Author's Notes

As: Music! Music! "Sea Moods - Sailing from Isla to Uist - Welcome Home Grainne" by Connemara and "Cielo e Terra" by Nek (both versions are terrific)! A nice mix of Irish, Italian, and American for our Japanese story! XD

Suki: I suggest "Shades of a Revolution" and "Sound of Snow Falling" both by Iwasaki Taku from the Trust and Betrayal OST. Don't be surprised if I suggest "Snow" more than once. It's a beautiful piece.

As: Also have a holly jolly Kwanza, merry late Chanukah, Happy late Christmas and an early buon compleanno a Yamaguchi Hajime! X3 Oh! and a early Happy New Year!

Suki: And a very special thank you to our Anonymous reviewer :3

Chapter VIII

Makenki

Naomi watched her breath freeze, veiling the stars like tiny clouds. Neither she nor Saito relished the idea of staying below deck in the stuffy, overcrowded cabins, so they rested their elbows on the ship's starboard railing and looked down at their choppy, scattered reflections on the deep water below. "…The wind is good. We'll be there a day sooner than I expected," Naomi mused. Saito did not answer, but she had not expected him to. During the ten days and nights they had spent on the sea, they had scarcely even acknowledged each other's presence.

"I need to see my family when we get there," Saito muttered. Naomi glanced sideways at him and nodded, squinting as a cold breeze whipped past them. "How long has it been?" she queried. He surprised her with an answer. "Almost two years." She scowled down at her hands. "It doesn't bother you to be going back." She stated it as a fact, not a question. Saito studied her from the corners of his eyes. She didn't sound surprised, but her tone was bitter. Was she jealous?

"Your family seems rather interesting," he remarked. Naomi rested her chin on her hands. "You think so?" she asked unenthusiastically. Saito smirked. "I suspect that you and your brother inherited your charming personalities from your father." She glanced at him sharply. "What makes you say that?" she demanded. He chuckled and looked back at the water. "Hijikata-san mentioned your father once. He seemed nervous when thinking about him. Is he a frightening person?"

Naomi laughed. "Are you insinuating that my brother and I are frightening people?" "Insinuating? No. I'm saying it!" Naomi bit back another laugh and dangled her hands over the railing. "My father isn't frightening; he's just very firm." Saito nodded and drummed his fingers on the railing thoughtfully. "So I've heard. He didn't want you to learn kenjutsu." He shot a questioning glare at her, which she pointedly ignored. He could see the tension in her shoulders. "If your father forbade it, how did you learn to fight?" he pressed.

Several minutes slipped by with only the sound of the waves and the creaking ship. Saito refused to change the subject now that he had finally asked. Naomi's gaze was fixed intently on the dark water; he could see she was haunted by difficult memories. He could sympathize - and he could wait.

Realizing that he was determined to get an answer, Naomi took a slow, deep breath and closed her eyes. "When I was little, Ni-san was my best friend and my hero. I wanted to do everything he did. Even though he was much older than me, he never complained that I followed him everywhere - even to the Shieikan dojo. I barely learned anythingbefore Chichi-ue found out and forbade it, but sometimes Ni-san's friends from the dojo would come to our home to visit him. I convinced one of them to teach me juttejutsu since Chichi-ue had not specifically forbidden it."

"That's an uncommon technique," Saito remarked. Naomi nodded. "We practiced with sticks in the garden. He gave me my marohoshi jutte just before he…died." Saito's eyes narrowed. "Died?" he prompted. Naomi shook her head, a weary sort of pain darkening her eyes. "He suddenly became very ill…" Her voice was hushed. The loss of her childhood friend still weighed heavily on Hijikata Naomi. "What was his name?" Saito queried. "Saiseki Masaru," she whispered through clenched teeth.

Feeling oddly elated that she had confided in him, Saito looked out at the sea again. "What about you?" Naomi asked. He frowned. "What about me?" Turning to face him, Naomi twisted her lips into a vague semblance of a smile. "Don't I get to hear your story now that I've told you mine?" Saito glared sideways at her. "I don't recall agreeing to…" His words faded on the wind and he straightened. Yokohama harbor was rapidly taking shape on the dark horizon. He stepped back from the railing and stretched. "We should get our things. We'll be there shortly." Without another word, he turned to the cabin stairwell and disappeared below deck. Glaring after him, Naomi pushed herself away from the railing and followed. 'That was so unfair!'

By the time they docked and disembarked, the rising sun was striking the rosy sky with golden spears of light. Saito didn't stop to admire the sunrise; he marched purposefully to the street and cleared his throat. "Which way is it to Ishida?" he queried. Naomi was practically running to keep up with his swift stride. "Can't that wait?" she called. He shook his head and slowed his step as they neared the bustling market. "No. The meeting is tomorrow. We don't have any time to waste. Which was is it to Ishida?"

Naomi set her jaw stubbornly. "Why can't I stay with you? I can help-" "Absolutely not!" Saito hissed, speeding up once more. Naomi hurried after him. "Why not?" she demanded. "Because you promisedthat you wouldn't do that anymore," Saito growled. "I never promised!" she objected.

He glared at her and continued marching. "If you won't tell me how to get there, I'll just ask someone else," he muttered. Naomi quickened her pace and stepped in front of him, holding her hands up beseechingly. "Please, wait! I'm not ready to see them!" He glowered at her. "When will you be ready?" he grated. She shrugged uncertainly. "Maybe…after the meeting?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously and he bared his teeth in a silent snarl. She hastened to clarify. "I mean, after tomorrow! Whether or not you let me help, I want to wait!"

Saito studied her distrustfully. There was a desperate glint in her eyes. Why didn't she want to see her family? His answering silence stretched out for a brief eternity and he continued glaring at her, determined to either break her down or weasel a good excuse out of her. Gradually, he became more aware of the people moving around them. The streaming, chattering crowds filled the streets, but the people near Saito and Naomi carefully stepped around them, wary of the armed samurai and his companion.

Focusing once more on Naomi, Saito's scowl twitched with vague amusement. She was confused by the indistinct expression. He moved to step past her, pausing to whisper, "You might try to remember where we are and who you're with, Hijikata-dono. These people are not accustomed to women meeting a samurai's eyes. You are from an honorable family, aren't you?"

Naomi gaped and spun around to follow as he started walking again. Judging by the shock on her face, she hadn't even realized she was looking at him. She had grown far too comfortable with the Shinsengumi and men in general. A blush dusted her cheeks and she lowered her head to stare at Saito's feet as he led her through the market. Finally, after a long silence, she murmured almost inaudibly, "I'm sorry." Saito ignored her apology and kept walking.

When the crowds thinned and the streets narrowed, Naomi lifted her gaze and looked around curiously. She didn't recognize this part of Edo. "Where are we going?" she asked softly. "To visit family," Saito answered gruffly. Naomi's eyes widened. "But I-" "Not yours," he interrupted sharply. "Even if you're not ready to see yours, I've waited a long time to see mine!"

