« How long has Tsunashi-san been married ? » asked Daisuke after a while « if you went to the Mirror this winter, it mustn't be that long... »
« A month. » replied Haruhi « It's an Omiai so that he can care for the family of his former commander. »
« And... are you okay ? » asked Daisuke, concerned.
« I had problems to accept it, not gonna lie. » she confessed « but I'm okay, I guess... I don't have much choice than to move forward anyway. »
« You still love him ? »
« I... »
That's not your business...
« I do... » she answered grudgingly « yet we are able to be adult with one another. I do my job at the Shieikan, he does his, and we work very well together. We're good partners but just, not romantic ones. »
« It must be hard... » he muttered « after everything you did... »
Please don't rub salt on the wound.
Haruhi didn't comment and she kept walking in silence until Daisuke eventually spoke again.
« I know I'm not Okita-san and that you don't love me or anything, Haruhi-senpai but... If you ever wanna turn that page and look for someone to settle down, I will gladly marry you and I promise I will always treat you right. I don't think your father would oppose to such an union... »
« Thanks Daisuke but I don't think I wanna marry you... » she blushed, embarrassed.
« I'm not saying now or anything and I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I'm not very good with these kind of things and if I hurt you, I apologize. » said the boy, all flustered.
« I like you, okay ? » said Haruhi, getting redder and redder « But I can't speak and think about it right now. I know you're a nice guy and that I probably wouldn't be unhappy, but there's a lot more to ponder on than just that you're nice. »
« What do you mean ? » he asked, confused.
« You're an Oni and well, I'm not specially sure that I want that. » she said but when she saw how it hurt her friend, she decided to be more specific « Don't get me wrong or anything, I have nothing against Oni, I mean... Chizuru-neechan is one and my brothers too but, I don't think I have the strength necessary to be the human girl in an Oni village. I don't have very good memories of my time in Yase and of course, for me, Kazama is out of the question. I don't know about Nagumo but yeah, that isn't really appealing to me... »
« We don't have to stay in a clan. » he protested « Your family isn't and they're doing well... Fujita-himesama had a lot of courage to cut herself from the Oni society, especially considering her rank. I think it's inspiring. I wouldn't have as much problems doing the same since I'm an eighth. Nobody cares what I'm doing. Of course, if we get married... hum... we might, you know, have children at some point... Pardon my boldness... And there might be conplications but I'm sure Fujita-himesama or my mother would agree to help us so... I'm sorry, I'm so straightforward... »
« It's fine. » said Haruhi with a smile « I'm not that innocent, you know... But, I'm not sure I can bear children. I wouldn't be a good wife. »
« I guess you can't know until you try... » he replied, red as a tomato.
That's not what I meant...
There had been so much blood, so much fever... Haruhi was sure she was damaged now, just like Chizuru-neechan told her it could happen. She could feel it in her guts, that she would never bear again. Not that it mattered anyway, if they weren't Souji's and if Souji wasn't there by her side, she didn't wish to have any children.
« I'm sorry, I can see I'm making you uncomfortable so I'm just gonna stop there. Just, if you could keep my offer in a corner of your head... I heard a lot of people get affection for each other after the wedding and since we're already friends... It could work, I think. » he nodded « I know you love Okita-san but... »
« Can we speak about something else, maybe ? » asked Haruhi, out of patience « I'm honored you consider me as a suitable wife and everything but right now, my mind isn't to romantic relationships. Souji's marriage have been hard to swallow, okay ? I'd rather stop talking about that kind of things if you don't mind. »
« Okay... » he muttered « Sorry... »
« It's fine. » smiled Haruhi « we're almost there anyway. »
Haruhi took Daisuke to Shinpachi's house and the Nagakura wife, even if surprised by their visit, let them in without a second thought. It was the first time for Haruhi to visit and she was very happy about it.
« I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit... » she sighed « Shinpachi's still sleeping, he was out yesterday again with Heisuke. I'll make you some tea and wake him up. »
« Thank you, Nagakura-san » said Haruhi « but we're more here to see Heisuke. »
« Ah ! I'll try to wake him up too but I can't promise anything... Poor man is weak during the day. If you want him to come, I'm gonna ask you to close all the windows and curtains. It must be pitch black. I'll light a few candles. »
« No problem, Nagakura-san ! » said Daisuke, eager to help « I'm on it. »
Shinpachi's wife lit some candles, made some tea and gave them cups before she went to wake her husband and the Rasetsu. Daisuke and Haruhi closed all the windows so that the only light was coming from the candles. They drank their tea, waiting for the two men, and they eventually came in.
