I tried not to let him see how impressed I was by his demon form and positioned myself in front of Chizuru once more. Whatever he coud try, I would not let her without protection.

« Hajime... » I heard, coming from Chizuru's lips but I ignored it, focused only on my adversary.

He came at me with a remarkable speed. It was inhuman. I hissed while blocking his attacks, one after the other, but I was feeling slower and I didn't know how long I could keep it going. I started panting, exhausted, but my volition didn't falter. This was a battle for the mind to win. If I let uncertainty invade my heart, I would undoubtedly loose and that was out of the question. I had to win.

Slowly, I was feeling that I was loosing control, putting more violence in my blows but controlling them less and less. I needed to be faster, faster... faster... That was my only chance to get out of it alive, with her. But Amagiri was more powerful than me. The demon form was enhancing his speed, his strength. His movements were hard to follow for my eyes and body. I knew what the outcome of this duel would be. There could be only one.

I was going to die.

Sooner or later, Amagiri would be able to strike through my guard and it would be the end of me. But I was accepting it. A warrior's death was the only thing I wished for for years. I just needed not to die now, I needed to buy time. For her.

Every minutes during which I could protect her was giving her time to heal. Maybe if I could hold it long enough, she would be able to stand up, to run, to escape. And then, my duty of protecting her would be fulfilled and I could die happy, without any regrets.

« Hajime... » she called again.

I saw in the corner of my eye that she had been able to crawl to a nearby tree and sit, resting her head and back against it. The healing process was in motion. That gave me strength. I roared and threw myself against Amagiri with furious intensity, not only defending now but counterattacking. Chizuru was counting on me. She had faith in me. I couldn't decieve her.

Something changed in Amagiri's posture and he backed off, putting himself out of my reach at tremendous speed.

« Enough. » he said.

Panting, trembling, I kept my fighting stance and my guard up but Amagiri changed back to a normal form and crossed his arms. Could it be the end of our duel ?

« You are a man of incredible quality, Saito Hajime. » he said calmly « Killing you would be dishonorable. Run. »

« I'm not leaving her. » I said with steel in my voice even if the panting was making it difficult.

« Take her. She seems to have healed enough for you to carry her. » he continued and I couldn't believe my ears.

« What side are you on ?! » i shouted, confusion making its way painfully into my head.

« Hers. » he answered in his low voice « You proved yourself worthy to protect the heir of the Yukimura clan. I can see how dedicated you are to her. Take her and run before Kazama gets to you. He will not be as conciliatory as I am. »

I hesitated, keeping my guard up. If it was a trap, I wouldn't be fooled by it.

« Hajime... Inoue... Yamazaki... We have to go... » cried Chizuru.

« Run ! » repeated Amagiri and I sheathed my sword in a hurry.

I ran towards Chizuru and put my arms in her back and under her knees.

« You're ready ? Maybe it's going to hurt... » i said in a low voice.

She nodded and screamed when I pulled her up but the bandage around her stomach didn't taint itself with more blood. I had confidence that the wound wasn't reopened. I turned to Amagiri, still not understanding why he decided to let us go.

« Thank you, Amagiri Kyuju. » i said in my toneless voice.

« Do not thank me, just run. » he replied calmly « He's already on his way. »

I nodded and started running towards the border of the forest to reach the Fushimi magistrate's office. My legs were burning and the air entering my lungs felt like burning lava. I had a good constitution but running on a rugged terrain with swords and a woman in my arms, that was something hard even for me, especially after a battle like the one I just fought.

« Are you okay, Chizuru ? » i asked, still running.

She didn't answer and I looked at her face to see that she was unconscious. I gritted my teeth, hoping that what I was doing wasn't going to send her to the after life. When I arrived on the hill, I saw Fushimi in flames... The magistrate's office... Did the Satcho do this or our own men when they retreated ? I had no way of knowing but I kept running, hoping to find our comrades near the brazier. We weren't defeated yet. Not as long as the shogunate and the Shinsengumi were alive. Not as long as I was a warrior.

I reached the magistrate's office to find it still burning in flames. I could see corpses on the ground, numerous but two of them caught my attention. One was Inoue, wearing his Shinsengumi haori and the other, all dressed in black, was Yamazaki. We were too late.

I tried to find an alternate plan. Without an unit and with Chizuru hurt, going to join the others at Gokounomiya had no point. I put Chizuru on the ground to remove my haori. Now wasn't the good time to draw attention. My eyes stopped on the Makoto on the back and a lot of conflicted feelings invade my heart. I toss it on the ground and picked Chizuru back up to run again, towards Yodo castle this time. It was a strategical point of retreat for the shogunate forces. If I had to take her somewhere, it should be there. The castle wasn't really that far anyway, I wouldn't even have to quit Fushimi.

I ran as fast as I could but when I arrived to the castle, the doors were closed.

« Open the doors ! » i shouted « I've got an injured ! »

I threw my fist on the wood until it ached, imploring them to open the damn door but they turned a deaf ear. I saw something move above me and I was going to yell at them to help us when I saw the moonlight reflect on metal.

I turned my heals and ran but I was too slow. The bullet entered my flank and I hissed in pain but I didn't stop my course.

Yodo had betrayed us. The magistrate's office was in flames. The cannon was still shooting. The Shinsengumi warriors were falling on the front lines. Everything went downhill fast and I was still standing, witnessing the downfall of my side.

There was only one option that remained for me now : Osaka.

I needed to take Chizuru there, getting her out of the city so she would be safe. I stayed in the shadows, silent, with Chizuru still unconscious in my arms. I needed to reach the Zenitori Bridge, the one where I killed Takeda, to exit the city and go south, to Osaka.

As expected, the bridge was guarded but it was only a small force. Still, they had guns and I was carrying Chizuru. The odds weren't really in my favor. I tried to evaluate my options. I couldn't go on that bridge with Chizuru, that would be suicide. I couldn't swim with her. In January, she would froze to death. There was only one possibility if I wanted to take her to the other side.

I put Chizuru down, hiding her between baskets in a back alley and undressed myself, leaving all my clothing with her, my wakizashi and both my scabbards. I plunged in the frozen water as silently as possible and reached the other side, keeping my katana out of the water but trying my best not to let the moonlight reflect on it. The water was burning my skin, cold and sharp, and so did the wind when I got out. I reached the bridge silently and got closer to the men guarding it. They expected enemies to come from inside the city, fleeing, not from the outside. I was able to surprise them and took down the dozen before they could even realize I was there. My naked body also added to their confusion.

I took one of their clothing to wipe the water off me and went back to Chizuru. I put back on my kimono, obi and swords and took her in my arms again, crossing the bridge.