Startled, Naomi followed without argument. She was undeniably interested in meeting the Yamaguchi family and learning more about the enigmatic Saito Hajime, especially since he had dodged her question on the ship. Unsettled by her willingness, Saito led her to the outskirts of the city and then north, down a long, narrow road that led to a snow-covered estate surrounded by bare orchards. His pace slowed as they neared the house, anger and pride diminishing with each step. By the time they reached the house, all that remained was a distinct dread. After nearly two years of absence, Yamaguchi Hajime was finally home. What kind of reception awaited him?

Stepping onto the engawa, Saito lifted his hand to knock but the door slid open before he could. "OTOTO!" a deep voice shouted excitedly. An arm reached around his shoulders and he was pulled quickly into the house, the door snapping shut behind him. Naomi stared wide-eyed at the door, alone outside and too baffled to process what had just happened.

On the other side of the door, Saito stood stiffly in his brother's bone-crushing embrace. When he finally had his fill of trying to asphyxiate his younger brother, Hiroaki stood back and held him at arm's length, studying him with an approving grin. "You've grown!" he exclaimed. "And you've got a daisho!" He whistled under his breath and finally released Saito, who rocked unsteadily as he regained his footing. "Hello, Ni-san," he muttered awkwardly. "I'm home."

Hiroaki smirked and clapped him on the back. "Welcome home! Why so grim?" The amusement suddenly vanished from his face and his amber eyes - so like Saito's - widened with dismay. "They don't know you're here, do they?" He gripped Saito's shoulder painfully and started pulling him away from the door, but Saito shook his head. "No! Calm down, Ni-san. Migigawa-san is…" He paused, not certain how to say it. Hiroaki relaxed his grip slowly. "…He's gone, then? And Kakeru-san?" Saito nodded, bracing himself. Hiroaki's frown stretched into a grin once more and he clapped Saito on the back again. "Well done, Ototo! I take it Susumu-kun took care of the details?"

Saito gaped at his brother, bewildered by his optimistic response and shocked by the familiar way he referred to the captain of the Shinsengumi Intelligence Squad. "Y-yeah," he stuttered. Glancing over his shoulder, he finally realized that Naomi was no longer with him and looked back at his brother incredulously. "You shut her outside?" he hissed. Hiroaki gave him a confused look and pushed him out of the way of the door. "Who?" he asked as he slid the door open once more.

"Hijikata Naomi," Saito answered, relieved and amused to see her still standing outside, her face blank and her braided crown of black hair dusted with snow. "Um…" she said, still clearly at a loss. Hiroaki's eyes widened and he let out another whistle. "No wonder you got into so much trouble, Ototo! If I wasn't already married, I'd-" Saito grabbed his brother from behind and pulled him away from the door. "Shut up, Ni-san! Neither of us wants to know what you'd do!"

Hiroaki laughed loudly as his younger brother dragged him back into the house. Saito glared over his shoulder at Naomi, wondering whether it might be better to shut her outside again. She finally seemed to snap out of her shocked numbness and shook her head, scattering snow and blushing. Saito turned his glare on his brother, giving him a rough shove to the next room before turning back to Naomi with a grumbled apology. Smiling uncertainly, she stepped into the house.

After removing their shoes, Saito and Naomi followed Hiroaki's laughter and found him standing with another woman who turned to look at the two visitors with a warm smile. "Hajime-kun! It's been so long! How are you?" Saito gaped, clearly startled to see her. "Good! I'm good! Thanks! Uh…Keiko-san, you…you and…" Hiroaki's laughter redoubled and he wrapped an arm around the woman's shoulders affectionately. "Didn't I tell you we were married?" he asked through tears of laughter. Saito's face burned and he shook his head. Keiko ducked her head shyly. "I never apologized for slapping you that time," she murmured. Hiroaki could barely breathe he was laughing so hard. Saito stood shrugged stiffly. "I don't care. I mean, you wanted to slap him, so… Why the hell did you marry him?" he sputtered.

Naomi had never imagined that Saito's family could be so informal and loud and hilariously dysfunctional. Lifting a hand to hide her own laughing smile, she peered into the adjoining room on the east and saw another tall man approaching from that engawa. He was much older than Hiroaki and Saito, but he had the same amber eyes and angular face. As soon as he entered the room where the other three stood, Saito spun to face him and sank into a deep bow. Naomi hesitantly offered a less intense bow.

The man glanced disinterestedly at Naomi before focusing his attention on Saito. "Stand up," he growled. Saito immediately straightened but kept his head bowed. "Chichi-ue…" His father's eyes narrowed and he reached under his jaw to lift his face. "Look at me." A shiver ran down Naomi's spine as memories of Saito's drunken attack surfaced in her mind. She banished the frightening thoughts and looked away from the father and son, but when she heard a loud slap she quickly looked up again.

Saito stared wide-eyed at his father, a red handprint already coloring his left cheek. "That's for fighting without permission," Yuusuke growled. He lifted his hand and struck his son again. "That's for running away," he continued. Saito accepted the abuse without a word. Yuusuke looked over his shoulder at his older son, who was standing in sudden silence behind his wife. "Hiroaki!" he barked. Straightening, Hiroaki hurried over and met with an unexpected strike of his own. "That's for forging that letter!" Yuusuke snarled. "You could have just asked! Morons!"

Without another word to his sons, Yamaguchi stepped past them and studied Naomi's shocked face. "And you are?" She quickly bowed again, this time lower. "My name is Hijikata Naomi. I'm honored to meet you!" The man's eyes widened almost imperceptibly for an instant. Nodding, he offered a bow of his own. "I am Yamaguchi Yuusuke. I am grateful to your brother for accepting my moron of a son and allowing him to serve the Shogun." Naomi kept her eyes lowered, suddenly acutely aware of etiquette. "I will tell him. Thank you, Yamaguchi-dono."

Keiko peeked around her father-in-law and gave Naomi a curious look. "You're the vice commander's sister? Then you're the one they thought Hajime-kun was-" "Keiko-san!" Saito interrupted, mortified. Keiko looked at him innocently. "What's wrong?" Saito's face flushed with humiliation and he glared at his brother. "How did you find out about that anyway? !" he demanded. "Did Yama-" "You know, Ototo…shouting out the name of a spy tends to make his job more difficult." Hiroaki was impervious to Saito's most poisonous glare. He gave his little brother a very self-satisfied smirk and then started laughing again.

Yamaguchi Yuusuke rolled his eyes and then rolled his shoulders. "As pleasant as this conversation is, I'm afraid I must interrupt. Hajime…how long do you plan to visit?" Saito shook his head. "I'm here on business. Tomorrow, I need to escort Hijikata-dono to her family's estate. I'm not sure when I'll be able to visit again." "Then you'll stay for dinner?" asked Keiko. "And spend the night?" Hiroaki added with a roguish wink.

