I woke up as soon as I heard the shoji slid faintly. I put my hand on my sword, above my head and not on my side since I was between Chizuru and Haruhi, and stealthily prepared myself. I checked the bodies around me but the girls were both there and asleep. The sound wasn't coming from them. Alert, I waited for any other clue about our unwelcomed guest.

I heard the soft fabric of his tabi brush against the tatami. He was getting closer. I had no doubt about his intentions now. Any of our warriors would have announced himself and not move as stealthily. I waited for the right moment, hand on my pommel and eyes closed so my earring could be sharper.

He unsheathed a blade silently but not silently enough for me not to hear it. That guy wasn't in luck, I did his job countless time. I wouldn't be killed that easily.

« W... What is... » said Haruhi, waking up and brushing her eyes with her little fists.

Noticing that the child was awake, the assaillant leaped forward with clear intentions to kill her first and then me, in the same movement, before she could alert the rest of us. He encountered my blade, blocking him and pushing him back, making him loose balance just enough for me to cut into his abdomen. Haruhi screamed, waking Chizuru up. She quickly lit the oil lamp and screamed too when she found me with a white bloodstained nagajuban, standing in front of a dead warrior all dressed in black.

« Hajime ! » she yelled « are you hurt ? »

« I'm fine. » I reassured her in a whisper « but I'm probably not the sole target. »

I turned to the girls and gave them my orders.

« War is here. You both dress and take your weapons. You wait for me in the infirmary. You don't leave it under any pretext. Chizuru, you take care of any injured soldier that is brought to you. Haruhi, I trust you with Chizuru's life. Protect her. Do not fight with honor, do not let them get close. Shoot anyone, am I understood ? Use your gun, not your blade. »

« Okay, Hajime. » nodded Chizuru and Haruhi nodded vigorously too.

I passed my swords in the obi of my sleeping nagajuban which wasn't really practical but I didn't have the time to dress properly anyway. If a ninja had been sent for me, a commander of a small force, then there were surely ones for more important generals, maybe even Matsudaira-sama.

« Haruhi » I said, stepping out « The way you woke up when you sensed something was off, that was worthy of a warrior. »

She served me a giant smile and I ran out. Our room was in the barracks outside and I ran to the inside of the castle, waking my men in the process. I went to the commander's quarters but what I feared already had happened. The three generals were all dead, throat slit. I ran to the daimyo's quarters and intercepted two ninja, killing them. I found the lord well and alive, his wife though, sleeping in another room, had been murdered before I could stop her assassins. They probably mistaken her room for the lord's which saved his life and allowed me to arrive in time.

« War is here. » I told the lord and he gave me full command of the army in the generals's place.

I ran back to my room in a castle buzzing with activity while the sun was slowly rising on the horizon. I quickly dressed myself properly now that the situation wasn't an emergency anymore and got back out, adjusting my neckcloth. Keisuke was waiting outside for me.

« Point on the situation ? » I asked.

« The army is visible. They are coming from the south. »

« South ? »I frowned.

We expected forces coming from south, from Edo and Utsunomiya, but that wasn't ideal for us. The castle was built to repel invasions from north. The defenses in the south entrance weren't as good. That weren't good news even if anticipated.

« Yes, Kumichô. » he bowed « and they are coming with a lot of cannons. Although we have the higher ground, our location in the center of the valley of the Abukumagawa river is making us an ideal target for cannons. »

« Do we have one good news ? » I sighed.

« Yes. Their number is about 7 hundred men. » he said.

« Good. » I nodded. « Keisuke, you take command of the walls riflemen. I want our biggest force at the south gate and a little unit at north and east. The commanders are dead but let's try to contain the panic. Where are my wife and daughter ? »

« In the infirmary, Kumichô. » he said.

« Good. » I nodded « I'm taking the foot soldiers and heading out. We'll protect that gate with everything we have. Go. »

« Hai, Kumichô ! » he bowed before running to bark orders to the men.

Around me, soldiers everywhere were picking up their riffles and swords. The swordsmen and first line rifflemen joined me outside the castle gate to welcome the imperialists.

Before long, I was right at the heart of the battle, dodging bullets as the combat raged all around me. The sound of the cannonfire was making earthquakes under our feet but the cannons were of no concerns to us in particular. They weren't aiming at us but at the castle, destroying walls and the lords quarters that were in the south part. Some cannonball could even reach the three story turret in the northeast part of the castle and that was worrying me since the infirmary was close to that location but I didn't have much time to worry with swords swinging around me and bullets flying around.

My force thrust right into the enemy lines, taking advantage of our number but without realizing it, we went too deep. Soon, we were surrounded and I had to order a retreat to protect the gates where already, some imperialists were entering the castle. Our camp tried to reach back the gate but surrounded, our casualties began to be numerous.

I had no choice. I unleashed my Rasetsu powers to save my men.

