[The Sky is Linking Us all the Time] by rustedheart

Thanks to worldreminiscence, Marabou, XxXWolvesInTheNightXxX, 99-xIceQueenx-99, Illegitimi, Invisible. Words. , Aisop for reviewing! And thanks to all who has put this on your story alert and favorites!

Hope you enjoy this new chapter! :P

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*With special thanks to my beta-reader for my very first fanfiction, KuroNekoShoujo! ^^

(The usual disclaimer: No profits are intended. I do not own anything, except the writing of this fanfiction. P.S But I do hope to own Saitou Hajime from Hakuouki! :P)

'Even if the sun sinks, even if the stars flicker out,

The sky is linking us, all the time.'

Chapter Two: The Dream Continues

I felt serene. I had another dream in my sleep. It has been so long since my deceased Oka-san last appeared in my dream.

"Chizuru-chan, your mother misses your dearly. Have you been happy?" My mother hugged me tightly, giving me warmth once again with her arms. How can a dream feel so real?

"Yes Oka-san. But I am still searching for Otou-san…" My eyes began to tear up at the thought of my missing father.

"Chizuru-chan, your mother wants to let you know that she will always be by your side. Wherever you are, Chizuru-chan, look towards the sky; for I will be there for you." In the dream, the sky was still white and the sun was barely existent at all.

"I know, Oka-san. That is why I always look at the sky. But are you lonely, Oka-san? It is snowing now and I cannot really see the sky anymore…"

"Oka-san is going to be alright; do not worry. You have to live your destiny in a new place, with a new hope now. Oka-san has faith that you will definitely be someone great, create unforgettable memories, and make many, many acquaintances in the near future."

With her concluding encouragement and her heartwarming smile, I can no longer disagree with her. I nodded my head and hugged her even tighter.

"Oka-san, I miss you..." Her embrace brought me solace for this lonely night. This is all but a dream, where the dimension itself is only temporary. I really do not know how long I can hide myself and linger aimlessly in such an existence.

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"Ohaiyo! How are you feeling?"

I opened my eyes with much reluctance and immediately noticed the constraint of my mobility and my speech. Someone has tied me up with thicker-than-necessarily ropes and gagged with cloth in my sleep. Moreover to my shock, Otou-san's wooden sword is no longer with me. I tried returning the greeting with the gag still in my mouth in vain, not bothering to look up.

He burst out in laughter and I recognized his voice in an instant – it must be that provocative green-eyed guy. I gave him my coldest stare that eventually managed to stop his irritating laughter.

"Oops, sorry that I have to tie you up like that. Don't look at me like that; I am going to untie you right now. But you do not have to return the greeting at all, you know..." He tried restraining his laughter as I shot him another effective look. He finally gave up teasing the comical act of mine.

"Anyway, I am Okita Souji. You can call me Okita." His welcoming smile was really the first friendly act this guy has ever done.

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Okita-san was really unbelievable. After untying, he tied my hands again in irony. Like a dog led by its owner, I was led to their meeting room. It was not exactly big and grand as I have expected, but it still looked very decently furnished. I was going to be interrogated in their meeting room by eight swordsmen in the top-secret Shinsengumi's headquarters, as they decide my life and death. Oka-san, is this really the new place that you were talking about?

The eight Shinsengumi members sat on the four sides of the room, while I was led to take a seat beside who is supposed to be the Captain and Vice-captain - Kondou Isami and Hijikata Toshizo respectively. I felt uncomfortable the next few seconds after I sat; the attention of the eight members was fixated on me like I was some alien object. That was exaggerating; I only looked a tad bit smaller than their usual size, and my muscles are not as well-developed as them – but do they have to alienate me due to my natural body size? I regret to say that I am a female, not a male.

"So this small little brat is the witness? He is just a kid!" another kid – the same 'species' as me, proclaimed a self-contradiction. I swear that he was only half a head taller; there was certainly nothing to boast about that. He was later known to be Toudou Heisuke, who had a high ponytail with brown hair and green eyes. On first glance, he looked like a childish adolescent who was practically in the wrong place. But I believe there must be some reasons that he is in Shinsengumi. Who I am to judge those of the same 'species'? I smirked at that thought.

The older guys beside him are Shinpachi Nagakura, who ties a green headband around his forehead, and Harada Sanosuke, who has red hair and yellow eyes. Both are very well-built intimidating figures; they appeared like the big brothers to this Shinsengumi family. They teased him for his similar small size, and I could not help but laugh in advocacy of Heisuke-kun's self-contradiction.

Feeling the atmosphere was inappropriate; Vice-captain Hijikata-san stepped in to stop the paradoxical argument between the childish adults. He seemed to be an effective disciplinarian who can keep Shinsengumi in order. His long black ponytail made him look stern and people can take his words to be definite orders. Despite this, it seemed that his comrades were very friendly to him; maybe there is another side to the Vice-captain.

Captain Kondou-san cleared his throat and began the supposed interrogation. Once again, their attention was diverted back to me - the kiddy boy witness amongst the group of eight adult swordsmen.

