The night of Ito's assassination, I quitted the Guardians without regret and took my quarters back in the Shinsengumi. I was lent a small room a bit far from the captains quarters but since my second, Tetsuya, got a promotion, he was occupying the room for the third division's captain of the Shinsengumi. I didn't care. I was glad to be back. Inoue happily showed me around the new headquarters but in the night, I wasn't sure that i would recognize anything in the morning. I would probably be lost a bit for a time.
I wanted to see Chizuru as soon as possible since we had so much to talk about but i first put my things in my room and afterwards... I couldn't remember where her room actually was. I've only been once, three months ago, at night and with Souji leading the way... I decided to wait until morning anyway. There were some people hostile to my return, not believing that i actually did all this for the Shinsengumi, and wandering inside the headquarters at night and opening every door wouldn't really be a good plea in my favor. I sat in seiza on the tatami of my room and tried to meditate and ignore that Chizuru was only a few rooms away and that i could probably sneak in and...
« Saito !!! »
Chizuru !
I got out of my room in a hurry to find her running and colliding into a Rasetsu, mad with bloodlust.
« Saito... Here you a... » she stopped herself when she saw that the man in front of her and her eyes widden in fear as the Rasetsu unsheathed his blade.
« Get down ! » i shouted and i cut the Rasetsu open.
Luckily she had reacted very quickly, throwing herself on the ground and so, she was unharmed.
« Saito ! » she repeated, getting up.
« The Rasetsu finally lost control then... How unfortunate... » i muttered to myself, looking at the corpse at my feet. « Are you alright, Chizuru ? »
« Saito ! In the courtyard, Yamazaki and Inoue ! And Sannan is hurt ! And Shimada... » she yelled, looking all around her, terrified.
« Calm yourself. » i said, putting a hand on her head « and convey the situation to me. »
« Kazama's here ! He fought Sannan and the Rasetsu corp but he's killing them all ! I don't know if Sannan can take it any longer ! Yamazaki and Inoue are trying to stop him too ! » she stopped yelling for a second, wiping the tears in her eyes « it's all my fault... »
« It is not. Where is he ? » i asked, feeling the anger cursing through my veins but trying to stay impassive.
« In the courtyard... » she said.
She tried to follow me but her legs just wouldn't stop shaking and she couldn't move. Kazama really was that terrifying ? I looked at her, shivering on the floor and put my hand on her shoulder as i crouched in front of her.
« Do not worry. I have sworn to protect you and I will do so, regardless of circumstances. »
I felt her body still and i stood up, ready to face that Kazama Chikage who thought he could just come here unpunished and take Chizuru for a broodmare.
« Saito... Thank you... » she said, getting up as well.
We ran together to the courtyard where i found the blond demon engaged in combat with Yamazaki, Inoue and Shimada. The three of them were sweating and panting, their face a reflection of the intense battle they were fighting. Kazama, on the contrary, looked completely unfazed. Bodies were numerous on the ground and the air was thick with the stench of blood. How could a single man take down so many Rasetsu ? They were superior to humans in both strength and speed but i guess it wasn't enough to match a demon. Kazama was fighting three men at once and he was just standing still and not suffering a single scratch. He almost looked... bored.
« Yukimura ! » yelled Inoue with a smile « You brought Saito-kun ! Good. »
« Anyone hurt, please pull back ! » i shouted loud enough for everyone to hear « I will handle this. »
« You ? » said Kazama with an arrogant grin « Interesting. I was bored with all these weaklings anyway. »
« Saito ! Be careful ! » yelled Chizuru.
« I am here to put an end to your rampage. Or at least, try. Nonetheless, I have vowed to protect her, and so I will. » i said in my toneless voice.
I lowered my body and reached for my sword, preparing myself. But instead of taking a stance of his own, Kazama looked down on me for a moment. I could feel his power, his strength and how a difficult opponent he was. Without erasing his arrogant grin, he sheathed back his sword to my surprise, and slowly backed away.
« Are you fleeing ? » i asked, still impassive, focused.
I kept my stance without blinking, ready for any kind of trick he could try to play on me.
« Don't be insolent, dog. » he said in a low, arrogant voice « Unfortunately, I'm here today only to buy time for another. I am not here on personal business and i never intend to stay long. »
His eyes slid to Chizuru and his smile grew wider.
« Talking about personal business... » his hand showed the rampage around him « remember, Yukimura, that this is the fate of their fake demons. Surrender to the bloodlust and die like dogs. Do you really want to live surrounded by such filth ? You would be better off with your own kind. » he extended his hand towards her « Come. »
« N... No ! I won't. » she yelled.
Without quitting my defensive stance, i positioned myself in front of her, shielding her with my body. He snorted with disdain like I was nothing but a fly bothering him and adressed Chizuru once more.
« You will come. Maybe not today but you will. And you know it as much as I do. »
Kazama pulled his hand away slowly with a mischievous grin and got away, leaving behind all the deaths he was reponsible for. I finally let down my guard, taking my hand away from my sword and turned to Chizuru.
« Are you alright, Yukimura ? » i asked her.
« Yes. » she bowed « but only because you protected me, Saito. »
« I see. » i replied with a small smile.
« Inoue. » said Yamazaki « we have a problem. Some of the Rasetsu mad with bloodlust had got past us and entered the building. »
« How many casualties ? » asked Inoue, concern visible on his face.
« Not a soul. » answered the ninja « they were killed almost immediately. »
I heard a cough coming from the building and lifted my gaze to see Souji, his white sleeping nagajuban splattered with blood and his sword in hand, looking down on us with a smirk.
« Can't we just take a nap peacefully in here ? »
« Souji ! » bursted Inoue « you are too sick to fight ! »
« Guess I'm not that ill... Cough ! Cough, Cough ! »
Souji started spitting blood on the floor again and i ran to help him out.
« Don't touch me or i kill you right there ! » he yelled « just take the girl back to her room. »
I looked at the other men and they all nodded.
« Go, Saito. » said Yamazaki « I will take care of Okita. »
« Alright. » i nodded before I turned to Chizuru « let's go, Yukimura. »