Hey everyone, Azure here! So as I will explain in the end-of-chapter author's note, I've been messing with the DocX thing for the first time ever. I still don't really know how it works, so there might be a few things different with the formatting than normal. Thank you!


Azure: Hello everyone! I apologize for the delay, but my weekend of festivities is finally over!

Heisuke: What were you doing during this "weekend of festivities"?

Azure: I don't think the readers want to know everything, but I will say that balloon darts at the fair escalated quite quickly... Don't worry, I'm fine XD Kind of...

Sano: Kind of? What do you mean by "kind of"?

Azure: I don't think everyone needs to know everything about me.

Chizuru: Wait, but what hap-

Azure: Shhh. We're here for my story, not my personal life. Okay, Shinpachi, you literally only have ten words to say to the audience; you can't possibly screw up. What are they?

Shinpachi: Azure does not own Hakuouki or any of its characters.

Azure: Good, thank you. Oh! I also forgot to mention two things:

Azure: First, I started driving classes on Wednesday, and it's basically going to be like school in the aspect where it starts from eight in the morning to four in the evening. I will try to work on chapters as much as possible, but I also want to study to make sure I'm ready for whatever test I'm going to have or something.

Azure: Finally, this upcoming Sunday, I leave to fly over to my family in a different state. Considering I don't get to see them that often, my focus is mainly going to be more towards them instead of fanfiction. Plus, I really don't think they need to know that I write fanfiction XD I'll be gone for about a week, so it might be a while before you get the third chapter. So, I shall apologize in advance.

Souji: Hello~ I'm taking Azure's place as she was talking too much. Let's get to the story, shall we~? Hajime-kun, are you ready to retell the tale of how poor Chizuru-chan died?

Saitou: ...

Chizuru: Okita-san?! Are you alright?! Saitou-san, why did you hit him? Also, as Okita-san somewhat mentioned earlier, this chapter is about Saitou-san recalling how I died. Wow, it's really weird when I say it...


January, 1868. It began when Yamazaki received word that a few Choshu soldiers had somehow managed to escape from their prison, and had fled north. Luckily, they actually hadn't gotten far at all, and were still residing in Kyoto as far as the medic was aware.

Since the Choshu men were still within Kyoto, the Vice Commander gave Yamazaki the order to go on ahead and keep track of their movements, while my division was ordered to prepare for their recapture. Hijikata ordered Chizuru to join me, as she was one of the only other people that had adequate medical knowledge. He also wanted her to act as a messenger in case something should happen. It was clearly obvious that she had intended to join me from the start, and she quickly rushed to her room to gather any supplies needed.

Chizuru met up with my men and me at the compound's entrance, and began to rush to the escaped prisoners' supposed location. According to Yamazaki, they had fled to a secluded forest on the top of a hill, much like the Choshu rebels that had fled to Mount Tenno after attacking Hamaguri Gate.

By the time we had reached the entrance of the forest, the moon was at its zenith in night sky. However, the moon was waning, and it provided little to no light in the forest. It did not mean well for us, as our vision became significantly limited, even with the help of a few, small lanterns. Especially that night, it felt as if the moon was emitting eerie waves of danger and foreboding.

Despite these feelings, my men had managed to find and capture the soldiers that had escaped. The Choshu had been smart enough to split up and travel separately, but had given themselves away by the sheer look of terror on their faces when they had seen the Shinsengumi blues.

When all six of the Choshu prisoners had been found, they were bound at the wrists and brought to me.

"Very good, you all have done well," I told the soldiers of my division with a slight smile and a nod in their direction. They all gave smiles to me in return, seemingly happy that they had been praised by their once cold and emotionless captain. I suppose compliments from me were rare, but I had Chizuru to thank for allowing me to open up and express more feelings.

My smile disappeared as I began scan the surrounding area. "Yamazaki," I said. No sooner had I spoken then the man arrived in my sight wearing his shinobi outfit. "Yes, Captain Saitou?" he inquired, anticipating another job for him to carry out.