"We should just kill him. It is the fastest way to keep his mouth shut." I could tell very well that Okita-san never helps, he only provokes. What a guy.

"Souji, be serious. People cannot be killed without any reason. We have to interrogate him first." He finally spoke after so long. Was he reluctant to speak? Or did he feel that he should speak only when necessary? Supposedly to be my savior from last night; he has the name of Saitou Hajime. His name 'Hajime' means the beginning or the start. Strangely enough, his name and my dream of Oka-san last night coincided.

"I was joking. Hajime-kun, you always like to spoil my fun." I was fortunate that Saitou-san indirectly saved me again. I could have died of shock from Okita-san's words if he continues to be so aggressive towards me.

"I apologize for their behavior which was uncalled for. Do fill us in on last night's incident and your background." The man with glasses is Sannan Keisuke. He looked like a knowledgeable and wise man; I assumed he played the role of an advisor. I can see Sannan-san's attempt in trying to put on a friendly expression to ease the tension.

"Hai, my name is Yukimura Chizuru. I came to Kyoto in search for my missing father Yukimura Kodou…" I began telling them about my journey from my hometown Edo to the capital Kyoto using my disguised identity of a boy. I explained to them how my encounter with the hooligans occurred on the verge of my desperation in pursuit of my missing father, without leaving a single detail so that they can better understand my situation. I cannot let myself die here; I need to live so that I can find Otou-san.

"What? You are a girl?" Kondou-san's reaction was the funniest. He nodded slowly to himself with understanding and thoughtfulness, when actually he had left out the very important fact that I am actually a girl. In a way, their shocked expressions implied the success of my boy disguise. Way to go, Chizuru! I praised myself mentally. Surprisingly, Vice-captain Hijikata-san, Mr. Provocative guy Okita-san and my silent savior Saitou-san remained unaffected.

"It was so obvious, Isami-san." Okita-san continues his provocation. He sent a look to Hijikata-san and he responded by slightly nodding his head.

"But how did you guys know? This is Kondou Isami's greatest blunder…" Captain Kondou-san slapped his forehead and began his self-mellowing.

"She is wearing a pink haori." Saitou-san closed his eyes as if to sigh at the Captain's usual blunder for the lack of detail. Unknowingly, a crimson flush spread over my face as I realized that I have picked a too-obvious color for my haori to reveal what I wanted to conceal. I made a mental note-to-self that I need to change its color if given a chance.

Hence, at the Captain's and Vice-captain's conclusion, they have decided to keep me in Shinsengumi until I find my Otou-san. My father appeared to be an important person to the Shinsengumi; they all expected me to give them information which I apparently did not have a hold of. I did not probe any further, with the assumption that my ignorance at that moment was considered bliss. I have faith in Otou-san and can never doubt him; he must have his reasons for leaving like that. Of course I was still an object of suspicion, completely alienated from the Shinsengumi; even after the interrogation, which apparently did not serve its purpose. I sighed for the first time that day and barely managed a weak smile.

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The stars came out from the clouds and twinkled brightly; the sky was no longer empty like in the day. For some reason, it was difficult for me to fall into slumber that night. Perhaps I wanted to stop another dream from occurring; self-delusion was indeed a torturous thing to do to oneself. While gazing at how the falling snow was accumulating layer by layer onto the ground, I heard the swinging of swords. My curiosity got the better of me as I traced myself to the origin of the vague sound.

"Saitou-san…?" Upon hearing the mention of his name, he charged at me with his sword just inches from my neck. I stood frozen in my position, not daring to make any movement lest the sword cut my neck for real. My heart must have skipped several beats before he finally withdrew his sword when he recognized that it was me. Nonetheless, I did not expect anyone to be training at this hour, much less say in this weather. Do they all have to train so hard? Or is it just Saitou-san?

"What are you doing? You should be in your room." Amazingly, the glitter in his eyes remained. The glow was still the same as the previous night… I hope I was not disrupting his training – no, but I did already.

"As if you can talk, Saitou-san; you should be in bed too!" I rebutted him defiantly, forgetting that he has an advantage with his sword. If he was really aggressive, he would have given me a stab or two and my blood would paint the snowy platform this time. But he only slightly lowered his head and put his sword back into the sheath. I thought he blushed for a second as he greeted me good night and returned to his room as if nothing happened. Somehow, his neutral reaction still brought a smile to my face as I returned the greeting,

"Oyasumi-nasai, Saitou-san."

As I watched his shadow slowly fade into the side of the building as far as the moonlight can reach, I began to feel a tint of fatigue and headed for my room as well. The moon was hanging directly above the sky; it was midnight - the transition from yesterday to tomorrow. Maybe I should just live for today.

'Then in a flash, the confusion and commotion
Between yesterday and tomorrow,
Disappeared.'

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Author's Note:

Pardon me for my late update as I was stuck with a scene for a very long time… T_T

But I have finally managed to do it :)

Review if you like! :D

Thank you for reading!