Reviews or criticism is helpful. Here's another chapter.

NOTE: The thing with my stories is that I make the story in my mind as I write, and the story just shapes itself... So... if things don't add up or make sense, please tell me~

Thank you.

Enjoy ~

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. Just the storyline and the OC.J

I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little weak... Especially the reactions... though given the situation, they cant pause and react for very long... But you'll see what happens soon...


Chapter 8

THE DULL PAIN on my stomach started to intensely throb, and I winced at the pain.

I was already near Shimabara, having passed the others a while back on my way here. They should arrive in a while.

I heard a commotion, and as quickly and silently as I could, without drawing attention to myself, I flew over to the noise, keeping to the shadows.

Below me there was a mess of bodies and shouting. The clang of steel on steel, and the scent of blood and sweat. I scanned the crowd and I was able to make out some of the Shinsengumi members.

Saito and Sanosuke were fighting a small group while ordering their men to try and subdue the kidnappers when an opportunity arises. Sanosuke, I noticed didn't use a Katana like the others, but a spear. It was a popular weapon of choice amongst the hunting party of angels. From what I could see he was quite skilled at using it.

Meanwhile, Kondou and another few members were fighting another group, while Hjikata was facing off with the leader and 2 of his members. Some of the men from the group of kidnappers still seemed to be a little drunk.

Chizuru was nowhere to be found.

As I was about to search for her, I suddenly spotted her as she dashed out from the building joining the fight in the square compound.

She rushed towards Hijikata, and I could see the scowl on his face as soon as he saw her.

She was intercepted before being able to reach Hijikata, as Danzo moved and grabbed her, pulling her back to his chest, sword at her throat.

"Move, and she dies." He said loudly, so all the Shinsengumi members could hear. Danzo's men also paused, turning towards their leader.

They paused, glancing in his direction, before slowly lowering their weapons. Slowly, Danzo backed off, still holding Chizuru.

"If you follow us," he gestured to himself and the two men flanking his side "I will kill her… If I as so much as feel as though you're tailing me… she's gone."

"D… Don't worry about me, I'll be fi-" Chizuru's protest was cut off, as the blade holding her hostage drew some blood.

"The rest of you, take care of them. Ichi, Shiki, with me." Danzo said before turning and fleeing the battlefield, dragging Chizuru along with them.

If I stayed and assisted the Shinsengumi, then we had a better chance of getting Chizuru… Although I did not doubt his word that he would harm her.

As long as he didn't feel like he was being tailed, he would keep Chizuru alive. He could use her after all, then when he was finished, he could sell her.

Feeling that the Shinsengumi would be better off without my useless interference, and deciding that I had a better chance of rescuing Chizuru alone, I left to follow her.

I silently glided through the shadows, careful to not let my wings catch and shimmer off any light. Danzo had thrown Chizuru to the man he had called Shiki while the other, was in possession of her short sword.

"Sir, why don't we just kill this kid? She's slowing us down."

"No. She might come in handy later, if any more people come after us."

Quickly formulating my own plan, I knew I had to try and split them up. I could not fight, and only a fool, with no combat skills would jump headlong into this.

I sped up, hoping to make a distraction up ahead in the direction they were running in. The streets were all empty at this time, save for the occasional sightings of wildlife. I soon realised that the buildings here were also all abandoned and all. I kept that in mind, since if I got Chizuru, it would be an ideal place to hide in until help arrived.

I mentally made a map in my own mind. The alleyways and side paths would mean that I would have a few minutes to consult the person who held Chizuru before the others arrived.

When I was a considerable distance away, I landed on the ground, folding in my wings and then, I made as much noise as I could. Stirring up the sand on the ground, and rattling the bags and cans of litter that stood against the walls.

I continued this for a while, waiting until the humans could hear it. With my acute senses, better than a humans, but not quite on par with a demon, I heard them pause. Of course, all angels differed, so some had superior senses compared to others. Mine were average.

I listened in to their conversation. They had decided to split up, just to be safe. Danzo was once again in possession of Chizuru, and he was going to keep going ahead, while the others would flank in from the sides. Ignoring the rest of their conversation, I made a few more plans.

Although I knew the risks, I still decided that I would take my chances with this. Besides, who would believe this man, and what he had seen tonight? It could be blamed on the alcohol… Hopefully…

I unfolded my wings flying to the shadows once again and waited.

