Hi, buddies!
Oh well, I know this update is a bit late than usual. It's because that I'm already in my last semester (Nooo, I don't want to tell you my actual age, I'm 15 forever!) so my mom thought that I have too much spare time (which is actually not true =.=) and she was like, 'Go and look for part-time job!'
So, currently I've been working on my portfolio since I'm going to apply as part-time junior graphic designer =.= Gaahh, welcome to society!
Hahaha, okay, for Tigerfighter98, don't kill me! DX *call Saito and tell him to save me lol XD* Sorry for trolling you, just read this chapter to see the ending, and don't see at the last part immediately even though I know you're curious :p
For Reaper, yeah actually I was thinking about making a M separate story haha :p but since I've poured all my ideas and heart to this one, It seems that I couldn't make it in a short time lol XD Maybe I'll consider it as my future project while editing this story, because when I re-read this again, I found some errors such as misspelling and grammatical errors (not sure about this, since my grammar really sucks =.=). Haha quite perfectionist XD I know beta reader is a good choice, but I just can't wait patiently since I want to update quickly XD
For DemonIncarnate, don't kill me, either! DX Yep actually I sorta like sad endings, too. Hahaha, but I hope you enjoy the ending of this story, whether it's sad or happy, just read it carefully and don't you dare peek at the last part! *evil laughs* As for cliches, hey I think cliche is good sometimes as long as you can put it in the right moment XD Okay dear, here's the update you demanded, since I don't want to join Kazama in hell! Hahahaha
Okay, my readers, let's enjoy the final chapter of The Frozen Sword! XD
THE FROZEN SWORD
CHAPTER 20: LIFE
...Where...am...I?
When Saito opened his eyes, he found himself floating in the air. He felt refreshed, he didn't feel that excruciating pain anymore. He looked above and saw a warm light from the moon, welcoming him. For a second, he felt happy and was about to go there before he remembered of something.
Slowly, he turned his gaze beneath. And there they were, Yamazaki, Hijikata, Nagakura, and Chizuru, crying loudly while holding his lifeless body and still trying to give him the air through a kiss, wishing it could bring him back to life.
Saito gasped upon seeing that. He quickly went down and stood next to Chizuru, and his body. He stared at his broken figure. It was horrible. It covered in blood, sweat, and dust, with bleeding holes all over it.
However, somehow he knew that he could still go back to that body, as long as he had not gone above, to the realm of dead.
He was about to enter his body when suddenly, a soft hand caught his wrist, preventing him from doing so. He looked behind and saw his first love whom he had killed, smiling gently at him.
"Let me go, Suzuka..," said Saito quietly. "I have to go back. Chizuru is waiting for me."
Suzuka shook her head, and tears started to form in her beautiful eyes. Her eyes did not have an evil aura anymore. This was Suzuka whom Saito loved many years ago, "Hajime, it's no use. Can't you see that? Your body is broken. Even if you go back, it will end up the same. You will be here again in a matter of seconds..."
"No, I won't," said Saito, and he stared at the crying Chizuru. He wanted to wipe her tears away. However, as a soul, he couldn't even touch her.
It was sad. Chizuru was so close, yet she didn't notice his presence. Saito closed his eyes and continued, "Yesterday, I was all alone...but now, here she is, together with me. She's the reason why I should live..."
Suzuka was silent for a moment, "You're so cold, Hajime...And here I am, waiting for you to join me...Now, I'm feeling sad. Speaking of which, how could you be so sure that you can go back? Chikage-san has pierced your heart, right? There's no way-"
"No, he missed it," Saito smiled to Suzuka with spark of hope in his voice. "My heart, my source of life is still there...Anyway, Suzuka, why are you still here? I believe this is the border of this world and realm of dead, right? You've died for months..."
Suzuka giggled and gave Saito a wink, "Well, ever heard of phrase that 'demon rules hell'? I can go anytime, but I don't want to leave this world before you join me...I know this will eventually happen, though. That's why I'm waiting for you..,"
The woman in white tightened her grip on Saito's hand, "I'm grateful that you killed me, Hajime. It made me come back to my right senses now, and here I am, Suzuka you used to know..." She leaned her body against Saito's chest and whispered, "Now, let's go together. Forget all the pain, you're going to live happily with me..."
However, Saito pushed Suzuka's slender body and stared at her blue-sky eyes, "I can't do that. Even though I have to go through that great pain again, it doesn't matter to me. As long as she's here, I'll be alive...Now, let go of my hand, Suzuka...Even I know that my time here is limited. I can't waste any seconds, before it's too late and I can't go back to my body..."
