XI

"68…" Chizuru counted in her mind as she failed to dodge an attack, wounding her right arm which healed right away.

Saitou saw that Chizuru was on a tight spot and quickly covered for her, eliminating those who were attacking her. "Try not to get killed. I already have problems sleeping at night. I don't want my conscience to start eating me away too if you die"

"I won't" Chizuru got up and they started moving forward once more.

"69….70…71" she continued counting as she was forced to struck down those who were trying to get her.

It's been a long time since he last fought this much men but Saitou was glad to know that he didn't got rusty even after the years that passed. As he fought he can't help but observe Chizuru who seem to be a very different person as she fought. "I wonder if when did she became this good at fighting" he thought. "Let's go" he said and Chizuru followed him. They were getting closer to the mansion but it doesn't look like it was going to be easy to get in.

"That jerk. He said a woman would come but she's got company." The man with an eye patch pointed his sword at the two who stopped in front of them. "I can't believe you two eliminated that much of my men. You're going to have to pay for that." He growled. "You guys! Drive your swords into their body until their limp and lifeless!" he commanded.

"Looks like the only way is to fight them" Saitou glanced at Chizuru.

"I know" Chizuru replied, feeling her bloodlust heighten.

"Don't worry we'll get to Hijikata soon" Saitou said as he struck down the first two men who attacked him.

Chizuru smiled. "I'm not worried. I'm fighting alongside you"

A small smile formed on Saitou's lips then he took the offensive by moving towards the enemy, instead of waiting for them to come to them. Chizuru followed closely and did her share of work.

"78…79…80…" the count continued as she struck down the men who tried to attack them.

"81…82…83…" she pulled out the dagger from the man's chest and turned to the other to cut his throat. "84….Setsuna…I'm sorry… at this rate I might not be able to come home tonight…."she thought as they were getting closer to the acting boss of the group. She shook her head and bit her lip. "What am I thinking? I have to get back to my son no matter what….also…I need to see him... please Kami… not again…."

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Onigumo gulped a mouthful of sake as he scratched his head briskly. "Kei sure saw this coming"

The small old man looked up the moon and nodded. "So you think the human could beat him?"

"Want to bet on it?" he chuckled.

"No. You always win anyway" came a sigh.

Onigumo laughed. "I'll go there to pick what I lent him after the fight and claim my compensation as well. Would you like to join me?"

"Thanks but I'll pass. Kei isn't exactly fond of me" the old man grinned.

"I see. So you think he'll win but I'm really rooting for the human" Onigumo smiled and drank his cup dry.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Makoto's stood up quickly and tried to regain his composure. The demon lord is pretty serious with the fight and despite his borrowed power it was becoming more apparent that the demon lord has far superior abilities.

"You're making me very happy Makoto but you won't be able to cut her loose from our deal. You can't..." Lord Kei got interrupted when Makoto attacked him. He managed to dodge and regained his stance.

"Shut it!" Makoto exclaimed and he started a series of attack, hoping that one would connect and weaken Lord Kei. Their swords lock and in the close distance they looked at each other in the eyes. Lord Kei, with the pointed bony tip of his tail pierced Makoto's side. As Makoto felt the sudden surge of pain he pulled away, pulling out the tip of the tail that wounded him in the process. Blood started gushing out from his side but the pain only drove his sprit up and it awakened a more vicious side of him.

"Listen" Lord Kei flicked his tail to remove the blood from it. "Since we first crossed swords this thought entered my mind." He smirked. "You could actually take her place. By that I mean, you could be my servant and I'll cut her soul loose from me. I'd have a lot of good use for you"

Makoto straightened up and laughed, looking a bit maniacal as he did so. "Sorry. I'd never allow myself to be used by you" He moved forth but this time he was more agile and he was throwing dashes of blue flames around with his sword, starting small fires around.

