13 Meeting the Commander (1)

"To actually cause trouble in broad daylight, you sure have guts," came the same voice that had called them out earlier. Saki wanted to say something, anything, to try to get out of this situation when the person at the back spoke up.

"Now, now… Hijikata-san… you will make people afraid of us even more. We don't need any more bad reputation," the moment Saki heard the voice from last night, he froze even more. The voice was calm and smooth, but Saki could still feel danger. He slowly lifts his head up and saw the same guy, he had 'saved' the night before and he's smirking at him. The male leaned forward, grabbed his wrist and whispered to his ears: "It seems like fate brought us together again, eh? This time… I will not let you off…"

'Hijikata Toshizō… the vice commander of the Shinsengumi. And this guy… based on how casually he called the vice commander… he must be either the commander himself or one of the captains… What luck!' Saki kept on cursing his luck in his mind. He could even see people pitying him.

"Ara! Hijikata-san, Okita-san… Are you on duty?" Saki had almost forgotten about the courtesan until she spoke again. "This is a good thing. Can you please arrest that man over there? He has caused trouble for our establishment," she informed as she pointed at the unconscious man on the ground.

Hijikata immediately gave order to his men to retrieve the unconscious man. Okita, on the other hand, kept his eyes on Saki, hands clenched tightly on Saki's wrist.

Hijikata saw how Okita seems to unwilling to let Saki go, so he turned to the courtesan. "What about that man there?"

"Although I do not know him, he still came to my rescue. So, I do not believe he is a bad person," she replied. "He is also pretty good. You might want to recruit him."

When Saki heard what she said, he inwardly cursed her out. 'No! Being with the wolves will not be good!'

But of course, she can't hear what Saki is thinking. After she had said that, she gave Saki a playful wink. "If you ever feel lonely, you are welcomed here. I will make sure to let everyone know about you."

With that, she went back into the building, leaving Saki, whose face is beet red from the suggestion of her sentence. When Saki recovered from his reverie, he found himself being surrounded by the Shinsengumi. 'Not good,' Saki thought as he tried to run, but the tug on his wrist stopped him. He had forgotten that Okita had a tight grip on his wrist.

"We don't mean you any harm. We simply wished to bring you in for questioning… for formality's sake. Plus, if Yume-san says you are skilful, then we might need to check it ourselves… we do lack man power as of now," Okita said with a smile. Saki just frowned, not liking the situation he's in even one bit.

"If I am indeed skilful… do I get paid?" Saki asked. And when Okita heard this, he just let out a small chuckle.

"So, you are not going to run?" he asked, but the hand on Saki's wrist tightened.

"Well… I doubt running will do me any good…" Saki replied. "I don't think I have any choice or the chance to do so anyway," he added before he leaned up to glare at the male. "Not when you're holding onto me like I'm going to disappear… just like last night," he said in a very low voice, before smirking. "Seriously… my hand is already white from the lack of blood flowing through it, Okita-san," he said with a smile on his face.

"I do apologise for that… but I feel like you would 'disappear' if I do release your hand," he replied without relaxing his grip. Instead, he just tightened it even more, making Saki wince.

Moments passed, and Saki found himself waiting in a room at the Shinsengumi's headquarter. Okita had told him to 'wait like a good boy' while he informed 'Kondo-san' about his situation.

"Kondo-san… huh?" Saki muttered the name softly. "I have read before that he is the leader of Shinsengumi… their commander," Saki sighed out loud and finds himself lying down on the floor. He was feeling hungry, but he couldn't take out his ration now. It was too risky. And Okita already are suspicious of him. "I wonder what happened to them…" Saki said out loud when he suddenly remembered his teammates.

"Who are you talking about?" Okita's voice made Saki's heart did a marathon. Seeing Saki's reaction, Okita chuckled again. "You sure made yourself at home," he said, clearly amused with what he's seeing.

"Okita-san, what is so funny?" Saki asked as he sat up and sighed. "Anyway, what is my verdict?"

"We are about to find that out now," he replied in a serious tone. "Follow me. And if you try anything funny, I will not hesitate to cut you down," Okita warned Saki, his hand rests on the hilt of the sword on his waist.

Saki knows that is not an empty threat, not when he felt the chill as Okita said it. Okita led him through the headquarter before arriving at what Saki assumed the meeting room.

"Go on inside," Okita ordered and Saki obeyed without words. If Saki wanted to escape, he could do so. But that will only make it harder for him in the future. No matter what, being labelled a criminal is the last thing Saki wanted. So he just play along with this charade. And if, after all this, they decided to make an enemy out of him, he will have no choice to play the bad guy though, he doubt Okita will let that happen.

He seemed to be more intrigued about him more than Saki ever liked it to be. 'Shouldn't have used the pill on him…' he thought regretfully as he now faced with group of people, whom Saki assumed the rest of the captain and the commander, Kondo Isami is sitting right in front of him.