Part-Time Beta Reader and Casual Co-Writer: Waffle (Thank you for being the bestest!)
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Kiss Of Snow
By: Swanna
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Chapter 32: The Loyalty Oath
The sun had all but set over the horizon, and nightfall was fast approaching. The Shogun, his prince and chief retainer, along with the Shinsengumi leaders were gathered in the common room.
Though there had been no particular agenda for the evening, the farewell celebration and the grand display of food before them had come as no surprise to anyone in attendance. Sublime side dishes of fresh sea bream and eggs, cooked and pickled vegetables were served with bowls of miso soup and steamed rice. Even each grain of pearly white rice - moist and airy, yet distinct and separable - was cooked to perfection.
It was easy to imagine such a banquet wasn't an everyday occurrence. The Shogun was entertaining the Shinsengumi leaders, and doing so in his royal style. On any other day, they would have eaten simpler meals based more heavily on grains, tofu and vegetables, and at times less expensive fish. But despite the Shogun's lavish hospitality, Hijikata's appetite had been absent since the morning and he ate without tasting the feast that had been prepared for them.
"Doesn't time fly?" Asked Kondou just to start the conversation. "I can't believe it's the last day that you and Prince Iesato are staying with us, Tokugawa-sama."
Hijikata gingerly tore off a piece of fish and stuffed the bite in his mouth to refrain from voicing his disagreement. Time may have flown for them, but for him it seemed a lifetime. Every day they spent with the Shogun was another opportunity for the man to see through their ruse. Hijikata had been careful, meticulously careful, in playing out the farce in the past few days. Although he wasn't Asuna's fiancé, he had acted like he was.
On a day like today in particular, he had kept her close to him after the unwanted yet unavoidable incident with the Shogun this morning. As if the movement was natural, Hijikata had kept his hand on the small of her back when they'd made their entrance into the common room earlier where everyone was assembled. He recognized it as a move of both possession and solidarity. Beneath his palm, her muscles tensed just a touch. Once they were seated, he had even slipped his hand over hers as he helped her settle down her tray of food next to him. In his actions and words, intentional traces of affection could be detected in front of others.
There had also been other instances when curious questions were aimed at Hijikata regarding his bond with Asuna, and he'd weaved pretty tales of how their relationship had begun, briefly recounting shared feelings and hardships before their betrothal. There was a thread of truth in them here and there, enough to make them believable but not enough to raise eyebrows. And all of this was the easier of his tasks to accomplish.
Continuing to hold back his own desires and needs for her however, was a lot harder than he'd anticipated. A trying challenge worse than facing those mindless Rasetsu, it was much worse than facing ruthless steel blades. Though he'd told himself to be patient, to give Asuna time and space, he knew eventually she would need another nudge in the right direction. A nudge he fully intended to give her. For now, he only wanted to protect her.
And they had already won a footing. They weren't about to surrender and lose the ground they'd gained. So long as Hijikata kept himself sharp and attentive in his manners and speech for the rest of the night, they would be able to uphold this deception until the very end.
A broad smile crossed the Shogun's face. "We had quite a wonderful experience in Kyoto, seeing the sights and getting to know each of the Shinsengumi leaders. But all good things must come to an end."
Kondou's response was a nod of acknowledgement. "Well, maybe you can return for a visit sometime."
Hijikata didn't doubt their Commander felt the need to make that statement. It wasn't every day that a Shogun came into the Shinsengumi headquarters. After all, everyone had been curious about the kind of man Tokugawa Iemochi was prior to meeting him personally. Except none of them had accounted for the complications that arose during his visit.
"It truly depends on the circumstances and other responsibilities that I may encounter in the near future. But yes, if it is possible, I would like to return some day."
The words weren't said, but Hijikata could hear them all the same. It all depended on the political situations with the Imperial Court and the Bakufu, and whether the Shogun would be expected to lead a military expedition to punish the Choshu for attacking the Imperial Palace. Naturally, the Shogun would be quite occupied in the near future.
"Too bad for Heisuke," Sanosuke chimed in. "He's missing out on all this gourmet food."
"That's a shame for him because I'm going to enjoy his share," said Souji, helping himself to another slice of sea bream.
He'd had little appetite of late, eating scarcely a few mouthfuls at mealtimes. For him to be wanting food was a welcome sight, a source of relief. Amid all the other emotions rioting through Hijikata, he failed to identify either welcome or relief.
The comment made Sanosuke smirk and had him shaking his head. He then turned his attention to the prince. "To have all this gourmet food at your disposal every meal is kind of daunting. Don't you agree, Prince Iesato?"
"I guess it's alright." He shrugged before peering up at his father. "May I be dismissed, father?"
The prince leapt at his chance to leave the common room as the Shogun nodded his head, giving him permission to leave. When he walked past Hijikata on his way out, he caught a glimpse of the hard glare on the boy's face. He didn't want to know the thoughts behind it so he ignored it. He didn't care.
Drinking from his cup of sake, Shinpachi's face lit up and he released a satisfied sigh. "Even the sake tastes delicious too! The more I drink, the better it tastes!"
"This highly refined sake was exported from Itami to Edo," the retainer explained with a slight nod as he refilled the Shogun's cup, glancing up to meet his eyes before his own gaze skated away. His submissive nature uncomfortable with direct eye contact.
However, the social position of this retainer was in all likelihood still quite high and significant. Even the four guards who accompanied this group all took orders from him, because he was the one who knew what he was doing. From the short time he'd spent at the headquarters, Hijikata had learned that very little escaped the man's notice. He took his role as the chief retainer seriously. It wasn't that he had been groomed to this position from birth, but he still clearly took pride in his task given the way he'd attended to even the most basic of his duties to the lord and their prince.
