The temperature dropped a thousand degrees around us as the three men tensed. Even Sōji-kun, whose usual stance was falsely relaxed, seemed suddenly ready to rip my head off. Somehow, the woman was the only one amused.

"I will handle this, Kondō-san", Hijikata said, his expression so thunderous that Kondō scratched the back of his head sheepishly. This wasn't a request; Fukuchō was ordering Kyokuchō. Was the Kitsune sworn to him somehow? A life debt perhaps?

"Ah, yes, thank you Toshi", Kondō-san responded. "I trust you to care for Hachirō-kun. I'll send Yukimura-chan to your room."

"Kitsu, you're with me", he all but growled.

"Aye aye, sir", she responded … in English?

I didn't get time to dwell upon it for Okita hissed like a snake. "Nani ?"

The young prodige seemed livid, his anger directed at both Hijikata and myself. Kondō forcefully grabbed his arm, but Sōji would have none of it until Fukuchō gave him a decisive glare.

"She's not going anywhere, Sōji."

The look he received in return would have frozen hell over, and they remained locked in a staring contest until the young woman turned to me with an exasperated expression.

"Might be a while. Want some tea?"

Her lack of formality was refreshing, and I nodded. She gestured for me to follow. Her carefree attitude didn't fool me; wariness lingered in her gaze, and she was ready to cut me down at the slightest sign of danger. But she smiled nonetheless, and I studied her strange features without shame. Button nose, pointed chin, wide golden-brown eyes – too wide - and high forehead framed with a few loose strands of fire that had escaped her makeshift bun. Exotic oozed from every pore of her skin.

"If there was Kitsune in the Shinsengumi, how did you expect you to submit her to your will?", she asked coyly, leading me to the Vice Commander's office.

"I had hoped to plead my cause", I responded, catching hurried footsteps behind us.

"Mmm. So no force involved, except that or persuasion?"

I gulped. Of course, she couldn't know that four of my colleagues waited at the inn in case an abduction turned necessary, right? But the woman wasn't stupid, and neither was Toshizō. The fact that he wasn't jumping at my throat, right now, and taking the lead of this conversation baffled me. He'd never struck me as the kind of man to take a step back and watch events unfold.

As we settled in his office, a young page wearing a pink hakamashita left tea for us, and disappeared. My katana wouldn't have been enough to cut the tension in the room and I regretted that this reunion had gone from smooth to bad so fast.

"Toshi", I started.

This time he interrupted.

"Kitsu is not going anywhere. She is one of us now."

I frowned. "Surely we can compromise."

"Shinsengumi desu", she confirmed, bowing to both of us in the process. "There is no way around it. Leaving would mean seppuku."

I couldn't believe any of them would order it, given how attached they seemed to be. And you didn't order a Kitsune to death.

"Still. Before you men start doing your posturing thing - confrontation and growling and stuff - I must point out that I am not a Kitsune. At all. I'm just a gaijin."

Tch. Just a gaijin. Fighting, twisting and jumping like this. I watched her with blatant disbelief.

"You speak japanese as if you belong to its very depth", I countered.

"I have many japanese friends … and an accent."

A corner of Toshizō's mouth twitched, and I wondered what she meant by 'friends.' The stubbornness that shone in her eyes told me I'd hit a wall, so I tried another approach.

"Then you must be Dutch."

It was the only way; we escorted dutch merchants every year to renew their licence. From their Nagasaki island to Ōsaka, they all seemed the same to us. Tall, boisterous, and speaking a language I had learnt as a child.

"Ja. Ja er dutch. Hvordan gor det? Faren min var handelsman."

Her accent was strange, and her words partially muddled. Still, from what I gathered, her father was a merchant of sorts.

"Is that a dialect?", I asked, dumbfounded.[1]

The young woman flushed in shame.

"Ah … hai. I wasn't too high born."

It was my turn to redden; trust me to point out her shortcomings. Still, I found her Japanese much more acceptable, despite the slight accent. The story seemed to match, expect for one thing.

"How did you end up in the Shinsengumi's care? And how the hell did you learn to fight like this?"

The young woman sent a pleading look to Hijikata; his jaw tensed.

"You'll have to ask Kondō-san, she has been entrusted in his care since she is his page."

This was so fishy … what if they were really hiding a Kitsune in their ranks? After all, they called her Kitsu.

"So your nickname…"

"You've seen the colour of her hair", Hijikata snapped. "It fuels rumours and people are stupid enough to believe it."

The insult was barely veiled, but not adressed to me. The Shōgun, thought, was probably suffering from ringing ears right now.

