Chapter 29: Demons

"STOP!!" Misao screamed and wrapped herself around Shu.

"Get off me Misao!" Shu tried to push her away but he was surprised at the strong grip that wrapped both his arms.

Misao closed her eyes, refusing to budge. A clatter of sword blades came from behind and she blinked. Was she dead? She blinked again. Was –Shu- dead? Spinning around she looked up and then over her back, Aoshi's twin kodachis were interlocked with Saitou's katana.

"Tch." Saitou not removing his sight from Aoshi, addressed Misao, "Weasel… You could've easily dodged. A good kunoichi would've done so." The wolf nodded to Chou and the swordhunter quickly wrestled the knife from Shu.

"Well…" She never had time for a comeback as Eiji and Chou took Shu from her grip, tying him up effortlessly. Rising to her feet, she shook her head. "What are you two doing? Aoshi-sama! Please put down your kodachis!"

In one graceful movement Aoshi sheathed his sword and turned his back. Content, the wolf did the same.

"Your Okashira is quite a heated man." Misao could hear the annoyance in Saitou's voice.

"You're quite heated yourself! There was no way Shu could've beaten you."

"You proved to be a quite a handicap weasel. You could've simply –jumped-!" Gritting his teeth he moved away from her and inspected Shu's bondage.

"Well maybe next time you would listen when I try to tell you something…"

"And let your Aoshi-sama skewer both of you to pieces?" Saitou got up and threw an angry look towards Aoshi's direction. "The oniwaban will have to reimburse me for the sword. It's chipped and of hardly any use."

"Aoshi-sama would never hurt me."

"Of course. Not –intentionally-." Jerking Shu to his feet the wolf pushed past her, "Better run off to Aoshi-sama weasel."

"Why are you being a jerk?" Misao planted her feet firmly, blocking their path.

"Because, I told you to stay put. Now move aside! I have –work- to do." This time Saitou forced his way past her and silently she followed.

"Bandages and hot water!" Megumi shouted at Eiji and Chou. Men… They were good at fighting but not caring for themselves, the future doctor mused and wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Move faster!"

"We're coming already!" Eiji shouted back. "Who does she think she is?" He whispered to Chou.

"She's da' boss for now." Chou answered back, "At least until Fujita says this game is over."

"Wish he'd do something instead of just smoking there." Eiji whined.

"WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG?"

"COMING!!"

It was almost morning when Megumi and the rest finished. The group was huddled in the tatami room asleep, their patient watched over by Aoshi's unwavering gaze. Saitou shook the old man awake and led him outside.

"I would guess you already have an inkling of what's going on here." Saitou lighted a cigarette and offered one to the old man but the latter declined.

"Only bits and pieces of what I gathered from Shinomori-kun." The old man bobbed his head slightly, "Something to do with Toshi?"

"Yes that's correct."

"Earlier I heard a commotion, he was claiming to be Toshizou's son?"

"He mentioned the name Naito Hayato, but there is a discrepancy as he did not use that until he left Kyoto. If this was his son, he would only be at most Eiji's age." Saitou lowered his cigarette, "As far as I know, the Fukuchou although he had associations in Shimabara had not had a son."

"He would've been careful in that regard."

"Indeed?"

"He was set to marry here once but he left her to join the Shinsengumi."

Saitou chuckled slightly, showing his disbelief.

"You do know he wrote poems as well…" The old man tapped his cane.

"With all due respect Hijikata-san… We're not talking about those badly written poems of his."

"Not all of them were bad. The best ones were written under a pseudo-name…" The old man chuckled softly, "He would read them to me when he was younger, Yoshitoyo was quite the poet."

"Please Hijikata-san… Let's get back to the issue in question. We need to establish this young man's identity." Saitou sighed.

"Saitou-kun… Let us wait for tomorrow." Tamejiro stood up slowly, "And it seems someone's been wanting to talk to you." The blind man nodded to the darker part of the engawa where the silhouette of a young woman slowly solidified. "I am going inside for some much needed rest."

She said her goodnights to Tamejiro and inched her way to where Saitou sat. Sitting a few yards away from him.

"I didn't notice you were listening in on us. Not bad weasel." He didn't grin but instead puffed on his cigarette.

"I –can- be good at something."

"I know that."

She hated it when he was silent. "You're still angry aren't you?"

"Of course."

"I'm sorry then." She looked across at him.

"If you're sorry then you shouldn't sit so damn far away. What are you some frightened child?"

"Please stop saying that."

"Then come and sit beside me. Stop being afraid. Remember you did throw soba bowls at me several times."

Slowly she inched her way towards him. She couldn't quite understand his moods sometime. "You're so damn hard to read Hajime." She finally blurted out.

