#Sannan sensei

[kumoriyami-xiuzhen]

2010 Hakuoki SSL Short Story

Sorry this was a tad late, but I wanted to figure out what to call this and if I could get an idea where this story was first published since I remembered that this story was reprinted in one of the Otomate Maniax books... which took me a while to double check since I didn't remember where I had put them.

This story was originally published on one of the Otomate Hakuoki blog websites (link below). Although the original post doesn't have a specific "name" for this story, the reprint refers to this as "薄桜鬼ハロウイン企画" which translates to "Hakuoki Halloween Project."

Also, the tl I saw uses the word 'dim sum' which can translate to "snack", "candy", "dessert" and "pastry" (basically anything sweet)... so I've adjusted the word I used based on what fit the context better.

Anyway, enjoy!

2010 Hakuoki SSL Short Story

Translation by KumoriYami

Today was Halloween. The only girl at Hakuo Gakuen hurried to school with the sweets she made herself.

Yukimura： "I've always been taken care of by everyone, so I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone. But, where is everyone…?"

It appeared that she was completing ignoring the purpose of Halloween and thought of today as a day to "thank everyone" instead of playing tricks on people who didn't give candy.

"Ah———I don't have any more candy to give you!!"

Suddenly, I heard voices coming from by the school gates.

I hastily went over, and saw that Harada-sensei and Nagakura-sensei surrounded by students.

……However, after taking a closer look, the two's circumstances were really different.

Harada： "Hey hey, isn't today's a day for children to ask adults for candy? So you don't need to give me any candy, and should eat it yourself."

Nagakura： "Anyway, why are you all giving Sano candy! This is too unfair!"

The male students all asking Nagakura-sensei for candy, yet Harada-sensei was receiving candy from girls from the neighbouring Shimabara Girls' High School.

The students seeing how pitiful Nagakura-sensei was, were driven away the scene.

Yukimura： Harada-sensei, Nagakura-sensei. Um… I've always been looked after by you two teachers, so today I prepared some pastries…"

Nagakura： "What!? A goddess….. right now before my eyes, there's a goddess…!

Harada： "These are handmade pastries, for you make them especially for us, we can't refuse them."

Nagakura-sense was overjoyed, and to express his gratitude, Harada-sensei gave her a lot of candy.

During the lunch break, she met with Okita and Toudou, who were holding a lot of snacks.

Yukimura： "You two have done well, you have quite a lot of candy…. were those given to you by everyone?"

Okita： "It's because today's a day children ask adults for candy."

Toudou："I got these all from the teachers!"

One by one, the two described the snacks they received.

Toudou： "This is chocolate I got from San-san! He gave us so much."

Okita： "But it's the ten-yen bargain kind."

Toudou： "This red jelly was given Sannan-san! But I have the feeling that this jelly has a strange smell."

Oktita： ""Ah, I don't want this jelly. Heisuke you take it and eat it."

Toudou： "After that, this is the cake that Kondou-san gave us! Kondou-san is really spontaneous!"

Okita： "He said "today is the day to give children candy!" and gave this to ask before we could even ask. Kondou-san always treats me like a child."

Yukimura： "Um... will you be able to eat all that dessert?"

Okita： "There won't be a problem…… So, will you be giving me pastries that you personally made?"

Toudou： "Ah…. Souji, you're so cunning! I also…!

Yukimura： "Hehe, you both have a share, don't worry."

After giving them a homemade pumpkin flavoured cupcake, they smiled happily and once the two parted, she was found by members of the Disciplinary Committee.

Yukimura： "Both of you also received a lot of candy."

Saito： "No, these were not given by other people."

Kaoru： "They were confiscated from students who were making noises and disrupting the school morals because of Halloween."

Hearing those words, Yukimura slump her shoulders in dismay.

Yukimura： "So-Sorry, I——"

Kaoru： ""But, what we confiscated is too much for us to finish ourselves. Sorry, help us deal with some of this candy."

Kaoru and Saito handed over the desserts to a confused Yukimura.

Yukimura： Uh, um... is this okay?"

Saito： "It's fine. Otherwise these sweets will get spoiled… we just cannot waste food for no reason."

Yukimura： "I, I understand."

Kaoru： "…….So is one of those pastries to give to your older brother?"

Yukimura： "It's because today is Halloween. That's why I thought about giving everyone….."

Saito： "It doesn't matter if excellent students participate in these sort of activities."

Yukimura： "Huh? Is that so.....?"

Kaoru： "That's right. My lovely younger sister is special."

Yukimura, who didn't realize that these two people were being partial to her, silently gave the both of them pastries.

As she continued walking, Kazama stood in the middle of the hallway to talk to Yukimura.

Kazama： "My wife, do you know what day it is today?……. If you don't give me a treat, I'll play a trick on you."

Yukimura： "Ah, that's right. Please let everyone in the student council enjoy these."

Kazama： "It's undoubtedly Halloween, so it would be far too boring to let you go like this… These opportunities seldom come by, so I will be playing a trick on you."

Yukimura： "Huh.... HUH!?"

Hijikata： "Kazama…… You're not a kid anymore. Don't do such senseless things."

Hijikata-sensei, who just appeared from behind Kazama, swatted down Kazama's hand as he was about to reach for Yukimura.

Hijikata： "Every guy is is restless because of Halloween…………because Principal Kondou took the lead, even if everyone said "no", that wouldn't work…..."

Yukimura： "Th-Thank you for your hard work. Hijikata-sensei..."

Although Yukimura felt sorry that Hijikata had to participate in Halloween activities himself, she still gave him a pastry.

Yukimura： "This might be a bother to you… to thank you for looking after me, I made some pastries"

Hijikata： "……It's only natural that a teacher looks after students."

Even though he said that, he still held out his hand with a smile to accept Yukimura's pastry——

Hijikata： "......Hey, Kazama. What are you intending by putting your hand out?"

Kazama： "Naturally to have my share. I'm merely receiving this gift."

Hijikata was stunned as he looked as Kazama extended his hand as if nothing had happened. Yukimura smiled as the interaction between the two of them and handed them the pastries at the same time.

Hijikata： "Thank you."

Kazama： "Just look forward to my response."

Hijikata："......Seriously, what 【return gift】 are you talking about."

Yukimura, who had given everyone snacks to everyone, felt quite satisfied. Hakuo Gakuen's Halloween passed by like this.

End

-----------------

This was originally published on October 30, 2010.

original link: http://blog.otomate.jp/staffblog/2010/10/post-499.html

...I suppose this will be an exception to the content I post since I usually don't post content from the Hakuoki blogs onto my tumblr... though because of that, I've made this un-rebloggable.

[kurayami-no-ko]

If I need to state a difference between Bakumatsu Sannan and SSL Sannan, it will be the fact that while Chizuru can fall asleep without any concern or worry next to Bakumatsu Sannan, she can’t do the same next to SSL Sannan sensei.

Yeah, SSL versions of most Hakuouki characters are pale in comparison to the original ones.

[daeva-agas]

I kind of gave up on Bakuten because I got overloaded juggling too many games. But I decided to check in on it today and wow, anniversary art is up!

Huhu Shirosaki-sensei draws really beautiful art.

Man, I should at least finish Katsu and maybe read Hijikata. I want to see Sannan :< 

[asurora-san]

My cousin saw my phone charm and asked if it was an anime version of me (cos of the glasses) and maybe the hairstyle 😂😂😂😂 dude you have no idea how happy that makes me lollllll

[vyragosa]

i really hope they announce new year seimei just for the thrill of the kill

[shinsengumi-archives]

Facts about Shinsengumi members

Some of the more famous, or rather well-known anecdotes include:

Kondo Isami

He was able to put his whole fist into his mouth.

He once sent a letter to his wife, Tsune, in Edo, saying, “I am troubled by the prevalence of shudo (love between men) in our unit.”

Hijikata Toshizo

His hobby was haiku, and he wrote haiku in a book called “Hogyoku Haiku Collection” (豊玉発句集)

He was very popular with women, and would send love letters from women to his family home to boast about it.

When Hijikata Toshizo was serving his apprenticeship at Matsuzakaya in Ueno, he was fired from his job after he got a woman pregnant (according to various theories). 

A descendant of Toshizo's brother told an anecdote that when he sent a package from Kyoto to his relatives, the contents included numerous love letters from maiko and other women, and a letter from Toshizo stating that he was "so popular and irresistible", which made his relatives laugh.

Sannan Keisuke

It is said that he had high self-esteem and was angry when he went to the August 18th political uprising, because Kondo and Hijikata were dressed in armor but Sannan was not given armor (wikipedia).

