My trip to the brewery had just the effect I hoped for on Chizuru. Once again, she had her nose burried in books and was staying in the calm environment of the tent all the time. Sometimes, she wouldn't even get out of the futon and I was very pleased with it, sure that rest and calm was better for her than running around everywhere.

I was supervising the construction of our defenses at Bonari Pass when one of my warriors ran to me.

« Taichô ! We caught a Satsuma warrior. »

« A scout ? » I asked, putting down the plan I was studying.

« I'm not sure, Taichô. » he bowed « he looks high ranked but he was alone and without any weapons. He asked to have a meeting with you. »

« Where is he ? » I asked, frowning.

« We kept him a bit down on the road. »

« Good. » I nodded « do not bring him to the camp or the pass. There is no need to give him informations about our number and our defenses. Keep him where you caught him and I'll see him shortly. »

« Are you sure, Taichô ? » asked the warrior « he may not be armed but he looks like he's as deadly without... »

« Do not worry. » I nodded « if he isn't armed, he shouldn't cause us any problem. Did he resist ? »

« No. He just said to bring you to him. And his niece. He said you'd understand. Does Saito-sensei have family in Satsuma-han ? »

Amagiri ?

« I changed my mind. » I said « I'm coming right away. »

I followed the warrior down the path and found the demon arms crossed, completely unfazed despite having riffles pointed at him, surrounded. He saluted me with a polite nod and I adressed my men.

« Good job. » I said « you may leave. »

« Are you sure it's cautious, Taichô ? » asked one of them.

« Are you doubting my abilities to take down a single unarmed man ? » I said with authority « then, you who seem to doubt shall stay a bit further where I can see you. If I need anything, you'll be my messenger. »

« H...Hai, Taichô ! » he bowed.

They all went away except the one who raised his voice against my command and he positioned himself far enough not to hear our conversation but where I could still see him, as ordered. When we were alone, I adressed Amagiri.

« State your business here. » I ordered.

« I came to fetch Yukimura... »

« Saito. »

« Pardon me, Saito-himesama. » he bowed in apology for his rudeness.

« Why ? » I asked calmly, already furious.

« You can't be ignoring that the SatCho has already submitted all the domains south of Aizu. Yonezawa will soon surendered too, after Nihonmatsu. Aizu is going to fall and you did exactly what I said you would do, you brought her to battlefields for her to die. »

« She's departing to Wakamatsu castle. » I said.

« And it will fall. » he stated « you know what happened in Nihonmatsu. Saito-himesama can't be in that castle when it happens. »

I didn't say anything. I knew he was right but it was too late. We were too far north and I couldn't bring her back to Edo or anywhere else. I could only bring her north, to Sendai, maybe then to Ezo with Enomoto-sama since that seemed to be his plan but then, when Ezo would fall too, where would I bring her ?

« Is it true she is with child ? » he asked.

« What if she is ? » I asked in return.

« Then it's even more important that I take her. » he said, crossing his arms again « she needs proper care. »

« She will have care provided in Wakamatsu. » I objected.

« No. She won't. She needs to be with her kin. »

« Where would you take her ? » I asked, on the defensive.

« Kyushu. » he stated « in the Kazama clan of the West. »

« That is out of the question. » I shook my head « I won't agree to this. And even if I were to agree, she isn't in condition to travel that far. »

« How many months ? » he asked.

« Nearly seven. » I answered genuinely since there was no point in lying.

« I see. Then Yase. Nagumo is too far too. Yukimura isn't very far from here unfortunately, there won't be anything waiting for her there. »

« Why couldn't she give birth outside of a demon clan ? » I asked, frowning.

« These are demons's secrets. » he said « I can't give you that information without the consent of a pure blood. »

« I'm married to a pure blood. » I objected.

« And yet, you are not. »

Again I didn't say anything and waved to the man who was waiting for orders. He ran to me as soon as he saw my signal.

« You need anything, Taichô ? » he bowed.

« Yes. Please fetch my wife and bring her back here. » I ordered.

« Hai ! » he bowed and he went running towards the camp.

Amagiri and I watched the soldier disappear without a word until the Oni broke the silence.

« You're making the right decision. »

« I haven't decided anything yet. » I said « you once told me you were on her side and that is why I accept to listen to you. Yet, I do not forget that we used to be enemies on various occasions. »

« You killed my prince. » he said « Yet, you don't see me holding any grudge against you. »

« He deserved what happened. »

« We may have a divergence of opinion on that matter but what is done is done. Our kin died with Kazama. When the two Yukimura heir will perish, there would be no more pure blood Oni. »

We waited patiently for the warrior to return with Chizuru but the encampment was far and minutes were long.