With an uncertain glance at Naomi, Saito answered hesitantly, "I…suppose we can-" "Wonderful!" Keiko exclaimed. Hiroaki moved to clap his brother on the back but Saito dodged away just in time. "Hey! Yeah! We can make your favorite dinner!" Hiroaki teased. "Plain, hot soba, anyone?" Even Yuusuke managed to crack a smile when soba was mentioned. Saito was smiling, too. Despite all the anxious anticipation and uncertainty, it was good to be home.

The day was filled to the brim with stories, games, and food. For the Yamaguchi family, the unexpectedly festive day passed too quickly. When the sky began to darken, they gathered on the western engawa to watch the sunset behind snow clouds. Yuusuke and Saito played a thoughtful game of shogi while Hiroaki, sitting between the women, told outrageous stories about his and Saito's childhood. Stifling giggles behind one hand, Keiko tugged her husband's sleeve with the other. "Tell her about the slap!" "You're the one that slapped him," Hiroaki objected. "But you tell it so well!" Keiko insisted, her whine strangely reminiscent of Okita Souji's and therefore endearing.

With a dramatic sigh, Hiroaki nodded and Keiko clapped excitedly. Turning to Naomi, Hiroaki began the tale with a grin. "This may surprise you, but when I was younger, I was quite the lady's man!" Keiko giggled and so did Naomi - especially when Saito, upon realizing which story was being shared, looked up from the shogi game with a horrified expression.

"I had girls following me everywhere I went! Even when I was at school or in the dojo, they'd be waiting outside for me to finish!" With a groan, Saito forced his gaze back to the game and tried to ignore his brother. Naomi listened to the story with interest. Hiroaki chuckled. "Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed their attention for the most part, but sometimes it was just too much! I'm sure you know what I mean, right, Naomi-chan?"

Saito's head shot up again when his brother addressed Naomi informally, but Naomi smiled and nodded. She wasn't bothered at all by Keiko and Hiroaki addressing her as Naomi. They were so funny and friendly that it felt natural. Obviously unsettled, Saito stared blankly down at the shogi pieces. He was losing quickly to his father.

"Whenever my admirers got too attached, I'd send Hajime to tell them off." Naomi quirked an eyebrow questioningly and Hiroaki's grin broadened. "He hated doing it, but he could never say no. He's too nice for his own good. Even when he knows he's going to get in trouble, he'll do anything to help someone he cares about! Right, Ototo?" Saito grumbled noncommittally and began setting the pieces for a new round of shogi, having lost the first round in record time.

Biting back a laugh, Naomi silently agreed with his brother's assessment. Even when he didn't care much for a person, he willingly went out of his way to steer them in the right direction and keep them safe. He had done so many times for Naomi, even though she was an outright bitch to him when he did. "Saito-san is very kind," she murmured. Hiroaki's eyebrows shot up, and so did Saito's. Naomi ducked her head, embarrassed that she had admitted it out loud. She nervously gestured for Hiroaki to continue his story.

Casting a sly, knowing glance at his brother, Hiroaki began again. "Well, I knew Keiko was special from the start. She was too smart to be fooled by the petty excuses that worked on most girls, so I asked Hajime to tell her that I was seeing a friend of hers. I had gone out with that girl once or twice, but I didn't realize she had been engaged since the last time. When he told her, she knew he was lying. She demanded to speak with me, but he told her that if she wanted to say something to me, she could just say it to him and he'd pass it along. So…she slapped him in the face and told him to pass it along!"

Naomi gaped at Keiko, startled that she had done such a thing. "You slapped a samurai's son?" she demanded. Keiko smiled shyly and shrugged. "Well…if it was Hiroaki, I don't think I would have, but for some reason I just…wasn't scared of Hajime-kun. That sounds awful, doesn't it? But he would never hurt a girl or tell on one." Naomi turned her dismayed stare on Saito. He glared back at her over his father's shoulder. "Don't be a hypocrite," he growled quietly.

Keiko and Hiroaki turned to Naomi, their own expressions just as surprised as hers. Even Yuusuke glanced at her, his eyebrows raised questioningly. "You hit Hajime?" Naomi wished she could shrink and disappear. Her face warmed and she bowed her head in shame again. There was a brief quiet, and then both Hiroaki and Keiko filled the silence with laughter. They applauded, apparently overjoyed that another woman had struck their brother.

Saito stood sharply and pushed open the door. "Hey! Where are you going?" Hiroaki called. Saito glared sideways at him and stepped into the house. "I'm going to bed," he answered in a low grumble. "Why? Did you lose again already?" Saito didn't answer. His footsteps had already crossed to the other side of the house. Still giggling, Keiko reached around her husband to tap Naomi's shoulder. "You can share a room with me tonight. Hiroaki and Hajime will share their old room." "Yeah," Hiroaki concurred with a mischievous grin. "We don't want you two getting into more trouble, do we?"

Naomi did not trust herself to say anything more until she and Keiko were in their room, changed into sleeping kimono and combing each other's hair. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself to speak once more, hoping to end the night on a better note. "So…if you slapped Haj - er, Saito-san, and if you were so angry at Yamaguchi-san…why did you marry him?" she queried clumsily.

Keiko smiled happily, unbraiding the last pleat in Naomi's hair and combing out the tangles. "I was really surprised when he asked to see me again after that, but as it turns out, he was thrilled that I was brave enough to slap his brother. I guess he wanted a strong woman. It makes sense, I suppose. Their mother was like that, too. She was well-bred but very bold. She never hesitated to give her opinion. Maybe that's why, even though she was just a farmer's daughter, Yuusuke-san married her."

Frowning, Naomi glanced at their shadows on the papered window. "I take it that Yamaguchi-dono passed away some time ago?" Keiko nodded. "I never knew her. She died giving birth to their little sis… Oh! Oh, no!" The color suddenly fled Keiko's face and her eyes widened in horror. "I'm sorry! Please forget what I was saying, Naomi-chan! They never speak of it! Hiroaki only told me after we were married!"

Naomi turned and smiled over her shoulder. "Don't worry, Keiko-san. I can keep your secret. I won't tell him that I know." Keiko heaved a sigh of relief and nodded. She put the comb away and, with a final smile to Naomi, blew out the lamp and climbed into her futon. Naomi slipped under her covers as well, shivering until her body warmed them. 'So, he had a little sister…and his mother died giving birth? It must have been terrible if they still never speak about it. Perhaps we have more in common than I thought.'

/\/\/\/\

In Hijikata's smoky, lamp-lit office, seven of the eight Shinsengumi captains sat around the vice commander's desk, listening as he read a letter addressed from Kondo. "…plans to escort the Shogun early next month. As far as patrols, I believe the double patrols, as currently scheduled, are sufficient. Please expect our return within the week."

