End of Chapter Six: "Such a paradoxical creature you are, in one moment you accede and the next you challenge me." His nose had traced the outline of her ear as he whispered, his sultry tone inspiring her heart to convulse and her cheeks to burn. "Your declarations seem insincere compared to your actions. One day soon you will utterly submit yourself to me, it need not be today."
Chapter Seven: Paradoxical Lovers
"That's what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end."
-Lise Hand
Part of Chizuru wondered why she'd protested at all but before she could risk listening to that part Kazama was gone, he'd simply vanished as if he'd turned into mist and the water pulled her under and toward where he'd been with the vacuum his exit created. As she came back to the surface she pushed her hair from her face, smiling awkwardly as she noticed one of the workers at the pools gesturing for her attention.
"Hello miss, dinner for your group will be prepared soon. It was requested especially because your trip took so long. I thought it would be good to let you know in case you were also feeling hungry or wanted to keep your companions company." The woman didn't look at her directly, seeming as awkward as Chizuru currently felt. Chizuru nodded to her. "Thanks for letting me know, I'll try to be out and there soon."
Of course they were letting her know in an awkward way and had been careful about their approach. They thought she was one of the members of the red light district here to escort the men. Chizuru was glad for her interruption though, it let the girl remember she had members of the Shinsengumi here that she could rely on. That helped settle her nerves, though the reprieve was short lived, she turned a corner to find Hijikata standing with his hand on the hilt of his blade facing the gold haired demon that seemed so quick to torment her.
"Protecting my interests is so surprising to you?" Kazama's gaze shifted beyond the dark haired man threatening him to settle on Chizuru. "She is only with you because I have been gracious and saw no reason not to respect her wishes to remain."
"You weren't so successful last time you tried." Harada retorted, his dark gaze narrowed on the demon though he didn't completely draw his blade.
"Do you think you could have caught up to me if I truly desired to take her, do you believe I couldn't step into her life and sweep her away whenever the whim hit me?" Kazama was amused, though his comment was off-handed, his eyes had captured Chizuru's as though they were coals. She knew that he was more speaking to her than Hijikata, but Kazama wouldn't pass up a chance to send barbs at the Shinsengumi while he was at it.
"You have to learn when to let go. She's not just playing hard to get." Harada replied with a small shrug, though he still didn't draw his weapon, they were at a public place after all. He didn't have his spear on him just walking through the halls so all he had to rely on was his sword.
When those blooded eyes dropped from Chizuru she started to breathe again, not even realizing until then that she'd been holding her breath. He smiled slowly at Harada. "Chizuru Yukimaru belongs to me; I'm merely being gracious enough to allow the Shinsengumi to play her bodyguard for a time. No better servants than the ones that actively want to do the jobs you have for them." Kazama flickered his eyes between them and then continued past Harada despite the fact he still held his weapon.
"You want to go home Chizuru?" Harada asked, frowning after where Kazama had vanished around a corner.
"Yes a little…"
"No." She answered, despite her thoughts. "I don't want him to ruin this for everyone else, whatever he is he hasn't actually lied to us. I don't think he'll try to kidnap me if he says he won't."
"Well, better to be careful." Harada answered. "Don't tell Okita he is here, he's not in shape to look for a rematch right now."
"Right…" Chizuru nodded, "what about the others?"
"I'll separate Hijikata and Saito later and discuss with them, lets have dinner without worrying everyone for now. Shinpachi's going to come looking for us if we don't get there soon." Harada threw an arm around her and pulled her along, making her smile despite herself at the gesture. For all her concerns as to if the Shinsengumi would still keep her around if her father really was a traitor she always appreciated Harada's kindness.
"There you guys are, I was starting to think I should take your food since Heisuke isn't here. Saito wouldn't let me." Shinpachi said as they went into the room. There were already trays set out for them so Chizuru moved toward hers with a quick glance of appreciation to Saito for the help. Kimigiku was going to be performing a fan dance for them when they were done eating so she was due for a fun evening, she didn't have to wear her makeup but she was dressed up as a girl again and found herself being happier than she had expected.