« Everyone towards the gate ! » I shouted while cutting down the enemies at a superhuman speed. « Now ! Go ! »

Following me, the men thrust the other way, getting back the control of the gate but we didn't manage to keep it long and the gate started to vomit imperialists on us. The cannons made a lot of casualties in Keisuke's men and now that we were back inside the castle, they were starting to send my men to the wind as well. I noticed the daimyo shouting at me.

« Saito-san ! » he yelled « we need to get out this castle before our casualties get too important ! »

« Understood. » I nodded « Everyone retreat ! We are getting out from the north gate ! »

The message passed in our ranks and I ran towards the infirmary, cutting down every man on my way. In my Rasetsu form, nothing could stop me whether it be swords or bullets. I was evading most of it but Chizuru was right, I was less cautious. My sole priority was to get the girls out of here. I entered the infirmary, sliding the shoji violently and I heard a scream and a loud noise as I sensed a bullet entering my lung. I gasped for air. Knowing that I would heal wasn't diminishing the pain.

« Otousan ! » yelled Haruhi, running my way.

« You shot me... » I whispered painfully.

« I'm sorry ! » she cried « there were men trying to get in and I shot them and I didn't see it was you and I shot and you told me to protect Chizuru and are you okay ?! »

« Hajime ! » yelled Chizuru in her demon form, getting close « okay the bullet is out, it will probably heal fast... »

I noticed the bodies on the floor. The both of them really should have fought hard.

« Don't trouble yourself, both of you. » I said, getting my composure back and ignoring the pain « We need to get out of here now. Chizuru can you take off your horns, please ? »

She nodded and turned back into her normal self. She was controlling it better now.

« Sorry... » she said.

« Don't apologize. » I stated « your demon form gives you a certain advantage in battle. It would be a waste not to use it. Let's go. Follow me, don't waste time, don't waste bullets. »

I exited the infirmary first leading them towards the northern gate. My sword swung mercilessly at all my opponents, my Rasetsu nature still unleashed so I could heal faster. I opened the way efficiently and we passed the gate, running until we could meet back with our troop. My hair turned back into their normal color as soon as I estimated that the danger was behind us.

When I could meet with the new commanders in place, we discussed the counterattack plan and set camp in proximity of the castle but out of range of cannonfire. Tents were sent from another castle and I set one for us. Haruhi and Chizuru stayed inside as I ordered, until I came back from all the preparation of our counterattack. I entered the tent with rice balls and porridge, giving some to both of them and I sat next to Haruhi.

« I'm sorry I shot you... » she said, ashamed.

« I'm glad you shot all the others. » I simply replied. « Are you alright ?

She nodded and looked at her porridge but she wasn't eating it. I supposed her stomach was completely knotted after the events of the day.

« People say that you never forget the face of the first man you kill. » I told her « In my case, I found it to be untrue, maybe because I killed so many that the faces just blend into one another. Yet, everyone face it differently. You will probably have nightmares and you will probably feel a lot of guilt but it will fade with time. One thing you should remember though is that if you hadn't killed them, they would probably have killed you and Chizuru and maybe they would have raped you both first. You did a good thing today. You protected her and I am proud of you. »

She nodded with a faint smile and took a bit of her porridge in her mouth. We ate silently and when the bowls were empty, I handed them to the kid.

« Go help for the dishes. » I ordered « Doing something useful will ease your mind. »

« Okay. » she said, taking the bowls and heading out.

As soon as she was gone, Chizuru came closer.

« That was a poor excuse to get rid of your daughter. » she commented.

« It's not an excuse. It will help ease her mind. » I stated « she killed today. »

« And you sent her away because you want to protect her, I know that. » she said, taking her kodachi and sliding it against her palm.

I haven't told my wife about Souji and Haruhi. The kid knew that I was feeding on blood and she already let someone feed on her so she knew perfectly that I was going to drink Chizuru's blood. Yet, having her witnessing me was something I couldn't bear. I took her palm in my hand and licked, feeling my body tingle as the wounds were healing. The cut closed and I gave back her palm to Chizuru.

« It's okay ? » she asked with a big smile.

« Actually... » I answered with a sinister expression « I think I need more. Would that be possible ? »

« Yeah, don't worry » she smiled « you've been fighting all day, it's only natural. »

There is nothing natural in this. How many times should I tell you ?

I said nothing and put my hand on hers on the tanto, plunging my eyes in hers. She understood and handed me the blade. I brought Chizuru to my lap and put the blade on the side of her neck, waiting, silently asking for permission. She nodded and I slightly slid the tanto, pressing my lips on her to suck on that bigger stream. I felt her stiffen as usual under the sharp pain and I stroke her hair. When I had my full, I put my thumb on her small wound to stop the bleeding and came brushing my nose on her ear.

« I love you. » I whispered.

« I love you too, my little leech » she chuckled.

« Don't call me that. » I scolded.

She just laughed some more and I got her off my lap, vexed and annoyed. I stayed in a corner and repeated my moves under Chizuru's amused gaze, waiting for Haruhi to come back.