Okita Souji

Kondo was beheaded and died while he recuperating from tuberculosis, but he did not know about it until the end of his life, and even until his death, he would say things like “I wonder how Kondo-sensei is doing”

Miura Keinosuke, son of Sakuma Shozan, a samurai of the Matsudai domain, was teased by a certain Shinsengumi member. Later, when Hijikata and Okita were playing Go, Miura slashed the one who was making fun of him from behind. Okita was furious at Miura’s cowardice for  attacking from behind, yelling "Bloody idiot", grabbed Miura by the collar and dragged him around with his head pressed against the tatami mat until Miura's nose was scraped bright red. (from wikipedia).

Nagakura Shinpachi

In his later years, when he took his grandson to a movie theater in Otaru to see a movie, he got entangled with a thug, so he glared at the thug, threatened him and chased him away. The story must be true, because his grandson told it in an interview later in life.

Todo Heisuke

There is a theory that he is an illegitimate son of the Todo clan, the feudal lord of Tsu, Ise. In fact, the sword he carried was not cheap enough to be owned by an ordinary samurai, so it is possible that this theory is true.

Harada Sanosuke

When he was a servant of the Matsuyama clan, he was told that he was a "lowlife who did not know how to commit seppuku" when he got into a fight with his superior, which caused him to lose his temper and show that he really did commit seppuku. The wound was shallow and not fatal, but it left a scar, and it is said that whenever something happened to him, he would show off the scar. Incidentally, Harada's family crest is also based on this wound, with a single line scar inside of a circle.

Yamazaki Susumu

He had studied medicine from Matsumoto Ryojun, who was a medical examiner for the Shinsengumi in Kyoto.

Saito Hajime

In the early Taisho era (1912-1926), a child was practicing swordsmanship when an old man walked by. The old man suddenly pulled out his sword and threw a small wooden board into the air, and he stabbed a hole through the center of the board with his sword. The child later heard that the old man was the captain of the third squad, Saito Hajime.

Saito Hajime, after serving as a police inspector in the Metropolitan Police Bureau, worked as a guard at the museum attached to Tokyo Higher Normal School (now Tsukuba University) and later as a general affairs officer at Tokyo Women's Higher Normal School (now Ochanomizu Women's University).

It’s said that when he passed away, drew his last breath sitting up in a kneeling position. 

[ptulapeehtata]

Hakuouki : Routes order suggestion

This suggestion is on my opinion alone. My reasoning depends on the story of the route, how they related to others and mostly my sentiment.

Apologize in advance for any mistake.

1. Hijikata : Best to start with the main route. It got a broad view of the story that cover most of the main plot while the other routes are branches from the main one. Some of the other routes could be left with cliffhangers and that would be confusing. Also the prologue make it obvious that he is the main love interest, then it would be good to go with him on your first game. Not so much romance but one of the best romance.

2. Okita : Atleast before Saitou’s route.

3. Saitou : Atleast before Shinpachi and Harada

4. Shinpachi : Heisuke before Shinpachi is also fine.

5. Heisuke : Atleast before Harada’s route.

6. Harada : In case you go with Heisuke before Shinpachi, either Harada or Shinpachi is fine.

7. Sakamoto

8. Sannan

9. Yamazaki

10. Iba : Atleast before Souma’s route.

11. Souma

12. Kazama

13. Normal route(Yukimura Chizuru)

Following the game’s order would do either. Hijikata > Okita > Saitou > Heisuke > Harada > Shinpachi > Sannan > Yamazaki > Iba > Souma > Sakamoto > Kazama

I’ll share my reasoning in the spoil section for those who finished. It contains heavy spoilers. Better not read them if you haven’t finished.

*You can skip this part since I’m only sharing my own*

Here are my routes in order when I first play. I thought I should go with the 6 original routes first.

1. Hijikata : Because he’s the main route.

2. Harada : I like him very much and couldn’t wait any longer.

3. Okita : I’m just picking 1 out of 2.

4. Saitou : I’m just picking 1 out of 2.

5. Heisuke : Keep the one I’m interested as the last before moving to Kazama.

6. Kazama : Last one of the original 6 after finishing the Shinsengumi’s guy’s route.

Now the other 6 and the normal route.

7. Shinpachi : I’m curious how his route would turned out because I see him as a bro rather than love interest.

8. Normal route KW only : Somehow I just felt like playing with my own choice without guide and got this. I didn’t know it still continues in EB! How stupid have I been those entire time ;;-;;

9. Sakamoto : He had my worst interest when I first met him so I hurry play his route before I lose interest at last. But he turns out to be my favourite, though.

10. Sannan : I want to know more about him.

11. Normal route EB only : I continue this route right after I realized it hadn’t finished yet. Took me long enogh to realize though. *continues to cry*

12. Yamazaki : I like him. Just saying.

13. Iba : Last one before Souma.

14. Souma : Save my dear for the last.

HUGE CHUNK OF SPOILERS BELOW

1. Hijikata : The main route, of course. By far the best route in terms of the plot and romance pairing in my opinion. If I can hold the most depressing route, then I should pass the others as well!

2. Okita : His happy ending was sweet but left a cliff hanger that kinda crush me after I expect so much. I mean, when I started his route I was like “finally, I can get him a happy ending he deserves ” but at the end of his epilogue makes me go completely blank then question “He’s just sleeping, right?”. Until now I still want to believe that he just simply fall asleep even though it might not be true. The ending would definitely crush me even harder if play his route as one of the last route since my expectations on his ending would grow higher as I grew fond of him more after every routes.

3. Saitou : This involved Okita, Harada and Shinpachi.

Go for Saitou after Okita. Chapter 3 of KW when Chizuru learns about his condition upon hearing his conversation with Matsumoto-sensei. That scene suppose to be Okita’s scene, so I should focus on him on the first try rather than Saitou because Saitou stopped me from being soooooo emotional over the scene.

Go for Saitou before Harada and Shinpachi. Saitou get to reunite with them after they left in EB. It’s more fun to surprise yourself from Chizuru’s pov by meeting up with them without knowing the story from their side yet.

4. Shinpachi : I prefer him before Heisuke because I wanna see the side of the one who’s strongly against the idea of rasetsu before Heisuke’s side who accept to be rasetsu on his own decision. Shinpachi’s disagreement is totally accurate, but Heisuke’s side isn’t something you get to see much aside from his. It's fine to put Heisuke first but I like the other way better.

5. Heisuke : His route in chapter 4 of KW during Aburano incident has his painful CG appearing in both his and Harada’s routes, so I’d rather gone through this part in his route before Harada’s since this scene is mostly about him. Quite similar to Okita and Saitou’s case.

6. Harada : It’s all written mainly in Saitou and Heisuke’s.

7. Sakamoto : Actually I’m a little on edge between Sakamoto and Yamazaki. Playing the route of a guy who oppose to the Shinsengumi after the Shinsengumi’s guys route would do. But putting Yamazaki and Sannan later should be okay since they don’t really have anything to do with the Shinsengumi much in the last half part(they’re practically dead), while Souma is a special case for me.

8. Sannan : I think it’s not that serious on where to put this in order. But it shows another side of him with his resetsu stuffs which might be good to see after/apart from his cheesy sides in other routes. I’m also referring to the scene where Sannan in rasetsu form argues with Sakamoto, so I’m putting him after Sakamoto and others above as his role isn’t that heavy in the remaining routes.

9. Yamazaki : I just realized in this route that he(and also Shimada) had been looking out for Chizuru these whole time throughout those routes without me knowing eg. when she delivered a message to Saitou or go out with Sakamoto. He surprised me a little in Sakamoto’s route and even more in his own route so I decided to save him for later. I’m thankful for him and this got me blushing a bit. That’s kinda sweet :)

10. Iba : Similar to Yamazaki. He surprised me for having a crush on Chizuru since childhood. Like, really? This whole time? After all of those routes? Since the beginning? Since before I know you?? Since Chizuru even remembers you??? Also putting Souma after him is a good decision by luck. Come on, Iba, don’t guilt trip me too hard I just finished yours🤣

11. Souma : Basically parallel to Hijikata. Hijikata is one of the starters while Souma is the last chief. Hijikata as Chizuru’s commander and Souma as her junior. If we have Hijikata as the start of the story of Shinsengumi, Souma could be the end. Playing his route which contains flashback of the other members after their routes sounds perfect to me. I love how I get to see the other old characters trust Souma with the Shinsengumi and pass on their legacy to him. Although I think Kazama is better as the last order, I don’t regret having him to end with. Indeed, I’m glad.

12. Kazama : Another parallel to Hijikata, but a little different from Souma. In Hijkata’s, Chizuru views the story from inner side while supporting her love’s back to his goal. In Kazama’s, Chizuru views the story from outer side while having Kazama supporting her back to her goal. He is the only love interest who is an original character which doesn’t involve with the history and his route is also the normal ending so he’s best as the last love interest.

