Honor

Chapter 3

Wounds

After the incident on patrol, they had returned only to be torn into by Sanan. He gave them a thorough scolding, and hadn't even let Tsuyuki leave to wash the sticky, now drying blood off her person.

"You don't need to lose your head over it, Sanan. After all, we arrested a couple of Choshu guys." Okita told him, attempting to pacify him. As it had turned out, upon further inspection Okita had found a massive arms cache. The entire thing was confiscated, and no one had bothered to explain to Chizuru or Tsuyuki what they had found and got caught up in.

"Something to lose my head over?" Sanan repeated before glaring at Okita, "My head is right where it belongs, Okita. Perhaps you should inquire after yours." Okita merely shrugged in response before Sanan continued.

"The man claiming to be the store owner, Keimon Masu, was in truth Furutaka Shuntaro, a Choshu spy. I assume you were aware that the Shinsengumi was allowing him to operate in the hope of acquiring enemy intelligence?" Sanan revealed. Tsuyuki now saw why Sanan was angry at them breaking the store's cover.

"Yes. I was. But we didn't have a choice this time. I had to bring him in." Okita defended. His excuse was weak, and they all knew it. Okita's petulant frown suggested he also knew it.

"Not like it was a total bust. Like Souji said, they did arrest some guys." Harada offered, his usual smile in place.

"But don't you feel bad for Shimada and Yamazaki? They were staking out the place to keep an eye on Furutaka." pointed out Heisuke. Shimada, a large friendly man, interrupted before a smiling Heisuke could continue.

"We appreciate your concern Toudou-kun, but nobody needs to lose any sleep on our account. We were getting nowhere with Masu's the last few days anyway. Tsuyuki-san did us a favor." Beside Shimada, Yamazaki nodded.

"Furutaka's arrest is over and done. You won't hear any complaints from us about it." Yamazaki agreed. Yamazaki was a thin, narrow eyed boy with bright purple eyes that were even more captivating than Hijikata's.

"Man, you two are the definition of stoic and reasonable. Souji, on the other hand…" Shinpachi trailed, looking at Okita. Chizuru frowned, noticing that Shinpachi was going to antagonize Okita further.

"It was my fault… I went into the shop when I heard my father had been sighted there. I probably would have died if Tsuyuki hadn't come in with me." Chizuru tried to defend Okita.

"But who was tasked with looking after you?" Sanan pointed out.

"Okita-san was assisting the patrol. He was doing his assignment, had we been swept into any other shop we'd have been fine. We happened to go into Masu's though, and I had no choice but to defend myself. If I were not skilled in my swordsmanship then I would not have taken all the men inside. Okita-san arrived less than a minute after we went inside." Tsuyuki spoke up. Everyone looked to her. She had already been looked over to see if she was wounded. Her staff was still on her back, and it was surprisingly clean considering the fight she had just undergone. Sanan glared at Tsuyuki, but she easily held his glare.

"The captain of our First Division can't even keep track of his only two charges. He is a captain; he should be able to handle two charges and ronin. Is this the best the Shinsengumi can do?" Sanan yelled. Chizuru frowned, thinking back to when she had first met Sanan. He had been nice and quiet. However after his arm had been injured Sanan had changed drastically. He snapped at everyone and was never pleased.

"I told them they could go. They were only following orders." Hijikata snapped at Sanan, arms crossed as he entered the room. Sanan looked over at him, but said nothing.

"If you're here, that means you're done interrogating Furutaka, right?" Harada questioned. Hijikata didn't even blink.

"They're waiting for a day when the wind picks up, then they're going to set Kyoto on fire and kidnap the emperor while everyone else is losing their shit. So they say, at least." Chizuru blanched at Hijikata's calm and measured delivery of the report. Tsuyuki didn't blink at it, hearing the undertone of importance.

"Burn down the city?" Shinpachi repeated, "Those Choshu guys are crazier than I thought."Following this comment Shinpachi made a rude gesture that Chizuru blushed and turned away at while Tsuyuki rolled her eyes.

"So they just want to kidnap the emperor? Seems contradictory for guys who call themselves imperialists." Heisuke pointed out.

"Whatever their reasons, we can hardly ignore their plans." Saito added.

"They're probably meeting tonight as they're panicking over Furutaka's capture, we need to get ready to move out."Hijikata announced.

"Understood, commander." Saito nodded.

"Alright! Finally! I'm getting chills." Shinpachi grinned at Harada who grinned back.