"I need you to send word to the Vice Commander; tell him that we captured the escapees, and that my division will be returning to headquarters shortly." Yamazaki only gave me a quick "very well", and turned to leave. He stopped short, however, before turning to me with questioning and calculating eyes.

"Is... Is there anything else you need me to tell the Vice Commander, Captain Saitou? You looked like you wanted to add something." Yamazaki had noticed the hasty observation I had made of the area, and then turned to face me completely, now with a look of patience.

I settled my blue eyes briefly on Chizuru before looking back at the ninja.

"...Please also inform the Vice Commander that Yukimura-kun and I will be completing one final look around the hill to make sure that we have recaptured everyone. I can't say when we will be back." With one final nod, Yamazaki gave a bow before seemingly disappearing into the shadows.

Chizuru, who had been silent and waiting patiently at my side, now gave me a quizzical glance, most likely at what I had told Yamazaki. I lowered my head to her ear, and gently whispered, "I've been feeling a demonic presence lingering in this forest. It is most likely Kazama or one of the other demons. I would like to check it out before we head back to the compound."

After hearing this, her confused expression turned to something grave and serious, and she gave me a nod. Although we had faced these demons multiple times, I could see through her brave and courageous front and saw just how timid and frightened she was. It was no surprise to me. These demons were strong, far more powerful than the average human, which had been made clear in the many encounters with them.

Upon seeing Chizuru tremble ever so slightly at my side, I gave her a warm smile and took her hand. It was small and felt fragile in mine, almost as if it could fall to pieces at the slightest touch. I gave it a gentle squeeze, and Chizuru seemed to become much more calmer. She in turn gave me a smile full of love and thanks, and at that moment, I had wanted so badly to take her in my arms and hold her tightly. But with the oni drawing closer and closer, I knew it would have to wait.

Just before I turned around to search, Chizuru did something bold and curious. She stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to mine. It was taking all of my willpower to hold myself back, as I desperately craved more of her. All too soon, she pulled away while I stared at her in amazement.

"Thank you, Saitou-san, for cheering me up. I know that we have faced the oni numerous times, but their power and their... ambitions... frighten me nonetheless." She dropped her chocolate gaze to the ground with a sad smile etched upon her face. This time, I took her other hand, and began to stroke her hair in a comforting manner.

"There is no reason to feel ashamed for being frightened of them, Chizuru. You have a very good reason to be..." I trailed off, not really certain of what to say next. Chizuru didn't seem to be bothered by it in the slightest, and instead gave me a dauntless smile while her eyes seemed to shine more than usual.

"Let's go meet whoever it is, Saitou-san," she exclaimed with determination. I gave her a final smile before leading the way with her hand in mine.

While making sure I kept my instincts sharp, I began to think of how much Chizuru had changed over the years of living with the Shinsengumi. Although she had still been pretty brave for the first year or so that I knew her, it was obvious to me now how much she had grown. She had blossomed into a beautiful woman, and always stood firm in times of trouble. Perhaps her incredible acts of valor were a part of what had made me fall for her in the first place.

My thoughts were cut short when I heard the familiar crunch of footsteps on a dirt path. I froze in place, and held a protective arm out in front of Chizuru, ready to bring her behind my back if I had too.

The figure walking toward us was drowned in darkness, and I couldn't make out who it was until I saw two ruby eyes that flashed dangerously under the tiny sliver of moonlight. It was Kazama.

I instantly pulled Chizuru behind me, my own eyes hard and merciless toward the oni now standing only a few feet in front of us. There was a small gap in the foliage above us, allowing me to see only a little, but enough of Kazama's profile. His lips curled into something like a smirk and a sneer, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh...? What's a lowly Shinsengumi cur like you doing with my bride...?" Kazama snarled maliciously as I felt Chizuru's quivering hand clutch the fabric of my haori. "Well, I suppose I can thank you for saving me the trouble of having to walk to your headquarters to retrieve her myself." He added the last part in that arrogant tone of his, chin raised and eyes hungrily devouring Chizuru's image.