"Go on, you may have as much as you wish." The Shogun's lifted palm was more of an invitation than a command, to make everyone comfortable around him and not focus on his title. "I ordered men to deliver several casks here from Edo specifically for tonight's occasion. There is enough food and drink for you all."
Shinpachi sat there with his head cocked mirthfully, a perfect match to his elated smile. "Tokugawa-sama, you're too generous! Then we definitely won't hold back and waste your consideration!"
"Know your limits," Hijikata warned as Shinpachi reached for his third bottle of sake.
They still had a job to finish. If all went according to plan, the Shogun and his prince would be well protected and safe here at the Shinsengumi's premises until dawn broke. There were so many things to consider, so much room for misinterpretation and so many things that could still go wrong tonight. Things that would mean disaster for everyone involved if the Shogun came to harm through them. And disaster meant they would almost certainly face severe political persecution, if not death.
With so many lives on the line, there was frankly no other choice but for Hijikata to continue to be in full command of this mission. Whether it came hail or hell, the Shogun and his prince must be kept safe at all costs. But they wouldn't be able to do that if their skills were impaired because they were blind drunk and insensible. Not to mention depending on the man next to you in combat was a matter of life and death.
"Don't worry, Hijikata-san!" Shinpachi barked in laughter, determined to have a good time. "We're not going to collapse."
"Unlike some people who can't hold their liquor, I think we will do just fine," added Souji, his lips crooked into an arrogant slant while Shinpachi chuckled some more. Both men apparently finding their private jokes at Hijikata's expense amusing, which only made his blood boil.
He wasn't here to prove his drinking prowess to anyone, or let these idiots put him on some sort of ridiculous test of worth. He was here to perform his duty and to remain vigilant all throughout the night. But his task was now made more difficult because of all these unwanted distractions, and more importantly, trouble kept undermining their regular routines and his well-laid plans.
Sanosuke grinned ruefully at the younger Captain, and then over to Hijikata. "Don't fret for us, Hijikata-san. You know we can drink liquor like water and never get drunk."
"The Vice-Commander is right," Saito's solemn voice cut through their frivolity like a knife. "We need to keep an alert state of mind and readiness to perform our duties at any and all times."
If there was one person Hijikata could count on in the worst of pinches to stand at his back, it was Saito. No matter the situation and what was happening, Saito would never let anything interfere with his responsibilities. He was a man of strong mind, firm faith and completely loyal to Hijikata. It went without saying that while he trusted Saito with his life and with the Shinsengumi, their relationship was also subtly different than what he had with the other Captains.
Souji appeared frustrated that someone had interrupted his flow, but his smooth and practiced smirk didn't reflect it. "Hajime-kun, don't be a stick-in-the-mud trying to ruin other people's fun."
"I'm not," Saito replied with nonchalance, watching the man next to him from the corner of his vision. "I'm only speaking the truth. You're only upset because I'm right, and you know it."
Souji's eyebrow dipped, then arched again. Just when Hijikata was expecting a cutting remark in those impish emerald eyes of his, only a muttered "whatever" passed his lips this time.
"I have no doubt Hijikata is only taking his responsibilities seriously and expressing behavior in accordance with his rank," commented the Shogun, always so calm and stable. "But let tonight be an exception so everyone can enjoy themselves."
Everything at this very moment seemed the way it should be. It felt normal. It was as if the fierce interaction between them this morning had never happened, but Hijikata reminded himself that it had indeed. To be in the same room, even in a more civilized manner still felt a little strained. Though he noticed it wasn't hard for him to dismiss the Shogun's proposition as the impulsive whim it was and move on.
He could also understand the man's unwillingness to give up on a woman who wanted nothing to do with him. After all, he was going through the same thing Hijikata was going through. The only difference was the Shogun had recognized his attraction for Asuna in a mere few days. Hijikata had fought his desires for her for months and it was already pushing him to the breaking point and beyond.
As his head ran rampant with thoughts of her again, he couldn't help casting a sideway glance at her. A gesture he didn't expect her to pick up on almost instantly the way she did. Asuna met his eyes for a moment brief enough that it allowed him to see the traces of tenseness pooled in those aquamarine depths. Her gaze then dropped to her tray of food again, fixed into a vacant stare as her chopsticks pushed food around the plate without her taking a bite. Though her face was set in concentration as if she was listening to the conversation among the men, Hijikata sensed her mind was preoccupied in the subtlest of ways and her periods of silent introspection were a little too long.
Asuna also wasn't inclined to speak much, either. He suspected she was still bothered by what had happened with the Shogun. Well, of course she would be bothered. Being forced into a marriage not of her choosing was undeniably bad, and to be blackmailed by a human – the very race she detested so greatly - made what was already bad much worse. But Hijikata couldn't tell if it was her awareness of that fact and it kept her from even engaging in the smallest bit of conversation or if she simply wasn't in a forgiving mood tonight.
His mind tumbled back to the morning, back to his reckless and desperate actions. The second he'd heard the prince mention that Asuna and his father had stayed behind in the garden to talk, Hijikata had reacted with alarm and rushed out of the common room to find them. It was a damn stroke of luck he had intervened at the moment that he did, especially when he'd sensed her temper winding up. If she had gotten into another physical confrontation with the Shogun, all hell would have broken loose. The troubling fact was that for whatever reason, she didn't appear to have her lethal abilities under total control these days.
