Kitchen Party
It was the first day of September and the sun was spreading his gentle beams lazily over the crowded alleys of Kyoto. The wind was blowing gently and small paper dolls were shaking from side to side, alarmed by the strange strength of the wind that was beating to powerful for their fragile bodies. The town was erupting in a wide range of noises from the merchant's cry to the worried mothers running after their mischievous children. Sometimes the scenery was interrupted by the scream of a drunk-man picking up a fight. Then, a group of young men, dashing towards him to calm things up, appeared ,in their light blue with mountain white patterned uniforms.
Along the wide surface of the park stepping over the glittering wet grass were small boys flying brightly colored kites of different shapes and sizes. During this time, young girls were playing with dolls under the shadows of the ancient trees.
The old temples were filled with an air of deep solemnity, while the monks were praying with all their faith for an abundant harvest, thanking the mighty gods for their kindness and care, by placing offerings such as rice, flowers, fruit and burning thin sticks on incense on the altar.
In a certain part of Kyoto, everyone was running back and forth, dealing with different tasks that required their most precise care. It was close to the lunch -time and many were returning hungry after the long hours of patrolling around the city, dreaming of a bowl of hot noodles and some rice and a cup of hot tea to tire the tension down.
In the kitchen, Sano-san and Heisuke were cooking and their faces barred the expression of some reliable men who took every task seriously, although they sometimes bursted in laughter or smiled with contentment while testing the boiling soup or mixing the deliciously looking stew. Heisuke started chopping vegetables with easiness, the sharp knife did not seem to separate from the surface of the wooden board and you could see small piles of perfectly chopped vegetables gathering around waiting to be tossed and fried rapidly giving off a sweet moth watering smell. Standing in front of a large pan, Harada–san tossed some pieces of thin sliced meat and stared swirling it around while adding a mixture of spices, herbs and some soya sauce, the roasted meat was colored in an attractive brownish shade, and was spreading a fantastic aroma.
After they had finished preparing the food, the two men arranged it delicately into small bowls and seasoned it with pure white rice and a cup of tea, put the food on small wooden tables and left the room, carrying some with them.
Outside, in the large courtyard, watching closely every move that the men made, lied Soushi and Meiyo, giving an evil smirk. The duo has just found a new victim, to be more precise, they had just found a new way to make sure that a certain someone will have a bad day. Soushi eyes were glittering and his shinny rust hair gave him an innocent look, contrasting with the ideas that were roaming around. He was like a tiger waiting to make a jump at the right moment. He bit his lip and focused on the two men. Meiyo was standing closely to her companion, holding the boy's kimono sleeve tightly and breathing slowly, her eyes mind was concentrated fully on the two men's action.
When Harada-san and Heisuke-kun left the kitchen, with cat like moves the two children entered the kitchen, with a dangerous smile on their face, they carefully examinated every trail with food. Meiyo pointed towards one and the boy nodded in agreement. In an instant, he was on the table, and then with a secure move he opened the cupboard and grabbed three small recipients, he passed them to the girl and jumped like a wildcat landing in perfect position. The small girl showed him the way towards the small table. The boy dived his pinky finger into a small bowl.
"Soya sauce…" he said liking his finger "It is quite good but we need to add a little bit of flavor "he added with a playful glare in his grass green eyes.
"Well I guess we should spice things up "saying that she took the bowl and empted it in the waste bin, then she handed the bowl to Soushi, who poured the whole bottle of chilly sauce into it, her big brown eyes were filled with excitement analyzing each move he made. She moved closer to him and touched his arm, in order to draw his attention, she showed him a small recipient that contained a black powder. Gently, she sprinkled it all over the steaming hot meat, in an abundant quantity. Soushi then took the other recipient and poured it over the stew giving it a reddish color. Unable to contain himself, he bursted into a waterfall of laughter and noises. Feeling the approach of someone, the two children rushed outside, and hid behind the trunk of an ancient tree.
Chizuru-chan was walking towards the kitchen side by side with Seea. Soushi pulled Meiyo kimono sleeve and urged her to fallow the two women. The girl agreed and dashed out of the hiding place calling her mother.
"Mama…what are you doing? Can you play with me?"She asked with almond shaped brown eyes and an angelic smile on her chubby child face.
"Sorry Meiyo-chan but right now we have to take the food to Kondo-san and the others," the tall woman said looking into the children's eyes with sorrow.
"Then can I help?" the small girl replied anxiously with a look in her eyes that begged for an agreement. "Please…mommy…" she added in a pitch childish voice.
"Well, I guess you can help …" said Seea wanting to please her daughter and in the same time satisfied that her child was now doing something else than playing all day.
"Meiyo-chan you can help me take the food to Hijikata-san room, I'm sure he would be glad to see you." Said Chizuru-chan.
The small girl smiled from the bottom of her heart and rushed to give Chizuru a hug. When the two entered the kitchen, Meiyo grabbed the small table at which she previously worked with her companion and followed Chizuru.