I didn't say anything, and instead glared angrily at the demon. Perhaps this wouldn't make a difference; perhaps it would only make things worse, but I felt the need to declare it anyway.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, Kazama, but I'm afraid that Yukimura-kun is no longer your bridal candidate," I announced with conviction. Kazama only gave me a look of suspicion and confusion.

"What do you mean?" he inquired, venom laced in his speech, probably at the outrageous idea that Chizuru could no longer be his wife.

"Chizuru, hide in the bushes," I ordered her under my breath. "This could get ugly." She seemed to hesitate for a spell before releasing her grip on my coat and running toward some nearby bushes as I had told her. With her a safe distance away, I pulled my katana out of its sheath before informing Kazama of our relationship.

"Yukimura-kun and I are already a couple, and I would appreciate it if you didn't bother us any further. You have no purpose here. Begone, demon," I declared coldly toward the man in front of me, whose eyes widen with complete rage and fury.

"How dare you! Shit, such as yourself, ordering me around?!" He howled wrathfully. Kazama pulled out his sword, and lunged at me with inhuman speed. He had already transformed into his demon appearance, hair now glinting white and a lot more visible. Small horns adorned his forehead, and crimson eyes were consumed by a golden color.

I lifted my sword and grunted as I just barely blocked his first attack, and the battle began. We exchanged blows at an incredible speed, and to some, it could almost look like we were dancing. But it was much too fast for it to be a dance, or a mere performance, and it was not just about the Aizu versus Satcho anymore. It became a battle of dominance, with Chizuru as the prize.

Kazama lashed at me for the first few minutes of the battle. His words gave me the impression of a searing desire to wound my pride, antagonize me, maybe at the very least distract me. Or, perhaps he simply felt that I deserved to be the one he vented his frustration at. After observing his movements while barely paying any attention to what he was saying, it had seemed to me that he merely wanted to vent, and that unfortunate soul happened to be me. It makes sense; I did irritate him after all.

When we had gone well into the fight, the demon then took an attitude and tone of arrogance. He mocked me and how my 'wimpy human powers could never compare to the likes of me'. I just ignored him, as allowing mere talk to wound you up was often the downfall of many. Unless you were someone like Shinpachi or Heisuke, who had a knack for getting into a scuffle because of a few mere insults and managing to come out more or less unscathed.

For a while, no one gave any signs of backing down, and we both had accumulated quite the assortment of cuts and gashes. But I was getting tired; I was neither demon nor fury, just a normal human. Kazama saw this, and if it was even possible, began to increase his speed.

I collapsed to the ground with fresh wounds, panting, with dripping blood creating a deadly pool at my knees.

"Are you ready to die, noisome trash?" Kazama asked me, and lifted his sword to prepare for the final blow. All of a sudden, his focus was on where Chizuru was hiding, and not me. At first, I was livid and began to stand up to the best of my abilities until I saw the look on his face - pure terror. Something that I might never see from Kazama again, and the fact that he looked so horrified while looking over at Chizuru's direction made my blood run cold.

"CHIZURU!" He screamed, and no sooner had her name left his lips, I heard the unmistakable crack of a gunshot.

I was completely still, and had almost forgotten how to breathe. I could feel the blood drain from my face, and turned my head around to look.

There was a hole in Chizuru's chest, right in the middle of her heart, and her eyes were as large as saucers. She crumpled to the floor, and when I looked up, I saw the silhouette of a man with rifle in his hands. Smoke was trailing from the muzzle, and it was obvious that he was the one who had shot Chizuru. Upon closer inspection, my blood began to boil with vexation; I realized that the man was from the Choshu domain. Even worse, he bore the familiar white hair and red eyes of the abominations I knew all too well.

It was a fury.

"DAMNIT TO HELL!" Kazama screeched at the top of his lungs, and pounced on the fury with his sword high in the air, before bringing it down in a fleeting arc. Red droplets of blood sprayed out and drenched the demon, as the fury sunk to the ground like Chizuru had done shortly before.