"Going by what we've seen they're meeting at either the Shikoku or Ikeda Inn." Shimada announced, Yamazaki nodded beside him.

"Let us prepare." Hijikata announced, and the compound soon livened up. Chizuru helped by gathering medical supplies with Yamazaki while Tsuyuki headed to the well to draw water to rinse herself off with. After getting a bucket of water she stripped off her yukata and hakama, setting them aside to be washed. She looked down at the pants she wore under her yukata, noting that the yukata had shielded it from blood splatter. She pulled off her shirt and was left in her chest bindings and a black corset that wrapped around her neck but left most of her shoulders bare. The black collar that wrapped around her neck was from the corset.

"You shouldn't sit in the courtyard in a state of indecency." Tsuyuki looked over her shoulder, noting Saito had snuck up on her while she had been focusing on undressing.

"In the west, women wear these. I feel no shame." Tsuyuki retorted, rinsing her hair out with the water.

"Your chest bindings can be seen." pointed out Saito, eyes strictly staying on her face.

"That is fine, they're just bindings. I see no issue with the bandages I use for my bindings being open. Harada-san has bandages on his chest visible." Tsuyuki replied, using some of her wet hair as a cloth to rub at her face and remove the blood that stained her pale skin. Saito found their back and forth less than amusing, so he got straight to the point.

"The commander wishes you to accompany us as a warrior tonight." Saito informed her. Tsuyuki's eyes widened in surprise before she composed herself. Saito gave her a small smile as he looked to the side to hide it. Despite his small smile, he spoke in his usual bland, composed business tone.

"Your skills… are satisfactory. You will be joining Kondou. Most of the soldiers are sick, your help with be needed. Harada, Hijikata and I have twenty four soldiers. We believe they are meeting at Shikoku as they have always met at Ikeda and they're on guard tonight, so the twenty four soldiers are heading there with us. Kondou, Heisuke, Souji, Shinpachi, and you will head to the Ikeda with ten men. You have fewer men, but more skill while my squad has more men with less skill." Saito explained. Tsuyuki blinked. That had been the most she had ever heard Saito speak, and of course he spoke about details of a raid.

"Of course. When do we leave?" questioned Tsuyuki. Saito looked up at the sun.

"We leave at sundown." he answered, "Be prepared." Saito started to walk back to the hallway, but paused suddenly.

"If you have blue, wear blue rather than your red yukata." And then he was gone. Tsuyuki snorted, and went back to washing her clothes. When she finished washing all the blood off she headed back to her room where Chizuru was already waiting. Tsuyuki placed the freshly clean but stained clothes in a separate pile from the rest of her clothes as Chizuru looked up from where she was sewing.

"Kondou-san said you'll be going on the raid." Chizuru was biting her lip, looking worried as Tsuyuki pulled a dark, navy blue yukata from a pile of yukatas.

"I am, do not fear for me. You witnessed my skill today, yes? After witnessing that, do you still doubt me?" Tsuyuki inquired. Chizuru shook her head.

"No, I do not doubt your skill, Tsuyuki-kun. But, please be careful. I'll be staying here tonight." Chizuru pleaded. Tsuyuki gave her a ghost of a smile.

"I'm hard to kill, do not fear for me, Chizuru-san." Tsuyuki pulled her dark blue yukata on over her corset and tied it with red fabric around her waist. She pulled her headband off. Chizuru looked her guard over as she changed into more battle suited clothes. Chizuru's eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity when she saw a mark on Tsuyuki's forehead.

"Tsuyuki-kun… is that, a tattoo? On your forehead?" questioned Chizuru as Tsuyuki pulled a metal forehead protector from her pile.

"Yes." Tsuyuki nodded, offering no explanation or elaboration on what the tattoo was. She tied her hair up in a ponytail similar to Heisuke's, however her hair was far longer than his. Her hair was still wild on the sides and front, her bangs pushed back over her ears. She pulled her new forehead protector on over the tattoo on her forehead before Chizuru, who was shifting to the side to try and see Tsuyuki's forehead better, could get a better look. Tsuyuki stood and started towards the door.

"Be safe tonight, Tsuyuki-kun." Chizuru bid Tsuyuki farewell. Tsuyuki turned to her, giving another ghost of a smile.