Folding the letter, Hijikata scanned the faces of his captains and frowned. "The honor of guarding the Shogun is significant. Our abilities and loyalty are being recognized. This should not, however, be interpreted as an opportunity to celebrate or relax. The Shogun will not put his trust in men who are too confident in themselves." The captains nodded soberly, but not all of them could hide their pride. With a nod of his own, Hijikata gestured to the door. "See to your men and your duties."

Takeda, Tani, and Inoue stood and filed out of the office. Harada was the next to reach the door, but instead of leaving he slid the door shut again. Turning back to the others, he glared deliberately at Hijikata and folded his arms. "We need to talk." Hijikata glared right back at him. "We just did," he quipped. "Not about the letter," Harada retorted. "I want to talk about the Shieikan - and our childhood friend."

Hijikata's eyes widened and then narrowed. Okita, Todou, and Nagakura looked between the other two confusedly. "Who told you?" Hijikata demanded quietly. Harada smiled coolly. "He was a friend of mine at the Shieikan, wasn't he? Why would I need someone else to tell me?" "What are you two talking about?" Todou interrupted. Harada looked at the others and smirked. "We're talking about our friend from the Shieikan dojo - Saito Hajime."

Nagakura's eyebrows arched in surprise and he shot a questioning look at Hijikata. "What the hell is he talking about? We met Saito-kun here in Kyoto. Has he ever even been out of the city before this assignment?" "That's what I'd like to know," Harada growled. "Why did you tell that Hatamoto that we grew up with him?" Hijikata glowered at Harada, squaring his shoulders. "It's none of your business," he answered.

His reply only served to further incense Harada. Even Okita's usual smile had slipped and he gave the vice commander a suspicious look. "You told Migigawa-sama that Saito-kun was our friend?" "I can't help but notice that you address him as Saito-kun," Hijikata hissed. "Get out of my room."

Now all four of the captains from the Shieikan dojo were glaring at Hijikata. He returned the look darkly but offered no explanation. After a long, tense silence, Nagakura cleared his throat. "Where is that Hatamoto, anyway?" Hijikata's frown twitched for the briefest instant into a cold smile. "He finished his interviews and left," he replied calmly.

His friends knew him too well to fall for his deception. "Did he interview Captain Saito?" Nagakura pressed. Hijikata frowned. The others tensed. "You lied to keep the Hatamoto away from Saito-kun?" Okita demanded incredulously. Hijikata lifted his pipe and glanced at the window. "That's a yes," Todou mused, grinning now. "The Hatamoto never met with Saito-kun." Nagakura nodded and Okita frowned thoughtfully. "So he was the one Migigawa-sama wanted?" he queried.

The others, including Hijikata, stiffened. "What?" "You mean Saito-kun was the-" "Be quiet!" Hijikata snarled, glaring sharply at Todou. Todou clamped his mouth shut but glanced at Harada, who nodded. "I thought so. The Hatamoto was looking for him, and you lied to protect him. Did it ever occur to you that it might be a good idea to tell the rest of us? I didn't know what to say when that smug bastard asked me about it!" "What did you say?" Nagakura asked. Harada shrugged. "I lied my ass off and said we woke up early to practice together every morning."

"That wasn't much of a lie!" Okita laughed. Nagakura and Todou exchanged confused looks and then gaped. "You've been practicing with him?" Nagakura snarled. "Is that why he suddenly got so good?" Harada grinned. "He would've beaten you in that spar anyway, Shinpachi." "You back-stabbing bastard!" Nagakura shouted, leaping to his feet. Okita jumped up between them. "Calm down! We only did it because you all were so worried he was an insurgent!" "Well, maybe he was! And what do you mean "we?" You were training him, too?" Nagakura demanded, feeling the betrayal even worse than before.

"What we did was hardly training," Harada mused. "Before we started, I challenged Saito-kun to a duel with real swords. He could have easily beaten me if I hadn't caught him off guard." "What do you… How the hell could… I'm confused," Todou grumbled. "Are you saying that Saito-kun is an expert swordsman?" "Not an expert," Harada corrected. "He'd never trained with shinai before being assigned to the dojo."

"Holy shit," Nagakura sputtered. He turned his attention back to Hijikata, who had been sitting and smoking in suspicious silence. Eyes narrowing, the short-tempered, short-statured captain noted in a grating voice, "You don't seem too surprised by this, Hijikata-san." Hijikata's only answer was to lower his pipe and exhale a long stream of smoke. Nagakura was incredulous. "This doesn't bother you at all? Captain Saito Hajime isn't Saito Hajime! He isn't even from Kyoto! He might not even be a true samurai, and you don't care? The man has killed a Hatamoto!"

"Actually, he's killed two Hatamoto." All five men looked sharply to the window, startled but not surprised to see Yamazaki standing in the room, leaning against the window frame. They stared at him in silence for the few seconds it took his words to sink in. "Holy shit," Nagakura said again. Todou let out a nervous laugh. "You mean…both Migigawa-sama and his brother were…killed by…?" "Does Kondo-san know about this?" Okita demanded.

Hijikata gave Yamazaki a black glare. "Isn't your job to be silent?" he grated. Yamazaki shrugged nonchalantly. "My job is intelligence. It seemed intelligent to let your friends know what's going on." "What the hell is going on?" Nagakura snapped. "Yeah, really. I think we'd all appreciate an explanation right now," Harada growled. Yamazaki looked at Hijikata. Hijikata fumed, smoke filling the room at a progressively faster rate. "…Fine," he muttered. "Captain Saito is originally from Edo. He is a samurai, but…he's left-handed."

Suddenly everything made sense. With wide-eyed astonishment, Nagakura was the first to speak. "I…thought he might be. Even when his right hand was injured, he had no trouble in the dojo." Harada nodded slowly. "You're right. He ate with his left hand, no problem. I didn't even think about it." Todou whistled quietly and shook his head. "Daaamn! That would explain why he never practiced with shinai before. No dojo I know of would accept a left-handed pupil."

"Except the Shieikan," Okita amended, smiling once more. "After all, that's where we met, isn't it? We trained together! Remember when he first showed up? Kondo-san didn't object even when he saw him holding the bokken wrong!" A small smile played over Yamazaki's lips and he met Hijikata's gaze briefly before offering a quick bow and vanishing from sight.

Hijikata looked back at his friends with a smirk. "Who tested him? I can't remember." "Oh, it was definitely Souji," Harada answered, amused. "Saito-kun showed up shortly after Kondo-san made him the assistant instructor!" "That's right!" Todou agreed, grinning excitedly. "Not even Kondo-san could beat him, but Saito-kun nearly did!" Okita waved his hands defensively. "Hey! That's not true! I was going easy on him!" "Yeah, right," Nagakura countered, his face finally relaxing into a grin similar to Todou's. "You would have lost if Kondo-san hadn't stopped the match! You two nearly killed each other!" "Who's to say I wouldn't have killed him first?" Okita objected. The others just laughed. Before long, they were all reminiscing about the Shieikan and their friendship with Captain Saito Hajime, the only left-handed samurai worthy to serve the Shogun.