The dinner was nice, she wasn't as concerned as she'd been, and by the time it was over she had put the issues of before out of her mind. It wasn't until Harada held her back that she remembered the others still needed to know about Kazama's presence here. Harada waited until Okita was not in the room in hoping to avoid an overreaction from the sick warrior. When Saito and Hijikata heard both exchanged a glance, though the purple eyed leader was more obviously annoyed by the news.
"We should send you back to the headquarters." Hijikata commented after a moment.
"I don't think so. We have a number of captains here as well as Sen and Kimigiku. This wasn't completely unexpected after his previous interest." Saito broke in before Chizuru could say anything. "Also, as was pointed out by Harada, if he says he's not even interested in kidnapping her I think we should just keep an eye out but not allow it to influence our behavior. It could be just a mind game."
"I agree with Saito." Shinpachi commented. "Can you do anything about him Sen?"
The demoness shook her head. "I'm sorry, in an official capacity Kazama is the same rank as I am so I cannot give him orders and expect him to follow. It is my territory so he's expected to listen to some requests…though…I suppose I could offer him an alternative."
"Mistress Sen!" Kimigiku spoke up but stopped when Sen held up a hand.
"It is a duty of mine as the ruling member of my house Kimigiku. I will have to breed sooner or later and if I offer to carry a child for Kazama he might leave Chizuru alone. It is the most logical choice. Our bloodlines are equal in strength Chizuru and I, so he'll no longer be able to use that as an excuse."
"You can't do that…" Chizuru interrupted and then paused herself, surprised at her own protest. Not because it had been for Sen, but because it had made her angry for a moment, jealous. Her own surprise at her feelings had silenced her.
"Chizuru, as I said, it is my duty to breed a pureblood demon, and despite his less than winning personality Kazama is of an excellent bloodline. It is about time I start fulfilling my duties as a Princess of my family. I believe it should be an acceptable compromise." Sen said, offering Chizuru a light smile, mistaking her protest for concern.
"I don't like it, but if it's what you want to do then I won't interfere." Hijikata commented, the rest of the Shinsengumi seemed to have been waiting for his word and they remained quiet at the unexpected change of events.
"Not as though you could," The dry amused tone drew the attention of everyone in the room; Kazama was leaning on the door and watching them. "Are you serious Sen? You want to marry me?"
"No, I would only be bearing a child, I wouldn't marry you. You get what you want without being tied down to me. It should be an acceptable exchange to get a child of such breeding in return for leaving alone a woman that isn't interested in you." Sen answered immediately.
Chizuru was frowning lightly as she watched; the rest of the Shinsengumi as well as Kimigiku had their eyes only on Kazama. He earned a glare from both the other women as he glanced to Chizuru. His intense ruby eyes seemed to be reading Chizuru's concerns so easily she wondered if they didn't reach into her mind.
"No." Kazama spoke the single word as he returned his eyes to a shocked Sen.
"What? Why?" Sen frowned, obviously insulted by the denial. Understandable given he'd just told her no when she'd offered her prestigious bloodline. Kimigiku put a hand on her blade, the bodyguard obviously angered by the negative answer as well.
Kazama's lips turned up into a slow grin, obviously amused at what he was about to say.
"God." Chizuru realized then, her eyes widening as she thought about how much her group wouldn't trust her when she never told them. "He's about to tell them…what do I do? What do I do?"
Then Kazama glanced to Chizuru shortly and the smile faded, instead he shrugged. "I need not justify my actions."
"We won't let you take Chizuru; we can decide this right now if you like." Hijikata replied, he was on his feet from his seat so quickly the two people near him jumped.
"He's not going to tell them?" Chizuru relaxed visibly, though thankfully most weren't paying her any mind other than Sen. "But why? For me?"
Kazama laughed outright. "I don't think so, as amusing as you lot are, it seems self-defeating to kill the guards of my future wife."
He was gone before Hijikata's first step toward the door had touched the ground. Hijikata took a seat again. "Seems that idea won't work, Chizuru do you know why he would still be interested in you regardless of Sen's offer."
"He was giving me a chance to tell them myself…" It wasn't as sweet as it sounded, she wasn't certain how to say it, particularly to a room filled with so many people, she floundered as to what to say when Sen spoke up.
"Can I speak with Chizuru, I think a lot has happened and it might be easier for us girls to talk." The demon princess was kind about it. "I'll talk to you when we're done unless she wants to."
