9. Festival

Since the octogenarian was feeling better in time for her next appointment with the researchers, that appointment was on. Yamano and Matsumoto met with Katagiri, who was looking pale and banged up. "Katagiri-san", Matsumoto had asked, "are you sure that this is okay? That you feel up to this?"

"I'm fine", the woman gave her usual smile. "My daughter...she tends to overreact at times. I guess she gets that from her father though just had a little spill." Changing gears, she then asked about the books.

"Just a bunch of minutiae", Matsumoto began. "No offense but I was hoping for something more than battle reports."

"You had feelings for Mitsutada-san." Yamano caught both of their shocked looks with amusement. "And he and the bird sword had feelings for you."

Katagiri just calmly sat down in her chair. She held them together on her lap. "It is true that both had feelings for me...and I them...there are some things that I'll just keep treasured in my heart."

Both researchers looked at each other with Matsumoto smirking and Both Yamano and Katagiri looking on confused. "Personal stuff?" Matsumoto asked the octogenarian.

"Matsumoto-san..."

"You can read it." Katagiri just smiled back in that unsettling way, "I don't have anything to hide at this point. I won't be around much longer anyway."

"Anyway, I'll tell you about the festival. It's where some of the pictures you see on the walls were taken.

####

"This is some good sake!" Jiroutachi was already drinking at dinner. "Sakura-chan needs a drink too!"

The group of them were at the inn; the Date and the Oda swords(with the exception of Hasebe), Jirou, Yagen, Midare, Gotou and Akita and the duo of Kashuu and Yasuada. Everyone, much to her relief, was having a good time.

"I'm not really a big drinker", she confessed. This was true; she drank beer sometimes but she didn't like the possibility of losing control. However...

"Master doesn't like to drink?" (Fudou)

"I drink once in awhile..."

"Can I get something, Sakura-neesan?" (Midare and Akita)

"Ichigo-kun would be mad if you two drank alcohol." (Mitsutada)

"He's right. You guys can get something else. No alcohol".

Then she chugged some down, much to Jirou's, Tsurumaru's and Nihongo's delight. However, the two younger Shisengumi swords and Mitsutada were already red-faced and she couldn't tell if Ookurikara was sober or not. (Though his brother poked him awake a few times as the mumeitou scowled.{He is so gonna kick Shokudai's ass}) After the dinner, she made an announcement. "Everyone come back to this point in about two hours. And don't cause trouble!" She looked at Tsurumaru for that last line.

"I can't surprise anyone?" He asked in a 'Who Me?' tone of voice. Everyone just yelled, "No!"
The kids ran on their own, Jirou and Nihongo hung out at the inn, Tsurumaru went off, dragging a reluctant Ookurikara along.

"I hope he doesn't do anything stupid", Sakura sighed. She, Mitsutada and the Shisengumi swords were together.

"I get the feeling that Ookurikara-san would probably keep Tsurumaru-san under control". (Yasuada)

"Probably". (Kashuu)

The four of them stayed together until the two teens found a game to argue about. Some of the local girls began to swarm around them.

{Boys will be boys. If I was younger, I wouldn't mind}

"So", her companion took her arm into his and smiled, "where should we go?"

"Is there anywhere you want to go?" She asked, "anything you might want to check out?"

As they walked along, Mitsutada looked at a few food stalls "maybe I can try them one day!"

"Well...I'm allergic to shellfish."

"You are?"

"But if you want to get it for everyone else, then go ahead".

"No." He continued walking, "I'll think of something else then." Changing the tone of things, they stopped at the temple steps with Mitsutada admiring her. "Wait", she was growing a little uncomfortable, "my makeup isn't wearing off is it? I knew I shouldn't have left it to a drunk oodachi and a young boy to do my makeup."

"You look really pretty", he turned away from facing her. His cheeks were as pink as her yukata and said gently, "You look...amazing!"

They continued to walk, stopping to play a few games at a few stalls. "Sakura-chan", Mitsutada watched her shoot at one game in which she won a prize, "you're really okay about what happened with your friend?"

She held the small plush animal she won. "I'm not happy about the circumstances", she admitted, "but I'd rather not talk about it. Let's just enjoy ourselves for now!"