"Chizuru, be safe tonight as well." Tsuyuki nodded at Chizuru before exiting and heading towards the meeting hall. She took her place next to Saito as they waited for Kondou to rally the men's spirits. After night had fallen, they marched to their positions. After splitting from Hijikata's forces they made their way to the alleys across from the Ikeda inn. They hid in an alleyway, watching the Ikeda Inn for signs of the meeting.

"Figures it'd be the Ikeda Inn. They always meet here." Okita commented as they watched a man look around suspiciously before closing the window of the inn. Further inspection had revealed ronin entering the building as well as all previous guests being sent away.

"Yeah, but the night of Furutaka's arrest? Seems sloppy to me. Wouldn't they worry we're onto them?" Shinpachi murmured. Tsuyuki agreed. It was very sloppy.

"What's keeping those Aizu guys?" grumbled Heisuke as they waited. Kondou had requested men from the Aizu clan as backup due to their lacking numbers.

"Figures, those Aizu guys would be late." Shinpachi muttered under his breath.

"What do we do? It'd be bad form to let them escape, Kondou-san." Okita questioned loyally. Kondou grit his teeth, looking from his men to the inn.

"We have no choice. We go in there alone." Kondou announced before looking to Yamazaki, who stood behind Tsuyuki, "Yamazaki-kun, run and tell Sanan they're here, then run and get Toshi and his men." Yamazaki nodded before running off into the dark alleys. Tsuyuki tensed as they advanced on the inn, kicking the front door down.

"In the name of the Aizu Lieutenant General we are the Shinsengumi! We're entering this inn for interrogation!" The words hardly were out of Kondou's mouth when the inn was enveloped in darkness and chaos. Men charged down the stairs towards the Shinsengumi, and Tsuyuki unsheathed her dual blades. Then, she charged forward with the Shinsengumi. Tsuyuki ducked under a blade, slicing open the stomach of her attacker and slicing through another man's thigh. She danced through the men gracefully. However her expression was anything but calm.

Her eyes were wide and alert, they didn't lack their usual intelligent gleam but had someone looked into her eyes they would question the coldness held in them as she sliced through bodies. Blood already drenched the inn and almost everyone inside. The taste of iron filled Tsuyuki's mouth as she licked her lips, and the smell of it was overriding anything else she could possibly have smelled.

Tsuyuki followed Okita and Heisuke as they climbed the stairs. She sliced through reinforcements and they entered the silent upstairs. Already Tsuyuki's yukata was stained with blood, and her hair was shining underneath a coat of gore. Okita moved to the first door he saw with slight, slowly opening it and peering inside. The light came from an open window, where two men sat as silhouettes as they watched the fighting. They turned to look at Heisuke and Okita as they entered the room. Tsuyuki went to follow, but she stilled from shock when she saw two well dressed men.

"They look too regal to be grunts..." growled Tsuyuki. She lingered behind in the doorway as Heisuke rushed at the tall, calm man. The man's gloved hands blocked Heisuke's blade before punching him. Heisuke was thrown through the air further than when Harada had hit him, crashing through the doorway and narrowly missing Tsuyuki. Tsuyuki looked to the man; she knew that wasn't the man's full strength. He had been holding back considerably.

"Stop, we have no reason to fight. If you fall back, I won't take your life indiscriminately." the red haired man calmly stated, his voice deep and monotone. His blue eyes watched as Heisuke stood once again. Heisuke had been shocked still for a moment after being hit, but he wouldn't back down from this fight.

"We do have a reason. We can't overlook what you Choshu guys are doing!" Heisuke announced, rushing forward again. The man caught his blade easily with his large fist, stopping Heisuke in his tracks. Heisuke's eyes widened and he attempted to pull his blade back but the man held it firmly.

"I can't say I'm pleased you've decided I'm a Choshu." he demurred before chopping down on Heisuke's arm. Heisuke's hand let go of his sword, and the man took a heavy step forward before punching Heisuke again. Heisuke's forehead protector cracked and blood spouted from his forehead. Heisuke was thrown across the room again and through a wall into the next room beyond the hallway. Heisuke watched as the man started towards the windows before his eyes rolled back and he fell unconscious. Okita, meanwhile, was attempting to kill the blonde man.

The blonde man's eerie red eyes that reminded Okita of Tsuyuki's eyes silently observed as he easily dodged every slice from Okita's sword. The man stopped dodging when a lock of blonde hair was cut from his bangs and he caught the next swing on his sword's sheathe before stepping back and drawing his blade.

"You may be worthy of sinking my teeth into." the man calmly, yet smugly commented.

