In this chapter, the plot is officially kicked off. I was so excited writing this. I want to thank all of my reviewers. If I named each of you individually, I would take up like half a page so I'll just say if you have reviewed this story, you are awesome. If I lack inspiration, all I have to do is go back and reread your reviews and suddenly, my muse returns. I also want to thank those who have expressed concern about my missing friend. It means a lot to me. Please, R&R! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
The kitchen was a flurry of activity as brunch was prepared. It was too late in the morning for breakfast, but, after such a time of emotional stress, everyone was too hungry to wait until lunch. Nemu and Kondou had disappeared into the sitting room after Hajime and Amber vacated it. The quiet couple had made their way back to the dining room, where Heisuke and Shinipachi immediately complained that they were hungry. Emily had marched in a few minutes later with Harada trailing behind her and announced that she was going to make brunch and Amber was going to help. Shinipachi and Heisuke had offered as well, but, despite the fact that the men had been reawakened a number of months earlier, only Hajime could be trusted with the stove. The others had to content themselves with fetching ingredients and other more mundane tasks.
Brunch preparations were well underway when Souji and Jade finally came downstairs. They walked side by side, his arm about her waist. She was blushing as he teased her with a smirk, speaking in a low voice so that only she could hear. As they entered the kitchen, all activity ceased and the couple was subjected to numerous grins and stares. Even Hajime smiled slightly. Shinipachi and Heisuke snickered and nudged each other. Emily rolled her eyes at the public display of affection, though her lips were turned up in a smile. Amber's eyes moved from Souji's arm around Jade's waist to peek at Hajime, who stood at the stove, cooking pancakes. Then she blushed and refocused on mixing the batter for the pancakes.
Souji gave them all an annoyed look.
"Nani?" he demanded.
Shinipachi answered in japanese, so quickly that Jade could not understand it. Souji's eye twitched. Then he laughed. His arm around her tightened, pulling her closer. He replied, insinuating that the other man was jealous that he did not have his own beautiful woman. Jade's face turned beet red. Emily muttered something about possessive boyfriends as she opened the lid of the pan containing the bacon. Shinipachi waved off Souji's comment and flexed his rather impressive arms, commenting that after the American women saw his superior prowess, they would be falling over each other to get to him. Sano laughed and turned it into an unconvincing cough, drawing a glare from his friend.
Emily shooed Saito out of her way as she retrieved a tray of biscuits from the oven. She set them on a towel on the counter. Sano reached around her, as though to swipe one off the tray. She slapped his hand away.
"Don't be a biscuit thief like Amber!"
Amber giggled slightly, causing Hajime to smile.
"Biscuit thief?" he asked in an undertone.
"I'll tell you later."
Brunch was finished with many more bouts of laughter and good natured verbal jabs. The table was set with a basket of biscuits next to a large bowel of sausage gravy, courtesy of Emily. It was joined by a plate heaped with bacon, a tray of pancakes, accompanied by syrup and butter, the leftover sausage that had not been used in the gravy, a bowl of fresh fruit, a bowl of scrambled eggs, and yet another bowl, this one filled with potato hash. A jug of milk and a large carton of orange juice had been set out as well. Plates were distributed and the food was divided. Amber soon found out that if she wanted something specific, Hajime was more than willing to get it for her, even if it meant threatening Heisuke with the butter knife. Jade simply waited until a bowl or plate of food was passed her way before partaking in the food. Shinipachi took to purposefully reaching for the same thing that Emily was at the same time, irritating her to no end and leading to her attempting to stab his hand with her spoon when he attempted to take the fruit from her. Harada mildly reprimanded his friend for attempting to take a woman's food. The muscular man then resigned himself to stealing from Heisuke, even though there was plenty to go around.
Kondou and Nemu returned at that point. The former Shinsengumi commander smiled broadly at the obvious high spirits that his men were in. Nemu, who's expression had been grave, softened slightly in response. The two took their seats at the table and served themselves.
Souji's eyes lingered on his father figure, observing his expression and body language.
"Has something been decided, Kondou-san?"
The table went quiet.
Kondou blinked. Then he laughed somewhat sheepishly.
"Yare, I can never get anything past you, Souji," he folded his hands in his lap, "Yes, Miakage-san and I have finished exchanging information and have come to a consensus," his kind eyes were slightly troubled as he looked around the table at each of them in turn, "Based on our combined findings, it is obvious that the enemy is on the move. Miakage-san has been keeping an eye on the Oni underworld for some time now and it seems that both Kazama and her brother are stirring. Kazama will no doubt return to plague us again."
