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Guest1995: teehee~ I'm glad you like this! haha poor Sano-chan doesn't seem to be as popular as the other guys but I love him more XD well, lets just say Yugiri's future with him will...be interesting haha~!

waistedyouth: I love SanoX OC stories too! but Haji-kun and Sou-chan get all the love it seems T.T

ArchimedesAckerman: Sankyuu! I personally like strong females (and I get to include weapons~)

mimi:*Salutes* yes! I'm glad you like Yugiri!

~Chapter 1: Hidden in the evening mist...~

One of the things I detest most about men is their inherent ability to underestimate women. No matter how many times I attended the Sonno Joui meetings or relayed back information towards the members, all of them bar a few who knew me personally had attributed it all another male and dismissed me on the spot.

"I see. That means we cannot remain at ease within Kyoto now." Yamaguchi Eiji, a middle aged man with a stern facial expression, as well as the head of the Satsuma clan rubs his chin with a rhythmic stroke and nods slowly. "Thank YOU for that information Shinsaku-dono "

I fume silently where I am sitting and the teacup in my hands crack. Onii-sama places a firm hand on my knee reminding me to stay calm and avoid another messy situation. Like hell I'll sit back quietly Onii-sama! Just as I'm about to stand up and give the self-important jiji a piece of my mind, someone else cuts in and laughs loudly.

"Ahahaha, you're giving me way too much credit Yamaguchi-dono." All eyes turn to the back of the room where a cocky looking young man leant casually against the wall. When we make eye contact, he winks at me and smirks. "Really, if Kiri-chan hadn't posed as a maiko nobody would have been able to gather information that effectively. True?"

Everyone murmurs to themselves and cast fearful looks at each other since it would be incredibly unfortunate to diss the words of none other than Takasugi Shinsaku, who is one of the key members wielding massive political power. Not to mention he's Onii-sama's close friend and my self-declared guardian.

Yamaguchi-dono looks at Shinsaku and splutters "A-ah, o-of course Takasugi-dono. *cough* I never meant to dismiss Sakamoto like that. My mistake" he bows his head slightly and turns away with a huff. Hmph. I never expected an apology anyway you stupid jiji. Especially since I had been the one to personally relay the information for your hairy wrinkled ears to hear. Obviously I don't say that out loud, I wouldn't want Onii-sama to look bad in front of everyone after all. Instead, I nod modestly but can't help the triumphant smirk from spreading across my face when I casually examine my fingernails. "Well, I guess we were lucky that this particular member of the Roshigumi had a weakness for both alcohol and women. I might not have been so lucky if a higher ranked member had been my guest."

"Hmph, you were only fortunate that we were on close terms with the proprietor of Shimabara. Next time, you should think more carefully about who you decide to kill. It may have drastic consequences on the livelihoods of our comrades. " Takasugi Shinsaku chuckles softly and looks pointedly at me as he smirks. I glare at him while he shrugs his shoulders and looks across the small hallway. The entire room echoes with the sounds of murmuring and occasional soft arguing before Onii-sama raises a hand for silence " While Yugiri's actions were commendable, we cannot afford to do anymore to provoke the Roshigumi. Stay alert for now. They may make a move to seek vengeance."

"Just kill them off if they get in the way." Everyone turns in the direction of the speaker. Seated comfortably on one of the few chairs and flanked by his bodyguards , Chikage Kazama-dono looks aloof as usual. He had been an unusual member of the Sonno Joui, reasoning that since he was 'bored' this would serve as a welcome distraction. The well-built man with a red hair remains silent, as if assessing the situation while the shorter one with a messy ponytail and a twisted smirk chuckles to himself.

"Chikage-dono." Onii-sama bows respectfully, "I fully understand your reasoning, however we aren't in any position to freely do as we please."