"Indeed", I mused, taking a sip of the excellent sencha to gather my thoughts.

The same rumours had pushed my master to order five of his men to travel up to Kyōto in such troubled times. Still, I couldn't help but feel I was missing something. "I can't lie to the Shōgun", I eventually stated.

The characteristic noise of a blade sliding out of its sheath startled me, but Hijikata's eyes were burning ambers when he turned to me.

"You cannot have her. No matter what you think, no matter what you do."

"Fukuchō!", Kitsu exclaimed, her hand landing upon the wakisashi in such a bold move that my eyes widened. "Now is not the time to draw blade on our friends. Besides, Kondō-san would scold you to death."

Jaw agape, I caught Hijikata's incredulous look turn into a glare. Did that woman have any respect for hierarchy? To her credit, she didn't back down, even though his sword had not moved an inch; it was still aimed at my throat. I didn't even bother to draw mine. Given the commander's short temper, this might end up badly.

"War is inevitable, Toshi. I will not fight you when you are one of my most trusted allies … and my friend. Let us think it out."

His teeth unclenched slightly, and he nodded, withdrawing his wakisashi. Yet, anger and anguish rolled out of him so strongly that I didn't wonder where the Oni nickname came from. Kitsu poured another cup of tea, and handed it to him. I watched his eyes widen at the gesture, and the tired sigh that escaped his lips when he inhaled the sencha tea.

"You are trouble, woman", he grudgingly said.

I almost laughed at his tone, and barey lost it when she quipped back "Story of my life."

"How did you come to be here?", I eventually asked.

"Harada-san fished me out of a river. Saved my life. I became a vice captain to watch his back."

She used short sentences, didn't provide any details to back up her information and kept any flourishing minimum. So blunt, so very uncharacteristic of the Japanese diplomacy. My eyes narrowed at her; she smiled back at me. I turned to Hijikata; that man couldn't lie to save his life.

"Is that true?"

He just grunted his assent.

"It doesn't explain why the Shinsengumi didn't throw you out at the first occasion. What of the code?"

Hijikata eventually lost his patience, and sent me a reproacheful glare.

"The rasetsu attacked her. Kondō-san didn't have the heart to kill her."

The puzzle was assembling. That whole Ochimizu experiment didn't suit well with most of us Hatamotos, but such were the orders. If any, I was glad the Shinsengumi remained true to their principles, and didn't kill the witnesses.

"I understand now. You kept her rather than killing her."

"Yes. I wanted to be useful, they trained me, and I now second Harada-san on his night patrols. We've used my looks as an excuse for the people of Kyōto. You guys are fairly superstitious."

I eyed her suspiciously; she was trying to steer me away from her physical prouesses.

"You've had prior training."

"Hai."

Once more, no more information passed her lips. I sighed. They really needed to work on their cover story … albeit, maybe, it didn't matter anymore if civil war descended upon us. Who would care about a pretty face, however long it lasted? The answer came soon enough; the Shōgun would.

"Ochimizu is the Bakufu's secret. If the Shōgun hears about a woman who fights like a Kitsune, and looks like one, he'll want you in his factions, if only for the symbol."

"You'll get blamed for not bringing her back either way", Toshizō stated, a crease forming between his eyebrows.

"I see", she mused. "The fighting's an issue. Perhaps … how about… how about telling him that the famed Oni no Fukuchō took a gaijin as his mistress. This should explain why I'm always seen with Shinsengumi."

The idea, though, didn't seem quite to Toshizō's taste.

"Nani…", he growled.

I lifted a hand to stop him as I reflected upon the idea. The woman's honour would be dragged into the mud. But it could actually work. If I agreed to this, I took quite a risk. If I didn't, I'd be cut down where I stood either way. Or make this an order, and alienate the Shinsengumi altogether.

I'd have to try and make my point without angering the simmering Fukuchō who faced me.

"It would delay her discovery", I started.

This time, Hijikata's nostrils flared as he bellowed his indignation to the woman by his side. "You can't possibly accept such a thing!"

Instead of shrinking, she planted both her fists into the tatami mats, her eyes sparkling in anger. "Who cares!", she yelled back. "War is upon us. Who gives a rat's ass about my reputation!"

He blinked, taken aback by her outburst.

"We do", he countered, but I heard the truth easily, unspoken words in the silence.

I do.

Frozen, I didn't move an inch, my cup of tea halfway between the tray and my mouth. I never expected to find a woman who had the gall to shout back in Fukuchō's face… She was more terryfing that any kind of Kitsune, and determined to boot. Toshizō never stood a chance. I hid a smirk behind the rim of the cup. Did he even know how infatuated he was with this little gaijin?

