Swords clashed, blood covered the walls and the floor. Battle cries and screams of men being pierced by steel sounded throughout the inn.

His green eyes widened in shock as blood came out of his mouth as he coughed. He hadn't even taken many hits, it should take way more than the lazy (but strong) swordsmanship the man with golden hair displayed. He clutched his sword, using it to prop himself up as the violent coughs did not subside.

"Okita-san!"

"Are you dogs so short on men that you send the ill to fight?" The man lazily swung his sword to clear the blood off of it.

The would-be page kneeled next to him, her eyes widening as he saw the front of his blue haori stained with blood, as well as his mouth. "Okita-san!" She turned her mild glare to the Demon in front of them, letting her hand reach for the hilt of her kodachi.

"Oh? A child like you intends to fight me? It shall not end well for you, or for that Shogun dog behind you."

"Stay away!" Her voice quivered slightly as she drew her kodachi.

The Demon sneered and with one swing, had her backing up a few steps. As much as she tried to keep up with his strong swings, she wound up making the mistake of blocking in the wrong direction, ending up with a gash on her arm. She winced, suppressing a cry of pain. Her rear made contact with the floor as she clutched her injured arm, and shut her eyes when the Demon loomed over her.

"Your fight is with me!" The First Division Captain made it in time to block his sword. "Leave the kid alone!"

Chizuru's wound had already closed by the time she gathered her strength to stand up again. "Okita-san!" She felt his arm push her behind his back.

"Kazama, it is time."

The blond haired man's ruby eyes glinted in interest when he picked up on the child hiding his injury, now a mere scratch mark. "Very well, Amagiri. Our work here was done when they entered." He swung his sword once, cleaning it off before sheathing it.

"Wait! We're not done here!" Okita Souji yelled fiercely before another bout of violent coughs overtook his body.

The Demon only sneered at them, looking pointedly at the girl. "I doubt this is the last time we'll meet, Yukimura Chizuru."

"Our fight is not over!" Souji picked himself up and threw himself off the window to follow him.

"Okita-san!"

He closed his eyes for just a moment, thinking his ankles would be shocked since he had jumped from the second story, to his surprise, he landed on a soft floor.

Souji's body shook as he coughed a few times from the impact of the landing of this soft floor; it was like being on the back of a cat with very soft fur, he thought as he lay limp there, trying not to lose the battle of losing consciousness.

A tray clattered, and the things that were on it shattered when they landed. "Are you okay?!"

His vision was getting blurry, but he managed to see two familiar eyes with concern in them. "Chi..zu..ru-ch..an…?" The strain of the battle with the Demon had been too much for him, his eyes finally closing.