FIC: Jidai Monogatari, Original, Entire Shinsengumi, PG-13

WARNING-- this chapter contains attempted rape and graphic violence

********************

Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 1)
Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
E-mail: patriot014@...
Source: Original
Main character(s): Entire Shinsengumi
General Rating: PG-13
Warning: Contains graphic or violent situations in most chapters. Hey,
it was the Revolution, for crying out loud! There _was_ blood flowing
in the streets and secret trysts in inns and teahouses! Ehem...right.
Disclaimer: This story is entirely mine, and is not based on anything.
You _may_ read it, but if you try to steal it, I will get the entire
Shinsengumi to descend on your head and Aku Soku Zan you mercilessly.
Thank you.


Chapter 1

Kyoto
Heisei 16 (2004), July 6th

"Governments may come and go, but Kyoto is eternally `the Capital',"
said Tokugawa Hirotada with a smile.
"Heian-kyo—the Peaceful Capital," added his wife, Yuki.
The two of them were new to Kyoto. Out of a passion for their samurai
ancestry, as well as a desire to live the history they'd studied in
college, they had decided to establish themselves in Kyoto and pursue
a joint career in martial arts instruction and historical enacting.
Since the night was not too cold, they'd decided to get into character
a bit--put on traditional garb and walk the streets of Mibu, one of
the historic districts, for awhile.
"Hiro-kun! Look! It's the Yagi estate!"
Hiro glanced over in the direction that she was pointing. Sure enough,
there was the Yagi estate, which had acquired quite a reputation
during the bloody Bakumatsu period in the 1860s, when the
Shinsengumi-- one of the shogunate's official police units in
Kyoto--set up their headquarters there. Seeing the gate open, Hiro
raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Isn't this after their open hours?
Why is the gate open?" Even though he wasn't sure, something at the
extremities of his sensory perception felt…amiss. Then again, there
was always something weird going on in Kyoto-- some commemoration,
celebration, or event that not everyone would hear about. Being a fan
of the Shinsengumi, he couldn't resist the urge to find out what was
going on.
"Want to check it out? At the very least we'll give the caretakers a
good shock," he said with a smile. Yuki nodded.
As they walked toward the gate of the Yagi mansion, the wind, which
had just been a gentle breeze only moments before, began to pick up.
Closer to the estate now, they could see what looked like a fire
burning in the inner courtyard. Hiro opened his mouth to say something
about the fire, when the wind's ferocity sharply increased, and the
world around seemed to darken.
Hiro didn't stop to think-- instincts honed during years of sword
training took over. Instinctively, he grabbed a hold of Yuki by the
shoulders and pulled her in quickly-- putting both arms around her and
holding her as close as he could.
"Hiro? What's going on?" she barely managed to shout over the wind.
"Hold me."
"What?"
"Just hold me!"
The wind shifted. Instead of blowing straight, it started twisting in
on itself, pushing the helpless couple around this way and that. A
word flashed through Hiro's mind, a word he didn't really believe and
didn't really like, but that seemed to be the closest thing to this
wind: kamikaze. Divine Tempest. Unable to consciously stand up to the
wind anymore, he closed his eyes and focused his entire being on the
one dearest to him, drawing courage from the gentle strength of her
embrace and the close warmth of her body. He felt her give a gentle
squeeze, as if to say, I love you. Don't ever let go of me…
The wind, more untamed now, began to whistle shrilly, like a flute in
a Noh drama. Unwittingly, Hiro opened his eyes and saw that he was no
longer on the ground, but being spun through the air, faster and
faster and faster. The Yagi mansion wasn't really below, though. But
what he heard next made him forget about any of that.
I, Tokugawa Hirotada, take you, Matsumae Yuki, to be my…
The wedding. That was in June-- why could he hear his words from the
ceremony?
Senzowa daijidakedo, kami wo shinjiru! I honor my ancestors, but I
believe in God!
His own voice, while arguing his new Christian faith with his father.
I'm Tokugawa Hirotada. Pleased to meet you, Yuki-dono.
The day he'd met Yuki…
Tokugawa Hirotada, I pass this sword on to you, in honor of your
coming of age.
His father again-- giving him one of the family swords, the one made
by Yasutsugu XI, in honor of his coming of age ceremony.
We must endure the unendurable, bear the unbearable, and suffer the
unsufferable…
Hearing his own voice, perhaps. But now Emperor Hirohito's voice?
Hijikata! Go, now! Go to Shonai and get reinforcements!
Hijikata? Reinforcements from Shonai? That could only be the voice of
Matsudaira Katamori…last lord of the Aizu domain in the 1860s, and
sponsor of the Shinsengumi...
The Shinsengumi…
Hiro opened his eyes, and found himself looking at the hilt of a
sword. Following the hilt downward, he saw a blue overcoat, with…white
mountain-shaped triangles on the sleeves. Blue overcoat, white
mountain-shaped triangles on the sleeves. The uniform of the
Shinsengumi? But…what would another historical enactor be doing out
this…early? With his senses slowly returning to him, he found that it
was light again, probably around dawn. But…where was he? And…
"Oi! Masuda-kun! Look what we've got here!"
The man who was looking over Hiro got up.
"Yeah?"
Two more men in Shinsengumi uniform held a very tired and
battered-looking Yuki up by her arms.
"Ah, so the flowers are blooming early this year? Don't worry, fellas,
we can enjoy their fragrance just as well." He rubbed his palms
together nefariously. "We can each have a turn…"
The first of Yuki's screams suddenly snapped Hiro's senses back into
full focus. Rolling himself up to his knees, he saw the three men, all
in Shinsengumi uniform, trying to rip her kimono off. Hiro's right
hand automatically went to his left hip, but then he remembered that
he was obviously not armed. But he had no choice…he rose to his feet.
Quietly, he closed the distance between himself and Masuda…finally
coming right behind him, he wrapped an arm around the man's neck and
jerked it sharply to the right. With his free hand, he grabbed the
hilt of Masuda's sword and yanked it out of the sheath. Masuda fell
with a yelp, startling his accomplices.
"M-Masuda-kun?!"
Hiro stood over Masuda's corpse. Now armed and ready to fight, he
raised the sword into a high guard stance.
"W-Who the heck are you?!" they choked out in fear and alarm.
"You're about to die, so knowing my name is useless to you."
"Bah! Just a wastrel ronin! Let's get `im!" The men threw Yuki down to
the ground. Drawing their swords they lunged at Hiro, hoping to
overtake him by speed. He sideswept one man, yanked him downward with
his free hand, and kicked him toward the other one. The two of them
instantly went down with a thud, their swords clattering to the ground
loudly.
"Get up!" Hiro snarled, kicking them mercilessly. "Get up!"
One of them managed to grab his own sword, and tried to get up. He
turned his gaze upward just in time to see Hiro's sword descend in a
shimmering arc…spattering the other man with his blood. The other
threw himself at Hiro's feet, whimpering pitifully. "Please! Please!
Don't kill me! I didn' mean no harm! We was just out drinkin', that's
all! Please!"
Hiro couldn't hear him in his blind rage. He picked the man up by the
collar and held him off the ground. Raising his sword, he readied to
stab the man, just as--
"You! Drop the sword!"
He dropped the man instead, and spun on his heel, coming face to face
with another man in Shinsengumi uniform, with about a dozen others
behind him, all armed-- all with swords, some also with spears and
halberds.
"Drop the sword," repeated the man, obviously the leader in the group.
He was of medium-height, firm build, and had a sharp, piercing gaze
like that of a wolf.
"These...these men, whoever they are, were raping my wife. You have no
right to tell me to drop the sword! I will kill them!"
"I know who these men are," retorted the other man sharply. "And I
know their reputation. I happen to be their commander. Now drop the
sword and let me deal with them."
Hiro let the sword drop from his hand. He was pushed aside by the
large group behind the wolf-eyed man, some of whom rushed forward to
bind the wrists of the survivor, while others checked to make sure
that the other two were dead.
"What about your wife?" asked the wolf-eyed man. "Forgot about her so
quickly?"
Blushing red with embarrassment and shame, he rushed over to Yuki, who
was sobbing uncontrollably and trying to cover herself with the
tattered remnants of her kimono. Gently, Hiro laid a hand on her
shoulder. She looked up and suddenly threw her arms around him.
Closing his own suddenly tear-filled eyes, he gently rocked her back
and forth, trying to calm her down.
"Come with me, both of you."
It was the wolf-eyed man again.
"Huh? Where?"
"Don't you know where anything is? To the Shinsengumi headquarters at
the Yagi mansion! My superiors will need to hear about what happened
in order to deal properly with Onoda there." He gestured toward the
survivor.
Shinsengumi headquarters? But that would mean…Hiro shook his head in
disbelief. Divine Wind, indeed…
"Don't worry, we'll have our doctor tend to any wounds you or your
wife may have. It's idiots like Onoda and Masuda who give us the name
`wolves'. We're actually quite concerned with the welfare of the
common people in this city."
Gently helping Yuki to her feet, Hiro followed the wolf-eyed man.

