Honor

Chapter 1

The Girl's Guard


Summary- Tsuyuki knew the dangers of the world, being one of few female warriors. She knew that as soon as she found herself in Kyoto, cutting down an inhuman creature, that things were about to get ugly. She just hoped that she'd be able to keep Chizuru alive, especially when old figures that Tsuyuki had hoped died return. And who was this indigo haired man that challenged her at every step?


Long brown hair was swishing back and forth from a high ponytail that was tied with a pale ribbon. A determined feminine face stared into the dark streets of Kyoto and chocolate doe eyes tinged with innocence tried to look intimidating.

"Chizuru-san, we'd best not dawdle. You and I do not intimidate larger men." the girl's companion demurred softly. Her companion was taller than Chizuru by almost a head, and was much paler and more exotic. Her face was thinner than Chizuru's heart shaped face and her eyes narrow yet larger than Chizuru's. Her worn yukata hid her womanly figure as she took short strides so that her long legs would not outdo the pace of Chizuru. Long silver hair cascaded down her back and bangs draped down her face in messy strands. Across her forehead was a black headband that covered her ears before being tied in a tight knot behind her head. Crimson eyes were obscured by the bangs and left in the shadows, appearing almost rust colored in the dark. But as soon as she heard noise and she looked back, her bangs flew up and the moonlight hit her pale face, her eyes seemed to glow like fire. A thin scar raked across her nose, and a longer scar raced across her cheek and up across the bridge of her nose to end above her other eye.

"Tsuyuki-kun, you're a master of your skill. You could take the worst opponent." Chizuru threw back, giggling slightly. Tsuyuki gave a small smirk.

"You're too dainty and feminine to be under the guise of a man, Chizuru-san. Men do not giggle. And your features aren't sharp like mine." Tsuyuki lightly, yet seriously, pointed out. Chizuru shrugged, giving a small smile back.

Thwack. Crack.

"Uwaaagh!" a pained cry came from the alley they were about to turn into. Tsuyuki took a guarded stance, her hand twitching towards the two katanas that decorated each hip. Her eyes narrowed at the silence, and she stilled when she turned around the corner. Blood decorated the wooden walls and rested in puddles in the dirt. A figure with white hair and a blue yukata was crouched over what had most likely been a ronin prowling the streets. Another white haired figure had another struggling ronin by the throat against the wall. Light glinted off a sword in the second white haired figures hand, and with a sickening squelch and a splatter of blood, the ronin was dead. But the figure kept carving into the body, and in short time blood stained the area. This was the same fate the previous ronin had met.

"Ehehehehehehehe." a crazed voice laughed, and Tsuyuki hardly had time to withdraw her own blade and block the first white haired figure that had noticed her when she had been transfixed with the second figure. Tsuyuki gripped her second blade and plunged it into the chest of the figure. She gasped when the figure only laughed back at her.

"Blood!" it howled, reaching for her. Growling in annoyance, Tsuyuki kicked out, and the figure was thrown off her blade and into the wall with a loud thump. Tsuyuki sliced through its body this time, severing its torso from its abdomen. Chizuru threw her hands over her mouth, gagging. Tsuyuki showed no discomfort as sticky crimson blood covered her, and she turned to block the other oncoming figure when there was a flash of a clean blade. The figure howled in pain and blood covered the ground once again before the figure collapsed.

A new figure stood before Tsuyuki, who was crouched in a guarded defensive position. The man's long dark hair was almost as long as Tsuyuki's, and the same blue coat that the two fallen figures wore garbed the new man. He turned, purple eyes meeting Tsuyuki. Then he swung his blade at her. A second and third figure appeared from the shadows, both flashes of blue like the dark haired man.

"Chizuru, get out of here!" barked Tsuyuki as she managed to block the three blades aimed at her, the heat of the moment making Tsuyuki forget the honorific in Chizuru's name.

"Stop him!" ordered the dark haired male as he ducked down and tried to get another swing at Tsuyuki. Tsuyuki jumped over his blade, blocked the oncoming blade from a second figure as a flash of blue easily caught Chizuru and pushed her against the wall.

"Stop!" ordered the black haired man after a small hint of realization and surprise flashed across his face before his expression became guarded again. The two men disengaged from Tsuyuki, who crouched back down and took her guarded stance once again. She regarded the men coolly.

She now had the chance to appraise the other two men. Holding Chizuru against the wall was a man with deep blue eyes, a void, serious expression and dark indigo hair. Between the black haired man and indigo haired man was a brunette. His face held a cool look as he appraised Tsuyuki with his forest green eyes.

"Don't move and we won't hurt your friend." coldly called the indigo haired man.

"We have to kill them anyway," the brunette flippantly demurred, "They've seen too much."

"It seems luck is not with you tonight." the black haired man sighed, "Release the boy, Saito." The indigo haired man, Saito, did as told. However the look that crossed his face told Chizuru that if she ran, she would be dealt with. And she doubted Tsuyuki would save her from these men.