Moments later, Danzo came in, holding a struggling Chizuru. He tightened his grip on her and hissed a warning, sword held threateningly. She stilled. Just a few more steps…

"Must have been a street cat or something." Danzo muttered. He visibly relaxed and carefully put his sword back in the sheath. Hi grip on Chizuru had considerably loosened, and she used that moment to run.

No!

Danzo immediately slashed at her back, and she screamed in agony. The wound, deep. Before she could fall, he grabbed her again.

"Foolish woman." He hissed.

It had to be now.

I gathered up my nerves, and before I could start second guessing or doubting what I was about to do, I flew down deciding to tackle him from above. I used the momentum in my flight to fuel the strength in my attack. I knew it was cowardly to attack from behind but, it was just as cowardly to use a hostage, and to sacrifice your comrades to escape. Besides, I needed every advantage I could get.

I would try my best to not hurt Chizuru while taking down Danzo.

I got closer, and at the last moment Danzo spun, his eyes widening at what he was seeing.

I held back my amusement. A white haired creature with massive glowing wings, charging towards you, was not something that you could see every day.

Feeling the rough impact, jarring the bones in my body, Danzo fell backwards, his grip on Chizuru loosened completely, and the girl took that opportunity to push herself away. She sat on the ground, palms holding up some of her weight. The wound on her neck was already healed. If not for the dried blood, it was as though it was never there at all. My stomach wound still ached, and was just agitated further with my latest stunt.

Immediately, I leaped backwards, out of Danzo's reach. Since he was well built, I doubted my tackle had much impact on him compared to the impact it had inflicted on me.

Turning to Chizuru, I urgently spoke, "Chizuru hurry, we don't have long. Follow m-" I cut of my last word, when I saw the look of awe on her face. Her doe-like brown eyes were wide open, making them look enormous, and her mouth was slightly ajar.

"Chizuru! Now!"

She didn't seem to hear me, but instead she whispered, "Shiro…What are you? Also… You're… Not a man…"

She winced a little, and moved her arm around to her back.

"I'll explain later! Please!" I took a few steps forward, when I saw a shadow rising up. Her eyes got impossibly wider.

I spun, just as I saw a flash of steel, and felt the blade of a sword cut through my chest just missing my heart and instead, pierced my lung.

I hissed in pain, and coughed up blood.

"Chizuru… Run…" I weakly gasped out to her.

"But…"

"NOW!" I yelled "Hide… in the buildings."

Chizuru didn't move.

I turned my head slightly, until I saw the reason why.

Shiki and Ichi were blocking the path behind us their eyes wide at what they were seeing. We were surrounded.

It seemed, they didn't take the side paths but had instead followed behind their leader, knowing that splitting up was dangerous. Clever. I had underestimated them. A terrible mistake that may just be my last.

"What… do we have here…" Danzo twisted the blade further, and I grunted in pain, not wanting to cry out. I breathed heavily, each breath painful and creating a wheezing sound.

"It seems… the stories are true… You creatures really do exist…" He pulled out his sword and I fell to the ground, my wings barely able to support me. I was in too much pain.

I grit my teeth, and remained silent. He didn't seemed all that surprised about what I am.

I stared up at Danzo, my expression one of defiance. He stared back, looking intrigued more than anything.

"You… will fetch a high price…"

Suddenly, he raised the sword, and slashed down. Cutting at the clothes I wore.

"Or perhaps… I'll keep you for a while…" I felt his eyes on me, greedily taking in the sight of my body.

Still, I remained silent. It was taking a lot of effort for me to breathe, let alone talk.

"What shall we do with the other girl?" One of the men called.

"… Kill her… After you have your fun with her I suppose… This one is far more valuable. Not now though. We need to get away first."

"But… that one won't survive her wound… I don't think she will anyway."

"If the stories are true… and… If she is anything like the others I have seen. Then they can heal quite well." Danzo stated.

Others… There… were still more? Did I know them? How are they still alive? I felt a surge of hope from within. Perhaps… Shiro… Yuki… Even young Natsu.

Another voice joined the conversation snapping me out of my thoughts.

"While it was quite amusing to watch these developments, it looks like I should interfere."

The newcomer stepped into the moonlight, golden hair making him stand out here.

"Kazama…" Chizuru glared at the man, eyes hard.

"I followed the scent of female oni blood… although…" His eyes landed on me, with approval, "I've found something much more interesting… a prize indeed. It would be a shame to let her get taken."

