For those of you who have noticed that I don't use suffix's (Such as –san, -kun, chan, -sensei, etc) it's just much easier to not add them in. Sorry, that is pretty lazy of me, and it makes it hard to judge the relationship between the characters (especially when the romance develops, and –san turns into –chan or no suffix at all, indicating a closer relationship).
IMPORTANT: I wonder if anyone reads author notes… however, there will be a poll up shortly, allowing you guys to pick who Mai's love interest will be! (It should be up on my profile page!)
(I'll give her time/moments with a few choice characters, for character development etc ~!)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. Just the storyline and the OC.
Chapter 11
SOMETHING COOL, AND wet slipped from my forehead as I sat up. The door to the room I was in was open, allowing the sunset outside to cast its glow into my room. It was slightly cool, as I had nothing on but bandages on my body. Apparently those demon like creatures could tear through the spider silk. I panicked slightly as I checked my wrist to make sure the gift from Yuki was still there; it was. However, a pang of sadness hit me as I thought about Shiro's comb. I relaxed, briefly wondering why the Shinsengumi were nursing me back to health rather than deciding to kill me like they had been trying to do for almost a year. At that moment, a girl ran in, whom I recognised as Chizuru.
"Thank god you're awake!" She exclaimed before running over to hug me.
Not having much experience with female contact, let alone female humans, I awkwardly hugged her back.
"Did you help me? Thank you… How long was I asleep for?" I asked.
"Yes I did. It was the least I could do after… You know... You were out for almost a week! I need to check a few things before I go and tell the others you're awake."
Chizuru then did a few things to check on my health, but I assured her I was fine, and told her how being an Angel I was able to heal similarly to a demon.
As soon as she left, I took a few deep breaths, pleased to find that my body had also healed itself from Okita's tuberculosis.
I settled back and waited, figuring out how to explain myself, when Chizuru reappeared with several other men. Amongst them, I saw Kondou, Hijikata, Okita, Saito, and Sannan. I assumed that the others were on a patrol.
Unsure of how I should act, I bowed my head and thanked them for taking care of me, and that I would be leaving as soon as I could.
Kondou, however looked somewhere between shocked and appalled. I kneeled down in front of me, bowing low and apologised to me. Hijikata and Okita didn't look too pleased about this.
"On the behalf of everyone here, I wanted to apologise about our conduct directed towards you. Without asking questions, and assuming the worst, we hunted you down and had even tried to kill you. Please, we are sorry. Forgive us. Also, it would be our pleasure to allow you to stay as our healer."
I sat there for a moment, surprised at his apology.
"Please Kondou, there is nothing to forgive. If I was in the same position I would have jumped to conclusions too. However, as you seem very insistent, then yes, it is fine. Everything was forgiven from the start, and also, thank you. I would very much like to stay here." I smiled softly, pulling him out of his bow. The others looked surprised, while Chizuru happily smiled.
I blushed slightly before continuing,
"If you all don't mind, I would like to get dressed before we talk any further…" I trailed off, gesturing to my current state of dress.
A few of the men blushed, before mumbling something about how they were busy anyway, and hastily exited the room. Chizuru stayed and asked if I needed any assistance. I nodded, glad for her help, as my limbs, especially my legs felt stiff and sore.
After dressing, the men returned to my room, including Shinpachi, Heisuke, Sanosuke, Inoue and yamazaki. They deciding to talk in here rather than their usual meeting room. They didn't beat around the bush.
"So…"
"Mai." I quickly interrupted, "my birth name is Mai."
"I see… So can you explain to my about… your race? Or species?"
I took a deep breath, knowing this may take a while. I explained to them about my kind, and about our past with both humans and demons. That there were many other races out there that didn't wish to be discovered, and if they were, their secret was kept well hidden. I told them about the abilities of my race and how my gift was to heal all wounds, but with the consequence of the wounds being transferred to me instead. However, I didn't tell them why I was here the other night as it seemed Okita didn't want his illness, or past illness to be made aware of, nor did he explain as he put what I said together, and realised that I came here to heal him. During my explanations, someone mumbled something about 'how that explained everyone who enters the forest coming out healthy'. Occasionally, they would ask me questions and I would answer to the best of my ability.