13. Normal route(Yukimura Chizuru) : Best route to end the game with no romance. *shed tears* *sniff* *sniff*

I may not be good at expressing my thoughts into words and my writing skill isn’t something I’m so proud of, so I apologize if it’s confusing. But I’m doing my best and I’ll try to improve! Please feel free to correct me if I made any mistake. You can also share your thoughts whether you agree or disagree on anything. I’d be happy to hear different thoughts.

[hakuogakuen]

CSS: Hijikata x Holiday

Today marks the first of the SSL Cross Short Story releases!

Hijikata’s CSS translations were done by minib0ss, and proofreading by shizuumi, yuugs & dei-hime!* The translation (with a surprise!) is right here below the cut!

*Recording and subtitling were also done by dei-hime (aka iolite jay)

Hijikata x Holiday

Toshizou Hijikata: "I approve of the above committee's activities. Hakuo Academy Vice Principal, Hijikata Toshizou. ...Phew. That's about it. Now all I have to do is fill out these papers."

Keisuke Sannan: "Hijikata-sensei. Thank you for coming in on your day off. The tea is ready. Why don’t you take a break?"

Toshizou Hijikata: "I didn't know you were going to be here, Sannan-san. Thanks."

Keisuke Sannan: "No, no need to thank me. I was brewing my own tea anyway. ...Although, Hijikata-sensei. It's good to work hard, but are you properly pacing yourself?"

Toshizou Hijikata: "I'm fine. I go home every night, so don't worry."

Keisuke Sannan: "I see. But in your case, I get the feeling that all you do when you get home is sleep. As the resident medical expert, I'd like you to take a day off to relax at home, and take care of yourself. ...Perhaps you could get a pet? It is different when there is someone there to welcome you home."

Toshizou Hijikata: "No way. Pretty sure I’ve been told as much before. But. I don't go home on a regular basis. I wouldn't even be able to take it out on walks. I'd make any pet of mine just feel lonely."

Keisuke Sannan: "So a pet is no good, then. How about a wife?"

Toshizou Hijikata: "WHAT...!?"

Keisuke Sannan: "Come now, if you had a wife at home waiting for you, you would want to get back to her whenever you could, no?"

Toshizou Hijikata: "...The thought hadn’t even dared cross my mind. Don't make fun of me, Sannan-san."

Keisuke Sannan: "That was only half in jest, though."

Toshizou Hijikata: "Then your sense of humor’s gone to shit. Obviously, I’d hate it all the more if I made my partner feel so lonely..."

[thetastyturnip]

I wanted to practice drawing Hakuouki characters so I had my sister name off a few so that I could try drawing them from memory. I am quite proud of certain characters like Kazama and Souji but I think that the others are a bit off. Poor Amigiri was never even finished! Also, here's a garbage drawing of Sanan. If it's not any trouble, I was wondering if you guys could give me feed back and even request certain characters in different situations so that I could practice a bit more.

[ichibantai]

regarding yamanami keisuke...

As we all know in Hakuouki, the most infamous Shinsengumi media game out there to influence us, calls Yamanami Keisuke as Sannan. Sannan is not incorrect, it is simply a different way of reading Yamanami and there’s some rumors that he sign his name off as Sannan instead of Yamanami.

However, in Fate, it is confirmed that his name is Yamanami Keisuke so until proven otherwise that any of the Shinsengumi calls him by his nickname of “Sannan”, please refer to him as Yamanami.

Okita refers to him as Yamanami-san, Saitou calls him Yamanami-sensei, and Hijikata just refers to him as Yamanami as they were a year apart and such. 

[kaysutcliff-michaelis]

30 day otome challenge - day 8

8.What are your favorite bachelor color/style features (i.e., hair, eyes, clothes, amount of skin showing, etc.) and what characteristics do you prefer (e.g., good cook, funny, takes good care of the heroine, etc.)?

I’m not sure because I tend to go for different features and they don’t always apply. For example, I tend to like characters with long hair (like Karma from Cinderella Phenomenon or Damien Bloodmarch from Dream Daddy) but in MysMe for example I like Seven way more than Zen (probably because I like his overall design more and his glasses. Characters with “mid-long”? hair or “I suppose his hair is kind of long but I’m not sure” apply too, like Shin from Amnesia, Hachiro Iba and Keisuke Sannan from Hakuoki, Taku Komori from TMGS2 or Waltz from Cinderella Phenomenon. The more gothic/vampiresque/I don’t have adjectives for this, the better. Or in other words, everything that is not sporty-type fit guys like Forrest from Softly, With Teeth.

SUMMARY: IDK. It depends. Bishounen XD

About their characteristics, as long as they admit that they care about the MC and they show it in some acceptable way (no Tomas or Jumins allowed, thank you), I’m mostly okay with them. I’d say that I like characters who are romantic, but I suppose each person has a different definition of romanticism. For Julian Devorak, for example, it’s infiltrating the Vesuvia Palace to dance tango and I think that’s totally valid.

Oh! And one last thing! And I think this one applies to all of them. Something silly that shows they are human. What do I mean with this? Ukyo being an anxious disaster (like me), Julian being melodramatic, Hachiro and his sweet obsession, Himuro-sensei and his love for foreign cars, etc.

[kurayami-no-ko]

Translation of Sannan short story in the booklet from Hakuouki SSL for Nintendo Switch

Note: Well, I got the booklet and some other stuffs. This is a translation of the short story from the booklet. Enjoy.

Short story

Keisuke Sannan 

This is the story set after Yukimura Chizuru had given Sannan Keisuke chocolate during Valentine and their relationship had gotten a little bit closer.

 A few months had elapsed after Valentine.

Becoming a second year student gave Chizuru the opportunity of becoming a committee member of the school infirmary, which she took.

A committee member has to do committee-related activities during their term of service, which lasts from the first semester (April to September) until the second semester (October to March). In the first semester during the spring, if a committee member is decided upon, in the second semester, if nothing especially problematic occurs, the committee member will continue on with the job and for one year, the committee member will not be changed.

Chizuru, who took on the role of a committee member of the school infirmary during the summer when she became a second-year student, became the vice-head of the committee. Even though this job was taken on due to an especial invitation from third year student Yamazaki Susumu, who had reached the position of the head of the school infirmary committee… Chizuru herself decided to do this because she strongly wanted to help Sannan.

 Thus, it was now the fall during Chizuru’s second year at school.

Because third-year Yamazaki retired from his position in order to devote himself entirely to his university entrance test, Chizuru took over as the head of the committee. Thus, the previous head of the committee Yamazaki expressed his last request and said what he could say to help her with her work. So, in order to smoothly continue on as a school infirmary committee member along with Sannan sensei, he told her what he relied on her to do… which was the extent of what he passed on her. After winning the reliance of the students who knew this last request, Chizuru was accepted to become the head of the committee.

The truth was that even though there was no other person who could take on this position, Chizuru wanted to become the head of the school infirmary committee and to stay with Sannan.

She, however, did not reveal this.

 “It is such a strange occurrence for a student to become the head of the school infirmary by choice. As far as I know, there has not yet been a student like that before.”

“If that is the case, how did you decide on the head of the school infirmary committee?”

“Well, I don’t understand it very well but… However, I think it is true that there wasn’t a student that truly wanted this.”

“If that is the case… How about Yamazaki-senpai?”

After Chizuru’s question, Sannan’s eyeglasses shone a little bit.

“…About him becoming a the head of the committee out of his own volition?”

“A…Umm…”

“Yes. Yamazaki-kun is a student with a strong sense of self-sacrifice. For his credit, let us put it that way. Perhaps, Yukimura-kun is also that type of person?”

“Is that so…”

“It is better to keep your sense of self-sacrifice at a moderate level. It is because if someday it becomes too much, it will become painful for you.”

“…Yes. I will take notice of that.”

“So, let’s brew some tea.”

 Since becoming the head of the school infirmary committee, she started to come to the school infirmary during lunch more regularly.

For a normal school infirmary committee, coming to that place so often was unnecessary.

However, Chizuru has a reason for coming to that place. That reason was…

 “Ummm… Sannan-sensei. Outside of the preparation meetings for the school infirmary committee, can I come here during lunch break?”

“Of course, I do not mind that but…”

“Do you really mean it!? Occasionally… do you mind if I bring my bento box and eat it here?”

“Yes, of course.”

“…Thank you.”

Staring at Chizuru who was so unaffectedly happy, Sannan said.

“Yukimura-kun. Perhaps…there was something for you to be painful about?” “Ah… What do you mean by that?”

“Yes… For example, the stuffs that you have at school suddenly disappeared, or you had something you could not talk about inside your class…”

“Umm…I am not sure that I understand what you mean…”

“…I see, it seems like my examples aren’t very good. If I have to be specific, is there any instance of your textbooks being torn up or pins being put inside your indoor slippers?”

“I understand it even less but…Umm, is it possible that you are worried about whether I am being bullied?”