"If they have this sort of reaction to blood, then they don't seem like they'll be practical." Saito nodded towards the fallen white figures. Tsuyuki had figured they were related to each other due to the blue jackets, this confirmed her suspicions.

"…Damn. I didn't think they were this bad." the black haired man sighed before regarding the bodies with an emotionless mask.

"What will we do with these two, commander?" Saito questioned of the black haired man, gesturing with his sword towards Tsuyuki and nodding towards Chizuru.

"Drop the commander. We're supposed to keep a low profile." the black haired man told Saito. The brown haired man laughed.

"Our blues give it away I think." snickered the brown haired man. Tsuyuki's eyes widened slightly before she composed herself. So these men were a part of the group that she had been hearing about. Word was that a group of men garbed in blue wandered the streets and cut people down.

"What should we do with the bodies?" questioned Saito blandly.

"Just take the blues. Yamazaki can take the rest." the black haired man waved it off.

"As you wish." politely replied Saito.

"Another man cut down in the street, huh? Doing a great job, aren't we Hijikata?" the brown haired man said, looking somewhat serious. His tone was flippant, but his eyes showed trouble.

"So long as we keep our mouths shut, I don't think anyone will connect us with this." sniffed Hijikata, the black haired man. Hijikata eyed Chizuru and Tsuyuki. Both girls knew that the words weren't for his companions.

"Murder is common in Kyoto, the city is dangerous," Tsuyuki reasoned, "We won't say a word about this event. And no one will know we've seen anything tonight. This could have never happened."

"We can't just take your word for it. Nothing will compel you to keep this secret after you leave us, should you be tortured for information you don't have the strength or will to not speak of it." Hijikata coldly denied, and Tsuyuki scowled at him darkly.

"You don't know my story, nor do I know yours. Do not make judgment on my character. You do not know what I've seen, done, and have been subjected to." seethed Tsuyuki, anger emanating from her for a brief moment. Killing intent rose in the air, but she calmed just as quickly as she had angered. She took a deep breath, and sheathed her swords before her calm crimson eyes landed on Hijikata, waiting for a response.

"We saved you, didn't we? Aren't you going to thank us?" the brunette smoothly questioned, his posture showing he was smug.

"I handled the first; the second would have fallen to my blade just as easily. I have no reason to thank you, kodomo." The man bristled at Tsuyuki's insult.

"You two are the children here. Neither of you look older than any of us." Hijikata smoothly cut in, eyes dangerous.

"I'm very sorry for he-his ignorance, we're just a bit confused and unsettled." stuttered Chizuru, attempting to calm everyone. The brown haired man looked at her lazily.

"At least one kid knows how to be polite. I'm Okita Souji." The brunette introduced himself.

"What the hell do you think you're you doing, Souji?" harshly questioned Hijikata.

"I understand your concern commander, but we must move." interrupted Saito, speaking with urgency and seriousness. Hijikata nodded, and Okita grabbed the wrist of Chizuru gently, giving her a slightly reassuring smile. Hijikata nodded at Saito again, and Saito went to grab Tsuyuki's wrist.

"You may lead me, but you may not touch me, kodomo." Tsuyuki almost snarled, withdrawing her arms but letting them linger near her swords. Saito eyed her swords, as if debating taking them away. Tsuyuki didn't let her lips curl up in a smug grin. Her swords were her obvious weapons. The long black staff, resembling a stick with a cracked orb on the top, always went unnoticed.

Chizuru's eyes were flitting back and forth between Hijikata and Okita. Okita's grip was far too tight to be friendly, but was not rough. There was no question on their situation.

"It would be best if you prepared for the worst. I doubt this will end well for you." Saito warned suddenly. Chizuru choked on air, and Tsuyuki tensed. She had looked as if she was about to grab for her sword when Saito whacked her upside the head and she fell to the ground, unconscious. Then he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Chizuru nervously looked at Okita and he gave her a reassuring smile before everything went black for her as well.

0o0o0o0o0o_The_Next_Morning_0o0o0o0o0o0

Crimson eyes opened slowly. Tsuyuki's head pounded and she slowly sat up, her eyes getting used to the light in the room. She looked down at herself when her hands couldn't move. She was bound tightly; her hands were bound together behind her back as well as her ankles. Rope was tied a few times around her upper arm and torso, and again around her thighs.

"Tied me up good, and my swords…" Tsuyuki stared wistfully at where her swords had once been attached to her hips. She wiggled around to feel if her staff was on her back. She frowned when she didn't feel it. Looking around the room led to her finding Chizuru on a futon across the room, and her staff was leaned against the wall by the door. Chizuru looked much less tied up than Tsuyuki, and Tsuyuki assumed that she looked to be more of a threat than Chizuru.

"Hm?" Tsuyuki looked to the door as it slid open and a kind faced man stepped into the room.

