either off or out in the gardens. I can hear the Toushirous laughing and having a good time. Supposedly, they might be getting another playmate if all goes well at this battle. I love them like they're my own...I already almost nearly lost Midare and Akito...*
Nothing more until Yamano sees this:
*6/21*
*My arm hurts as I write this. But I don't want to alarm anyone...*
*I'm starting to wonder if the damage is worse than I thought. I can move my fingers and my hand, but I can't lift my arm all the way up. If I survive, I'll have to get surgery...though for now, Y stitched it up for me and I've been keeping it bandaged.*
*Yui is dead. I saw it in her face the other day. Konosuke said that only the Kebishii were ghosts of former swords, but apparently it applies to humans too. Those bastards must've killed her not long after we got here, only to somehow revive her to this state. I wonder what would happen if our roles were reversed; would she had looked for me? That damn fox yokai knows something.*
*I hate myself for not saving her...*
*I hate myself for not finding her. Pretty sure the others would welcome her...at least Mikazuki, S and T would, along with the Toushirous and I.*
*I hate the fact that she's alive...but not alive. Limbo, I think it's called. It's not a life for anyone. It's not a game, but I feel like it is.*
(So, she really was injured)
Yamano continued to read, feeling sorry not only for the old lady, but for Ishida Yui as well.
###
(1 Month After The Confrontation)
Sakura was having a bad day.
Her arm where that swordsman had cut her was sore. She spent a good portion of the night patching up casualties from the team that had come in. She slept for a few hours afterwards until she woke up to find Yama-chan and Mitsutada both alarmed. She dreamt of Yui and apparently was crying out in her sleep. "I...I can stay with you if you want", Mitsutada offered. "Until you feel better."
"Me too, Sakura-sama!" (Yamabagiri)
"Sorry you guys...I'll be okay though." Once she convinced them both that she was okay, they both went out to the garden where Mitsutada was bragging over how good something looked (tomatoes? Apples? She couldn't hear exactly what it was). Then Aizen and Hotarumaru came in excited, with Aizen holding a flyer, followed by Hasebe. "Master!" Aizen was yelling, "Can we go to this?"
A festival. An idea popped into her head. {It might be fun taking everyone out. It'll be a break anyway.}
"Pleeeeaaaasssseeeeeee"? Hotarumaru was begging.
"I think it might be fun to go", she agreed much to the boys delight. "As long as you're not on duty that night, you can go." After the kids left, she turned to Hasebe, "What do you think?"
"Sakura-sama?"
"A festival might be a fun idea. Everyone needs to relax every so often...and well..." She smiled. "You guys all deserve a treat."
"Sakura-sama..." The Oda sword was so moved that he looked near tears, which instantly freaked out his master. "Forgive me."
"Why do you look near tears?"
"Because", he gave her a sincere and longing glance, "I am truly happy that you are my master. I...I appreciate the offer but I am on duty."
"Awww. That's okay. I'll plan something for the groups not going." She then felt a sharp pain in her arm. She must've winced, which made Hasebe even more nervous. He held her.
"I will kill the people who did this to you", he promised.
"Hasebe-kun?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"Is there anything in particular you'd want?" She asked, hoping to get a peek into his personality. "Anywhere you'd like to go?"
"The only thing I want", he gave her a gentle smile, "is to be by your side until my last breath."
####
Yamano continued further.
(Sakura)
*Things got crazy today. Everyone was injured or exhausted from the battle with Kebishii a few miles from here. My heart breaks for my Shisengumi team...for apparently it is close to where their masters passed before. It was pretty intense...*
*I'm beat from fixing everyone. I thought I'd lose Yama-chan, but he pulled through. Meanwhile T continues to piss off everyone by stealing their clothes when bathing or teasing the kids (Ichigo is too kind. I'd kicked t's ass a long time ago). He even stole S's clothes leaving the poor dear having to wear an apron to his room. Iwachan likes to tease too.*
*I've obtained five new members of my army, so I have S and H training them; Gotou has weird hair. Mono-chan is a sweetheart and usually hangs with me in the village when S, H or T aren't around and when O doesn't follow me like a cat. Jirou's big brother came and I got a rare guy, Konestu. Konestu is also nice (but gloomy) and he helps me with the medicinal herbs I keep*
Then Yamano read on and saw this:
*I really like him. Maybe I've fallen for him. He's fun to be around with, easy to speak with and he's pretty smart. He bought me hairpins which I want to wear for the festival. The only problem is...that I feel like I broke a rule and that I've fallen into a cliche. Also, they can die at any second and I'm not sure I could bear losing someone else to this unspoken war, after seeing what was done to Yui*
*There's others I think I'm developing feelings for. This...this is the last thing I wanted. Am I in love? I'd be lying to myself if I weren't attracted to any of them.*
*This is stupid*
####
Three Days Later
"Jirrrooooouuuuu", His mistress was tapping at his door, "I need a favor..."
