"I feel like I'm becoming a lady's maid," said Kaoru, as she looked over Chizuru's shoulder at herself in the mirror. It was strange how similar they looked next to each other, and yet so different.

"Sorry," said Chizuru. "I know you don't enjoy this sort of thing. I could probably manage by myself."

"I don't enjoy dressing up this way myself," said Kaoru, "But dressing you up is fun. You always look so happy. And I'd much rather be the maid than the lady." She straightened the glittering comb at the top of Chizuru's elaborate bun. "So what's the mission? You're obviously not a servant today."

"No mission," said Chizuru. "I just told Sen about the work I've been doing for the Watch and she said she wanted to see me all dressed up, and take me out to tea."

"And you didn't invite me?" asked Kaoru, pouting.

Chizuru felt overcome with guilt. "Oh, um..."

"I'm just kidding," said Kaoru. "Sen's alright, but I don't get along with her like you do."

Sen had very kindly tried to befriend Kaoru, working on the assumption that any girl surrounded by so many men must be in need of a female friend. But they had very little in common, and after the first time Kaoru had insisted Chizuru come along to fill the silence. Which she had: while Chizuru sometimes felt anxious in social situations she found it very easy to talk to Sen, and they'd quickly formed the sort of friendship Sen had expected to form with Kaoru. Neither Sen nor Kaoru seemed to have a problem with this, and Chizuru found that she really liked having a female friend. Two friends, really: Sen's bodyguard Kimigiku was a little quiet, but had a subtle humour and intelligence that meant the few things she said were always worthwhile.

And now Chizuru could spend time with those friends as a woman. Or at least, while dressed as one. She sighed.

"Kaoru," she asked. "When you're dressed as a man...do you sometimes forget you're a woman?"

Kaoru stared at her. "Um," she said. "I...don't know that I forget exactly."

"Sorry," said Chizuru. "I know people give you a lot of trouble for not being a 'proper' girl, I didn't mean it as a criticism. Of course you're a still a girl when you're dressing like a man."

"...right," said Kaoru. "Of course." She was quiet for a while. "I do...do want to come across as a man. Not as a girl just pretending. So I try to think like a man." She paused. "Well, what I think one thinks like. I suppose I can't ever really know if what I'm thinking is right."

"Does it feel weird?" asked Chizuru.

"Sometimes," said Kaoru. "It's not bad, though. Is it the same for you when you're dressed as a woman?"

"No," said Chizuru. "Not when I'm dressed like a woman. Then I just feel like myself."

They sat for a while in silence. Chizuru decided to be brave. "When I'm dressed like a man," she said "...I don't...don't feel like myself. As much."

"Oh," said Kaoru. Did she understand? "Well, that's not uncommon, is it? If I've learned one thing from, uh, romantic literature, it's that many young men like dressing like women."

Chizuru was aware of the sort of stories Kaoru was talking about, tales of manly older men and the pretty young boys they found pleasure with. She'd tried reading some herself, but the mixture of recognition, alienation, and embarrassment had gotten too much to bear.

"It's not like that," said Chizuru, though maybe it was. She was attracted to men, after all, if not generally much older ones. But those pretty young boys were expected to grow into manly older men themselves, leaving their feminine ways behind and finding wives and concubines and pretty young boys of their own. She didn't think she wanted that. And she wasn't sure she wanted to be a pretty young boy now.

"Sorry," said Kaoru. "I wasn't trying to make fun of you, brother. If dressing this way makes you feel more like yourself, then you should do it." She squeezed Chizuru's shoulders.

"Oh," said Chizuru. "Thank you, Kaoru."

Kaoru smiled. "It's not like I haven't been cross-dressing every day for three years."

Chizuru laughed. "True. It's not quite the same though." Kaoru had been forced to dress like a man for safety. Dressing like a woman made Chizuru significantly less safe, it was something she only did because she wanted to.

"It doesn't seem so different to me," muttered Kaoru.

"Oh," said Chizuru, slowly. She remembered all the times Kaoru had expressed relief about not having to dress like a woman any more. Maybe it wasn't just about safety. "Kaoru," she asked, trying to keep her voice as light and untroubled as she could, "Does dressing like a man make you feel more like yourself?"

Kaoru looked away. "I don't know," she said. "I suppose. Anyway, it's practical."

"True," said Chizuru. "Hijikata said I should keep dressing like a man around headquarters, and he's right. The men already don't take me seriously and wonder why I'm allowed to stay. Even if they knew I wasn't really a woman, it would get awkward."

"Ha," said Kaoru. She sighed. "Sorry, yes. I hadn't thought about be frustrating it would be if wanted to wear women's clothes. But...I'm sorry you can't dress the way you want all the time."

"I don't really mind," said Chizuru. "As long as I get to dress up sometimes. I'm glad you get to dress the way you like."

Kaoru shrugged. "It's of no real consequence. Let's talk about something else."