"I see you've woken up." he observed placidly before introducing himself as Inoue.

"I'm sorry we have to treat you this way… hold on a moment. I'll loosen the ropes, all right?" As Inoue removed Tsuyuki's ropes Chizuru began to awake with a groan. Inoue went over to assist her with her fewer bonds as Tsuyuki frowned at her still bound wrists. She eyed the sword at Inoue's hip.

"Thank you." Chizuru bowed politely to Inoue who let out a short laugh. He asked for the two to follow, and they did as asked. He led them through the courtyard hallway.

"They've been debating since morning what to do with you two. For now, they've decided to hear what exactly you saw last night." Inoue informed them as they walked. Tsuyuki observed Inoue more and she realized that while he was a jovial man, if either she or Chizuru tried to run, he'd kill them. Inoue eyed Tsuyuki and winked at her.

"You have no need to worry, they all seem scary but they're nice." Inoue assured the two girls. Tsuyuki frowned. She had heard rumors of the vicious Shinsengumi. When reaching their destination after receiving a description of all the people they were meeting, all eyes of the Shinsengumi leaders tore into Tsuyuki, who proudly walked in with her head held high. She stood before them, not falling under their gazes. She met each gaze, holding the gazes of Saito, Okita and Hijikata longer than those of the members she had not yet met. Behind her Chizuru peeked around, freezing at all the attention before blushing and looked down at her feet.

"Good morning. I hope you slept well?" Okita brightly asked.

"Slept is not the term I would use. Forcefully knocked out is the term I would use." retorted Tsuyuki. Chizuru flailed slightly behind Tsuyuki at her insolence.

"I apologize for his insolence, Okita-san! We slept well." cried Chizuru before meekly whispering, "Although it wasn't particularly… comfortable."

"Really, because when I took a look at you earlier, you didn't budge no matter what I poked." Okita's smile widened into a grin as Chizuru's face turned red. Tsuyuki looked between Chizuru and Okita, debating if he was lying or not.

"He's only teasing you. Souji didn't go anywhere near your room." Saito assured them in a monotone as he rolled his eyes. Chizuru's wide eyes stared intently at Okita, whose grin was still wide.

"Aah, I just wanted to see you squirm a little." laughed Okita before looking to Saito, "Not very nice of you, Hajime, calling me out like that."

"I don't think Saito-san did anything wrong. You, on the other hand…" Chizuru pouted. Hijikata, who had been watching the back and forth, rolled his eyes.

"Shut it, you sound like a bunch of kids." At Hijikata's voice, no further insubordination occurred. Okita shrugged at him, but his eyes still glowed with a smile.

"So Hijikata… this is your witness?" questioned a younger man's voice. Tsuyuki's eyes left Souji, and landed on three men. Well, what looked to be two men and a boy. The one who spoke was the boy. He had brown hair almost as long as Hijikata's and bright teal eyes.

"They're both real sticks, huh? Just kids." the boy commented. This boy appeared to be Toudou Heisuke, the youngest captain. His youth showed.

"You're calling him a kid, Heisuke? That's rich." snickered a darker brunette with a green cloth tied across his head. Blue eyes showed amusement, however the rest of his body did not. He was a large man, this was Nagakura Shinpachi.

"You three all look like kids." the red haired man across from Heisuke chuckled. However he looked very serious. Apparently, those three were most immature.

"Leave off, you grumpy old bastards." huffed Heisuke.

"The hell I will, boy! You think you can get away with talking to us like that?!" loudly retorted Shinpachi.

"Besides," the red head, Harada Sanosuke, snickered, "I'm hardly mature enough to be called 'old'. Shinpachi, maybe, but… not me."

"You son of a bitch… I thought we were friends!" Shinpachi cried.

"Hahahaha! C'mon, Shin! Would an adult get so worked up over something like this?" Heisuke teased. They continued to go back and forth, and Tsuyuki had the feeling that this banter was usual behavior for them. But she did note the inquisitive glances in their direction.

"I apologize for all this behavior. Please, don't give them the pleasure of unsettling you." a rather plain man told them calmly. He was rather friendly.

"Are you serious?" Hijikata began with a smirk, "You're the scariest out of all of us, Sanan." All the men nodded in agreement. Tsuyuki looked the man over again, looks were deceiving. Chizuru however disbelieved it, this man seemed perfectly nice.

"Oh? How crude. I can understand their feelings, but that our demon of a commander should think so…" Sanan responded, smiling. Hijikata smirked back at him.

"You're lucky to have a friend like Sanan, Toshi." a jovial man told them cheerfully. The man looked to them, smiling.

"My apologies for not introducing myself. I am Isami Kondou, Chief of the Shinsengumi." the jovial man greeted Tsuyuk and Chizuru, "Toshi over there is the commander, and Sanan is our colonel." A deep sigh turned attention to Hijikata, whose purple eyes were closed in slight annoyance.

