A/N: Just a heads up, this will not go accordingly to the same plot in the show historically. But this is fanfiction so you get to do whatever on here. On with the story!
Distant Desire
by fiftyfantasies
Chapter One
Septmember 23, 1870
I hummed to myself a simple tune as I read in the gardens, the evening was enjoyably tranquil and warm. Looking around I noticed I was alone this evening, reminiscing in the solitude that the garden offered, a rare occasion. I looked over to the pond and admired the koi swimming around gracefully and the white lotus flowers at their peak bloom. Closing my eyes I sat and listened. The book, Ancient Eastern Oni History and Clans, in my hand became a distant thought to me at the moment.
I listened to the sounds that the garden offered, I listened to the birds that sat in the maple tree, to the little fountain and its gurgling water. Water always brought peace to me for some reason. Water to me was the very resemblance of life, almost nothing can survive without it.
The sun peaked from behind the orange brandy maple tree and shined down onto me, I accepted it's soothing rays as my sore and tired body relaxed. My shoulders relaxed and went limp, slouching my back against the wooden beam that stood on the steps, supporting the roof over head.I internally relaxed and tilted my head back, enjoying the warm soothing rays of the sun on my bare skin and face. I could feel my robe start to loosen, allowing it to reveal my collarbone and completely expose my neck. I bent my legs up and allowed the robe to slide off, letting the sun bathe my bare legs. My hair was still damp from the cold bath I took only a while ago, my chilled goose-fleshed skin welcoming the warmth of the sun.
Whenever alone, I always stole these moments, allowing my body to soak in the sun and it's strange healing powers. The feeling of the sun kissing my bare skin became a secret pleasure of mine lately.
"I see that my reading material bores Chizuru-chan to the point she's falling asleep." I opened my eyes and quickly recovered my legs and straightened my posture. I gave her a sheepish smile. "Not at all Osen-chan! The book is very interesting and informative! I'm just a bit tired from today." I turned to face the steps downward, no longer sitting parallel to the steps, giving Sen a place to sit.
"I'll say. Kimigiku has definitely been a bit stricter than usual this past week, especially todays training. I almost thought that I needed to step in and stop that commotion between you two. I'm actually surprised she didn't leave some nasty bruises on you." The demon princess chided as she took a seat on the steps next to me in her beautiful purple kimono, always dressed and presented formally. As any high born demon princess should.
"I swear. I'm glad you're getting the training you need, but to where Kimigiku is leaving you this exhausted is a bit extreme..." Sen trailed off, already knowing it was no use to try to talk me out of training with Kimigiku. I mentally agreed with her that todays training did seem a bit extreme and gruesome today. Kimigiku sparred with me and trained me thoroughly in hand-to-hand combat. I learned today that I have little to no upper body strength and that her punches were not to be taken light of.
"I know, but I feel that it's my duty to continue to train, in both knowledge and strength. I'm really grateful that you are concerned for my well-being, but... I'm still going to continue my training with Kimigiku." I looked down at my hands, feeling slightly ashamed for having to worry Sen. Sen had no problem with the book and studying part of my schooling. Osen didn't like the fact that I asked Kimigiku to train me and help me defend myself if a time a shall come. No, when the time comes.
"Besides! I'm not really doing anything too dangerous. Kimigiku decided it best to teach me archery since I'm not really improving with my kodachi training." I laughed, yet was embarrassed of my skills with my short sword, or lack of skill really.
"You're not that bad with your kodachi. But at least you make up for it with your archery skills! I'm still impressed with your ability to pick up archery so quickly!" Osen nudged my shoulder with hers, trying to make me feel better no doubt for my lack of skills with swordsmanship. I simply smiled back at her and stood with her when she stood up, no doubt to head to dinner.
After the Shinsengumi left for the war a couple years ago I decided it wise to accept Osen-chan's offer for me to stay with her. At least until the war was over. But as time went on and the war ended, I still continued to live with her. There was no sign of their whereabouts and wether or not if they were even alive and survived the war.
During the time of the war and living with Sen and her people, my people, I started to become more and more interested in my heritage and culture. I slowly started to accept the fact that I was also an Oni like them. But it still took me time to wrap my head around the idea of me being a possible heir to the Yukimura clan.
One day Osen-chan proposed that I should consider rebuilding my clan, I quickly shot the idea down. Back then I was still not used to the previous idea of me being the head of a well known Oni clan. Let alone start the task of reviving a clan. I'm still starting to slowly get used to people looking up to me and seeing me as a clan leader.
As time continued to tick by and the more I continued to learn about my Oni heritage and more about the Yukimura clan, there was a part of me that started to want to fulfill the position that my father left behind, and what my brother sought for. I slowly wanted to become recognized as head of my clan. I knew that what the other clans did to my clan was wrong and needed to be addressed. But not as the same method my uncle Koudo decided to act upon with the rasetsu.
I took it up with Osen-chan to have her construct and prepare me for the position I was wanting to fulfill. I severely underestimated the tasks and skills needed to be a clan head leader. So much politics were involved, lots of rules and regulations were put in place and the culture was so different from regular human etiquette. But my determination allowed me to push through the hard lessons and subjects. I still have much to learn, but I took it as a fun challenge.
Of course it wasn't required for me to be skilled in fighting, as Osen-chan keeps on reminding me, but I still continued to train and prepare. For what? I wasn't exactly sure. But there was a part of me that knew it involved Kaoru. I knew my brother wasn't going to have the best reaction to me taking over as head of the Yukimura clan. I haven't heard from him for the past couple of years since the war started, and that only put me on edge more than ever.