The demon lord evaded each attacks and couldn't believe that the wound he inflicted failed to weaken his opponent. He was too busy evading the series of flames that came his way that he got tricked into seeing that Makoto was still in front of him. He let out a loud scream and gritted his teeth in pain. He didn't think it was real for a moment but as he seized to move and looked on the ground to his left, he saw his tail still moving around a bit lying on the floor. A wave of frenzy made him throw his sword away and he allowed his raw savageness as a demon take over. His claws grew longer and his golden eyes turned blood red. He just wanted to have Makoto's heart in his hands and crush it while it's still beating.

Makoto's wounds continued to bleed and he was aware that if he was in his human form he would be long dead by now. Makoto managed to control his rage though and realized that he can use the demon lord's manic state to his advantage. As he dodged the attacks of the demon lord he can hear the commotion outside. "Chizuru…" he thought with a smile knowing that he can see her soon.

Makoto wanted to get a chance to get close to the demon lord to deliver his finishing move but he had to wait for the perfect opportunity which seemed to grow smaller as the demon lord started spewing a liquid substance that acted like acid. A drop fell on Makoto's cheeks and the spot burned. "Now I don't only have to dodge the wind blades but also his spit…damn it…and those claws, they won't be merciful once they caught me."

"I can't believe you'd make me lose my cool. It's been a while since I went all out but you shall pay for cutting off my tail!" the demon lord laughed as he continued his attacks. "You can't escape my attacks forever" he growled as he managed to scratch Makoto's chest with his claws, originally aiming for his heart.

"I can see holes in his defense when his close to me… that's my chance. Too risky but I think I have no choice…." Makoto thought as he kept a fair distance between them at the moment. Lord Kei wasn't going to let him get away. "I just have to trust in you" he thought referring to the fox demon's power which he was lent. "This is it. Please…." He thought as he focused himself on his aim and placed everything he's got on that one strike that could end the fight as Lord Kei neared.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Chizuru fell on her knees as soon as she turned back into her human form. She let out a huge sigh as tears started welling from her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Saitou inquired as he flicked his sword to remove the blood on it before sheathing it once more.

"97. I didn't got a hundred" she smiled.

Saitou didn't understand what she meant but he can see how happy she was. He wanted to ask her a lot of things at the moment but went to her and pulled her up instead. "Let's go." He said as he walked past the dead leader of the group. Chizuru followed closely behind, her knees feeling a bit shaky after everything that happened. She looked down at the dagger in her hand and realized that it seemed dead all of a sudden.

As they neared the mansion doors Saitou stopped. "Someone's coming" he said as he drew his sword.

Chizuru felt a rock in her throat. She trembled; aware that the fight the two had was a match to the death. The dagger fell from her shaking hands and she clasped them together, praying to the gods that if ever someone appears on the door it would be Makoto.

The doors slowly opened and Chizuru held her breath as it did. Slowly a figure weakly walked out. Chizuru gasped as she saw the demon lord taking feeble steps into the open. He was covered in blood and he still holds his sword tightly in his hands. The usual grin in his face looks out of place in his current condition.

"No…" Chizuru muttered and slowly moved towards the demon lord. Saitou looked at her and blocked her with his arm. Chizuru looked up at Saitou. "Did Makoto…" her voice trembled "lose?"

The demon lord seemed to trip and fell face down on the cold hard ground. As he hit the ground he breathed heavily and slowly turned his body, so that he can get a clear view of the night sky. He laughed. "Pssst." Both Chizuru and Saitou looked his way.

"Lord Kei!... how could…" Chizuru exclaimed as she charge towards him.

"Don't bother him… he's going to die soon." came a tired voice from the doorway.

Chizuru stopped, she was just 3 steps away from the demon lord, then looked at the other injured figure up ahead, leaning on the door for support. "You're alive…" she muttered then she ran to Makoto, forgetting about the demon lord who lay slowly dying on the ground.

Makoto smiled at her and as soon as she stood in front of him he fell forward to her, almost making her fall back down with his weight. "It makes me sad…."