"Ah… Kondou? Why are you telling them all this?" questioned Hijikata.

"Uh… Why, do you think it's a bad idea?" Kondou asked brightly.

"Well, unless you really think these kids need to know all our secrets, maybe you should really keep your mouth shut." Shinpachi pointed out, his demeanor serious.

"Exactly! Why bother anyway. We don't owe these kids anything." Heisuke said with a nod, crossing his arms. Harada glanced over at Kondou and laughed.

"True, but it's not like telling them will hurt us."Harada demurred, and Kondou perked up at these words.

"Well, let's get back to business. Can you run through what happened last night?" Kondou questioned, sheepish look turning to business. He looked to Saito, who nodded.

"Last night we were on patrol when we encountered a fight amongst those two and two of our men. Two ronin were dead before we arrived, killed by our two men and revealing their failure. We engaged the white haired kid, believing him to be one of our own men due to his appearance." Saito reported before turning to Tsuyuki and Chizuru.

"They attacked, I defended." Tsuyuki told him, looking Saito in the eyes.

"We didn't mean to see anything." cried Chizuru. Hijikata softened at Chizuru's outburst, and Okita's smile didn't change. Saito didn't spare Chizuru a glance, eyes locked with Tsuyuki.

"You didn't mean to," Shinpachi looked to Chizuru with a troubled look, "But you did."

"You saw everything before they attacked you, the whole ugly business." Harada stated, looking pensive.

"Um, no, we got there and there were bodies and they attacked us." Chizuru began.

"But you saw it. You have an honest heart, which isn't a bad thing but…" Harada trailed off.

"We won't tell anyone. Neither of us originates from Kyoto, nor do we care about the plans of the Shinsengumi. We'll be leaving in a few days, and no one will know we encountered anything with the Shinsengumi." Tsuyuki spoke up, looking away from Saito and eyeing Harada.

"It seems unlikely this attack was mere chance. Then again, I have no reason to think you're an enemy either." Sanan told everyone, "Even if you do not intend to tell anyone, you could be captured; interrogated. You two don't look as if you could withstand torture. You don't know who could have overheard or witnessed the attack from the shadows."

"You do not know either of us, do not speak as if you know what we've been through." growled Tsuyuki. Hijikata gave a warning look to Sanan, who dropped that subject. Chizuru whimpered from beside Tsuyuki.

"It's easy enough to stay quiet, but if someone should try to… coerce you, you've no reason to keep our secrets." Saito pointed out.

"We don't have any guarantee you'll keep your word. it wouldn't be smart to just let you go." Okita added.

"You think I have no honor?" spat Tsuyuki, "Should I give my word I keep it, kodomo." Chizuru winced as annoyance spread across Okita's face.

"You don't look to be anyone's senior. Even Heisuke looks to be older than you." Shinpachi crowed, Heisuke sputtering somewhat at him in the background.

"We have no guarantee on your honor, either. Let's just kill these kids. You want to keep someone quiet, that's the only sure way." Okita's face looked serious, but searching his eyes Tsuyuki saw the slightest lightness of joking.

"B-but-" Chizuru began, and Tsuyuki threw a hand over her mouth to silence her sputtering panic. Chizuru gave a despairing look to Kondou, who admittedly seemed the nicest in the room.

"Don't be so cold, Souji," Kondou scolded, "What do we gain by murdering civilians?" Okita's smile dropped and he looked to the floor.

"Oh, don't give me that look. I was just kidding." Okita demurred.

"Then perhaps it should have sounded like it." Saito chided briskly. Okita gave a derisive snort and looked at the wall, attempting to hide his red face.

"Surely there must be something we can do? We're talking about two children…" Inoue began worriedly.

"I've no wish to kill him either, but we can't discount the chance that they could reveal information about us." Sanan added before looking to Hijikata, "I'd like to hear the commander's opinion."

"Last night, men who broke the code were killed and we mistook the white haired kid as one of our own men due to his looks. The kids were at the wrong place at the wrong time." Hijikata sighed, looking around the room at his men.

"And I imagine that's all there is to say?" Sanan inquired.

"Well, I doubt they understand what they've seen." Hijikata shrugged.

"Even so, this is serious. We have bigger things to think about. This has to be kept under wraps." Shinpachi argued, "If rumor gets out that the soldiers of the Shinsengumi are thirsty for blood, that would be problematic."

"I think Souji has a point… Still, I'll do whatever Hijikata and Kondou tell me to." Harada spoke up as grim looks were exchanged.

"I think we oughta let them go."Heisuke put in his vote, looking troubled, "It's not like they know why those men went nuts, you know?" Immediately after saying that, Tsuyuki's thoughts began to whirl, and Chizuru looked disheartened as her mind also began to think at what he meant by that. Hijikata watched Chizuru's eyes widen before he looked to Heisuke.

"Shut it Heisuke." he ordered, Heisuke immediately clapping his hands over his mouth with an apologetic expression.

