Disclaimer: I do not own anything related or of Peacemaker Kurogane. I own ocs.

Riatsuka Yoake-an 18 year old girl that is a member of the Shinsengumi, she joined the Shinsengumi when she was only 13 and now she is a spy. She has brown eyes and short brown hair. She is 5'7" and mostly legs.

Chapter 3: Flame

"Let's go." Yamazaki signaled me as we headed towards Masuya. We hid on the top of the roof silently listening to the coversation. "They ain't doing much." I whispered. "I'm going to move in." Yamazaki whispered as he went down. I stayed on the roof and looked around. I closed my eyes and sensed a few people nearby. I caught the kunai between my fingers and turned around. "Looks like we caught a little rat." One woman laughed as I glared at the kunai.

"Little rat, huh?" I chuckled. "I think this rat needs to feed..." I muttered as I threw the kunai towards the blonde. The three separated and I tackled the dark-haired woman down biting her arm, ripping her skin-spilling blood. The woman screamed in pain as she stabbed me in the shoulder. I moved away quickly and faced the slumped looking one. "Your blood is missing iron. I need protein." I complimented. "What the fuck are you?" The blonde questioned before Yamazaki signaled me. I disappeared in a blast of smoke.

Yamazaki and I headed back towards the Shinsengumi headquarters safely. "Yamazaki inform the Vice Commander our report. I have to excuse myself and fix this wound." I said as I felt the blood seeping down. "Fine." Yamazaki agreed as we passed the gate. "...Damn." I thought as I headed to my room. I slid the door open and slit it shut from behind. "You are done for tonight?" Souji asked as he confronted me. "Yeah," I said as I went for some herbs to heal this wound, "Wait, why are you in here?"

"To check up on you of course." Souji said cheerfully. I knew Souji wasn't lying, but then again I knew when he was. "Liar." I said as I was about to take my shirt off, but I stopped as I glared at Souji. "You know, I would like some privacy." I rasped. Souji turned away with his back facing me. "Give me a break damn it!" I complained. "Yoake, we need to talk." Souji spoke softly. "Yeah, about what?" I asked as I took off my shirt. I felt Souji's hand on my wound. "Did you do this to yourself?" he asked with his eyes narrow.

"No. That isn't what you want to talk about is it? Me mutilating myslef? The scars on my flesh is the result of me being weak. You should have no right in starting this conversation." I said as my demon wanted to escape. "I am sorry. I do not want to see you in pain anymore Yo-chan. I noticed blood on you the other day and I didn't speak. But if Hijikata saw-it would worry him." Souji explained. I flinched as Souji rubbed aloe over my wound. "I am not a person you should worry about. So please don't tell me anymore." I sighed.

"You hate it when you think that you are just in the way." Souji said. "I am a tool, nothing more Souji. I've forgotten my past and must remain in the present. If I fail a task I must be punished for it. " I said as Souji wrapped his arms around me. "Still hostile like before. Remember when we first met? You didn't speak to anyone, but Hijikata. If anyone tried to speak to you, you would just hide your face." Souji smiled. I started coughing and began to vomit. "Yoake!" Souji pulled me against him. "You didn't eat either." he added.

I continued to cough and vomit until it was all out of me. "I'm fine." I said breathing. "Liar." Souji whispered as I closed my eyes. "I'm tired of this shit." I tried to push myself away, but Souji held me close. "You want to hide yourself from me. Why?" he asked. "It is none of your business." I glared at him angrily. "..." Souji didn't say anything and continued to hold me. I was too tired to push him away again and fell asleep. "She's just like before." Souji thought.

_ _ _

"This is Yoake. He will be working alongside Yamazaki from now on." Hijikata stated. I stood beside the Vice Commander silently. "So, he isn't a page?" Souji asked as he circled around me. "He doesn't talk." Souji frowned. "He just joined Souji, give the boy some time." Kondou said happily. At the lunch hall, I was staring at my rice bowl. "You aren't hungry, Yoake?" Nagakura questioned me. I didn't answer and stood up. "Did I say something?" Nagakura was surprised. I shook my head and left the room.

Ayu was not happy as she noticed me sitting outside. "You don't talk and you don't eat. Why do you seem as if you're a ghost?" Ayu asked as she sat down next to me. "This is ridiculous, you are a quiet boy who Souji seems attached to." Ayu smiled. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't make a clear sound. "Ah..." I rasped. "Vice Commander tells me that you don't have a real name so you were given the name day break. It's not a bad name and it's easy to remember" Ayu said cheerfully.

