"5,4,3,2,1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
The crowds cheered whilst jumping around and hugging everyone in sight. Sake and various alcohols lined the streets and warmed up to the inner palms of people's hands that clung to the brittle bottles.
I kissed my wife and held her up in the air whilst she cheered in the new year, getting caught up in the traditional festivities that followed the celebrations of the occasion.
"Happy new year, love birds." Okita, tipsy, whacked me on the back as he ran to steal a kiss from my wife. She engaged in his little game of cat and mouse before halting and allowing him to steal a friendly, innocent kiss. He chuckled loudly with delight as he scooped her up and placed her on his shoulder, chanting some drunken cheer that was barley recognisable.
The fellas all joined us, unaware that we were able to come join the festivities due to not being able to get the children babysat but a free 13 year old girl offered kindly to watch them, Chizuru hugging her to the point of choking as this was Chizurus favourite time of the year as she loved watching the fireworks. After finally convincing her that the children should be fine and nothing will happen, we left and headed to town to where we are now with our close knit family huddled around us.
"I'll be needing a super kiss for this to be a super new year Miss Hijikata," chirped Nakagura, tilting his head slight to expose his cheek for Chizuru to kiss. Each of the men demanded a kiss from her besides Saito, even though she kissed him anyway.
"Drinks are on me tonight!" With Haradas claim, we all return to a local bar that kindly reserved a large table for us in a quiet room.
"Chizuru, you not drinking?"
"Ah, no. Not tonight love or for a while."
"What will this new year bring you two, hmmm?" Heiskue questioned intently while me and Chizuru both laughed before deciding to inform them on our news.
"Well, I don't know about Toshi here but I'm being mummy to baby number four."
"As much as I'd love to leave now, I can't really so I guess I'm getting to be a father again also."
The fellas all cheer loudly, drinking on behalf of Chizuru.
"Oh my god guys, I'm-I'm-im, I can't talk okay I'm too emotional," sobbed Heiskue as he began crying over the good news, balling like a baby, fitting to the current conversation topic.
"Hey, what about you guys, the Shinsengumi isn't needed anymore so what will you all be doing?" Chizurus question loomed as they all stared at each other. The blue robes we once wore were out dated and not needed due to the development of the policing force however we were still considered badass.
They brushed past the subject and instead decided to turn back to baby topic and provided convincing arguments on why we should call our new baby after them. The night blurred and we all saw the new year in in the most Shinsengumi fashion possible-get drunk and sing to the top of your lungs.
The new year was a new start for all of them and us included. In time, with me right next holding her squeezing hand, Chizuru gave birth to a healthy boy that screeched from the second he inhaled his first breath. Everyone was in brilliant health and Chizuru and our son, Jin, were able to go visit uncles a few days after.
Speaking of the fellas, they too found their happy endings. Heiskue met a girl and a few years later got married and had five daughters that broke his heart more than what should be legal. Nakagura too met his wife, not long after New Years and moved away with her to start a new life, opening a bakery in a peaceful town whilst raising their three sons that ended up becoming successful soldiers, known for their strength inherited from their father. Harada had a long string of relationships before meeting his second wife and falling completely head over heels for her. After years of trying, she gave him a daughter that he worshipped. In a way, he almost turned into a doting second mother as he obsessed over his little girl, a way a father should be. Okita too found happiness. One mischievous night led to him meeting a girl that, I kid you not, was exactly the female version of him. The pairs similarities were so strong that they had to marry. They had four mischievous children, three boys and a little daughter that, just like their parents, loved causing mayhem. It was Okitas daughter, Múu, that incidentally married our youngest, Jin. Múu and Jin had two children that Chizuru obsessed over.
Yamazaki became a successful doctor in the area, offering health care to those that couldn't afford it, making him renowned for his generosity. It is this that allowed him to meet his wife that loved him. The pair developed medicines and cured many illnesses in the local area however, due to being exposed to many illnesses, were unable to conceive a child of their own however their prayers were answered when his wife, Clari, stumbled upon an orphanage in which they took home a little girl that they showered with affection. In time she continued their hard work and never ceased to find a new way to help people. Saito, in his own way, found his happiness. After a drinking session, he drunk lu confessed everything to me about his live for Chizuru and the spell that he took so that we would be happy. I forgive him entirely as friendship is worth too much in life. I believe it was this forgiveness he needed for this curse to be lifted as he went on to find a sweet yet remarkably skilled samurai female that won over his heart. They married after years together from the constant yelling from everyone to get a move on as we all wanted a wedding to attend. The pair had two sons and twin girl and boy. They opened a successful dojo that became acclaimed for its success in students. Kondo moved to the country with his family and lived out the rest of his life in the peace he always wanted. Sanansan published successful books on theories that great in popularity across Edo.
And that demon? Well he too lived well. I heard Kazama Chikage found that precious demon wife he longed for and had 6 sons to pass on his 'gifts'.
I believe that summarises everyone up.
"Toshi dear, you'll catch your death out here." The elderly man closes his book as he turns to his elderly wife that was approaching him with a hand knitted blanket, draping it over his aged shoulders that were once broad and strong but now crumpled and weakened by age.
"What were you writing, dear?" His little wife looks to him with those hazel eyes that still held a piece of fire in their orbs.
"Just a tale to leave behind, Chizuru."
"Do you remember the blossoms, Toshi?"
The couple looked to the lone tree that stood there for decades, the same tree he proposed to her at, the same she announced her first pregnancy, the same that the vowed to never part. That tree held some of the most precious and beautiful memories that the pair shared with one another their life's as a couple.
As a blossom fell the next morning, a neighbour discovered the elderly couples lifeless bodies intertwined in a tight hug, their hands held in each others. The doctor said that they died as death had come to claim them both at the same time, the perfect way to leave is with your lived one.
"And here we all were wondering when the hell you two were going to show up!"
"Hell, watch your language here Okita otherwise we might end up there."
"We're sorry, we were a lot healthier than you so that's probably why Toshi and I outlived everyone."
"For that, I must hug you to a second death."
The group returned to their youth and watched their children, now adults engage in their new chapter in their lives.
"What's this book?" Lalia mused as she held up a book called Blossoms questioning Rija that was holding his newborn son.
"Hey, I found this one aswell, Blossoms:New Beginnings, must go with that one," added Sakura that waddled in, heavily pregnant with her first child.
"Go on Lalia, read a bit!"
"Blossoms. Oh how beautiful they are..."