/\/\/\/\

Morning dawned darkly over Edo, the sky cloaked with heavy clouds. Naomi helped Keiko prepare breakfast and then sat with the Yamaguchi family to eat. The atmosphere matched the weather - somber and gloomy - until Hiroaki sat up suddenly and pointed sharply at his brother with his chopsticks. "This is your fault!" he growled. Saito glared at him. "What is?" "This - this funeral!" Hiroaki exclaimed, gesturing at the others. Saito rolled his eyes and went back to eating.

Hiroaki clicked his chopsticks like an angry bird. "You finally come home, after almost two years, and don't even stay long enough to celebrate your birthday, you cheap bastard! You'll be twenty next month, and-" Saito bristled visibly. "Shut up, Ni-san! It's not like I planned it this way!" Hiroaki scowled, unconvinced. "Sure. You just don't want to drink-" "Boys." One word from Yuusuke was all it took to silence the argument. His sons looked at him sharply, offended that he had called them boys but neither daring to talk back to him. Naomi muffled a laugh with a large bite of rice. Glancing at Keiko, she met the other woman's eyes and saw an amused sparkle in them.

In the wake of Hiroaki's outburst, the atmosphere lightened considerably. The weather, however, showed little improvement. Snow started falling heavily, the ashen clouds nearly hidden from sight by hectic white flurries. After breakfast, Saito bid his family farewell with muted difficulty and led Naomi through the snow to the city.

As they neared the snow-blurred buildings, Saito glared over his shoulder and cleared his throat. "How far is Ishida?" Naomi glanced briefly up at him before lowering her gaze modestly. "I'm not sure if traveling so far in this weather would be wise," she replied. Saito rolled his eyes and looked ahead again. "…Fine." She flashed an excited smile, but it faded when he spoke again. "You're not coming with me." "Why not?" she demanded. "I already told you yesterday," he growled. "And I told you-"

Saito cut her off with a sharp gesture and she pressed her lips into a thin, frustrated line. "I have very few details about this job," Saito explained. "No names and no idea how many there will be. Your brother asked me to take you to Ishida." "He didn't say anything about working with me," Naomi pointed out. Saito turned down a narrow alley and, when she followed, stopped and faced her suddenly with a dark glare. "He didn't need to say anything. You saw his face when he found out what you were doing in Kyoto. He does not want you doing this sort of thing."

Naomi folded her arms stubbornly. "You said yourself that you have no idea how many there will be, and you know nothing about them. Let me help you!" Saito laughed coldly. "Help? What could you possibly do? Flirt with them?" A furious blush colored Naomi's cheeks. "I don't kill with my looks," she hissed.

Saito's eyes widened. Her answer surprised him. They stared at each other for several minutes, both deep in thought. Finally, Saito glanced past her to the nearly muddy street beyond. "…The meetings are held at the Asayuu kimono shop." Lowering his gaze to her face once more, he fixed her with a cold, warning glare. "Don't tell them your real name!" Naomi smiled brilliantly and turned away with a wave. "I'm not an amateur! I'll be back soon!"

As soon as she was out of sight, Saito began agonizing over his decision to let her help. He paced and huffed and waited impatiently, each minute dragging by at an incredibly slow pace. Snow filled Naomi's footprints, but the muddy trenches from Saito's pacing stayed fresh. Half an hour passed, then an hour. Just as he was debating whether or not he should go after her, Naomi slipped back into the alley. He looked at her with undisguised relief and she quirked an ironic smile. "Was I gone that long?" she teased. His worry vanished and his familiar glare returned. Naomi's smile turned smug. "There is a furnished room in the back of the shop. I found this there," she said, pulling a folded sheet of paper out of her haori sleeve and handing it to him.

Saito took the paper and scanned it quickly. "If that list is accurate, there could be as many as ten men at the meeting tonight," Naomi noted. Saito stared at the names on the paper, unsettled that he recognized none of them. "Are they all from Edo?" he wondered. Naomi shrugged uncertainly. "The shopkeeper is from Satsuma. It's possible the others are, as well." Saito gave her a stern frown. "How do you know-" "I just asked about his accent, Saito-san. I didn't flirt," she interrupted in an exasperated tone.

He smirked and folded the paper, tucking it into his own haori sleeve. "How did you get into that room?" he asked. She scowled at him. "I waited until he was busy with another customer. He didn't even notice. And he wasn't with me," she grated. Saito chuckled, amused by her defensive tone. "He didn't suspect anything when you left?" She rolled her eyes. "Business men don't question paying customers." Saito was grinning broadly now. "Oh, really? What did you buy?" Her scowl darkened and she looked away from him. "A gift for my little sister," she grumbled, pulling a small bundle wrapped in yellow paper out of her other haori sleeve.

Saito quirked an eyebrow, his grin fading. "What is it?" he asked again, genuinely curious. Naomi sighed and shrugged, returning the small gift to her sleeve. "A new obijime. She loves yellow." Saito blinked, surprised that anyone in the Hijikata family could like such a bright color. "What's her name?" he queried. Naomi pursed her lips and gave him a sarcastic glare. "Are you more concerned about my family or the shop?"

Saito straightened sharply, embarrassed by his curiosity. It was Naomi's turn to smirk again. She leaned against a wall and straightened her haori. "Her name is Kiseki. She's twelve years old," she explained. Saito felt winded by the unexpected answer. 'My sister would have been twelve last spring,' he mused. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "Alright. The meeting should start an hour after dark. I'll go in alone, and you-"

A sharp objection hissed between Naomi's clenched teeth, but Saito continued in a slightly harsher tone. "You've never worked with another person, and never in a direct attack. I'll go in alone and you wait outside. If any of them try to escape, you can take care of them." "What if you need help?" she pressed. He glared darkly at her. "If I can't handle them, then you run. Under no circumstances are you to put yourself in danger! Understood?" Naomi nodded slowly and looked down at her feet. "I understand." Satisfied, Saito glanced up at the gray sky. "We still have a few hours before dark. Let's get something to eat and find a place to stay tonight. We'll go to Ishida tomorrow."

/\/\/\/\

The meeting commenced precisely one hour after dark. The shopkeeper ushered the last of his guests into the back room and surveyed the street warily before closing the door and extinguishing the lights in the store. Saito waited until the door to the back room closed before silently opening the front door and slipping inside. He chose his footing carefully, avoiding noisy floorboards as he crept to the back. The silhouettes of eight men sat in a circle, their low voices decidedly angry. Leaning closer to the door, Saito listened to their conversation.