He continued to observe her, equal parts furious and worried for her. She was once again withdrawing so deep within her core of steel that it triggered his protective instincts to surge forth. It certainly wouldn't help to share either reaction with her, so he swallowed it and kept his civil façade in place despite the urge to...what? Give her a scolding she wouldn't forget? He didn't imagine that would go over well at all.
Nonetheless, Hijikata really hated the sickening feeling of not knowing how to deal with her when she was in this particular mood and had walled herself off. He wanted Asuna to understand that she wasn't alone. There was a need to touch her, to pull her out of her nonchalance and into his arms to offer what comfort he could. But he sucked in a deep breath to maintain his control because he didn't think his actions would be welcomed. Not yet. Not when she'd likely jump away from his touch as usual, as if she'd been burned. Maybe she had been. Maybe they both had.
"Well Toshi, since it's an order from Tokugawa-sama, we should cut them some slack tonight," Kondou's conversational tone brought Hijikata's thoughts back to the present.
Turning to him, the retainer added his own persuasive argument to the request. "Please rest assured as Tokugawa-sama has already asked his own men to be fully armed and standing guard outside. They are extremely well-trained soldiers and will be on full alert to the slightest indication of problem or danger."
With them being granted free rein, Hijikata could only trust that those personal guards would do as well as any of his Captains to keep the estate in good order. "Fine. I don't want to put a damper on everyone's spirits either and have Souji calling me a stick-in-the-mud too, as he put it."
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Hijikata-san," Souji said flatly, the arrogant grin still decorating his face. "Everyone knows that you're a wet blanket and only love to fire off orders at us left and right. You never want us to have any fun."
"I think we've exhausted the metaphors," Hijikata chided with a glancing glare. His patience with him evaporating like night mist in the sun.
"Have we?" Defiance saturated Souji's posture and he looked more pleased than the cat that ate the canary. "Seems to me the best is yet to come."
Hijikata's jaw was locked and his glare quickly became threatening. It was intense enough to serve as a warning of what was to come if Souji didn't shut his mouth. Though he couldn't help wondering why he felt more like the damn bird being swallowed than the feline.
"You must forgive their enthusiasm, my lord." Kondou bowed his head, a sign of respect.
Silence immediately fell over the room. The men turned towards the Shogun in wariness as they were suddenly aware of their disorderly behavior in the presence of royalty.
The Shogun merely smiled indulgently at their blunder. "There's nothing to forgive. In fact, I expect you all to carry on as you normally would."
It was all the encouragement that was needed to break the dreadful silence. Soon the sea of noise and chattering that had flooded the room moments ago returned.
Hijikata ventured another swift glance at Asuna when she lifted her untouched cup of sake to her mouth, but stopped just as it made contact with her lips. She still remained speechless as though lost in deep thought. That was until he took the cup from her hand and downed the contents in one gulp. The clear liquor had a surprisingly smooth, sweet taste. It slowly burned a path down his throat and laid like liquid fire in his empty stomach, spreading its comforting heat throughout his body. Knowing the sake was too strong for her, he then reached for her bottle and settled it next to his own empty cup.
He pretended not to notice the look Asuna shot him, the typical one that said he was crossing boundaries again. Whether it was a faint rebuke or a slight glare, Hijikata would take it. He would take any emotion or reaction he could get from her as a small consolation.
Furthermore, being innocently oblivious to her silent reprimands was a skill he had cultivated for quite some time now. There was no argument that there were times even he could take a leaf out of Souji's book and learn something. And what mattered most was that at least she was drawn back from somewhere far away.
"Are the food and drink not up to your expectations?" The Shogun's query was directed at the both of them, but the full force of his gaze was on Asuna. He was still paying far more attention to her than Hijikata would've liked. It didn't take a genius to know that the man hadn't given up hope on her yet. Not completely.
Trying to ignore the pit in his stomach as it knotted up, Hijikata calmly offered a reasonable explanation and replied, "Everything exceeds our usual standards, my lord. But Asuna doesn't consume alcohol because of the bitter taste, and there's no sense in letting good sake go to waste."
At his answer, Asuna raised her eyes to his. In question, in confusion. For some reason, she did not avert her gaze and look away this time, and neither did he. Instead, he simply continued to look deep into those aquamarine eyes that had always mesmerized him. Every damn time.
Had he surprised her so profoundly with his intricate knowledge of her? Probably.
Hijikata couldn't even remember when it had all changed for him, whether it had happened overnight or gradually, but he'd always been watching Asuna no matter how hard she'd tried to hide from him. He had watched day after day, learning things about her that he hadn't known before. Things like the almost regal way she carried her body. The way she tilted her head when she was curious or intrigued about something. And the way she glared at him with those haunting eyes when he made her mad.
Of course now that he felt he knew so much about her, so much more than he had ever been told, he knew she was meant to be his. And he knew as well, whether Asuna was ready to admit it or not, she felt the same way. Except convincing her would be the most difficult part. Maybe even impossible. Yet this was a battle he had no intention of losing.
"Hijikata-san, you're quite gentle and considerate, despite the fact that you're obviously successful in battlefields and skilled in slaying men."
He forced himself to turn from her and towards the owner of the voice. There was something dark in the retainer's voice that didn't match his words.
Just like the past few days, Hijikata had sensed an air of interrogation in the retainer's tone behind all his questions. As if he suspected they were hiding something, but had no idea what. Maybe Hijikata was paranoid, but he believed it to be more of a cautionary act than paranoia. He was growing increasingly convinced that this man was smarter than he let on and could probably sniff out the undercurrent of tension or a setup if he ever caught wind of it.