Raising his sword, and with a speed with which my eyes could barely follow, he had already cut down Shiki and Ichi, only leaving Danzo alive.

"Now…" He pointed his blade towards the other man. "What were you saying about the others?"

His eyes went wide with fear.

"I… I don't know… Anything…" His voice shook

"Oh?" Kazama cocked his head to the side. "In that case you are of no use to me." He replied, preparing to strike.

No! He had to know something.

"S..Stop!" I managed to cry out

"Wait stop, please! Ther-"

The rest of his protests weren't heard, as Kazama sliced his neck, killing him in one blow. My cries, ignored.

"W-why… he could have known… something." I managed to painfully say.

Kazama glanced at me. He wasn't even covered in that much blood, despite the fact that he had just killed three men.

Then again, I had seen many deaths, done by the hands of humans. The sight of death was nothing new.

Kazama glared down at me.

"He did not hesitate to kill you. Had you not turned, that blade would have killed you." He said back, eyes hard. His voice did not hold any emotion. He was just… stating fact. Then, his eyes moved to settle upon Chizuru's prone form.

"No, don't take Chizuru. Please… Let her go…" I tried to position myself in front of her, but didn't get very far.

Chizuru however, scrambled towards one of the men, picking up her short sword. She took out the blade and held it out towards Kazama.

"I'm not going." She declared.

Kazama just gave her one more look.

"While I don't understand why you stick to these humans, I no longer care." He looked back at me, and stared back.

"Though, perhaps now is not the time… Besides… to kidnap a woman while she is heavily injured…" He trailed off and disappeared back into the shadows.

I relaxed, before struggling to me feet. The wound was slightly better and I could at least move. Thanking my fast healing, I was about to tell Chizuru that we should head back to the others, but she looked stunned. She still held out her sword, pointed in my direction.

"He… Gave up?" She didn't seem convinced. As though this was a trap.

"It's fine. I think he's truly gone… for now. Chizuru, we need to go ba-"

The girl fainted. No doubt from the wound and the shock of being kidnapped, again.

I wasn't able to reach her in time to catch her, my wounds slowing me down. She hit the ground, her head roughly striking the dirt and gravel. I prayed that she had no head injuries when she woke up.

I picked up the short sword and made my way towards her when I heard several footsteps heading this way.

Moments later, some Shinsengumi members arrived. From this group, I could see Okita, Hijikata and Saito.

They all looked astonished. Saito's face held surprise for once, whilst Okita's face held interest. Hijikata though, glared at me eyes hard.

"I…" I started before I realised what they were seeing.

Some strange winged creature holding a sword drenched in blood, with three men dead at her feet. Chizuru, passed out and badly injured.

I heard the sound of swords being unsheathed, and they pointed their blades at me. I don't think they will listen, or believe what I tell them.

They did not know me that well after all, and I had lied to them about myself this whole time. Knowing I was female was one thing… to find out I was a completely different species was another.

"Take …it… back to headquarters." Hijikata ordered, and they started towards me.

I closed my eyes. I should have realised this.

Humans fear what they can't understand… and what they fear… they will seek it out and destroy it before it can become a threat to them.

Not knowing what else to do and ignoring the pain in my chest and stomach, I opened my wings, then fled into the night.

The last thing I heard was an angry shout

"Find her! Hunt her down."


When I had followed the scent of Chizuru's blood, I did not expect to see that woman again. She was a pure blooded angel.

When I saw that, I felt as though my heart had stopped beating. Her wings were spread open and the look of determination on her face to save another… She was magnificent.

For a female, she was brave, intelligent and selfless. She had been worried that I would take Chizuru despite her own injuries.

To hear there were more angels was a surprise… although that man could have been deceived. There were those who faked after all. With that angel, the promise from all those years ago could be fulfilled. Even if it was another angel altogether… Chizuru is no longer important to me.

I was going to take that angel with me, though I could sense the Shinsengumi approaching, and it would have been annoying to deal with them. Besides, the angel was injured anyway and I did not have the necessary items to aid her.

However, I will come back for her, and she shall be mine.


End. If there are any mistakes please do tell me. Thank you to any reviewers~!

SNEAK PEAK SPECIAL:

For next chapter:

- Mai will be hunted

- Will Chizuru wake up in time to clear the misunderstanding? Or will it be too late?

- Mai will also be using her powers to heal a certain someone of his disease... Though he won't find out till later ehehehe

Well, Look forward to next chapter! Till then ~ Bye ^_^/