"So, are angels like.. The opposite of demons? Their like complete opposites but share so many traits!" Heisuke.
"So your ability to heal with touch is rare, but all angels are able to heal to an extent… with blood? That explains that… Rasetsu, he wa cured… he was human again. I guess since you're angel our secret isn't as heavy as yours…" Sannan looked intrigued, and was the one who asked the most questions. Yamazaki did ask to tell him more about herbs and medicines later though.
I then went further into the past explaining how I had been encased in ice for a long time, as I watched the last of my kind being wiped out by humans… I didn't continue after that, nor did they push me for any further details.
"So… After we complained about not letting a girl dress and entertain those kidnappers… We let a girl go and entertain them…" Sanosuke joked.
I smiled at his comment. Out of all the things to say, he said that.
Deciding that it was now late, we all retired to bed.
A few nights ago, the scent of angel blood had permeated through the night air, and alerted me to her.
She had returned, and to the Shinsengumi headquarters no less. It would be a pain to whisk her away from there.
I lazily lay back, resting against the trunk of a sakura tree, pink leaves scattering around me, and closed my eyes, the smell of the sakura bringing back old memories.
A beautiful woman stood before father and I, as several other demons leered her way. However, she stood bravely amongst us despite knowing what we were. She held her head high, proud and confident.
"What brings you here, little angel?" My father asked her.
"I have come to make a deal with you." The angel never faltered, and though her words wavered slightly, I admired her for her bravery. Not many male demons dared to speak to my father in such a tone.
She smelled of sakura leaves, and something else… It was a pleasant scent, I noted.
"In exchange for leaving the angels alone… A peace treaty of sorts I suppose. The daughter that I currently hold in my womb, I promise to give her to you as a bride."
My father looked surprised contemplating for a moment,
"… Very well, but not a bride for me… My son," My father gestured to me and I stepped forward.
"I accept." I said, knowing that a child born from an angel and demon exceeded the power of a pure blooded demon on many levels. Females were also very rare amongst demons, and a female angel, even rarer.
"One more thing though…" My father said, "You will bear me my own child, and if need be, if the angels are ever attacked, I promise to come to their aid."
I knew my father was lying in that statement. He didn't care about the others as long as he got the female angel, and a child born of angel and demon blood.
"I accept." The angel nodded.
From there, my father and the angel formed an agreement of blood. It was also agreed that my bride would not be given to me until she had come of age.
Many years later the angel and my father secretly lay together, and a child was on its way. However the angel had died during birth, and the child with her.
When the angels were attacked by the humans, my father did not come to aid them, claiming the agreement was void due to the child dying. I never heard about what happened to my bride, but I believed she had perished with the rest of her species.
I believed that angel had made a foolish agreement with my father, but I could never decide if it was foolish… or brave.
ASDFGHJKL
When I woke up again, I felt… Happy. Not quite content but I felt that today would turn out to be a nice day. The sun was bright, and the sky was a beautiful blue filled with a few, soft fluffy puffs of white. I didn't have to hide my gender like Chizuru did, since the night I arrived here the men who first saw me already knew I was a girl, and it was explained how I was highly practised with medicine, and would be the new doctor here. A lot of the men scoffed at that, saying something about how women couldn't be doctors. I didn't say anything and simply ignored their statement.
I crawled out of my bed, and made my way outside, where I heard some shouts, and followed it until I found its source.
Saito was rigorously training his men, and I watched as they slashed their swords through the air, shouting out each time the made the movement. Saito was a man of very few words, and since he spoke so little, and seemed so stern, I was a little afraid of him. I didn't know what he really thought about me, and then, there was the time he chased me through the forest and cut me.
However, Saito's training reminded me of Shiro, and how he would diligently train his men every day. I hastily turned back, getting ready to leave, when Saito noticed me and called me back.
"Yes..?" I hesitated unsure of what he would need or want from me.