**********

Jidai Monogatari-Chapter 1
OWARI (end)

**********

That's all for Chapter 1. On to Chapter 2!

--Masayoshi

Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 2)
Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
E-mail: patriot014@...
Source: Original
Main character(s): Entire Shinsengumi
General Rating: PG-13
Warning: Contains graphic or violent situations in most chapters. Hey,
it was the Revolution, for crying out loud! There _was_ blood flowing
in the streets and secret trysts in inns and teahouses! Ehem...right.
Disclaimer: This story is entirely mine, and is not based on anything.
You _may_ read it, but if you try to steal it, I will get the entire
Shinsengumi to descend on your head and Aku Soku Zan you mercilessly.
Thank you.

Chapter 2

Kyoto
Genji 1 (1864), June 20th

As Hiro found out, he and Yuki hadn't landed far from the Yagi
estate-- probably only about a couple blocks away. He was glad they
were that close, for Yuki's sake, as she didn't seem too likely to be
in a calm enough state to hike very far.
His first impression at realizing where he was, was that the 1860s
didn't smell as good as he'd imagined. Despite the extreme cleanliness
and cautious sanitation common to any major Japanese city of those
days, there was still the smell of dirt and mud in the air. The sky
seemed bluer, though, and the visibility was excellent. He'd read all
about it in his college textbooks, heard all about it from his
family's stories, but he'd never imagined it to be so…overpoweringly
real. He was there, in the textbooks, as history was being written,
walking the streets with a troop of samurai. If the situation weren't
so grave, and the era not so bloody, he might actually have taken the
time to better soak in the atmosphere.
"Here we are. Shinsengumi headquarters," said the wolf-eyed man,
indicating the gateway with a tilt of his head. "Please follow me."
As he led them through the gate, Hiro remembered the force that had
brought them here, and felt a chill run down his spine. Gritting his
teeth, he did his best to put the past behind him, and followed the
wolf-eyed man into the main courtyard.
"Welcome back, Saitou-san!" called a man who had just emerged from one
of the rooms. He was about the same height as wolf-eyes-- Saitou-- but
looked much younger, with childlike features, almost too young to be
holding the katana in his left hand.
"No time for that, Okita-kun! Go get the doctor, and tell Hijikata-san
that I have business with him." Okita nodded curtly, and dashed off,
returning momentarily with the Yagi family doctor and a couple of
maids, before dashing off in the other direction to find Hijikata.
"Clean this woman up and check her for any injuries if you would,
sensei." He nodded, and gestured for Hiro to let go. "It'll be
alright," Saitou reassured him. "Don't worry. She's in good hands."
Reluctantly-- very reluctantly-- Hiro let go of Yuki, who was promptly
led away by the doctor and maids.
"Don't worry," Saitou repeated, bringing Hiro back to full attention.
"Now let's go see Hijikata-san, and clear this business of Masuda's
people up."
"Y…yes of course, Saitou-san." As the mist cleared from his mind, Hiro
put two and two together. Saitou…a leader in the Shinsengumi…Saitou
Hajime! The legendary Shinsengumi third unit captain! And Okita…must
be Okita Souji, the first unit captain! And Hijikata…Hiro shivered in
mild horror at the name. Hijikata Toshizou Yoshitoyo, the Shinsengumi
vice-commander and "demon". Originally the son of the farmer, he was
adopted into a samurai family, and soon became an expert at
swordsmanship. Known for his cold and cruel manner of leadership, he
was feared by all, friend and foe alike-- and yet, loyal to the last,
he fought to the very end of the Bakumatsu period, finally dying of a
gunshot wound at the Battle of Matsumae Castle in Hokkaido. That day,
however, lay some five years into the future.
Saitou halted abruptly next to a sliding door, and slid it open with
one hand, bowing. "Hijikata-san. Sorry to keep you waiting." He nodded
to Hiro, and they entered together. "Saitou-san. Have a seat, please.
You as well," Hijikata said, motioning to Hiro, who sat along Saitou,
facing the vice-commander.
"Now, what did you do about those three idiots?" asked the
vice-commander abruptly. That's something the historians were right
about, thought Hiro. Hijikata's cold, cruel, calculating, and to the
point…
"We heard they were out drinking and causing trouble nearby. However,
we hadn't counted on this man being there." Saitou pointed at Hiro.
"Masuda and the others tried raping his wife, and he killed two of the
men in retaliation. We got there just in time and managed to stop him
from killing Onoda."
Hijikata stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Onoda will pay duly for his
crime—he has violated the first rule of our code, by behaving in a
manner unbecoming a warrior." He turned his cold gaze toward Hiro.
"Now, tell me who you are, and why, if you are indeed a samurai, you
have no swords."
Hiro studied Hijikata intently, while trying to come up with a
coherent, believable answer that wouldn't get him instantly killed.
The books were right-- he really was tall, almost above average.
Unlike his only surviving photograph, where his hair lay untied, down
to chin length, it was tied up in a neat topknot. His features were
firm and commanding, exuding a twofold aura of immaculacy and
coldness. His photograph showed him wearing a Western-style suit, but
seeing him here, dressed in a wide-sleeved kimono and crisp, clean
gray trousers was more real, more powerful, in a way.
He knew well that he couldn't say who he really was, especially