"Our Vice-Commander can be very thoughtful, especially when it comes to Asuna." The overt mockery coming from Souji was galling.
As a matter of fact, Okita Souji was galling, he always was. This was likely some show of rebellion, but Hijikata suspected there were more personal reasons involving Asuna. It didn't matter though. He would just have to keep up the slightly annoyed looks or Souji would go out of his way to make his days a living hell.
"I hear Tokugawa-sama is also a loving, doting husband and Princess Kazu is a devoted wife. The men are envious of you," Sanosuke commented, trying to create a diversion from the delicate topic and to shift their focus away from Hijikata.
"Despite all the finest words spoken of me, my commitment to marriage is still being questioned," said the Shogun as he allowed his gaze to settle on Asuna again.
She said nothing in response; rather, she just held his gaze without blinking or flinching, all the while maintaining an erect but composed posture. A look of cold indifference was being communicated to the Shogun and it was not lost on Hijikata. If it came to a battle of will or wits, Asuna was better than anyone he knew.
Hijikata on the other hand, was hoping to read the Shogun's face, yet couldn't figure out anything. His set expression gave nothing away. Though it was to be expected from a man who was accustomed to dealing with royalty and nobles. A mere samurai would find no easy path through his mind.
Shinpachi's voice broke their silent battle. "What! That's unforgivable! They must have had a lot of guts to question the Shogun's sincerity!"
The sharp nudge of Sanosuke's elbow in his ribs prompted Shinpachi to realize he had said more than he should. He scowled at him in return, as if it were Sanosuke's fault that he had a lax tongue. He then looked off to the side where Souji and Saito sat, but found no help there either when they didn't even spare him a glance.
The Shogun's half-grin made a reappearance, but it didn't quite reach his dark eyes. A moment later he finally broke eye contact with Asuna and addressed Shinpachi. "I found the honest opinion refreshing and it left me with much to ponder over. It certainly helps me to begin seeing my marriage differently."
"Tokugawa-sama is not only generous in support, but also forgiving and merciful," the retainer pointed out dutifully, his voice edged with truculence.
"Indeed, of that we have no doubt." Kondou knew better. Hence, he agreed readily and with no hesitation. In any event, they weren't looking for any trouble out of the shogunate.
Everyone continued on with their evening while making polite conversation over their meal. They were so exquisitely polite that Hijikata could barely stand it, especially when his tenuous hold on his own temper began to slip away, bit by bit, after finishing his second bottle of sake. Meanwhile, Shinpachi and Sanosuke had downed another three bottles in quick succession, but it was becoming too much effort for Hijikata to lose his head over the matter. Because the more he drank the less he cared – about everything. Though at one point or another, he'd been conscious of a vague annoyance that pricked him when he noticed none of the other men looked half as drunk as he felt.
Soon after dinner, everybody began proceeding to their individual quarters to turn in for the night. Hijikata trudged out of the common room, dazed and tired, already imagining himself lying face down in bed and sleeping like a log. He almost tripped on the two steps in the hallway and quickly steadied himself.
"Toshi, are you alright?" Kondou asked in concern.
Right away Hijikata was aware of Asuna wordlessly making her way past all of them, of their Commander coming to stand beside him and of the guys throwing worried glances in his direction. He ignored them all.
"I'm fine," he assured him tersely with a grunt, dismissing his condition with a quick wave of his hand.
"You don't seem fine to us, Hijikata-san," Shinpachi grumbled, his lips pursed into a frown while studying Hijikata's eyes.
He almost couldn't blame them for making such a fuss over him, because he understood their need to hassle him was out of concern. Hijikata had never drank himself into an unconscious stupor, as a rule. Therefore, it was a rare sight for him to get this drunk as he didn't like having his mind fogged.
"Sano, come and help Toshi to his room. I will have Yukimura-kun make him some tea to dispel the effects of the alcohol." It was a firm order coming from Kondou, not a request.
"How strange…" commented the retainer with confusion crossing his features.
"What's so strange? If there's something you wish to say then speak plainly, Umekichi." The Shogun's demeanor changed as he appeased his impatience. Tonight was to be a night of celebrations and he obviously was in no mood to deal with courtly doublespeak and implied meanings.
The man made a slight bow of his head, his tone was carefully neutral. "Apologies, my lord. I just find it odd that everyone is concerned about Hijikata-san's state, and yet his fiancée is walking away without a care. I ask that you forgive my ignorance, my lord, but would it not be a woman's duty to provide care for her fiancé in situations as this?"
Though he pitted his sudden question as casual curiosity, Hijikata wasn't fooled. It was born of shrewd interest, of deliberate intent. And it had caught everyone off guard, including Asuna when she stopped in her tracks and slowly turned back to face the retainer. Standing only a few steps away, she had gone preternaturally still, as though she knew how precarious the situation was.
"Ah, that is…that's because…" Kondou was about to rise in Asuna's defense, but struggled to think of a plausible reply to a perfectly logical inquiry. However, his attempt at an explanation was abruptly put to an end before he had the opportunity to say more.
"What, you think I can't take care of myself? I'm fine. I don't need anyone to look after me," Hijikata bit out indignantly while ignoring the trepidation building inside him.
He felt the pulse that had begun throbbing in his temple sharpen at the thought of being caught now. The Shogun would punish them both, and he feared for Asuna. Although she was a strong demon, her undeniable strength would still be inadequate against a man with unbridled power at his fingertips. Like many of the Shogun's unnamed adversaries, she could disappear and her fate would never be known. Though needless to say, Hijikata would lay down his life for her before he would allow any harm to come to her.