"Hmph." Chikage-dono shuts his eyes and strokes the hilt of his sword "I am only assisting you because it happens to be convenient for me. There is someone in Kyoto I have to find at all costs and you cannot prevent me from doing anything else." One of the men standing behind him laughs and draws his matchlocks "Haha , so he says. I'm only along for the ride. As long as I get to fight strong opponents, that's good enough for me."

" Shiranui-san. Please refrain from drawing your weapons in here, if it is a fight you wish for, my younger sister is more than happy to be your opponent." Onii-sama gestures towards me and gives me a wink. At that moment I feel a burst of pride, Onii-sama has faith in me, and evidently isn't angry that I acted on my own and entered Shimabara as a maiko to monitor the Roshigumi's movements.

"Heh? A frail girl like her?" The corners of Shiranui's lips curl with distaste, as though Onii-sama had told him to feel free to drink the water from the ground.

One thing I cannot tolerate is being looked down upon simply because I am a woman. I reach behind my back and take off the Snyder rifle from the holding strap. Unfortunately, the only reason I have the latest and best rifle available is all due to Shinsaku-kun's political ties, but that's beside the point. "Well then, that works out well for me. I haven't been active on the front and need to sharpen my skills." I grin at him and lazily tap the rifle up and down on my shoulders "Shall we see who's the better marksman? Shiranui-dono?"

He scoffs and twirls his matchlocks once, "Marksman? You can't use something like that, woman!" Chikage-dono and Amagiri-san remain silent and emotionless while everybody else seems to be genuinely entertained. Keeping my anger concentrated inside of me, I muster up a smile and gesture to the range at the back "Onii-sama will throw a target into the air, first one to strike it before it falls will be the victor."

I snap the lever back and tuck the handle underneath the crook of my armpit, preparing to fire. Shiranrui likewise, gets into position and we exchange a nod. "Alright! get ready! and..." Onii-sama runs to the back of the hallway and tosses a paper balloon into the air "GO!"

2 shots are fired and a small cloud of smoke blows through the room as we both aim for the target. "Draw!" Onii-sama shakes the deflated paper tatters and waves it to show the two bullet holes inside it. It seems once again I've tied with him. This means I still need more practice.

"You're not so bad...for a woman." he smirks and twirls his matchlocks before tucking them at his sides. "Likewise, you aren't so bad for a human." I scoff back at him and lock the Spencer before slinging it onto my back. Wait, why did I refer to him as a human? He was obviously one, perhaps it was the teeth and hair. Yeah, that must have been it.

"Who said I was a human? Hahaha.." He scoffs to himself and promptly shuts up when Chikage-dono glances at him. I throw him a baffled look as Chikage-dono stands up to leave and disappears through the door. He was one elusive guy, coming and going as he pleased, pretty much marching to the beat of his own drum. Though, for some odd reason Onii-sama and Shinsaku-kun were the only ones who seemed apparently close to him.

"Human?...if he's not a human then what is he? A yokai? oni? Tengu? " Even though it was most likely a joke to annoy me, I can't help but ponder on whether or not his words have a deeper meaning to them.

~x~x~x~

"Morning Kazu-chan. I accidentally made the miso too salty again.. Onii-sama hasn't woken up yet, but I think he'll get angry again huh?... speaking of Onii-sama, he's travelling to Osaka soon! I made him promise to bring me back some okonomiyaki for us to share ..."

I shut my eyes and clap my hands together silently, even though it had already been a few months, Kazu's loss still cuts me deep. The bottles of sake I've taken to drinking at night are testament to that. A splash of water onto the tombstone makes me open an eye in surprise. Not many people visited the graveyard at this time of day; though it's the person I see which surprises me more. Takasugi Shinsaku or Shin-chan as I call him, is standing silently with his eyes shut and hands clasped. The wind ruffles his fringe for a moment, lifting it over the right half of his face and revealing a red splotch. "Shin-chan. What happened there?"

He ignores me then bows his head before casting a dark stare "Huh. What do you think? I burnt my handsome face trying to fry fish for breakfast. Breakfast is your job."

