New story! Woot! Well new part to an old story! If you haven't read the 1st story I strongly suggest you do!
So we start off where the other story ended. Normally I have at least two chapter typed before I post one so that I have leeway for when I get lazy or hit a writers block but not this time! I just really wanted to post it...sorry if I take a long time to post chapters...I can be bad for that. Although I was generally good with my first story but I was laid off and had 3 months to write and since I'm working again I don't have as much time. Not to mention my job is like a vampire that sucks out all my creativity...I think I need a vacation.
I was actually thinking of splitting my other story into two since it does cover two seasons of the show and calling this three. I don't know what do you all think? I also have started a Sano/OC story(not posted, still working on it) and recently thought about doing one for Souji since I like my version of Souji so much...maybe I'll give him a girlfriend in this story, we'll see. Anyways I hope you all enjoy.
P.S. I so did not proof-read this so I'm so sorry for the errors its bound to be loaded with. I'll get around to fixing them eventually. ;)
Edit: I have now proofread this chapter so hopefully it doesn't come across so awkward and error filled, although I do miss things sometimes
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Hakuoki or its characters...do we still need to do disclaimers?
Kaiya stared out at the beautiful garden that stretched out before her. It was supposed to soothe one's soul but with the current state of events that were happening only a few days' journey away, she felt unsettled. It had been two months since she had left Kyoto with an injured Kondou and Souji. From what she had heard from the weekly updates that Kondou received, the war had stagnated; no one was really making any progress.
All out battle had broken out only weeks after the three of them had gone to Osaka Castle. Kaiya had to work hard to keep Kondou in Osaka Castle, he was insistent that he needed to rejoin the front lines. While Kaiya too wanted to return to where her friends and husband were, she couldn't let Kondou nor Souji return to front lines. Souji's injuries had been more critical than Kondou's and with his already weakened body, he was taking longer to heal. Kaiya also couldn't help but wonder if part of the reason for Kondou's dramatically quicker healing was due to sheer stubbornness.
Ryunosuke suddenly appeared came charging towards her. "Kaiya-chan! You're needed immediately!" He hollered at her. He had appeared here at the castle a week after they'd arrived and warned them of and impending attack in Kyoto.
Kaiya quickly got to her feet and followed after him as he led the way. They entered into a room just as a stretcher was carried into the room by men wearing Shinsengumi haori's. When Kaiya saw who was laying on it, her heart nearly stopped. Yamazaki laid on a stretcher looking like death.
Kaiya immediately bent over him and started inspecting his wounds. "What happened to him? How long has he been like this?" She asked as she turned him over when she didn't see any injury on his torso.
"Hijikata-dono had sent Yukimura-san and Inoue-san to ask for reinforcements from Yodo Castle, on their way back they came across enemy forces. Inoue-san was critically injured as well; he should be here momentarily. Hijikata-dono, got worried and went to check on them and I think Yamazaki-san got worried about Hijikata-dono and followed after him. All I know is that he stepped in front of Hijikata-dono to take a blow. Yukimura-san did all he could for them but these injuries are beyond his skill."
Kaiya inspected the wound on Yamazaki's back. It was deep and infection had set in, things weren't looking good for him. "How long ago was he injured?" Kaiya asked sharply as Ryunosuke plunked her surgical kit beside her.
"We got here as quickly as we could, about two days. Inoue-san is worse."
Kaiya pulled out a syringe and the only bottle of penicillin that she owned and inject it into Yamazaki's body. She had happened into the penicillin on a visit to the Kyoto docks, where they had a trading market that had rare and expensive goods. Kaiya turned to Ryunosuke as the other stretcher carrying Gen, came in.
"Warm some water for a tea and steep these leaves." Kaiya pulled a bundle of leaves out of her kit. "It should help strengthen his body to help him heal and fight infection."
"On it!" Ryunosuke said as he grabbed the leaves from her and took off running.
Kaiya moved over to Gen, there was nothing more she could do for Yamazaki at the moment. Unlike Yamazaki who only had the one injury, Gen had three bullet wounds and had been run through with a katana. There were no exit wounds for the bullet wounds but lucky for him, all the holes where in his shoulders while the blade had passed through his abdomen. Kaiya felt around his abdomen and felt a pocket fluids building up.
"Open every door and window and get me some lanterns. I need as much light as possible, Gen-san needs surgery; he's bleeding internally." Kaiya ordered.
"Yes sensei!" They all said in unison.
Kaiya pulled out her ten blade after applying a numbing agent to the surgical area and cut into his stomach. Immediately blood came pouring out, Kaiya grabbed several cloths that Ryunosuke had stacked beside her and started shoving them into the incision she had made.
"Is that supposed to happened?" One of the men asked as he set a lit lantern down beside her.
