The end of the curtain

?The half-open sliding door near the external corridor suddenly floated into a pink cherry blossom silently, and then lay quietly on the clean wooden floor.

Kazama Chikage slightly curled her lips, her smile was unclear, but she didn't continue around this teasing topic.Seeing this, Sakurai paused and thought quickly, then put the teapot on the table and sat down solemnly, waiting for Chikage Kazama to speak.

It's been almost half a year since I came here, if I can't figure out Kazama's behavior, then I can only say that she is stupid.

"You once said that you are willing to do anything for your sister, right?" Chikage Kazama looked at Sakurai who was listening attentively with interest, but threw out this sentence unexpectedly.

...I am willing to do anything, can you do it...

Like the blackness of the deep night, it always looks empty and lonely when there are no bright stars.Sakurai, whose expression suddenly became sad and joyless, did not answer immediately, but turned his attention to the bell bracelet on his slender and white left wrist, a blood-red cotton rope, with three carefully carved patterns on it. bells, and the center of one of the bells is impressively engraved with the Chinese word "Snow".

"Yes." After a long time, Sakurai replied in a low voice, without any emotion.

"——What if my young master asks you to kill people?" Kazama's words were sorted out clearly, without short-term thinking at all.When he said these words, he seemed so careless, as if he was dismissive of any life.

For Sakurai, this was a huge problem.Not only the peaceful thoughts from the future enlightened technology era, but also because of her professional ethics as a doctor, she only saves people, but has no idea of ​​killing.When facing a strong enemy, even if the opponent is strong enough to kill her life, the concept derived from the doctor does not kill, it is absolutely difficult for her to kill the killer.

...What a...extremely failed person...He even said that he could do anything for Xiaoxue, but in the end he was still defeated...

She was silent, and nodded without being too brave, and lied that she could do it.After a long time, Sakurai said in a low voice: "Killing... I may not be able to do it... But, no matter what Mr. Kazama asks me to do, I will meet your request in other ways."

In this way, it is really difficult...

If she could not kill, she would never execute anyone with a knife, even if she died by the other party's knife.If the goal is to achieve the goal, is it okay?

A person has his own ultimate goal, but knows that no matter how hard he tries, he will never be able to achieve it.If living in this world is really free of worries and nostalgia, then she will no longer even have the heart to live, and life and death will be fine.

Not without courage, but without mood.What made her cherish herself and go on is because of the remaining care and nostalgia.

——I survived for you, I want to see you survive.

"That depends on whether you have that kind of ability." Kazama was not angry about it, but there was a faint smile of unknown meaning in those noble and dignified blood-red eyes, "This in itself is a As the successor of the Sakurai family, you should do what you are supposed to do, shoulder your responsibilities."

Taking a sip of tea, watching the flowers and rain swaying outside the window, the gentle breeze slowly caressing the beautiful scenery in April, quietly.

Perhaps it is not necessary to be persistent in the same way for all things, sometimes it is not bad to change.

No matter how seductive and beautiful you see too much, you will eventually get bored.

—————————————————————

The flowers are flourishing, and a piece of pink and white outlines the unique softness of the long streets and ancient alleys in April in Kyoto.

The quaint streets pass by bustling crowds, and the bluestone slabs that have been stepped on for thousands of years, no matter how many years have passed, are always at this time, paved with prosperity.

This year is the second year of Qingying, at the end of spring——

Although it is not the first time to set foot on this land that has been rich for thousands of years, Sakurai always has a feeling of illusion.I haven't touched it for a long time, but when I can reach it with my hand, it seems to be separated by a hazy veil, so it seems so unreal.

Now, that's just an illusion, right?

Wearing a bright red women's kimono embroidered with light yellow sunset flowers, Sakurai walked on the street in a big way, but she looked inconspicuous.

The reason is very simple, Sakurai's temperament is not overwhelming, but a touch of coldness and alienation.What's more, in that era, it would not seem strange at all for women to wear women's hats on the streets.

Occasionally, there were two or three beautiful women with bright clothes and cute smiles passing by on the street. Compared with them, the silent Sakurai was a bit inferior.

Holding the samurai sword carefully wrapped in cotton cloth in his arms, Sakurai walked through the streets and alleys with a slight nod.She walked around like this with only one purpose - to rent a house in Kyoto to live in.

It's just that she doesn't have much savings on her body, and it's pretty good to be able to rent a small Japanese room for a temporary stay.Simply, if she doesn't save herself, then she will really be poor and have nothing to eat.

When passing by the temple, there were two team members in light green haori standing at the door, they were the Shinsengumi members on duty today.

Sakurai didn't stay for a long time, just took a quick glance through the gray-black city girl's veil, and left as if nothing had happened.And on the way to find a house, she went farther and farther intentionally or unintentionally.

Sure enough, the hard work paid off, and around noon, Sakurai finally rented a private house near the outskirts of the city.Although it occupies a small area, the sparrow is small and well-equipped.

The landlord is an elderly grandmother. Although it is said that it is rented to her, it is only a temporary problem.Because the grandma's son wanted to take her to live in Mutsu for a period of time to help take care of the daughter-in-law who had just given birth, so the house was empty in Kyoto and no one was looking after it, so he rented it to Sakurai at a low price as a help to look after the house.