It was nice to know that Kaoru accepted the way Chizuru liked to dress. She could leave it there. That's where she'd left it with Hijikata, who seemed happy to view Chizuru as just another one of his men with an unusual quirk, like Nagakura liking to show off his chest.

But she wanted Kaoru to understand her, not just accept the way she looked.

"Kaoru," she said. "Before we change the subject...I...sometimes I think that...I might like if..." She lost her nerve, and trailed off. "Never mind. It's not important. We should keep getting ready, I don't want to be late."

"Chizuru," said Kaoru. "You never ask for anything. Whatever it is, say it."

"But it's so strange!" Chizuru covered her face in her hands, unable to look at either of them any more.

"Is it stranger than craving blood?" said Kaoru. "Or being a demon girl who lives amongst humans while dressed as a man? My standards for too strange are quite high."

Chizuru thought about it. "I'm not sure," she said, unsteadily.

"Oh, then you have to tell me," said Kaoru, laughing. "I like whatever it is already."

Chizuru laughed awkwardly. Kaoru would understand. She could do this. "Would it be...you don't have to. But would it be...too strange, if I..." She took a deep breath. "If I asked you to call me...sister?"

"Sister?" said Kaoru, surprised. Oh no, even she thought it was ridiculous.

"Sorry," said Chizuru. "I know, it's too strange isn't it? I'm your brother. Just your brother. I like being your brother! I'm sorry."

"Sister," said Kaoru, again, not as a question this time, but as if she was trying the word out for size. "I...yes, I can call you that, if you like, Chizuru. As long as you're my family, I don't really care about anything else."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes, sister," said Kaoru. She laughed. "It feels strangely right. My cute little sister Chizuru." She gave Chizuru a hug. "How do you feel, little sister?"

Chizuru laughed, loudly this time, with relief and affection. She hugged Kaoru back. "Happy."


Kaoru sat next to his sister, eating snacks under a tree, and pondered how he felt about the fact that he had a sister now, instead of a brother.

As he'd said to Chizuru, all that really mattered was that she was family, and in that respect nothing had changed. And he'd adjusted to the idea of Chizuru being a woman much more quickly than he would have expected. It helped that she'd always been so visibly joyful every time she got to dress up in the sort of girly way Kaoru hated for himself, but there was also her personality and the way she talked and even her name. She was, he'd now realised, the girliest girl he'd ever met, and it felt a little jarring every time he remembered other people still didn't see her that way.

What was taking a little more adjustment was the general concept that such a change was possible. That you could just decide to be a different gender to the one you were born as. Could Kaoru do that? Did he want to? There were things about being a woman that he liked, or was at least accustomed to. But the idea of being a man, being seen as one by everyone, not just those he'd fooled with clothes and a gruff voice...it was going to need some serious thinking.

Except of course it wouldn't be everyone, would it?

"Does it bother you, most people still thinking of you as a man?"

Chizuru gave a small nod. "Yes," she said. "But I'm glad you know, at least. And I think...I think I will tell people. Some people. I'm not sure they will all understand, but...it's worth it to try." She smiled. "Everyone has been so kind about the way I like to dress. I was so afraid for so long...perhaps I have just been worrying over nothing."

"No," said Kaoru. "You weren't worrying over nothing. Most people are bastards. But...I suppose you were lucky. And I'm glad."

"Me too," said Chizuru. She looked so happy. Could he ever be that happy too?

Kaoru opened his mouth and was overcome by terror. But was he really going to let his sister be braver than he was?

He took a deep breath, and willed himself express the thoughts he'd barely been able to speak honestly inside his own mind.

"I think I might be a man," said Kaoru. "Or...at least I want...I don't know." He frowned and kicked his foot at the dirt. "Maybe I'm just sick of being treated like a woman."

"Oh my goodness," said Chizuru, her voice high and excited. "I..." She grasped his hand. "If you want me to call you brother, or a different name, or anything I will do it gladly."

"I know," he said, feeling overcome with relief and gratitude. Maybe he could do this. "Thank you. I just..."

And then Harada fucking Sanosuke decided to stick his nose where it wasn't wanted. Kaoru pushed all his tender, difficult emotions back in their box and put back on his mental armour. Until meeting Chizuru, Kaoru hadn't realised how much of this armour there was, how much of himself he hid away out of fear of being hurt or misunderstood. He kind of liked that he was learning to remove this armour piece by piece, and actually be sincere with people from time to time.

But there was no way Kaoru was going to let himself show any vulnerability in front of this douchebag.

"Hey," said Harada, flopping himself next to Kaoru and Chizuru with an annoying amount of grace for someone so ridiculously tall.

"We were having a private conversation," snapped Kaoru.

"Sorry," said Harada, with an apologetic smile. "But I gotta ask you guys something."

"Of course," said Chizuru. Which meant Kaoru couldn't tell him to get lost, as much as he wanted to. Kaoru settled for giving Harada a glare, which he blithely ignored.