After hearing Chizuru’s question, Sannan finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Huh… It is good that I finally could make you understand. Yes, I am worried about whether you are being bullied or not…”

“Something like that cannot happen! I am having a great time at this school! In order for me to be comfortable at an environment with very few girls, everyone is very considerate towards me… However, why… do you think about that?”

After being asked that question, Sannan took on a strange expression.

“Because you want to come to the school infirmary… I suspected whether perhaps you encounter that kind of thing in your class. My apologies.”

“Was, was that the case… However, I am really thankful that you are worried about me. Because something like that doesn’t happen, I am fine.”

“Well then… what is your purpose for wanting to come to the school infirmary even when you have no committee-related business?”

“…”

At being questioned like that by Sannan, Chizuru found herself unable to answer.

“Perhaps.. Your purpose is the tea I brew?”

“Ah…Yes, it is for that reason, too…”

“I am happy then. If there is Yukimura-kun to drink with me, I am extremely happy that I manage to make a friend to enjoy tea together. Because I could not do that with Yamazaki-kun.”

“Was that so…”

Sannan trained his gaze on Chizuru. Then…

“You can come to the school infirmary and also have lunch here but only if you do it moderately.”

“Do it…moderately?”

“Yes. It is because if you keep on keeping this place for yourself, people like Okita-kun and Toudou-kun will start to resent it… Besides, do you realize this? This is a room that can be locked from the inside. In a room like this with only two people of the opposite sex spending a long time alone together… Do you think what will happen?”

“…Other people might start to raise needless questions about it.”

After hearing Chizuru’s answer, Sannan put on an approving smile.

“You got it half correct.”

“…So, the other half that I did not get, what is it?”

“About that… I misunderstand about whether or not you hold favourable feelings about me.”

Having heard Sannan’s answer, Chizuru felt relief and put on a smile. And then, she answered from the inside of her heart without voicing it.

“It is fine then. Because I became the head of the school infirmary committee for that reason.”

 Sannan, who was gazing at Chizuru, also put on a happy smile.

[fierce-little-miana]

Birthday!

And this is for the best birthday boy of Saichifest 2019! Careful SSL AU incoming.

 Hajime was filled by a feeling of dread. If he was perfectly honest it was rather a deeply rooted unease, but considering it has been with him since this morning he was starting to seriously worry.

 Everything had started in front of the school gates. While Nagumo was supposed to be the one monitoring the coming students he was not allowed to do so today. Not after his last fall dow with Souji. It was as if Nagumo was looking for confrontations with him. Confrontations he couldn’t win if he continued leading them like that. But this wasn’t Hajime’s role to tell him that. Only experience would bring Nagumo to calmer and quieter shores, and only if he was ready to listen to it. He wasn’t. That meant that Hajime had volunteered to take on his duty to make sure that all the students came to class with appropriate clothes and behavior.  

 It was when he was calmly asking a first year to turn off his phone that he had noticed Yukimura. She had come to him to say hello with her sweet smile and big kind eyes, only to be snatched back by Souji. He might have been as surprised as Chizuru considering the startled expression on her face. But when she had noticed it was Souji her expression had changed for a slight worry. Souji had murmured something in her ear, she had looked quickly back at him and then at her shoes with a slight blush on her cheeks. Souji had smirked and then nearly dragged her behind him inside the school. Seeing them interact like that had made something tighten in Hajime’s chest. He had no right of course. Yukimura was a nice girl and it was only natural that she got along with plenty of other students, not just with him. However this whole interaction was strange. Souji had seemingly wanted to avoid him for no apparent good reason and made sure Yukimura did too.  

 Still he had to refocus on the task at hand. The first year was gone, and Hajime didn’t even have the time to tell Souji to tie his tie correctly before him and Yukimura had disappeared from his view. Between his failure and Souji’s odd behavior, the day was going to be more complicated than planned.  

 After the third hour of class he knew something was wrong. Souji kept on avoiding him, not that he particularly sought him out but being suddenly deprived of his friend’s presence was unusual. Souji usually always found a reason to come and have a chat with him. What could have just been one of Souji’s numerous and usual fads had been confirmed as something deeply out of the ordinary by Yukimura and Heisuke’s behavior. When noticing him in front of her in a corridor Yukimura had brutally changed her way. So brutally in fact that she had ended up bumping into an half opened door. When he had tried to reach for her to check if she was okay she had nearly ran away from him without saying a word. He had came across Heisuke in one of the supply-rooms. He had came to retrieve a map for his fourth hour geography class. He didn’t know what Heisuke was doing there considering that the only words he had said to him were “Oh! Saito! Sorry for being in the way!” before jolting for the exit of the room in way reminiscent of Yukimura’s escape without any unfortunate encounter with a door. 

 No, something was wrong and it could only be linked to the day. He didn’t really expect that anyone would make a fuss about it. His brother was enjoying his end of year vacations in Hokkaido, his last one before graduating from college. His mother had joined his father in Singapour to enjoy the new lunar year there and wouldn’t be back before the end of the month. Finally his sister was way to busy preparing her future life as a wife with her in-laws, she hadn’t set a foot in the family home for at least two months. Yes Hajime fully expected being alone for his birthday today. It wasn’t a new occurrence. He will probably go to the restaurant with his mother and siblings when they would be available but that would be all. Except apparently it wasn’t. Something was going to happen. And having Souji apparently leading the all thing was absolutely nerve-racking. Didn’t he try to light a bonfire in the stadium when they were in middle school? Would Hajime need to explain things to a furious Hijikata-sensei once again? 

“ - Whatever this is, you’d better not have dragged Yukimura in anything reprehensible, he finally said to Souji while running into him.” 

 He was coming back from making his excuse to Hijikata and Kondo for not coming to the kendo practice today, he had a meeting with the disciplinary board. Souji simply smiled at that, a smile with more teeth than niceness in it. Did he thought he was subtle? He left him without saying a word. Hajime could only notice that he wasn’t heading for the kendo dojo either. This was going to be a disaster of epic proportion.

 The final and strangest moment of the day came during the disciplinary board meeting. Nagumo was arguing for a re-enforcement of the rules for the field trip that, while not being totally incoherent, were way too obviously personally targeted against a certain someone to make anyone in the room comfortable. The two first years that had joined them looked like they wanted to disappear. Hajime was about to intervene when the door open:

“ - Oh no, it has already started... commented Yukimura who seemed really worried she was bothering them. I am really sorry Saito-kun but could I ask Kaoru to come with me just this time?”

 Well this was a first. So much in fact that the entire room went completely silent for a few seconds. Not only did Yukimura never interrupt any meetings without giving and having an excellent reason to do so but her relationship with her long estranged brother was complicated and she always avoided seeking him out when he was busy for fear of putting him on edge.

 Nagumo was actually about to answer something and every signs pointed to it not being very nice before Yukimura started again:

“ - Please Kaoru.”

 That seemed to touch Nagumo somehow. Hajime wanted to sigh. Everything would be so much easier if he accepted that he wanted to be liked by people and that they weren’t out to get him. But of course it would take several years for him to get there. Nagumo turned toward him and Hajime nodded before adding:

“ - Go with her, we can finish this on our own.

- Thank you Saito-kun, answered Yukimura with a smile which lightened the room.”

 The twins left but so did part of the tension that had been with Hajime for the entire day. Maybe things would turn out just fine. 

 At the end of the meeting Hajime was intercepted by Hijikata-sensei. He needed to speak to him and asked him to follow him to the teachers’ room. Hajime did follow him. What could have happened that necessitated a meeting right now and couldn’t be discussed in a corridor? Hijikata-sensei was especially tense too. This must be something of the scale of the attempted bonfire that had burned half of the football field grass. 

 They finally arrived in front of the teacher’s room and Hijikata-sensei gestured for him to enter. Hajime did and the minute he stepped into the room he was welcomed by a powerful:

“ - Happy Birthday!”

 There was no fire in the room far from it. The tables had been rearranged to create an inviting space with sparkling drinks and sweets. Around it some paper decorations, usually used for schools events, had been hung. Finally a cake with a white frosting, strawberry decoration and eighteen candles was in front of him. 

 Souji, Yukimura, Heisuke, Nagumo and some other member of the kendo club were here. But Nagakura-sensei, Harada-sensei, Sannan-sensei, and Kondo-sensei were also present. And they were all smiling. So was Hijikata-sensei in his back.

 Everything looked pretty sensible, as if the person planning the surprise had really taken him in consideration rather than using the occasion to cause the biggest mess possible. He was glad Souji had brought Yukimura into this because he could see her hand on everything. It had been a long time since anyone at taken care of his birthday like that and Hajime found out he was deeply grateful. 

 Hijikata-sensei finally pushed him toward the cake. He hadn’t even notice he had gone very still. On closer examination it was obvious the cake was homemade. There had apparently been an attempt to write something on it but it had been covered by frosting. It made him smile:

“ - Sorry I wanted to make a cake in the shape of a snow bunny but something happened to the frosting and I had to change my plan at the last minute, said Yukimura while coming closer to him.”