"Frying fish shouldn't be that difficult." I scoff at him and brush the stray leaves off the edges of my kimono. "Wait, you what?" I whirl around in surprise and look questioningly at him. He was literally a disaster in the kitchen, managing to turn rice into a charcoal like substance and boil tea to the point the pot would burn through. "Must you be so slow Kiri-chan?" He scoffs and flicks me in the forehead "I. did. the. work. for . you. Now you'll owe me something."

Now it's my turn to scoff. I sigh for as long as I can then proceed to rub the bridge of my nose with an exaggerated effect "Oh Shin-chan...Shin-chan...*sigh*I already fried the fish for breakfast. You probably turned it into tar again. Though I don't understand how you could burn yourself. Sheesh."

He freezes and turns away "Really." I can tell he's embarrassed since his left eye is twitching. A habit he had ever since we were young. "Anyway, here. I got this from Remington-san, I have no need for it but I'm sure you'd find some use for this." He picks up a long object wrapped in fabric resting on the nearby tree and hands it to me. Curious, I unwrap it and pull out a sleek shining black rifle.

"Shin-chan! Thanks! What's this called? I've never seen it before." I fiddle around with the rifle, examining every little thing about it and hug it to my chest. He shrugs and takes back the fabric, tossing it over his shoulders "Remington-san called it a 'Spence repeating rifle' said it could fire 6 times in a row. You won't find another like it anywhere you know."

I hit him gently with the butt of the rifle and laugh "I know. Really, thanks Shin-chan. You're amazing."

"Whatever. Baka ne." he heads off down the hill and gives me a backhand wave. "Don't get yourself killed."

~x~x~x~

Shimabara at this time of the day is quiet, with only the occasional guest wandering in for some entertainment to pass the time or lonely men wanting company. Seeing as there are no guests to entertain at the moment, Kosuzu and I are idly chatting to one of the oiran, Kimigiku who happened to wander into the room we had been assigned to. Kimigiku is renowned for being one of the most beautiful and mysterious oiran, making her popular among customers though only the very wealthy or important guests like the Sonno Joui or the Roshigumi can request her services. Maiko like Kosuzu and 'undercover' maiko like myself are lucky in which we only need to entertain guests by singing, dancing and pouring drinks while Kimigiku does...more...intimate work. Speaking of Kosuzu-chan...

"N-nanaya!" The young and exceptionally cute girl smiles sweetly at me and slowly lifts part of her furisode up, revealing the white nagajuban she's wearing underneath. "D-did you perchance hear about the guests we have been assigned to entertain?" she clasps her hands gently and looks expectantly at me. I shake my head slowly, still unused to the weight of the kanzashi on my head and smile back. "No, I haven't. Who are they?"
Kosuzu peeks shyly over her shoulders and giggles softly "I was told that it would be the Roshigumi."

"..." I steel myself and place the carefully prepared mask of "Nanaya" onto my face. Right now, Yugiri doesn't exist. Nanaya does. My only priority is to gather information from the Roshigumi and relay that to the Shishi."Is that so?" I crack a smile and look to Kimigiku for more information. She smiles mysteriously and says nothing "I suppose you'll find out soon." She nods towards the door and stands up gracefully "Good luck."

As soon as she leaves, I hear men laughing loudly and walking into the room. Kazu...once again I'm asking for your help. I shut my eyes to mentally prepare myself and suddenly feel the presence of an arm wrapped tightly around my shoulder. Gah! my eyes burst open and I twist my head to face the person directly. "Ah? Here's a new face I haven't seen before." My heart practically explodes through my chest as I stare right into the eyes of the cursed red haired akuma from the Roshigumi. Harada Sanosuke. "Kazuuu! Help me restrain this killing intent!"

