« Who's here ? » i asked Haruhi calmly.
« I don't know ! She looks like Chizuru-neechan and she wants to take her away ! » she explained, grabbing my kimono « I stayed outside and listened... I know it's not polite... and she says she has a letter and is Chizuru's family and that Chizuru's a prisoner here or whatever ! »
« Alright. » i said, detaching her hands from my kimono « you don't speak to anyone about this. I'll go. »
« Even Chizuru ? » she asked.
« I said anyone. » i confirmed.
« Okay... What do I do then ? Can I come with you ? »
« No. » i said as I took the direction of Kondou-san's office.
The girl was probably Kaoru and she was starting to get on my nerves for real. Chizuru wasn't willing to go with her last time, she wasn't willing to go this time and I would make sure that Kaoru understands the message. I knew it was bad from me to hide Kaoru's presence to Chizuru but I didn't wanted her to go through the emotional hurricane that took over her the previous time. I didn't mind her demonic form but still, I wasn't sure it was a good idea to have it witnessed by all the others. I needed to protect her.
« Sochô. » i called from behind the shoji.
« H-Ha ! Saito ! Come in ! »
I entered and bowed to Kondou-san. He seemed extremely nervous, all the contrary of his host, Kaoru, who was smiling at me as if we were long lost friends.
« Saito Hajime » she bowed « What a pleasure to see you. Please, sit with us. »
Kondou-san seemed on the verge of objecting but he changed his mind and nodded. I sat in front of him, next to Kaoru, and resisted the urge to put my sword through her delicate little neck.
« As I was explaining to Kondou-san, I am here to pick up my little sister. » she said with a kind smile.
I didn't say anything but inside, I was shocked. A sister ? Chizuru was an only child.
« I have here a letter from her father, Yukimura Kodo, asking for the release of his daughter, Yukimura Chizuru, that has been held captive by the Shinsengumi. » she explained, showing the letter in Kondou-san's hands. « I know you didn't molest or torment her but she has been you prisoner for long enough. It is time for her to come back to her family. »
I stayed silent and exchanged a glare with Kondou-san. At his uncomfortable attitude, I knew that the subject of the marriage hadn't been brought up yet in this conversation. I don't know what Kondou-san's intentions were but I wasn't planning on letting Chizuru go.
« You can't ignore that the shogunate army has left Osaka and is currently marching towards Kyoto. This city is going to turn into a warfare in a few weeks, maybe days. Yukimura Chizuru isn't safe anymore in the Shinsengumi. We will not allow her to die with the rest of you. She must be freed at once and accompany me. »
« I'm afraid this is impossible. » i said in my toneless voice.
« How so ? » she asked with a wry smile.
« There is no Yukimura in the Shinsengumi. » i answered calmly.
« Saito-kun... » started Kondou-san but he stopped immediately, sensing the changement of atmosphere in the room. Kaoru lost her smile and gritted her teeths in anger but I kept an emotionless face.
« So you're going to tell me that my beloved sister Chizuru isn't there ?! » she yelled « do you really think that'll work ?! »
« There is a Chizuru. » i said calmly « Saito Chizuru. Not Yukimura. »
« You dared... » hissed Kaoru with furious anger and I just smirked.
« I believe that Saito Chizuru is under the responsibility of her husband first and foremost. Her father has no authority on her whatsoever anymore. » i continued in my toneless voice.
« Who do you think you are ?! » yelled Kaoru « stealing my lovely sister away ?! You're already a dead man ! »
« If it is my fate to die, I will accept it. » i said with humility « however, I have sworn to protect Chizuru along with the Shinsengumi and I will not allow you to take her. »
« You'd rather have her die with you ? » she asked harshly.
« She will not. » i said with a threatening icy voice.
Kaoru seemed to think for a moment, probably wondering if I really was willing to sacrifice myself for Chizuru, then served me another wry smile.
« Is she with child ? » she asked.
« That doesn't concern you. » i replied in a cold voice.
« I'm afraid it does » she continued, her poise back « You probably know that a marriage isn't really official until the conception of the first child. »
« I am aware. » i replied coldly « it doesn't change my position on the subject. »
« But it does change everything else, doesn't it ? » she continued, her wry smile still painted on her face. « Chizuru's not yours yet. And I will make sure that it stays that way. »
I put my hand on the pommel of my katana, ready to strike.
« Alright » interrupted Kondou-san « can we all just calm down a little and discuss ? »
« I'm finished anyway. » said Kaoru, standing up « I know I'm no match for you, Saito-san. Fighting you would be meaningless. I'll go for the moment but we'll get Chizuru back, you can mark my words. She will not die in this stupid conflict like the rest of you. Enjoy her company while you still can. Kazama will be coming for her and he probably won't be very happy to know that you dared steal his wife away. » she bowed to the commander in respect « thank you, Kondou-san. »
Kaoru winked at me and exited the office leaving me with all my anger and fear. I followed after bowing to Kondou and went back to my room. I was so tensed that I was almost running and I slid the shoji with force. Chizuru was there, standing in the middle of the room with her hakama on, tying her hair in a ponytail for Nagakura's lessons. She smiled when she saw me and i fell to my knees, circling her with my arms and burying my head in her stomach.
« Hajime, are you okay ? » she asked, putting her hands on my head to carress it gently.
I didn't answer and just held her tight. The fear to have her escaping me was getting bigger. I would die protecting her if I needed to but I'd rather live with her if I could get the chance. If Kazama really were to come for her, I wasn't sure I could be strong enough to defeat him and save her.
« Hajime... You're scaring me... » said Chizuru in an anxious voice « last time you held me like this was when you left with Ito... »
It was true and I was feeling the same desperation that I felt back then. My hands twitched in response, clenching on her even harder.
« Hajime, talk to me... » she whispered.
« I will not let them take you... » i murmured in a voice so low that she didn't understand my words.
« What ? »
« I will not let them take you. » i repeated with more force, as if saying it out loud could make it happen.
I dig my face harder in her stomach, trying to find out if life was already there, making our marriage unbreakable and putting her out of Kazama's reach.
Please gods, let it be a child in here...