He felt a blush raising to his cheeks but the attention was thankfully taken away from him by Souji who declared:

“ - This was a weird idea anyway. I think this cake looks better.

- You don’t know that! answered Heisuke. If you hadn’t accidentally spilled half of the sugar bag in the frosting we might have had a chance to see what it could have look like.”

 Heisuke was saved from a quick and deadly elbow stroke by a comment from Nagumo:

“ - Accidentally? Sure it was accidental.

- Oh you don’t want to go down this road Koaru-chan.”

 Hajime could almost hear Hijikata-sensei rolling his eyes behind him. He looked at Souji and said:

“ - Souji, no.”

 Several emotions passed on Souji’s face. Every single one a testament to his difficulty to let his prey go but eventually it fixed on a smile, with less teeth this time. 

“ - Go ahead Hajime-kun, blow your candles.”

And he did. 

 While the cake was being cut, Yukimura, who like him already had a piece, came to talk to him.

“ - Is there something you would have liked for your birthday? 

- You already baked the cake, didn’t you?

- Yes I did, but Kaoru helped me, especially to remake the frosting with less than half ingredients left. Heisuke-kun and Okita-kun were a bit panicking, even if Okita-kun will not admit it.

- You cooked with Heisuke-kun and Souji in the same room as you? You are braver than every single one of us.”

 She smiled at him, a smile so genuine that his heart might have missed a beat. He wasn’t completely sure of this. She was going back toward the table but he called her back. She turned toward him. This was going to ask more courage of him than dealing with any out of control bonfire would had ever asked.

“ - You asked me if I wanted something else?

- Yes, you thought about something?”

Hajime took a deep breath:

“ - Would you consider calling me by my first name?”

 She looked at him with widened eyes and her entire face went completely pink. This had been a terrible idea. He wished he hadn’t said anything. While he was looking for an exit, there was none of course but he so wished there was one, she came close to him. She had her eyes fixed on the floor but her hand come grabbing the bottom of his sweater:

“ - Hajime-kun?”

 This time his heart skipped a beat and he was sure of it. He also felt his cheeks burning up. But what entrapped him to the moment was the fact that she lift her eyes to meet his:

“ - Would you then call me Chizuru, Sait... Hajime-kun?

- Chizuru.”

 It came out before he had realized it. She went pinker, if that was even possible. His hands come to rest on hers.

 Suddenly he remembered where they were. They might have been a bit apart from the others but he now noticed that Souji was watching them with interest. At least it was only him, even if Yuki... Chizuru would probably disagree with this.

 He was about to step back from her, maybe grab a drink to regain some sort of composure, when the fire alarm went off. The smoke of the candles of course. It didn’t take long for the ceiling water sprinklers to starts pouring water on the room. They were all positively wet in a matter of seconds. Hijikata-sensei swore loudly and Souji bursted out laughing. 

 But for once, by Chizuru’s side, invisible to the rest of the room in front of the literally pouring mess, he was glad things went off.

[iba-hime]

Humanity

Probably the first part of this drabble series(?)...

----++----

Shiori clutched the vial. It was so small, yet so destructive on the mind of a person.

Would she so selfishly offer this to him? She loved him so much, treasured him so much, would give anything for him to see him walk and be covered in the blood of their enemies, and to fight beside him once more.

She took a deep breath and tucked the vial away inside her hakamashita and made her way back to Matsumoto-sensei’s house where Souji was currently staying.

--

Shiori’s heart wrenched at the sight of him bent over and coughing. Kneeling by him, she wordlessly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

“Don’t do that.” He knocked her hand away, his jade green eyes mildly glared at her. “I’m not useless.”

“I know.” She sighed and handed him the cloth. “It’s because care about you.” She glared back at him as she sat in seiza beside his futon.

Souji had expected an angry quip, but when she didn’t reply like that, he regretted his words. Of all people, Shiori was one of very few people that didn’t show him pity or treated him differently since he became like this. He stared at her for a few moments, noticing her eyes were on the bloody cloth he was holding and he hid it underneath another rag on the other side of his futon. “What’s on your mind, Shiori-chan?”

Her hand slipped inside her hakamashita and squeezed the vial in her hand. She exhaled before bringing it out. “I procured this from Kodo’s stash. This is better than what the Shinsengumi has. You’d be able to move during daylight.” She couldn’t place it in front of him. What was she doing? Asking him to forsake his humanity like this, what was wrong with her? This was the man she was in love with.

He remained silent, his gaze on the little vial.

“Look, I only brought it as an option.” Shiori cast her eyes down. “…You’re not getting any better.” She shut them and let out another breath. “I…don’t want to lose you. Not like this.” She didn’t dare look at him. She’d seen firsthand the shit this red stuff did. If Kondō-san knew, he would be so heartbroken that she was even offering this to Souji.

Her cyan blue eyes glanced up when she felt his hand grasp hers. “I can’t give this to you. I shouldn’t.”

“Shiori.”

“I was wrong.”

“Shiori.” He grasped her hand tighter. “If it means I can walk and swing my sword again, I don’t care.” He held her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Sad that I’m not even thinking about you, isn’t it? I’m thinking about how I can help Kondō-san.”

Shiori shook her head, squeezing his hand. “No. I know what Kondō-san means to you. I’ve barely come along in your life. That’s what you chose as your purpose...and mine…” She paused and furrowed her eyebrows. She’d never really thought about it. She shook her head and looked back up at him. “It doesn’t matter. I just-”

Souji held his hand out. “Let me drink it.”

Hesitating, Shiori gingerly placed it in his hand, but she grabbed his wrist before he could retract his hand. “Souji, what do I do if it goes wrong?” They couldn’t rule out the possibility that Souji wouldn’t go mad and keep his sanity like Heisuke and Sannan.

“Kill me.” He said without hesitation. “If it’s by your hand,” He peppered kisses along the back of her hand to her wrist. “Then I shall gladly meet my end. I prefer that than in a bed.”

Shiori chewed on her cheek and tightly gripped his hand. “You’d better stay yourself.” She warned, grasping her sword, Mikazuki Munechika, in her other hand.

Without hesitation, Souji drank the small vial of liquid, clutching at his chest after a few moments of silence.

Shiori grit her teeth, about to get closer, but he held a hand out as he let out a painful cry, his hair draining of color to white and his jade green eyes turned to red. He grasped the sheets of his futon and continued to gasp for breath for moments that seemed like an eternity before his hair returned to normal. He took, deep, ragged breaths before standing up. He eyed Kashuu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada that had remained untouched by the wall for what seemed ages. He staggered over and picked them up, gripping them tightly. He drew Kashuu Kiyomitsu and laughed, thrusting it through the air with strength, something he hadn’t been able to do in a very long time. “Ne, Shiori, let’s go join the others. I’m ready.”

“Souji, don’t be stupid. We don’t know how this shit’s gonna affect you, the least you should do is wait a few days.” Shiori stood up, gripping the hilt of her sword when he glared back at her.

“You’re asking me to stay here while everyone else is fighting a fucking war? Shiori, I’ve been out here for months. Useless. Unable to do anything. It’s about time for me do actually do something as the Shinsengumi’s Sword.” Souji pointed his sword. “Duel me then. I’ll prove that I’m well again.”

Shiori drew Mikazuki Munechika and led him outside. “Fine, but if I win, you’re sitting your ass down here for another two weeks.”

--

Shiori ran her hand through her short, boyish cut. It felt so strange to have traded in their hakamashita for these western uniforms and short hair. Her cyan blue eyes admired Souji in his tight-fitting black uniform. She couldn’t say she completely hated the look of it. She placed a hand on his chest and ran it up to his neck.

“Hm, do you like what you see, Shiori?” Souji grinned, running his fingers through her very short hair. “Still gonna keep up the charade of being a man?”

“I have to, for Aizu, but wherever you go,” She pulled him in close. “I’m going too. You’re stuck with me, you fucking idiot.”

Souji wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her in the middle of the open forest they’d been traveling for days now, trying to meet up with the rest of the Shinsengumi. He’d won their duel, and they had chopped their hair, dressed in their new uniforms and had headed out that very night. He was still getting used to his newly turned body, but he refused to show her any weaknesses.

Her hands slipped under his coat, looking for an entrance to reach his skin. He stilled her hands and pulled away a little. “Didn’t know you were into this, Shiori, out here in the open woods. In broad daylight.”

Shiori pulled away and cleared her throat, trying to hide the flush on her cheeks. “Shut the hell up, Okita.” She growled and walked ahead of him. “We have some catching up to do.”

--

It was evening, and the pair was still trudging through the forest, refusing to stay still during the night.