"Not exactly but that's why in needed to open him up, he's bleeding to death. Get me a bucket of water and a cup or something I can scoop the water out with." Kaiya quickly pulled out the soiled rags. The cloth had soaked enough blood up for her to be able to see the extent of the damage inside the body cavity. The man was going to be down to one kidney when she was done, the one was beyond saving; it had nearly been cut in half and was the major source of bleeding.
Half way through the surgery both Kondou and Souji appeared. Kondou immediately went to Gen's side, Gen was one Kondou's closest friends. Souji just slowly slid down to the ground and sat back against the wall, pain plainly written on his face.
Kaiya looked up briefly enough to glare at the both of them before looking down again to resume her work. "You both should be resting in bed!" She said tersely.
Kondou ignored her comment. "Is Gen-kun going to be alright? What about Yamazaki-kun?" He asked as he stared down sadly at Gen.
"At this point it all depends on them." Kaiya said as she finally freed Gen's damaged kidney and plunked it into a dish that Ryunosuke had brought.
Kondou looked down at it in shock. "Kaiya-chan what are you doing?" He asked in shock.
Kaiya smirked briefly. "It's just a kidney, we all have two but we can survive with just one. This one nearly got cut in half and there's no way I'll be able to fix it. If you want to be useful Kondou-san, monitor his breathing and let me know if it stops."
"I can do that!" Kondou said.
Kaiya looked over her shoulder at Souji. "You, on the other hand need to return to bed, Souji."
"They're my friends too, Kai!" Souji said sternly.
"And can't help your friends by re-injuring yourself." Kaiya retorted back.
"I'm just sitting here; I'm not doing anything!" Souji groused.
Kaiya focused again on Gen, too busy to bother arguing with Souji further at the moment. Another hour later Kaiya had finally sewed up all the damage in his abdomen and cut the last stitch closing his flesh. Kaiya was fairly certain that he still had bullets in both shoulders but at the moment he wasn't strong enough for Kaiya to be able to pull them out. If he was still alive in a few days, she'd make the attempt to find them if he was strong enough.
Kaiya sat back and stretched her arms and back. Kondou looked at her eagerly. "So?" He asked.
"I fixed all the damage but like I said before, its up to him whether he survives but I'll do my best to give him a fighting chance." Kaiya responded. "Quite frankly its surprising he even made it here alive let alone through the surgery. That tells me he's fighting to live, which is good. Now you two need to return to your beds and let me do my job, I'll update you two later."
Kondou sighed. "Fine. Let's go Souji." Kondou got up and walked over to Souji and helped him to his feet then helped him limp off to his room.
Kaiya quickly finished cleaning the incisions and bullet wounds, put some antiseptic on them, then dressed the wounds. When she was done she moved back over to Yamazaki and examined him once more. She looked up at Ryunosuke.
"His breathing seems to be better and his fever is down also. Thank you for watching over him and everything else you've done for us; you didn't need to help us." Kaiya bowed her head. "Thank you and sorry for Souji pushing you into the river. It was his strange way of showing mercy while still following his orders."
"From what Okita-san said I really owe you an apology." Ryunosuke said sadly.
Kaiya frowned. "What do you mean?"
"He told me that Serizawa-san forced himself on you that night…and I stuck up for him," Ryunosuke bowed his head. "I felt pity for him. He was sick…but nothing can excuse what he did to you and I'm sorry."
Kaiya shook her head. "No, don't be. It's not your fault. It's not a bad thing to try and find the good qualities in a person. And besides, that would have happened sooner if you hadn't rescued me." Kaiya said softly.
Ryunosuke shook his head. "All I did was get Saitou-san…oh speaking of which I heard that you married him!"
Kaiya smiled. "Yes I did but unfortunately we only had about a month together before Kondou-san and Souji got shot, I haven't seen him since I left.
Ryunosuke was about to respond but was interrupted by Yamazaki groaning. Kaiya touched his shoulder and bent over him. "Yamazaki-kun?"
His eyes fluttered open and he smiled weakly as they rested on Kaiya. "Kaiya-chan." He breathed. "Aren't I lucky to be seen to by such a skillful surgeon."
"That's right, so you can't ruin my reputation by dying on me! So you have to fight!" Kaiya said as she gently stroked his head.
He smiled again. "We can't have that, so I'll do my best."
"Do you think you can drink some tea?" She asked him.
"I'll try."
Ryunosuke brought over the pot of tea he had made earlier. It had now cooled but it would still do its job. He poured a cup and handed it to Kaiya who gently lifted Yamazaki's head and put the cup to his lips and tipped it back slowly. After a sip, he coughed once and made a face but dutifully continued to drink. When he was finished his cup, Kaiya gently set his head back down.