"Let your guard down and you'll find those teeth being knocked out of your mouth!" Okita retorted, charging at the red eyed man. He attempted to stab through him, but the man caught his sword under his arm. Okita yelled as the man kicked out, sending Okita flying. Blood dribbled from Okita's mouth as he coughed, specks of blood spraying onto his arm. The red eyed man held his sword towards Okita, who still stood but blood continued to dribble endlessly from his mouth. He was hunched over and wobbling, breathing harshly and roughly. Opposite Okita stood the red eyed man, his face in a twisted, smug grin. Okita ran at him again, but the man easily dodged to the side and sliced through Okita's arm. Okita fell from the blunt of the attack, his arm being merely scratched. He dove at the man again, the man easily parrying with his own sword.

"That's the extent of your skill?" laughed the man before flipping his sword and rushing the handle of his blade into Okita's chest. Okita fell back against the wall, coughing more blood up from the force of the blow. Tsuyuki grit her teeth, not wanting to involve herself in Okita's fight. She didn't want to hurt his pride, but she knew this man would kill him if she didn't act.

"Stop, I am your opponent now." Tsuyuki stepped into the room, and she locked eyes against the man. His eyes widened slightly, and his mouth parted into a wider grin as he appraised her.

"One of his comrades?" the blonde man sneered and flicked his sword out, and Tsuyuki sheathed her swords before pulling her staff from her back.

'This man, he isn't an ordinary ronin. Best to be safe than sorry.' Tsuyuki thought to herself as she made to slide the blades out like she had earlier in the day. When nothing happened other than an empty crunching noise, Tsuyuki froze. Crusted blood was stuck to the blades, making it impossible to slide the blade out without cleaning it first.

'I have made a fatal error,' realized Tsuyuki as she stood up proudly, 'I will have to use option two.' She spun her staff around, and four blades slid from the staff. Two scythe blades slid out on each end on opposite sides while the blade of a sharp axe slid out opposite of the scythe blade. She held it in the middle of the staff, not disconnecting it this time. She now held a large weapon that resembled a double sided battle axe.

"Prepare to die." snarled Tsuyuki. She rushed forward at the man, swinging one end of her staff at him. He blocked with his sword and allowed her to flip over him, but he dodged as she attempted to slice his head off with the other end of her staff. He turned and kicked at her, but she caught his foot with her staff. She grabbed his food with one hand while the other spun the staff above her head. She twisted his food to the side to throw off his balance, but he allowed this to happen. He landed on the ground, holding himself up with one hand while he spun with her twist. She jumped back, narrowly missing a roundhouse kick to her face.

"Tsuyuki-kun!" Tsuyuki looked to the side in horror as Chizuru rushed through the doorway towards Okita. To Chizuru, they were no doubt inhumanly fast in their fight. But Tsuyuki couldn't protect both Okita and Chizuru against a man who could easily match her speed and strength with her staff.

"Run! Get backup!" ordered Tsuyuki, turning her head to Chizuru for a split second. But that second was all the red eyed man needed. Tsuyuki turned back in time to watch as his blade sliced across her neck, blood splattering onto the wall beside her. She gripped at her neck, eyes wide as blood gurgled from her mouth and spilled down her chin. Chizuru screamed as she watched her guard's neck be gorged out. Blood spilled between Tsuyuki's hands as they desperately gripped at her neck to stopper the blood.

"Tsuyuki!" gagged Okita as he struggled to stand. Tsuyuki's hands and neck were dyed the same crimson as her eyes as liquid poured down her body. She stumbled back towards the balcony as the man advanced towards her. She hit the edge and looked down to see battles raging in the courtyard. Below, she was able to make out Saito's form flashing past enemies. As if he felt her brief look at him, he looked up.

Saito was witness as the blonde man kicked out, catching Tsuyuki's chest and knocking her over the edge. She plummeted to the ground, landing with a sickening crack and thump. Back upstairs, Chizuru had rushed towards the balcony but Okita moved before her and attempted to get the blonde man while his back was turned. The man turned quickly and parried before pushing Okita back.

"The moment you all rushed in my job was over." the man started towards the balcony again. Okita went to chase after him, but he collapsed to the ground.

"No! I can… I can still fight." Okita yelled. The man looked back at him, gave an unimpressed look, and stepped onto the balcony before jumping off. Chizuru knelt down next to Okita.

"Okita-san? Okita-san!"