"This is the third meeting he's missed! I don't think it's too bold to question where his loyalties lie!" "Don't be a fool. Nagase-san would never betray us!" "He has been missing for a while. Perhaps his loyalties aren't the issue. Has anyone heard from him?" "You…can't be serious. You think he was discovered?" "He was our main contact with the Chinese. Maybe he was on the ship when it sank. Regardless, we can't take many more losses. I think it's time we started discussing other options." "I still think Kyoto offers the best-"

Saito had heard enough. These men were definitely the Ishin that Li Shu had told him about months before - the Ishin that Yamazaki feared could start an uprising in Edo. Sliding the door open, Saito met the startled gazes of the men with a cold glare. "Who the hell are you?" the nearest man demanded. "I am Saito Hajime," he answered, drawing his sword and leveling it with the man's chest. "It's the Shinsengumi!" another man shouted. Saito charged into the room, the move that ended Serizawa's life ending two more before the bewildered Ishin gathered their wits and drew their swords.

The men nearest the window threw it open and fled. Cursing under his breath, Saito caught the third man trying to escape and threw him back into the room, shattering the window frame in the process. He shoved his katana through the man's throat before he could stand and yanked it back out as he spun to face the other Ishin. The two who had managed to slip out the window were Naomi's problem now. Since she wanted them so badly, she could have them. He still had three others to take care of.

One man stood calmly by the door, blocking the exit and waiting patiently to engage Saito in battle. Another was circling slowly to the wall farthest from Saito. The last man was charging wildly, blades flailing carelessly. A stray blow knocked the room's one lantern to the floor and ignited its paper box. Thin streams of smoke began to curl in the air as the crazed Ishin continued to wave his swords about like a cyclone. Though he did manage to inflict a few superficial wounds on Saito's forearms, he dealt just as much damage to himself.

Infuriated by the man's complete lack of ability and the time he was wasting, Saito ducked away from his confused onslaught and thrust his wakizashi through the man's back, nearly losing it in his thick ribs. In irritation, he kicked the twitching body off his blade and turned again. Already the second man was before him, exhibiting more skill than his fallen comrades but nothing to match Saito's talent for killing. His blade grazed Saito's neck, drawing an incredibly thin line of red on the skin. Saito leaned back, spun, and cut the man's head and right arm off with one blow. Shaking blood off his swords, he faced the last man with an impatient snarl. "Are you going to run like a coward or embarrass yourself with poor fighting?"

The Ishin's dark eyes met Saito's and he smiled coolly. "My name is Kobayashi Kohei," he stated proudly. "I don't need your name," Saito retorted. Still smiling, Kobayashi launched himself at Saito. They locked blades, the four swords clattering and grinding noisily. Twisting the blades sharply, the Ishin succeeded in jerking Saito's wakizashi out of his hand, but his own wakizashi fell to the floor as well.

Saito stepped back to free his katana. Kobayashi grinned and both men swung their blades, clashing and locking again. Saito pushed with all his might, forcing the sharp edge of his sword steadily closer to Kobayashi's throat. "Is that shoulder bothering you?" the rebel queried suddenly. His question baffled Saito, who stopped pushing long enough for Kobayashi to ram his katana's sheath against Saito's left shoulder.

The sheath struck with enough force to dislocate Saito's shoulder with an audible pop. Saito recoiled, his sword dipping towards the floor in his rapidly numbing left hand. 'An iron sheath?' He changed hands quickly, but barely lifted his katana in time to parry the Ishin's next attack. His opponent now had a distinct advantage. He pushed Saito against the wall, pressing their crossed blades forward with two hands while Saito struggled to hold them back with just his right.

When Kobayashi leaned forward, leering triumphantly, Saito threw his left fist into the man's face with a grimace. The Ishin took the full force of the blow and twisted sharply, his katana slicing through Saito's right side as the two men stumbled away from each other. Saito swung his blade again. In one fluid motion, Kobayashi ducked away from Saito's attack, picked up his discarded wakizashi, and came up behind the Shinsengumi captain.

Saito dropped quickly to one knee and rolled away, barely avoiding the shorter wakizashi but not fast enough to evade the longer katana. The blade slashed his left arm below the shoulder. When he regained his footing, hot blood slid down his arm and dripped onto the tatami. The Ishin's cool smile stretched into a wide grin. Saito scowled and pressed his right hand over his dislocated shoulder. Hissing through a grimace, he forced the joint back into its socket and staggered. Shards of static distorted his vision; through the haze he saw Kobayashi shift and prepare to launch a fresh attack.

Aware that prolonging the fight would only put him at a greater disadvantage, Saito clenched his teeth and forced both arms up, taking the stance for his deadliest attack. The samurai studied each other in silence. The tatami below the overturned lamp ignited and an eerie red glow lit the combatants' faces. Blood tapped the smoldering tatami and Saito lunged forward. His sword landed too low, piercing Kobayashi's belly and the wall. As the sword hit wood, Saito's shoulder dislocated again. He buried his pain in an angry howl, yanking his katana free with his right hand and ramming the hilt into the man's chest. Kobayashi exhaled sharply, the air suddenly forced from his lungs.

Saito stumbled backwards and Kobayashi slid down the wall, hitting his knees and coughing thickly. Blood ran from his mouth. His face contorted with rage. Lifting the iron sheath of his katana, he heaved it at Saito's head. The sheath struck just above his right eye. His vision went green as an inverted image of blood slid down his face.

With a sudden burst of reckless energy, the Ishin charged Saito and caught him across the throat with his arm. Saito hit the ground and gasped for air through his bruised windpipe. "Stand up," Kobayashi hissed. Saito was already pushing himself to his feet. He glowered at the Ishin and raised his katana once more. "Shut up," he rasped.

Fire licked the walls and crept up to the rafters. Smoke and flames ventured through the open doorway into the shop, greedily devouring bright silk and dark wood with equal relish. The cold air at Saito's back competed valiantly against the angry heat of the blaze, but it could do nothing to quench the flames or stop the fight.

With angry shouts, the two men charged again, completely heedless of their injuries. Saito ducked at the last moment and swept his left leg under Kobayashi, knocking him off his feet. The Ishin hit the ground loudly and choked on a mouthful of blood. "Stand up," Saito growled, glaring with just his left eye. As the Ishin climbed to his feet, Saito stepped back and pointed his blade at him. Kobayashi cast a fleeting glance over Saito's shoulder at the window, his angry expression relaxing slightly. "I hope your pet puts up this much of a fight when I'm through with you," he taunted.

Saito stiffened, focusing quickly on the energies and sounds around the burning shop. He could no longer sense the two Ishin who had fled, but he wasn't sure where Naomi was, either. Returning his attention to Kobayashi, he met the man's gaze with a flinty glare. "You're wasting my time. Fight and die!" Kobayashi laughed coldly and lifted his katana in a mocking salute.