Suzuka glanced at Saito and she let out a sigh, "Well, you're smarter than I thought...True, I'm holding your hand like this to prevent you from going, also to kill the time, so you can't go back anymore..." She loosened her grip and touched Saito's face with sparkling tears hanging on the corner of her eyes, "Just how much do you love that woman?"
"I don't know but..," Saito paused for a moment, recalling all the lovely memories with Chizuru for the past seven years. "...Before I knew it, I've fallen in love with her, although I always denied it at first...This is the best feeling I've ever felt in my life..."
"Ah, I see...You love her much more than you loved me then," said Suzuka, looking jealous, and then she let Saito's hand go. "But I don't think you could say such words to her, right?"
Saito felt the heat rising on his cheeks, "Don't tease me, Suzuka..."
The demon queen chuckled, "You're so cute, Hajime...Alright, I'll let you go. If you really love her, I don't think I can force you to go with me. But, as a gratitude for letting you go, could you give me a warm parting kiss?"
"I can't do that to any other women except Chizuru."
"Hajime, you're too cold..."
"I couldn't help it..."
"Okay, go to her, and don't come back here. Because if you do, I'll never let you go again..." With that, Suzuka pushed Saito's back gently.
Before entering his fragile body, Saito tilted his head to Suzuka, looking at his first love for the last time, "Speaking of which, why don't you look for your husband instead? Although he didn't show it, he loves you..."
"Yes, I think I'll do that...I'm going to give Chikage-san another chance, since you have dumped me, Hajime..."
"Sorry..."
"See? You're cute and cold at the same time...Now, go..."
Without looking back, Saito entered his body. Suddenly, he felt that a lot of sword thrusts pierced his already broken figure. He wanted to scream in agony, anything to distract himself from the pain, although he didn't have strength anymore to do that. He coughed and gasped, wishing to inhale the air after so long, but he couldn't breathe.
"...S-Saito-san?" Chizuru's eyes widened upon seeing that. Her face was just inches from Saito's. Saito could see that her face had been covered in tears and also his blood.
His vision was getting blurry once again. But this time, he refused to close his eyes. Chizuru was here, she had come to look for him, she had shed her tears just to see him alive and fulfill his promise. How could he disappoint her for the second time?
"C-Chi..zuru..," Saito coughed once again. His chest heaving up and down roughly. But just one second after that, Chizuru had put her mouth over his again and blew the breath of life into his lungs. She noticed that Saito couldn't breathe, and she didn't want to let go of this man again. This familiar and warm feeling was something that Saito had been longing for in his lonely misery.
Saito could barely hear Yamazaki's desperate orders to Hijikata and Nagakura. It looked like Yamazaki told them to clean Saito's dirty body and take some medical stuffs immediately upon seeing the once dead man opened his eyes. Saito could just see Chizuru's face. She was crying again, she stroked his tangled and bloodstained hair while kept giving him the oxygen. She paused constantly to say something like 'Live', 'Don't die', or whatever, Saito couldn't hear her voice clearly. He was grateful enough that Chizuru was here, trying to save his life. Slowly, his frail figure was lifted from the pool of blood and moved to a cleaner area.
After hours of frustation, he felt his senses slowly came back. He could feel that Hijikata and Nagakura helping Yamazaki cleaned and bandaged up his horrible injuries, while Chizuru kept preventing him from death by filling up his lungs with air. She looked really exhausted, but she didn't care.
"Are you sure, Yamazaki?" Saito could hear Hijikata's stern voice. "With such condition, he will definitely die if you do that!"
"I'm afraid I don't have any other choices, Vice Commander," said Yamazaki. "But some of his wounds have refused to close. The bleeding doesn't stop. This is the only way to save him...I have to cauterize him..."
Chizuru lifted her lips from Saito's before she looked at Yamazaki and spoke quietly, "Yamazaki-san, if you do that, Saito-san most likely will..." She couldn't continue her words and cried loudly.
Saito gathered all his strength to speak. He didn't feel afraid of a thing called cauterization, which was already the last choice, if it really could save his life. Never in his life, he wanted to live this much. He whispered with a really weak voice, "Do it..."
His comrades' eyes, including Chizuru's, widened upon hearing his words. Nagakura went closer to him and asked quietly, "Are you sure, Saito? With your condition right now, it could kill you instead of saving your life..."
"I want...to live..," murmured Saito, and he turned his sapphire eyes, which were about to lose their light, to Chizuru. "For...our future..."