Souji grabbed her wrist and remained still as they heard loud footsteps and shouts. “Soldiers.”

Shiori’s hand gripped the hilt of her sword. “Fuck. We have to hide.”

“No.” Souji grinned, his hair fading to white as he drew his sword. “We don’t.”

“Souji, don’t be fucking stupid, we have to go.”

“And we have to get rid of them before we continue.” Souji ran ahead to pick a fight with the enemy soldiers while Shiori grit her teeth and cursed, drawing her own sword once more started showing up.

“Fucking idiot.” She groaned, thrusting her sword into the heart of the nearest rasetsu soldier. This was going to be more troublesome than she thought.

By the end of the bloody battle, they were both covered in rasetsu blood. She noticed that Souji was sweating heavily, and his breathing was very labored. “Souji, what-” She reached out to touch his shoulder, and he jerked away, hissing.

“Don’t come near me!” He snarled, clenching his fists as he struggled to remain standing.

It was bloodlust. He was fighting it. “Souji, I have something that can help.” She dug into her inner breast pocket and withdrew a small packet. “Drink this. I snagged it when I stole the shit. It’s supposed to help with these symptoms.”

He reached out and grabbed it, quickly swallowing the medicine. After a few moments, his hair returned to normal as his breathing became more stabilized. “...it felt good again.”

Shiori quietly took his hand and led him to the nearby stream so they could wash themselves. “It did. You next to me. It felt right.” She shed her coat, and slowly unbuttoned her shirt.

Souji watched her for a few moments and grabbed her wrist. “What are you doing?”

“Getting clean. You think I wanna meet with the others a bloody mess? Do you need help?” She smirked, pulling her wrist away to take off the binding off her chest.

Souji wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the crook of her neck down to her shoulders. “What a way to celebrate my return to the battlefield.”

“Mm, how romantic, covered in the blood of our enemies.” She tilted her head back and guided his hands up.

Souji chuckled and helped her remove her sword. “Didn’t think you got off on this kind of thing.” 

Shiori rolled her eyes, snorting a little. “Put your mouth to work.”

He licked her earlobe. “Very well, Shiori-chan.” 

[impracticaldemon]

An Officer & A Gentleman:  SaiChi in Edo Part II

by Impracticaldemon (Hakuouki ~ SaichiFest2018)

Words:  A LOT MORE THAN INTENDED (~ 4000) | FFN | AO3

Author's Note:

Written more or less for the prompts Moonlight/Courage (Day 1) [SaiChi], Respect (Day 2) [Saito-Amagiri BrOTP] [with a slight tip of the hat to the prompt Sake], and Spoken/Unspoken (Day 3) [SaiChi].

Originally, I'd intended each part of this story to be a 500-1000 word piece like Part I—Fear and Courage. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to stop writing once I'd started, so this happened. From time to time, I like to indulge my curiosity—if I can call it that—and write interesting parts of the canon (game) stories from the other point of view. I hope that you enjoy the results.

Part II—An Officer and a Gentleman (Plus One Mad Scientist and a Lady)

(i) Burning Sun

It was not a short walk to the Yukimura Clinic, located as it was near the outskirts of Edo. By the time that Saitō found the small community, and then the modest home, he felt as though the sun was starting to course through his veins along with his tainted blood. Despite a well-deserved reputation for stoicism, Saitō had to concede that the sensation had gone beyond discomfort, although it was not yet at the level of full "bloodlust", as Sannan-san and Heisuke termed that brutal phenomenon.

Saitō had now suffered through bloodlust once, and had been thankful that he had been alone, and that the bout hadn't lasted long. He had avoided telling anybody, since he suspected that the Vice Commander would require him to either sleep during the day, or join the Fury Corps. Since he found being awake during the day mostly tolerable, he saw no reason to increase the burden on Hijikata-san by working only at night. The Shinsengumi leadership was too under-staffed as it was. Hijikata-san knew that he was a fury, of course, but as long as he didn't draw attention to the fact, everyone seemed content to let him continue in his position.

As Saitō approached the Yukimura Clinic, taking in the general disrepair of the front walk and the garden, his thoughts drifted briefly to Sōji, who now resided at Matsumoto-sensei's clinic instead of with the Shinsengumi. It had become something of a warning sign for him, this occasional lapse in concentration; it meant that he needed a break from the direct sunlight, at least, although rest would be better. Sōji seemed to figure often in his thoughts these days, especially in those rare moments when he allowed himself to notice how stretched-thin he felt.

His mind instantly snapped back to the present when the door flew open and Yukimura came stumbling out, eyes wide with panic. Just a step behind her was Yukimura Kōdō-san, the missing creator of the ochimizu. Saitō rushed forward, sword clearing it's sheath with a soft metallic sigh. Without an instant to spare—his task would be much harder if Yukimura were apprehended by the mysterious doctor—Saitō yelled at Yukimura to duck, and swung at her pursuer.

Fortunately, Yukimura ducked—that made things easier; unfortunately, Saitō's blade failed to connect with Kōdō-san. Aches forgotten, Saitō took up a protective stance between Yukimura and her father—her false father, if the Oni Sen-hime were to be believed. He could sense Yukimura get to her feet behind him.

"Saitō-san!"

"You should run, Yukimura," he told her calmly, measuring Kōdō's aggressive posture and almost—crazed?—expression.

"But Saitō-san—"

"Stay behind me then, and do not interfere."

"You will obey your father, Chizuru. I did not raise a disrespectful child." Kōdō didn't move, obviously still assessing his new opponent, but his tone was sharp. "Come here at once!"

"I-I don't know who you are, Father!" Yukimura was plainly agitated. It was an odd thing to say, but there was no doubt a reason. Saitō had found that Yukimura followed a certain consistent internal logic. While he didn't always understand her, neither did he find her capricious.

"I haven't changed, child. Come now, it's time for me to show you your wonderful future!"

"Yukimura Chizuru is under the protection of the Shinsengumi," Saitō stated flatly. "I also have orders to bring you—Yukimura Kōdō-san—to Hijikata-fukuchō and Sannan-sōchō to answer questions."

Kōdō-san smiled politely at him. "Let's see now… Saitō-kun, was it?"

Saitō continued to regard him steadily. He did not trust this man in the slightest, and Yukimura's agitation confirmed that there was something wrong. She'd been looking for her father for years now, and had persisted in her belief that the man who had raised her could not have understood the true horrors of the ochimizu. The Shinsengumi leadership—cynical to a man, with the possible exception of Kondō-kyokuchō—had no such illusions. Even Heisuke harboured the darkest suspicions about the man.

When Saitō's sword remained an uncompromising barrier between them, Kōdō frowned. He might be in some trouble with Kazama-sama, for having ventured out against orders (and found by the Shinsengumi dogs), but a great deal would be forgiven if he brought Chizuru with him.

Saitō heard Yukimura's disbelieving cry of horror when Kōdō's features suddenly seemed to contort and change. The mild brown eyes now glowed pale gold, and sharp white horns protruded from the man's forehead. His sudden grin displayed pointed canines, and both expression and posture reflected contemptuous arrogance. Even as Saitō's stance shifted to full combat-readiness, thin knives appeared as if by magic between Kōdō's fingers.

"You will now witness the glorious strength of the Oni! Before, I had no access to true power. I am no pureblood like Lord Kazama—or like you, Chizuru. But now, my full potential has been unleashed!"

"Father! You've taken the ochimizu? But that's—that's terrible!"

Knives flew at Saitō even before Yukimura—his foster-daughter?—had finished speaking. Despite the short range, Saitō deflected them with ease, remaining solidly between Chizuru and Kōdō. With a hiss of annoyance, the former doctor tried again. And again, Saitō deflected the knives without moving more than his arm and blade.

As the Shinsengumi had found out for themselves, the ochimizu conferred speed and strength—and near-instant healing—but not skill. Serizawa Kamo, originally joint-Commander of the Shinsengumi, had been a brute, both as a man and a leader, but he had been a phenomenal warrior. Once he had taken the ochimizu, it had required several of the current Shinsengumi's strongest officers, and Hijikata-san's best effort, to take him down. Kōdō might be strong and fast, but he was no match for a swordsman of Saitō's ability.

"…Foolish," noted Saitō, in his usual uninflected tones, when Kōdō drew forth yet more knives. He prepared to attack as soon as he had dealt with them.

Disaster struck with the third volley. Saitō remained unhurt, but one of the knives ricocheted back into Kōdō, leaving a long gash that bled freely before beginning to close. The scent of the fresh blood hit Saitō like a tidal wave, leaving him bludgeoned and reeling. The racking pain that he had been keeping at bay exploded within him, and his hands and legs started to tremble. He felt sweat spring up on his forehead as he fought for control. I am master of myself! Ignore the scent, ignore the pain. Protect Yukimura!

"Ahhhhh. I see now. You have drunk the ochimizu—you are already a rasetsu."