"You guys spend a lot of time around Sanan," said Harada. "Has he been acting odd lately?"

"I don't think so," said Chizuru.

Kaoru put aside his annoyance and considered Harada's question for a moment, and wondered what was motivating it.

Some of the other Shinsengumi were clearly uncomfortable with Kaoru spending time in the Fury quarters. Chizuru mainly went there to train, which was hard to argue with, since no-one else could offer her much of a fight. But they seemed worried that Kaoru might be putting himself in unnecessary danger, since even now they didn't entirely trust Sanan not to lose his mind like the other Furies. Admittedly, Kaoru sometimes worried about this himself, but saw it as a good reason to spend time with Sanan while he was still there in his own head.

Kaoru wasn't the only one who felt this way: Okita, Hijikata, and Kondou all visited Sanan regularly, still seeing him as a person despite the fact that he was no longer human. They all respected Kaoru's friendship with Sanan as well, and his right to decide for himself how much danger he was willing to risk.

But to a man like Harada, Kaoru would always be a girl in need of protection, and nothing more.

"Odd for Sanan or odd in general?" asked Kaoru.

"Odd for Sanan," said Harada, with a serious expression.

"Ah," said Kaoru. "Then no."

"Hmm," said Harada. He frowned. "Well, I'd be careful around him."

That was unhelpfully vague and ominous. "Harada-san," said Kaoru, "Are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" said Harada, raising his eyebrows. "No, I just worry about you because you're my friends."

"Really," said Kaoru. "Because it seems to me that ever since we kissed you've acted like you have the right to tell me what to do. I'm not your girlfriend."

Chizuru's eyes went very wide. She had somehow remained painfully innocent even now they were out of their teens. Kaoru wondered if she'd still be blushing at the idea of kissing when she was old and grey.

"Kaoru," said Harada with a thin smile. "I am well aware, and to be honest grateful, that you are not my girlfriend. And there are certain things a man doesn't like to hear about his sister." He turned to Chizuru. "I swear it was just kissing. And it was her idea."

She's not a man, thought Kaoru, irritably, aware that he wasn't being fair. He wondered how Harada would react if Chizuru asked him to call her a woman. Probably do what Chizuru asked but secretly think she was being absurd, that seemed to be his default response to Kaoru.

"But that's wonderful," said Chizuru. "Harada-san, you're a kind and capable man, why wouldn't I want you to be with Kaoru? I didn't realise the two of you were close, but I'm very happy for you."

Kaoru burst into laughter. "Did you hear that, Harada-san? We have Chizuru's blessing. I hope you're ready to become the newest member of the Yukimura demon clan."

Harada's eye twitched as he tried not to scowl at Kaoru. It was always fun when Kaoru could make him angry, since he had a very strong personal rule about not shouting at women. He never shouted at Chizuru either, but that had less to do with her gender and more to do with her being Chizuru. "Kaoru is being...sarcastic," he said. "She and I aren't together, we just...had a moment of shared connection. But then we decided we didn't suit each other romantically, and are better as friends." He bowed deeply. "I meant no disrespect to Kaoru, or your clan."

That was a very pretty way to describe Kaoru approaching Harada a few times when she was bored, and then her getting sick of being treated like A Girl. But he'd been decent enough about it, and a competent kisser, so Kaoru decided to be nice and not take issue with Harada's version of events.

"Yes, that's about what happened," said Kaoru.

"Oh," said Chizuru. "Well, if you're both happy with the way things are, I suppose I'm still happy for you. I don't think I should be able to say who Kaoru can and can't, um, kiss. As long as it's not anyone who's going to hurt Kaoru. And I know you're always respectful towards, um, your partners, Harada-san."

"I do my best," he said with a smile. And while Kaoru found Harada's placid, paternalistic attitude towards women infuriating, Kaoru had to admit that if he could respond to even Kaoru's behaviour with a charming smile he was certainly committed to it.

"So, now that we've established you're not pining for me: what is your problem with Sanan-san?" asked Kaoru.

"I'm not sure I should tell you," he said. "It's complicated."

"Then I suppose I'll just wander into Sanan's lair uninformed and unprotected," said Kaoru, "A poor innocent girl who could have been saved if only the big brave men around her were willing to tell the truth."

Harada gave Kaoru an unimpressed stare. Kaoru looked back with puppy-dog eyes, and he sighed. "Fine," he said. "But don't spread this around."

"Of course," said Chizuru.

"Has he ever talked to you about drinking blood?"

Chizuru and Kaoru's eyes met. They'd never told anyone about the night Sanan had to be calmed down by drinking from Kaoru. The Shinsengumi were suspicious enough of Sanan as it was. "Not exactly," said Kaoru.

"Well, apparently he's gotten it into his head that it's the best way to keep Furies calm and sane," said Harada. "Used to be we tried to keep them away from blood, so they wouldn't enter bloodlust. Now when they do their rounds all these dead ronin turn up, chopped to pieces and drained of blood."