Chizuru covered her mouth with her hands, trying to hold back her tears. Saito didn't betray her. He really wanted to live so he could stay together with her. He didn't even mind suffering just to live, when normal people would prefer death at this rate. She felt really guilty for doubting him before.
Yamazaki nodded and he took a long iron from his bag. Nagakura and Hijikata helped him to make the fire. While they doing this, Chizuru smiled at Saito and caressed his face, "Saito-san...you really come back..."
Saito wanted to touch her, but he still couldn't move his body. Almost all his bones were cracked. But then he heard Chizuru whispered, "That's alright...Don't force yourself..." Her tears fell gently on Saito's skin. "Saito-san, I'm sorry...I doubted you...I didn't even know that you have suffered and struggled this much, just to live..."
"I'm sorry...too..," said Saito weakly, and then he almost lost his breath again before Chizuru kissed him one more time. After a moment, he could breathe, although it was still unstable. Chizuru kept telling him not to force himself, whether it was to speak or move. She gave Saito a scowl, but the tears had never left her chocolate eyes.
Chizuru...your acting to look tough is so poor like usual...
"Are you ready, Saito?" asked Yamazaki, while holding the red-heated iron. This was a crucial matter, Saito's life depended on this. Even if the wounds were already closed, there was a high possibility that Saito couldn't endure such pain with already severely injured body like that. Yamazaki kept praying in silence so he didn't kill his own comrade.
"Yes...Please..," whispered Saito, ready for the worst pain ever. He could feel that Hijikata and Nagakura held his hands down. Actually, it was not necessary, since he didn't have strength to move or struggle against them.
Chizuru sat next to Saito's head. She kept stroking his face and hair, letting him feel her touch, encouraging him so he knew that this time, he wouldn't endure the pain alone, "I won't doubt you again. I'll completely trust you. You shall not die, because you're a true warrior, who never breaks his promise..."
Saito gazed at her, and slowly, Yamazaki touched the hot metal on his wound. Saito widened his eyes in agony. It was torture. He wanted to scream, he wanted to knock Yamazaki off, but all he could do was only gasping while his body was already wet by sweat and blood. The smell and sound of burning flesh filled the air of a summer night.
Hijikata and Nagakura squeezed their eyes shut while kept holding Saito's hands down. They couldn't bring themselves to see their friend suffered in such painful and tormenting way. When finally Yamazaki had finished cauterizing that wound, he worked on another. Saito had to endure this torture many times in order to live.
"Saito-san! Be strong! I know you can do it!" Saito heard the shaking voice of the girl he loved, and felt her touch when she wiped off sweat from his face. The girl he wished to live with, the girl whom he had promised to come back alive...
It was already morning when finally the bleeding stopped and Yamazaki finished wrapping all his injuries. But even so, the bandages already drenched in sweat. Saito closed his eyes, breathing heavily, but he knew that he wouldn't die this time. He had given his all for a new life with Chizuru.
Even though he closed his eyes due to exhaustion, Chizuru didn't slap or scold him not to sleep. She let Saito rest, because she believed that this man she loved wouldn't forget his promise. The girl just brushed his face with her small fingers and Saito could feel her tears dripping on his face, "You did it, Saito-san..."
Saito said nothing. He was really tired, and gently, his body was lifted and laid on the stretcher. He opened his eyes slightly. It was Nagakura who held him. The big man looked down at Saito and grinned, "Well, I feel some sort of déjà vu right now. I did this seven years ago when we saved you from the fire...Don't you feel glad that I treat you gently once in a while, eh Saito?
Saito smiled. True, this time, his comrades and his beloved woman were here. He was not alone anymore. Slowly, he closed his eyes again and murmured, "Shut up, Shinpachi...It's disgusting..."
Chizuru covered Saito's body with her present, the dark blue haori, to protect him from the summer heat while they walking back to Shinsengumi Headquarters, their home. Saito felt the comfort warmness all over his body. He gave Chizuru a weak but genuine smile before falling asleep.
After a long journey, they arrived at the manor. The captains and warriors cheered in relief upon seeing Saito. But when they realized that Saito was severely wounded, and almost died, they quickly brought him to Doctor Matsumoto, for more intensive treatments.
Saito was still asleep while Doctor Matsumoto treating him. He didn't regain conciousness even after a few days. Everyone was worried, but Chizuru just told them that all Saito need was a good rest. This time, she completely trusted him that he would open his eyes, and they would watch the moon together.