« Haru-chan... » said Shinpachi, disgruntled « what the fuck you're doing here ? »
« Hi, Shinpachi, Heisuke... » she bowed « I'm here to introduce my friend Shiranui Daisuke. He has brought a cure to the Ochimizu. »
« A cure ?! » they repeated as one, eyes wide.
« Sorry » said Shinpachi, crossing his arms « I am enchanted to meet you, Shiranui Daisuke. I'm Nagakura Shinpachi. »
« And Toudou Heisuke. » said the smaller one with a sad smile « but you might have divined that already if you knew I was a Rasetsu. »
Heisuke's eyes were red, even if he was in the dark, and his hair were of natural color. He was hiding his arm in his kimono, against his chest. Probably it wasn't getting prettier. Or maybe he didn't even have a hand anymore...
« I am pleased to meet such warriors ! » smiled Daisuke « My father fought against Harada Sanosuke in Ikedaya, on the attack on the Nijojô and your headquarters. He always praised the courage and dedication of the Shinsengumi men. »
« Your father's an enemy of the Shinsengumi ? » frowned Nagakura.
« Hai. » bowed Daisuke « the Oni Shiranui Kyô. »
« Oh yeah ! » he said, remembering « the asshole who never shuts up. »
« Sounds like him. » smiled Daisuke, apologetic « anyway, I am here on behalf of Yukimura-oujisama and Sen-himesama to bring the Rasetsu cure to Toudou-san. »
« I don't understand shit... » sighed Shinpachi « hey woman, why haven't we got tea, yet ? My head's pounding. »
« It's coming. » replied his wife « and maybe you'd feel better if you drank less. »
« Where's Sano ? » he asked.
« Sleeping. »
« At that hour ? » he frowned.
« He would have a more effective sleep if his father wouldn't come back yelling and singing in the middle of the night. » she sighed « he's three. He needs rest. Here's your tea. Heisuke, do you need your beverage ? »
« No, please Toudou-san » said Daisuke, taking the cure out of his chest pocket « take the cure and you will never need to drink blood ever again. »
He handed the cure to Heisuke who took it, visibly apprehensive.
« Heisuke, my father was cured by it. » nodded Haruhi with a smile « it's safe. »
« Is it gonna stop the decay ? » he asked, serious « are my fingers gonna grow back ? »
« Unfortunately I have no idea... » said Haruhi, turning to Daisuke.
« Yukimura-oujisama said it'll stop the decay. » he nodded « but I'm not sure about your fingers... I don't think they can... Oni can't grow back body parts either and that cure will only make you human again... Just, you should sit down and take a bucket or something. Apparently, Fujita-san vomited a lot after taking it. I'm not sure you'll react the same way. Yukimura-oujisama's formula was just theoretical before Fujita-san tested it and there were no other subjects. »
« Why are we listening to you again ? » asked Shinpachi, holding his head in his palm.
« He's my friend and I trust him. » stated Haruhi « Heisuke, if my father was cured, you could be too, even if your affliction is more advanced. I'm sure it's safe. »
« Shin » asked Heisuke in a low voice « can I get a bucket, please ? »
Shinpachi's wife gave him one and Heisuke opened the vial. He took a derp breath and swallowed its content in one gulp. Just like Daisuke said, the Rasetsu began to vomit uncontrollably, gaging and writhing. He had problems to breath, the flow too intense to let him get air. The substance getting out was a so dark shade of red, it looked almost black, then it lightened to look exactly like blood.
« It's blood... » muttered Shinpachi « it's blood ! » he repeated, covering his nose due to the coppery stench that had something rotten, like the one of a rancid carcass « It's fucking killing him ! »
Shinpachi, furious, grabbed Daisuke by his collar and lifted him up, banging his head on a nearby wall in the process. The Oni shifted form to defend himself and out of surprise, Shinpachi dropped him, his wife screaming to see the boy with horns and hair as white as snow, even if she seemed to be familiar with Heisuke's Rasetsu form.