"Oh no," said Chizuru.

"Why does it matter?" asked Kaoru, "They were going to be killed anyway."

Harada's lips thinned. "That's not how the Shinsengumi is supposed to operate," he said. "And it's not the actual problem. Recently, it hasn't just been ronin who have been turning up dead. It's been civilians. Including women and children."

"And you think Sanan-san is responsible?" said Chizuru. "I don't believe it! He wouldn't do that!"

If Chizuru wasn't so obviously still in love with Heisuke, Kaoru might have been jealous. Not that Kaoru had any claim over Sanan, or could even classify his feelings neatly, but that didn't stop him feeling possessive. But no, Chizuru was like this with everyone she cared about, and she cared about so many people Kaoru had lost track. Sometimes he felt a little jealous about that.

"I'm not saying he's directly responsible," said Harada. "Sanan-san's a good man. But it seems like he's not keeping as tight a leash on his Furies as he should be. And maybe he's not as in control of himself as he claims to be, either. So...just be careful, ok?"

"Kaoru," said Chizuru, once Harada had left. "About what you said before..."

Right. About being a man. Simply saying the words had made him feel raw, and he felt like he needed time to heal before he could discuss it again. "We can discuss that later," he said, trying to sound blunt and practical instead of confused and afraid. "I'm more concerned about what Harada-san said about Sanan-san."

Chizuru nodded. "Well let me know if you ever want to talk about it."

"Mmm," said Kaoru.

"Ok, then," said Chizuru gently. "So what do you think about Sanan-san?" She sighed. "I don't want to suspect him. But...he really isn't always in control of himself."

"They better not hurt him," said Kaoru. "Sanan-san sacrificed his humanity for the Shinsengumi, the least they can do is be grateful."

"Of course they're grateful," said Chizuru. "But children, Kaoru, that's not..." She shook her head. "It can't be true. We should ask him about it."

"If you're so sure it can't be true, what would you ask him?" asked Kaoru, who couldn't claim to be certain himself. He hadn't seen Sanan lose control in at least a year, but he also hadn't seen Sanan around blood in all that time. When the Furies went on their rounds they were fighting ronin, being splashed with blood and encouraged to give in to their violent instincts. And those violent instincts made no distinction between warrior and civilian, or adult and child.

But so what? If this was something Sanan had to do, if it was a choice between some faceless Kyoto civilians and Sanan keeping his mind, then Kaoru could accept that.

"Maybe he knows what's really happening," said Chizuru. "Or can help the others figure it out."

Maybe we can warn him they know, thought Kaoru. So he let Chizuru drag him along to Sanan's quarters.

"Do you have a reason for interrupting me in my duties?" asked Sanan irritably. He was dressed in the Shinsengumi's night uniform, his white haori making him look like a ghost in the dim light of the fading sunset.

"I thought it was your night off," said Kaoru. He didn't see the other Furies, why was Sanan going out alone?

"It normally would be," said Sanan. "But I have business to attend to. Business that you are keeping me from."

"We're worried about you," said Chizuru. "We, um. Heard some stories about...um. People being cut up in Kyoto, and..."

"I am quite capable of taking care of myself," said Sanan. "You have no need to worry about me. So if you will excuse me, I will be on my way."

Now he was being deliberately obtuse. "Sanan," said Kaoru. "We'd understand if..."

"If you will excuse me," repeated Sanan, and pushed past them, walking off into the night without looking back.

"Oh, he is definitely hiding something," said Kaoru.

"Yes," said Chizuru. "Let's follow him!"

As he clutched tightly to Chizuru's back, Kaoru reminded himself that he was, in fact, fairly fit compared to the average human man. He could walk quite quickly, considering the length of his stride, and had a reasonable amount of stamina.

But when you were following a Fury walking at top human speed for hours on end, "fit for a human" wasn't good enough.

"Sorry I am literally a burden," whispered Kaoru. He felt incredibly silly being carried like this, and even though Chizuru said she barely noticed his weight he still felt like a liability.

The downside to thinking of Chizuru as a girl was that Kaoru felt even more uncomfortable with how much stronger she was than him, how much better at so many things Kaoru associated with being a man. It didn't make Kaoru doubt Chizuru's gender, but it did make him doubt his own. If Chizuru wasn't a man, that made Kaoru head of the clan, as the eldest. Shouldn't he be taking charge and being strong, then, instead of clinging to his sister like a child?

Chizuru shook her head. "I'm glad you're with me," she said. "If you hadn't spotted Sanan-san taking that turning, we'd have lost him."

"I wonder if he knows we're following him," said Kaoru. "It might explain why he took off his haori."

Sanan certainly acted like someone who didn't wish to be followed. He'd led them in a merry chase through alleyways and side-streets, before finally taking a path that led them towards the eastern edge of the city.