The truth was, she had wanted to get something nice to wear for the festival and the dinner she had set up for everyone. Earlier, she had put aside some money each for the children to spend at the food stalls and games there.
{I feel like a mom}
The oodachi opened the door, "Ooooh, Sakura-chan!" His brother, Taroutachi, smiled politely at her. "What's up? Want some sake? Need a beautiful man to fight off those beasts in the citadel for you?"
"Actually, I want a yukata. And I was hoping you'd could help me."
His eyes lit up. "Can we get some sake?"
"You can get shitfaced later. But not too shitfaced...I have something for you guys."
####
"Don't make dinner?"
Mitsutada almost seemed disappointed when his mistress told him not to worry. He and Ookurikara even started cutting up vegetables.
"I was trying to keep this a surprise but I thought it might be nice to have a nice dinner first. My treat." Throughout her time here, she had made some connections thanks to various trips and she talked to the innkeeper in letting her rent a space. Two teams would be out, which would leave her with these two, Mikazuki, Jirou, Kashuu, Ichigo and the Tantou brothers, Izumi and Nihongo. Hasebe and Tsurumaru were out leading teams (though Tsuru already stated that he planned on coming anyway "I wanna see Sakura-chan looking pretty".)
"How did you manage that?" (Ookurikara)
"Innkeeper". The mumeitou just went, "Oh. Cool." And promptly left.
"Kuri-chan! You could've at least helped me clean up!" Mitsutada was in mama mode.
"I'll help you. Okasan..." She teased as she looked for containers to put the cut vegetables away.
"Can I help you in anyway?" He looked at her, serious. "That can't be cheap."
"Don't worry about it. The point of all of this is that I want to show my appreciation to you all for the last few months."
He touched her shoulder gently. She turned around as the two found themselves eye to eye. "I wish it was more", she confessed.
"Just knowing that I'll get to see your smile when I come home is enough to keep me alive", and he meant every word. He found himself stroking her right cheek gently. They both drew closer and kissed.
"I really do like you", she whispered. "Probably more than I should."
He held her close, not wanting to let her go and decided then and there to confess. "I love you."
She looked at him, surprised.
"I'm in love with you, Sakura-chan", he continued, though he could feel himself getting nervous.
(Stay cool.)
"I know, it's probably not cool, with being my master, but..." He struggled to find the right words. "It just happened. I enjoy our times together and it really breaks my heart to see you in pain." He touched her bad arm. "I know you don't like to worry us, but you worry about us all the time."
"Shokudaikiri-kun..."
He kissed her hand, "I know...some of the others, like Tsuru- chan, have feelings for you too. Maybe you feel the same way..."
"Y...you got it wrong about us", she broke away for a minute, "I mean about Tsurumaru-san and I. I do like him...but...like in a big brotherly way."
"Hasebe-kun..."
"I adore him, but he's like an overbearing father at times."
"Anyway", he continued, "please accept my love for you. If you think I'm pathetic..."
"Stop!" She then kissed him deeply on the mouth, which threw him off. She was near tears, but smiling. "I don't like seeing you beat yourself up. I accept your love".
"You do?"
"My turn to confess." She leaned against the sink. "When I first wound up here and after Konosuke told me everything that would happen, I was scared but I was determined to see things through. When I saw that I'd be in charge of a bunch of guys, I was determined that I wouldn't be intimidated; I mean, I expected some of you not to be happy about some idiot with no war experience summoning you...not to mention that other than Mikazuki-san and Kasen-san, none of you served a woman."
"You're not an idiot." He held her. "That's why we're here. Actually, I was rather impressed with how seriously you took it. So was Kuri-chan."
"Why wouldn't I NOT take it seriously? I'm responsible for all of you after all."
"I'm sorry. That wasn't cool of me to interrupt you." He nodded, "Go on."
"Anyway, long story short..." She sighed, "I knew from the start that you were honest and that you wouldn't lie to me, even if it hurt. I guess that's why I like you and Ookurikara-san so much...but I guess the more we talked, the more...I liked your company too." She blushed, "then you gave me those pins..."
"You like them right?"
"Yeah!" She then grew serious. "But...I'm scared. I'm scared the minute I fall for someone, it's a death flag for them. I was determined I wouldn't let it happen here...but guess I failed, huh?"
She kissed him deeply this time. He savored her kiss. "I'm scared I'll lose you. I already lost Yui and two of you guys. I've managed so far to keep most of you alive...and I intend to keep it that way."
He rubbed her back gently. "We're swords though...it's our fate..."
"I realize that. But it doesn't mean that you or anyone else will die."