Down on the ground, Tsuyuki was tangled in a bush. She was drenched in blood, most her own. She attempted to stand, but groaned. She could feel her neck's wound thinning, but she knew that the wound would be there for awhile. Her bones were setting again, so she didn't move. She had watched the blonde man as he jumped from the balcony, gave her a slightly annoyed look, and made the large jump across the yard to land over the fence. After he had disappeared in a split second, Tsuyuki felt her head begin to spin when she attempted to sit up. She leaned back down, her eyes losing vision.

"Tsuyuki-san?" Saito's face blocked out the light of the rising sun, and Tsuyuki eyed him when her eyes were able to focus again.

"I'm fine; just give me a few moments to compose myself." Tsuyuki told him as she sat up. She pulled off the fabric holding her yukata shut and wrapped it around her neck to hide the wound. Her yukata fell open, revealing the westernized clothing beneath.

"How did you survive?" Saito questioned, looking from the balcony to Tsuyuki's injured form.

"It's only a fall from the second floor, and this bush broke my fall. My neck's bleeding badly, but it's a shallow wound." reported Tsuyuki as she rolled onto her hands and knees. Then she slowly pushed herself up before she stood and turned to Saito, whose eyes momentarily showed great surprise. Tsuyuki took a tentative step towards him to test her legs and balance. When she didn't fall, she took another and another. She misjudged her legs though, and her knees buckled beneath her when she reached Saito. Saito caught her as her eyes rolled back into her head and she knew no more. Saito lifted her up and carried her to where they were going to quickly evaluate their wounded. Tsuyuki hung from his arms like a ragdoll, her body was limp and blood was caked to her form.

"Tsuyuki! No!" Chizuru's gasp caused Saito to turn. He regarded her coolly as Chizuru's eyes reflected horror and remorse.

"She is alive, just unconscious." Saito informed her, shifting under Chizuru's stunned expression.

"But… Never mind, I'm just glad she's ok." breathed Chizuru, looking down at the pale, calm face of her unconscious guard.

"Do you have her staff?" inquired Chizuru when Saito placed Tsuyuki on a wooden stretcher.

"No, I'll return to the back to retrieve it." Saito answered, heading back towards the yard of the Ikeda. He passed several comrades who were searching the inn for any possible leftover ronin. The raid itself had lasted two hours, but to those fighting it had seemed to last only minutes.

Saito rummaged through the bush where Tsuyuki fell, only to find leaves and twigs coated in a layer of blood. He eyed the yard suspiciously as he tried to locate the large black staff. He had seen it as she fell; it had been covered in blood with four blades, two on each end. Something that noticeable and large should have been found by now.

Saito rummaged through the bushes a few more times before frowning and looking towards the balcony. He knew it fell, he had seen it. And it certainly didn't get up and walk away. Saito started towards the fence of the inn and looked over. His eyes narrowed when he spotted a bloody trail that led down the alley.

Saito returned to where the Shinsengumi were ready to march back to their compound. Chizuru gave Saito a worried look.

"Where's Tsuyuki-kun's staff?" Saito shook his head. Chizuru bit her lip. Tsuyuki would be beyond furious when she woke up to find her staff was missing. But, it couldn't be helped. They marched on through the streets as the light of dawn came from through the trees. Citizens of Kyoto parted as the Shinsengumi, blood splattered and carrying wounded, passed through the streets. They held their heads proudly and displayed their flag.

It wasn't until the next day that Tsuyuki awoke in her room. A tray of medical supplies sat next to her with bloodied bandages and stitches. She sat up easily, her muscles not protesting in the slightest bit. She was shirtless and bandages were wrapped around her forehead rather than her forehead protector. Bandages were wrapped around her neck and bandages bound her voluptuous chest. Tsuyuki frowned at her defeat the night prior when all the memories came rushing back to her. Tsuyuki stood up as the door slid open. The familiar face of Yamazaki entered the room.

"Tsuyuki-kun, you should lie back down. Your wounds were deep." he stated as he watched her pull her washed corset on over the bandages. She wrapped the collar in place before ignoring the shirt and pulling a white hakama on.

"I'm fine, but thank you for dressing my wounds Yamazaki-san." Tsuyuki paused in her redressing to bow politely to Yamazaki. His intense purple eyes scanned over her and he nodded.

"Do not overstress yourself; your neck wound could reopen. As well as the wound on your back." Yamazaki ordered. Tsuyuki paused. She twisted her body slightly, feeling no pain or stitches in her back.

