Shinsengumi Headquarters…

Hijikata gave a sour look after the next hours because the Shinsengumi were late for the line up. It took some time before Kondou calms him and the fact that he's annoyed seeing Sannan and the captain let Raion sit beside them means that there weren't manners and that she's allowed to choose where to sit. Little did the female knew that it was of ranking why he was mad, and even if the captain explains it to her she wouldn't mind and understand it.

"…" he was really in a pissed mood but then Raion gave it up already, sipping tea gently and sat beside Saito and Chizuru, her original seat, while Okita feels so amused with the tension. Sannan was fidgeting quietly but didn't matter to that proper and finally reunited with their discussions after being allowed to stay with them despite being rasetsu. Today, they are holding a meeting for the troops and patrol within the headquarters, gradually informed that not only the enemies are after them, but the demons that are after Chizuru. There was a moment of queer silence before Kondou would give off a fake cough, so things won't be stiff.

It just turns out that the demon vice – captain had a horrible wake up call, thanks to Heisuke who received a hit earlier also.

"We are going to advance further our patrol to the outer city." Hijikata started as of the cue, making the members wonder including the Squad leaders. "Not only the enemies are we facing and so as the rasetsu, but there's another outer party which shouldn't interfere." He left everyone hanging to that, knowing that the inner group knew what he meant. "Aside from that, we're going to defend other territories after the next few weeks."

"Hijikata-san seems to have a bad mood this morning…" Shinpachi said with a low voice and a yawn, hearing out his words straight as if it was a sermon, and he can feel the others getting the words through the nerves. He was somehow growing sick of this also, specifically when it's a group meeting. Eventually, everyone is hearing him out.

"Who wouldn't not, after Heisuke's loud voice…" Okita teased in a sly mode making the youngest leader pissed but didn't advance further since he got a good beating from him earlier already. Even so, the brown haired captain looked at the other side like he didn't care, whereas he sees Saito sitting patient and listening the usual manner.

After a long term of 'preaching' and discussion, everyone simply agreed to that and nodded, making the vice-captain end his discussion and moved out afterwards.

Kondou stood up. "Toshi, you don't have to be that angry this morning because of Heisuke and Raion, it's not done with purpose." He only said that to calm down the person, though the Squad Leaders were left together to group and the others returning to their stations like they were ordered further. The system worked that way most of the time.

The demon vice – captain gave an upset look still; folding his arms but didn't mind it around. "You have to teach Raion how to listen to someone more, Kondou. He follows but not all the time, and Heisuke…" he muttered giving a sharp look towards the youngest captain around, and didn't proceed on reasoning further, thinking that he'd be just tiring himself.

Sannan spoke to that with a regular smile. "Oya, you'll grow older and older if you think that way, Hijikata-san."

"…Sannan, not helping."

"So then sorry… if you wanted me to be general." Raion began, while she makes a small bow, this time, making Hijikata flinch because she did that suddenly. She looks away while scoffing but continued her words, comfortable now that she is wearing a Shinsengumi robe, the same with the rest, confirming that she's a member now, still hiding her gender. "I'm going to keep that in mind that I am annoying and I won't sit with you guys anymore."

"Eh? He didn't say that!" Heisuke protested with a grunt. "Oi you, don't take things seriously and making us feel bad for it!"

"It's not even our fault that you're born an idiot." Shinpachi added along with the tag of the brown haired captain, making Raion protest further.

Chizuru was in the middle again, seeing things out. The setting seems similar, but it only added Raion on the scene, which she was practically convinced of being the ally. She smiled thoroughly now, Heisuke and her bickering in some words that were eating up the time, just as when Shinpachi joined. If looked at it directly, adding Sanosuke will make them a four combination. She was also glad that Raion wasn't that distant anymore and that she wasn't that shy also.

"They added and now they're noisier than usual." Okita said with a low smirk, seeing the four bicker, and then Chizuru facing him. "Ne, Chizuru-chan, I think you're right after all."

The female thought of that a little for some time before she smiles. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Your voices are too loud, don't sour my mood again." This time, Hijikata warned them again, making the four bickering people stop just to notice his voice and his accent. There was an imaginary evil aura wrapping around him and they can feel it, even the head captain and co – vice – captain beside him. Good thing he didn't spoke further.

So far, Raion grunted to that but managed to make a small smile out of it. She was getting comfortable little by little staying with them for the past times she has given towards them, and they developed somehow closure. She was giving her ideas crucially and she was backed up with her secret. Until now, Okita and Saito didn't spit her real gender which made her feel lax though the two were still watching her. She watched them too the same thing.

"Hijikata-san, why don't we get a vacation after?"

"Vacation? No. The duty is much important."

"You're really too stiff on us, it's just one night!"

The group were even discussing about vacation. Raion didn't care less about that but was sure that she won't be coming, cautious that her discovery would lead not only to endanger them but part of herself as well. She was supposed to be hidden inside whereas she can be happy, and simply thinking of that made her flinch to a fading view. She was standing still but there crossed a sharp pain on her head, making her widen her eyes and held on her hair with her fingers. She bends little, and squinting her eyes to endure the pain.

Chizuru thoroughly recognized that and hurried to her, who was nearer. "Raion-san, are you okay!?" she asked, but only felt the surge of pain on her head and made her look worried, the group stopping on to her discussion. "Raion-san, what's wrong?" she added another, touching her head but didn't feel fever, though she insisted on helping.

Sanosuke who was nearer also came by to see on her, but then was speechless since he doesn't know much on what was going on. "Yamazaki-san can fix this up." He said and nodded, now sending Heisuke to call for another one of the aid, but wondered what really happened.

Raion continued to shake a bit, her headache bothering her as she growled of pain, but didn't release an oni voice. She kept on holding her head for awhile before she primitively blacked out of shock and then went unconscious continuously dropping to Chizuru and Sanosuke who held her. "Oi, Raion!" The voice of Sanosuke said, but then she didn't hear that out.

Usually, when demons feel the sharp pain, they are sensing danger. For Aka Shirabuki (or Raion), pain is a signal of something horrible happening, or some nostalgic connection with what she left for more than months, or perhaps years, trying to pull her back…