This drew scowls from around the table. Jade, Amber, and Emily struggled to keep up, not quite sure who 'the enemy' was. Kondou continued.
"As for the Miakage clan, it appears that over the years they have amassed a sort of crime syndicate. Their head, Miakage-san's brother, has received word of the three young ladies' reappearance."
Nemu cut in.
"And he seeks to finish what he meant to do so long ago."
Amber felt a cold sense of dread settle over her. An icy claw encircled her heart and she found it hard to breath. Someone wanted to kill her. I was the most terrifying feeling she had ever experienced. She must have given some outward sign of fear, because Hajime reached over and wrapped twined his slender fingers with hers, squeezing her hand softly. Emily's face cleared of all expression and her eyes hardened even as Sano glanced at her, his brow furrowed in worry. Jade clenched her hands on her knees and sat stiffly, looking at her half empty plate of food. Souji's eyes never drifted away from the two speakers as he draped an arm around her shoulders protectively. His lips curved in a humorless smirk, his green eyes cold and clear.
Heisuke scowled, his arms crossed over his chest.
"We would never let him do that!"
Kondou nodded.
"Exactly. Which is why Miakage-san and I have discussed a plan. It is likely that Kazama will join forces with this crime syndicate, at least as long as their goals coincide. This places both of our enemies together. Toshi, Sannan, Yukimura-san, and I will continue working from our base of operations on the other side of town to track their movements. The rest of you will remain here, in case our enemy attempts to attack in force. Since their main targets reside here, it is a likely possibility."
Shinipachi snorted.
"Let 'em come. It's not like they can kill us, thanks to that curse."
Nemu looked at him keenly.
"Perhaps not, but they can kill Jade, Amber, and Emily. I have no idea what else my 'spell' did to them. It is highly possible that they have ceased aging, since each of them has reached the age that they were when I transported them. Or that they are only aging very slowly, like I do. This would suggest that my power was partially transported to them and was lying dormant until their bodies returned to their original point. So, while it would be more difficult for them to die, it is still very much possible."
Emily cleared her throat slightly.
"So, let me get this straight. The Oni mafia is after us, fully intending to kill us. When you sent us into the future, you also transferred some of your power to us, making it harder for us to die. The plan is that the Shinsengumi are going to live in our home and protect us while Kondou-san a few others will be staying elsewhere to track the mafia while we sit here and act as bait. Is that about right?"
Nemu shifted slightly.
"...Yes. If the Oni syndicate comes after you, I have not doubt that we could defeat them when fighting on our own terms."
Emily leaned back in her chair.
"Well, this'll be fun."
Kaito finished tying his hakama as the door closed behind him. He glanced at the guards on either side of the door. They were both lesser Oni, not belonging to a noble family, their bloodlines polluted by human genetics. His voice held no inflection as he addressed them.
"Take her back to her sisters after she dresses."
The guards bowed, murmuring confirmations.
Kaito's yellow eyes flicked away from them and he began to walk in an unhurried manner down the hallway. The halfblooded Oni woman he had lain with was entertaining. Indeed, she had warranted a place among his favorite concubines. However, what he refused to allow her or any of his harem to bear his children. He would not be the sire of some bastard child with mixed blood. No. What he truly needed was a pureblooded female to carry on the Miakage line.
He passed numerous doorways on his way through the monstrous mansion that acted as his home and the headquarters of his syndicate. It was formed mainly of lesser Oni who were desperate for a place within the Oni society despite their tainted heritage. Occasionally he was joined by a noble whose standing was not as high as his own. To those, he awarded places of command, trusting the purebloods to keep control of the lesser Oni. He smirked slightly. How easy to control they all were.
As he rounded a corner, his smirk faded.
There was one who would not be controlled. Chikage Kazama. He had a higher social standing than Kaito, and, by all rights, was able to usurp his power and authority. Fortunately, Kazama had no interest in doing so. He only wished to use the syndicate's extensive resources to locate his lost bride, who had recently reawakened along with her human lover. Once she was found, Kazama planned to kill the lover, and finally take her as his own. Kaito, however, had different plans. He would allow Kazama to face the Shinsengumi's former second-in-command. While the battle was being waged however, he would take the Yukimura clan's princess. If that failed, he would take his sister, Nemu, instead. It was not uncommon for Oni nobles to inbreed in order to keep their lines pure. While he despised his sister, he would have no qualms about forcing her to bear his heir. It would be a suitable punishment for thwarting his killing of her human charges, he thought.
He mentally shrugged. Either way, his line would continue. Not only that, but, if his plan went accordingly, the human girls would be killed, leaving Nemu alone and without friendship. Finally, after over a century, he would accomplish what he had set out to do.