And enjoy themselves they did. "Hey, Shokudaikiri-kun...isn't there any where you wanted to see?"

"I'm already seeing everything I wanted to see...by my master's side." He replied with a heartwarming smile. His master, in turn, looked as if she was going to cry at first.

"S...Sakura-chan?" Mitsutada freaked out, "I didn't mean to upset you!"

"I'm not upset, you big goof". She took his gloved hand. "I'm actually happy." She kissed his hand. He swept her closer in an embrace. "I hate it when you pay attention to the others...but I know you have to command us all."

"I do. But I kind of like it." She grinned mischievously.

"I'm jealous." Then he caught himself and laughed, "I know that's uncool to say that but it is true..."

He kissed her deeply, more deeply than before. This set her off, more eager to take him. He was warm holding her.

"Tonight", she whispered, "come to my room."

"Sakura-chan?"

She traced his lips gently with her finger. "I promise, we'll play it safe."

Then he understood. He nuzzled her neck hungrily, realizing how much he wanted her. For months he had developed a special feeling towards his new master thanks to her easy-going and friendly nature. Something in the last month or so had switched. As for his master, she certainly hadn't expected to sleep with anyone. But tonight...she decided that she didn't care anymore.

{He could die tomorrow. They all could.}

Two hours came and everyone made it to back. Except a certain crane.

"He kept saying that he wanted to surprise everyone. Who the hell knows what that idiot meant." (Ookurikara)

"Maybe he went back to the citadel?" (Kashuu)

Just then, Tsurumaru showed up with a whole bunch of toys and plushies for the Tantous (though the teenage Tantous rolled their eyes. "This isn't going to make me any taller!" Gotou whined). "Looks like my luck could be good after all", he gave Sakura a sunflower. "A flower for the flower."

"Awwww...thanks." She took the flower. "I see you didn't destroy everything. Or did he?" She looked at the crane's companion who just shrugs at her. Meanwhile Midare and Yagen exchanged looks and started giggling. "What's so funny?" Gotou asked. When Midare whispered to him, he turned red.

The next night, Sakura was in her room reading over reports from the late night teams when she heard a gentle knock. "Come in".

"I came", the one-eyed tachi sword arrived. He was dressed in his usual casual outfit.

"Good." She stood up to embrace him.

"You know", he whispered quietly, already hungry for what was about to happen. He bit her neck gently, nuzzling her ear and working his way down her body...though he stopped for a second. "It wouldn't be cool of me not to ask if you're really sure about this..."

"I'm sure." She herself realized that she had put herself in a rather uncomfortable position. "Wait...are YOU okay with this?!"

"Being human has taught me many emotions that I have come to learn", Mitsutada focused his gaze on her, "I know...I realize I could die tomorrow but for now, I just want to be with the person I'm in love with."

And with those words, they kissed passionately, with her kimono falling off as she pulled off his black t-shirt.

He rained kisses all over her breasts as she ran her hands all over his body right down to where she lightly touched his scars that lined his back like a tattoo. Every kiss turned more deeper until it turned into small bites. She felt down below her get damp as he pulled off his last bits of clothing. He was blushing madly, which actually made Sakura more attracted to him. He slipped in some fingers into her which made her moan. Then he used his tongue to clean up once he took his fingers out.

"Shoku-san", she held onto him, as she wrapped her legs around him.

"Sakura-chan", he whispered in a deep voice, "I...I want to devour you."

"Devour me?" She grinned.

"I want to be one with you", he took off his eyepatch for the first time. She felt his hardness at the edge and bit his lip gently. "I want you too..."

He pushed himself in as they both moaned, careful not to bring on the attention of everyone else in the Citadel.

####

"Holy cow".

Both the researchers just looked on, not in surprise exactly, but more for the shock of hearing an old woman just talk openly about how she screwed her future husband. "You two seem awfully prudish", Katagiri chastised them.

"No offense," Yamano began, "but it's just weird to hear-"

"An old woman talk openly about sex? I suppose it can't be helped that young people have regressed", Katagiri continued, "for a tsukomogami and for someone who was surprisingly shy at times,he gave me the best sex ever."

"I can see why you married him anyway". Matsumoto was getting a kick out of this.

"We kept it on the down-low. Is that still a term?"