Within the dark blueness of that night's sky, the tranquil shade of a different blue fluttered along the wind, creating a sharp contrast against that dim firmament, but it was promising no less ferocity and anger. The triangular white of that haori shone with a serenity rivaling that of the falling snowflakes dotting it, both bringing upon the beholder the same sensations of coldness and hopelessness.
Those were the wolves of mibu after all.
"I'll teach a lesson for making fun of Harada Sanosuke!"
A tall ghost waving a giant spear above my head with the experience of a seasoned warrior was towering over me. I gulped in panic as the man yelled at me angrily, fear running through my snow soaked limbs and petrifying them more than the storm surrounding us. I had no words, my lips trembled but refused to speak, too frightened to explain and my fretful heart deemed any trials of clarification useless. Nevertheless, I had to let the gears of mind run again, on wit and deceit instead of fear and panic. I had heard this name somewhere before. Obviously he was a member of the dreaded ill – reputed Shinsingumi, but that name had more to it than these well known facts and I had to think fast.
"Harada Sanosuke of the Shinsengumi?!"
I barely managed to mumble these words with a stupid expression, trying desperately to buy my stubborn mind more time to dig information and recall passed down tales. The man hovering over my petit figure confirmed this by aiming his spear at my shoulders but I avoided him like a mouse and threw myself under the moonlight to let Harada see who he was fighting. Luckily, this had the affect I hoped for because the latter stood wondering; a girl with funny hairdo and simple kimono, drenched in snow and bitten by cold, but unfortunately the effect of the poor girl's appearance lasted only for a few seconds. Harada grasped his spear again more strongly and waved it again to impale me probably and prevent any poor decision of escape. It was then, pushed my mortal fear, that y thoughts finally cooperated and the piece of information tied to that name resurfaced in mind. There was one thing I could say to this man in my current dire situation though I could only stutter it in fear:
"The same Harada Sanosuke who tried to commit seppuku to preserve his honor?"
My words had the effect of magical spelling restraining a wild beast. The man immediately calmed down as he could not stop himself from smiling proudly as he declared proudly:
"Yes this is me, the indestructible man!"
My trick had worked, and I prayed it that spell conjuring the man's ego about that famous incident would not seize shortly. I had to take advantage of this; I bowed to him until my front almost touched the ground and hardly uttered:
"Harada - san… please… I am but a poor unfortunate girl whose fate and wisdom abandoned her tonight…"
My clothes expressed my poverty and need better than my word could, convoying the desperate state I was driven into. The man rubbed his forehead, lowering his weapon but far enough to open for me an escape spot. I was still guilty, and those were men who delivered punishment without any considerations. Still, the man, Harada Sanosuki, spoke calmly though arrogance laced his words.
"You know who I'm and the great honor the man standing in front of you had received, but is this enough to make me forgive you?"
He was thinking in hesitation when this other two followers arrived and asked him what to do with me. I raised my head in dreadful anticipation waiting for his decision. I did not dare turn my head in any direction, that flashy steel seizing their gaze, but the gushing sound of the nearby river hummed in my ears stronger than agitated wind, and I immediately thought, without any hesitation or regrets, that if things were to turn ugly as all the circumstances were indicating, that I was better off throwing myself in the river. The clashing waves of the usually peaceful stream would be a better option than being skewered by that fine blade.
However, that night still had many twists embedded in its darkness.
Three other men, wearing the same ominous uniform crossed our path, sweat was dripping from their foreheads, and their anxious expressions only lightened when they fell on the spear – man in charge. It might sound evil and wicked coming out of a nurse such as myself, but this was a fortunate accident indeed!
The three men seemed relieved to see Harada then; and my experienced eyes did not fail to notice that one of them was injured, his blood trailing a path behind him on the heaping snow.
"Harada - san, our friend was injured while we were chasing after a thief, the bastard stabbed him deeply…"
Harada seemed annoyed with the news, but a flicker of concern did not shy from expressing itself in his dark eyes. He ordered them to immediately take the injured fellow to the headquarters and call for a doctor.
"He's here, Harada - san!"
With these three men's arrival, everyone seemed to have forgotten about me. Their heads turned simultaneously at my miserable being as Harada asked dumbly.
"Who is here?"
"The doctor you are looking for, and whom your friend needs!"
"You are trained in medicine? But you do not seem like it… at all!"
Harada Sanosuki spoke without filters, and he was right to some degree. In my current state of hunger and distress, and I had to prove myself. I was a thief only few moments ago, but I had been a nurse for year now!