"Y-yes. I s-suppose so." I lower my head and reach for the sake bottle and pour him a drink; while struggling to avoid the urge to ram the bottle onto his head and slam him face down into the food. Honestly, this is a scenario I should be prepared for, in fact I had planned for something like this to happen. If a situation like this were to happen, if any member of the Roshigumi decided to pick me; I was meant to be seductive and attract his attention. He would then get drunk and fall for me whereupon I would keep getting him drunk and extract information out of him. Finally, I would poison him and display his head in the town square for everyone to see and the-

"Hey." Harada waves his hands in front of my face "is something the matter?"

"Yees?" My voice goes high pitched as I bat my eyelashes and giggle in a high pitched tone, which comes out as a croak. Did...he...does he suspect me?...does..he recognise me...?...I stutter and launch into a rapid tirade "Er, I mean no. Nothing is the matter. Is the sake to your liking? Ara, I knew I might have chosen the wrong type for today. Perhaps you would prefer another maiko attend to you? Ah, that does sound much preferable I suppose. Here, I shall call Kosuzu-chan to entertain you since I clearly am not competent enough. Kosuzu-chan! "

"..." Harada narrows his eyes at my rapid fire speech and bursts out laughing. "No. I'd prefer you to entertain me. It's been awhile since a woman has made me laugh like this." Well thank YOU for the compliment. I cover my face in false embarrassment and bat a hand weakly "Ara! You flatter me! nevertheless, I will call Kosuzu, you'll enjoy her presence ...more.." At that moment, the atmosphere in the room changes completely and I direct my gaze to where everyone I focused on.

"-take it off. You're a geisha aren't you?" The older man resembling a wolf growls loudly and throws his fan at Kosuzu. I only then realise that this is none other than Serizawa Kamo, Ibuki-san's current 'master' and the leader of the Roshigumi. Speaking of Ibuki-san, he is trembling next to Serizawa and flinching, poor thing. Why is it that he always seems to get the short end of the stick?

"..." Kosuzu gracefully sits up after the hit and stands up firmly "I do not understand your reasoning for striking me. However if I may be so bold to correct you, I am not a geisha but a maiko and therefore will not, no I refuse to do something as shameless as that." Her hands tremble as she bows politely and seats herself down in front of him. Kosuzu...no. I don't need to get involved in something like this. My only priority is gathering information at the moment (and escaping from Harada's embrace). Nothing else can get in the way of my mission.

Serizawa flares with anger and flips the table, making the sake cups and bowls smash onto the ground, causing Ibuki-kun to flinch and cower in fear. "How dare you! A cheap woman like you should be obedient and do as I say, yes, just like that dog over there." He raises a hand to hit Kosuzu who shuts her eyes and remains where she is sitting.

"S-stop that! Please! She's just a cheap oiran, you don't need to exert yourself for something like this!" Ibuki-kun stands up in front of Kosuzu and yells , even though he glares at Serizawa fiercely his hands are trembling with fear. "Pssh!" Serizawa seems to have lost interest and snarls angrily as he grabs his haori and leaves the establishment in rage. "What a waste of my time. Dog! Go back and tell Ume I need her!"

"U-um..are you ok?" Ibuki-kun ignores Serizawa and slowly turns around to face Kosuzu, helping her to her feet. She slips her hands out of his and gets up herself "..I thank you for your assistance, though.." she purses her lip and glares at him coldly. "I cannot forgive you for speaking ill of me like that. Such things, based on poor judgement are nothing more than insults. " She frowns and bows elegantly "I shall leave now."

She walks gracefully out of the room, leaving me to deal with the aftermath I suppose. Alright, alright, leave it to onee-chan then. I sneak a glance at Ibuki-kun as I begin clearing up the broken cups, "Leave jobs like this to the men." A coarse hand touches mine and I look up to see the face of Harada right next to mine" . ..Gyuuhh!" Startled, I jerk back and knock into a dazed looking Ibuki-kun who stares pensively at the door.

"F-forgive me.. but I can't trouble guests with tasks like these." I duck my head down, praying that under the extra heavy makeup and extravagant outfit I'm wearing, a. Ibuki-kun doesn't recognise me as Kasamori Osho and that b. Harada doesn't remember me as the woman who tried to kill him a few weeks ago.

