The sun was setting, basking the shinsengumi compound in its orange and red glow. In his darkening room, Sannan gazed down in contempt at the blade that rested in his hand. Lately he hasn't been himself and he knows that, but the thought of being worthless to the Shinsengumi made his insides turn cold. He felt lifeless. Dead.

The next morning he watched as Shinpachi's squad did their daily routine out in the yard, how he yearned to be able to handle a sword again. He started to drift away from his fellow comrades, suffering in silence every night he would practice with his one arm just to stop in frustration. He was irritated with himself for getting injured so carelessly, for having an injury that would change his life as a warrior.

Blue eyes watched him quietly from beside an open window from Chizuru's room. Both girl and cat looked upon scene, sadness evident. Neither said a word to each other or the man outside who did not know of their presence, the silent air around them spoke nothing to them. Chizuru and Midnight glanced at each other, no words needed saying; that look told them they both shared the same thought, that the Sannan they knew was dying.

"Excuse me. I brought you your food" A voice announced outside his room, Sannan was once again at his desk looking over some notes. He tore his eyes from the paper long enough to spare the door a quick glance then went back to reading.

"Thank you very much"

The door slid open to reveal Chizuru with a tray of food; she shuffled into the room and placed the tray down in the middle of the room. Chizuru's once happy mood darkened into sadness when she noted his hunched over form, he looked so vulnerable.

Sannan was surprised at her presence and made it known. "This is unusual for you to bring it in here, Yukimura-Kun" he smiled at her slightly but it never reached his eyes.

His eyes narrowed as she explain to him what she did to the food for him, his anger rising just a bit at how sympathetic she was being.

"Is this your idea of sympathy?"

"Huh?"

"I can't use my left hand at all so your simply making sure I don't spill my food clumsily while eating, is that it" Sannan stated more then asked already knowing the answer.

"Not at all" Chizuru disagreed with a shake of her head.

"If so you're wasting your time child" His voice betrayed his emotion, anger. His gaze cut down Chizuru and she was lost for words. Sannan continued his interrogation of her actions, bringing up Hijikata and the others snapped Chizuru out of her stupor and she found herself defended the men from the blame.

"No! I asked them to let me"

Sannan didn't look as if he believed her; he raised one eyebrow and turned back to his work ignoring the girl's presence, no longer wanting to hear anymore. But something was on his mind, something that gnawed at him, making him understand she wasn't doing this for himself only.

"I see it would sound like you're doing this for my sake only, but in the end you really want to make a place for yourself here, isn't that it?"

Chizuru looked down; she fought the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. She didn't try to deny that fact, it was true after all.

"In any case please eat just a little, everyone really...They're really worried about you Sannan-San"

An eerie silence filled the room a few minutes later Chizuru bowed and excused herself from his room, sparing one last look at him she slid the door closed leaving the man inside to wallow in his own self-pity.

Midnight was strolling around the compound; lately she hasn't been feeling the best. Sannan's wound and his recent seclusion from everyone had begun to way heavily on her mind. She was more sensitive to the emotions of her owners then some would believe.

Midnight stopped herself from colliding with Chizuru who also seemed a bit down and lost in her own thoughts, the feline cocked one eyebrow.

"Meow"

Chizuru gasped not seeing Midnight sitting before her, she stilled herself awaiting the cat's fury that seemed to always happen whenever they met, but it never came. Chizuru slowly opened her eyes to see the smirking face of Midnight but it slowly dissipated into a sullen one. Chizuru let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and kneeled down; she raised her hand towards Midnight's head and let it hover for a few minutes gauging the cats reaction.

Midnight didn't practicality like the girl all that much, still feeling as if she would take her masters away from her, but right now she needed the comfort from someone who felt the same way she did, she knew her owners did but they didn't exactly share her worry's to the same degree but it would seem this girl did. So she pushed her head up into her hand allowing the girl to softly caress her ears and head, midnight closed her eyes and let it go on for a few moments.

Midnight moved her head away from Chizuru's hand; she shook out her body, falling back into her normal attitude. She glared at the human and swiped at her hand before strutting around the corner. Chizuru let outta low chuckle not wanting the feline to hear her and give it a reason to attack her, she felt as if they got a little closer, as if midnight was giving her a chance to get to know her.

That was enough to bring Chizuru's good mood back if only just a bit, she smiled and continued on her way to see if she could go out on patrols with the men.