As I sat and ate dinner together with Sen and her family I continued to ponder about my future. I could feel change coming very soon. I knew I was starting to get too comfortable with Sen and her clan. After dinner I wanted to discuss with Sen the fate of the Yukimura estate, or at least of what was left of it and talked about what was to be done.
I took a sip of my tea as we sat outside and enjoyed the summer breeze. "You know Chizuru, you are always welcome to stay with me as long as you want. I could easily find you a suitable husband from a good clan and you could have a new estate built here, and then you could start the beginning of the new generation of the Yukimura clan here!"
I coughed on my tea. After clearing my throat I gave Osen an embarrassed yet flushed look. "I really appreciate your hospitality and letting me stay here with you and your clan. But I-I don't think marriage is on my mind yet, let alone starting a new generation."
Osen gave me a pointed glare. "Chizuru, you are of the age of Nineteen! The ripe marrying age!" I looked away and stared at the pond of Koi fish. I really tried to not think of love and marriage, because if I did then my thoughts would always to start to trail another direction and it made me think of him.
"You are aware that I've already had three inquiries of your hand in marriage? Two from my own clans-men and another demon lord south of here?" I tucked my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. "Yes." I mumbled into my knees, a faint flush crept across my cheeks.
I thought back to the three men asking for my hand in marriage. The two men I've already met and sadly rejected. Haru was a man that Kimigiku introduced me to when we were training with my kodachi. Haru was a skilled swordsman, son of a wealthy clansman here in Sen's village. The other was a clansman whose wife died about a year ago and I helped him through his grief. The Southern Lord I still haven't met, or plan on meeting anytime soon.
Osen sighed. "I know that your heart still yearns for Toshizo-san, but I think it best if you start to think of a path without him, or the Shinsengumi for the matter. It's been almost a year since we've last heard of them..." Osen trailed off, not wanting to put me into a more sour mood. Every time we talked of the Shinsengumi I closed myself off and was lost to my thoughts of them.
"I know, but it's hard. It's hard to think of another life when I thought I would spend my days with him. At least what time he could offer me." I knew that it sounded selfish, but it was hard to ignore the obvious that Hijikata wouldn't be able to keep up with me in age.
"Actually there's something I need to tell you. I've received some interesting news tonight." Placing my tea on my lap I looked at Sen, giving her my whole attention.
"A southern Clan leader, Eizo Hurataka, has made a claim on my hand in marriage." Sen placed her cup pf tea down next to her. I wasn't sure to congratulate her because I've never really new what Osen wanted when it came to marriage. It wasn't something we discussed often. "I know it's my duty to marry and produce a strong heir, but like you, marriage also intimidates me. So I really shouldn't be the one to chide you when it comes to marriage." Sen turned to me and gave me a cheeky grin.
I smiled back at her. "Are you going to accept his proposal? Osen-chan." Osen gave it some thought as she stared out at the garden and bit her lip with her fang.
"I think I am. My father thinks it's a perfect match, to reunite the North and South once again. Ties between us have been severed due to the war, this should be a nice way to rebuild our connection with them." I looked at Sen with admiration. How she was able to put her clan and duty ahead of her own feelings amazed me.
"Also, there's one more thing. Kimigiku has informed me that the Shinsengumi have been located back to Kyoto. It seems that they are trying to rebuild their units and forces to become as strong as they were before the war." My mouth dropped and my stomach did a somersault.
All of a sudden all of the Shinsengumi that were close to me ran through my head, each one of their faces flashing before me. Hijikata, Okita, Kondou, Satio, all of them!
"Who's...?" I was at a loss of words, shock still rushing through me.
"I'm not sure who is there in Kyoto and who is not, but all I know is that they are rebuilding their corps, in hope to be what they used to be before the war." Sen gave me weak smile, already knowing what was running through my head probably.
It was no secret that I was emotionally attached to the Shinsengumi. Many of those who knew about my attachment to the Mibu Wolves disagreed and opposed the relationship I had with each of those men. Most saw it highly inappropriate for a young single woman to live with unmarried men, and others saw it unwise, due to me obviously having the advantage of outliving each and every one of them. And some saw it as a waste, a rare female pure-blooded Oni falling in love with a mere mortal man.
"I'm going to send the Southern Lord my response and I should start preparing to head to the south... I was hoping you'd accompany me on my journey? We will be passing through Kyoto by the way." Sen gave me her cheeky grin, I matched her equally with my own.
"I'd love to go with you Osen-chan." I gave her a side hug, giving her comfort through this major event in her life. This is what she was born for, to marry a noble high blooded Oni like her and myself.
"I'm happy knowing I'll be able to go through this with you by my side, Chizuru-chan!" Osen smiled at me and grasped my hand, squeezing it in appreciation before standing up to retreat to her study for the night, most likely to send her reply to the Southern Lord, leaving me alone with my thoughts and racing mind.
Looking up to the moon I breathed in the cool autumn air. The thought of the Shinsengumi still living and thriving gave me an indescribable feeling of a weight being lifted off of my shoulders. As Sen mentioned she didn't know who was alive and who wasn't. Meaning that they could all be alive and in Kyoto, or they could all be dead, maybe even one of them could possibly be alive.
As I sat on the step I placed my head in my hands, a quite sob escaped me. Nearly every scenario passed through my mind, the bad and the good outcomes of this war tormented my mind.
"Please Kami, if the Shinsengumi are still alive and well, keep them that way until I reach them. Please." I let out a quite prayer, pathetically placing my hope into that single prayer I let out into that night.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and like the opening so far.
I hope you all leave a review and share with me your thoughts on how I could improve the story and share some ideas so hopefully I could implement it into the story. Don't forget to Favorite and Follow the story! I hope to have a new chapter by next week.