« After I've talked with my princess » he said again « you will have time to speak together about it. I still need to go up north to rescue Nagumo-oujisama from your fake demons. »

« There is no one left up north. » I informed him « I cleaned up myself. »

« And the prince ? » he asked.

For the first time ever, I saw his stoic face express emotions: concern and surprise. I decided not to lie to him.

« I have him in custody. » I said « Chizuru was supposed to write to Sen-himesama about it. »

« Is he well ? »

« He recovers. » I admitted « he has been used as a milking cow for months. »

Amagiri nodded, pleased and he kneeled and bowed deeply to express his gratitude.

« Thank you for sparing his life, Saito-san. »

« Well, I had too, didn't I ? » I muttered in embarrassment « I killed a prince already. »

And I guess it still is family even if he's a snake...

I saw the warrior coming back, followed by Chizuru. Amagiri stood up and bowed to her when she took position by my side, on her guard even if I knew the respect she had for the Oni.

« Yukimura-himesama. » he saluted.

« Saito. » I corrected again.

« Pardon me, I meant no harm. » he bowed again.

« It's alright, Amagiri. » she smiled.

No, it's not alright. Everytime we meet with Oni they call you Yukimura as if I don't even exist.

« So, now she's here » I said to Amagiri as my warrior was taking back his position « can you tell us why she needs to be in a demon clan for the birth ? »

« Can I speak in front of him, Saito-himesama ? » asked Amagiri to Chizuru.

I'm her damn husband !

« Yes, of course... » she replied, confused.

« The baby's an Oni and he will be brought to the world in his Oni form. First, you will need demon midwives who will actually help the baby get out without you being ripped apart by its horns. Second, can you imagine the reaction of human midwives when they will get out a baby with horns and light-generating eyes ? You're exposing yourself to a witch-hunt. »

« The baby... will get out with horns ? » she repeated, caressing her stomach with wide eyes.

« Yes, but they will disappear after a few minutes, sometimes a few hours. » comfirmed Amagiri « if its taken out properly, it won't hurt you but a human midwife will never expect the baby to have horns and the consequences could be catastrophic. »

I nodded. I understood now why she needed to be with her kin and there weren't any demon clans up north. She would have to go with Amagiri and reach the Yase clan before the baby decided to crawl out. I wasn't ready to loose her in childbirth.

« What if the baby gets out with crimson eyes ? » I asked Amagiri.

« We won't let it live. » stated Amagiri « I trust you not to use your powers, Saito-san but the fakes must be eliminated. »

« No... » whispered Chizuru.

« I won't let you. » I said with an icy gaze.

We decided together that if the baby was a Rasetsu we would let it live and learn how to live with it while Chizuru would work on a cure. It was our child and we wouldn't send it back.

« Are you coming, Saito-san ? » he asked.

I turned my gaze away. I couldn't go. I had responsibilities, men under my command and loyalty towards the Aizu domain. I wouldn't let them down now that they were about to fall.

« Hajime ? » asked Chizuru, understanding that she was going alone.

« Amagiri » I said « I will surrender Nagumo Kaoru to you and will allow you to take my wife to Yase, yet I have a request to make. »

« I'm listening. » he nodded.

« I have a daughter here as well. Take her. »

« Hajime, I'm not leaving without you. » said Chizuru with a broken voice.

« Is she human ? » asked Amagiri.

« She is. » I nodded.

« Then I cannot take her to Yase. » he shook his head.

« Chizuru and Haruhi will stay together. » I said in a voice not opened to discussion « take both or take none. Besides, she knows Sen-himesama already. »

« I'm not going, Hajime ! » said Chizuru, crying.

« I can take her to the gates of Yase but if Sen-himesama refuses her to get in the hidden village, she won't get in. » replied Amagiri « I cannot take any decision on behalf of the princess. »

« Alright. » I nodded, confident that Sen and Chizuru wouldn't let Haruhi out « That is already plenty. »

« Hajime, you're not even listening to me ! » cried Chizuru, her little fists clenched.

I was still avoiding her gaze when Amagiri spoke again.

« I will wait for you in Otama, south of your position. I recommend not wearing anything that could help identify you if you choose to come yourself, Saito-san. I expect the two Yukimura heir and your daughter in the evening. »

« I understand. » I nodded.

I hoped I wouldn't regret trusting this demon but he often helped me in the past, nearly as much as he had opposed me. I didn't have any better options anyway. He was Satsuma. He would be able to make them travel south, in imperial territory, something I couldn't achieve.

« I hope to see you soon, Saito-himesama » he bowed deeply.

He departed and I stayed alone with Chizuru.