"I'm not sure how you acquired the notion that I'm walking away without a care," Asuna spoke for the first time tonight, her tone pure ice. "Not that I particularly owe anyone an explanation for anything, but I'm only returning to my quarters to change into a yukata. If I am to spend the night with my fiancé then I shall do so in my own comfort."
Everyone froze.
Paralyzed with surprise, Hijikata stood rooted to the spot, trying desperately to wrap his head around what she'd just said and make sense of it. Did she even know what she was suggesting? Visions of the two of them sleeping together flooded his mind. He swallowed in irritation when he couldn't get his voice to work, not that he knew what to say. He was in a state beyond words.
And he wasn't the only one shocked into speechlessness. Kondou was so startled he jolted and almost lost his footing, while the others stared at her as if she had sprouted two heads. To make things even more reprehensible, she met Hijikata's gaze with that remarkable, unwavering vexatious calm.
The jaw dropping silence was finally broken by Kondou as he stammered, "Sp-spend the night with Toshi?"
Sanosuke was the first to recover from his astonishment. He patted their Commander's back and laughed in good humor, signaling him to follow along. "Kondou-san, don't act so shocked! They are engaged, after all. It's pretty natural that they would spend time together like this."
"Of course, of course." Kondou chuckled hastily, more than grateful for his Captain's quick thinking. Politics and strategy were his strength, not deception.
"Y-yeah! Let's help Hijikata-san to his room first and we'll let Asuna take care of him for the night." Shinpachi glanced the Shogun's way and forced a buoyant grin, but it was too cheerful and wide.
And if his expression was any indication, Hijikata also needed to get better at disguising the scowl he was currently biting back. So he let the muscles in his face relax a little. The last thing he wanted was to have anyone mistaking his reaction for anything other than pleasant.
"How lucky of you, Hijikata-san. Many would kill to be in your position right now." All the old mockery was back in Souji's face.
No, it was more than mockery – it was open contempt. The bitterness fueling the words was enough for Hijikata to understand the meaning behind it. But as usual tonight, he let it pass without a backlash of anger. Experience had taught him that only one sticky problem could be dealt with at a time. He was dealing with the more important one first.
Being the broker of peace that he was, and to temporarily mediate their nonverbal dispute, Saito flashed Souji a charged look before turning to their Commander. "It's getting late, we should allow Tokugawa-sama to get some rest too."
"Saito's right. Let's move out of the hallway and return to our quarters to retire for the night." Kondou suggested, already steering Hijikata and Sanosuke out and away from the group. Then as if it had only just crossed his mind, he spun to the Shogun and immediately sketched a quick but courteous bow. "Please rest well, my lord."
Hijikata's eyes collided with the Shogun, who had been remaining quiet while observing and studying the situation until he believed he had it all figured out. And more importantly, he was observing how Asuna was with Hijikata. Unfortunately for him, the woman of his desires was fully invested in what was happening, and she did not once glance his way. Her manner, without provocation, was as cold and severe as ever.
In this instant, Hijikata thought he saw a shadow of disappointment and almost sadness in the Shogun's gaze. Though it quickly faded when a corner of his mouth twitched, as if fighting for his usual smile. "Very well. I will see everyone in the morning."
He then turned on his heels and strode off, leaving his retainer to follow after him. Straightaway, the others also started to disperse in all directions without so much as a sound. All except for one.
Sanosuke came next to him just when Asuna walked on, leaving Hijikata staring at her retreating back. "Should I be worried about you two?"
"We'll be fine. We will all get a breath of normal once this blows over," he answered plainly, knowing that his words of reassurance were more for his own benefit than they were for anyone else.
But even when all was said and done, somehow Hijikata still felt strangely dissatisfied and no peace came to his heart.
X X X
Back in his own quarters and away from prying eyes, Hijikata's shoulders loosened that final notch. He began to feel the long, exhausting effects of a day's work and a night's drunk. But no amount of liquor was going to numb the burning in his heart or wipe the softness of Asuna's skin from his memory.
He gritted his teeth, attempting to control his unruly body that seemed to harden every time at the thought of having her in his bed, of them both writhing in pleasure as he entered the heat of her body. Since that night he had seen her naked in the bathhouse, she'd haunted his dreams every night. Every fucking night, he brutally reminded himself again.
Endless nights of waking with a pulsating hardness, his body beading with cold sweat and his heart pounding so heavily he thought it would burst from his chest. He was filled with tormented need and hunger. A hunger that he had come to recognize as it went clear to his soul. Hijikata was so damn hungry for her after all those nightly dreams that provided no relief.
That one glimpse of her in the bathhouse was not enough. The compulsion to touch her and to take her was a constant beat in his blood now. And tonight would be the worst - the absolute worst. Confined in a small space with Asuna while he ached for all that might happen and all that could never be. It would be twice as difficult to keep his hands off of her tonight.
Letting out a curse, Hijikata sucked in a deep breath to relax his stance. He'd better think this through before he saw her again. So many things were still to be decided between them. And for him to lose control with Asuna before it was time would be all but certain to lead to someone getting hurt. He never wanted to hurt her, just like he never wanted to lose her.
The screen door slid open behind him, snapping him back to reality. At the sound of her soft footsteps, he looked up. Their eyes met and it felt as if the world itself was holding its breath. Asuna's raven hair rippled down her back and over her shoulders as she walked into the room. The way the candle light flickered against her snow-white skin made it almost glow, and he would give anything to be allowed to touch it. She was wearing a beautiful spring green yukata with floral patterns up on the right side. His eyes then swept over her body, taking in the way the thin cotton fabric clung to the luscious curves he knew lurked underneath.