"My back was wounded?" she questioned. Yamazaki nodded.

"Saito-kun says you possibly fell onto the blade of your staff. Your clothing was thick enough for us to not notice until we undressed you to examine you here." explained Yamazaki. Tsuyuki nodded, accepting the reply. Then, a thought hit her. Her eyes scanned the room, finding a crucial item missing. Then her hand flashed to her neck and she roughly opened the drawers that Chizuru put her clothes in. Relief flashed in her crimson eyes as she delicately lifted a silver chain that connected to a silver locket. She put it on her neck, rubbing at a bit of crusted blood on the locket. When it was clean, she looked to Yamazaki.

"Have you seen my staff?" Tsuyuki asked. Yamazaki shifted uncomfortably, his eyes looking to where her two swords were blood crusted and leaned against the wall.

"Chizuru-kun thought it best to clean it; Saito-kun may know where it is." Yamazaki bowed and excused himself after answering. Tsuyuki's eyes narrowed at the closing door. She pulled the dark blue yukata she had ruined back on and tied it with the red fabric. Grabbing her swords she slid the scabbards in the fabric and left her room and headed towards the meeting hall, intent on finding one of the captains.

"Tsuyuki, you're already on your feet?" Heisuke commented as she entered the hall. All the captains and Chizuru sat, preparing to eat.

"Yes, I'm a fast healer. I came to request my staff be returned to me." Tsuyuki's eyes scanned the men and Chizuru as the room went deathly silent. Chizuru exchanged a worried glance with Heisuke.

"Your staff was taken from where you fell. We do not know where it is." Saito answered when everyone looked to him, hoping for him to have an excuse. A tense silence came over the room as Tsuyuki's face paled considerably and sadness and anger flashed across her face. She managed to calm herself after a moment, and she nodded.

"I will go track it down then, I will return at dusk." Tsuyuki turned to leave, and Harada and Shinpachi shared a look.

"A woman shouldn't travel at night." Harada called. Tsuyuki paused.

"I am a warrior. If your spear had been taken, would you not fight to get it back?" questioned Tsuyuki.

"Woman or warrior, you're injured. You shouldn't leave the compound." Shinpachi spoke up.

"I am retrieving my staff, whether you permit it or not, kodomo." Tsuyuki snapped, her eyes narrowing when Hijikata stopped sipping from his cup and turned to her.

"Return by nightfall. Should you be any later, we will kill you. Saito will accompany you."Hijikata allowed. Tsuyuki nodded her thanks as Saito stood, his tray empty of food. Saito walked to the door and exited alongside Tsuyuki.

"How do you mean to find your staff? Kyoto is large." Saito inquired as they headed towards the compound's gate.

"My methods are mine alone." Tsuyuki demurred. They stayed silent as they traveled to the Ikeda. Tsuyuki looked through the yard before hopping over the fence. Saito was momentarily shocked at her nimbleness. Her wound would open if she continued like that.

"Let's follow the blood for now. When we lose it we can attempt to find a shop that smuggles weapons." Tsuyuki announced, eyes not leaving the bloody trail. They began to follow it through the alleys, ignoring the ronin they passed. The ronin looked as if they'd attempt to mug them before seeing Tsuyuki's bloodstained yukata and recognizing Saito as Saito Hajime, one of the captains of the Shinsengumi.

"Your weapon is foreign; its value is no doubt high." Saito stated as they reached a road filled with shops, stands and civilians. Tsuyuki shrugged as they turned onto it, blending in with the ronin that wandered the streets.

"It's a one of a kind weapon, it was made specifically for me by… well, it holds sentimental value." Tsuyuki admitted softly. Saito looked to Tsuyuki to see her gazing into the sky with glazed eyes. He silently waited as her mind wandered through memories before she snapped back to the present.

"Let's go. I intend to get my staff back." Tsuyuki rested her hands on her swords as she ambled towards a shop she watched a ronin enter. Saito followed behind her in silence like her shadow. Tsuyuki ducked through the doorway of the shop, and smirked when she found the store owner haggling with the ronin over a sword he had on display. However when the store owner glanced in her direction, both froze.

"Hime?" the owner asked, amber eyes squinting at her as if making sure they weren't day dreaming. The store owner was a middle aged man with flaming amber eyes and dark green hair. Flashes of memories flashed through Tsuyuki's mind, and she closed her eyes and put her hand to her temple.

