Trying to Kill Each Other Doesn't Count as Flirting (or Does it?)

Chapter 15

Life at the castle was as peaceful as one would expect. While the Shogun was busy working, (F/N) and Soyo spent their days eating sweets, having sleepovers with their friends, and wreaking havoc around town with Okita and Kagura. (F/N) continued to work with the Shinsengumi, even though Okita no longer had any reason to keep up his end of their deal. Her parents were dead, and not only that, but she'd found a better way to further her ninja training.

Sa-chan.

It had all started when (F/N) casually mentioned she'd never gotten to complete her ninja training. Princess Soyo had immediately overreacted, calling Matsudaira Katakuriko, and having him summon a well-regarded member of the oniwabanshuu. Now (F/N) stood in the courtyard, as Sarutobi Ayame evaluated her kunai-throwing skills.

"Very good," she said with a nod of her head. "I'm impressed."

"Well, it was the first thing I was taught," (F/N) replied, throwing the last kunai into the target with ease.

"How are your other skills?" Sa-chan asked.

"Well...my close combat skills are very poor, as Sougo-kun never fails to point out, and my stealth...well, considering how many times I was caught sneaking out of the house, I'm probably pretty bad at that, too."

"I see..."

A soft snore sounded behind them, and (F/N) turned to see Sougo lying propped against a tree trunk with his red sleep mask over his eyes.

"Why is he here?" Sa-chan asked with a pointed glare. "Isn't he supposed to be your bodyguard?"

"Supposed to be, yes." (F/N) heaved a sigh. "He's probably just here as an excuse to skip out of work." (F/N) also highly doubted he was actually asleep, but she didn't feel the need to mention that.

With Sougo quietly dozing in the background, Sa-chan proceeded to put (F/N) through several more tests, from basic sparring to stealth work, and while (F/N) had met her once before at Soyo's slumber party, she couldn't help but be surprised by her change in attitude. She'd been so relaxed and playful before, but apparently, not even Sa-chan played around when it came to work.

"So..." (F/N) muttered as she tried walking silently, toe to heel, toe to heel. "You're the leader of the oniwabanshuu, right?"

"What? No." Sac-chan shook her head. "I don't know how you got that impression, but I've never been the leader of the oniwaban."

"Really?" (F/N) said. "But all the other members seem to look up to you and respect you a lot."

"I'm glad you think so," Sa-chan replied, "but I'm not the leader. That title belongs to Hattori Zenzou."

(F/N) tripped over her own feet.

"Wait—" She took a moment to process what she'd just heard. "Zenzou? Zenzou is the leader of the oniwabanshuu?"

"Well, yes, that's what I just said—"

"Where is he?"

(F/N) slowly rose to her feet, and grabbed Sa-chan by the front of her shirt.

"Where the hell did that stupid idiot run off to?"

Before the slightly unnerved Sa-chan could answer, however, someone grabbed the back of (F/N)'s shirt, and hauled her back until she was dangling in midair.

"Okay," Okita drawled, "that's enough. Break it up."

"I—I wasn't—"

"Who is this Zenzou guy, anyway? Why're you so worked up over him?"