Hello everyone. ^.^ This may be the longest chapter yet hope you guys like it. I do not own Hakuouki, only my OCs. Enjoy!
(2 weeks later) Walking through the empty halls of Caelica Haro returned to her room after searching for the day. There were other rooms for 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th place reapers to be on standby for their captain and gain experience from missions. There were honestly countless other rooms for other unknown reasons, as one of the head captains' odd orders. And Haro choose the room that's the farthest from any other captain or reaper which was lowest to the ground. Ever since Haro had erased the Shinsengumi's memories of her she still worried for them. 'They're still a bunch of idiots.' She'd tell herself. Tracking down her own history was harder than she planned. The only thing that Haro could find was the legend which was completely useless since it didn't have any lead to whom or what was after her back then. Letting herself fall onto the bed Haro stared at the ceiling for half an hour thinking of ways to track down the monster that is still alive and that is still after her. After a while later Haro frustratingly scratched her head with both hands before lying still again. Sighing Haro decided to go back to the archive library.
Walking back to the archive room an unexpected person was standing hear the entrance looking out the window. Haro gasped and ran to the boy's side. "Heisuke how did you get here?!" But the boy who resembled Heisuke looked back at Haro confused. "Umm, I think you've mistaken me for the wrong person, sorry." Haro stood dazed for a moment before shaking her head, "You're right I'm sorry." Turning around instead of going back to the archives Haro headed straight to Sadao's office. Stomping and opening the doors with a loud burst, Sadao glanced at Haro before looking back at his papers. "You need to control your temper any more force and the doors would have surely been broken to pieces." He said pointing tom the doors that looked dented, Haro directed an irritated glare at the head captain, "Sadao why did you let that boy join? You didn't make a clone did you?" Sadao set his papers down raising his head to look at Haro smiling. "Oh course not. Did you know he's in 2nd place to be the new 8th captain? But he really does look like that lover of yours doesn't he?" The moment 'lover' came out of his mouth Haro reappeared in front of the captain two feet away glaring at below 0. "You wanna die? Try playing like that again then you'll have it!" Haro menacingly warned. Leaning back as far as he could Sadao nodded, "Yeah, okay." He muttered before facing back to Haro. Sighing Haro walked to the balcony leaning against the wall. Sadao sighed, "You're still attached to him aren't you?" Whipping her head back her eyes clearly showed her annoyance. "Stop saying things like that!" Sadao walked over to Haro's side looking at the view not making eye contact. "Denial won't change how you feel for the boy and the others. Why are you trying to do things yourself?" Looking at Sadao then to the view of the horizon, "Because I'm afraid that they'll get hurt." A moment of silence followed. "I see." Sadao replied.
(The Shinsengumi) "Oi Heisuke how was the rounds today?" Heisuke stopped and turned around, "There weren't as much of a fuss as last week. Only a few thugs near that ink shop." Harada nodded, "So then how bout we go drinkn' tonight?" "I'm in!" Shinpachi blared. "Yeah you're always the first to agree Shinpachi-san." Heisuke muttered. Harada smirked, "Okay then Shinpachi's paying." Taken aback Shinpachi looked around for Saito, and coincidently he was just walking by with Souji. Grinning Shinpachi hollered, "Saito, Souji come and drink with us tonight!" Freezing in place the two gave each other uncertain glances before Shinpachi went over and brought them to the group. "Now let's go have some sake!" Shinpachi blared as Saito and Souji gave off an 'I was dragged into this' atmosphere.
On the way to a geisha house the captains walked past the dango shop, Heisuke recalled the time when he took Chizuru out for fun. But another image of a girl appeared in his mind, her eyes were not seen but her figure was clear. She replaced Chizuru in his memory sitting next to him she smiled. Shaking his head and abruptly stopping he stood there looking back at the empty bench. The girl who he didn't know seemed to be sitting there as if waiting for him. Blinking hard Heisuke took another look and the girl was gone. Remembering what happened to Chizuru Heisuke pushed aside the memories he had with the Chizuru then caught up with the others. But all the way to the geisha house Heisuke couldn't stop thinking about that girl whose face he couldn't see, only her smile. Hearing the other captains talk cheerfully as they were lead to their room Heisuke kept on thinking of the girl. After they had been shown to their room Heisuke walked over and sat down trying to remember about the mysterious girl. She certainly didn't seem like a stranger. But there was nothing he could remember of that girl, her form appeared in his mind again. Growling low in frustration and anxiety Heisuke roughly scratched his scalp while the other captains watched him curious of his sudden rash behavior. "Hey Heisuke ya alright? You hardly drank any sake." Shinpachi slurred. Heisuke broke out of his reverie looking at his staring comrades, "Uh, yeah. But I'm wondering.." Everyone raised their brow. "What?" Heisuke leaned back and in, "Do we have another female recruit by any chance?" They all back off going back to drinking sake and eating the food. "No why would you think that?" Heisuke shook his head, "It's nothing." Staring down at his food Heisuke became more and more curious about the mystery girl. 'Who is she? And why did it seem like she knows me?'