What 'business' was he doing out here, Kaoru wondered.

And then, just as they neared the base of Mount Inari, they lost him completely.

"I think he went into the shrine," said Chizuru, stopping in the middle of the road.

"The one with a big 'Closed Due to Quarantine for Cholera' sign?" said Kaoru. "When there's an inn just over there? Look at those men outside, they're clearly ronin. I think Sanan-san is looking to find food further afield."

"But we lost track of him around the entrance to the shrine," said Chizuru. "And...and that's a horrible thing to say about Sanan-san, Kaoru. He doesn't see people as food!"

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Chizuru, thought Kaoru. He'd certainly see people as food if he was in Sanan's shoes.

"Chizuru, do you really want us to climb a mountain full of dying priests? We should investigate the inn." When Chizuru didn't move, Kaoru pulled himself to the ground and started walking ahead of her. "Come on!" he said. "If he's not at the inn, we'll check out the shrine."

"Ok," said Chizuru. She didn't sound very convinced, and Kaoru felt a flash of annoyance. Well, she'd soon see he was right.

He was certainly proven right about the inn's clientele: they were still a short walk from the entrance when they were approached by two especially disreputable looking ronin.

"Look at these pretty little boys out alone at night," said one of them, with a leer. "Are you lost?"

"We're waiting for our friend," said Kaoru. "He's a samurai with glasses, I don't suppose you've seen him?"

The leer turned into a laugh. "A samurai with glasses? He'd be easy to beat."

"Around this tall?" said the other ronin, making a flailing gesture with his hands somewhere between the heights of Kaoru and Harada. "I think I saw him over the back." He gestured towards an especially dark and secluded looking area behind a wall.

"Oh, thank you!" said Chizuru.

"Chizuru," said Kaoru, with a sigh. "Wait." He turned to the 'helpful' ronin. "How tall exactly was he again?"

The ronin grinned. "Don't you trust me?"

"Pardon my caution," said Kaoru. "But I just met you."

"Then let me introduce myself," said the ronin, drawing his sword. "I'm a thief, and you're the boy about to give me all your money."

"A pleasure to meet you, thief," said Kaoru, drawing his own sword with a grin. He might not be much compared to the captains of the Shinsengumi, but he could beat this guy.

Chizuru and the other ronin drew their swords in turn, and the four of them stood for a while staring each other down. Kaoru could feel his blood pumping: he'd been in battle situations before, but only as a messenger or other non-combatant. He'd drawn his sword to defend himself a few times, but had never really been in a proper fight.

The would-be thief was the first to make a move, stepping towards Kaoru with a move so telegraphed Kaoru could have countered it with his eyes closed. He laughed and dodged the blow then used the momentum to propel him past the thief's guard, driving his sword deep into the man's chest. There was a spurt of blood and the ronin fell, dead.

That was easy, thought Kaoru. Why does everyone act like killing people is difficult?

"Wada!" cried the other ronin. He threw himself at Kaoru. "You bastard!"

Kaoru was still in the process of shaking the blood off his sword, not having trained for fighting two opponents at once. He moved to block the blow, but instead heard a clash of metal as Chizuru threw herself in the path of the blade to defend Kaoru.

"We...we don't want to kill you," said Chizuru, her sword raised towards the ronin. "Just let us go."

Except Kaoru actually did want to kill him. He'd always believed everyone when they'd told him that killing was a painful, difficult thing, that he was lucky to have avoided the burden of it so far. But it was nothing! He didn't care about the life of that douchebag thief. The man had been going to murder him and Chizuru, he deserved to die! And having been the one to to kill him made Kaoru feel pretty good about himself.

But he wasn't going to murder this guy in cold blood just to feel that rush again. Especially with Chizuru watching.

"We won't tell anyone we beat you," said Kaoru. "Just run."

"Hey, everyone!" yelled the ronin, back towards the inn. "These bastards just killed Wada!"

"Oh no," said Chizuru.

"We should run," said Kaoru. He could take on any one of these ronin, but not a whole inn-full of them. And Chizuru's skills were only useful for defence.

And so they ran.


Luckily it wasn't the whole inn that followed them, but still enough that Chizuru felt her hands shake with fear as they found themselves surrounded and driven against a cliff, the dark bulk of Inari mountain rising up behind them.

"I should have picked you up," said Chizuru, overcome with guilt. "Then we'd have gotten away. This is all my fault."

"We can defeat them, Chizuru," said Kaoru, doing his best to keep up a brave face. "You just keep them distracted while I pick them off one by one."

Kaoru had brushed off Chizuru's attempts to return to their earlier conversation, the one where Kaoru had said he was a man. Knowing how little Kaoru liked to admit vulnerability, Chizuru felt sure that if he had decided to suggest the idea to Chizuru, he must have been thinking about it for a long time. But until he told Chizuru for certain, she would try not to assume either way. And in a sense it didn't matter: brother or sister, it didn't change Chizuru's feelings, and the fact that Chizuru would defend Kaoru with every inch of her life.