"Well, this is going to make it even harder for us to just let you go." Okita chimed in, his grin back. Chizuru whimpered again, and Tsuyuki scowled at them.

"We have no use for your secrets." she snarled.

"A man should always be ready to face death. You two should make peace with yours." Shinpachi spoke up. Chizuru shared a look with Tsuyuki, whose anger was replaced with a slightly amused smirk.

"I've faced death many times, but I will not accept a death outside of battle. I will not accept a meaningless death." Tsuyuki told him.

"Very true," Harada agreed with Shinpachi, "A brave death is always an option. When I was young, I committed honorable suicide." Shinpachi grinned over at Harada.

"Although it didn't really stick, did it Sano?" Both broke into raucous laughter at their barbaric jokes. Tsuyuki, whose humor was morbid, cracked a small smirk at their joke. Saito ignored them, his eyes focused on Tsuyuki and Chizuru.

"Hijikata-san, since we can't seem to reach a consensus can I send them back to their room?" Saito questioned Hijikata before turning to Chizuru and Tsuyuki, "Should you hear something you shouldn't while you're here then we'll have no choice but to kill you." Chizuru gasped, hands flying to her ears in realization. Tsuyuki merely eyed Chizuru with slight amusement.

"True. Can you take care of them?" Hijikata flippantly questioned Saito before returning to the low murmuring that he had been doing with Kondou and Sanan. Saito nodded and moved towards Chizuru and Tsuyuki.

"I agree, there are too many careless men here." Sanan concurred, eyeing Shinpachi, Heisuke and Harada.

"C'mon, Sanan. What're you looking at me for?" Shinpachi whined.

"That oughta be pretty obvious. We're in charge of being careless. Especially you, Heisuke." Harada demurred in acceptance, turning his head to leer at Heisuke in wait of Heisuke's response.

"H-hey! Back off!" Heisuke sputtered, "It was just a mistake, all right?" His voice rose before he turned to Chizuru and Tsuyuki.

"I… I'm sorry." he mumbled so low that only the two of them could hear. Chizuru looked to Tsuyuki, who simply nodded at him. No fear shone in her eyes, they revealed nothing but emptiness.

"Shall we go?" Saito questioned. Tsuyuki nodded, and Chizuru mumbled a polite yet startled yes to him. He led them to their rooms before shoving them into their room roughly. Chizuru fell to the ground with a cry and Tsuyuki bounced on her heels, landing in a defensive position that would have been more impressive had her hands not been bound. Saito looked at them with a serious expression, the light outlining him and casting a shadow over his face.

"For your own sakes, you should imagine the worst. Things are unlikely to go well." Saito told them in his usual, monotonous deep voice. Chizuru grit her teeth, looking between crying and pissing herself. Tsuyuki met Saito's eyes with her own confident gaze. Tsuyuki stood next to her staff, prepared to grab it should Saito attempt to attack. Saito said nothing else, instead closing the door. Tsuyuki listened for his footsteps, counting them as he walked. She took note that he hadn't walked far enough, he was most likely there to guard them.

"Tsuyuki-kun, what will we do?" Chizuru questioned as she straightened herself to sit properly. Tsuyuki pulled her staff from the wall and placed it across her lap as she knelt beside Chizuru.

"I've gathered a few things from their conversation, Chizuru-san." Tsuyuki's voice dropped to a whisper, and she watched and listened to hear if Saito attempted to move closer to hear. When she didn't hear movement, she continued in her low murmur, assuming he hadn't heard her speak at all.

"They believe we're men, as humorous as that is considering I have a very feminine body and they carried us here, and you look like a female even in your disguise, we may be able to find sympathy in those who oppose our deaths. They wouldn't want to kill a woman, it's not honorable. We also may attempt to explain our situation, if they hear why we're in Kyoto and what we are doing here, they may let us leave, or they may possibly know something." explained Tsuyuki. She heard several pairs of footsteps coming towards them, and she looked at Chizuru.

"Trust in me," Tsuyuki whispered before calling out, "Excuse me! Is anyone there?" Tsuyuki figured it best not to tell them she knew they were there, as that would give away one of her abilities. Tsuyuki heard Saito stand and the others enter.

"Well, you've got some balls. I'll give you that. We've got you locked up, but that doesn't stop you calling for us." laughed Shinpachi, grinning at Tsuyuki. Chizuru found his laughter, and slightly impressed look, to be a good sign.

"Have you made up your mind about dying?" Shinpachi questioned in good nature.

"We wish for you to hear us out." Tsuyuki told them. Saito looked to her.

"It is unlikely that we can sympathize with your situation. So long as you understand that, say what you wish." Chizuru winced as his harsh tongue. Tsuyuki didn't look any less troubled. Chizuru felt any possible courage she had flee her body when Tsuyuki looked to her.

"I sympathize with your awful luck. May you rest in peace." Harada snickered.

