''If you got married would you like to be spoiled like a princess?"

"Shinpachi-san, why do you always ask the most random questions?"

You weren't even a part of this conversation in the first place, and honestly you had literally no idea what Shinpachi could have meant.

The day of yours started as usual. You brewed your gradfather a tea and made a breakfast for you. You ate in usual silence. Mostly because your grandfather was half deaf and talking to him would involve raising your voice. But it wasn't an unpleasant atmosphere – in fact it was quite enjoyable. Silent morning before hustle of daily work. Also because today there was a couple coming in to talk about wedding kimono design, for which you were excited. But the fact remained that you worked with few brides before and they could be exhausting.

Before the couple arrived you went through the letters that arrived. Most of which were strictly business related. But one of them made you extra happy. It was a letter from your friend, quite unconventional one. Hana-chan was an courteasan at Shimabara and ever since you made a few kimonos for her, she kept talking with you through letters. Since she couldn't leave the red light district the only way for you two to talk was through the letters or once in a while your visits to fetch new kimono. You skimmed over the letter and quickly replied. She wished for new kimono and if you were honest embroidering courtesan kimonos was one of your favorite things to do. You could go all out with finesse and glamour to make every new kimono even more outstanding that the earlier. Of course, it took time, blood and sweat to finish one, but in all honesty the satisfaction was worth it. Also it meant, that you'd be able to see Hana face to face after almost a year of just writing letters.

You hadn't expected the Shinsengumi appearing. Today at least. The infamous trio and the new addition to the team made themselves home just as you were talking with the future bride.

They were here to see how your work on the Shinsengumi haori was going. Right. The very reason you were even involved with the Wolves of Mibu was the fact that your shop provided the haori's for the soldiers. Few years ago, as they appeared in Kyoto they made a request at your grandfather shop for a bunch of blue haori's. As your shop was quite well known, it was only natural for them to come here. Even if at main shop only you and your grandfather worked, you had a few other shops and workspaces throughout Kyoto. It was better than just keeping it all in one closed space, and besides – your home was in the back.

At that time your neither you or grandfather knew what kind of people they were and readily agreed to the offer. Well, later your grandfather came to have rather unpleasant opinion on them, but in all honesty you didn't harbor any bad feelings towards the Shinsengumi. Might have it been innocence and naivety of yours that allowed you to become friends with some of them. And you didn't regret in slightest.

And now they requested for haori's but inverted colors. Night uniform's as you heard. Your grandfather agreed, although with some recultance. He was a follower of shogunate, that much was true, but just as any civil from Kyoto he was apprehensive to idea of bunch of not-really-samurai's going around the city. Money is what got him agree.

As you mulled over the idea you turned to your guests, ''I need to stay in the back for a while, so I guess you guys can just sit and wait, until I'm finished," you said to your guests. ''I got bride waiting for me!"

''Sure!" Harada waved at you.

The guests were left to their own business and in all honesty, what were they to do alone in dressmaker shop?

''Humm, so many couples going around lately," Shinpachi hummed.

''Are you jealous?" Heisuke teased, sitting down on the bench.

''What would I be jealous about?" he snarked, as if Heisuke was spouting utter nonsense.

Harada laughed a bit and chimed in, ''You wouldn't know how to get a wife in a first place."

''I'm perfectly capable of getting myself a wife," came a swift reply.

''He means one not from Shimabara and for one night," the youngest of the three said.

Shinpachi sent him a small glare. One person that still haven't said anything was Chizuru. She honestly had no idea why she tagged along with them, other that it was probably good idea to see if her father maybe appeared. She was also curious about this person who owned the shop. She met her only once, when the woman patched her sleeve few weeks ago. She seemed to be rather familiar with the men and not in slightest apprehensive to them.

''And also,'' Heisuke continued. ''I don't think you'd know how to treat your wife."

"Cut it off already Heisuke," Shinpachi replied, impatience slipping into his voice.

''Why do you think so?" Chizuru piped in. She was tad bit curious.

Heisuke smiled back at her.

''Take Sano for example," he pointed at red head, who instantly raised his brews at him. Why did this conversation was still ongoing seemed beyond him. ''His wife would be spoiled and treated as princess."

"Oh," Chizuru nodded her head. It seemed probable.

''Why would you spent so much money on a woman though?" Shinpachi chimed in, his arms crossed on his chest. He didn't look entirely clueless, as the two others made him seem to be.

''All women deserve being spoiled and treated with respect, Shin," Harada said with conviction.

Shinpachi hummed, not convinced about being spoiled part. He turned to Chizuru and asked her whether or not she'd like to be pampered like so. Her face went a tad bit pinkish at the proposition.

''Not at all, it would be too much," she said, her usual humble demeanor playing out.

Out of the second room sound of voices increased. It seemed the business talk was coming to an end.