"Vice Commander has his trust in you even if you start to doubt yourself." "Vice...Commander...Souji." I spoke nervously. "You found your voice?" Ayu asked. "Y...yes..." I nodded. "I am glad that you can speak. The boys are probably worried about you. Let's go back." she said happily. I tried to speak, but I lost my voice again. I, honestly, did not want to join the others. I wasn't good with people and I was surrounded by strangers.

"I'll stay here." I said softly. "You'll eat with me." Hijikata said coldly, "If you won't eat-you'll become useless." Hijikata and Kondou approached us. "Eh, yes sir." I stood up immediately. "And besides, it's Miss Ayu's cooking. You should be greatful." Kondou added. Hijikata looked down on me like a demon. It didn't scare me, but his eyes said something. Something that was meant for me to know that I had a purpose. "Come with me Yoake." he ordered.

I nodded as he walked past me. I waved good-bye to Ayu and followed the two men from behind. "Yoake, why did you join the Shinsengumi?" Hijikata questioned. "To be of some use sir. I am only a weapon or a mere tool to be used." I simply stated. "Such dignity in your words. I am impressed." Kondou smiled. "You do not consider yourself a demon?" Hijikata was curious. ""No. I do not claim to be a demon. However, I do have the lust of blood like one." I said feeling empty.

""You have no remorse for your decision?" Hijikata asked as he sat down at the table. I sat down across from him. Kondou sat on the side between us. "I am a tool." I answered. "Seems fair that you joined the Shinsengumi." Hijikata began to smoke. "Oh, Yamazaki." Kondou said as the young boy entered the room. The boy glared at me as if I was a burden. "This is Yoake. He will be assisting you from now on." Kondou stated. "Excuse me-" I interrupted politely. "I am not here to 'assist' in my duties as a watcher. My missions are done solo if I may." I was now hostile.

"I see we have a cocky one." Yamazaki spoke sarcastically. "You two should get along well." Kondou cheered. "Hn." Hijikata grunted. I and Yamazaki shared glares for a moment. "Do you have experience in fighting?" he asked. "Does murdering someone count or does bleeding something dry count?" I retorted. "..." Yamazaki had a surprise look on his face. "Guess it does." I said tilting my head. "Excuse me, Commander, Vice Commander, Yamazaki." I spoke as I stood up. Before I reached the doorway, Hijikata blew a puff of smoke, "Tomorrow." "Sir?" I turned to him.

"Tomorrow will be your first mission." Hijikata informed. "Yes sir." I nodded. Before I took another step Hijikata grunted. "You still have not eaten yet." he muttered.

- - -

It was early morning and I opened my eyes slowly. The moon was not there, but the stars were. I tried to move, but Souji still had a grip on me. "Nn..." Souji grunted as he held onto me tighter. I ignored the fact that I was half naked and how wierd it felt as Souji was holding me. "Yo-chan..." Souji muttered. "He isn't a pervert. Although, this is wierd. Rumors will start and the Vice Commander will ask questions." I thought. "I am a mere tool nothing more." I mumbled. Saizo entered the room with an oink and leaped onto my breasts quietly.

I held him gently as he snuggled against me. "You and Souji do the same thing-cling onto me for no reason." I sighed. "But, if I cling to something it will break..." "She's sad again." Souji thought as he had one eye open. "Saizo, go to sleep. I'll make sure Tetsu feeds you." I said softly. Saizo snorted and closed his eyes. I, now wide awake, couldn't sleep. "What would you cling to if it couldn't break?" Souji spoke softly. I gasped and turned to him. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?" I asked.

"I just wanted to see if you were Yo-chan." Souji smiled as he snuggled against me. "This is wierd. Hopefully, no one has seen us like we just-" I sighed until the thought came to me. "Just what Yo-chan?" Souji leaned closer to me making me annoyed. "Nothing." I growled. "Yoake tell me." Souji smiled cheerfully. "I'm going back to sleep." I whispered as I closed my eyes. "Yoake." Souji called out as he laid on my side. "Hm?" I looked at Souji with my eyes opened halfway. "You have a family on the outside?" he questioned.

"No. I killed them." I closed my eyes with that answer. Souji placed his arms around me gently. "I am sorry." he murmured against my head. "...I have no regrets. It wasn't my fault." I whispered.