"No. Just stay seated and let me do it. To apologise for the actions of my superior." His gaze is serious and I just know when men make that expression, they won't back down. This is annoying.I hide my clenched fist under the long sleeves of the furisode and crack a smile so forced I fear my makeup will crack along with it. "Oh my, how can a maiko like myself let an honoured guest exert himself?" I stifle an unnaturally high pitched giggle and shake my head firmly "No. I'm sorry. I can't let you do that. Please, allow me." I reach for the broken porcelain across from his hand, resisting the urge to carve a neat line across his palm but he blocks my attempt and holds my wrist firmly in his grasp. A gleam appears in his golden eyes as he nods slowly "Alright, I'll back down if...you kiss me. I haven't been entertained at all."

I manage to stop my scream from escaping and stare stunned at him "U-uh..excuse me? "In my dazed adrenaline fuelled state, I vaguely remember Kimigiku mentioning something about the occasional guest requesting additional services which everyone, even maiko were expected to provide. Noo... It can't be helped. I nod slowly and smile coyly at him "Alright, but then your friend will have to go apologise to Kosuzu in exchange."

He thinks about it for a split second and nods "Agreed."
I hold his chin with my fingers and press my lips lightly against his cheek before whirling away quickly "Please uphold your end of the bargain."

"That doesn't count!" he begins to protest but I slip through the door and into Karyu-sama, the proprietoress' quarters where I can find something to purge my lips.

"Ara, back so soon Nanaya-chan?" Karyu-sama taps her pipe onto the ashtray and glances at me "Please don't drink to the point of getting drunk. Also when you kill a customer, ensure he isn't a wealthy one like last time...Nanaya-chan? *sigh*""

"$%^&(^$^$#^!^&()%&^%$!" I yell gibberish while downing sake and slamming my fists onto the table. "You knew what you would get into while working here." Karyu-sama smacks me lightly on the head with her pipe and grins wryly "Do be grateful I allowed someone like you into this establishment; though it was partially thanks to Shinsaku-kun. By the way, be sure not to anger the Roshigumi. "

Ugh, Shin-chan AGAIN. I grimace at her and chug down the last of the sake " Pfft, 's the least of your problems baba." I get another smack on the head and a pinch on my foot. "Nanaya-chan. I already warned you, as long as you are here, you must follow my rules. Now, as for- Nanaya-chan?"

She looks disapprovingly at me as I toss the furisode at her and leap through the window. " whatever, I'm a samurai before a woman and definitely not a maiko. See you babaaaa"

"If you were a real maiko I would have your legs broken for escaping!" She manages to yell a counter attack but I ignore her and speed off. I have things to do after all, and staying behind getting lectured is NOT one of them.

~x~x~x~

"-an *hic* zats why I *hic* guhhh *hic* zats why I ..." I smack Atsushi as he nods and refills my sake cup "...why I haaaaaattteeeeee za *hic* ro*hic* roshigewmi...DAMMNNN THEMMM" I slur drunkenly and slam my finished cup onto the table. "Fill!" Since I've been coming to his tarvern alot more often, we've developed some sort of mutual friendship among the two of us. I help deter thieves and bring him wine from the west (courtesy of Shin-chan *sigh*) and he allows me to drink to my hearts content and rant about my life to him.

"As you command my lady." Atsushi-san answers sarcastically and is about to fill my cup when somebody approaches from behind."Hoh? why are you here?" I instinctively freeze. No way. No freaking way. Why now? What is HE doing here?

A/n: Yugiri's name (夕霧)means 'Evening Mist' and her nickname 'Kiri' is derived from the 霧 that but can also be written another way (桐) to mean 'paulownia' aka the princess tree' basically it shows how precious she is to her brother (Sankyuu Aoi-chan!) and flower meanings will play an important role XD

Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated~~