To Lose a Gamble

?EURoeWhere are you going??EUR? Came a rather agitated inquiry.
?EURoeNone of your business.?EUR?
?EURoeInouhe-san!?EUR? She cried and hung to my sleeve.
A wave of disdain crossed my face and I flung her to the ground. ?EURoeDo not stop me again. You know I am right… That this is the only way.?EUR?
I can see tears rushing down her face and more and more I scorned them. To be placed in the middle of nowhere without a life. Who can call that living?
?EURoeYou can hate me later if I fail and they drag you to prison.?EUR?
?EURoeThat’s not the point Inouhe!?EUR?
Narrowing my eyes. I grab her chin. ?EURoeAnd what is? Tell me Yaso.?EUR?
?EURoeThe point is you will surely lose.?EUR? She met my gaze and I couldn’t stop… I slapped her across the face. I do not condone failure.
?EURoeIf you know that well… Then leave tonight.?EUR? I whispher to her ears. Disappointed that she did not trust me.
?EURoeI won’t…?EUR? she croaked and once again her hand is on my sleeve, like a needy child.
?EURoeBaka onna.?EUR? I reply while wrestling my arm free of her grip.
?EURoeI will wait here.?EUR? She stared at me… Those dark brown eyes showing her determination.
?EURoeThen be prepared.?EUR? I take a small tanto from a hidden pocket in my hakama and threw it at her.
?EURoeCome back Inouhe… Through that door, make sure it’s you…?EUR? She grips the tanto. ?EURoeIf you don’t and someone else comes… I will protect you.?EUR?
Opening the door, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
She’ll protect me she says? How can she possibly do that?
?EURoeSayonara Inouhe-san..?EUR?
Sayonara ka? Stupid girl. I’ll come back of course.
?EURoeYare yare… Have I not told you who I am??EUR? I ask stealing a glance over my shoulder.
Silence.
?EURoeYaso… I am Yamaguchi Hajime… But for tonight call me Saitou Hajime…?EUR?
It probably did not mean anything to her. I didn’t expect her to… After all she was just an ordinary woman, who lived a life of seclusion in Aizu. I doubted she concerned herself with politics… At least not until the war infringed on Aizu itself. She probably did not even know of the Shinsengumi. Leaving I do not turn back, she uttered something but I couldn’t make it out. The wind was howling that night.
Sometimes Yaso is headstrong and that is a good quality in a woman. Maybe if things settle down. I might wed her after all and put some truth to that registry.