"All right…can one of you stay in her room with her?" Hijikata acceded to her, he was still scowling as he left with the rest of the Shinsengumi and Kimigiku to stand outside and give the two a separate space.
"Chizuru…do you have something else going on with Kazama?" Sen asked softly, but it was the most political way she could speak what was on her mind.
"I…" Chizuru nodded slightly, trying to bite back tears. "He kissed me that night you walked in on us…and I keep having dreams…I don't know what to do."
"You are courting him?" Both the girls brows drew up in shock. "You kissed him back?"
"I didn't mean too, it just…sort of happened fast and…I'd never been kissed. I didn't know about all this…" Chizuru covered her face with her hands. "Then now…I was jealous when you said you would breed with him…it's awful of me Sen after what you were going to do to help me."
"Oh Chizuru," Sen reached over and took her hands, smiling at her softly. "It is natural to have feelings like that. I'd of never offered such a thing if I'd of known. It's been going on for two weeks? You shouldn't have kept it to yourself."
"Is there some way out of it?" Chizuru asked, realizing she hadn't brought it up to Kazama and knowing that Sen was a full demon as well. "You talked about only having a child with him."
"Well yes, but then we would court and the courting would stop after breeding." Sen answered with a shake of her head. "As far as I've heard the only things that can interrupt a courting is either breeding or the death of one of the members. I can't justify the order of Kazama's death for this though, as it is my hands are tied. I also can't tell the Shinsengumi of the option, it would be an affront to our race. As I said, Kazama may not have the best personality but he is still a demon of rank."
"He didn't tell you all so I would have the chance to do it myself." Chizuru wasn't sure why she had the desire to defend him, it wasn't as if he'd done her a real favor as he'd put her in this mess in the first place.
Sen smiled softly. "You need to tell the others, but you cannot tell them how it's possibly resolved. It would be a crime against our people if your friends in the Shinsengumi killed him. Do you care about him?"
"No!" She said it too fast for her own comfort, and her doubts scared her almost as much as the situation. "I don't know…but I don't want to breed with him."
"You helped initiate contact Chizuru, even beside that, you wouldn't be having dreams if some part of you was not attracted to him. Even with as strange as our psychological processes are as demons, you cannot make something out of nothing. How often do you have visions of him?" Sen wasn't honestly sure what to say to Chizuru, the poor girl had grown up unaware of their customs or even of her own nature. She had no idea the seriousness of the contract she had entered into, and certainly Kazama had taken advantage of that.
"Every night…" Chizuru groaned lightly at admitting it, covering her face in her hands again. "How do people deal with it? I think I'm going to go insane."
"You'll eventually have to breed with him, which will happen eventually regardless of if you want too or not. Hormones for demons are much more demanding than those of humans." Sen replied with a sigh. "You might last for a long time, but it will start to become physically painful. Though it does not mean you have to marry him, only breed with him. Once you are with child the dreams should go away."
Chizuru nodded lightly, not sure what to say, she might be able to put it off but she was doomed to at least carry one of Kazama's children. It seemed like it should be a nightmare. It was all the illusion and she should wake from it to return to her life at headquarters as normal. "It's all just a game for him…he doesn't care about me at all…"
"Chizuru, you just said he didn't brag for you…for Kazama…that's something abnormal. Perhaps he is trying more than you think. He still says he wants you to be his wife, on some level he must know there is more to that than just demanding it." Sen said, it was the nicest thing she could offer. She may not have believed every word, but Chizuru needed some sort of hope. "You want to tell the others or would you rather I break it to them with you or alone?"
"I should be there, I can't keep running away…Kazama will eventually say something if I don't." Chizuru replied with a sigh, biting back tears.
"Kazama is a handsome, strong demon. He has the personality of an ox but your situation could be worse Chizuru." Sen said, patting her friends shoulder. "Let me get the Shinsengumi."
Before long they were all back in the room, except for Okita who had left to sleep long before this. Chizuru couldn't meet their eyes, she wanted to speak up but she couldn't find her voice. She felt a little like she had betrayed the Shinsengumi with all that had happened with them nearby.