because someone of his clan, no matter what their rank, wouldn't be
wandering the streets of Kyoto in this era, especially not without a
sizable escort. But he couldn't think of any other convincing alias.
Finally, using the intricacies and seemingly endless variations of
Japanese names to his advantage, he decided to tell the truth…partly.
"I am Tokugawa Hirotada."
Hijikata's face visibly became pale.
Hiro knew exactly what he was thinking: For members of the Shinsengumi
to have broken the rules was bad, but for them to have done what they
did to a relative of the shogun might cost him his very head…
"Spelled with different letters than that of the Shogun's name. As for
my swords…" Hiro heard himself make up a story that even he partly
didn't believe: he'd been befriended by Masuda at a local teahouse,
and had promptly begun drinking with him. Somehow, Masuda had drugged
Hiro's drink, knocking him unconscious, during which time he'd stolen
Hiro's swords. Then Hiro had woken up in the street, seen Masuda and
two other people trying to rape his wife, who'd come looking for him.
Seeking to save his wife and defend his honor, Hiro had no choice but
to kill Masuda and the other man, after which point Saitou had stopped
him. He also added that he demanded a new pair of swords in return for
the ones that Masuda had stolen.
"And," he added, rather impulsively, "I'd like to join Shinsengumi."
Hijikata eyed him carefully for a moment, stroking his chin pensively
again. "Tokugawa-san, I will grant your request for a new pair of
swords, as I am eager to make amends for the actions of these fools.
However, to join Shinsengumi, you must pass an entrance exam, in which
you must engage in a mock duel with one of the upper-ranking members,
such as myself, Saitou-san, or Okita-kun. Do you consider yourself
willing to go through with it?"
Hiro knew all about the Shinsengumi's entrance exam-- how it involved
facing off in a practice duel with one of the chief captains—and that
though he didn't need to win to gain entrance, he would quite probably
end up with broken bones. If successful, he also knew well that he ran
the risk of getting killed, especially in the tumultuous war and
defeat of the shogunate that loomed just over the horizon. Hiro almost
pitied these men for not knowing what would happen to them—that Okita
would die in a hospital, a victim of tuberculosis at age 25, that
Hijikata would die in battle in Hokkaido, and that Saitou would die of
old age in the dawn of the 20th century, the victim of an
alcohol-induced stomach ulcer. But despite all the history, the risks,
the names, dates, and places involved, he guessed that he was probably
in this time period to stay, and that if he was to provide for his
wife, he had to have a stable job and a place to live. Which the
Shinsengumi did offer its members…
There was more to consider, as well. Assuming he survived the violent
bloodletting of the Bakumatsu period, he had very little to no chance
of getting anywhere in the imminent Meiji government which
subsequently arose—since he wouldn't be able to explain his origin,
and since he had chosen to ally himself with his ancestors' collapsing
order and government. But he had no choice. Shinsengumi was the only
way to go. "Yes," he said, staring straight into Hijikata's eyes, and
doing his best not to flinch. "Yes, I am willing."
Hijikata cleared his throat. After quietly thinking to himself for a
moment, he nodded curtly. "I see. Very good." He raised his tone.
"Okita-san?"
The sliding door glided open, and Okita bowed politely. "Yes?"
"Get this man a new pair of swords immediately. See to it that he also
gets a bath and a decent meal. At noon, he duels me." Okita nodded,
looking somewhat amused at Hiro's shocked expression. Hijikata turned
back to Hiro. "Tokugawa-san, you're free to go."
Hiro bowed, all the way to the floor mats. "Thank you, Hijikata-sama."
"Come on," urged Okita, smiling. Hiro got up and followed, heartened
by Okita's calm demeanor.
Hijikata closed his eyes until Hiro left, and then, when he was sure
that they were gone and fully out of earshot, turned to Saitou. "Do
you trust his story?"
"Partly. Masuda definitely tried to rape his wife, but the story about
the swords seemed made-up…"
"Hm." Hijikata nodded. "Still, whether he's lying or not, we lost two
people today. And from what you tell me about the way he fights,
taking him in is an acceptable risk. We need people who fight like that."
He paused a moment, thinking about how Hiro had fought for his wife.
He'd seen different people fight for different things, but had never
heard of a man who fought for love. Not like this…"And besides," he
added, "once he swears the blood oath to uphold the Shinsengumi code,
we'll see just how much a man of his word Tokugawa-san is."
Saitou nodded quietly. "Agreed. That always does show who the most
loyal members are."
"If he does make it in, then I'd like to start him off in your unit,
and then maybe move him up to the 2nd unit. If he really proves
himself, I might consider putting him in the first unit…but we'll see."
"By all means," said Saitou. "I'd definitely like to see him in action
again-- against revolutionary samurai this time. We need that kind of
energy on our side."
Hijikata allowed himself a small, tired sigh. "Agreed."
"I'm also curious to see what the commander will think of him," added
Saitou.
"Kondou-san? We'll see. He isn't quick to commenting on skill until he
sees it with his own eyes." Saitou nodded in agreement.
Hijikata rose to his feet. "Well then, if you'll excuse me,
Saitou-san, I have to go prepare for a duel."

Really, good, I like it.