"Distracted?" asked Chizuru. "How do I..." She was interrupted by a blow aimed at her head, as the first of the ronin caught up with them. She blocked it and instinctively countered, slicing into the man's shoulder.

He cried out and she was splashed with his blood. She gasped, but didn't lose her grip, and countered his next attack. And then, just as he'd promised, Kaoru used the distraction to kill him, darting forward to pierce his heart with a single stroke. Compared to Chizuru, Kaoru's strikes were slow and lacked much power. But there was also no doubt behind them, just a calm and practiced desire to kill. Under other circumstances Chizuru might have found this disturbing, but right now she was just glad to have the help.

But there was no way Kaoru could take on all the rest of them at once. Would Chizuru have to kill them? Could she?

If it was that or let Kaoru die...maybe she could.

Chizuru stepped in front of Kaoru, and tried to steel her heart not to hesitate or panic. She didn't have to think about the ronin as people, she could just rely on her training, and worry about how she felt about it all afterwards. It was self defence, anyway, these men were thieves and murderers...wanting to avenge their friend...don't think about it.

As the next ronin approached, she attacked him with a loud cry, slicing down as hard she could with the full force of her strength. There was a sound like something out of a nightmare and his chest split down the centre, so fast he didn't even have time to scream. He didn't look like a person any more, he looked like meat, a collection of bones and muscle and organs and so much blood. Chizuru was covered in it, and found it hard to breath through the smell. Her legs went weak.

"Good job, Chizuru!" said Kaoru, happily.

She realised it was the first ronin, the one who'd wanted to avenge his friend. She forced herself to suck in a breath and stay steady on her feet. She dragged her eyes up, away from the corpse at her feet, and towards the living foes coming towards them. Thankfully the other ronin had barely moved, their slow human reflexes still reacting to the sight of their friend being split in two.

Would they run away? Please, let them run away.

And then Kaoru spoke again, his voice tense and urgent. "Chizuru," he said. "There's someone coming from behind us."

From the mountain? Was it a priest, breaking quarantine to investigate all the noise? Or was it...

There was a blur as someone leaped down from above, and then another explosion of blood. And another. The ronin fell one by one and Chizuru could do nothing but watch. Within moments it was done.

"You two really do have a penchant for wandering into trouble, don't you?" said Sanan, as he shook the blood off his sword. Like Chizuru, he was covered in blood, though the dark colours of his kimono made it hard to see. And unlike Chizuru, he seemed entirely calm, as if they were having an ordinary conversation about the weather.

"Sanan-san?" said Chizuru. "You...you saved us. Thank you!"

"Absolutely, thank you Sanan-san," said Kaoru. "But what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" asked Sanan, with cool disapproval. "I, as I told you some hours past, am out on Shinsengumi business. The question is, what are yo..." He stopped and made a small noise, then grimaced. "Go back to headquarters," he said, his voice strained. "Now."

"Sanan-san?" said Chizuru.

Sanan stepped back from them, shaking his head and looking very unhappy. And then his hair went white. Chizuru's heart stopped, and she stepped back in front of Kaoru, sword held tightly. But was she really ready to fight Sanan? Could she even...

"There is...no need to worry," said Sanan, though he had curled around himself and clutched at his chest with hands tensed into claws. "I am entirely in control of myself. I merely...would prefer not to be seen in such a state."

Oh, poor Sanan. But what a relief to not have to fight him. "Are you in pain?" asked Chizuru.

"Of course he's in pain," said Kaoru. "Do you need blood, Sanan-san? We won't think any less of you for drinking from one of these corpses. Or, uh, I guess I could..."

"I will think less of you," said Sanan, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you don't obey my order, and return to headquarters."

"I'm sorry we followed you," said Chizuru. "We just wanted..." But he was in no state to listen to their excuses right now.

And then there was another noise from behind them.

"Blood..."

They all turned to look back at the mountain.

"Sanan-san," said Kaoru, "Did you happen to bring any Furies with you?"

"No," said Sanan. He made a noise between a sigh and a groan. "I cannot fight in this state. If the two of you would...keep watch in the direction the noise came from..." He took a ragged breath. "Please do not turn around."

Chizuru nodded and turned to face the mountain, doing her best to be prepared for another fight. She could fight a Fury. She'd fought that human, hadn't she? She'd fought him, and then he'd...don't think about it.

She tried not to listen, either, as Sanan...the important thing was he would stop being in pain. She realised Kaoru had ignored Sanan's order and had turned his head to watch.

"Kaoru!" she hissed.

"Yes, yes," muttered Kaoru, and turned back to face the mountain. "Though...I'm sorry Chizuru, if it is a Fury I won't be much help."

"I'll protect you," she said.

"Thanks," he said, his tone gloomy. Did he mind having Chizuru protect him?