They collided with crushing force. Sweeping his sword in from the side, Saito redirected the Ishin's blade. Kobayashi's katana missed his chest and bit into his right side again instead. Saito's katana struck Kobayashi's ribs just below his lungs and snapped at the hilt. Choking back his pain, the Ishin pulled his blade tightly and twisted, cutting deeper and dragging a ragged cry from his enemy. Saito threw the hilt of his broken sword in the man's face. Kobayashi jerked his sword out of Saito's flesh and slammed the flat of the blade against his head.

Saito collapsed. Overwhelmed by excruciating pain, his thoughts turned once more to the woman that he hoped was still waiting, unharmed, outside. He blinked blood out of his eyes and glared up at the Ishin. Recalling his first fight with Naomi, he delivered a sharp kick and landed the blow directly between his assailant's legs. Kobayashi choked and crumpled. While the Ishin was preoccupied with his new pain, Saito grabbed his opponent's fallen katana and pushed himself unsteadily to his feet.

Kobayashi stood a moment later, retching dryly. "B-bastard!" he croaked. Saito lifted his sword and Kobayashi met his eye with a black look. Forgetting his own pain in the desire to inflict more suffering on Saito, the Ishin ran and spun, throwing his fist in Saito's face with all his might. He struck Saito's already injured right eye and knocked him to the ground. Wheezing, Kobayashi kicked Saito's injured side roughly. Saito coughed up blood, choking each time he tried to breathe. Blood was pooling around him and soaking into the tatami beneath him. He no longer had the strength to muster a glare. Kobayashi lifted his sword and held the blade over Saito's chest. "This is the end!" he shouted.

Time slowed to an agonizing crawl. Despite the fire that raged around them, Saito's limbs were cold and his vision was darkening. Distorted voices cried out and fell silent. Numbness enveloped him. He never felt the blade pierce him and wondered vaguely if he was already dead. Beyond the blood and smoke and death in his eyes, he saw a pale light that wasn't fire. He reached for it with his right hand and touched something soft before losing all sensation and sinking into black dreams.

His hand dropped weakly to his chest, leaving bloody fingerprints on Naomi's cheek. "S-Saito-san! Wake up!" She bent over him and listened carefully. He was breathing, but barely. She pushed him onto his left side and slapped his back until he coughed up the blood blocking his airway. "Saito-san!" Still, he didn't respond. Biting her lower lip, Naomi hurried to catalogue his more serious injuries. There was a deep gash in his right side, a shallow cut on his neck, and several wounds on his arms and legs. His lower lip was split and his right eye was swollen shut. His left arm was twisted at an odd angle and felt limp. He was beaten and broken.

Time was running out. Naomi lay down in front of him, pulling him over her as she rolled onto her stomach. When his whole weight was over her, she pushed herself onto her hands and knees and finally, slowly, to her feet. His blood soaked rapidly into her clothes, mixing with the blood from the men she had killed and the blood from an injury she had sustained in her right arm. She held him tightly with the left while balancing him precariously with the right.

Careful to dodge the flames on her way out, she dragged Saito out of the burning building and into a nearby alley just in time to avoid the investigating neighbors. When they were safely out of sight, she began shredding his haori and tying strips of the material tightly over as many of his wounds as she could. Then, tying his left arm to his side to keep it from moving, she lifted him again. She was already gasping painfully and struggling to keep their combined weight over her buckling knees. "Saito…san?" If not for the faint tickle of his breath on her neck, she might have thought he was already dead. Bracing herself, she lurched forward and carried him past the inn where they had decided to stay, heading instead for a clinic she had passed earlier that day.

Saito was losing more and more blood; so was Naomi. In one last burst of desperate strength, she heaved him onto the engawa of the clinic and knocked loudly before collapsing gracelessly to wait. Sleepy footsteps approached the door and a low voice spoke as the shoji slid open. "This had better be serious or - oh!" The doctor was more than a little surprised to see the two bloodied bodies on his doorstep. It was serious. Naomi looked up, took a deep breath, and started shaking uncontrollably. "Sensei, please! He's dying!"

Adequately persuaded, the physician rushed to help her stand and carry Saito into a warm room with a clean futon where they laid him down for treatment. "Katsu! Bring water!" he shouted. He was answered by a flurry of footsteps and the soft cry of a baby. Cursing mildly, the doctor looked at Naomi and gestured with his chin to the door. "The kitchen is straight down the hall. Explain his injuries to Katsu and help her gather what we need. She'll tell you where everything is. Hurry!"

Nodding, Naomi jumped to her feet, swayed as a wave of dizziness washed over her, took a deep breath, and ran. In the kitchen she found a tall woman setting a pot of water over the fire. "K-Katsu-dono?" she gasped. The woman glanced at her, honey eyes widening when she saw her blood-soaked kimono. "No time for hot water, then? Take this," she ordered, filling another deep pot with water and handing it to Naomi. Staggering back into the room, she delivered the cold water and was immediately sent back to the kitchen.

When Naomi returned, Katsu gestured to a row of baskets and barrels. "Explain while you work. There are bandages in the far left basket." Naomi ran to the basket and pulled out several rolls of white cloth. "He's a samurai," she began. "Sword wounds?" Katsu demanded. "Yes," Naomi confirmed. "Medicines are in the red basket. Just take the whole thing. I'll bring the hot water in a few minutes."

Naomi hurried back to the room where the doctor tended Saito. He had cut around her makeshift bandages and stripped off the tattered remains of Saito's kimono, leaving him in nothing but his bloody hakama. While they waited for the water, Naomi followed the doctor's orders as best she could, applying pressure and temporary bandages to the less serious wounds while he rinsed and stitched Saito's side. When he finished, Naomi followed his directions to apply the medicine and then they wrapped bandages around Saito's torso.

The baby in the other room was wailing pitifully when Katsu finally brought the hot water. She deposited it in a rush, hardly even looking at the injured samurai before running to fetch her child. The doctor took a deep breath and tied off the stitches he had sewn into Saito's left arm. "She's just two months old," he explained, gesturing for Naomi to medicate and bandage the wound while he moved to the next one. A tiny smile flickered over his face and then vanished as he cleaned his patient's face and studied the wounds around his eye with deep concentration.

Within an hour, Saito was cleaned, bandaged, and his arm was relocated in a sling. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the young doctor sat back and looked at Naomi. Finally noticing the tear in her bloodstained sleeve, he peered closer and frowned. "Are you injured, too?" Too tired to speak, Naomi shrugged and then winced. Nodding to himself, the physician pulled out another futon and gestured for her to sit. He cleaned, stitched, and bandaged her wound without another word.

When he finished, he gathered up the bloodied rags that lay strewn around the room and pushed himself to his feet. "I'll get tea," he murmured, carrying the gruesome bundles out of the room and leaving Naomi alone with Saito. He was barely recognizable with his face half hidden under bandages. 'I should have gone in sooner.' The shock was finally making way for coherent thought. Tears prickled her eyes and she bit her lower lip. 'This is all my fault! If he dies…it's my fault!'

