The next morning Chizuru found herself sitting off to the side with Souzou, Sanosuke, Katsu, Hiko and Kenshin. This was going to be the last day or two that she was going to have with everyone she loved in the same place. After this, she and Souzou would take the boys and go to China for a spell.

But as she looked around she couldn't help but blink at everyone. To make it so that they blend in more with those that chose to wear the Western style of clothes, that is what they all had on. Though to her, none of them looked right in those clothes. And with the short hair since they all cut their hair. Even Toshizo. If she hadn't seen them here, she would not have recognized them walking down the street at all.

Feeling the small squeeze of the hand that hers rested in made her smile as she blushed slightly and looked up at Souzou. Even knowing that once they took care of the guy in the mask, she was going to basically lose most of the people she loved, knowing that she would be with him. And he would always protect her made her smile. They were going to be like a real family when they got to China.

With a sigh as he was the last one to walk in, Isami could feel all eyes on him as everyone turned to him with question in their eyes. They had already burned their Shinsengumi blue coats the night before, and everyone wore a Western style of clothes. But this was for the best, and would save countless lives. Which was better than leading them to what they knew would be their deaths.

Opening his eyes, Isami had emotions running wild in his eyes as he looked at the faces of what was left of the Shinsengumi. Taking a deep breath he crossed his arms. "When Kenshin Himura showed up here, he brought with him a scroll. It was a scroll from Lord Tokugawa to the enemy. He has admitted defeat." He then held his hand up as many of the lower ranking members jumped to their feet. "Sit down!"

Once it was quiet again he glared at them all. "That is not the worse part of it. He knows that we would rather die than to give in to the enemy. In the scroll Kenshin brought, it detailed what would happen to us. And just this morning Tokugawa's messenger brought orders to me personally. In three days, every member of the Shinsengumi, from all strongholds march to Osaka and board ships." Narrowing his eyes even more as his captains did as well, Isami fisted his hands. "However thanks to Kenshin and his scroll, I know now that we would not go to fight somewhere else. It would go to our death."

Before anyone could say anything, Isami was on his feet as he took a deep breath and held his head up high. "I will not lead you all to death. I have one favor to ask of all of you. And then the Shinsengumi will be disbanded and you can all go and live free. You will need to be careful though at first. They will be hunting for us."

Standing, Inoue gave a bow. "For that we will be most grateful Isami." Standing tall himself as he narrowed his own eyes, Inoue let his hand fall to his sword. "What favor is it that you want from us?"

"Thank you, Inoue." He then scanned everyone in the room. "Right after the Shinsengumi was formed by the captains and myself. There was one captain that was here then and left. Suzuki Mikisaburou was a good friend and a brave warrior. The Seikihoutai was turned on by the Imperial Army just as we have been the Tokugawa. There is a general that wears a mask not far from here. Help me take his head to repay the favor I owe my friend. The last thing he asked before he died. Can you do that for men?!"

As the men erupted in a chorus of screams, Toshizo stood and went to stand with the now standing Chizuru and Souzou. With a smile for Chizuru, then turning hard eyes to Souzou, he crossed his arms. "Souzou I know that you were too also a close friend of Suzuki's. However, with what is going on, and he surely knows what would happen. I do worry about Kazama showing up."

With his arm fully around Chizuru, Souzou nodded as he kept his own narrowed and stern eyes with Toshizo. "You are right he was a very close friend to me. And I do want to take part in taking the life of the bastard that killed him, and nearly killed me. However, I also know that if I don't make sure she is safe, Suzuki will have my head when I do see him next."

Pulling eyes to him, Hiko smiled down at the wide-eyed girl. "I will be with her and the boys then too." He then pointed to the small do on the side. "While the two of you were talking, Kenshin slipped out though. He is going back and staging a 'fight for the army' thing so that they don't suspect anything about what is going on. And then once you are all disbanded, he will just simply fade away." Crossing his arms as he glared at the door. "Then I will have to find his ass again and make him learn it."

Souzou nodded and then smiled as Chizuru turned her attention down to the boys as everyone drifted around talking. But he did sort of want Kazama to show up. That way he would be able to deal with him and Chizuru could finally live in peace and not always looking over her shoulders. As his master turned his eyes to him, he simply narrowed them and then nodded with him. They would keep her and the boys safe. And end Kazama Chikage once and for all.

X

Sitting at his desk, the general glared down at all the papers that he had before him. Who he talked to about where she was, and all the efforts he was making to find the girl and Souzou. But nothing was coming of it at all! It was like they just simply vanished off the face of the earth!

Slamming his hands on the desk, he stood up and started to pace. He hated that they got away. And when the higher ups heard from that Chikage that Souzou was still alive, he got his butt chewed good for it. "I have to find them. I will make him watch as I have my fun with the girl. Then she will watch as I take his head."

Hearing someone running fast outside the tent, the general looked up to find a soldier dropping to one knee just inside the tent. "This army has had but one mission to find Souzou and the girl. Have you found them? I told everyone not to bother me until they did."

Keeping bowed, the soldier was breathing hard. "I do bring news for you Sir, but not about the girl or the Seikihoutai Captain. We are surrounded and they are closing in fast!"

His eyes narrowing as Suzuki's words echoed through his head about sending a message to the Shinsengumi. And just his luck, he sent more than half his men back to be reassigned so he could move faster. "Are they the Shinsengumi?"

"We do not believe so. There are no blue coats."

Glaring through his mask, the general fisted his hands at his side. "Fine then. Go have everyone pull back and form a rank around the tent. Once there get the guns ready. It looks like we have a fight on our hands."