The same echo of heat Hijikata felt whenever he was alone with her flashed through him again - only stronger and immeasurably more intense. His body turned to granite with a sudden, furious arousal that made him burn. It was pure torture. It took all of his control to hold himself back, to restrain himself from pulling her down so he could slide his hands inside the opening of her yukata and over her breasts, cover her lips with his and draw a long slow kiss out of her.
Cursing again inwardly this time, Hijikata forced his thoughts and gaze away as he rubbed his forehead to ease the throbbing pain.
"Is it really necessary for you to go so far?" The question was just to buy himself some time to temper his body's instant response to her.
For a moment Asuna only stood and observed him without making any move closer, though her usual guarded expression had disappeared. Instead, she looked more relaxed. Calm. Willing to talk.
"There will be times when we have to do what is necessary instead of what is easier. As the Shinsengumi Vice-Commander, I'm sure you of all people can understand that." Her reply was one of all ice, slicing through the daze his senses seemed to be drowning in. She could freeze fire with that tone.
Frustrated by her detachment, Hijikata dropped his hand from his forehead and narrowed his eyes on her. "Even if you're sharing a bed with the man you keep telling yourself you have no feelings for at all?"
He really shouldn't. Yet the urge was there. The urge to test her resolve. Or at the very least, push at them a little. He watched her intently for whatever it was that he hoped to see, looking for any spark the question meant anything to her. But none came.
None.
Asuna's questioning gaze remained steadfast on him, as if she hadn't heard a word he had said. "If this is what it takes for me to get out of the situation then it's what has to be done. I'm determined to do anything that's needed, more than what's needed, to crush the mortal's hopes that are wrongly placed."
A wry scoff escaped him. "It's no wonder some say women can be as cruel and ruthless as men. I almost feel bad for the Shogun."
"Now you know I'm worse than many men." The bleak darkness of her words should have shredded the intimacy growing between them, but it didn't. Her eyes then locked with his, eerie in their lucid clarity. "But it seems no matter what I say or do, some people just refuse to be deterred and go away."
"Yes, only I'm stupid enough to keep banging my head against the wall when it comes to you." It came out with more emotion that he would have liked.
Hijikata braced himself for her sharp retort. There was always a retort. It had him constantly wondering what would come next, what heartless words she would use as a weapon to hurt him further than she already had. Though to his surprise, nothing passed her lips.
In fact, Asuna didn't even blink under his scrutiny, but met the power in his gaze with the endurance of a demon. It didn't take long before she looked away when her attention was caught by something else. He knew she finally took notice of the two futons and quilts that had already been laid out, side by side, on the tatami mats in the middle of the room.
"Yukimura brought in the extra futon and had it spread out for you." His focus never strayed from her face. "It's not too late, if you want to change your mind."
"I don't need to change my mind." Asuna's chin tilted up stubbornly when her eyes found his again. "This isn't the first time I've slept next to you."
That statement, stark in its honesty, had brought Hijikata up short and his breath stilled in his lungs. She surprised him a second time as he hadn't expected her to say that. "Now you've got me wondering."
"Wondering?"
"Yes." His gaze swept up and down her features, his voice unintentionally turning husky when he said, "Wondering why you aren't cowering in fear like the other times. I'm not made of stone. I'm a man with needs and desires too."
He was also a man with a conscience, faults and abilities, but he was just a man after all. And she was the most exquisite woman he had ever seen, who was caught between his need for her and his fear of giving in to his need.
Hijikata didn't like this burning hunger that ran through him like molten steel. It made him act worse than a fool every time he was with her. It made him want to take her and to claim her. God help him, the ways he wanted this woman. Only the fact that he'd held on to his composure for so long already allowed him to keep doing it. Though there wasn't a chance in hell he could hold on to his control much longer. This thing he felt for Asuna had grown so strong and intense, it had him tied in knots.
His brazen comment didn't faze her. Instead, she watched him again with the same wariness of a demoness who was ready to fight, not flee. "We should put the incident out of our minds and forget it happened."
The incident.
He frowned when he realized she was referring to their kiss, which she had just reduced to nothing more than an incident. She was not going to let him see the kiss had meant something to her as well. She would rather have her tongue cut out than admit the truth. Besides, she still didn't seem to trust him.
A growl was building inside him, but he clamped down on the anger and asked, "Can you really forget though?"
Hijikata had never wasted time kissing women. Why waste time? The women he'd met mostly in courtesan houses hadn't been into kissing, either. But the kiss with Asuna had been different. It had been a chaste kiss, a brush of lips. And yet it'd been the most tantalizing kiss of his entire life and it had left him reeling. It had proven that they both had feelings, even if they didn't know how to deal with them.
Again, she remained quiet and he saw her eyebrows twitch ever so slightly. The movement was so quick, he would've missed it if he hadn't been watching her so closely. That was more than enough for him to see through her disguise.
"What will it take for you to drop your guard and allow me to see beyond the surface again?" It was a single, careless question that had ran ceaselessly around his head and had left him exhausted. And right now, he was too drunk, too angry...too hurt to care.
"You have given me your word of honor. I can only trust that you won't try to back out of it no matter how much the temptation pulls on your senses." Ruthless words, and that icy tone suddenly became a blade.
A humorless smile broke out on his lips. "You really know how to twist the knife and bring a man to his knees. There's really no winning with you, is there?"