"Come on, wake up." Souji shoved me lightly. I opened my eyes and sat up. "What?" I asked pissed off. Souji pulled me and dragged me over to Nagakura and Harada. "You want to go get something to eat?" Harada asked. . "Is this what you dragged me for?!" I muttered annoyed. "Let's go." Souji said cheerfully. "It seems that I am coming too." I calmed myself down. "Since you four are heading out..." Hijikata grunted as he handed me a list, "Pick up these items." "Wha?" I asked as he walked past me. "I will sir." I nodded.

"So what's on the list?" Nagakura questioned as we walked around the town. "Brushes, ink, and-this is basically art shit." I twitched. "Well, we still have to get it though." Harada sighed. "How about that shop?" Souji pointed out as we came across a sweet shop. "..." I looked at Souji with a glare. "Tamasaburo sound good." Nagakura said cheerfully. Entering the sweet shop, I sat down at a table. Saizo tugged at my pants' sleeve. "Huh?" I looked at the pig as he gave me an oink. "Saizo?" I questioned. The pig leaped onto my breasts again.

"Saizo is attached to you. I'm surprised." Harada said as he handed me a Tamasaburo. I took it and began to eat the Tamasaburo. Saizo leaped off of me and I stood up. "Where's Tetsu anyway?" I asked Nagakura. "Puppy boy is doing errands for Ayu." Nagakura answered. "Oh." I answered as we left the shop. "Souji, why doin't you carry a sword with you? You'll look more manly." Harada commented. "Say what?" Souji questioned. "Harada is saying thta you should carry your sword more often." I translated. "But my sword will be in the way when I play tag." Souji said.

"I prefer to have my sword on me at all times." Harada said calmly. "How about you Yoake?" Nagakura questioned me. "Well, I am the one to use swords but-" I spoke until we overheard a boy telling his mother about a fight. We all stopped to think. "Boy..." Harada began. "Spikey like hair..." Nagakura added. "No way...could it be?" I said hoping that it wasn't who we thought it was. "We better check it out." Harada said we continued walking. "So, if you were unarmed and the other guy had a sword, what would you use?" Harada questioned Souji.

"I would use my feet first." Souji answered. "Never thought about it that way." I said as I looked down at Saizo. "I guess that would a good tactic." I added, " Oh boy..." There was a large crowd of people surrounding the fight. "Oso." I approached Yamazaki as he was disguised as a young woman. He did a very good job playing his role. "We got it covered." Souji whispered. Yamazaki nodded. "Trouble makin' ronin. Pathetic, picking on a child." I chuckled. "Shouldn't you guys get lost?" Nagakura asked.

Souji took a step ahead of us, "You ronin better leave." "Bastards, how about no?" One man said pulling out his sword. "So-!" Tetsu called out Souji's name, but Nagakura interrupted him. "We are no on important. Just visitors passing by." Nagakura hinted. "..." Tetsu silenced as I nodded. "You two know what to do." I whispered to Harada. "Yeah." Harada gave me a thumbs up. "I don't like horseplaying." I commented. "You ass!" One man charged at me with a sword. I had a smug look on my face. Right when the blade was an inch awy, I kicked the blade out of the way with the bottom of my sandal.

"What the--!?" The man's eyes widened as I grabbed his wrist. "I love the sound of bones breaking. Do you want to hear?" I asked as my demon was aroused. "What are you?" The man was not frightened. "Someone just passing by. Remember?" I said breaking the man's wrist. The man screamed in pain as he fell on his knees. I walked away and picked up his sword. "Don't come back if you like starting shit." I threw the sword in front of the man. I walked over to Tetsu, "Let's go." Souji signaled us and I nodded to Nagakura. Nagakura nodded back and he pulled out his sword.

The four of us ran into the back alley and stopped halfway to hide. "Okay, we're safe for now." Souji breathed. "Yeah," I said in agreement, "Tetsu, how is the girl?" Tetsu turned to the girl with a sigh of relief.
"Souji..." I whispered as he gave me a smile. "How're we going to explain this? And get that smile off your face." I said annoyed. I looked back at Tetsu and the girl, but something wasn't right. "You bastard!" A man charged at Souji from behind. "So-!" Tetsu almost shouted as Souji knocked the guy over. Stealing the man's sword, Souji placed the blade against the man's neck.

"Don't watch." I ordered Tetsu just before Souji slit the man's throat. Tetsu screamed in fear and I shook my head. "I said don't watch."