Disclaming: I own nothing except my OC yumi,Hijikata's oni-san, Hijikata's mum and weird twist to the plot. Pardon the shortness of this chapter

Thanks for the reviews: Okita Lizzie and Knighting Gale.

Chapter 2- The beast within

NB: Hotoke-sama- buddahs

Clad in forest-green yukata, the slender fingers of a woman at her prime stroke dirt off the face of a petit boy with more feminine features adorning his porcelain face, as he smiled upwards playing with the woman's long dark-midnight hair. After a while he pouted, "okaa-san …why do I have long hair like you while nii-san doesn't?"

Giggling softly she lifted the boy up in her arms. "Because Hotoke-sama adores long hair" she laughed jokingly pulling his chubby cheeks….the scene blurred as pine and incense aroma glided through the unconscious form's senses…

"Tosh….sa"

He swore that he could hear words lightly repeated continuously whispered softly, as he felt something wet over his forehead.

"Toshizou-sama".

Deep lavender eyes flickered hazily. He stared blankly at the kneeling female next to his head. Her soft brown hair reminded him of Chi.. 'Ahh..the gunshots..soldiers! Chizuru…kazama.' These thoughts crashed into his mind wreaking havoc while he attempted to sit up as a sharp pain shot-up his abdomen. His head ached viciously, shooting white hot pain up his temple, his ribs…and back. Oh God!, he felt like crap…

Soft hands helped him sit up slowly "you shouldn't move yet, your wounds are yet to heal",

He stared at the clean bandage wrapped around his abdomen and noticed he was newly clothed in a dark-blue loose kimono. "Where am I?" he croaked.

"You are in Ezo…at master Chikage's estate …" The information sunk in, as he had thought Kazama resided only in Kyoto, which would be much more convenient as he could return to the headquarters located there easily.

She moved the towel into a bowl of water; squeezing it gently. "Master calls me Yumi….Ichizou Yumi", gracefully she bowed her head entirely to her lap. "Chikage-sama asked me to tend to you. How are you feeling?"

Sighing heavily as he attempted a weak smile, Hijikata Nodded gently to confirm his wellbeing "….arigatou."

She smiled eyes shutting halfway, shaking her head softly. "Thank Chikage-sama, I am but one of his servants" she gestured, before bowing her head again, shifting to rise, slowly striding towards the door in her tightly wrapped pale-rouge embroidered kimono before she slid the door gently sideways; revealing clear dark-sapphire sky stretched outwards, before sliding it shut behind her.

Left in silence, Hijikata frowned at the thought that he was unconscious for nearly a whole day as he studied the small room, coated with dark-auburn expensive mahogany wood as the soft candle light reflected over its shiny surface. He grimaced at his long hair, spilling all over his back and shoulders, wishing he still had his white head band and hair tie. He'd always hated having his hair down as it brought attention to his delicate features.

'Ahh…but Hotoke-sama adores it.' He mused, chuckling silently. After a few seconds, melancholy adorned his expression as he recalled his deceased mother, his siblings and the bizarre dream he'd came across. Interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open, he gaped at the intruder fully clad in a creamy kimono held loosely around his slender waist with an unusually designed maroon obi, completing the attire with an open layer of dark-brown embroidered kimono framing his firm but slender shoulders.

The lithe figure leaned against the wall, left arm coiled across his abdomen while right arm reached upwards to sculpted lips holding a long wooden tobacco pipe. Taking a long, deep puff; he eyed the figure watching him, with long dark hair embracing his….beautiful face. Yes he had thought it. The human was unusually beautiful sitting there glaring with no remorse at him. After a long…awkward silence, the blond figure exhaled… "You do have something to say to me?"

Hijikata glared darkly wishing he could walk up to him and wipe (smack) off that stupid smirk across his face.

"Is that a respectable manner of behaviour towards someone who you owe your life to?" the oni asked as if in answer to the human's unruly thoughts. "How immature" he continued with an unspoken mirth in his eyes.

"Wha..I.." He stammered, slightly flushing embarrassingly. He exhaled heavily, "I understand ….you're right." After a long pause he mumbled a low, "thanks for your hospitality" while he wondered what exactly had transpired after he blacked out; knowing full well that they had been fighting close to the battle field and surely, he should as well be dead…if Kazama had left him back there.

Well, there was no reason kazama should help him, so …why did he? Gratitude and concern washed over his eyes as he prayed that Chizuru had followed his commands and swiftly returned to the headquarters. 'Hajime-kun should be back from his mission by now so she should be fine" he reassured himself silently.

"Hmph…i would be troubled if my prey died due to a silly reason such as a bullet injury.." mused Kazama, interrupting Hijikata's thoughts.

'Huh?... Prey?' Hijikata frowned darkly. "How impudent…I am not your prey" he growled watching kazama snicker as he smoked nonchalantly

"Hmn let's see…..yes you are ….seeing as i could squash u like a fly anytime." He smirked, deep-red eyes meeting dark-lilac.

More than fed up, Hijikata attempted to rise and leave the presence of the amused demon and his more than irritating tobacco fumes before his rage exploded and he did something he would definitely NOT regret, only to be dazed at his staggering weakness as he moaned painfully.

"I should remind you that you did lose a lot of blood….i am amazed that you even have the strength to be angry right now when you should be dying of bloodlust" he mummured.

"I don't have time to listen to your opinions righ…cough.. cough" he bellowed as his eyes immediately morphed red and his hair snow white. The unimaginable, jabbing at Hijikata's senses as the room seemed to reveal a bloody hue. His throat pulsed and ached as he felt a thousand needles jabbing at his innards and before he knew what was ensuing; he found himself half-crawling, launching at the unshaken Oni.

Kazama smirked, left arm leaving his waist as if he already foresaw the event as he immediately caught the approaching Hijikata in his grasps, fingers closing around his throat earning a strangulated growl. The raging Hijikata he held, snarling savagely at him with hands grabbing at his chest with unnatural strength. Kazama uttered a curse as he let his pipe crash to the floor in order to gain more leverage on the struggling creature. Awed by the pure strength the transformation had provided the fatally injured human.

-x-

Okay as a gift to my esteemed readers, next chapter you get some yummy treat. Review please. No review= No encouragement :'c