"A man should know when to accept his fate." agreed Heisuke. Tsuyuki ignored how they spoke, as if their fates were already decided for them. Chizuru was disheartened by them, and she nearly fell over when Tsuyuki gave her a supportive look.

"Well, Chizuru-san, what do you say? Do we tell them why we've come to Kyoto, what they've mistaken about us, or should we just accept our fate?" Tsuyuki's tone was somewhat amused, and Chizuru sputtered a bit before Tsuyuki turned to them.

"We're looking for someone, unfortunately we only arrived here yesterday afternoon." Tsuyuki began, facing Saito. Saito tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. Tsuyuki grinned at him; a terrifying sight realized the other men. They took note that Chizuru looked disturbed at Tsuyuki's grin, "Ah, have you figured out what you've mistaken us for?"

"Then you two are merely nothing more than two girls looking for someone to help you?" he tilted his head as he asked.

"Yeah, well, Kyoto's not that safe at night for somebody to wander around even with someone else-wait… What!? Girl?" Shinpachi looked absolutely flabbergasted as his mouth hung slightly open and his eyes widened comically.

"You figured it out?" Chizuru asked, resembling Shinpachi's surprise.

"It wasn't difficult," Saito informed her, "With you, you dress like a man but your features aren't sharp and you act like a girl. With your friend, I carried her back. I assumed that she was just strangely proportioned, and her features aren't Japanese, they're foreign. But her eyes are distinctly feminine, as are her lips and nose."

"Now that you mention it, you did seem kinda girly." Heisuke said to Chizuru, looking her over again. He looked over Tsuyuki before nodding at her, "She's a lot scarier. So I wouldn't have even questioned her."

"Admitting a girl's scaring you, Heisuke?" Harada teased. Heisuke turned to yell at him, and Chizuru looked to the still stunned Shinpachi.

"Struck dumb, eh Shinpachi?" Harada jibbed at Shinpachi, ignoring Heisuke's indignant cries, "Well, makes sense I suppose. You don't exactly have a lot of experience with ladies." Shinpachi when to reply, but Saito cut him off.

"Let's go find Hijikata. We'll listen to you when everyone is together." Saito told the two girls before nodding at Tsuyuki, who smirked in return. A few minutes later, everyone was back in the previous meeting room. This time, Tsuyuki's staff was back on her person, snugly attached to her back where it belonged.

"So, what have you gathered us here for, Saito?" Kondou questioned politely. Saito nodded towards the girls.

"They have a few things they neglected to inform us of." Saito replied, gesturing to Tsuyuki to begin speaking. Tsuyuki eyed the commanders.

"My name is Tsuyuki, and this is my charge, Chizuru-san. We have been traveling looking for Chizuru-san's father. We have come from Edo. He left a few months ago, and was sending letters to Chizuru-san every day. However, a few days before he was due to return, the letters stopped coming. Chizuru-san waited before coming to me and asking me to guard her as she searched for her father in Kyoto. We arrived yesterday afternoon and were looking for an inn when we were involved with you. Chizuru-san's father is a doctor, and he had no protection while traveling so we are slightly worried there is no trace of him." explained Tsuyuki.

"You forgot a part of your explanation." Saito demurred, a serious glint in his eyes. Tsuyuki gave her wolfish, unsettling grin.

"At first glance, you all assumed us to be men. Chizuru and I are females, however as females traditionally do not carry swords and normally do not travel alone, we traveled under the guise of men." There was a stunned silence.

"Dude, you're a girl?" Okita, looking beyond surprised, yelped. His undignified cry caused him to look away to hide his embarrassment. He looked around, smugly smirking when no one noticed his yelp other than Tsuyuki and Chizuru.

"Once you know they're girls they don't look like boys at all, do they?" Heisuke asked with a grin. Kondou, meanwhile, was having issues processing the idea.

"Girl!? I Isami Kondou, have commit a grave blunder." Kondou smacked himself in the face, "I never dreamed you were a girl."

"She's obviously a girl, wouldn't you say?" Okita sniffed. Saito eyed him.

"You didn't know she was a girl." Saito stated coldly.

"Ah Hajime, always spoiling my fun." Okita huffed.

"Then we left two girls bound for an entire night? Oh dear." Inoue looked down, ashamed.

"Well, we don't really have proof." Shinpachi pointed out.

"P-proof?" sputtered Chizuru. Tsuyuki didn't let her worry show, but she would kill them all should they attempt to disrobe her.

"Proof? Really? Not obvious enough for ya, huh? Will you feel better if I strip one of them down?" Harada laughed at Shinpachi.

"Please don't." Chizuru begged, face turning a flaming red.

"You will absolutely not! Even suggesting such a thing is preposterous!" Kondou exploded, face red. Tsuyuki looked Harada over, noting his joking tone.

"It is the quickest way to settle the question…" Harada slyly grinned before shrugging and leaning back against the wall again. Shinpachi's brows were knit and his arms crossed as he watched the two girls.

