So very happy about your praise ! I'm getting better at fight scenes, yay !
The grilling started after breakfast, and after Yamazaki chased the captains away from the engawa beside Kondō's office.
Fukuchō was in the process of filing in Kondō-san about last night's events when Chizuru popped up with tea. Our Captain looked literally stunned; he had spent the night at his mistress, and therefore, missed the entire confrontation. It was just as well; we'd been very lucky to keep all of our limbs.
Too many men of the Rasetsu unit were dead. Fortunately, aside from bruises and scratches, all the captains were safe and sound. As for me, it wasn't the bruise on my hip neither the gravel embedded in my forearm that had kept me awake. I was fed up with trying to earn the trust of the Shinsengumi's commanders. Actually, if I was true to myself, I was fed up with Hijikata's walls. Why I wanted him to unthaw was a mistery, but damn … he reminded me of Tristan so much, sometimes, that my heart ached.
As the three men – Sanan had remained silent, but his grey eyes were sharp – conversed in low tones, I watched the young woman currently tipping the teapot. She served Kondō-san first, as per the etiquette; he was Kyokuchō after all. Then, she handed a cup of steaming liquid to Hijikata. Mesmerised, I watched his stern feature soften for a second as he nodded to Chizuru.
"Arigatō", he told her, his gaze warming.
The young woman beamed, and I wondered how such a trivial thing could unthaw such a callous man. So I tipped aside, and murmured to Chizuru.
"You'll have to teach me so that I can brew some for Kondō-san."
Big doe eyes blinked as her head cocked aside. Then an onslaught of instructions were fired my way, and I could only nod as she explained the exact amount of simmering water and cold water to mix, and how green tea must unfold for a hundred seconds, and which dosage to use, and…
Not so trivial after all.
Chizuru babbled for a while longer about the art of making tea until Hijikata-san cleared his throat. His young page reddened and scurried away. I watched the pink kimono disappear, wondering, for a moment, why the commander had allowed Chizuru's lesson, for once, he'd seem strangely civilised. I, for my part, reflected upon the information I'd just learnt.
Calorimetry by experience; provided simmering water was about 80 °C, it worked for green teas. But her method of mixing boiling water – 100 °C – in proportions with cold water – 15 or 20° – was flooring. One quarter of cold water to get 80°. The memory of calorimetry applied classes, with equations and such, brought me back to the matter at hand.
"Tell us, Frances-san. What is this mess about?"
Trust Kondō-san to be diplomatic about it, even though I sat on a cushion, alone, and facing the three of them at once. Did they realise the display of power, the statement it made?
"As Amagiri said yesterday, I am the Keeper of Time. I was appointed by a set of immortal beings called the Valar, and get dumped through time. I am called to correct the little misshaps of history, and appear in the place and time I am meant to be without any control from my part."
This was the quickest resumé I'd found as of today. Yet, the raised eyebrows – expect for Fukuchō's frown – told me it might be a little too summarised.
"Too much information?", I asked.
Sanan-san actually smiled, and I found his expression pretty charming. Sorrow rose in my heart for him, who had to keep to the shadows, when he had such a brilliant personality.
"Perhaps … perhaps examples would help us understand better. Where was your last mission?"
"1804. I served on the Surprise, a Man-O-War, during the franco-brittanic war with Napoleon."
Hijikata's face remained blank, and so did Kondō's. But Sanan's expression brightened with understanding.
"I heard of it. Trafalgar, right?"
"Before that, yes. Nelson was still alive at the time."
"I have a question for you.", Kondō asked akmost sheepishly. I could tell he was uncomfortable with the questioning, but his curiosity won out. "Those knights you told me about, when did you meet them?"
"476, King Artur's court."
His golden eyes widened from the news, and he nearly jumped to his feet in glee. Kondō was a great reader of classics, and had extended his knowledge of literature to foreign legends. Who, in the world, ignored about King Arthur's court?
"You mean that Tristan the scout…", he trailed.
I nodded, the pinch of my heart too obvious to ignore. I would get used to it, right? It had been four years after all. My gaze got lost in the patterns of the tatami mat as I waited for the next question. But the voice that rose was neither the silk of Sanan, nor the nicely down to earth one of Kondō.
"Tristan and Isolde?", Hijikata asked.
I lifted my head to find his gaze, only to find a wistful expression upon his face. Okita had mentionned something about haikus; I had entirely forgotten that the Oni no Fukichō enjoyed poetry. Of course, he'd know about Tristan and Isolde.