"I know now why Kazama refused my offer, and please understand there are complexities to demon nature and our ways that I cannot speak about when I tell you this. However, Chizuru is having a hard time broaching the issue herself. She and Kazama have entered into a courting relationship. Before you overreact, it does not mean the same thing as the human equivalent. To a point she was tricked but the fault does not lie solely with Kazama. With this in mind I cannot take aggressive action against him unless he actively tries to harm Chizuru." Sen went on even though by the time she finished she had a lot of shocked looks, or there were glances between her and Chizuru.
Kimigiku had let out a gasp at the information that the two of them were courting. Hijikata was frowning but his voice was level when he asked a question. "How long has this been going on?"
"It started the night Chizuru was attacked." Sen replied, figuring reminding them that Chizuru had been through other things lately would help to calm what she feared might be volatile reactions.
"Is there some way to change it?" Saito was the reasonable voice, no surprise.
"Chizuru needs to make a decision on that herself, eventually she will need to breed with Kazama. It is how such a contract works." Sen winced at the glare Hijikata sent her.
"So she was tricked by this demon and she's expected to just lay down for him…is this really what you want Chizuru?" His tone was unforgiving enough that the other members of the room Shinigami and other alike were surprised.
"I…" Chizuru swallowed, unable to meet his gaze. "I don't know…it's my fault too…"
Kimigiku laid a hand on her shoulder gently, turning her own frigid stare on Hijikata. "I think Chizuru deserves some time to rest, this cannot be easy for her, perhaps everyone here could use time to themselves. We're going to bed."
Her comments brooked no argument even though she was more a servant to the Princess, Sen moved out of the room with them. Leaving the Shinsengumi by themselves as she escorted the two demoness' out of the dining area and toward their bedrooms.
Somtime later…
The water of the hot spring was a comfortable temperature, it was cool enough in the evening mountain air that made anyone getting into the pools prefer staying inside to stepping out into the chilly breeze above the surface. This resort was separate enough from the busy city of Kyoto that the horizon was clear, it was easy to see hundred's of stars sparkling against the midnight curtain.
"You shouldn't try to sleep while in the hot spring." The dark tone cut into the crisp air and Chizuru jumped as she turned with a scowl, ducking into the water, her hands moving to cover her chest as her whole body started to flush with embarrassment.
"What are you doing here?" Her hiss matched the glare on her face. "You should leave me alone."
"Why would I let go of such a delectable prize?" He was next to her in an instant, pulling her close even though she struggled to get away, her protests dying on her lips when he cut her off with an intense kiss. A light growl pausing her when she pressed a hand against his chest with the intent to push away, instead her fingers curled lightly over his heart before slowly shifting up, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as she returned the favor of her tongue exploring his mouth.
As Chizuru let go Kazama's hands traced up the sides of her body with a tormenting slowness. Moving all way up to pull her head aside, starting to kiss down along her neck, a chaste gasp from her only making his hands tighten, fingers wrapping into her hair. Her bodies shutter making him pick her up and push her against the rock he'd been leaning on only a moment before. Pinning her as he stared into her eyes, the smoldering challenge in her gaze brought one of the slow grins to his face, then he laughed outright…
End Chapter
This is my longest chapter yet. There was a lot more explanation and a lot of stuff that wasn't Chizuru/Kazama, I felt I had to write until there was at least a little more of the pairing that I'm writing the fiction for!
-Aura
To my reviewers:
Phoenixalia – The dreams are some of the most fun (if challenging) to write. Kazama is a sexy bastard isn't he? We all love him for it. I think I'd actually do the anime nosebleed thing if I was in a hot spring with almost any of the Hakuoki guys (except for Toudou).
Arcee-chan - Ha! I'm glad I almost got you to spit-take. Okita I like a lot, but his ending bugged me cause I don't like Karou. Okita's hard to get involved in the fic just yet.
Divine Rose – Thanks, I try to put in good justification for even the sexy fan service-ey moments when I write.
There are still more fun Kazama moments really close to the Shinsengumi that are him not being forward ; )
I'm pondering making another AMV as the first was the first time I've worked on one in years – I only recently got a machine capable of running the programs I use to make them again. I'm pondering a few songs but I'm always up for suggestions, I've found some good songs that way.
I am having fun with my fic and I'm glad you like it, it is always nice to have more fanfics for them, they don't have as big a following as I would like. Thanks for the awesome review as always!