"You've to trust me! I'm a nurse and I have gained enough knowledge. My house is right here and as you can see, the man's wound is serious and he's bleeding a lot… You don't wish your friend's death nor do I!
The captain of the tenth unit pondered for a short time, before he finally decided.
"If that man dies, you will be next!"
I nodded my head in acceptance, it was not out of fear from that threat who I was certain would be carried out. No, I accepted because my job was to save lives regardless of their identities or affiliation. I could not ignore a seeping wound, let alone one bleeding and agonizing its victim right in front of my eyes . Harada - San seemed to admire this sudden shift in my state, the determination and confidence wrapping it. He put his weapon away, and ordered his men to bring their wounded comrade inside. I led the men inside my humble house and together we laid the injured one down. I brought the needed equipment swiftly and started what I had to do.
An hour passed with me knuckling down to the injury. Through that time, I felt Harada's eyes staring around the house where only simplicity and poverty was to be found. I was embarrassed yet I didn't care; I'd to focus on my job and when I finally finished I declared happily:
"Finished!"
"Would he be all right?"
Harada - San eagerly asked, and when I assured him that his friend only needed some rest, he replied in a tone different from the one before:
" I never expected this but thank you little girl, you've saved one of my men and I would never by happy to lose one of them."
I smiled excusing myself then went to the kitchen to prepare tea. I entered the small room and looked throughout every cabinet and sacks. After a long search between the scattered stuffs and objects I finally managed to fish out the pot but when I extended my hands inside, there was only emptiness. My face turned red from anger and embarrassment.
"Let me guess, there's no tea in the first place."
I turned and found Harada - San leaning on the door behind me, I covered my face in embarrassment mumbling one apology after the other. But the tenth unit captain shook his head, warm words flowing from a grateful smile.
"It's all right little girl, we could ask for nothing more from you."
*****
The other five men stayed watching over their friend while Harada - san leaned his long spear against the wall and sat with me face to face. I felt, although I was seventeen back then, that I was a naughty girl preparing herself to receive a harsh scolding from her parent. The man asked me:
"So Kikyo - chan, what brought you to this?
"This isn't my fault!"
I exclaimed and went on defending myself:
" This happens every time my father travels! We're, as you can clearly see , so poor but this isn't the problem… father usually has urgent work and suddenly travels without even telling me where he is going! He forgets to write me letters to tell me his place and check on me. We love a humble a life as you can see, and all the saving and food are so little they become depleted in mere days no matter how hard I try to cut down!"
"Your father is a weird man…"
Harada - San remarked as he flipped his lips. I wanted to defend my father, but I could only whisper with my head down.
"He is a good man…"
"Good man? I am sorry Kikyo – Chan, but a man who drives his daughter into the path of stealing…"
"No! This is a completely different matter!!"
Harada - San was curious to hear my tale, so I told him briefly of the injustice I had suffered. My goal was not to cause troubles for mister Isawa's family, but I had no one else to vent my frustration. After hearing my story, the man's eyes narrowed but he did not speak a word.
"It does not matter anymore… thing will turn out for the better once father returns."
"I hope so, and I hope it does so sooner."
Harada spoke gently as he got up. It was too late and the group had to report back to their chiefs. At his signal, the men helped their injured friend out of the straw mattress and thanked me one by one until one of them spoke.
"But what about her? She was trying to steal!"
My heart bounced again. I raised a pair of hopeless eyes at the spear – man who replied nonchalantly, ending all discussion to this matter.
"It's all right Kikyo - chan. The important thing is that we managed to picked you up before you drowned yourself in something regrettable."
The other men exchanged silent glances but none dared protest. Another stern look from the spear – man dark eyes, and they left the house dragging their friend. I bit on my lips, I was deprived of such kindness and trust for so long it began to fade out of my mind but tonight, amidst its hoarse wailing of the wind, it still brought me a whiff of kindness and gratitude.
Harada - San was still standing next to me, and I want to express my thanks once again but he was faster than me, grasping my hand softly and placing a small bag of money in my palm.
"I hope your father returns soon, Kikyo - chan."
Then he left to carry on his patrol, without leaving me any chance to object or refuse.
The Shinsengumi was a special police for Kyoto that was formed to protect the Shogun and guard peace in the city, but some of its formal leaders committed wrongdoings that ruined the Shinsengumi's men's reputation leaving them with the nickname "Wolves of Mibu". I myself was afraid of them whenever they passed in front of me but I'd never expected to find such a kind - hearted soul among them like Harada Sanosuke, the captain of the tenth squad.