His headache was still in full swing, but he hardly felt it against the pain of the blow Asuna had just delivered. Why had he asked the question when he'd known the answer? This conversation was jarring. But Hijikata put that aside, pleased that she was still standing before him and holding her ground, not hustling towards the door - her escape route.
"I think we should rest for the night." Her voice was like a slow caress, an unintended taunt as she skillfully avoided the question again. At that she turned away, clearly unwilling to talk any further.
The sight of her moving languidly as she worked her way into his bed did all kinds of things to him. Hijikata was almost certain that she was deliberately trying to torture him. The arousal he had rid himself of earlier blazed back to life. Except it was laced with anger this time and it threatened to steal away any trace of control or sanity.
He remained seated in front of his low table and held his breath. Long enough to let him get a grip on himself and be back in control. Or at least as in control of his body as he could seem to get. For all of his efforts, finally he regained some measure of his bearings. Then he blew out the candle and the dark room was immediately awash in silver moonlight and shadow. Turning around, he moved towards the bed where Asuna's body stretched out on her side with her hips forming a smooth curved line, and her back facing him. He lifted the soft quilt and slipped into his futon, allowing her sweet scent to flood his senses. To consume him.
She simply laid there, unmoving and unbothered, as if everything between them was unfolding according to her expectations. He supposed it was, and that made him feel even more frustrated, even greedier than before. He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling above them and taking it all in – the rhythmic sound of Asuna's breathing, the warmth of her body surrounding him, the rise and fall of her form.
There was a long silence from the woman by his side. As the time passed and the night grew quiet, he began to hear the faint chorus of crickets and frogs in the distance. Their lack of conversation wasn't unusual and even the tension between them had become familiar. But Hijikata felt the need to hear the sound of her voice if he couldn't have the touch of her skin. So he was the first to break the silence.
"After tonight, no one will question our relationship and give you trouble. I'll make certain of that." It was a Demon Vice-Commander's promise.
"I'm not yours to protect." The ice still in her tone.
"As long as you're with the Shinsengumi, you're one of mine to protect." Maybe she wasn't his now, but he wasn't bothered. Because what he didn't say was that he'd planned to find a way to keep her with him, permanently.
Still refusing to look at him, Asuna said, "You have done enough for me and there's no need to make my debt even greater. I don't want to owe you any more than I already do."
"You never asked me to do anything. Whatever I did for you, I did it because I wanted to. You don't owe me anything." And she would never owe him. He didn't want it to be that way between them.
"Or maybe you're too close to see it. Like you said, you have considered me as your responsibility since the moment you let me stay with the Shinsengumi, so you don't see that you have a choice."
His actions should have felt right and vindicated but somehow, she made him feel an emptiness in the wake of her cold summation. And reading the tension in the line of her spine, he also knew that she wanted him to drop the discussion. Unfortunately, he had never been a man who took orders when he didn't want to take them.
"I know damn well it was my choice. It has always been my choice," Hijikata countered quietly, wishing she would turn around so he could see her face. Her eyes told more than her deliberately cruel words ever could. "Even when I was wary of you and the potential threat you posed to us from the very beginning, I still chose to trust you."
It had also been his choice in his way of life. For years he'd avoided commitment, complications, and any real responsibility that was brought by marriage. And now, because of a demoness who had managed to sneak past his defenses, he wanted the whole messy, complex thing. Marriage and a family. Everything his parents had had, but Hijikata had recoiled from because he'd understood the unbearable pain that came with losing what one prized most.
"Why?" Her voice was little more than a whisper, though it still conveyed the depth of her curiosity all the same.
"Sometimes you just have to follow your instincts about a person even if your head tells you it's the craziest thing to do." Hijikata draped his forearm over his eyes, willing himself to think through the waves of pain so that he could conjure her features in his mind. "Because your heart knows otherwise. That they're worth taking a chance for. I felt that about you the first night I met you."
Then there was the matter of attraction between them. That unidentifiable feeling of enthrallment which had stirred, swelled, and drawn him to her the moment she'd dropped into his life without warning.
"I sure didn't want to fall for you either," he pushed himself to carry on, regardless of the touch-hunger that continued to gnaw at him and choke him. "I was even fooling myself about my ability to resist you and fought it every step of the way. But I still couldn't help feeling as strongly for you as I do."
Still, Asuna said nothing, though he heard her breathing increase in speed. He wasn't sure what that reaction meant, but he was glad there was a reaction at all.
Blowing out another long breath, he then said, "And you were right about one thing. There's not much I can offer you. I'm not in a position to give you a comfortable life, and I can't even give you happiness with things being the way they are and my dedication to the Shinsengumi's cause."
Although he wasn't sure about his future – no matter whatever fate held for him or how short that future might be - he did know he wanted to face it with Shinohara Asuna's hand in his.
"But-" He rolled over to his side, widening his eyes in surprise when he found himself face to face with Asuna.
He hadn't heard her move, too absorbed in the raw emotions that churned inside him and muddled his thoughts. He froze, every part of him going quiet and still. For a full minute, she merely watched his face, studying him with those stunning eyes that always held a steely strength to them. He wanted to kiss her so bad it hurt. Instead, he allowed her to look as he attempted to pour his feelings and conviction into his gaze.
"But what?" She pressed further, curiosity now seeping into her tone for the first time.
The already tense atmosphere in the room intensified. The only sound he could hear was his heartbeat racing in his ears, as she waited for him to continue.