Somehow I had found the strength - most likely because of what had happened to Chizuru - to stand up and rush to Chizuru's side. I immediately held her in my arms, and desperately tried to find a pulse. It was there, but very faint, almost nonexistent. At one point I thought she was already dead until she began gasping for air, before coughing up blood.

"Chizuru!" I exclaimed as she weakly rolled her head to look at me, her gasps becoming a crescendo of intensity.

It was awful luck that the shot hadn't killed her instantly. Instead, she was forced live her final moments in excruciating pain. I cursed the fates that her demon blood couldn't heal fatal wounds like this. I even began to feel conflicted when I remembered the small, glass vial hidden within the depths of my kimono.

No. That would be selfish of me, turning her into a monster, making her extra chance at life absolutely miserable, only because I wanted her to stay with me longer.

I hadn't even realized tears were pooled in the corners of my eyes until I witnessed Chizuru lifting a shaking finger to wipe them away. Despite the fact that she was dying, she didn't looked like she was in pain, or pitying herself. The sadness in her eyes was for me; she probably felt guilty for the trouble she caused, and perhaps the problems her death would create in the future.

"Chizuru... what happened in the Shinsengumi that was your fault? When was anything your fault...?" I asked her in disbelief, barely able to keep my voice level and calm as I desperately held back my tears.

"Ha-ha-j-ji-me-" She breathed before releasing more agonizing wheezes. I held her even more tightly, unsure of what to do, until she suddenly stopped. Her hands fell limp at her side, and her eyes fluttered closed. I had been in enough battles to know what had happened.

But just because I couldn't help myself, couldn't remove that impossible hope that she merely became unconscious, I gingerly lay a hand on her cheek. It was as cold as snow.

I never said anything; I just knelt there, shaking and trembling with my eyes wide with fear and disbelief. I wanted to scream, to shout, to say something, but shock had sealed my voice somewhere in my throat. I couldn't feel anything except complete dismay, and the ever-so-obvious rage of Kazama standing to my right.

Kazama didn't even say anything before vanishing into thin air, probably to tell Amagiri or Shiranui what had happened. But I was petrified. I didn't dare move a muscle as I stared helplessly down at Chizuru's corpse. I did not feel anything for a while until a nagging voice began in my head.

Take her body back to the compound if needed, but you are the Captain of the Shinsengumi's third division. I hate to say it, but you have other priorities.

I also didn't want to admit it, but... it was true. I was a Shinsengumi captain; death is supposed to be natural to me. Only this death hurt me far worse than normal.


I gave myself a minute to control my emotions to the best of my abilities before standing up with Chizuru in my arms. I turned to start down the path back to headquarters until a figure blocked my way. It was Yamazaki.

"You were taking a while, Captain Saitou. The Vice Commander ordered me to see how things were going..." He stopped talking when he finally noticed the body in my arms, covered in blood.

"Oh god..." He mumbled, clearly not expecting this outcome of my 'demon search'. He quickly looked me over, and immediately began to fret for my health when he noticed my clothes covered in my own blood, and the many cuts that came with them.

"No, I am fine, Yamazaki," I barked at him coldly, and continued walking down the path until he gripped my shoulder to stop me.

"But, Captain Saitou, you look like you can barely stand! Here, allow me to take Yukimura-kun's-"

"Yamazaki!" I raised my voice at him, something I rarely do even under intense pressure. "You can treat my wounds when we get back to the compound, but please, just... grant me this opportunity..." The sentence came out a lot more melancholic than I had intended, but at least Yamazaki agreed to stop pestering me.

Neither of us said anything during the walk back, and we remained silent even after we had arrived back at headquarters. Heisuke rushed out to meet us at the front gate, but halted upon seeing Chizuru's broken, bloody, and lifeless body.