On your side of happenings you shared a tea with the couple and talked about the wedding kimono. You showed them a few sketches of various kimonos you kept in your drawer. The bride was quick to decide which one would she like, with few adjustments. After this you said goodbye to the couple and shared a goodbye at the doors.

Smiling you sat down by your guests with a sketchbook in your hands.

''You look excited,'' Harada noticed, nibbing at the dango they all ate.

''I am!" you nodded. ''It's been awhile since I made a wedding kimono, especially one with embroidery," you showed him the sketchbook. There was a drawing of a woman kimono with cranes in the lower part of material. ''Its' going to be really pretty!"

Harada nodded to your enthusiasm. You always appreciated that he would listen and be generally encouraging to you. You didn't have much people to talk that would listen to you gushing about such trivial matters. There was your childhood friend Kiyo and his twin sister Kino that would visit you once in a while. But Kiyo couldn't be bothered with seams and only Kino was happy to talk with you. And all excitement couldn't be possibly converted into letters to Hana.

You mentally started preparing your shop list as you stood up and went for a measurement string. You sat down behind Harada and reached under his arms.

''Raise your arms for me, please," you chirped. He sent you a questioning look, the same that his companions shared. ''I didn't take your measurements for a while, and since new batch of Shinsengumi haori's is coming, I want to make some adjustments."

''Oh, I see," he nodded. ''But can't you do a standard measurement?"

"You are my standard."

Harada chuckled at your words. You took the measurements and wrote them down. Also a tiny idea lit up in your mind, but you stored it for later.

''Hmm," you tapped your cheek as you finished. You listed items you'll need for the wedding kimono aloud, ''I think I'll have to make a trip downtown then."

''For the material? Don't they bring it to you?" Heisuke piped in.

''They do, but it's better to do an order yourself," you replied. "Also, there is a pretty shop with obi ornaments and they sell there nice ribbons!"

You clapped your hands. You liked to make orders yourself, mostly because you could go through the city and look what shops and crams had in store. Even if you never bought any for yourself, you just liked to browse through all the pretty things. Sometimes women who bought kimono's from your shop would come for an advice so this way you also could be helpful.

''Would you like a ribbon from there, _____?" Harada asked.

''Hm? No, no. It's not for me," you laughed. ''I want them for the bride."

"It seems you hardly buy yourself pretty things though."

You looked up at him in curiosity, ''do I? I'm already surrounded by pretty things."

You didn't lie – all around on the shelves going up to the ceiling there were elaborate materials in all every color one could want. Patterned kimonos, plain, embroidered. Obi stashes and some ribbons. All what you'd wish to wear was here. Pretty and glamorous things.

''But what of it is yours?"

You looked over at your shop. Your gaze fell onto small aquarium with a single golden fish inside. It was your grandfathers fish. You never thought your pet would be goldfish, but you loved the animal anyway. You were never allowed to have any pet for yourself. Your grandfather hated cats and dogs altogether. Birds were also out of question, since they would leave mess after themselves. This fish previously belonged to your uncle, brother of your mother. Since he moved to Edo, he left the pet behind and you were one to take care of it. Well, as much as you can take care of a fish.

Pretty thing, living just by eating and flowing through the threads of time, not seeing much of the world. Surrounded by many other pretty things.

''I have my box of pins and needles,'' you offered. Harada rolled his eyes. You shrugged in reply and sipped your tea. It was enough that this little box was precious to you.

You looked over at the other three, and what surprised you was intense gaze Shinpachi was giving you. Your brew rose unintentionally, and the question of his was fired, leaving you truly baffled.

''If you got married would you like to be spoiled like a princess?"

"Shinpachi-san, why do you always ask the most random questions?" you managed after a moment. Harada had a moment of mental crisis as he run over his hand through his red locks.

You were far from thinking of marriage, no matter how much Kiyo's mother was hinting things at you. You thought of other people of marriageable age and you instantly thought of Kino. True, you saw Shinpachi once talking to her. But for her to leave such a impression on him was unheard of.

''Do you have a woman in mind?" you asked cautiously. Would Kino accept him? You doubted so.

''What? Of course not!" Shinpachi waved his arms. He looked a tad bit flustered, especially since Heisuke was already beginning to laugh.

''Is it Kino?" you asked bluntly.

''Oh my gosh, _____, please," Harada snorted.

''Who?" Shinpachi looked lost.

You gave him a stern look, ''I'm sorry Shinpachi-san, but I don't think Kino would be interested in marrying you."

''I don't want to marry anyone!"

''Shinpachi,'' Harada turned to him, ''only you can be rejected even before asking."

Honestly speaking, you had no idea what was going on. But it was always like this, wasn't it? Shinpachi or Heisuke shooting some random questions, your blunt answers, and Harada's quips. You were always thankful for their presence and making your daily life so enjoyable. You never imagined that you could have friends like this.