"And yet you still come…"

"Don't think too much of yourself! I came all the way here thinking you were in trouble and all…" Quickly he silenced her. A long and savoring kiss that she found herself lost in, she reached and touched the nape of his neck. The tastes of cigarettes were there but she didn't mind it at all. Finally he let her lips go and grinned.

"I'll tell you the truth. I rather would've stayed –earlier-."

She smiled back at him. "And I thought…"

"That I got what I wanted?" He chuckled softly, "Misao… I am –far- from –done-."

"So it would seem." A very icy voice came from behind them and Misao gawked.

"Aoshi-sama…"

"Get inside Misao. I have unfinished business with Saitou." The Okashira crossed his arms. Misao started to get up but Saitou pulled her down and stood up himself.

"There's nothing you can say to me that she cannot be allowed to hear."

Aoshi almost smirked, "Why don't you tell her then that you had agreed to leave her a few days ago? Or is the temptation of sharing her bed too much deny? It is a shame Okina had trusted you."

Saitou clicked his tongue, wanting to draw his sword and just settle it right there. But the sheer look of horror on Misao's face stopped his hand and instead he rested it on his swordguard.

"I'll admit Shinomori that her bed –is- enticing… But you wouldn't know that." The wolf smirked proudly, "But why is it that you are so intent in getting Misao back into the Oniwaban? I'd dare say it's rather suspicious at this point. Don't take me for a fool, you had only wanted her to take your place for your own good. A certain Megumi perhaps? In this we are the same."

"And you would let her ruin herself in the eyes of Okina?" For once Aoshi raised his voice.

Closing in on Aoshi, Saitou spat, "If ruin means that she makes her own choices, then yes."

"STOP IT! JUST STOP IT THE TWO OF YOU!" Misao got in between them, her head cast down. Shakily she mutters, "I don't understand why the two of you always keep on fighting like this. Just for this time, at least until everyone's gotten some rest... When things settle down. PLEASE JUST STOP..."

Somehow the weasel managed to dissipate the air of hostility between the two men. Aoshi retreated back into the house, while Saitou just stood there for a moment, turned away and lighted another cigarette.

"You shouldn't let him treat you like that." Saitou mumbled more to himself than the weasel.

"You shouldn't speak ill of Aoshi-sama." Misao stood her ground waiting for his rebuttal but he shrugged her off. "Aoshi-sama has been good to me. He has helped us. Like Okina, I do not want to be..."

Saitou watched her from the corner of his eyes, "Sullied?"

Quietly Misao answered, "You shouldn't speak of me that way."

"Sorry..." The wolf grunted slightly. "No. I do not think of you that way. And yes, I suppose I lost my temper with Shinomori."


Later that morning...

"Is he awake?" Hijikata Tamejiro inquired as he entered the room.

"He's still asleep Hijikata-san." Megumi stood up and helped the blind elderly man to a chair. "Would you get us some tea Aoshi?"

Aoshi nodded and left the room, returning shortly with the tea and placing it on the table.

"Where is Saitou? I would like for him to be here when Shu awakes." Gingerly the old man unwrapped a worn box in his hand. "Takani sensei, how is my nephew doing?"

"He suffered some slight wounds and some broken ribs. He will probably be bed-ridden for a few days but he should recover quickly." Megumi kept it to herself that the cop managed to not malign the young man as badly as she would've imagined, given Saitou's reputation to be a relentless killer.

"Hmmm that is good to hear." The old man nodded. "Who else is here?"

"Just Aoshi, Misao and I. The rest aside from Saitou went back to the Capital" Megumi handed the old man some tea. "May I look at this?"

"Yes. Please... It's an old momento."

Misao inched up closer to Megumi as she took out an old photograph. "Who is he?" asked Misao.

A soft smile planted itself on the old man lips, "He is my younger brother, Hijikata Toshizou."

Aoshi looked up, his interest peaked, "You mean the Demon Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi. The one who once commanded over 400 men in the Shinsengumi. The brains of their operation."

"Some would call him that yes. That picture was taken back here by his page Tetsunosuke. It was taken in Hokkaido."

"You mean during the battle of Hakodate in Goryokaku. The failed battle for a new republic."

Tamejiro nodded. "I'm surprised you know so much Aoshi. Can someone please find the letters dated spring of 1865?"

Misao who had the box in her hand started rummaging through it. "Here it is..."

"Find the others, one from Summer in 1867 and another on January 1869." Hijikata Tamejiro requested.

"Yes I found it..." Misao held the three letters in her hand.

"Those letters were written by Toshi while the Shinsengumi was under his command. Please take your time to read it and when you are finished leave them beside Shu."

Misao carefully unfolded the letter written in Spring and read it out loud, "Ani-ue, I was very glad to return to Hino once again. Although we did not spend much time there, it was a success. We had recruited over 50 members in this trip alone. Saitou who accompanied me on this trip is handling the lodgings at Kyo-ya. We will need some more battle gear if you could please inform Matasaguro-san... I cannot wait to get the new recruits under training, I have promoted Saitou from the fourth captain to the third captain in the hopes that he will step up and train our new recruits. Next time I am there I will find the time to share some sake with you..."

