Hakuouki: The Masked Cherry Blossoms

Chapter 4

I stand in the shadows watching, listening. At this time of day I would be able to blend in easily with other civilians but it would be suspicious to just be staring at one place for too long. Not to mention the funny looks I'd get, I even got those occasionally for how I dressed.

I had more than enough evidence to report him but I couldn't risk a scene or exposure. He kept moving to crowded places and almost instinctively. I kept a distance from the darker parts of the roads. It would have been easier to catch him this morning if I hadn't had other plans.

He comes out and I take action. I run out clumsily and latch on his arm pretending to be panicked. His straw hat keeping the sun from his face almost falls off making him panic for a moment before fixing it. The sun was obviously his weakness, which I knew. "Please! Help me. This man, he's, he's-"

"Take me there." He orders turning serious with his sense of duty, putting a hand on his sword. I nod rapidly and rush him into the ally.

"Where-" I strike him from behind swiftly and he collapses without another word.

"If only your loyalty was as honorable as your sense of justice. Honestly, you could've been a good man but it seems all you've done is waste your talents on a con you believed out of desperation. If only you waited until I could introduce myself. Fool." I mutter taking his sword in one hand and drag him by the collar deeper into the alleyways with the other.

~~~

I put on a black mask and a newly bought red haori to conceal my identity when I have no choice but to leave the alley to get to headquarters.

Men, women, and children all stare in astonishment and fear but say nothing. At least not until they rush out of my line of sight to whisper in hushed voices... Right behind me...

At the gates I'm stopped and surrounded. The guards start yelling and I just stand there board, waiting for them to quiet so I could explain. "What's going on... Oh, it's okay. This is Sakura. She'll be staying with us for a while. I just don't know about the unconscious person at her feet though." Okita says with his usual cheekiness.

I pull down the mask. "Get Hijikata and Kondou. I'm reporting one of your men."