--- Shimazu Masayoshi <patriot014@...> wrote:

> Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 2)
> Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
> E-mail: patriot014@...
> Source: Original
> Main character(s): Entire Shinsengumi
> General Rating: PG-13
> Warning: Contains graphic or violent situations in
> most chapters. Hey,
> it was the Revolution, for crying out loud! There
> _was_ blood flowing
> in the streets and secret trysts in inns and
> teahouses! Ehem...right.
> Disclaimer: This story is entirely mine, and is not
> based on anything.
> You _may_ read it, but if you try to steal it, I
> will get the entire
> Shinsengumi to descend on your head and Aku Soku Zan
> you mercilessly.
> Thank you.
>
> Chapter 2
>
> Kyoto
> Genji 1 (1864), June 20th
>
> As Hiro found out, he and Yuki hadn't landed far
> from the Yagi
> estate-- probably only about a couple blocks away.
> He was glad they
> were that close, for Yuki's sake, as she didn't seem
> too likely to be
> in a calm enough state to hike very far.
> His first impression at realizing where he was, was
> that the 1860s
> didn't smell as good as he'd imagined. Despite the
> extreme cleanliness
> and cautious sanitation common to any major Japanese
> city of those
> days, there was still the smell of dirt and mud in
> the air. The sky
> seemed bluer, though, and the visibility was
> excellent. He'd read all
> about it in his college textbooks, heard all about
> it from his
> family's stories, but he'd never imagined it to be
> so�overpoweringly
> real. He was there, in the textbooks, as history was
> being written,
> walking the streets with a troop of samurai. If the
> situation weren't
> so grave, and the era not so bloody, he might
> actually have taken the
> time to better soak in the atmosphere.
> "Here we are. Shinsengumi headquarters," said the
> wolf-eyed man,
> indicating the gateway with a tilt of his head.
> "Please follow me."
> As he led them through the gate, Hiro remembered the
> force that had
> brought them here, and felt a chill run down his
> spine. Gritting his
> teeth, he did his best to put the past behind him,
> and followed the
> wolf-eyed man into the main courtyard.
> "Welcome back, Saitou-san!" called a man who had
> just emerged from one
> of the rooms. He was about the same height as
> wolf-eyes-- Saitou-- but
> looked much younger, with childlike features, almost
> too young to be
> holding the katana in his left hand.
> "No time for that, Okita-kun! Go get the doctor, and
> tell Hijikata-san
> that I have business with him." Okita nodded curtly,
> and dashed off,
> returning momentarily with the Yagi family doctor
> and a couple of
> maids, before dashing off in the other direction to
> find Hijikata.
> "Clean this woman up and check her for any injuries
> if you would,
> sensei." He nodded, and gestured for Hiro to let go.
> "It'll be
> alright," Saitou reassured him. "Don't worry. She's
> in good hands."
> Reluctantly-- very reluctantly-- Hiro let go of
> Yuki, who was promptly
> led away by the doctor and maids.
> "Don't worry," Saitou repeated, bringing Hiro back
> to full attention.
> "Now let's go see Hijikata-san, and clear this
> business of Masuda's
> people up."
> "Y�yes of course, Saitou-san." As the mist cleared
> from his mind, Hiro
> put two and two together. Saitou�a leader in the
> Shinsengumi�Saitou
> Hajime! The legendary Shinsengumi third unit
> captain! And Okita�must
> be Okita Souji, the first unit captain! And
> Hijikata�Hiro shivered in
> mild horror at the name. Hijikata Toshizou
> Yoshitoyo, the Shinsengumi
> vice-commander and "demon". Originally the son of
> the farmer, he was
> adopted into a samurai family, and soon became an
> expert at
> swordsmanship. Known for his cold and cruel manner
> of leadership, he
> was feared by all, friend and foe alike-- and yet,
> loyal to the last,
> he fought to the very end of the Bakumatsu period,
> finally dying of a
> gunshot wound at the Battle of Matsumae Castle in
> Hokkaido. That day,
> however, lay some five years into the future.
> Saitou halted abruptly next to a sliding door, and
> slid it open with
> one hand, bowing. "Hijikata-san. Sorry to keep you
> waiting." He nodded
> to Hiro, and they entered together. "Saitou-san.
> Have a seat, please.
> You as well," Hijikata said, motioning to Hiro, who
> sat along Saitou,
> facing the vice-commander.
> "Now, what did you do about those three idiots?"
> asked the
> vice-commander abruptly. That's something the
> historians were right
> about, thought Hiro. Hijikata's cold, cruel,
> calculating, and to the
> point�
> "We heard they were out drinking and causing trouble
> nearby. However,
> we hadn't counted on this man being there." Saitou
> pointed at Hiro.
> "Masuda and the others tried raping his wife, and he
> killed two of the
> men in retaliation. We got there just in time and
> managed to stop him
> from killing Onoda."
> Hijikata stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Onoda will
> pay duly for his
> crime�he has violated the first rule of our code, by
> behaving in a
> manner unbecoming a warrior." He turned his cold
> gaze toward Hiro.
> "Now, tell me who you are, and why, if you are
> indeed a samurai, you
> have no swords."
> Hiro studied Hijikata intently, while trying to come
> up with a
> coherent, believable answer that wouldn't get him
> instantly killed.
> The books were right-- he really was tall, almost
> above average.
> Unlike his only surviving photograph, where his hair
> lay untied, down
> to chin length, it was tied up in a neat topknot.
> His features were
> firm and commanding, exuding a twofold aura of
> immaculacy and
> coldness. His photograph showed him wearing a
> Western-style suit, but
> seeing him here, dressed in a wide-sleeved kimono
> and crisp, clean
> gray trousers was more real, more powerful, in a
> way.
> He knew well that he couldn't say who he really was,
> especially
> because someone of his clan, no matter what their
> rank, wouldn't be
> wandering the streets of Kyoto in this era,
> especially not without a
> sizable escort. But he couldn't think of any other
> convincing alias.
> Finally, using the intricacies and seemingly endless
> variations of
> Japanese names to his advantage, he decided to tell
> the truth�partly.
> "I am Tokugawa Hirotada."
> Hijikata's face visibly became pale.
> Hiro knew exactly what he was thinking: For members
> of the Shinsengumi
> to have broken the rules was bad, but for them to
> have done what they
> did to a relative of the shogun might cost him his
> very head�
> "Spelled with different letters than that of the
> Shogun's name. As for
> my swords�" Hiro heard himself make up a story that
> even he partly
> didn't believe: he'd been befriended by Masuda at a
> local teahouse,
> and had promptly begun drinking with him. Somehow,
> Masuda had drugged
> Hiro's drink, knocking him unconscious, during which
> time he'd stolen
> Hiro's swords. Then Hiro had woken up in the street,
> seen Masuda and
> two other people trying to rape his wife, who'd come
> looking

=== message truncated ===


__________________________________
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Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 3)
Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
E-mail: patriot014@...
Source: Original
Main character(s): Entire Shinsengumi
General Rating: PG-13
Warning: Contains graphic or violent situations in most chapters. Hey,
it was the Revolution, for crying out loud! There _was_ blood flowing
in the streets and secret trysts in inns and teahouses! Ehem...right.
Disclaimer: This story is entirely mine, and is not based on anything.
You _may_ read it, but if you try to steal it, I will get the entire
Shinsengumi to descend on your head and Aku Soku Zan you mercilessly.
Thank you.