Just as Chizuru was wondering if they'd imagined the noise, or if the Fury had been discouraged by the height off the cliff, there was the sound of breaking branches and another cry of "Blood!". A Fury threw himself off the cliff towards them, landing with an unpleasant crunch but then standing up on half healed legs to laugh.

He wasn't in the Shinsengumi uniform, but instead wore a black Western-style military uniform with no visible insignia. She'd heard the Choshu and Satsuma had adopted Western style military tactics, was this Fury associated with them? If the Imperialists had Furies, that boded poorly for Shogunate forces like the Shinsengumi.

Stop thinking about his uniform and fight him, she told herself. He continued to shamble towards them slowly, and then suddenly rushed forward, his sword raised. Chizuru blocked his attack, and actually felt it, a shudder of discomfort making her arm briefly ache. This was nothing like fighting the human ronin. This Fury felt like he was stronger than Sanan.

He was also terrible at fighting, flailing around with his blade wildly with no concern for what Chizuru was doing. He was strong enough that he was still a serious danger to someone like Kaoru, but Chizuru didn't have to try very hard to defeat him. With a grimace, she struck her sword into his chest, and he fell.

And then lay on the ground and laughed. She'd missed.

Before the Fury could get up, Kaoru stepped forward and beheaded him, having to stab a few times to sever the neck. It was bloody work, but there was no doubting that the Fury was dead at the end of it.

"Thank you," said Chizuru. "I'm sorry I missed." Kaoru was coated in blood now too. There was blood everywhere, and...don't think about it.

"It was nothing," said Kaoru.

"Sanan-san," said Chizuru, turning. "He was awfully strong. Do you think..."

She was just in time to see Sanan killing another Fury, in the same uniform as the first.

"Where did that one come from?" asked Kaoru.

"The entrance to the shrine," said Sanan, darkly.

"The uniforms look Imperial," said Kaoru. "Is the quarantine a fake?"

"Possibly," said Sanan. "Or whoever controls these Furies decided to take advantage of it. I have already investigated the main building, it is empty but I found what looked like signs of struggle. And I found a body hidden in the bushes, covered in deep slashes and drained of blood."

"Not a typical symptom of cholera," said Kaoru.

"Indeed," said Sanan.

."I knew it wasn't you killing those people!" said Chizuru.

"Implying both that you are aware of the recent spate of mysterious deaths," said Sanan. "And that my innocence was in doubt." He frowned.

"Not...not by me..." she stuttered.

"Really?" he asked, in that way he had where a polite question felt like an attack. "Then why were you following me?"

Chizuru couldn't meet his eye. She had suspected him a little, after all.

"Because you wouldn't talk to us!" cried Kaoru. "And don't say we should have just trusted you, what if the Shinsengumi got it into their heads to kill you?"

"So you don't trust them?"

"No," said Kaoru. "Not when it comes to being fair to you."

Sanan gave a sad smile. "True, they can be a little suspicious when it comes to Furies. And I suppose it may help that you can corroborate my story." He frowned. "But it is clearly far too dangerous here for the two of you, the stories coming from this area have been quite disturbing, and now we have these mysterious Furies. You should return to headquarters while I continue my investigation. "

"I am glad to see you show so much concern for my daughter's welfare, Sanan-kun."

Chizuru gasped, and Sanan put his hand on his sword.

"Kodo," said Kaoru, his voice low.

Kodo stepped out of the shadows. "Hello Kaoru," he said, with a gentle smile. "You have grown into a beautiful young woman. I am so sorry I stayed away from you so long."

"Why was that again?" asked Kaoru, in a bitter tone. "I've forgotten."

"I was forced to work for the Satsuma and Choshu," he said, smoothly, his eyes sad. "When I saw that you were with the Shinsengumi, I worried that revealing myself, and my position, might put you in danger. But now the time has arrived for you to rejoin me."

"Why?" said Kaoru, his voice cracked. "Why are you here now, when I don't need you any more? I can't go back to being your daughter. It's too late for that."

"Kaoru," said Kodo, his voice sad and affectionate. "You will always be my daughter."

Chizuru felt an unexpected pang of sympathy for Kodo. If he truly had been kept from Kaoru, then he must have missed him a great deal.

"You'll always be Kaoru's father, Kodo-san," said Chizuru. "And I'm sure she's glad to see you. But she's been very happy living with the Shinsengumi. And she's not a child any more, to need a parent's care. Maybe she could stay where she is, and the two of you could..."

"Chizuru-kun," said Kodo, in a gentle yet firm tone. "I know what is best for my daughter. And it is time for the three of us to reform the Yukimura clan, far away from all this violence."

"The three of us?" said Chizuru. Would they move to some remote village somewhere? Did he mean them to never see any of their human friends ever again? "That's...um..."

"You make it sound as if the violence hasn't all been your doing, Kodo-san," said Sanan.