I scoffed derisively to hide the hurt of his death, but the mention of Isolde was still pretty hilarious.
"Isolde, yeah. Isolde was his hawk."
"What? A bird?"
"Yes. Although he might have named her after a past lover, I didn't get the time to ask before…" I took a deep breath, my gaze diving into his. "Tristan died. Gawain gave me his bow. The Sarmatian bow you tried."
Realisation dawned upon the commander's face, his feature morphing into one of deep awe. I could relate; who could boast about meeting King Arthur? Let alone have a drink with him, and carry one of his knight's bows.
"Have you gone to the future?"
This was a trick question. Speaking of the past was alright, there was no temporal paradox I could create this way. But the future ?
"The toothbrush and medicine is from there."
"So you know about the war that is brewing. You could predict the Chōshū's moves, tell us who wins…"
I lifted my hands to stop Sanan's monologue.
"I can't. Even if I knew, I risk creating a temporal paradox and basically destroy the universe."
Kondō gaped, and I gave him a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know squat about the history of Japan before I landed here. I couldn't… I just know that modern Japan is more occidental, but so is the whole world."
The Captain perked up: "Then, it means Chōshū have lost, right?"
I shook my head; I just had no idea.
"I don't think anyone can prevent the western world from seeping in for long."
"And alliances are fleeting", Sanan concluded. "We cannot predict the outcome of this war based on this information alone."
The Vice Commander sat straighter, but his eyes still glared daggers at me. Legs crossed, his tabi socks peeked under the grey hakama, immaculately white. Short strands framed his cheeks, swallowing his long face behind a curtain of silk. That man would have been beautiful, if not for the anger he always irradiated. I longed to see another expression on his face, someday.
"Then what's the point?", Hijikata spat, looking me in the eye. "What's the point of you travelling back if you can't help us at all?"
"Toshi !", Kondō scolded.
It wasn't his anger who got me so hard, but the fact that he was right. I had no idea why I was here, if I was supposed to save someone, or just learn. My presence always had ripples effect, but I wouldn't know until I was back and researched the period. Even then, I sometimes had no clue about the extend of my influence. Last time, I'd saved a midshipman who had been crucial to the end of the war. And saved doctor Mathurin, whom I had married as well.
I missed him too.
"When were you born?", Sanan asked gently.
I fidgeted on my seat. "I don't think that's wise to tell you."
"Ah", his silky voice rippled. "The future then."
Sometimes, that man was just too sneaky for his own good. I shivered, wondering what kind of experiments he was doing in his lair. I'd put off my visits for too long.
"I was born in France."
Kondō scratched his beardless chin for a moment.
"Then how … where did you learn to speak and write Japanese so well?"
Ah, tough question. I wasn't so sure myself. "There's magic in the way I travel. It embeds some knowledge in my brain, such as communication skills."
"This is remarkable", Sanan exclaimed. "Is that the same people who made the magic sword?"
"Their gods made it."
Where Kondō's and Sanan's questions aimed at puzzling out the entirely of my role as the Keeper of Time, Hijikata's always revolved about weapons. Warriors…
"How does the sword work", he enquired. "That bond to your soul…"
I had to admit that I was equally puzzled. Kazama had, unwillingly, revealed a secret I wasn't privy to.
"I have no idea what Kazama meant. I just learnt that myself, and the person who forged it for me is inaccessible. I'll just have to find a way to communicate with the blade."
"I can teach you meditation", Kondō offered.
I nodded. It was through meditation that I had reached for the bond that linked me to Legolas' feä, right before it was severed. Perhaps those techniques could help me understand what Glorfindel had created with the blade.
"That would be appreciated, Kondō-san."
Questions upon questions fused my way, and I responded to the best of my abilities. No, I couldn't hop to the future to get weapons and medicine, because I didn't control any of it. No, I wasn't magical, and neither was my blood. No, I had no contact with the Valar. Yes, those people still lived, albeit not in this reality.
After what felt like hours, the conversation started to ebb.
"More secrets?", Fukuchō asked.
I shook my head from left to right, then sighed.
"I … probably have thousands, but nothing that concerns you."
He made that strange noise, his tongue brushing his teeth in a 'tch' sound before grumbling that I could be an Edo woman. Whatever that meant puzzled me.
"Have I given you cause for distrust, Fukuchō? Have I not protected both Chizuru and Kondō-san with my life, as you asked of me?"
Was I grovelling? Perhaps a bit, but damn! I was fed up with being questioned. And tired. And damn annoyed.