Sakurai readily accepted it, and when he really settled down, he looked up and saw the warm sun in the sky, and it was impossible to have any ingredients in the kitchen, so he decided to go to the izakaya for lunch.

At this time, it was extremely hot and stuffy to wear the female hat again. Thinking that my rare outfit would never attract their attention, I simply took it off, carefully hid the samurai sword, and went out.

"Just now there was a little girl who was really not afraid of death, and came to ask me which direction the Shinsengumi was heading to."

"Huh? Doesn't she know that Shinsengumi is Mibu Wolf? How dare she run over and ask?"

"Who knows, the little girls of this year don't know the heights of the sky and the earth."

"Haha, if I accidentally offend those Mibu wolves, I'm afraid blood will splash on the streets again."

……

When paying the bill at the izakaya, Sakurai clearly heard the gossiping whispers between the boss and another middle-aged man.

Sakurai couldn't help but frowned slightly when he heard this, but didn't say anything.From the tone of the izakaya owner and another man, she read their deep disgust and contempt for the Shinsengumi.Although she knew very well that everyone in the Shinsengumi was not the kind of people they said, but no matter how much she tried to explain, it would be of no avail, and if she did not do it, she would get into trouble.

But what happened to the little girl asking for directions...

—————————————————————

Today is the iron-fisted trio of the Shinsengumi going out to inspect together. Recently, the law and order in Kyoto has gradually become a little chaotic, and the earthwork has to send more people out.Today is also just right, the three people who have always been noisy just bumped into each other.

Since Shinpachi and Hesuke speak loudly and close to yelling, their inspection team today seems very lively, even mighty.

"Huh? Let's go again... Aren't you afraid of Mr. Hijikata?" Hirasuke looked at Shinpachi with a surprised expression looking at the strange thing, as if he saw something incredible.

"Tch, it's fine to go secretly. Hirasuke, what are you doing shouting so loudly... By the way, Mr. Hijikata has always put on a serious face recently, as if someone owes him a lot of money."

"—Pfft ha ha ha ha, Shinpachi, you are not afraid of death! If you are heard by Mr. Hijikata, you will know the power of the devil's deputy chief!"

……

Harada, who was walking in the front, watched Xinpachi Heping help you and refute each other, but he shook his head helplessly—you can't teach a child.

"...Um...excuse me, is this the Shinsengumi?" Harada suddenly noticed the strange gazes from people on both sides of the street, and was about to ignore them with an attitude of turning a blind eye, when a girl's crisp but soft voice sounded.

Harada looked down subconsciously, but saw a black-haired girl in a light pink printed kimono looking up at him, a pair of black eyes shining softly but not timidly.

The girl is about fourteen or fifteen years old, and she is not very tall.It's just that those clear black eyes, Harada always felt a little familiar when looking at them.

"Yes, what's the matter?" Harada just thought about it quickly in his mind for a while, but didn't go deep.He reacted quickly, so he asked as kindly as possible.

It seems that he has been patrolling here for two or three years, and it is the first time that someone dares to question the Shinsengumi, and he has no fear, just simply facing all the strangeness when facing strangers.

"I want to ask about my sister. I've been looking for her for a long time." The girl's still immature face showed a hint of sadness, but no one noticed the flash in her dark and jade-like eyes. Over the slightest shrewd color.

At this time, Hirasuke and Shinpachi also noticed the situation on Harada's side, and stopped their meaningless fights.

"——Your sister? Well...Even if you want us to help, at least tell us your sister's basic characteristics..." Hirasuke didn't shy away from speaking, speaking directly, without any reservation.

"...Aren't you afraid of us?" Although there was no malice, Shinpachi raised his eyebrows condescendingly and looked at the girl who was much shorter than them, but the girl shook her head slightly, "You little girl It's very interesting, my new eighth uncle will help with this job!"

"Thank you! However, I have been away from my sister for two or three years, and I don't know her current situation. But my sister, my sister has a string of bracelets that a man gave her on her left hand, and there are three bells hanging on it. "The girl described in detail with a pensive look, "My sister and I probably look a little bit alike. She is a doctor from Edo. Probably, that's all..."

"Oh~ it's from the man, it must be your sister's picture—oh!" Before Shinpachi's wretched expression had time to fully emerge, he was punched down by Harada and forced his words back.

"Shut up, Shinpachi, don't gossip like this." Hirasuke is serious about this matter, and he is not as serious as Shinpachi, "By the way, I seem to have seen the string of jewelry you described before, But I don't remember very well... sorry..."

The look of joy that had just flashed in the girl's eyes dimmed instantly because of Hirasuke's words.For some reason, Harada always felt that the girl's gaze just now was very blunt, even a little cold... But, this is probably an illusion.

"Can you tell me your sister's name, so that we can find it easily." Harada's tone was very gentle, but his eyes were so profound that no one could understand, as if he was thinking about something puzzling.

The girl was slightly taken aback, then shook her head: "Sorry, it's really inconvenient for me to disclose this."

"Well, good. Now that you have agreed, the Shinsengumi will help you find out." Harada nodded lightly in agreement, but unexpectedly he was not so enthusiastic.Watching the girl leave gradually, he fell into his own deep thinking.

"Hey, Zuo Zhi, this method seems to be a good way to strike up a conversation."

"Don't you think she's a bit strange?" Harada ignored Shinpachi's ridicule, didn't think much, and continued to invest in the inspection work.

Strange...it's a little bit. ?