"My doing?" said Kodo. "I am the only one among you not drenched in blood."

While what Kodo said was true in a literal sense, Sanan made a good point: it was likely not a coincidence that the creator of the Water of Life was in the same location as these new, mysterious Furies. The same location as all those awful deaths.

"What have you done to the inhabitants of this shrine?" asked Sanan, coldly. He'd been deeply upset when the Shinsengumi forced a temple to allow them as tenants, the thought of a whole shrine being murdered and eaten by Furies must be horrifying. Chizuru found it pretty horrifying herself.

"Very little," said Kodo. "Most of them were safely evacuated when it became clear that those who drank the water here were developing the symptoms of cholera."

"Symptoms that are very easy to create artificially," said Kaoru.

"You always were a clever girl," said Kodo, with a smile. "I, of course, have every respect for the peace-loving priests of this shrine. That is why I found a non-violent way to encourage them to leave, when it became clear that they might interfere with my work."

From what Chizuru knew of the symptoms of cholera, she wasn't sure she'd describe forcing people to experience them as respectful.

"Your work creating monsters," said Kaoru.

"That is a very impolite way to refer to your friend," said Kodo, as if gently chiding a child. "Would you describe yourself as a monster, Sanan-kun?"

"Yes," said Sanan, calmly. "I have no regrets about becoming a monster, mind you. But I had a choice in the matter. The same has not always been the case for your experimental subjects."

Kodo's smile became a little nastier than it had been before. "Such is the price of science," he said. "But it is a price worth paying. Did you notice how strong my new creations are? It must have been a challenge for you, Sanan-kun, reliant as you are on an outdated, lesser version of the Water of Life."

Kodo really wasn't a very nice man, was he?

"Strength is no substitute for skill," said Sanan. "And you should be glad of it. Were it not for me, your daughter and the head of your clan might be dead."

"Chizuru-kun is a fine swordsman, and well able to protect Kaoru," said Kodo, "As is to be expected from the head of the Yukimura clan. You know you are demons, don't you children? Our blood is strong, far stronger than that of any human turned Fury. And it is only going to become stronger."

"Using the Water of Life?" asked Sanan, with an expression of surprise.

"In a manner of speaking," said Kodo. "But this is a private matter between the members of our clan. It is time for you to go, Sanan-kun."

"No!" said Kaoru. "I never agreed to go with you, Kodo-san. And neither did Chizuru."

"If you're murdering civilians and doing experiments on people against their will," said Chizuru. "That's...that's monstrous. I can't be a party to that. And I won't let you take Kaoru if...if she doesn't want to go with you."

"You speak as if you have a choice," said Kodo. He smiled and clicked his fingers, and the darkness behind him started to glitter with the reflection from increasing numbers of red eyes. "You were able to defeat two of my improved Furies one at a time. But I suspect even Sanan-kun's skill is no match for quite so many."

"You underestimate me," said Sanan. But even Chizuru could hear the slight hesitation in his voice. She unsheathed her sword: at least he wouldn't stand alone. Kaoru stood by him as well, and Sanan put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder and pulled him closer, to better protect him. They were whispering something to each other: words of encouragement, perhaps?

"It's going to be ok, Chizuru," said Kaoru. "Just...trust us to take care of you."

"As I will take care of you," she said.

And wasn't this the true definition of a warrior, after all? Not someone who killed, but someone who was willing to die to protect what they valued. Chizuru had never seen herself as a warrior, but in this moment she would do her best to live up to that ideal.

"Are you sure you wish to do this, Sanan-kun?" said Kodo. "Think of the research we could do together. And don't you want an escape from the limited lifespan of your kind?"

"I am not aware of any such limit," said Sanan.

"Didn't you ever wonder how a frail human body could sustain such magnificent feats of strength? You are a man of science, Sanan-kun. You know that every action a body takes must draw on some existing source of energy. And for a human, that energy comes from your life-force. Once that force is used up...so are you." He seemed very cheerful about the prospect.

Sanan's voice grew a little weaker. "I see," he said. He paused. "And you claim you can fix this?"

"Come with me and find out," said Kodo. "But you must bring Kaoru."

Sanan looked down at Kaoru. "Does the solution require her blood?" His voice was cool and dispassionate. "I had wondered if there was some way to harness the power of a pure-blooded demon for the benefit of Furies."

The idea didn't seem to bother him too much. But Sanan's emotions could be hard to read. Chizuru reminded herself that even if Sanan had considered the idea he hadn't pursued it.

"Her blood?" Kodo stared at Sanan in what looked like genuine horror. "Sanan-kun, how can you suggest a thing! She is my daughter."

That was something, at least. Whatever fate Kodo had planned for Kaoru, he hopefully wouldn't suffer.

"Yes," said Kaoru. He stepped forward, his step steady and sure, and Chizuru had a sudden sense of impending doom. "I am your daughter. And if it will keep the others safe, I will go with you, Father."