Hakuouki: The Masked Cherry Blossoms

Chapter 7

It's breakfast when I get back. I join them but only at their insistence. I was still busy organizing my work from last night.

My tray was in front of me but I had backed up against the wall for more room. My papers were spread around me to read.

"Sakura..." I don't listen as I read the notes I've made. My handwriting had gotten messy on a page. I pick it up to examine and try to make some sense out of it using the other context as a guide as I sip my tea.

"Sakura." Hijikata calls louder but I don't react as I order the notes in order of what happened first to last.

"Sorry, I can leave if it's too disrespectful. I need to go through all this but Okita insisted I come anyway." I inform absentmindedly, still looking at the paper. I figure out what I wrote and place it back in its spot. I grab another and read. I'm trying to figure out what my suspect was doing but came up with nothing. I might have to get closer.

I gulp down my tea and rest my cheek on my hand. "I don't want to do it and it be a waste. But I know I can't ignore it." I think aloud in a whisper. "And if I'm caught-"

"Sakura!" Hijikata yells and I look up calmly.

"Yes?" I ask, unaffected as Hijikata narrows his eyes at me.

"What are you doing?" He asks with a twitch of his eye and I sigh stretching.

"Suspicious new comers. From my research they are vary skilled and feared. They're based at the Satsuma manor. He's vary skilled and observant so it's hard getting near him. I'll try again tonight but closer." I declare as Okita laughs. I look at him curiously.

"You have ink on your cheek from your hands." He explains and I look and see my hand covered in ink, making me laugh.

"I was in a rush to write these notes. I'll clean up after I'm done." I say, wanting to get back to my notes.

"We're you out the whole night?" Kondou asks with concern.

"Yeah, I caught her walking into headquarters right before breakfast and had her come along." Okita explains before I can say anything.

"That isn't vary healthy to be out all night." Sannan points out and I roll my eyes.

"Yes, you should get some rest." Kondou says but I shake my head.

"No way, I've trained myself to work with little sleep and I'm not tired yet. Plus I'm gonna be talking with Yamazaki later." I point out, not letting them distract me from my work.

"It's good to take breaks though." Harada points out less forcefully and demanding.

"Don't worry." I insist, gathering my notes in a pile. "Extreme work conditions are my specialty. But I'll probably knock out in a day or two for some rest but I'll be sleeping that whole day. I won't do this often but I have a bad feeling about these new people. What do you want, Kazama and Amagiri?" I ask under my breath.

"What?" They ask and I smile at them.

"Nothing, don't worry about it. I'm gonna go clean up. Thanks for your concern though. It's comforting." I grin as I get up.

~~~

I've cleaned up and now I was sitting on the steps waiting for Yamazaki who would meet me here shortly.

I wait, looking out to the many trees when I hear someone coming. I see it's Toudou, Harada, and Nagakura. "Hey, why are you sitting out here by yourself?" Harada asks curiously, joining me.

"I'm waiting for Yamazaki. But he's taking a while." I sigh a little disappointedly.

"Really? He's usually really serious about these kinds of meetings." Toudou informs with confusion but I just shrug, sitting back.