Aoshi raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly... Was the famed Demon Vice-Commander able to write such a casual letter? Megumi herself was surprised to find that Saitou was the fourth captain, Kenshin had only mentioned him as the third. Misao quietly continued with the other letter written in summer of 1867. "Ani-ue, I am concerned about your eyesight. Has it really deteriorated that badly? Please take care of it. Do not let it deter like how Kyoto has detered in the last few months, dragging the Shinsengumi along with it. This is only between you and I but the insubordination against Kondou-san has heightened due to a sly fox. You probably know him, Ito Kashitarou, Todou's teacher in the Hokushin Itto Ryu. However there is no need to worry, someone has taken care of the matter. Saitou-kun has foiled the assasination attempt at Kondou by volunteering to leave the Shinsengumi and joining Ito. The only problem now is I do not know how to let him back into the Shinsengumi without breaking our laws. It is unfortunate but perhaps I shall ask him to leave the Shinsengumi for good to avoid sentencing him to an unreasonable punishment of sepukku. I am still thinking about it. There is not much time to write, please send my regards to sister and her husband."

Everyone was quiet at this point. None of them noticed that Shu lied awake staring at the ceiling. Misao herself was quick to procure the third letter. There were so many things she did not know. She continued...

"This is probably the last letter I will write. There are so many things to say but so little time. You will forgive me if I am not detailed in this letter. You must've heard of our defeat in Sendai and Aizu. I was wounded on the foot during the time and had let Saitou take over the command of the combined forces of the Shinsengumi and the Sendai troops. We lost half of our men during this time, perhaps it was my fault, but I chose the next most capable leader to handle the troops after Kondou was captured. I feel I have done Saitou a disservice but indeed, in any angle I looked at it, even I would've been hard pressed to do any better. Unfortunately Aizu did not heed Saitou's warning about needing more reinforcements in Bonari Pass and the new government army was able to invade the area. I felt that it was a lost cause and after speaking with Enamoto and Ootori, we all decided to move north to Hakodate and establish a new Japan, as it is impossible to secure Sendai and Aizu. Unfortunately, some of the men including my appointed commander are fiercely loyal to their cause and refuses to give up the northern regions. I have parted ways with them, with no ill feelings between us. Sadly no amount of my prayers to Buddha for our cause has been effective. I have heard they captured Aizu and burned down the castle, while the men of the Shinsengumi who stayed to fight there has been held prisoners. I pray for their fair treatment, they were good soldiers. For now I leave you this letter, as I am writing this, Hakodate has been invaded and the last remaining stronghold is where I am at in Goryokaku. Here the men are falling like flies... It is perhaps fate that I am fighting a losing battle but I am resolved just like the last remaining men of the Shinsengumi to fight the best of my battle for this country. I leave you my sword and a most recent photograph. One last thing, please take care of the bearer of this mesage, he is my faithful page Ichimura Tetsunosuke."

Misao folded the letter and carefully replaced it back to the box. Again the room was in a defeaning silence until a voice came from the back, "I would like to meet Ichimura-san..."

"That would be impossible, Shu." Saitou stared at the young man lying on the futon.

The group in the room looked towards the door. Misao herself however glanced at the floor, choking back her tears. Never in her life did she imagine it was like this back then. Suddenly she remembered the night at the Aoiya rooftops. The stories back there was light, full of life and hope. How could she have been so naive?

"Why?" Shu turned his head instead as his back still bothered him.

"Much like the rest of the Shinsengumi, Tetsunosuke is dead. He died in the Seinan wars."

Aoshi crossed his arms. It was known to him that the cop had enlisted under the banner of the Meiji government in that war, which would mean Saitou fought against his old compatriots... Possibly even against Ichimura Tetsunosuke. He stole a glance at Shu, then at Misao, finally his eyes settled on the older Hijikata Tamejiro. Certainly, he told himself, that the old man knew of this, but if the old man wasn't talking, Aoshi decided there was no need to complicate matters.

"Is that so..." Shu blinked, "I wanted to know more. A first hand account... -Something-..."

Misao took the photograph from Megumi and sat beside Shu, "You can learn more when you get better Shu." She tried to smile brightly, "Your father was a courageous man."

Megumi touched Misao's shoulder, "Misao-chan, let's leave Shu and Hijikata-san alone for now?"

"Yes." Leaving the box beside the young man, the rest vacated the room.

Aoshi and Megumi went outside to the small garden while Misao ran towards the back-end of the house where she saw the wolf quietly disappear to. Entering the guest room, she saw him looking out the window. Quietly she approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist, to which he made no protest.

Remember Misao? In Shingetsu village he told you he just came back from the Seinan wars...