Catching my knowing gaze, Toshi added with a little more control: "Kondō-san does."

"This scam protects us all", she stated. "Me, the Shinsengumi, and your friend". From the softening of Hijikata's features, I surmised that yes, he knew how deep he was. "I would have suggested Harada, but he's married", she added. "So let's roll with this if it keeps me out of the way."

Toshizō grumbled. A lot. But in the end, the gaijin won the argument. We were still figuring out how to handle this diplomatic crisis, and whatever I was going to tell my men at the inn when the earth emitted a deep vibration. At once, the young woman's face morphed into one of puzzlement. Seeing that the beams started grinding against each other, Hijikata sprang to his feet.

"Kitsu, out!"

As I scrambled to my feet, I noticed how his hand unconsciously reached out to push her into the courtyard.

Mistress indeed.

The earthquake was over before we could walk ten feet away from the main building. The Kitsune didn't wait for another breath before she turned to the Shinsengumi's Vice Commander.

"So, are we agreed, Fukuchō?"

Toshizō sighed dejectedly, then nodded.

"Good. I'll warn Kondō-san."

She sauntered away as if we had not decided to tarnish her reputation and curshed all her marriage prospects.

"You're still trouble!", he called out to her. She actually danced around in her hakama, sending us both a cheeky smile.

"More than I am worth?"

His gaze softened, and his whole demeanour changed when the reality of those words sunk in.

"No", he murmured.

I chuckled as I watched the young woman flee, another wavy strand escaping her bun and dancing with her steps.

"And the spirits of the earth agree with you."

Hijikata's expression hardened when he turned to me. Before he could cut me with scathing remark, I gave him a crooked smile.

"You certainly know how to choose them."

I expected anger, or denial, or a mighty explosion altogether. But all I got was a deep sigh.

"She yells louder than I…".

"And can kick your ass", I laughed. It was such a rare thing, to find a man that didn't feel threatened by a woman who could totally waste you on a battlefield. But Toshizō was right; that woman was trouble, and he, my friend.

"Do you realise how deeply involved you are, Toshi?", I asked warily.

His eyes got lost in the beauty of the setting sun, and I watched the features of a boy I once knew morph into those of a much wiser man.

"Hai."

Well, that was new. Since he'd called off that engagement, many years ago, with his bride in Edo, I didn't think I would see the day where someone stirred his affections again.

"Why don't you marry her already?"

He brushed the main question aside with the skill of a swordsman.

"There are no wives at the coumpound."

Again, his lucidity floored me; when had Toshizō evolved from the rash youth to the stern Fukuchō that thought over most of his decisions? Despite etiquette, protocole and against all, Hijikata always was more reasonable than his temper; the Shinsengumi had thrived under his rule. Instead of prying into his emotions, I wondered what his true aim was.

"You want to keep her here? For her own safety?"

"Hai, and for ours. I hate it, but she's going to be a formidable asset on the battlefield."

I felt my eyebrows knit; for sure, she was an incredible fighter. But war wasn't only about sword skill, especially now. What did he expect from such a petite woman, other than having another captain in his division? What could she possibly do for him to place such faith? Despite his talents in the strategic field, I wondered if Toshizō was blinded by the sight of a pretty … face. What was I missing?

"She's not a Kitsune, isn't she?"

"No. She's a european."

European. Not Gaijin. Not Dutch.

My frown deepened as silence settled between us. The easy-going banter had died at the hands of my curiosity; trying to extract information about Kitsu was alike to torturing a rock. When the young woman returned, Hijikata was still frowning, hands tucked in his sleeves.

"Kondō-san awaits us", she bowed. "He wants our violins tuned."

Seeing my puzzled expression, she actually chuckled.

"A saying from home. Means all of our stories must be straight."

The Vice Commander stomped away and we followed. Again, contrary to all protocol since I outranked Hijikata, but I didn't care about such things. Before we reached Kondō-san's office, thought, I tried my luck one last time.

"You're not going to tell me how you ended up here, won't you?", I eventually asked the redhead by my side.

"We've told you already", was her laconic response.

Too bad. As we passed the door, though she started laughing.

"So a Tengu, an Oni and a Kitsune walk into a room … that sounds like the beginning of a good joke."

I couldn't help it; I laughed.

This fiction is so massive already tha I didn't have much time to devote to Iba Hachiro. He is an incredible historical figure, though, and I thought it was worth mentioning.

[1] For the record, this is not Dutch :D She's just hoping his dutch is rusty enough not to understand this is another Viking language