Chapter 3

After being given a clean bill of health by the doctor and a long,
healing bath, Yuki was helped out to the courtyard, where she'd been
told Hiro was to duel Hijikata for entrance into Shinsengumi. Herself
a martial arts instructor, she was well familiar with Hijikata's
legendary mastery of his style, Tennen Rishin Ryuu. Hiro probably
didn't stand a chance—though a senior instructor of the Tokugawa
family's branch of Owari Yagyu Shinkage Ryuu swordsmanship, there was
a fundamental difference between his and Hijikata's attitude towards
the sword: Hiro knew it as a means of self-discipline and protection,
while Hijikata, like most samurai, ultimately took it as a weapon of
war. Hiro may have killed two people that morning, but Hijikata had
probably been doing so for at least the last year that he'd been in
Kyoto, and probably long before.
It was still a bit unbelievable to Yuki that they were now in Kyoto in
the middle of the Bakumatsu period. The atmosphere, sounds, sights,
and smells were exactly how she'd imagined it, but more surreal.
Everything had a bright, wondrous aura about it, making her feel like
she was seeing the world through new eyes. Everything, from the
blueness of the sky all the way down to her new light-green kimono
with the darker green brocade obi, was bright and beautiful. Eager to
forget about what had happened to her in the morning, she focused her
entire attention on that sense of wonder and awe.
Hiro and Okita finally emerged from one of the rooms. Yuki saw the new
swords that her husband wore, and smiled. He'd finally managed to live
out his dream—to be a samurai in the age of samurai, instead of being
an anachronism in the modern age. Okita, walking next to him, carried
a suit of practice armor and a bamboo sword. Unable to restrain
herself, Yuki strode over to them.
"Hiro-kun?"
Hiro jerked upright at the sound of her voice. Turning on his heel, he
saw her, and tried to protest. Yuki simply put a finger to his lips,
and smiled.
"I'm here to help you get ready."
Without waiting for a response, she took the breastplate from Okita
and started tying it into place.
"Yuki…I…"
After tying the protective apron up, she undid the sash of his katana,
and took it carefully.
"I'll hold this for you."
He nodded quietly, and took her hand, holding it up to his cheek. On
the inside, she ached to be held, and knew that he probably wanted to
do so just as badly. Both of them restrained themselves. They knew
very well what the social constraints of the age were, and how open
display of affection was considered "improper" and "barbaric". Yuki
could feel that Hiro wanted to say something deep and romantic, but
instead, seemed to be content with two words.
"Thank you."
She didn't need to answer. Giving him a short bow, she stepped back to
where the maids and serving women stood.
"Fine man ya got there, Yuki-han," said one of the maids
enthusiastically, in the fast-paced Kansai accent characteristic of
natives of the Kyoto area.
"Yes…" she sighed wistfully.
Once Okita helped Hiro tie the helmet into place, it was time to
begin. Hiro and Hijikata had moved into their starting positions
opposite each other. Kondou Isami, the commander of the Shinsengumi,
stood between and a safe distance back from them, acting as the referee.
"Ready?" called Kondou. Both combatants nodded. "Begin!"
Yuki could hear the collective gasp among the onlookers when Hiro
moved into a jodan stance—sword angling backwards, held over his head.
The jodan stance was the most aggressive stance in all Japanese
swordsmanship, the equivalent of shouting You want a piece of me? by
way of posture. Consequently, to take a jodan stance against Hijikata
Toshizou, even in a practice duel, was seen as a brash and
unrestrained challenge of authority.
Try as she could, Yuki couldn't read Hijikata's intention or direction
at all. The man was an utter enigma, not allowing any opening
whatsoever. Truly worthy of the appellation of "demon"…
Suddenly, Hijikata began moving to the side a bit, probably only to
test Hiro's reaction, but illiciting none. Hiro simply stayed in
jodan, facing the vice-commander, looking him as straight in the eyes
as possible without letting his blood curdle from fear…and then it
happened. Hijikata bolted, dashing straight in toward Hiro with a
tremendous kiai, a vocal projection of inner force, moving quickly
behind the shout with the linear, frontal assault style that was the
hallmark of Tennen Rishin Ryuu.
Yuki gasped. Hiro seemed frozen in place, somehow transfixed by the
sight of Hijikata rushing him, coming closer and closer and closer,
his aura somehow inducing a total paralysis. Suddenly, he seemed to
regain control of his senses, and stepped out of the way, forcing
Hijikata to quickly stick out a foot and halt his forward momentum,
spinning around and facing Hiro again with a growl.
Now Hijikata moved into a jodan stance, more out of rage than anything
else. Hiro moved to chudan stance, and tried staring his opponent down.
"You're a fool if you think you can defeat me!" snarled Hijikata.
Keeping his sword high, he tilted it forward. Then he vanished…Hiro
lifted his sword quickly to a vertical kasumi stance to protect his
face and torso, just when Hijikata reappeared right in front of him,
delivering a diagonal kesa-giri slash that sent Hiro and his sword
flying in opposite directions. Yuki bit her lip, stifling the urge to
run to him and block Hijikata's next attack with her own body.
Suddenly, though, Hiro stuck an arm out and rolled backward, quickly
dashing back up and running for his sword. He grabbed it just in time,
right when Hijikata tried to make a final, decisive slash, bringing it
up to meet the vice-commander's weapon. The two of them seemed fixed
in place, frozen somehow…and then Hiro let loose a tremendous kiai,
sweeping Hijikata's sword to one side, and then sweeping back upward
toward his head…just when Hijikata jerked his sword up and stopped
inches from Hiro's throat.
"Aiuchi! A tie!" called Kondou. Both of them slowly lowered their
weapons, and bowed to each other. Yuki let out a sigh of relief. So
her Hiro had survived after all…
"Why're you so red all of a sudden, Yuki-han?" asked another one of
the serving women, a girl probably around fourteen years of age.
"Oh…me? Blushing? No, far from it!" she said, trying to act the part
of the brave, steady samurai wife. The women snickered to themselves,
amused at her awkwardness.
She walked over to where Hiro stood, being helped out of his armor by
Okita.
"Your sword," Yuki announced. As she held it out to him with both
hands, she realized that her grip on it had been very tight. Yuki
remembered the old saying—the sword is the soul of the samurai—and
smiled. So she'd been able to hold a part of Hiro, after all…
"Ah. Thank you, Yuki-chan." He received the katana with both hands and
tied it back into place at his left hip, next to his short sword.
"This your wife?" asked Kondou.
"Yes, Kondou-sama," answered Hiro, not being able to help smiling.
"I'm Matsumae Yuki," she said quietly, and bowed low, as was
appropriate for a woman of those days.
"She's a good cook, and quite skilled with the naginata (halberd) and
kodachi (short sword)."
Kondou laughed. "Well, it sounds like we'll have good use for someone
of her talents. But for now, Tokugawa-san, there is something you must
do." Pulling a piece of paper from inside the sleeve of his kimono, he
read, in an official voice:
"Tokugawa Hirotada. As a new member of the Shinsengumi, you must swear
by the following rules:
First, never to deviate from the Way of the Samurai.
Second, never to abandon the Shinsengumi.
Third, never to raise money selfishly.
Fourth, to never engage in private lawsuits.
Fifth, not to engage in petty quarrels.
Sixth, to fight and die on the spot, should your unit captain be
killed in combat.
Seventh, to not go back for the body of any member of any unit except
the unit captain, whether the death toll is low or high.
And finally, whether on duty or not, to immediately commit seppuku,
should you engage an enemy in single combat and fail to kill him. Do
you swear to live by these rules?"
Hiro swallowed hard, and nodded.
"Well then, sign in blood," answered Kondou, holding out the paper.
Yuki looked on as Hiro pulled out his short sword a bit, exposing the
blade. He pricked his right thumb on the cold steel, and when he saw
the blood seep from the cut, he stuck his thumb out, and pressed down
firmly on the paper.
"Tokugawa Hirotada," said Hijikata coldly, finishing for Kondou, "you
have pledged in blood to honor these rules. Welcome to the Shinsengumi."

Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 2)
Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
E-mail: patriot014@h...
Source: Original
Main character(s): Entire Shinsengumi
General Rating: PG-13
Warning: Contains graphic or violent situations in most chapters. Hey,
it was the Revolution, for crying out loud! There _was_ blood flowing
in the streets and secret trysts in inns and teahouses! Ehem...right.
Disclaimer: This story is entirely mine, and is not based on anything.
You _may_ read it, but if you try to steal it, I will get the entire
Shinsengumi to descend on your head and Aku Soku Zan you mercilessly.
Thank you.


Chapter 4

Out on patrol, Hiro had to do his best to keep from grinning like an
idiot. He still couldn't believe his eyes—he was on patrol in Kyoto
with the Shinsengumi, wearing the blue overcoat with white
mountain-shaped triangles on the sleeves, wearing swords like his
samurai ancestors, and walking in step with Saitou Hajime's 3rd Unit.
He let the whole experience, the atmosphere and all the sights,
sounds, and smells of Kyoto, sink in.
As he walked, he let his eyes wander around. Kyoto in these days was
nothing like he'd ever seen in photographs—even the surviving
buildings from the period didn't look this good, this clean. The day
was calm, making the city, even in these bloody days, seem worthy of
the name "Peaceful Capital". Hiro also noticed, with some degree of
amusement, that anywhere the unit went, people would entirely clear
the street, some going so far as to even avert their eyes. We're so
good, we're bad…he thought with a chuckle.
Saitou ordered the unit to halt. When Hiro noticed where they were,
he stopped smiling. In all the excitement, he'd never asked the date.
Now he suddenly knew—June 20, 1864. This was the date of the pivotal
arrest that took place here, at the Masuya used clothing store.
With a sweep of his hand, Saitou ordered the unit to surround the
building, cutting off all possible routes of escape. Hiro began moving
toward one of the groups, but Saitou motioned him back to the front.
So I'm still being tested, thought Hiro, as he joined the four men who
were with the captain. After a couple of uneasy moments, they
announced themselves.
"We are the Shinsengumi!" called Saitou. "By order of the Kyoto
Military Commission, we wish to speak with the owner of this shop!"
A short man with furtive, darting eyes stepped forward.
"I'm Masuya Kiemon.You want something?" he drawled, in Japanese heavy
with a southern accent, much like the accent characteristic of the
American south. The shopworkers, who all seemed to have a similar air
about them, suddenly tensed up.
"We've received reports of rebel activity around here. Have
you…noticed anything?"
In what seemed like a matter of seconds, half a dozen concealed
blades were pointed at Saitou and his group.
I guess that answers the question, thought Hiro darkly.
"Don't make me laugh," sighed Saitou, slowly bringing his hand toward
the hilt of his sword. "You Ishin dogs are only going to make it worse
for yourselves."
"Get `im, boys," growled Masuya.
Hiro didn't wait for someone to come at him. Drawing his sword, he
gritted his teeth and went toward the nearest enemy. He tried to do
his best to focus on the battle, and not on the fact that his sword,
which he believed was "life-giving" and protective, was actually being
used to kill. Rebel extremists or not, killing was killing.
Moments later, the rest of the Third squad poured in through the
other entrances, quickly crushing any resistance. Soon Masuya was left
alone, standing amidst the bodies of his associates, with over two
dozen swords pointed at him.
"Surrender," said Saitou, glaring at him with his piercing, wolf-eyed
gaze. Masuya quietly held his hands up in the air, palms facing
outward. Someone found some rope, and quickly bound his hands. Another
patrolman searched him thoroughly for any hidden weapons. When all was
secure, Saitou nodded.
"Two people go and notify the Military Commission about what
happened, five people stay here as a guard until they get here. The
rest of you come with me to the Maekawa estate." Hiro bobbed his head
respectfully, and followed Saitou's group.
************
The 3rd Unit arrived at the Maekawa estate—the "other" Shinsengumi
headquarters—rather quickly. It seemed that Hijikata was already
there, and had been waiting for some time. After Saitou delivered a
face-to-face report, he handed Masuya over to Hijikata. Then the two
Shinsengumi leaders and the prisoner, as well as a couple of other
membeers not from the 3rd unit, entered the small building in the back
of the estate, and shut the doors. The interrogation of Masuya Kiemon
had begun.
The 3rd Unit sat around the estate idly, eating rice balls and sweets,
talking, catnapping, and in general, resting their feet after a long
day out on the streets. It was a good thing that the interrogation
room had been built as a storage building—the walls and doors were
thicker than usual, and thus blocked out any sounds of agony that
undoubtedly accompanied any interrogation by Hijikata Toshizou.
Hiro quietly munched on a rice ball and thought to what was happening
in the interrogation with disgust. History books on the Shinsengumi,
as well as accounts of Hijikata himself, seemed to be very good about
recounting this incident.
Hijikata had Masuya hung by his ankles by the ceiling. After letting
the blood flow into the man's head until he lost feeling in his legs,