« Please remain calm » begged Daisuke « this is normal. Fujita-himesama's reports mention the same thing on Fujita-san, Saito-san. It's the way it works. She didn't describe it in full since she wasn't there, and I suppose Saito-san gave her a concise report, but she wrote that this happened. »
Heisuke's jerking emesis eventually calmed down and his husky gasps too, letting him breath more efficiently. The porcelain cracks on the side of his face had turned to scars, like the rest of them, and his eyes were back to their natural blue-green color.
« Heisuke... Are you alright ? » asked Shinpachi, concerned.
« I... think so ? » he answered « I'm not sure... »
« Maybe we could open a window or something ? » suggested Haruhi.
« No ! » shouted Heisuke « No, please, not that. »
« Normally you're cured. » she explained « the sun's not supposed to hurt you anymore. »
« I don't feel different... » protested Heisuke.
« Maybe we can test the healing ? » sugested the Oni.
« Good idea ! » smiled Haruhi, getting her kaiken out of her obi « Heisuke, can you give me one of your fing... Whatever you like. »
The Rasetsu handed her his hand, the one where the three fingers were missing. His skin now wasn't cracking anymore but it looked as if all his side had been burned, from his face to the tip of his fingers. Trying her best not to stare, she slid the kaiken against his skin, enough to make a small wound. The blood pearled and everyone was waiting, holding their breath, for it to close. It didn't and smiles painted on all the faces.
« It worked... » murmured Shinpachi, eyes wide « Heisuke, it worked ! »
« You're sure about that ? » he asked, unassured.
« Nagakura-san » said Daisuke « I think we can open the windows now. »
« No ! » said Heisuke again, shaking his head « I don't think I'm ready. »
« Do it yourself. » nodded the Oni, guiding him to a window and putting his hand on the wood panel « gather your strength and your courage and do it when you're ready. »
The rest of them weren't sure what to do and they just waited for Heisuke to embrace his courage. He took a deep breath and his shaking hand slid the wood panel a little. He squeezed his eyes, afraid of the light, and his features softened slowly as he opened the window in full. His wide eyes started crying out of relief and he clenched to the window frame, unable to detach his eyes from the colors of the day.
« It's been so long... » he whispered « The day... it's so... beautiful... »
The tears wouldn't stop flowing as the realization hit him. He was cured. No more darkness, no more blood to drink, no more decay and falling body parts. He was human once more.
« If only... » he whispered again « if only Sannan and the others could have seen this day... »
The others let him take the time he needed and when he turned back to them, it was with a warm smile and shimmering eyes.
« Thank you, Shiranui Daisuke... » he said, bowing.
« I'm merely a messenger » bowed the Oni in return « But I will give your thanks to my prince. The Rasetsu curse is now eradicated. »
« A good thing. » nodded Shinpachi « no one should ever become that kind of monster. The Bakufu betrayed us by giving the Ochimizu to us. »
« A bad political move... » nodded Daisuke « but I don't think the Bakufu knew what they were doing. Yukimura Kodo is to blame for that. My former clan took care of the matter without fuss. There won't be more Rasetsu researchs. »
« Good. » smiled Shinpachi « thanks, Shiranui-kun. Your father may have been an enemy once but he has an honorable son. »
They stayed eating with the Nagakura family for lunch before they got back to Hino and the Shieikan. On the road, Haruhi smiled to the Oni.
« Thank you » she said « for what you did for Heisuke. »
« As I said » blushed the boy under his dark skin tone « I was merely the messenger. »
« I'm not talking about bringing the cure. » she specified with a small laugh « thank you for reassuring him and giving him the strength to fight his fear. It was amazing. »
The Oni turned his head away in embarrassment and muttered, his hand nervously playing on the pommel of his katana.
« It was only natural... »
« Amazing anyway. » she nodded « You have a lot of empathy, considering you were meeting him for the first time. Thank you. »
Daisuke didn't answer and kept playing with the pommel of his katana, walking slightly quicker, and that made the girl smile, deciphering how flustered he was by her praises which, she had to admit, just like her father's, were a lot too rare.