The Quest of a Lifetime
(A Hakuouki : Hajime Saito and Chizuru Yukimura Fan Fiction)
Fan Fiction by: Animedaisuki
Chapter 2 : The Truth, The Plan, The Preparation
"Sanan-san, I know where to find the cure you're talking about. I know how to get there.", Chizuru said with absolute seriousness and confidence.
"W-what? How?", Sanan stuttered in shock.
Chizuru sighed and said, "I'll tell everyone at lunch."
Sanan smiled and replied, "Alright, I'll wait until then. But that was really unexpected Chizuru. Oh, which reminds me, I have a few books about the Land of the Samurai and some maps. If it's fine with you, I'll hand them over to you so you can take a look?"
Chizuru thought for a moment.
"Sure! I would love to help out, Sanan-san!", Chizuru replied happily.
"If you don't mind, could you take the maps, I'm afraid I really can't figure out the directions going there. If it's fine with you, I'll let you handle the directions.", Sanan replied.
Chizuru nodded.
"Alright, wait for me here, I'll go get the maps for you."
After a while, Sanan returned with the maps in his hands. He handed them over to Chizuru.
"Here are the maps, they're a bit old though, so it's hard to see the other details."
"It's fine by me Sanan-san. Thank you! I will do my best!", Chizuru stated. She bowed in thanks to Sanan and then took off to go to her room and analyze the maps.
In Shinsengumi HQ - Meeting Room - Kyoto
"Hahaha! I still can't believe that Heisuke made such a racket this morning!", Shinpachi exclaimed.
"Heisuke, you probably woke up the entire headquarters with those shouting of yours.", Harada added.
"I didn't start it! It was Chizuru you know.", Heisuke gritted his teeth in annoyance.
Okita laughed and then asked, "Speaking of Chizuru, where is she? When we're having talks such as this, she's usually here with us."
"Maybe she's not feeling well after all.", Shinpachi stated.
"Saitou, could you please check on Chizuru?", Hijikata stated.
Saitou nodded and left the room.
"What? Why does Saitou always has to be the one to check on Chizuru?", Heisuke cried.
Harada laughed, "Because unlike you, Saitou is well-composed and won't make a racket."
Meanwhile, Saitou was walking towards Chizuru's room, he turned to a corner and reached her room.
Saitou knocked on Chizuru's door, "Yukimura? Are you there?"
No response.
Saitou tried again, yet, no response.
He wouldn't admit it but Saitou is starting to get worried.
After knocking for the fifth time, and yet no response, Saitou frowned in concern.
'What happened to her? Did she faint, or what?'
Carefully, Saitou opened Chizuru's door. He looked inside and found the room empty.
'Where could she be? Probably in the kitchen.'
Saitou closed the door and headed for the kitchen. As he figured, she was there. Chizuru didn't look over since she didn't notice that Saitou was standing in the kitchen's doorway.
"Yukimura?", Saitou called out.
Chizuru looked up from what she's doing and turned to face Saitou.
"Saitou-san! Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't notice that you were there. I think I might have spaced out. Do you need anything?", Chizuru asked sweetly.
Saitou walked towards her and touched her forehead.
"Uhm, Saitou-san? What's wrong?", Chizuru asked.
Saitou shook his head, "Nothing really, I was just checking if you have a fever or a cold since you're face is quite red."
Chizuru blushed. Saitou looked at her with a hint of concern shown in his eyes as he let down his hand from her forehead.
"Saitou-san, I'm fine, honestly."
But Saitou wasn't reassured by her response.
Chizuru noticed this and spoke again, "Saitou-san…I'm fine. It's just that, some of the past events that happened to me many years ago just keeps on popping up in my head. I just don't like it…my past is not something that I'd like holding on too."
Saitou looked at her in the eyes and said, "I see. I guess we're the same. I too, don't like remembering my past life. And Yukimura… I think the food you're cooking is about to be overcooked."
Chizuru's eyes widened and she quickly ran towards the food she's cooking.
Seeing this, Saitou couldn't help but smile and chuckle. He went back to the meeting room afterwards.
In Shinsengumi HQ - Meeting Room - Kyoto
"Oh! Saitou! So, how's Chizuru?", Shinpachi asked.
"She's cooking in the kitchen, she's doing fine.", Saitou replied.
Heisuke looked up and said, "So lunch will be ready soon?! Ahh, I'm looking forward to it!"