A meeting was called about half an hour later, once everyone found out about Chizuru. All the higher-ups, including Yamazaki and Shimada-san, were required to attend to discuss what to do with her body. It was a huge shock for everyone, almost as if they had thought that Chizuru couldn't die, whether it was because she was a pureblooded demon, or because everyone simply felt that she was protected well enough.

In the meantime, her body was placed in her room until we had figured out what to do with it. I was honestly surprised that we had a meeting about the whole ordeal; I would have assumed that we would have just buried her somewhere and get it over with, as we usually do for our comrades. But Chizuru had obviously become someone important, and since we were able to get the body back and there were no major problems to deal with, I guess the commanders felt that they had the luxury to talk about it with the captains.

Before we decided on anything, everyone wanted to know what had happened, so I told them. As I did, felt tendrils of hate burning through my body. I honestly didn't know why, there was really no logical explanation for it. Perhaps I was still upset about losing Chizuru.

Of course I was. Who wouldn't be upset after losing their lover? Wouldn't it feel like half of your soul just... disappeared? Despite how depressing everything seemed to be, I still smiled to myself.

Chizuru was the one who taught me to express my feelings more, to feel more emotion. She taught me that there were other things to live for, rather than just have my life solely revolve around my duties and obligations. In a way, she transformed me, set me free. And I was forever grateful to her.

The air quickly became dark and gloomy once I had finished telling the story, which made me want to gag. Everyone seemed to be silently mourning when Hijikata spoke up.

"Well... what do you guys think?" He asked, his sharp violet gaze scanning over everyone in the room.

"I think we should just bury her somewhere. Isn't that what we usually do? I don't even know why we're having this meeting the first place." Souji complained, crossing his arms across his chest while staring back at Hijikata.

He did have a point. As much as I appreciated everyone's sentiment and thought in the matter, why were we going so far out of our way for her...?

Everyone in the room considered Souji's opinion before Harada rose a hand. "As much as I like-liked, Chizuru, I agree with Souji. It would probably just be best to bury her somewhere. Perhaps at a temple, or a place nearby that she might like. I mean... what else would we do with her?"

The men seemed to have agreed with Harada's statement, and looked back at the Vice Commander, who looked questioningly at me.

"Well? Is this okay to you?" he asked, his voice unusually soft and quiet. I didn't have any reason to object, as Harada's statement was reasonable. What else could we do with her body? I only gave a solemn nod, as it was decided that Yamazaki, Kondou-san, Heisuke, Harada and I would find a place to bury her.


Within a secluded region of Kyoto, we found a small forest a short distance away from our headquarters. A road less traveled within this forest led to a cliff, obscured from anywhere you look except for those on the cliff itself.

We were quick to bury her before the sun began to rise, and decided to dig her grave right underneath a glorious maple tree, branches spreading far out like a spider's web. After placing a few stones at the head of the grave to mark it, and after placing an assortment of wildflowers, we had completed the burial.

Everyone at Chizuru's grave sent a prayer to her before walking down the path. When I was sure everyone was out of eyesight, I allowed myself to cry. I didn't dare sob, for fear of anyone hearing but... I just gave myself permission to relieve some of the feelings that had been bottled up inside of me. When I had finished, I hastily wiped the last of my tears, and ran to catch up with the others.

Little had I known, a pair of crimson eyes had been watching the entire thing.


Azure: I couldn't do this in the beginning author's note, since Souji was a bit impatient, so I'm going to do it here.

Azure: I would like to thank the users xMousex, ImpracticalDemon, nakigaoyuu, and Hyme-chan for reviewing! It means a whole lot to me! :D I would like to thank ImpracticalDemon especially for agreeing to be my beta-reader! You have no idea how much it'll help!

Hijikata: Are you done yet?

Azure: Well, since you volunteered, would you mind doing the end note thing...?

Hijikata: *sighs dramatically* Please rate and review in the comments because that'll really help Azure out, and thank you in advance, blah blah blah.

Azure: Well, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. It'll be a little over a week before the next chapter, so until then, thank you so much for reading!