(Soul city) Still standing together on the balcony Sadao glanced at Haro who kept silent. Feeling sympathy for her, "You shouldn't worry too much on them. I'm sure they'll be fine." Haro was still looking at the scenery but she replied, "I hope so." In a quiet uncertain manner, sighing Sadao returned to his work leaving Haro alone to herself. A light breeze blew by playing with Haro's dark brown hair. Then the breeze came to a stop, an immediate feeling of danger took over Haro's calm demeanor with panic. Instantly a sounding alarm rang out loudly through Soul city, "Intruder alert, someone has broken in from Chijo no irukuchi! Intruder alert someone has broken in from Chijo no irukuchi! Captains please report to head captain's office for orders!" Soon loud footsteps were heard as the 10 captains entered the room lining up in a straight line in front of Sadao. A feeling of familiarity was troubling Haro as she looked out before running in. Sadao nodded toward Haro inside, "You can go, settle the business you have with this intruder. Captains do not engage in battle, let Haro do this on her own." The captains were shocked but obeyed order as Haro flew out through the balcony. Landing lightly on subordinates' houses Haro quickly ran across roof to roof to where her senses told her. Stopping at the west end of Soul city a woman who looked like Haro stood before her. She smiled evilly, "What was once warm and alive will be cold and still. Haro don't be late, otherwise they'll pay the price those worthless people." She thrust her arm up as a mist shrouded the alleyway and disappears with the woman. Standing alone once more Haro stood confused. 'Worthless humans, who could she….THE SHINSENGUMI!' Unsheathing her katana Haro repeated the chant for returning to the Shinsengumi. A white portal appeared and she immediately ran into the portal back to headquarters. It was silent, no one seems to be practicing, no footsteps, not even birds chirping outside. Something was wrong, had she been late? Walking around in the halls Haro felt something drawing her in. Following her sense it led to an empty room with a trap door wide open. Taking each step down the stench of blood grew. Her footsteps echoed in the stairway slowly coming to a stop. There at the very bottom were the corpses of the members of the Shinsengumi. Yet something was not there. Horrified Haro slowly walked around the bunch of corpse on top of another and realized who weren't there with them. Running out of the underground room Haro went outside and searched around for the captains, but no one was there. Returning to the inside of Headquarters to what was her old room Haro sat there and waited.
Waiting for nearly 2 hours Haro was just about to leave headquarters when that woman appeared in the hallways leaning against the pole, still looking like her twin. "Is that your true form?" Haro inquired glaring at the being in front of her. The woman smirked, "No, I just wanted to see your reaction. It wasn't as good as I hoped though. But look at you, you've weakened beyond belief. You're just like those weak pesky humans compared to me than you were far before." Haro clenched her fists till blood started to leak out of her palms. "I don't care about you! I want to know what you did to the captains!" She smirked "Oh you must mean ones like this little boy." She smugly said holding out her hand as a see-through figure appeared and became stable of a human body. And the boy she was holding by the collar is Heisuke.
Still smirking she lets go as Heisuke's body lifelessly falls a foot off the ground before Haro caught him. Scowling, Haro looked back at the woman who had changed form to an 18 year old girl with black shoulder length hair. "Where are the others?" Haro asked sternly not breaking eye contact. The woman sighed annoyed, "I've already gave you one of them. The others I don't know, they may not be alive by now." Haro narrowed her eyes, "Where are they?!" she asked again. The woman scowled back, "Look you've already got one so far, why don't you just watch him for now. I can guarantee you that the others may still have some life force in them by the time you find them. Good bye for now!" The woman exclaimed as the mist appeared and disappear with her with no trace. 'How many forms can she take? And why did she give me Heisuke?' Haro thought as she brought Heisuke to his room in headquarters. Sitting next to him Haro felt guilty, "I just wanted to protect you and everyone else. This is all my fault." She murmured to herself. Just then another thought had Haro more curious about that shape shifting woman. 'How did she know who to attack? I don't recall meeting her before.' About to think who the woman might be a voice interrupted, "My lady the head captain asked me to come and get you. Who's that?" She said pointing to Heisuke. "He's a good friend of mine and….have I met you before? Your voice sounds familiar." She smiled, "Well of course I was the one who helped guided you when the lost ones attacked you. If you don't remember me, I was your right handed woman in your past life. Kiya Yakurachi ." She said bowing. (the female voice in ch.9) I nod, "If I must go back now then I will but this boy will come with." Kiya nodded and opened the portal. Carefully I lift Heisuke's arm over my shoulder and slowly stand up. I nodded back, "Alright we can go now." "Right!" Then they walked through the portal but did not arrive back at Soul city.
So this may not be a particularly happy chapter but it sure does bring up a question or two right? Thank you Yoshizawa Ayumu, for the recent review. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. Please review for chapter. till next time.