Chapter 562: 562

Chapter 562 Okita Soki

Akane bent down and dipped her hand into the pool, its water chilly and invigorating .

The Otowa waterfall of Kiyomizu Temple was known throughout Japan . It was said that the spring water here had reiki or healing energy and was excellent for boiling tea . There was a tea house not far from here owned by a kind and pleasant elderly woman .

“Are you hungry? We’ve been walking for a long time . Let’s get something to eat,” Akane said, keeping as straight of a face as she could . “Good idea . ”

Zhang Heng was baffled . What had he done wrong? Why was she so distant towards him throughout the walk up here? He mulled over it for a bit, then said, “Since you’re treating me to sushi, let me treat you to some tea . ”

Akane gave no reply as the pair made their way to the tea house with blue noren curtains* .

A waiter came to greet them .

“What do you feel like having today?”

Zhang Heng was searching for a seat when Akane suddenly gasped . “What are you doing here?!” she could be heard asking .

Zhang Heng turned to look and saw that Akane was speaking to a young man .

Zhang Heng recognized him immediately . He was precisely as Akane had described him to be

– he really did have a unique brightness and naivety about him . Considering his age and the blood on his hands, these qualities were even more precious, ones that were beyond logic and reason .

However, under Akane’s gaze, the young man looked flustered and embarrassed; his eyes begged her not to probe him any further .

Akane raised an eyebrow, oblivious to his plea . “Why is the Shinsengumi here? This is hallowed ground . You better not cause any trouble here . ”

“No, no, no . You’re mistaken,” the young man waved his hand in denial, darting nervous glances at the entrance of the tea house . “This has nothing to do with the Shinsengumi . I came here on my own . ”

“Huh?”

His reply only added to Akane’s suspicion . The way he acted told her that he was planning to ambush someone . Could the Shinsengumi have found out that some important Tobaku leader was visiting this place?

“Argh, it’s really not what you think it is,” the young man contested . Then the next minute, as if he had seen something outside the tea house, his cheeks flushed red, and he quickly averted his gaze . Akane wanted to question him further . She could not care less about the bad blood between the Shinsengumi and the anti-shogunate, but if they were going to clash swords, they better not do it here at the temple, or the ancient shrine would be caught in the crossfire .

But before she could throw any more questions at the poor lad, someone grabbed her by the arm .

“Let’s find a place to sit first . I don’t know what kind of tea we should have,” Zhang Heng interjected .

“Oh!” Akane nearly jumped out of her skin; her mind suddenly went blank, and the warmth in her palm caused all the confusing emotions she had tried so hard suppress to gush back in . her head felt as if it was about to explode .

Dazed, she followed Zhang Heng to an unoccupied table . Just then, a young lady and an elderly woman walked in . If Akane’s resolution was like a sword that had been forged over centuries, then this young woman’s geniality was the sunshine of March . When she walked into the little tea house, the whole place lit up .

The Shinsengumi young man lowered his face, looking sozzled even though the tea house did not serve alcohol .

The young woman did not look around the establishment but ordered a rice cake, to-go, from the waiter . After that, she thanked him in a soft, gentle voice and left .

It wasn’t until her figure disappeared outside the door that the young man sat upright again, staring blankly at the teacup before him, his expression despondent .

Akane was amused . “Who is she?”

“Ah?” The young man shook his head, looking embarrassed . “Er, er… I never asked . I saw her at Dr . Tezuka’s . ”

In between, he covered his mouth and coughed . The redness on his face only deepened . He had heard that the girl was coming to the Otawa waterfall, so he snuck up here and waited .

To his surprise, Akane did not criticize his actions .

After a minute, the young man asked her, “Is he your man?”

It was Akane’s turn to be flustered .

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” she growled menacingly .

The young man was taken aback since Akane seemed as if she would tear him into pieces . He couldn’t help comparing her to Ms . Saya, who was much gentler and sweeter .

“Okita Soki?” Someone suddenly called his name .

“Mm?” he answered instinctively . When he saw the man who came with Akane calling him, he asked, “How do you know my name?”

“The Shinsengumi’s best swordsman . There’s a lot of talk about you going around in Kyoto,” Zhang Heng answered . Inwardly, he was sighing in relief .

OkitaSoki was probably the only reasonable person in the entire Shinsengumi . It wasn’t to say that he killed fewer people, but in fact, those who died by his sword were no lesser than his comrades . Nonetheless, he was favored by commander Kondo Isami, willing to do anything his leader made him do with zero questions, and as a result, he was able to remain unaffected .

He was Kondo Isami’s sharpest sword, and swords made no distinction between good and evil . And to quote Hijikata Toshizo, it saves one the trouble of agonizing over trivial matters .

Alas, this number one swordsman of the Shinsengumi dubbed ‘Bakumatsu’s divine sword’ did not have many days left to live . There was no cure for his chronic cough (tuberculosis) during this era . If Zhang Heng remembered correctly, next year, on the 30th day of the fifth month, the lunar calendar, was the day of his passing .

But right now, he was just like every other young man, having secret crushes on girls and coming all the way to Kiyomizu temple just to sneak a look at her .

“I’m nowhere near the best swordsman… you’re too kind . Kendo-sensei, Hijikata, and Oishi Kuwajiro—they are all better than I am,” Okita said humbly .

“When are you free? Drop by the dojo, and we’ll have a duel,” said Zhang Heng .

Later generations painted Okita Soji as a gifted genius who died young . Although he was only in his early twenties, many believed that he was Shinsengumi’s best swordsman and in the entire Kyoto . How could Zhang Heng forgo a chance to have a duel with a person such as Okita? On top of that, he was also interested in finding out what it meant to be the best swordsman during this era .

“Sure,” Okita readily agreed . “But I’m afraid it won’t be soon . I have some important matters to attend to . But once it is taken care of, I will come to see you at the dojo . ”

“Does it have anything to do with that woman just now?” Akane asked . “Ah, no, no . It was all business . ” Okita blushed .

Translator’s notes:

Noren curtains: traditional Japanese fabric dividers hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows .

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