Hijikata-san was sitting in his room on his desk surrounded by mounts of paperwork waiting to be resolved; his head was full of problems ranging to training routines to the touchy issue of fund raising. His shoulders felt stiff and he was wrapped in a strange feeling of dizziness. He reached for the cup of tea lying on his desk untouched, but before his fingertips could lay the tiniest pressure on the ceramic surface, the cup broke into pieces, and all the light green liquid spilt over the desk. Fortunately, none of the documents was touched but his mind was not attracted to that fact, he could not keep himself from being invaded by a strange premonition. His mind was telling him that this was a bad sing, something terrible was about to come and he will be the one to face the consequences.
The door slide opened, and a small woman entered the room smiling cheerfully. Looking at her warm expression he could not but smile and whispered softly "Chizuru…" His expression changed from an ice cold to one of warmth and shared feelings of love. To his surprise from behind his beloved Chizuru, a small girl appeared carrying his food, beaming with joy innocently. His eyes pierced the small girl in a desperate attempt to figure out what was she doing in his room. Why was she bringing him food? There was no trace of hesitation the girl's face; everything seemed to be as it looked, a small girl wanted to help Chizuru so she took food to him.
"Enjoy your meal Hijikata-san "said Meiyo taking a deep polite bow and giving him a small smile.
He looked at her with suspicion. Maybe he was just too used with knowing them, as some spoiled brats that he forgot that they could still be helpful sometimes. When they left, he took a glance at the steaming food, it looked undoubtedly delicious and tempting, and he moved closer to eat and sniffed it like a caution dog before eating it rapidly.
Soushi was grinning from afar watching closely every move of the Demon Captain. He stared with satisfaction as he waited for the spice flavor to unleash in an abundance of burning feelings and pain. His grass green eyes were following him as a predator follows his prey, not letting any change pass unnoticed. Suddenly the moment he had waited for approached. Hijikata stood up but his feet feel numb, he turned all over the room searching desperately for a cool drink. It felt as if his stomach was on fire and his throat was being stabbed by thousands of sharp knives and his tongue felt sullen and burned. He could almost breathe fire, in pain and enveloped in a strange dizziness he run toward the kitchen. Upon entering, it he rushed to the bucket filled with fresh water and dived his head into it grasping as much water as he could at once, in the hope to ease the raising burning feeling. Behind the trunk of a tree, Soushi was watching the scene, feeling himself enveloped in a strange warmth that tingled him pleasantly, the first feeling of pure pride. This seemed to be the best prank they have ever made, he propped up the tree and spent a moment in confusion wondering whether Hijikata-san deserved it or not. Taking a closer look at the moments, he spent with him, the time he yelled at them and sent them to their room even if they were just playing, the fact that he always glared at them when they laughed a little louder. Suddenly, the boy was faced with a trace of gleam: the man did deserve it. Reaching this resolution, Soushi run toward his room unnoticed by Hijikata-san.
"Well I should go to Meiyo and let her know about our…hmm…let's call it success." He said to himself while running towards the living room.
"What's the rush, Soushi?" asked a familiar voice. He turned around and realized that the man was just a few inches in front of him. He recognized his father green eyes and rust hair, so in order to relies himself from the silence he rushed and wrapped his arms around the man's waist. The man smiled and patted him on the head; slowly he lifted him up and hugged him tightly. Then they stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds. The wind started blowing making a howling noise.
"Did you do something?" asked the man with a smirk and a cheeky look.
The boy's cheeks flushed red as he turned his head, pouting and acting spoiled. The man laughed and took him into the living room where everyone was eating peacefully.
Meiyo was seating near her father munching her meat with a content face and incredible speed. Heisuke and Nagakura-san were loud as ever stealing each other food. Sano-san was eating with slow moves and Kondo-san was laughing at the two men, occasionally trying to calm them down. Chizuru-chan was eating slowly, radiating with joy at the sight of so many people enjoying themselves. Seea was looking curious at her daughter, wondering whether she would be sick or not after eating so fast.
"Something wrong?" asked Okita-san turning towards Soushi.
"No, nothing "the boy said and raised his chopsticks. His moves were graceful and secure, but his heart could not enjoy the sweetness of the meal. "So … this is conscious "he murmured to himself." He shook his head a few times to throw away the feeling of guilt piling inside.
Outside, Hijikata was outraged. The Gods pitted the poor man he encountered as his evil aura was emerging out of its shell. The unlucky soldier was so frightened that he turned pale and started shaking nervously. He tried his best to answer quickly at the vice captain's command without making him even more angry than he already was.
"Who cooked today?" demanded the vice captain with his purple eyes brightened by furry.
"Ha….Harda-san and…Toudo-san…" the man replied taking a step back.
"However, I saw the children playing for a while in the kitchen after they had left" the soldier added quickly in a low tone.
Suddenly, everything made sense for Hijikata-san. The events connected in a crystal clear order. Harada and Heisuke cooked the lunch. They left. The little evil brats entered. They did something. Then Meiyo brought him the food.