In Shinsengumi HQ - Kitchen - Kyoto
Chizuru is almost finished with lunch and is preparing it.
'Oh, right. I'm going to tell them about the way to the Land of the Samurai…'
Chizuru finished up and afterwards, lunch is ready to be served.
In Shinsengumi HQ - Dining Room - Kyoto
"Whoa! Chizuru, this is delicious!", Shinpachi exclaimed. "Heisuke, aren't you gonna finish that meat? Oh ok! Thanks, it's mine now!"
"Oy! Shinpachi! Give that back! It's mine!"
"I'm a man, I need more meat than younger boys, you know!"
"Well, I'm still growing! I need more nutrients than you, you old-fart!
"Did you just call me Old-fart?! Hey!"
Hijikata's eye twitched…and…
"SHUT UP! You two are seriously getting on my nerves!"
"Heh…Hijikata-san, you're losing your cool.", Okita snickered.
Chizuru laughed, but…she knows it's time to tell them.
"Uhm…everyone, uh…I have something to say.", Chizuru announced.
Instantly, everyone in the room turned to look at her. Chizuru looked at Sanan and saw him nod slightly.
"I think I might be able to help you look for the cure.", Chizuru stated.
"What? But it's a legend. Don't tell me you're here to tell us that it's true?", Harada added.
Chizuru smirked, "Yes. I'm here to tell you that it's true." She sighed before speaking up again. "I don't really like talking about my past, but it's the only way to prove to you that I'm telling the truth."
Chizuru told them about her past, where she was born, that she learned sword fighting at the age of 4, how she doesn't remember her real parents, and how she left her life-long friend, Kaidou.
After she finished, she looked to each person in the room and analyzed their expressions. Well, to her, they all wear the same expression…surprise with a mix of shock and confusion.
Okita was the first to break the silence, "So, you were born in the Land of the Samurai?"
Chizuru nodded.
"And you also had a childhood friend named Kaidou. He's the one you sparred with when you two were younger, right?", Heisuke confirmed.
"Yes.", Chizuru replied. Then she sighed. "Actually…"
"Actually…?", everyone in the room said in unison.
Chizuru sighed again, then said, "Kaidou was someone more than a friend."
Everyone thought about the meaning of Chizuru's statement.
Then, Harada exclaimed, "Aha! He's your best friend!"
"No, no! Uhm, he's your cousin?", Heisuke added.
Chizuru was about to say something when Saitou responded.
"Could it be possible that he's your…uncle?"
Chizuru let out a giggle. And then her face saddened slightly as she looked down.
"Kaidou was...my ex-fiancé.", Chizuru whispered, but it's enough for everyone of them to hear. Everyone in the room, except Chizuru, were all shocked and surprised.
"He was your ex-fiancé?!", Heisuke and Okita said in unison. Even Saitou's eyes grew wide in shock. Harada's mouth hung open, and Shinpachi fell down on his back
"If he was your ex-fiancé, how come you never talk about him then? I mean, if I may ask you that.", Shinpachi stated.
Chizuru sighed and replied, "It's true that he is my ex-fiancé. But since it's all in the past, I don't think talking about him will make a difference.", Chizuru answered.
"Alright everyone, I know it's far too surprising to let this one slide, but we're gonna have to listen to what Chizuru has to say about finding the cure. Chizuru?", Hijikata announced.
Chizuru nodded and started, "The Land of the Samurai used to be accessible to all during the historic times, but after the First Samurai resigned from his position they've decided to let their history go on through the further generations as a mere legend."
Saitou added, "Which means that all this time, the people of the Land of the Samurai are all living secretly?"
"If you put it that way, then yes.", Chizuru replied.
"So, how do we get there exactly?", Okita asked, with a smirk of course.
Chizuru smiled smartly and said, "We'll be using the maps Sanan-san provided.
After cleaning up the dining room, everyone proceeded to the Meeting Hall.
In Shinsengumi HQ - Meeting Room - Kyoto
As the Shinsengumi captains gathered, Chizuru looked through the maps and chose the one which she thinks is the most reliable out of all the maps provided. Chizuru laid the map on the table in the center.
"Here's the map that can guide us to the place that we seek.", Chizuru announced.
Sanan adjusted his glasses and looked at the map, "But Chizuru, this map is the least reliable, is there any better map aside from this one?"