"You're alive? You look great, it's been awhile. How long have you been in Japan? I guess you look good because of your… condition." the man happily chatted to Tsuyuki, coming closer. Tsuyuki was silent, her eyes wide with surprise and horror at the man before her. She closed them for a second to regain composure.

"Stay away!" snarled Tsuyuki, red eyes burning when she opened them.

"Hime…" the owner stepped back, then realization crossed his eyes, "I see, so you thought that I died. I can't say it didn't look that way." The man headed back to the counter, shooing the ronin away. He rustled around behind the counter before producing the black staff Tsuyuki had been searching for.

"I thought this was yours. I could recognize this anywhere; Matthias had made it just for you after all. A bloody ronin brought it in last night and sold it, I didn't ask questions. I assumed he won it in a fight as he was stained with blood and wounds. When I looked closer at it this morning, I was surprised to see what it was. I thought maybe it was just a bloody battle axe, but the grooves and initials at the bottom proved otherwise." the man placed the staff on the counter. Tsuyuki slowly grabbed it and hooked it back onto her back. She nodded at the man.

"It's funny, how it ended up here. Fate, perhaps?" mused the man.

"Fate has been cruel, to lead us together again. Forget you saw me." Tsuyuki demanded, turning on her heel and walking to Saito. The man scowled at her, eyes disapproving.

"Raven." the man stated firmly. Saito's eyes widened slightly as Tsuyuki visibly flinched.

"Call me that again… and I'll slice your head off." Tsuyuki seethed.

"I apologize, but I want to know what you've been up to. It's been years, don't you want to know what has happened since you left?" the man pleaded. Tsuyuki didn't move.

"I left for a reason. You all have been dead to me for years, as I have been dead to you." and Tsuyuki stormed from the shop. Saito looked from the dejected shop keeper to where Tsuyuki had stormed out. Saito followed behind after a moment. Saito came out to Tsuyuki muttering in a different language. Her tone suggested she was angry.

"What are the chances, Saito-san?" Tsuyuki rounded on Saito, "What are the chances of a man you thought dead to just, reappear in a coincidence?" Saito chose his words carefully.

"Fate works in strange ways." Saito finally decided to state. Tsuyuki snorted.

"Where I come from, fate is a load of bull crap." Tsuyuki started down the road, and Saito followed behind and managed to keep in step with her enraged pace.

"Who was that?" Saito asked when they reached the alleys and Tsuyuki calmed herself.

"Sebastian. He was the brother of my best friend when I was young." Tsuyuki answered briskly as she paused. She looked up at the sky, "When I was little I was always challenging men to sword fights. Problem was, dual wielding wasn't very popular. Nor were swords once guns came about. My best friend was a boy named Matthias, he was a few years older than me but we were as thick as thieves. He made me my staff one day when I was shot. He said "A badass girl like you needs to defend herself. No one'll expect this." and from that day forward I treasured my staff. Then, one day… I did something I shouldn't have." Tsuyuki stayed silent for a few minutes.

"Never mind. The past is the past." Tsuyuki shook her head, "Besides, you don't care about my life, Saito-san." Saito didn't deny the claim.

"It is my duty to protect you, is the man a threat?" questioned Saito. Tsuyuki snorted.

"Sebastian has always been skilled at making weapons, he had nothing on Matthias but he was still very skilled. The funny thing was, unlike Matthias, Sebastian couldn't wield a weapon to save his life. Even their mother could win against him with a wooden spoon." Tsuyuki sniffed back a laugh as she obviously remembered a humorous moment.

"The past is what has shaped us to be what we are today. Be proud of your past, as your past will decide your future, and all your actions will decide your honor." Saito told her. He started forward, finished with their conversation. Tsuyuki chuckled under her breath. She looked at her blood stained yukata and grungy hair as she slowly caught up to Saito.

"Funny how I became such a shitty person. I have no honor."

Saito didn't comment, he pretended not to hear. He didn't particularly like Tsuyuki, nor did he hate her. But, he did have a slight ounce of respect for her. So far, she had shown to be a decent person and a skilled warrior despite being a foreign woman. She had risked her life for Okita and Heisuke in the Ikeda Inn despite not being an actual member of the Shinsengumi.

But that didn't quell his old suspicions about her. And now with this strange meeting, new questions arose. What condition did Tsuyuki have? What had happened to make Tsuyuki not want to talk to that man? Why had she reacted to strongly to the word "Raven"? What had she done that she shouldn't have?