"Kill a girl feels kinda… wrong." Shinpachi admitted.

"It doesn't matter. If we have to kill them, they die. Gender irrelevant." Hijikata demurred.

"Gender is irrelevant. Killing in general is wrong." Sanan pointed out. "We were organized to protect the public good in the city of Kyoto. We would ill serve the public good by murdering civilians in cold blood."

"But if they're a threat to the peace it's a horse of a different color." Okita his grin still in place.

"You said you were looking for Chizuru-san's father?" Kondou questioned.

"Yes. My father is the western medicine doctor, Yukimura Kodo. I am his daughter, Yukimura Chizuru." As soon as the words left her mouth, the room went cold and a surprised, hostile "What!?" came from Hijikata. Tsuyuki tensed, shuffling in front of Chizuru to block her from the men.

"So the good doctor Kodo has a daughter?" Sanan's face was in a mask, however the look he had didn't settle right with Tsuyuki.

"All right, how much do you know?" Hijikata asked. His voice was strong and serious, bordering on hostility. Tsuyuki braced herself, ready to rip her bonds apart and grab her staff. She tested her bonds. The rope was very thick, but Tsuyuki knew she could break them

"Uh, 'how much'?" Chizuru tilted her head.

"Don't play dumb. Not about Kodo-san." Hijikata moved, and Tsuyuki acted. She ripped through her bonds like they were rice paper, and she stood protectively in front of Chizuru. Each of the men's hands lingered by their swords.

"Tsuyuki-kun, please, there's no need. Sit down like the rest of us. It's impolite to stand so hostile." Chizuru chided. Tsuyuki looked to Chizuru.

"Your father tasked me with protecting you, and you requested me to be your guard. Should I have to, I will fight these men to my last breath." Tsuyuki told Chizuru, however she grudgingly listened.

"A weaponless girl against several armed men?" snickered Okita.

"You obviously didn't pat me down for secret weapons, kodomo, considering my gender was a secret until minutes ago." Tsuyuki insulted him. She locked eyes with Saito, who met her gaze easily.

"What did you mean, Hijikata-san?" Chizur began, attempting to ignore the hostile air. Then, she tensed.

"Wait, has something happened to my father!?" Chizuru looked at Hijikata, eyes wide in worry.

"About a month ago there was a fire at the workplace of Kodo-san." Saito began, not losing eye contact with Tsuyuki, "He has been missing ever since."

"What?!" Chizuru gasped.

"The fire was suspicious, but no body was found. However it's possible he was involved in some sort of incident." Sanan added.

"We're in the process of tracking Kodo-san ourselves." Hijikata sighed, before looking at Chizuru, "If you forget all about the events of last night, you can stay under our protection until we find Kodo-san."

"She doesn't need your protection." sneered Tsuyuki.

"No, this is a good thing Tsuyuki! Now you can return home, you were busy when I had you leave, were you not? You had been low on sleep and you looked like the living dead when I had met with you. I believe you said you had a family issue?" Chizuru looked at Tsuyuki brightly, yet worriedly. Tsuyuki sighed.

"If I wanted to attend to my family issue, I would have to like my family. They're back in the far West, it would take time to reach them and I don't have the money to travel that distance. It is my duty to take care of you Chizuru, I will accompany you until we find your father or until I die protecting you." Tsuyuki replied, her tone leaving no room for Chizuru to argue.

"We wouldn't let you leave anyway, you're under our protection now too since you were also a witness." Okita told Tsuyuki. Tsuyuki merely glared at him.

"Thank you very much." Chizuru bowed to the men. Chizuru sat back up, and Tsuyuki gently took Chizuru's wrists.

"I do believe these are no longer needed." and with ease, the thick rope that bounded Chizuru's wrists was ripped in half. Tsuyuki eyed the room, the atmosphere still tense.

"Good thing you two didn't have to die, huh?" Okita asked, the atmosphere lightening.

"Huh? Oh, yes." Chizuru nodded.

"For now at least." Okita grinned.

"We'll have to treat you two more cordially from now on, since you're females." Shinpachi commented.

"Shinpatsu, you're a sucker for women, aren't you?" Heisuke deadpanned, "But this change of heart is way too fast."

"True, as we're warriors, we'll have trouble handling you two." Sanan nodded. Tsuyuki took offense.

"I may be a woman, but I am a warrior myself. Treat me as any man, to be treated as a woman is an insult to my face." Tsuyuki growled.

"I apologize, but at least Chizuru-san must be treated like a woman." Sanan digressed.

"Then let's make them servants to someone, how about Kondou's or Sanan's." Hijikata offered.

"No way, Hijikata. As the man with the idea, responsibility falls to you. You get one of them." Okita pointed out slyly.

"Yeah, Chizuru'll be safe at your side, Toshi." agreed Kondou. Hijikata looked alarmed at the way this was going.