Squad one of the shinsengumi left the HQ to make their rounds, with Chizuru in tow along with Midnight on Souji's shoulder. She questioned Souji about the feline coming with them but was only met with a glare from the mentioned cat and a simple "Because she can" from Souji. She wasn't completely satisfied with the answer but choose to let it go, today would be her first time outside of the compound in months and she was looking forward to finding out more about her father's whereabouts.

She asked around whenever she saw someone, but it was hard people would ignore her or when they saw her walking towards them they would turn the other way and go on with their business. Considering she was walking with the shinsengumi and they didn't have the best reputation, it didn't shock her all that much. But none the less she persevered until she finally came upon a man who said he's seen her father.

Chizuru ran to the place the old man pointed at a vendor store just a few yards away, Souji was about to follow her but was distracted by his squad getting into an argument with some Ronin. Midnight decided to follow the girl, if she didn't who knows what could happen.

Midnight trotted after Chizuru only stopping for a second when she noticed Yamazaki in a ridiculous outfit hiding and watching. Midnight's eye twitched at him, but went on her way as if she saw nothing. Chizuru entered the shop just as midnight got too her, she fell into step behind the girl wearily looking around the shop, she felt as if...Something was off.

"Excuse me"

"Yes what is it?"

"I would like to ask you a bit about..."

Chizuru was interrupted when she heard a man's voice say "That's the one". Midnights fur was standing on end, she recognized Ronin when she saw them, her eyes narrowed at the group of men.

"That's the one that's always with those shinsengumi dogs!" The man unsheathed his katana and pointed it at Chizuru as did the man beside him, Midnight posed herself in front of the shaken girl, hissing and growling. The men ran towards the pair and midnight went into action she launched herself at the first one in front and bit his leg. Her teeth sunk and claws dug deeply into his flesh awarding her with a scream and the taste of fresh blood in her mouth. The man fell down to his knees at the sudden attack. Midnight quickly launched her body again towards the other man that was behind the first one but this one was ready for her.

"Damn cat!" He kicked out his foot hitting her right in the stomach sending her flying back.

Midnight hit the wall and slid down, her body engulfed in pain; she could hear Chizuru scream her name. She fought to pick herself up but her body collapsed due to the pain in her back, all she could do now was watch the girl and pray her master got there in time, she didn't want to help bury a body today.

Clash of metal on metal sounded and Midnights attackers' katana was thrown out of his hands by none other than Souji.

"O-Okita-San!"

Chizuru was relieved to see him; Souji looked at her then at the body of midnight. Anger swelled within him seeing the cat still body, fearing for her life.

"Seems the only luck you got is bad" he smirked at his opponent, and then at Chizuru before he stepped back a bit to let his squad enter and attack. The Ronin fell quickly to the shinsengumi swords putting down their own weapons they surrendered all but the one Souji had disarmed, he grinned at him noticing Souji's eyes glance again towards the cat.

"The feline deserved what was coming to it, too bad I didn't stab it instead I bet red would look good on that pretty white fur"

Souji drew his katana up to meet the man's face, the metal glistening, "You touched her and now you die" Souji then plunged his katana into the man's heart, a wild smile stretching across his face.

They were back at the HQ, having told Kondou of what occurred they were now in a meeting about the incident, Chizuru watched and listened as the men began to form a plan to attack Ikedaya Inn or Shikoku Inn where they figured the Chōshū would meet to come up with a plan B after one of their bosses were taken into custody.

After the shinsengumi decided to split into two teams they began their march towards the locations, a night of blood and pain were sure to follow.

Midnight watched from her spot on the wall outside, her body was wrapped with bandages. She would have gone with them but Souji told her not to follow them, her injuries were too severe for him not to worry about her safety. She sullenly gazed at them fearing for their safety, hoping they would come back safe and sound. But then a sudden feeling came upon her, it ate away at her heart and left her cold, this feeling was one she was used to, one she knew.

She jumped down from the wall wincing when she felt her body pulsate in pain, she shook it off and ran out of the HQ. She headed towards the Ikedaya Inn, she knew something was gonna happen and she needed to be there when it did.

The moon illuminated her form, guiding her to the inn where she saw Kondou and the rest of his men stationed outside waiting. She ran into the inn and stationed herself on one of the ceiling beams, she crouched low so that none could see her and waited.

Out the corner of her eye she a man with blonde hair and a demonic aura was making his way to a room upstairs opposite of her. She narrowed her eyes to see dark figures moving inside behind the closed doors, her view was obstructed by red eyes they bore into her own blue orbs. She felt him searching through her, staring into her very soul, he must have found what he wanted because he smirked and quietly said

"I know what you are"