Chizuru looked at the map, then back at Sanan and said, "There is no map better than this one, Sanan-san. The maps you've provided are all reliable, especially this one, because this one can really lead us to the right path. Speaking of right path, please excuse me for a while, I need to get some things that may help us with the directions."
Chizuru went out of the room to get some things from her quarters. As she left, Harada looked at the map carefully.
"Hmm, I don't think I'm familiar with this route. To tell you the truth, I've never seen this in other maps."
"Harada, it's because the people of the Land of the Samurai wanted to hide themselves, remember?", Heisuke reminded.
Okita snorted, "Heh? Since when did you became so smart Heisuke?"
"Since…just now!", Heisuke retorted.
Then, Chizuru entered the room, she brought along with her a brush, an ink, a paper, and a dagger.
"What do you need those for?", Shinpachi asked in curiosity.
"I would need them for taking down routes from the map.", Chizuru replied with a smile. "Sanan-san, is it alright if I would drop some of my blood over your map? It is highly essential."
Saitou interrupted, "Wait! Why do you need to drop some blood?"
Shinpachi declared, "What? Is this the Saitou we know? You sound so concerned! But, yeah, why do you need to?"
Chizuru couldn't help but smile.
' I am finally helping them with what I can. I'm glad."
"As Sanan-san said earlier, this map is the least reliable. To put it simply, you can only find secrets in places you never expected them to be.", Chizuru stated. Simply. Flatly. Tactfully.
Chizuru held her dagger just beside her elbow and lightly scratched her skin with the sharp blade of the dagger. Just then, blood started to drop onto the map. Then, the writings on the map was replaced by a new route. Being a demon, Chizuru's wound healed instantly.
"There we go. There's the real route that can lead us to our destination. We have to move quick though, the route will change after two days.", Chizuru declared.
"So what's the plan?", Harada asked.
"The plan…", Chizuru muttered. "The best, and the only plan, is to leave after dinner. Then we'll follow this route over here to get to the gate leading to a bridge that connects these two routes together."
As Chizuru points out the routes she's talking about, Hijikata eyed the routes carefully. "Wait, you said there's a bridge right? Hmm…this bridge, isn't it in the rumors before? I heard many people fell from that bridge and into the river below. They never returned.
The captains looked at Chizuru, their eyebrows raised.
Chizuru smiled awkwardly and explained, "Well, if you want, there's another route, but it'll take us for about a whole day to get across the other side. I don't think we'll have any more time left before the routes change and we'll get lost in there…Forever."
At the sound of getting lost, the captains' eyes grew wider, and there was silence enveloping the room.
Okita smirked, "A peaceful walk to the other side, with less time remaining. Or deadly bridge which can be crossed for about minutes? Hmmm… I like the peaceful one, but I don't like the result either, less time. Worse case scenario, we get lost forever. On the deadly bridge's side, quickest way. But deadly…" Okita paused, thinking everything through. And everyone nodded in agreement.
Okita continued, "But…if we are all able to cross the deadly bridge in one piece, we got more time, and no more worries about deadly bridge…"
"Hmm…uh-huh…mhmm.", Everyone echoed.
Then, Shinpachi slammed the table with his fist and said in glee, "Deadly bridge it is!"
Everyone seems to agree without hesitation.
"Chizuru, how long do you think it would take us to get there?", Hijikata asked.
Chizuru thought for a while before replying, "A day and a half would do. Hopefully we won't encounter any difficulties that may distract us."
Chizuru instructed them to pack only their important things, including extra clothes of course, and prepare to leave a few minutes after dinner. As instructed, the Shinsengumi captains went back to each of their rooms and started to prepare.
Chizuru was the last to leave the Meeting Room. Once she did, she took her time walking along the hall of the Headquarters.
Chizuru let out a sigh. "I never thought that I'd be going back home. I hadn't planned it to be so soon.", Chizuru stated as her hand drifted to the hilt of her sword, gripping it tightly as she walked. As she arrived in her room, Chizuru started packing her things. As she finished her preparations, she went out to the courtyard just outside her room to get some fresh air.
Time seems to be in a rush since dinner has come to an end. Soon, the group were ready to leave.
"Hey, Chizuru, would you mind telling me why we have to skip all of our beauty rests and start the journey in the evening?", Shinpachi asked.
Chizuru smiled and replied, "We can't leave in the morning since we should avoid public attention as much as we can."
"Well, it's been a long time since I've had an adventure. Let's have fun together, alright?", Heisuke suggested happily.