"I noted that you were handling a sword that night…"
I was about to interrupt and tell him that, actually I had no experience with swords and the only thing I could do was hopelessly swing it around and hope I hit something.
An enemy preferably, but if it was a friend… well… accidents DO happen…
However, he continued,
"My men need some training with fighting against women. They may hesitate when faced with one."
He handed me a wooden sword and called forth one of his men, Kai to stand opposite me. He had black hair as dark as the night, but his eyes were a bright, green colour.
Ok… Well…
I was about to speak out when the man opposite me charged forward.
He certainly didn't have any issues with trying to attack a woman.
I pulled the sword up out of instinct to block his attack, which had a lot of force behind it, pushing me back slightly. It created a small trail in the sand.
Relentless, the man kept on attacking, and each time, he almost hit me as my block came up to slow against his onslaught. He pushed me back step by step.
The fight only lasted a moment, before finally, his next hit disarmed me, and he raised to strike again.
"Stop!" Saito called out, running in our direction, but the man had already swung the sword, and momentum was keeping it going. He would not be able to pull back his attack.
I braced myself, and used my gift, eliciting an invisible barrier that would shield me from the blow. I made it close to me skin, to make sure he would not realise that I was actually unharmed from the attack. I didn't know what he would think of it.
The sword made contact with my shield, a tiny distance away from making contact on my skin. Just subtle enough to make it look like it hit my skin.
The man was surprised at this as his sword hit the barrier, glancing off and the force of his blow against the shield made him take a step back.
Saito reached us then, and glared at the man, about to reprimand him but this time I quickly spoke up.
"That was my fault, I should have said something about not being able to use a sword… Besides this man didn't hesitate at all, and his blows were quite strong… He has a great teacher." I summarized.
Saito looked at me, and while all he seemed to have was a mask of indifference on his face, his eyes widened very slightly, that when he looked away I thought I must have imagined it. He praised the man, as I backed away, hoping that they wouldn't notice me leave. Unfortunately Saito did.
"Let me see your arm." He demanded, holding out his hand.
"I'm fine. I explained about my powers yesterday."
He didn't drop his arm, and instead grabbed my arm and inspected it just to make sure. After realising it was ok, he let go and walked back to training his men.
He may be a man of few words but he was a man who spoke through his actions. Just a little, I learned slightly more about Saito. Rather than leaving, I went over to the stone steps and say, watching the men train.
Saito glanced at me for a moment but didn't say anything.
I smiled to myself. He reminded me of Shiro a little.
Maybe creating a new family… wasn't impossible after all.
Later, after the men had finished training, and went off to do their other duties, Saito sat down beside me, joining me on the steps.
He didn't say anything for awhile and the silence felt awkward, but then without looking at me he asked me something.
"As an angel, Mai. You choose peace over conflict. Your gift… It lets you heal and protect… What do you think about someone killing another man? After they did the deed, if they were to flee… What do you think?"
I thought for a moment, briefly wondering why he would ask me such a question. I suppose with their job, a lot of killing does happen…
"Well… as an angel… Not all of us chose peace other conflict. Sometimes the best thing to do was become a part of the conflict." I paused waiting if he would say something. When he didn't I kept going.
"There can be many reasons why we kill, and the person who did the deed… Only they will truly know why, and we need to consider their reasons… Sometimes they may not even know why they did it. As to why they would flee afterwards, perhaps they were afraid, scared or confused."
He 'hmmed' and we stayed in silence for a little longer.
"You know… That doesn't mean that they're a coward. I think that they shouldn't allow it weigh them down or make them feel dishonoured for what they had done… But if they admit what they had done, and feel sorry for it, whether or not the man they killed was good or evil… I think a person like that is worthy of respect. The mistakes we make as a person lets us grow as a person." I finished lamely.
Saito looked at me and held my eyes for a moment before looking forward again.
"I see."
"I'm sorry." He said suddenly.
At first i was confused but then i realized what he was apologizing for. The time he had hurt me with his blade.
This time the silence wasn't awkward. It was comforting.
End