"It's decided, Hijikata-kun. You get Chizuru. Do your best to take care of her, will you?" Sanan's smile showed teasing. The others all, laughing, congratulated Hijikata.

"You bastards." he muttered, looking away from them.

"Then who should get Tsuyuki?" questioned Chizuru curiously.

"I'll take her." Everyone blinked, looking to Saito.

"She showed proficiency with a sword." was his explanation. Tsuyuki shared a look with Chizuru.

'It seems,' Tsuyuki thought to herself, 'That perhaps this arrangement may not be too bad.'

Later that night, after Tsuyuki and Chizuru were in their room with a hidden guard, Saito, Okita and Hijikata sat in Hijikata's room as he wrote on parchment.

"What do you think of them?" Okita asked.

"I don't trust Tsuyuki, she is a foreigner, yet her name is Japanese. And she is intelligent, too intelligent. We must watch her carefully." Saito spoke up.

"I thought you admired her proficiency with a sword?" Okita responded after watching Hijikata pause in his writing.

"When fighting us, she used two swords, one in each hand. She didn't falter under the weight, and she was able to dodge our blades easily." Saito explained.

"What about that staff she carries?" Hijikata questioned.

"I looked at it, commander. It has groves in it and is almost as tall as Harada's spear when not folded in two as it seems to be. But it is locked like that." Saito described the staff, "Then the top had a broken crystal on the top. It's sharp, but not sharp enough to slight someone open like a sword."

"She's hiding something, and from the looks of it, even Chizuru doesn't know." Okita added.

"I agree. Keep watch on them both. Do not let them out of their room and listen in to their conversations." Hijikata ordered. When they were dismissed, Saito headed towards his room. As he passed Tsuyuki and Chizuru's room, he began to walk softer so that he wouldn't be detected.

"Tsuyuki-kun, they all seem nice." Chizuru tried to assure Tsuyuki. Saito wondered at the honorific, it seemed degrading to refer to another woman as 'kun'.

"I do not trust them Chizuru. We were told we're getting our weapons back tomorrow, as we have to act under the guise of men again, but I worry about tonight. They believe me to be unarmed, and though that isn't true, they could be planning to kill us tonight. I did not like their reaction to your father. Something is wrong." Tsuyuki snapped back. Chizuru sighed.

"You're too paranoid. They're honorable men. I know you see it too, since you read expressions and eyes like they're letters on parchment." Chizuru chided. There was shifting inside the room that Saito took to be Tsuyuki pacing back and forth as a shadow moved around inside.

"Besides, should they attack, your staff is your main weapon. You're beyond skilled with your twin katanas, but you could take an army with your staff." Chizuru attempted to reassure her.

"I suppose I have the advantage. They don't know the purpose of my staff, regarding them leaving it with me; they didn't realize it was a weapon. A common error, but a fatal one." The shadow that was Tsuyuki sat down on her bedroll and she placed her staff right beside her bedroll.

"Trust in them, Tsuyuki-kun."

"Trust is something that kills. I'd rather not get another scar to add to my collection."

There was silence, but Saito didn't dare to move. Not when he knew that one step could lead to Tsuyuki hearing him. When Chizuru's breath evened and showed she was asleep, Tsuyuki sighed.

"What worries me most, Chizuru-san, is that one day your innocence will lead you into someone that I may not be able to protect you from. I'll give the Shinsengumi this; they seem to be good, honorable men. But times are changing, and good, honorable men won't help against those who aren't."


AN

Hey, look, I'm alive. Those of you who followed me, expecting either Dream, the sequel to Wide Awake, or the sequel to Dancing With The Devil, this isn't it, obviously. Those two sequels are in the works, I'm attempting to get a solid base that i like for both of them.

Anyway, now onto this story's business. I recently played Hakuouki Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, and damn i loved it. I played my first play through without a guide, and no one liked me. Not even Kazama. Then, i realized something. I love Saito so much. And Kazama isn't too bad. Then, just yesterday, i watched the entire first twelve episodes of the anime, which i really wish was Saito-centric but its not. And what i learned is that i really hate about Chizuru is that she doesn't do anything. Like, looking at Kazama, Amagiri and Shiranui, they are badass demons. Even Sen and Kimigiku are awesome. Then theres Chizuru, who kind of sits there. She's a very compassionate character, but her lack of strength frustrates me. As did the lack of Saito love in the anime, thus, i dreamed up Tsuyuki.

This story will be based off the game and anime, I'll be taking alot of dialogue from the game as its easier, there will be stuff that i add in because I am me, and there will be times i refer to the anime (Which sucks because i HAVE to watch it on Animewaffles and my laptop takes forever to load it up and theres so many ads X-X)

In regards to the cover photo, i drew my rendition of Tsuyuki. Theres a bit of foreshadowing in the cover, as per usual. Hope you enjoy my story, and as this only the first chapter this is kind of my test chapter.

Sayonara!