Questions burned through Saito's mind, but he didn't ask them. He didn't acknowledge Tsuyuki throughout their walk back to the compound. Nor did he acknowledge her until that night when he accidentally stumbled upon her after returning from his night patrol.

The moon was just above the trees as Tsuyuki stripped herself down at the bath in the compound. The bath was outside and it was where they usually washed their clothes. Normally the men would go during the day but Tsuyuki went during the night. Chizuru usually went during the early morning when only she, the captains and Tsuyuki were awake and aware Chizuru was bathing.

Saito had stumbled upon Tsuyuki accidentally when heading to his room after returning from his late night patrol. He had heard someone in the water and went to check to make sure it wasn't an intruder. When he had peered from around the building, hidden from sight, he froze.

Moonlight caused Tsuyuki's hair to glow bright silver, framing her pale body. The water around her was stained a light rust color, but it was being broken apart and drifting away as Tsuyuki rubbed at her hair. Her hair was long enough where it covered her breasts from Saito's view mostly, and the water was just below her naval. Saito's mind stopped as he watched Tsuyuki. He found himself unwilling to look away. Finally he managed to, a heavy blush on his face.

Saito was a handsome man, and women would no doubt gladly be his wife someday due to his looks and strength. But Saito was a samurai, and he didn't need the company of women like Harada or Shinpachi. He had never seen a woman in a state of undress, until now that was.

"Who's there?" snarled Tsuyuki's calm voice as Saito stepped back, forgetting to be as silent as death due to Tsuyuki's abnormally good hearing. Saito stilled, waiting to see what Tsuyuki would do. He heard her leave the water, and the ring of a sword being unsheathed told him that Tsuyuki was assuming he was an intruder.

"It's not an intruder. I am returning from the night patrol." Saito tonelessly called back. Tsuyuki was silent for a moment; most likely she was debating what to do.

"It's rude to watch a woman bathe, Saito-san. I thought that of all the men you would be the last to watch out for at the bath." Tsuyuki told him flatly. Saito didn't react to the insult. He instead started to walk away proudly, making sure to not let his gaze wander back towards Tsuyuki who was now standing out of the water, her body now out in the open as she held one of her swords at her side.

"I stumbled upon you bathing; I did not peek like Sanosuke-san or Shinpachi-san." Saito said after a silent moment where only his fading steps could be heard. Tsuyuki snorted, mumbled a disbelieving "sure" and sinking back into the water after laying her sword on the ground. Tsuyuki sunk beneath the water, missing the red eyes that appeared in the dark leaves of the forest trees. She resurfaced through the water, and the eyes took notice of how the wound on her neck was no longer there. Not even a scar was left.

In Saito's hidden embarrassment at catching Tsuyuki in the bath, the fact that her neck and back were completely unmarred had slipped his mind completely.

AN

God damn it Saito, you sexy tsundere pervert you XD And those red eyes, who's that pervert?

You can ignore this blurb, its me ranting about Harada's playthough, and the three game deaths i found.

Anyway, in all seriousness, I have decided that Harada's play through is the fucking best play through ever. And I also discovered THE GAME HAS DEATHS. I was replaying from chapter 6 or whatever in Harada's play through from the record of service and doing the part where Chizuru, Harada and Shiranui confront Kodo and i was using the square button to skip through already read text and it stops and I was like "What?" so i read and Chizuru goes to Kodo and is like "Tou-san!" and then he freaking stabs her in the heart and Harada is crying for you as you die and i was like O-O and then i proceeded to find a few more deaths such as in Saito's play through in the ending Shiranui and Kodo finish off Heisuke, Harada and Shinpachi and then come back and Kazama murders Saito and then because Amagiri is awesome and honorable he strides up to you, apologizes, and says "I will save you from the miserable life you will undergo" and then he proceeds to murder you with his badass fists. I also liked the Harada ending where you leave in the night from Shinpachi's and Kazama finds you and the screen goes black and Chizuru says "I don't want to talk about the rest of my days, but i do hope that Harada found a woman to spend the rest of his life with."

I have a fascination with bad endings. Like, death, mutilation, sadness... hehehe

Thanks to the following for reviewing:
unicornmeat3
Star (Guest)
Guest
Rei-chan the Shinigami

I swear, i usually reply to reviews via PM but i'm being lazy because summer... forgive me -_-'