"Huh?" Chizuru gently pushed him up and placed his arm around her shoulder for support. It was just then that she noticed that he looked more like a demon than a human.

"How you think I'll die that easily" he chuckled then groaned in pain.

As the two reunited the demon lord was on his last moments. "The moon looks so beautiful tonight…it was the same back then… but that night I was the victor who drank the finest wine under this moon for celebration. Tonight is different though." He closed his eyes and short random memories, a mix of images, sounds, feeling and smells, evaded him. He sighed. "I had a long life and its one worthy to be called a life because I've lived both its best and worst." He opened his eyes upon hearing the voices and footsteps coming closer to him.

"Lord Kei" Chizuru was in tears. She placed the dagger on the demon lord's bloody chest, returning it to him. "Despite all the troubles you've brought me…Thank you."

Drops of her tears fell on the demon lord's body. He saw them fall on him but his body was numbed by pain for him to even feel the tears roll down his skin. He grinned. "I never thought that someone would cry for me when I die" he paused. "Hey. I won't last long… can you at least…bring me to a tomb somewhere over there" he weakly lifted his hand and pointed to his left.

Chizuru hesitated at first but nodded anyway. It was the least she could do for the one who gave her the chance to be with Hijikata once more. As she stood up to find a way to move him, Lord Kei held her left wrist and with his claw wounded her vertically. Chizuru groaned in pained. Looking down at her forearm she saw his seal, it broke and disappeared. Soon enough the wound healed.

"What happened?!" Makoto inquired worriedly as he slowly walked towards Chizuru with Saitou's help.

"It's alright" Chizuru glanced at him. "The seal was broken."

Lord Kei smiled. "Hey" he called her attention. "I knew what was going to happen to me. I didn't saw everything but the moment I saw you on the mountain that day, I knew that you'd somehow lead me to my death" Lord Kei laughed weakly.

"So you really wanted to die then?" Makoto asked as he looked down the dying demon lord.

Lord Kei knew that both his legs have hardened and soon his whole body would go stiff as stone and then he'd fade away like dust but he continued talking. "I bet you heard about the rumors then" he chuckled. "All rubbish I tell you" he reached inside his clothes and brought out an hourglass. It has cracks and from a small hole that formed on it the sand spilled out leaving the hourglass almost out of sand. "I guess my time has come" he felt his heart beat stronger but slower and sleepiness came over him.

"Is he dead?" Saitou asked as he noticed that the demon lord stopped moving.

"Nearly" came a voice from behind them.

"Onigumo" Makoto said weakly as he glanced at the old man.

"I should get him to that tomb before he turns to dust. That his last wish isn't it?" Onigumo pulled a horse with him as he approached the demon lord's body. He lifted it and placed it on the horse. "I'll be back, so Makoto don't die yet" Onigumo said with a smiled. Makoto just nodded in reply.

"You're in a demon form again" Chizuru said holding back her tears, as she helped Saitou bandage Makoto's wounds. "You know you…."

"Not now." Makoto groaned closing his eyes. "The scolding can wait" he smiled weakly. Chizuru smiled and nodded. After patching him up, she allowed him to rest his head on her lap.

"Chizuru" he uttered her name weakly.

Chizuru felt nervous all of a sudden. It was like a déjà vu. She can't help but remember what happened in Ezo. "What is it?" she replied looking down at his pale face.

"Setsuna…" he said. "He'd grow into a fine young man right?"

"Of course he will" Chizuru replied feeling her heart race with the way he was talking.

"I know. You'll raise him well" a small smile formed on his lips.

Chizuru gently placed a hand on his cheek. "We'll raise him together. He'll be as good with handling a sword as you…." She paused biting her lip. She knew where this conversation was going. "He still has a lot to learn from you…also I believe he's waiting impatiently for us right now"

When no reply came from Makoto, Chizuru started crying. Saitou knelt near him to check his heartbeat. He looked at Chizuru and smiled. "He's just asleep" he said calmly.