Saitō felt the tip of his katana waver drunkenly, as all of his effort went into remaining upright.

"Saito-san," Yukimura whispered nearby, in obvious distress. More distress than fear, noticed some part of Saitō's brain. She always did worry too much about him. It didn't… really… make sense.

With gruelling effort, he brought his blade back up to a guard position.

"My condition… is none of your… concern," he ground out in response to Kōdō.

The doctor-turned-demon cackled in triumph. It was a weird, inhuman sound, and made the situation even more bizarre than it already was.

"I'm surprised you're still standing, Saitō-kun. The sun is very bright and hot today, isn't it?"

It was. Saitō's very skeleton now felt as though it were on fire.

"And the scent of blood is so strong, so wonderful. Don't you crave it? You must. The ochimizu is poison to your frail, human body, and you need blood to ease your pain. The agony is probably driving you mad even now—your body lusts for blood, and your mind is both appalled and desperate to taste it."

He was right. Mostly. Saitō blocked out the words, fought the relentless need to lurch forward and take the blood he needed to end the pain. This is endurable. It must be endured. Instead of falling to his knees as Kōdō probably expected, Saitō's hands tightened on his sword. He would not let this man take Yukimura. He would not lose to the enemy within him.

"Kōdō." Suddenly, there was another Oni present. The deep voice, and massive frame, were all too familiar to Saitō. His eyes might struggle a bit with colour in the daytime now, but the softer light of the moon would show neatly-tied, dark red hair, and cool, summer-blue eyes.

"Lord Amagiri," murmured Kōdō, sounding shocked, even as Saitō thought the name.

Amagiri-san's presence most likely presaged disaster. The powerful Oni would have little difficulty either incapacitating or killing Saitō, in his current condition. But… there was still a vestige of hope. At the very least, Saitō would die fighting an honourable warrior, somebody who would understand who Saitō was.

"Kōdō. You must return at once. Kazama-sama did not sanction this venture."

The bigger Oni examined first Chizuru, then Saitō. His understanding of Saitō's condition was instantaneous, but silent.

"My lord! This man has drunk the ochimizu! He is a Fury! We should make sure that he is no threat to us or our plans."

Even semi-blinded by fierce sunlight, Saitō saw the look of undisguised anger and disgust that Amagiri-san turned on Kōdō. Although the outcome was still not certain, that look gave new life to hope.

"I said that you are to return at once. Kazama-sama will be very displeased with you if he finds out that you have upset Yukimura-sama. Even if you did raise her."

The ensuing silence seemed very long to Saitō, whose body felt as taut as an overdrawn bowstring. He was on his feet, his sword was more or less steady, and Yukimura was safe behind him, but he knew that he didn't have long before collapse. A warrior knew his own body.

Kōdō was clearly on the verge of arguing further with Amagiri-san, when the latter turned his gaze on Saitō. The pale blue eyes seemed somehow… regretful.

"Regardless of any action, or desire, on our part, this man is likely to fall victim to his condition soon enough. Because he is human. Because he is a Fury." Amagiri's voice was soft, but edged; his words were clearly directed at Kōdō.

For a moment, Kōdō looked taken aback, as though some part of Amagiri-san's implicit accusation had reached him. In that moment, Saitō thought he glimpsed the father that Yukimura seemed to remember—the man that he himself had never seen. Then Kōdō's features hardened back into implacable lines. He nodded curtly to Amagiri-san, his obedience a matter of yielding to a greater force, rather than loyalty, or agreement. The two Oni plainly held nothing but contempt for each other. Saitō felt Amagiri-san's regard on him one last time, and with it that same sense of regret, and then he and Yukimura were alone in front of her former residence.

(ii) Healing Moon

The worst of the immediate pain faded then, as most of Kōdō's blood was on the man's clothes. Saitō sheathed his katana, unable to conceal his relief. Then he turned to Yukimura, scanning her for any sign of hurt. She was visibly upset, which was to be expected, but her first words were—as usual—for him.

"Saitō-san, are you hurt?"

"Īe." His firm negative failed to soothe her.

"Then are you ill? Or—of course, the sun is very strong!"

"Yukimura, why did you leave the compound?" Saitō's tone was deliberately harsh. "If it had been Kazama who had arrived instead of me"—or Amagiri-san—"then you would have been taken. Why do you think I stay awake during the day? It is not pleasant." That was unfair, a little, but he was finding it harder than usual to ignore the pain.

Yukimura looked stricken, and bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Saitō-san! I apologize for causing you trouble."

"I do not require your apology. I require your explanation."

She straightened, biting her lip. She was blinking back tears, and it came to him suddenly that despite all that had happened, she was most upset because he was angry at her. His expression was no doubt forbidding.

"Hai." Yukimura's hands twisted together in front of her. "I-I wanted to search the house for any notes that might provide information about the ochimizu. About the Fury transformation really… and how to suppress the side-effects."

"Did Sannan-san ask you to do this?"

"N-no."

"Then why?"

Unaccountably, Yukimura's embarrassment seemed to deepen. "I wanted to help. Because you seemed to be in so much pain, Saitō-san."

Saitō felt his eyes widen, as his expression went from angry to startled. "I did?" He forced his features back to impassivity, so that they would show neither anger, nor surprise. Nor, he hoped, pain.

"Well… yes? It's bad enough that you don't sleep, but you stay awake all day, and I can see that it's—that is, there is discomfort."

Before Saitō could formulate a response, Yukimura squared her shoulders in the way that she always did before speaking her mind in spite of fear or anxiety. Sure enough, she eyed him a little shyly, but added: "Being physically uncomfortable, or in pain, is very tiring. I saw that a great deal when I was growing up. People got better much faster, or at least had more energy, when we—I mean—well, when their bodies were more at ease. So you see—"

"I see." Saitō looked down, both to rest his eyes, and because while he understood her point in a general way, her actions still seemed extreme. Unless she—but that line of thinking was both irrelevant and unproductive. "I left the compound unattended. Do you have further business here?"

Silently, she shook her head. Saitō found it difficult not to respond to the slight hurt in her eyes, but it was better that she learn not to worry about him so much. There was no need, and he still wasn't sure of her motives. No? Really? He ignored his own mocking thoughts—which always took on Sōji's voice these days—and turned to go.

"Ikuzo, Yukimura."

He set off at a moderate pace, and she followed obediently. Three paces, four, five… No, gods, NOT NOW! But the gods weren't listening. Saitō's legs folded under him, and his body convulsed with wracking pain. He clenched his teeth against the cries that sought to escape, and bowed his head until the first wave passed and he could master himself again—at least a little.

"Saitō-san!"

"I… I will be fine. It will pass." His voice rasped and the gasping breaths were unlikely to be reassuring, but he put everything he had into hiding the full extent of his agony. He knew that he had changed into one of them, into what he now was. White hair, red eyes; he'd seen it for himself, the last time. But what to do?

"We should go indoors. That will help, at least a little. Please come with me, Saitō-san!"

She was pleading, but it was unnecessary. Going inside, out of the sunlight, out of sight of passing pedestrians, was the only logical thing to do now. He couldn't bring himself to lean on her—wouldn't—and she seemed to know that. Instead, she made sure that his path was unimpeded, and guided him, somehow, into her home. Former home, some strange part of his mind insisted, but he didn't have enough energy to care why.

Once inside, Saitō found a space that had been recently tidied, and knelt with as much grace as he could muster—not much, he suspected. It was worse than the last time. It felt as if his body were being continuously broken apart and knit back together; it was excruciating. His right hand scrabbled at the left breast of his kimono, as though he could somehow tear the pain out of himself and find relief.

He saw movement from the corner of his eye, and then Yukimura knelt across from him, so close that they were practically touching. He became suddenly, agonizingly aware of the blood that flowed beneath her soft skin. His eyes fastened on the pulse point of her throat, and it took all his will to look away.

"Yukimura… This will pass. Do not… concern yourself." Laughable reassurance, but what else was there? He wanted her to go. Perversely, he also wanted her to stay. He would conquer the pain, outlast it, whether she was there or not. But it would be—and this made no sense—less lonely with her there.

"Take my blood. That's what you need, isn't it? Blood?"

She was even closer now; her scent seemed to surround him. After a moment, he realized that she'd taken his hand and was peering into his face. Their knees were touching. Whether truth or fancy, he saw himself reflected in her wide, anxious eyes—the gleam of white hair, like moonlight on dark water, and two sparks of glowing crimson.

"You are… overreacting. As I said… this will pass. Then we can return."

Her mouth tightened into a straight line. He had never seen her gentle face so uncompromising. Had he looked like that when he tried to keep Kōdō from her? Or Kazama? His fingers dug desperately into his chest; he could feel his nails even through his kimono and sweat-soaked under-kimono. His blood stung and boiled under his skin. His bones continued to stretch and crack and reform; he assumed—hoped—that this was just how he visualized the pain. It was endurable because it had to be endured.