True to her words. One night, Saito finally opened his eyes. He tilted his head and saw the sleeping face of her beloved woman. Chizuru seemed exhausted. She grabbed a wet towel with water basin, medicinal herbs, and bandages laid carelessly next to her, while her other hand wrapping around Saito's lean body.
Although it was still difficult for Saito to move, he touched Chizuru's face gently with his shaking hand. The girl woke up immediately due to that familiar touch. Saito thought that she was going to pull him from the bed and hug him tight, just like what she did seven years ago, when he regained consciousness after a long coma.
But Chizuru just sobbed and gave him a smile, full of relief, "Thank goodness..," She rested her head on Saito's chest before lifting it up again and glanced at Saito with guilty look, "Sorry...Is that hurt?"
Saito shook his head, "No, that's alright..," Then he chuckled and spoke, although it was still hurt when he did it, "But I'm quite surprised. I didn't think your reaction could be that calm upon seeing me woke up..."
Chizuru moved her body closer to Saito, and she brushed his face while lying next to the wounded warrior. "Of course, I also did this many years ago. I know that you would eventually wake up...Why should I feel surprised?"
Saito closed his eyes, recalling that moment. Chizuru had always been there in his most hopeless moments, and made a miracle at such times. He whispered, "Sorry, Chizuru...You have to take care of me again..."
"Not at all...I'm glad as long as I can be with you," said Chizuru softly, but then she gave Saito a wide grin, "Just make sure that you'll get well soon, or I'll punish you for delaying your promise for too long."
"Then, I won't delay it for too long...Let's see the moon, now," Saito tried to get up from the bed, but he still couldn't move his body freely. He clenched his teeth in pain.
Chizuru glared at him, "Saito-san!"
Saito gave up and Chizuru helped him to lay down again, "Alright, forgive me..." Minutes after that, he was already sleeping one more time. Chizuru glanced at her lover's charming face and landed a kiss on his cheek before also falling asleep next to him.
A lot of big parties were held to celebrate this grand victory, and Saito became the main hero once again. With this, Shinsengumi received more fortunes for their achievement. It also meant less work for them, since the pureblood lineage had ended with Suzuka's and Kazama's deaths, and the remaining weak oni had hidden themselves in shadow, far from humanity.
Even so, Shinsengumi was still entrusted to guard the town. They kept training their swordsmanship, although they didn't use it too often anymore. They had become the symbol of eternal peace, and honored as a group of legendary warriors.
Half a year later...
Saito was sitting in front of his room. He sipped a cup of warm tea while gazing at the beautiful falling snowflakes, accompanied by the elegant moon above. It was winter already, and being in snow had always made him feeling happy and comfortable. Snow was also the witness of his first encounter with Chizuru, the meeting that had changed his life forever.
But where is Chizuru? Usually she would join me here...Maybe she's busy with something?
Saito sighed and he walked to the garden. His body still had not healed completely, but it didn't matter to him. He stood there in the middle of snowfield, letting the snowflakes fell and melt on his face. Strange, seven years ago, he did this while invading the headquarters, as Shinsengumi's enemy and an emotionless boy who was good at nothing but killing. But now, he was Shinsengumi's best swordsman, the hero of the war. His current self also could smile more often and wear more expressions.
Suddenly, he heard something from the bushes, but he just chuckled. He walked closer to the source of the sound, and just as he expected, Chizuru was playing with snow while hiding behind the bushes.
"Got you," Saito wrapped his hands around Chizuru's neck, making the girl surprised. "But, what are you doing here, Chizuru? You're not a little girl anymore, you know..."
Chizuru turned her body around and gave Saito a scowl, "I can ask the same thing to you. You're still hurt, you should be in bed, what are you doing here?"
Saito wanted to answer her when he saw something on Chizuru's hands. He smiled and stroked her hair, "Did you make that snow rabbit for me?"
"..Um..I..," Chizuru blushed and hesitantly gave the snow rabbit on her palms to Saito. "Because...I think you might be bored in your room...So, I..."
But she couldn't continue her words, because suddenly she felt a warm tenderness on her lips. She could see Saito's handsome features closely while he kissed her, the kiss that she had been waiting for after so long. Saito broke the kiss after a long time and took the snow rabbit from Chizuru, "Thank you for this...Now, I'll go back to my room, so you wouldn't scold me..," But when he was about to enter his room, he tilted his head to Chizuru, "And also thank you, for finding me seven years ago, and filling my once dark life with light...I'm eternally grateful..."
However, Chizuru ran to him with a red face and pulled his sleeve so they were in the middle of garden once again. Saito glanced at her with confused look, but Chizuru just whispered, looking embarrassed, "Stay here with me. I won't scold you. We used to watch snow together, remember? Also...we can see the moon from here...You haven't forgotten your promise, right?"
