Blossoms

Chapter One

"Daddy, daddy! Where are you?" I was sat in the headquarters with Saito when I heard an all too familiar chiming voice ring through the compound followed by a warm giggling shh from another familiar voice. "Looks like you have visitors, Hijikata," Saito commented as he sat from me, making notes about the Shinsengumi. "It appears that way," I smile as I go to open the doors to advance through the compound to find the source of these heartwarming voices.
I was walking through the courtyard, katana training occurring to the left when I hear a loud pitched yell echo, "There you are!" I look to my right as I see Chizuru sitting on a bench beneath a blossom tree, Lalia sat snug on her lap until she jumps and runs to me, arms wide as she laughs, hair dancing in the wind. Although many call me stern and say I'm just a demon vice commander, I still cannot help but smile when I see them.
Chizuru gets up slowly, hand on her small bump as she steadies herself to walk over following our overexcited daughter. "Working hard, eh?" Chizuru pokes as she laughs at the spilt ink on my sleeve, squeezing my hand. "As a matter of fact he was until you came along," Saito smiles warmly as he emerged from the room. "Uncle Saity! Uncle Saity!" Lalia runs and jumps into the arms of 'Saity' as he lifts her up, cradling her tightly. Chizuru smiles as she begins to walk to her daughter only to be swamped by the local flock of Shinsengumi men. "Chizuru! Aw, you look so glowy ," Shinpachi comments as he hugs my pregnant wife. "How are you Chizuru, are you keeping well?" Yamazaki questions as he takes her small hand into his. "I'm fine, stop you worrying. How are all of you keeping, it's been weeks since I seen you last," Chizuru ponders as the fellas engulf her, smiles painted on all their faces.
"What has you at the headquarters anyway, Chizuru?" Saito questions as he releases Lalia who runs into my arms, playing with my hair.
It was odd for her surprise visit especially as she was pregnant and Kondo San warned against her visiting as it was too dangerous for her and the baby.
"I need to erm.. Run some errands, yeah busy busy so I need to go to the city and get some things for Lalia and I was hoping, if it'd be no trouble, if she could stay here for an hour or two?" I noticed an unsteadiness in my wife as she spoke, looking at Lalia. Her face sort of crumbled as she tried to piece together a face smile, giggling to hide the tears that were trying to Marathon from their ducts. "Sure Chizuru, no problem." Saito answers as he too analyses her face. "Great, I'll be going now, bye!" Chizuru hurries off abruptly out, taking Lalia and squeezing her as she says, "Goodbye my little one, You be good for Daddy and uncles,okay? I love you." She pecks Lalia on her forehead as she backs away, waving gently.
"Daddy, what's wrong with mama?" Lalia looks at me, noticing a change in her mother also. "She's very sad,Daddy. Mama cried allllllllllllll night and morning, she must have lost a dolly," Lalia adds in her child like voice as she hugs my leg tightly. I can't help but feel my heart grow heavy as she tells me about my wife crying, the wife I'm suppose to be there to wipe away those tears and why is she crying? Is it the baby or is it because I'm not there? I work long hours at the Shinsengumi headquarters, sometimes staying as work stacks up and takes a long time to complete and it was best that I moved Chizuru and Lalia to a house outside the compound and far from lurking enemies but I guess now my safety measures have paid a price for my wife's happiness.