Saitō felt Yukimura's hand lift from his and had to stop himself from reaching after her. It was no doubt better this way, somehow. The sound of a blade leaving its sheath immediately drew his attention, and he stared as Yukimura touched the well-sharpened edge of her kodachi to her finger. Blood instantly welled up from the cut, viscous and red. He swallowed convulsively.

"Saitō-san. Please… This cut is nothing—I'm an Oni, it will heal quickly. So take what you need."

This is wrong. This is not what I want. I want… I want to protect you. His thoughts were confused, almost incoherent. He forced his gaze away from her bleeding finger, trying to think rationally. Rationally, it made sense. Blood would allow him to function more efficiently. According to the little—the very little—that Heisuke would say on the subject, those who drank blood remained in control of themselves for longer and with less effort. However, something in what he hadn't said suggested that there was a price to pay. Also, if it was the pain that drove furies mad—and the constant anticipation of pain—then surely a strong man, who wasn't afraid of pain, could do well enough without blood? But… almost everyone broke under torture, eventually. Saitō was uncomfortably aware of that truth.

He finally met Yukimura's eyes again. She wasn't afraid—not of him, not of what he might do. She wanted him to do this. The combination of that determined—almost affectionate?—gaze, and practical reality, decided him.

Oddly, the ache in his body seemed to fade a little just by making the decision. Awkwardly, feeling all the strangeness of the situation, Saitō lowered his mouth to Yukimura's finger. He tentatively tasted the blood, and had to pause a moment to contain the rush of feelings and sensation. It was tremendously disconcerting, and he automatically sought to conceal his reaction. His body craved the blood—and it was sweet beyond words, her blood. But there was more to it than that. It was as though he hadn't quite realized how intimate this was. He—

"Saitō-san?"

He raised his head immediately, once more searching her expression. Yukimura looked puzzled and concerned. Her cheeks were flushed, but he lacked the perception just now to divine the reason. Was she in pain?

"Does it hurt? Your finger?" His voice was raspy, but sounded moderately polite, and only a little more uncertain than usual. Good.

"Oh—no, no, not at all!" She smiled at him, and he immediately forgave her the lie. Why shouldn't she be allowed the same pride as any other? "But, um, you stopped."

"I see." He gently took her hand in his, and once again pressed his lips to the cut. This time, he was better prepared, his emotions better-controlled. Bit by bit, as he carefully sucked at her finger, the worst of the pain subsided. It made it more difficult to ignore other sensations, and he hoped that she wouldn't be able to tell how arousing this was—to be so close, to be sharing something so private. He kept his eyes mostly closed, so that he wouldn't accidentally meet her gaze and embarrass them both.

As soon as he could bear to stop, he forced himself to allow the cut to heal completely, and slowly lifted his mouth from her small hand. It wasn't the blood that was so difficult to give up, although the Fury within him would gladly have taken more, it was the touching. The whole time that his lips had been against her skin, it had seemed as though they were in their own safe, quiet place—a place of moonlight, and cool night air, and soft colours. He couldn't understand it, and it bothered him. He had come to guard her, and yet she had been his refuge in a way he couldn't explain.

What's more, there was nothing muted about the way that his heart was hammering in his chest. The coil of tension low in his abdomen, and lower still, was all heat. It wasn't an unknown sensation, but neither was it entirely familiar. Saitō strongly preferred sake to other outlets for stress, and on the rare occasions that he had been troubled by lust, it hadn't been especially difficult to set aside in favour of drills, or meditation, or drinking. Drinking provided the illusion of intimacy without requiring the real thing, physical or otherwise. And yet he here was, caught up in the desire for both physical and emotional comfort, or something like it. His mind presented possibilities for tongues and lips that had nothing to do with his condition as a Fury.

He turned away as he let go of Yukimura's hand, and forced himself to accept what had happened as no more than a rational response to necessity, followed by understandable embarrassment. It was a strange situation, after all, so it made sense that it had elicited unusual reactions. An important measure of calm returned as he straightened scarf, kimono, and sash; later, he would change the sweat-soaked under-kimono. A quick glance at the low pony-tail on his shoulder confirmed that his hair was no longer white. Then he faced Yukimura, although he wasn't quite sure what to say.

Her expression was at once shy, flustered, and determined. He had no idea what she was thinking.

"How is your finger, Yukimura?" Idiotic, perhaps, but at least reasonably conventional. He wished again that she hadn't witnessed his struggle with the bloodlust. He suspected that he was blushing, and found himself looking away.

"Oh, it's fine! Really!" Bright words, and this time mostly truthful. She wasn't in pain, but he could tell that she was—they both were—distinctly self-conscious.

After a moment's thought, he looked back at her, shoved aside the strange desire to take her in his arms, and reiterated his most pressing concern.

"I left headquarters unattended by any command-rank officer. We must go."

Yukimura blinked, no doubt taken aback by his curtness. He—once again—regretted the slight hurt in her expression, but it was better than how she would look at him if she knew that he had contemplated far from honourable possibilities.

"Alright, Saitō-san. As long as you have recovered enough?"

"I am fine."

She gave him one last, doubtful look, and then nodded. In response, Saitō pushed open the door, and stepped through into the burning heat of the sun. Fortunately, it was nowhere near as difficult to bear as it had been before. He glanced over his shoulder at Yukimura as they hurried away from her childhood home. She looked a little wistful, and he assumed it was sadness over Kōdō's cruel behaviour—after all, she had waited a long time for their happy reunion.

He would have been very taken aback to know that her thoughts were entirely on the indigo-haired man walking just ahead of her. Whatever happened, she was determined to do her best for him. Saitō-san had come to mean the world to her. Maybe one day, she would find a way to tell him so.

[END]

Tags: @canadiangaap @shell-senji @hidetheremote @sabinasanfanfic @nalufever @fic-writer-appreciation @cherryb0mb79 @very-x-vice @nollatooru @optionalpoodle

[shinsengumi-archives]

Who’s your favorite Shinsengumi member?

Poll results from April 2000 (link)

It was quite heated! Very interestingly, Nagakura-san was in second place for the entire first round! I was very nervous that he would win against the popular Hijikata. I was thrilled. In fact, Nagakura's fans were so passionate! Look at this! The percentage of Nagakura's comments! He is by far the most commented. Todo Heisuke sadly had no comments. I know I'm repeating myself, but all the comments will be uploaded, so please write in! The results of the voting were very Peacemaker-oriented, but what do you think? The eighth-place finisher, Kitamura Suzu, is a Peacemaker Kurogane character. I think that many of Nagakura's "cute" comments are probably came from Peacemaker. His portrayal from Peacemaker is amazing. And, I'm glad you like it! I applaud Okita Souji, who was always in first place, as is the tendency of this website. He's as good as I thought he'd be.

1st place - Okita Souji (38 votes)

He’s cool.

cute, cool

Popular after all

·····splendid········

Love love love love love (heart)

After all, So-sama is the best

Ah... that smile...

I love you already!!

I love you

I love you, I love you, Okita-san

cool vv

I can't wait to smile!!

2nd place - Hijikata Toshizo (31 votes)

I like the way this person lives.

I want to be exhausted by this kind of person

because it's cool

The skill of love... (laughs)

I love you! !

Isn't it cute?!!

I love you, that's all.

Best!! cool!!

3rd place - Nagakura Shinpachi (22 votes)

strong and cool

After surviving...

It would be nice if Hijikata-san didn't overtake me...

Cool-~~~vvv

aatt!!

I think he was a person who did his best until the very end.

Cute, strong, funny.

Cute.

As for PM. After all, it's cuteness, coolness, and momentum.

Grandpa is so stupid♪

Explosion of cuteness! ?

Cute...so cute!

The combination with Harada is exquisite.

At first, I was on good terms with Okita-san...

I like it! !

cute

4th place tie - Yamazaki Susumu (7 votes)

Kansai dialect is cool! !

Although he has a fighting spirit (Shiba) that wants to eat his opponent to death, he is taciturn and unfriendly. Oh...

How cool! !

I fell in love with Mr. Yamazaki from Peacemaker.

4th place tie - Hajime Saito (7 votes)

It's cool with an adult atmosphere!

Kind! !

6th place tie - Harada Sanosuke (4 votes)

Aniki~~~ I like men. that's why.

That extravagance...

Tied for 6th place - Todo Heisuke (4 votes)

8th place - Kitamura Suzu (3 votes)

What he does is adorable, isn't he?

Suzu-kun is cute.

9th place tie - Kondo Isami (1 vote)

Why is Kondo-sensei not here?!

9th place tie - Sannan Keisuke (1 vote)

He's someone I wanted to live after the Meiji Restoration.

9th place tie - Inoue Genzaburo (1 vote)

Gen is a good person