"But he might not survive the wounds once I claim the fox demon that lent its powers to him" Onigumo appeared with the horse once more. "Lord Kei looked peaceful when he passed. I guess no one would know his story but that makes him more interesting right? Anyway, there is something important I have to talk to you about Yukimura"

Chizuru looked at the old man. "Can we do something about Makoto first?" she asked sounding desperate.

"This is related to that. Now come here for a moment, we need to talk in private" Onigumo said and he walked away from the three.

Chizuru gently removed Makoto's head from her lap and followed the old man. She noticed that the mansion disappeared. There was just an open space and dead bodies lying around. When they were far enough for Saitou not to hear the old man stopped.

"I helped Makoto defeat the demon lord and you know what that means" the old man said placing both his hands on his hips.

Chizuru frowned. "You need something in return"

Onigumo nodded then smiled. "But in your case I'd say it's on the house"

"What?!" Chizuru was surprised. "Does that mean…"

"Yes. I won't take his payment. Seeing how worried you are over him and how much you've gone through to have him back, I would be such a heartless creature if I still take his payment right" Onigumo laughed. "but we should do something about his wounds…I'm afraid he won't make it till sunrise if…"

"Is there a way to save him?!" Chizuru interrupted.

Onigumo chuckled. "Of course" then he sighed and scratched his head. "but you have to pay up"

"I will. Just save him!" Chizuru begged.

"Such devotion" Onigumo smiled. "Give me 20 years' worth of your life force."

"Alright…"

"Hey hold it. Do you know what that means?"

Chizuru shook her head. "But if it is what would save him then take it"

"If that's exactly how much you have left or less then the moment I take it you'll die" Onigumo explained. "Think about it"

"Just take it. I don't need to think it over." Chizuru replied.

Onigumo sighed. "You're a reckless one." He pulled out a pipe from his pouch and handed it to her. "Here puff exactly 20 times on it. No more, no less."

Chizuru took the pipe quickly, placed it in her lips and puffed. Onigumo counted with her as she puffed. After 20 puffs she handed the pipe to him. She felt weak but pulled herself together anyway.

"Looks like you were blessed with quite a lengthy life but for all we know you might only last till tomorrow with the life force that's left in you" Onigumo said as he started to head back to Makoto who was still asleep.

"I know." Chizuru replied. "But that doesn't matter."

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Upon waking up the first thing Makoto noticed was the two figures that lay next to his leg. Slowly he sat up and to his surprise all his wounds are healed. He was also back in his normal self. Setsuna was the first one who felt that he was awake.

"Papa!" Setsuna beamed as he crawled towards his father and embraced him out of joy.

Makoto smiled and patted the boys head. "How long was I out?"

"Almost 3 days" Setsuna replied as he let go of his father and stood up. "Are you hungry? Do you want anything?"

"Water would do for now" he replied and the boy left the room.

Makoto then turned his attention to Chizuru who looked really exhausted but was soundly asleep. He leaned forward and removed the stray hairs from her face which eventually woke her up.

She sat up quickly and smiled. "You're awake…I'm so glad…" she said and tears started rolling down her eyes.

He wiped away her tears and chuckled. "It's really making me upset that you cry when you're happy and sad. Now I think I don't know what to do"

Chizuru giggled then held his hand, thankful to feel his warmth once more. "I'll get to see the cherry blossoms bloom again with you next spring"

"I don't know how long I have left till this borrowed time of mine runs out but till then….till then I'll stay by your side" Makoto smiled and caressed her cheek. "We'll see it together" he muttered. He then pulled her closer, brushed his lips against hers and gently kissed her lips.

TheEnd


NOTE: And that's it. Hope you guys enjoyed reading my story. I feel glad to finish this story really because I enjoyed writing it too haha. Also there's an alternate ending but you can chose not to read that if your happy with how this ended. (the alternate ending was the original ending actually but I ate a pint of cake dough ice-cream and I was happy so I made this as the ending)