Chapter 108: The Rhythm of Kidnapping

  After moving into Seibei Temple, the power of Shinsengumi expanded further. The large hall was filled with people sitting neatly. In the front row, from left to right, were Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, and Yamanami Keisuke. A meeting was held regarding the Ikedaya Affair, and I sat in a corner as a bystander.

  In the spacious hall, as usual, I remembered the voice of Kondo Hogoro "Has everyone heard the news that Tokugawa's 14th general, Tokugawa Iemochi, is going to Kyoto? Before the officials accompanying him enter Nijo Castle, the Shinsengumi will do their best to serve as guards... We have received this request!"

  The entire temple was filled with a murmur of surprise, for the Shinsengumi to be entrusted with such an important and arduous task was truly an honor. For a moment, every face lit up with excited expressions, exchanging whispers with one another.

  "Hmph... After the Ikedaya Affair and the Kinmon Incident, those big shots have finally come to recognize our abilities, I suppose." Toshi said calmly, still with a hint of pride in his words.

  "Guardians are just as the name suggests, our swords determine the future of the country... right?" General So said with a playful tone.

  At this time, Ito suddenly spoke up, "Not to mention the nurse who went to Luo's place, if Shannan were still alive, it would be a real pity that she died..."

  Ito had already assumed that Yamato was dead, and the new selection group seemed to be thoroughly concealing the information about the medicine, so only a very small number of people knew that Yamato was still alive.

  Perhaps feeling guilty for hiding the truth, Kondo's face was tense as he spoke "......Anyway, from now on it will get busier. First of all, we need to consider the formation of the team members, so let's see... I, Akito and Sōta..."

  Tsuchida cut him off, "Sorry, Kindo, but can we exclude Totsuka this time? He looks like he's caught a cold."

  Kondō immediately looked at Sōsuke with concern and asked "Hmmm... is that so? Sōsuke, are you alright?"

  "I don't think there's a problem at all, Mr. Tsuchida is overreacting." Sousuke replied nonchalantly.

  I glared at the back of the general, what's meant by 'nothing's wrong'! You've clearly already contracted early-stage tuberculosis, and I have to secretly add medicine that tonifies the spleen and lungs to your food every day, without you even noticing. Are you treating me fairly?!

  Kanako continued to watch her own master who was getting more and more agitated.

  "No wonder, you've been coughing since just now." Tsuchida stared at Soji and asked.

  "...... Ah, Mr. Tufang is really overprotective." General Su said with a bitter smile.

  Before I could finish looking down on the chief, another unexpected person raised their hand "Ah, Director Kondou, actually I've also been feeling a bit..."

  "What's wrong, Pingzhu is also catching a cold? It's a rare grand occasion, I was thinking of having everyone welcome the general together."

  "Ah...... sorry......"

  "Ah, no, what's important is the body, the body. If you have another chance in the future, you two just go for it." Kondo, who pretended to cough to comfort the two of them, gave off a very gentle and considerate feeling, truly living up to his reputation as a good person.

  At this time, Tuo Fang, who was confirming the status of each team member one by one, suddenly stood in front of me and said, "So, what will you do?"

  "Huh?" I stared at him in confusion, having no idea what he meant.

  "What are you spacing out for? I'm asking if you're going to attend the guard." Tofu looked at me quietly.

  "Guard? Can I go?" I stared blankly ahead, completely unclear about the situation. Was I just spacing out earlier?

  Kondō smiled and said "Of course it's no problem, you're already a member of the Shinsengumi in spirit, so if possible, please do participate."

  The corners of my mouth twitched again, Tufang, you actually just want to find someone who can cook, run errands and do chores for you, right? And I just happen to be the person you have in mind.

  "Don't worry about safety issues, no mobs will dare to attack the general." Are you sure you're not dragging me into an abyss?

  "Why don't you go and take a look? It shouldn't be too bad, right? Probably won't be any big deal." Heihachi, I know you're trying to encourage me, but timing is everything.

  I dryly laughed a few times, looks like I have no choice but to go. This is what they call a "toxic friend", a bunch of people who won't be satisfied until you're dead. "I'll go, Mr. Tsuchida, leave the cooking to me."

  The devil deputy commander responded with a calm sentence "Anyway, what you mainly do is to deliver messages and run errands... make good mental preparation for me."

  I turned my head and didn't look at him because I'm already numb in the face, just as I guessed, I said to help him with errands.

  Master, can't I stop eating carrots? I've been eating carrots for four days already...... Ah! The green grass over there looks so delicious =q= Kanna continued to complain to me, and when she turned her head to see the lush green grass by my feet, she started drooling. The carrot she was holding slipped from her small paws and made a heroic sacrifice.

  "Nai-chan, it's not good to waste food. The grass here has been sprayed with pesticides and can't be eaten, or you'll die." I stepped over the carrot that Nai had bitten a few times and continued to do the physical labor of digging the soil. Nai-chan can't let me suffer alone like this, so come keep me company too~

  【qaq waaahhh... Master, you're talking nonsense! In the Edo period, pesticides hadn't been invented yet! I'm so sick of carrots! I want to eat fresh grass!!】Kanna twisted her snowball-like body and complained to me.

  "If you want to eat the ultimate limited edition of green grass cake, look! The beautiful sheep is waiting for you at the end of the rainbow, go quickly." I pointed to the pitch-black night sky with twinkling stars.