The doctor returned a few minutes later with two cups of tea. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Doctor Toshiaki Sohma. Here." He handed a cup of tea to Naomi and sat to sip his own. Naomi could only stomach a little before she had to set it down. "I…I left our things at the inn. I can pay you tomorrow," she stammered. Toshiaki shook his head. "Don't worry about that right now. Drink. It'll help you relax." She obediently lifted her cup again, letting the steam warm her face. "Sensei?" "Mm?" "Will he…be okay?" she queried tremulously. Toshiaki sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. I don't know. His wounds are severe. If he wakes up - if he lives - there is still no guarantee that he will recover completely."

She couldn't hold the tears back any longer. "Sensei, please help him!" she begged, bowing deeply to the young doctor. Toshiaki smiled grimly down at her and took her unfinished tea. "I promise to watch him with you and give him my best care. You are welcome to stay here as long as necessary. Please try to get some sleep."

/\/\/\/\

Saito lay still with his eyes closed for a long time. He felt constant waves of pain; he moaned when another crashed over him. He slowly forced his left eye open only to shut it again immediately. The light made the pain worse. A dull beating sound was drawing steadily closer. Recognizing the sound as approaching footsteps, Saito struggled once more to open his eye but abandoned the attempt when the pain redoubled. Simply breathing hurt like hell. He wondered briefly if he had, in fact, visited hell. After all, he vaguely remembered dying.

The approaching footsteps finally stopped next to him. "Where am I?" Saito whispered hoarsely. "Home," replied a deep, familiar voice. "Is he awake?" called a voice that was not familiar. "Yes," Yuusuke answered. Trying to think past his disorienting pain, Saito listened to the new set of approaching footsteps and determined that he was lying in his room at his family's estate. The unknown man who had called to his father now entered from the hall and knelt on his other side. "Um…it's…a pleasure, I guess, to finally meet you. I am Doctor Toshiaki Sohma. I'm…your sister's husband."

Saito didn't know how to react. Was he really alive? Was he really home? Was his sister really married to a doctor? Toshiaki gingerly turned Saito's head against the pain in his neck and forced his left eye open. Saito hissed between clenched teeth, but Toshiaki ignored his pain. "Can you see me clearly?" he asked. Saito glared venomously at the gentle-faced man. "Yes! Get your hands off me!" he croaked. Toshiaki released him and Yuusuke chuckled. "Be polite, Hajime. He saved your life." Saito brought his right hand to his face and felt bandages covering his right eye, most likely because of either the iron sheath or the Ishin's fist. He dropped his hand and started to sigh but stopped and coughed instead.

"Is he awake?" called another voice, this one familiar. "Yes," Yuusuke answered again. Eager footsteps came pounding down the hall and skidding into the room. "You lying son of a-" "Hiroaki," Yuusuke interrupted with a growl. Saito coughed again when he tried to laugh. "I am alive, aren't I?" he rasped. Hiroaki knelt by Yuusuke, received a slap, and grumbled under his breath, "Amazingly enough." "You have incredible stamina, Hajime-kun," Toshiaki remarked. "Naomi-chan will be thrilled to know you're in your usual spirits," Hiroaki added.

Toshiaki began checking Saito's numerous injuries, testing his joints and stitches. Saito wondered if his new brother-in-law was torturing him on purpose. "Is she all right?" he croaked. "Who? Naomi-chan?" Saito clawed blindly at his brother with his right hand. "Yes, moron! Where is she?" "Mm. She's out with Keiko and Katsu getting groceries." Saito relaxed and coughed again. 'I'm glad she's okay. Hijikata-san would kill me if she was hurt.'

While Toshiaki checked the rest of Saito's numerous injuries, he spoke as if catching up with an old friend. "Few could survive the shock your injuries caused, much less the injuries themselves. You're fortunate. Aside from some scars and possibly weakened sight in your right eye, I don't think there will be any permanent damage."

A distant door slid open and women's voices chattered happily in the front room. Toshiaki's hands finally stopped prodding. "Don't move too much or you'll reopen your wounds. The best medicine for now is rest." "Yeah. Just groan loudly if you need anything," Hiroaki added with a chuckle. The voices in the far room quieted. "Where did they go?" Keiko wondered aloud. "We're in here," Hiroaki and Toshiaki called in unison.

There was a pause, and then a baby giggled. A rain of running feet came rushing down the hall. "Is he awake?" demanded Katsu, skidding into the room with her baby in her arms. Keiko and Naomi nearly collided with her as they raced to Saito's futon. Yuusuke chuckled again and nodded. Saito slowly forced his left eye open once more and studied the excited faces above him. Father, brothers, sisters, Naomi…baby? He stared at the giggling infant in his sister's arms, too confused to connect the dots. "…Baby?" he whispered hoarsely.

His seven visitors burst into laughter - even the baby. Katsu scooted closer to her younger brother and lifted her tiny child so he could see better. "Her name is Teru! Isn't she adorable?" Katsu didn't need her brother to answer; she was clearly enamored of her child regardless of anyone else's opinion. Saito gave his new niece a weak smile and hesitantly shifted his gaze around the circle of faces once more. They were all smiling. No one was angry or scared or sad. Never before had Saito been in such incredible pain yet felt such a comforting peace. "Thank you," he murmured, closing his eye again and drifting back to sleep.

…End Chapter VIII

Competitive Spirit

Historical notes-

The forged letter- The letter Hiroaki forged was historically written by Yuusuke, Saito's father. It was to a man named Yoshida who owned a Dojo in Kyoto. It was said that Saito stayed with him after he fled Edo after the killing of the Hatamoto.

Yamaguchi Masu and the little Sister- There wasn't much know about Yamaguchi Masu, Saito's mother. All that was known was that she was the daughter of a farmer. Since there is no know death date, we have her having died during child birth. There is no record of a fourth Yamaguchi child. We added that there was a little sister who died before receiving her name. If I remember my notes correctly…in those days infants didn't receive their name until they were 7 days old…so the little sister died before she was a week old.

Hijikata's lie and the Shieikan Dojo- Historically, Saito Hajime had connections to the core Shinsengumi members before the Shinsengumi formed. It was at Kondo's dojo the Shieikan. With the way our storyline developed Saito knowing the Shieikan members before the Shinsengumi wouldn't work out. So we add this to pay homage to the actually history between Saito and the Shieikan members.

Toshiaki Sohma- Katsu, the oldest of the three Yamaguchi children married Toshiaki Sohma, a doctor from the Mito Clan. It's said that he opened a hospital in Edo in 1862 and that he an Katsu were married around this time. The couple had four children. Two girls and two boys. Teru was said to have been born on October 7th, 1863, making her about two months old when Saito is in Edo.