Hijikata started to interrogate him, firing question after question at
his victim. Masuya wouldn't answer…couldn't answer. Hijikata beat him
repeatedly, until his skin was raw and bleeding, and still Masuya said
nothing. Finally, exasperated, Hijikata had metal spikes driven
through the soles of the man's feet, and had placed lit candles on the
protruding part of each spike. Only when the hot wax dripped into the
open wounds in his soles did Masuya start talking.
First of all, he admitted that Masuya Kiemon was a pseudonym. He was
actually a samurai of the Ishin Shishi named Furutaka Shuntarou
Masayasu. Masquerading as a Kyoto merchant, he had slowly helped amass
a large arsenal—onlu one of several which were to be used in this
attack. As it turned out, the Ishin Shishi were planning massive
action in Kyoto. Around the Gion Festival in mid-July, they planned to
execute a plan so inhuman, so cruel, that even Hijikata apparently
didn't believe his ears at first. They would secretly set fire to a
district north of the Imperial Palace and allow the wind to spread the
fire rapidly. In the ensuing conflagration, they would kill as many of
the Shinsengumi and related shogunate forces as possible, and to top
it all off, they were going to kidnap Emperor Komei and whisk him off
to Choshuu, the domain which was at the forefront of the
anti-shogunate movement, and with the "approval" of the Emperor,
"reinstate" the Imperial government. Hijikata had wanted to find out
more, but at that point, almost mercifully, Furutaka Shuntarou
Masayasu had died from a combination of blood loss and exhaustion. But
the Shinsengumi had found out the rest of the story through their spy
network, and ended up stopping the plot in the first week of July, at
the Battle of Ikedaya...
At the thought of Ikedaya, Hiro closed the mental textbook and thought
of reality. He knew that the Battle of Ikedaya lasted an entire night,
and that there were several Shinsengumi dead, as well as some people
who were wounded so badly they would never be able to see or wield a
sword again. He thought of how he might be one of those casualties, of
how Yuki would probably suffer in such a familiar yet alien time, of
how she'd be alienated because of her "modern" approach to life…
"Getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we?" he muttered, giving himself a
slap to the forehead. "One day at a time…"
"Neh, Tokugawa-san," said one of his fellow 3rd unit patrolmen. "We've
been on patrol all day, and haven't had any time to ask you about
yourself…"
"Oh. Yes, I suppose that's right," said Hiro, scratching his head in
embarrassment.
"Where are you from?" asked a man sitting next to him. "I can't
tell—your accent is…vague."
As with Hijikata that morning, Hiro decided to tell part of the truth.
"Well, I was born in Mito, but my father was a wandering swordsman, so
I've been all around the country, training at various schools. None of
the schools of the major styles though. Come to think of it," he
added, "traveling from school to school was how I ended up meeting my
wife, up at a naginata school in northern Honshu…"
"Skilled with the `spear' and sword, eh, Tokugawa-san?" someone burst out.
"Ha, ha. Very funny."
"She is quite a sight, though," said someone else, around a mouthful
of rice balls.
A shout interrupted them.
"1st Unit is here! 1st Unit is here!"
The 3rd Unit condensed themselves, moving closer together to give room
to the newcomers. Hiro looked them over. Being the first unit, they
were the unspoken objects of the envy of perhaps every other unit of
the Shinsengumi. He'd thought it only had to do with the fact that
their captain was Okita Souji, but now, having gotten a good look at
them, it seemed like every one of the men of that unit was an object
of envy, as well—they seemed cleaner, taller, and stronger than the
3rd Unit.
Suddenly, Saitou emerged from the interrogation room, quickly slipping
out and closing the door behind him. He had his eyes shut and was
shaking his head in quiet disbelief. Tugging smartly at his haori, he
moved over to his unit.
"Alright, let's head back to the Yagi mansion, everyone!"
Everyone quickly got up and formed two lines. One of the men on the
right raised the Shinsengumi flag. Though none of them had trained in
Western military drill exercises, the beat of their march was more
constant a cadence than any Hiro had heard in his life. He did his
best to keep his step in time with the others.
Though still in disgust at the interrogation, and still doubtful about
the future, Hiro nonetheless felt a sense of accomplishment. He'd
saved Yuki's life, joined Shinsengumi, helped apprehend a rebel, had
fought side-by-side with one of the most famous swordsmen of the age,
and was on his way to gaining respect from his fellow patrolmen.
All in all, he'd had a good day.

>Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 2)

Please change that to "Chapter 4". Thanks.

--Masayoshi

Title: Jidai Monogatari (Chapter 5)
Author: Shimazu Masayoshi
E-mail: patriot014@...
Source: Original
Main character(s): Entire Shinsengumi
General Rating: PG-13
Warning: Contains graphic or violent situations in most chapters. Hey,
it was the Revolution, for crying out loud! There _was_ blood flowing
in the streets and secret trysts in inns and teahouses! Ehem...right.
Disclaimer: This story is entirely mine, and is not based on anything.
You _may_ read it, but if you try to steal it, I will get the entire
Shinsengumi to descend on your head and Aku Soku Zan you mercilessly.
Thank you.