  "What the...! Master, rainbows are endless! And what's with the rainbow at midnight?! You deceived my young heart! (>д<)" God Nai instantly puffed up his fur and raised his paw to give me a slap.

  "n▽n Nai-chan~~ If you scratch off a bit of skin, when I get back, I'll stew you for General Sō as a nourishing supplement." I once again raised the Holy Mother Mary's signboard smile at Kamina, which was just a smile, and also emitted some killing intent.

  Good grief, good grief...... This master is a guy with a different sex but no humanity...... (>_<,) Sena covers her head as if she didn't exist just now.

  "Ah~ I have to start working too, what a hassle." I shrugged and continued walking quickly towards my destination.

  My task is to run around and deliver orders for the squad members, nominally as a messenger. That Tuo Fang guy, I don't know what I did to offend him, but he deliberately pulled me over here. I'd rather be staying in the barracks, free and easy.

  A chill ran down my spine, there was a murderous aura! I cautiously looked towards the source of the murderous aura, in the extremely dark corner, at the edge of the city wall that was far away from the firelight and moonlight, they were standing there.

  "Who are you..." I narrowed my eyes and looked at the blond-haired man, if I remembered correctly, his name was Kazuma Kaze.

  "...Did you notice? You don't seem as dull as you look." Kaze no Chikage seemed somewhat pleased, gazing at me with a languid tone in her slow and measured words.

  Three men with strange yet distinctive attire cast sharp glances at me, and apart from Kazuma Kaze, the other two I had never seen before, apparently his companions.

  I pursed my lips and looked at them with some dissatisfaction. Staring at others for so long is very impolite, and what's with the killing aura from those few people beside you? What did I do? If you're not satisfied, come and argue! (#`o′) "What business do you have with me?"

  "Huh? Since you asked why, the answer is simple. To us 'oni', human-made obstacles are meaningless." Fire Ring said disdainfully.

  "Yes, we have come for a purpose. We are looking for you, Yuki-mura Chizuru." said Tenmu Kyuju calmly.

  "Ghost? Blood relative?" I looked at them in confusion.

  "...Don't know 'ghost'? Is this for real? My...fellow countryman." Fūin Chiaki's eyes widened in surprise, staring at me intently.

  Tian Yun continued in a soft and gentle voice, as if coaxing a child, "You... are your wounds easy to heal?"

  "Uh-huh." I replied very honestly, but somehow felt like I had heard this sentence somewhere before.

  "Huh? Then let's use your blood as proof, it'll be faster that way!" Suddenly, Huo Yan's eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he drew his fire gun and aimed it at me.

  "Huh? With a gun? If you want to die, just say so!" I pulled out a practical assassination handgun, neatly attaching a silencer to it, aiming at him.

  "What?! He stared at me with wide eyes, fixed on the small gun in my hand.

  "...Halt, Shiranui. Whether you deny or affirm it, our actions will not change." Fuuma restrained Shiranui, his gaze shifting from the gun in my hand to the small sword at my waist. "No need for further words, this crest alone is sufficient evidence, the surname of the surface Oni and the small sword of Azuma no Oni, I've said it before, Yukimura Chigusa."

  "In other words, I'm going to take you away without needing your consent. Female ghosts are precious, come with me—" Fūin was about to pull me over, his hand reaching out from the shadows...

  At this moment, a cold light flashed, and the person in front of him quickly retreated. Immediately afterwards, he heard a familiar voice, "Hey, having a secret meeting in such an unromantic place is really tasteless..."

  "...It's you again, are the only useful things in this countryside village your eyes?" Fūin gazed at them coldly.

  "...... That's our line." At that moment, Kazama took several steps back, and the two men with guns and knives blocked my way.

  I silently watched Hara and Koichi, did they really think I was that weak and needed their protection like a greenhouse flower? Knowing he was in the wrong, he quietly put away his gun. "Kazama, I've told you before ~ you have to marry the person you kicked first, then I'll follow you."

  "...", collective blackout.

  A rough hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, I turned around to see it was Tufang. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot, could it be because of the night? "......You step down."

  Just as I walked forward, Tufang already had his knife in hand. "Hmph...I thought you were here for General Cao's sake. What do you want to do with this little devil?"

  "It doesn't matter whether it's you or the general, this is our 'ghost' problem."

  "'Ghost'?" Tsuchida narrowed his eyes, seemingly judging the authenticity of the other's words, his gaze was exceptionally sharp.

  "Hmm... It's been a while since the incident at the gate, and I still haven't met him face to face yet..." Harada's gun tip quivered as Hirosuke reached for his handgun at his waist, and the two exchanged a deep, pleasant gaze.

  "When it comes to reunions, I'm the same. However, there's no words that can express my feelings." Xiao Yi gripped the hilt of his sword tighter, and Tian Yun began to condense power on his fingertips. It means I don't care about age differences, especially that Tian Yun guy is not worthy of Xiao Yi.

  "Don't worry about the vice-captain." Yamazaki said calmly, standing behind me while I was still in a daze, and I couldn't help but think that he must have learned some ninja stealth techniques. "The vice-captain ordered me to bring you back to the dormitory like this."

  "Oh, sorry about that, Kazama. Yamazaki told me to go home and cook dinner, it's getting late so you should hurry up and go home to wash up and sleep too, bye~" She turned around and waved at Kazama before dragging a still-dazed Yamazaki away.