Confident about his theory he entered the kitchen and looked carefully around. In a pile of dirty dishes lied three small spice recipients, each one familiar to him, chilly, piper and dried hot pepper. In a moment of revelation, he checked the trash bean where he found the soya sauce. He finally had all the evidence he needed, the two children were the ones who did it without a doubt.
He imagined a week of silence, with nobody running around loudly and disturbing him from his work. He gave a sigh of relief and went straight to the living room. He could hear people laughing and enjoying the break. He reached the door, taking a deep breath he slide opened it and pierced with an ice-cold glare the two small children.
"Hijikata-san you joined us?" asked Chizuru, but the man ignored her and continued to stare at the children.
"You…there is no meaning in hiding it I already know it all. I must say your plan was extraordinary, making everything looking so natural, the recipients tossed in the pile of dirty dishes, the soya sauce in the waste been like an mistaken recipe, you thought of sending it directly to me. I must say that I am impressed you are getting better and better at this, but… Yes, do not look at me with big puppy eyes, there is a big BUT. Someone saw you. The soldier that was sweeping the halls." Said the man with a content smile on his face .He looked down at them, they were now defeated.
"Oi…Toshi, what is wrong with you, what is this speech about?" asked a solid yet gentle man.
"Kondo-san I think the brats can explain it better to you" and turning his glance towards them he added"It is time to confess, don't you think?"
"Excuse me, Vice Captain but I do not seem to understand you words. Is there anything you are aware and we are not?" said a purple haired man puzzled by the current situation.
"Well, Saitou I think I said that the brats will explain." Replied Hijikata-san with a stern look.
The room was covered in thick silence and tension, it was a heavy atmosphere filled with mixed feelings. Everyone was waiting for an explanation. Who would give up first and break the silence. The children left their head down in confusion and fear, 24 pairs of eyes were watching every move they made. Meiyo closed her small palms shaking until her fingertips stung her milky white skin. Soushi held the sleeves of his kimono tightly, his sweaty palms made the material as slippery as an eel. He glanced at his friend, than he raised his head unflinchingly and said out loud.
"I'll say." In addition, he stared into the purple eyes of the vice captain. Everyone was mesmerized by the sudden words.
"You will?"The man asked surprised.
"Yes, I spiced up you food on purpose and then I ran away and watched you from afar, and how I made sure which one was you food it was quite simple, you were the only one who ordered tea, the others wanted sake. BUT, yes, there is a "But", said the boy boldly, I didn't think it would be so unpleasant and I 'm quite sorry about it", he added moving his head a bit to one side."
"In conclusion you must have been misinformed, it was only me the one who did it" concluded the boy, hopping that his friend will be left alone.
The Vice Captain reviled his evil aura hearing the child's defiant words.
"Brave of you Soushi? But I think I'll also ask Meiyo, after all you to seem to share a lot of things in common." Saying that he turned his eyes towards her.
"Ask as much as you want you'll only hear the same words." Said Soushi in a last attempt to spear his companion from the future punishment. "Right… Meiyo? He added with a smile.
The small girl looked deep into the boy's grass green eyes, she felt him encouraging her to follow his version of the events and save herself from what was about to come. She realized that she would have done the same for him, she would have taken the blame and spare him, but he was faster and was able to talk first despite the vice captains glare, and he kept his position bravely not falling due to the rising tension. However, they have done this as a team so if they were going to fall she decided they would fall as a team, so she raised her head and with a determination inherited from her mother, she replied.
"No…it was not him alone, we did it together, I poured pepper and throw away the soya sauce and I also was the one who took you the food, even if I knew it was bad." she concluded.
"So not true …she is just trying to cover it up for me, BUT really there is no need "said the boy staring into her brown eyes.
"But there is …I also have pride and want to share my part of the guilt "she said firmly.
"So I guess everything is clear now, but what I am interested in knowing is way? Why me out of all people why is it always ME!" said the man furiously.
Hearing this words the boy answered calmly "Because you are the one who hates us".
"I hate you? ! Who is the one who just got food poisoned? You or I?
"But you are always yelling at us and sending us in our rooms and when you never answer when we ask you something and you usually ignore us and if something bad happen you always put the blame on us and for other numerous reasons" replied the boy.
"Well that does not change a thing you are still grounded for a month in you rooms" said Okita-san glaring at the two children.
"I agree with Souji on this…one month in your rooms, separated, even if you say Vice Captain is bad with you that still does not give you the right to pull pranks on him." Added Seea standing with her arms crossed and looking coldly at them.
"We understand" the duo replied and lowered their heads with shame.
Hijikata-san smirked superiorly, today they paid him, this month was announcing to be a peaceful one, and yet in a corner of his mind he could not stop but think whether he had been so mean to them, considering how everyone else was getting along so well with the evil brats."Well…maybe...but just maybe I am partly to blame for this situation." he concluded.
Later outside in the late summer breeze, Okita and Seea were watching the leaves rustling.
"You know Seea, I think I just might have an idea with who those kids take after," said Okita with a smile on his handsome face.
"Just an idea, Souji?"Replied Seea turning around and leaving to join Saitou on patrolling, leaving the young man to contemplate on their childhood adventures.