Saito smiled and circled one of his hands around Chizuru's shoulder, "How could I forget something precious like that?"
They spent their time together in the white wonderland, gazing at the moon and also falling snowflakes. It was a perfect atmosphere. The snowy weather reminded them of the moment when they first met, and the moon reminded Chizuru of Saito's promise, when they had confessed their feelings to each other. The past and future...nostalgia and hope...now joined together in a warmhearted harmony.
"You know, Saito-san..," Chizuru leaned her head against Saito's chest and embraced his body. "With this eternal peace, maybe we wouldn't need swords anymore...Does it make you sad? I know you've lived with swords and they are important part of your life..."
"I don't need swords to become a warrior..," said Saito quietly while kept looking at the night sky. "The most important thing is what's in my heart..,"
But then, suddenly Chizuru saw the blush spreading on Saito's cheeks. She giggled and caressed his face. When Saito blushed, it meant that he couldn't bring himself to say something, "What is it, Saito-san? What do you want to say?"
Realizing that Chizuru had read his mind, Saito closed his eyes and tried to avoid Chizuru's eyes, "C-Chizuru...about my another promise...I actually want to hold it t-this year, but since I got severely wounded...I-I have to delay it, but I promise you...Next year we will..."
"Eh? What do you mean, Saito-san?" asked Chizuru. She didn't get it. But Saito just murmured with a very low voice, "Y-You're too slow, don't make me say it again...I'm talking about-"
"YOUR MARRIAGE, OF COURSE!" Okita's loud happy voice made Saito and Chizuru jumped. To make it worse, when they turned around with red faces, they also saw Heisuke, Nagakura, Harada, Kondou, and surprisingly, Hijikata, although it looked like he was forced to join them judging by his bored expression.
"...S-Since when did you-" Saito's eyes widened in shock, but then Okita approached him and patted his shoulders, "Even the strongest warrior couldn't notice the enemy's presence when he's with his girlfriend...Right, Hajime-kun? But we're really surprised that you could say such thing like 'I don't need swords, the most important thing is-"
"Souji!" Saito shouted in embarrassment and he chased Okita, who could run faster than him this time, since Saito's body was still hurt. The rest of Shinsengumi laughed upon seeing that very rare scene.
Chizuru was still blushing when her friends walked closer to her, minus Okita and Saito, who had drawn their katana somewhere out there.
"Well, Saito is quite a ladies' man huh? Who on earth could think that someone cold and serious like him could propose to a girl?" said Harada.
Kondou sighed, "But I didn't really expect that Saito would get married first...Now I feel like an old man."
Chizuru still couldn't say anything when Heisuke patted her back, "Don't worry, Chizuru! Although Hajime-kun is cold, but actually he's a good guy! I'm sure that he will protect you and..," Heisuke lowered his voice and grinned, "...your children..."
"Heisuke-kun!" Now, Chizuru's face was deep crimson color. She chased Heisuke but she was smiling inside. They said that Saito was a cold and serious person, but they didn't know that Saito only showed his warm and romantic side to her.
She stopped while looking at Saito, who had come back with irritated expression on his face. Okita was behind him, looking satisfied. Saito glared at him, and Chizuru held his hand before someone got killed.
The eternal peace had come...and she was going to start a new life with the only man she ever loved in her life, surrounded by her best friends. With those thoughts, Chizuru gazed at the sky and smiled while kept holding Saito's hand.
So, it's next year, huh? It's like my dream has finally come true...to be able with you, together and forever...
...Alright...After I felt satisfied enough by shedding your tears in the previous chapter...*killed by the readers*, I present this happy ending for you all! XD
I hope you like it, guys! Hahaha. It's an honor for me that you read this story until the last chapter T_T *feeling touched* Thank you for all the reviewers, readers who have added this fanfiction to their favorite list, and all of you who have spared your time to read it! XD
But..but...Okay, I know I said this one would be the final chapter...BUT IT'S NOT THE END, I'm planning to make EPILOGUE chapter after this kyaaa~
I hope I could finish it before weekend, oh damnn portfolio~ T_T Oh well, should I feature the sexy and lime Saito again? 3:D Since it's the last, maybe...just maybe...I'll break the rule a bit, just a bit hohoho XD (P.S.: Dear Reaper-san, I hope you cry in happiness while reading this sentence hahahaha)
Okay, as always, please REVIEW and thanks for reading! XD
LOVE YOU ALL!