"You have", he stated, his expression harsh. "This is why you get to keep your weapons. But don't expect trust."
Hijikata swished out of the room like the black swan in the ballet; the man really had a knack from dramatic sorties. The atmosphere in the room felt suddenly less intense. Rooted to my cushion, I sightly deflated.
"That went well", I grumbled.
Kondō laughed at my discomfiture, and asked Sanan to send more tea on his way out. The Colonel bowed slightly, and turned to me.
"Feel free to visit my lair. I tend to sleep during the days, but my evenings are yours if you wish to discuss."
His invitation didn't fall on deaf ears; his solicitude went straight to my heart. I had not forgotten how his condition caused him to be scooped up in the shadows. If he wanted some company, I'd gladly oblige. Especially since Fukuchō wasn't too keen on seing my face after what had transpired. Being glared at at dinner didn't really entice me to stay.
Still, I would have to be cautious. Sanan-san possessed a kind heart, but a, even cunnier mind. Gentle prodding could push me to unload information about the future that might screw the whole timeline up. I smiled at the Colonel before he bowed and left, biting my tongue. That would certainly keep me on my toes.
"You must forgive Toshi", Kondō kindly said. "He wasn't always distrustful, but we all had to toughen up. Leading the Shinsengumi is proving much harder than heading my family's Dojo in Edo."
"What was that, by the way? His comment about Edo women?"
Kondō chortled slightly, then struggled to keep his composure straight.
"Toshi was raised by his elder sister. He always said she's scarier that a Rasetsu when angered. She keeps writing letters to ask him to care for his health, and keep out of the cold. I believe he struggles to write back diplomatically."
I could imagine Hijikata's anger at being treated like a child, his fondess for her fussing, and even that line between his eyebrows when, holding the brush over the paper, he wondered what the hell he was about to respond. Amused, I hid my smile beside my hand. Right in time, for Chizuru was bringing more tea. The little woman gave me a hopeful gaze, then bowed and left.
"Arigato, Chizuru-chan", Kondō called before she closed the shōji. "You are the only one that makes that tea so perfect."
A blush crept up her cheek as she bowed again, and left. The Captain was right; I picked up a cup and relished in the scent of the green brew in my hands. As Kondō regaled me about stories of his family Dojo, I listened raptly, taking little sips of the warm tea. I learnt about littke Sōji, left by an older sister who couldn't provide for him. My heart clenched when Kondō told me how harshly he'd been treated by his comrades until, little my little, he became the master swordsman he was.
"At twelve, Sōji defeated a Menkyo Kaiden in the school. One of our most skilled masters."
"Impressive", I mused.
I'd never crossed blades with Okita, never seen him train. Where Saitō's iaido moves had floored me – he could unsheathe, slice, and resheathe in a heartbeat – I had no doubt Okita's style was more energetic.
"I was very lucky not to duel him on that night they found me. I doubt he would have spared me."
Kondō's features slightly fell, and I bit my lip; my words had caused him sadness.
"He has a callous personality, but you should see him with children. They adore him."
Children… I remembered Chizuru mentioning something about him pushing away the children because he coughed so much. We'd been preparing dinner, and she had turned away from me to hide the tears gathering in her eyes. Okita's health affected a great many people here. Kondō loved him like a son, Hijikata didn't show it, because the brat went out of his way to make him miserable, but he was worried too. Like an elder brother. As for Chizuru … her father was a doctor, right? Perhaps she knew something … or perhaps her feelings for Okita weren't quite sisterly. After all, I'd seen the way he protected her last night.
"How long as he been coughing like this?"
"Since the Ikedaya incident. Kazama dealt a harsh blow to his sternum."
"That son of a…", I started. Kondō's glare effectively cut my swearing short, and I shut my mouth with a grimace. Still, thinking that Okita would be caught off guard didn't rest well with me.
"He coughs every time the weather turns cold", the Captain added. "We wondered if it had damaged something in his lungs."
"Didn't a doctor come recently to inspect your troops? What was his diagnosis?"
"I don't know. He prescribed some rest and hot food. And that was it."
I frowned. Either the doctor was insanely incompetent, either something fishy was going on, and Chizuru was privy to it.
The next question was; did it concern me at all? If Chizuru talked to me under pressure, Sōji would probably have her head. If, as I suspected, there was a budding romance between those two, I didn't want to cause a strife. Okita was so volatile, he'd be very upset with Chizuru that was discussed his health in his back.
So I resigned myself to let it go, or talk to Okita himself whenever I felt him in the mood to share.
Hell would freeze over before it happened.