''So do you need help tomorrow?" Harada turned to you, evoking your conversation, before it was cut.

''I'm just going to take a look and order materials," you replied.

''Great, then I'm tagging along."

''Are you sure you don't have anything else to do?" you asked. One would think they'd be more busy.

''I don't have rounds tomorrow, so I'm free."

''Could be fun," you concluded, giving him a nod.

To your surprise Harada actually came next morning. Not that you'd think he was dishonest, but you two never went out together. Other than sometimes accidental meeting up in the city or him just coming by to stop by your shop. By that time you thought you actually knew most of 10th division, which was kinda hilarious in its own way. Bunch of scary looking samurai off or on duty sometimes calling out 'good morning' to you was really startling for you at the beginning.

"Hi!" you breathed as you saw him outside your doors.

''Ready to go?"

''Yes!"

Overall it was quite an experience to see Harada without his Shinsengumi haori in broad daylight. There was no one tugging around with him – you expected Shinpachi or Heisuke alongside. To your delight he was alone. Not that you minded presence of those two, but a premise of spending morning with Harada sent butterflies in your stomach. And this was a feeling you were gladly welcoming.

You walked side by side, step in step with each other. You couldn't help but appreciate the nice weather that accompanied you. Slowly city was waking up along with all sweet and sour smells that would hit your nostrils.

You glanced over at Harada, his auburn hair swaying in the soft wind. He was in good mood, you decided, seeing his gentle smile upon his lips. His smile was something that you liked the most. Especially if any of those smiles were directed at you.

You reached your destination way too quickly for your dismay. The shop you walked into was enormous – twice as big as yours. The clerk knew you very well, so the order went by quickly and you had time to share with Harada.

One thing that caught your attention was a kimono. Not kimono itself, but the pattern and embroidery. It was a sea. You walked closer to it and looked at the vast ocean-blue material. The threads flowed like a water on it, creating a waves of blue and white. Small flowers were added alongside, making it almost a landscape.

''You like it?" Harada appeared behind you, surprising you a bit.

''I like the pattern," you replied still looking at the kimono. ''I would love to see the sea someday. Harada-san, have you ever been at sea?"

He tapped his chin as he hummed, ''We arrived to Kyoto with ships, so yes.''

''Tell me about it," your eyes lit up.

You slowly walked out of the shop and onto the street, as Harada recounted his travel by the sea.

''It must've been such a beautiful sight,'' you sighed in wonder.

Sea was always a mystery to you. You've seen pictures, you heard the stories; but living in this part of Kyoto you had no chances to be able to see it. It made you wonder what did it mean to soak your toes in salty water, how would it be to walk alongside vast and never-ending seashore. What did the seagulls sounded like?

''It is, especially on sunset, when the suns goes over the horizon," Harada quipped. ''I'd love to take you there someday."

He walked over a stand with hair accessories and ribbons. You followed him, yet still in daydream about the sea. He picked up one of the ribbons and moved his hand towards your face. You followed his movement with a curious gaze.

He smiled down at you, and with such closeness, your height difference was apparent. He tied ocean-blue ribbon into your hair to your utter surprise.

''What are you doing?" you questioned, your heart fluttering.

''You wished for nice ribbons yesterday, did you not?"

Your eyes widened.

''Ah, it was just passing remark,'' you spoke, untying the ribbing from your hair. You kept it in your hands as you continued to speak, in spite of his confused gaze, ''I'm not in need of them, but thank you for the gesture."

''Does it matter whether or not you need one?" he asked stopping your hand from putting the ribbon back on the stand. His warm hand enveloped your smaller one. 

''At shop I have few, looking at them is just enough," you managed.

''You should spoil yourself much more," he stated. ''it's a present from me, you won't accept it?"

You pursed your lips a bit. It wasn't like you didn't like it, but somehow your mind worked differently. You spoke up, ''can I really?"

''Of course.''

This was sweet of him, and that much you told him. You hardly got presents, there weren't many people to give you any in the first place. You were creator, not receiver. But well, the warmth his gesture caused to spread was feeling one in a million.

''Harada-san?''

''Yeah?"

"Thank you," you said. His smile spread, as he paid for the item that he once again tied into your hair. Were it a sweet food, a ribbon or anything he'd give you, you'd be happy just as much as you were now. Harada was truly making your daily life happier.

Yet next time you saw him you didn't anticipate, than you'd be accompanying him to Shimabara. 

___****___

This is probably the most self-indulgent thing I wrote in my life and I wrote a tons of it before. Alas, nobody deserves Harada. 

Also I have another fic idea for Harada, but I'm already so busy ahhh.... 

I hope you enjoyed! :D