Chapter 5

Work done for the time being, Yuki sat leaning against a pillar on
the veranda and sighed tiredly. The day had been quite a long one, and
the work, be it cleaning, cooking, or washing, never seemed to get
done. To top it off, there were some off-duty patrolmen who seemed to
like shadowing her and the other women, so Yuki remained guarded and
alert. Tired of the day's concerns, though, she focused on the mist.
The view into the courtyard reminded her of the 11th century
literature she'd studied in college. In those days, Kyoto was the
center of the vibrant Heian court culture, which remained one of the
most well-known periods of Japanese history, primarily because of the
sheer volume of writing done by the women of the court, including such
famous names as Sei Shonagon and Lady Murasaki. As Yuki recalled, one
of the favored poetic devices of the Heian court ladies was the
mist—usually used in reference to the mist shrouding a departing
lover's receding figure. Just like how it shrouded the path that Hiro
took, earlier today… she thought. The more things change, the more
they stay the same…
Yuki's consciousness started drifting. The rhythm of the raindrops,
gently striking the roof of the veranda and the flat, worn stones of
the courtyard, had a nearly hypnotic effect on her. She closed her
eyes, and would've fallen asleep had the guards at the gate not made
their timely announcement.
"3rd Unit is here! 3rd Unit is here!"
She'd wanted to hear those words all day. Suddenly, a poem from those
bygone days of the Heian court leapt to mind…
Faintly I saw you—
a man spied for an instant
as through the morning mist.
And yet I fear that I may die,
so clear is the love that I feel.
Yuki managed to get to her feet and give the customary bow, just as
the soaked samurai of Saitou's unit came through the gate. Once safely
within the compound, they all made a dash for the dry safety of the
surrounding rooms and the veranda. She caught sight of Hiro as he made
it onto to the veranda. Shaking the moisture off his new blue and
white haori, he approached her.
"Tadaima. I'm home."
"Okaerinasai, Hiro-kun. Welcome back."
She leaned forward, and quickly whispered in his ear.
"Meet me behind the kitchen tonight."
He nodded.
I was hoping you'd say that…he thought. We need to talk…
********
The rain tapered off a couple hours later, after sunset, leaving the
ground moist and the air slightly humid. Hiro didn't notice at first,
being rather occupied with sharing drinks with his fellow 3rd Unit
members in one of the smaller rooms.
"Hey guys…didn't the rain stop?"
The men paused for a moment, and listened closely, some halting cups
of sake halfway in order to discern the lull that always follows a
steady rain.
"So it did…" mumbled someone. "Aw great, now it'll be humid…"
They all glanced at each other for a moment.
"At least that'll keep those Choshuu dogs off the streets for awhile!"
The entire room burst out in raucous laughter.
"Yeah! That way, maybe they'll sweat to death, and that'll take care
of them at last! `Topple the Shogunate' this, you dirty slobs!"
"Hear, hear!" Everyone downed their cups of sake in hearty agreement.
Hiro bowed curtly.
"If you'll all excuse me, I need go outside for awhile and get some
fresh air."
"Awww…alright, Lord Shogun. Hurry back, your Excellency, or we'll
finish all the sake!"
Hiro laughed at the new nickname.
If they only knew…People around here certainly have a strange sense of
humor…
"I'll try."
Sake isn't what I need to calm myself down right now…he thought.
Quickly making it out to the veranda, he was overjoyed at his
discovery that the rain had stopped. He slipped into his sandals and
headed out into the courtyard, silently coming to the area behind the
kitchen, trying his best not to be noticed. There wasn't much room
behind the kitchen—just a narrow bit of a passage between it and the
outer wall.
"Yuki?" he whispered, barely audibly. "You here?"
Hiro looked around, unable to see much in the darkness. Suddenly,
though, he saw her form illuminated by the starlight-- leaning against
the outer wall, hands pressed together in a silent effort to calm her
impatience, silent tears glistening in the moonlight glow.
"Yuki."
She looked up suddenly, squinting to make sure it was him.
"Hiro…you're here…"
Unable to control herself any more, she threw her arms around him,
and sobbed bitterly.
"I was so worried about you! When I asked the date, and found out it
was June 20…and I remembered that today was the day that Furutaka was
captured at the Masuya clothing store. You were out on patrol, and I…"
she buried her face in the folds of his kimono, unable to go on.
"Shhhhh…." he whispered. "It has been a long day, for both of us.
Don't worry, Yuki-chan…things will work out."
"How can you say that?" she moaned. "We're in the middle of a war,
siding with the doomed cause. The Ikedaya battle is only a matter of
weeks away, then the Battle of Kinmon, then the minor skirmishes, all
the way to your ancestor Yoshinobu's renunciation of authority, then
the battle of Toba-Fushimi and the retreat north, then the bloodbath
at Aizu-Wakamatsu and Hakodate…can we really live through this period?
Who's to say you won't get killed on patrol tomorrow? I've always
loved this period, but now that I'm actually in it, I feel so alien. I
need you. I don't want to lose you. …"
"Yuki…" Hiro sighed, running his fingers gently through her long,
glossy hair. "If there were only one thing I could tell you to
remember now, it'd be this." He took her face in his hands, and looked
deeply into her eyes, mesmerized by the way that the moonlight made
them sparkle.
"Anata wa watashi no taisetsu na takaramono desu…you are my precious
treasure. I hold on to this one thought always."
Yuki gave Hiro a gentle, loving squeeze.
"Thank you…I w--" she tried to say something, but he quietly
interrupted, drawing their lips together in a long, bittersweet,
satisfying kiss that tasted of tears and longing…
Waves of pleasing, delightful warmth washed over both of them,
lighting the air with a beautiful, surreal glow. Yuki sensed her knees
get weak, and felt like she was almost melting in the comfort of his
embrace.
"And even though the word won't exist until after the end of this
war…aishiteru, Yuki-chan. I love you…"
Her heart skipped a beat. She felt like it'd been so long since the
last time he'd said that.
"Dai suki desu…dai suki desu, Hiro-kun...If I could shout it from the
rooftops without getting arrested by your new boss for disturbing the
peace, I would."
Hiro quietly chuckled. Seems like her wit is the same as ever…
"Hiro-kun…something else. Will we ever get to be alone?"
He sighed again.
"I'll have to figure something out. The guys in my unit have been
talking about the two of us this evening, offering `suggestions' left
and right about all the teahouses and inns they've heard of from here
to Edo, but I don't know anything for sure. They're all drunk right
now, so I can't say that I trust what they say right now. Just be
patient—we'll get our chance."
Yuki's brow furrowed in frustration.
"People were so up-tight in this age. They had all the licensed
pleasure quarters they wanted and more…but when it came to people who
were actually in love, they had to…" She lowered her voice, suddenly
remembering the secrecy of their meeting.
"I'll wait. I don't want to wait forever, though…"
"I'll get right on it…" he said with a smirk, getting her drift. "I
don't know about my unit, but they say that Harada Sanosuke-sama of
the 10th Unit is the guy to ask about stuff like that—I've read…and
heard, that he seems to know a lot of the `right places'. I'll ask
him, when I get the opportunity."
"Thanks," she murmured. "Can we stay like this for a while?"
"Yes…please…"
Hiro closed his eyes and letting the peace and calm of the moment
enter his soul. He knew well that he would need to hold such peace
deep inside his heart, to get both of them through the long, tiring,
and bloody days to come.
*********