Yamazaki made a breathing sound that she assumed was his attempt at laughing. "Now I know what Saitou-san and Okita-san where complaining about. That stuff is truly awful but I've seen it work miracles, so I'll keep drinking it when you tell me too."
Three days later, Kaiya decided that Gen had gained enough strength that she could remove the bullets from his shoulder. The surgery had gone successfully, with her finding all the bullets with minimal fuss. Gen was still on the fence and could die any day but Kaiya was going to fight tooth and nail to keep him alive. He was her friend too and Kaiya couldn't bare to see the sadness on Kondou's face if he lost a close friend. As it was, she was having a hard time keeping him in Osaka; he was desperate to return to the front lines. It didn't help when they had received word that Hijikata had resorted to taking the Water of Life in order to fight Kazama by himself in order to save Chizuru.
Things had started to go their way some what though. The Shinsengumi had led an attack on the Choshu-Satsuma headquarters and managed to secure their cannons and a cache of higher quality guns then what the Shinsengumi had been able to secure months before. Apparently the attack had been led by her husband Hajime and would not have been successful if they hadn't acquired their own guns. Apparently Shinpachi had lead an attack on the enemy's front gate and while he didn't get through, him and his unit had dealt a heavy blow to their numbers.
Kaiya desperately wanted to be out there with them but Hijikata had left Kondou and Souji in her care and she couldn't let either one of them leave here just yet.
A week later Kaiya sat at her desk late one night working on her research to find a way to reverse the Water of Life. Ever since receiving news that Hijikata was now a fury, Kaiya had doubled her efforts. She was also very concerned with the effects it was starting to have on Sannan. Usually after so much time passed, most furies went crazy. Sannan had long since passed that mark and was scared that any day now, she'd receive news that he too had finally gone crazy.
Kaiya startled slightly when a knock came at her door. Kaiya looked at the door. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Kaiya-chan." Came Kondou's voice.
Kaiya wipe the shocked expression from her face. "Come in! What brings you here at this hour?" She asked once he closed the door behind him.
"Is that the research you've been doing?" He asked indicating the instrumentation in front of her.
"I'm close, very close! I can feel it! But I'm missing something, I just haven't been able to figure out what that is…but that's not why you came here, is it?" Kaiya studied Kondou carefully. He had his Commander face on like he was about to force her to do something she wasn't going to like.
"I'm returning to the Shinsengumi tomorrow…" Kondou started.
"I don't think that's…" Kaiya started to interrupt.
He looked at her firmly while he held his hand up to silence her. "I wasn't asking for your permission. It is what I am doing and you cannot persuade me otherwise. In fact, I want to take you with me. The Shinsengumi is now without a doctor and there is no better than you."
Kaiya frown. "What about Souji? Or Gen-san and Yamazaki-kun?"
"Souji is well on his way, he should be able to join us in a month or two. You said that yourself and Gen-san and Yamazaki-kun are both out of the woods. All our injured are being sent to some allies near Edo. Rumour has it that the enemy is planning on attacking Osaka, so we are sending them away for their safety…Souji really isn't going to like that." Kondou let out a tired sigh. "Anyways its either you come with me or you go with the others to Osaka and I want you with me. You would have a better chance at testing your research there anyways, since that's where all the furies are…what's left of them anyways. I don't want to order you Kaiya-chan but I will make it an order if I have to."
Kaiya sighed. "Well I can't and won't disobey you but your shoulder isn't ready for you to get in a fight! Please at least promise me that you'll avoid getting into a fight unless absolutely necessary?"
Kondou smiled slightly. "I'll do my best. I still won't be seeing any action for a couple weeks at least anyways. We still have to make plans for our own attacks, that's why I have to go. They are waiting for my return, Toshi is going wear out soon from what I hear. If you want to worry about anybody its him."
Kaiya shook her head. "Why doesn't that surprise me." She let out a sigh. "I can't deny that this is what I want. With all that's going on out there and I'm sitting here! Practically doing nothing! Its been hard."
"Yes it has been." Kondou suddenly smiled slyly. "I'm sure you're anxious to see your husband as well."
Kaiya laughed. "Yes that would be nice too. Although I'm sure he's happy I'm away from the danger, one less thing for him to worry about."
"That almost makes me feel bad for wanting to bring you along but the needs of the many out weigh the needs of a husband and an overbearing cousin." Kondou finally got to his feet. "Now I suggest you get some sleep; we'll be leaving at first light which is only a few hours away." Kondou turned and left the room.
So? What do you think? Its a little shorter than some of my other chapters, especially my opening chapters but this seemed like a good place to end the chapter! Anyways R&R!
P.S. I'm Canadian so rumour is correct despite what my auto-correct says :( I even looked it up in case my tired brain was remembering wrong but I'm right! :)
-Shockra