"But…" Hijikata slowly continued, holding her intense stare with his own. He wondered if she could see the fire burning in him. "If you choose to share your life with me, I'd swear my loyalty to you and protect you. I would lay down my own life to protect yours and more."
As he spoke, his eyes lingered on the soft skin of her face, beneath the silken strands of her hair. He only wanted to push those locks aside and let his knuckles graze her cheek before cupping her jaw, softly caressing the skin there. He then realized his fingers had done exactly as he'd imagined when he told her, "I would never betray you."
For the longest time, Asuna said nothing. She didn't jerk away or shove his hand off, but she also didn't acknowledge his touch. All she did was lay motionless, watching him while maintaining her infuriatingly controlled expression that betrayed none of her feelings. Or maybe there were no feelings to betray because she wasn't as affected and moved by the implications of his promise as he was. Once again, Hijikata tried to swallow his usual disappointment of her rejection as she'd revealed no hint of desire for him.
He wanted her to touch him, wanted her to want him, and he wanted her to reveal herself to him. For once in his life, the tide was turned on him. He was offering himself up and stripping his soul bare. But the only woman who ever held his heart in her hands was determined to keep him at a distance and in his place. A woman who needed love, yet would never reach out to take it.
"Asuna," Hijikata whispered. It was all he trusted himself to say. There was more, the words were just out of reach, but for now her name was enough.
His hand was still on her face when he moved closer. His mouth hovering over hers, so close their lips were almost touching. An all-too-familiar floral scent wrapped about him, tormenting him with its feminine power. He ran the pad of his thumb over the flesh of her lower lip. But before he could choose whether to act on his desires or to resist, she took the matter right out of his hands.
"Now I know you've had too much to drink. You should sleep it off." Those words were a warm breath feathering across his lips. And with that, she turned over and away from him again.
As he had already learned when it came to this demoness, affection and passion alone would never be enough. A less stubborn man might've given up by now, but Hijikata was fighting for keeps. He would accept no other outcome.
Staring at the back of her head, he started wondering what she would do if he curled up against her. She might let it go and pretend to be fast asleep. Or she might push him away and retreat to the same dark place that had consumed her for so long. After all that had happened, he decided he was willing to take the risk with her, wherever it would lead them after tonight.
Relaxing his own body as much as possible, Hijikata leaned closer to her, close enough to feel her warmth and every breath. He then wrapped his arm over her waist and felt her stiffen the instant he touched her, though she didn't move away. Taking that as a sign of encouragement, he nuzzled his face into her hair and let his eyes close. This was no longer pretense, not with her body all warm and luscious against him. Sleep began to whisper in his ear, and he decided to let it lull him into nightlong dreams where reality slipped away and fantasies took its place. His bruised heart started to beat again.
X X X
Asuna released her fisted hand in what felt like an eternity later, when she sensed Hijikata drifting off into real sleep at long last. Her heart was still thrumming in her chest while she laid quiescent in the warmth of his embrace. She was excruciatingly aware of his hand that remained on her waist and the heat of him branding her through her yukata. Turning over carefully onto her back, conscious that he would wake to the slightest movement, she allowed her own gaze to run over his face close to hers. Too close. Too dangerous.
Though she couldn't bring herself to move away from this persistent, impetuous man who had more to him than most people would ever know. He was the only one to have ever threatened her very stability, tempted her to break her loyalty to demons and consider a life she'd always believed was for others, but impossible for her. And it was wrong. So wrong.
But why then, did his hold feel so right and that it never even occurred to Asuna to fight it tonight? Why did his touch warm her in places that should be dead? When Hijikata wasn't there, those places were dark and hidden – dormant until he touched her again. She used to be able to disregard his advances, but now, she found them more difficult than ever to ignore. And it wasn't just the physical contact that had pushed her over the edge. It was the whirlwind torrent of feelings that had shattered through her defenses. For a reason beyond her, she felt an illogical compulsion to reach out to him, even knowing it would undo all of her efforts to get her mind in order.
Asuna watched him sleeping...dreaming. She listened to his relaxed breathing as the air slipped in and out between his barely parted lips. Those same lips that had been on hers once. Through the darkness, she could still see them clearly. And if she remembered right, they were also firm, but smooth. Slowly and helplessly, she reached out and touched the tip of her finger to his lower lip, imitating his movement from earlier. It was the barest touch, like their first kiss had been, maddening in its subtlety but enough for the strange surge of sensation to blaze through her.
Try as she might to stop it, her mind kept circling back to their interaction, trying to make sense of what had happened between them. She couldn't let it go as she recalled Hijikata's words of affection whispering across her skin and the vehemence in his voice when he'd declared them. In that, at least, she believed each word he'd spoken to be an absolute truth. He was not a soft man, he was a man who knew commitment. A man who kept his word once he gave it. He had meant his every vow, every promise. And she realized, to her horror, that it would be so easy to say yes. In fact, it would be far easier than she could have ever imagined.
Asuna traced his lips with her finger as her focus returned to them. Yes, there was softness and yet strength. Just like the man himself.
Hijikata was a mortal who had lived the years of blood and violence in seriousness and reservation. He probably had never once risked himself to the inevitability of loss, had never allowed unnecessary emotions to cloud his judgement and actions. Except now he'd decided to commit himself to a demon without the slightest hesitation or equivocation.
Or was he really? He seemed so determined, but was he truly accepting the deepest nature of what their potential bond would mean to both of them? For that matter, was she?
Asuna preferred to give no answer to that question. All she knew was that she would eventually betray even herself one day if she permitted herself to stay by his side. Today she'd had to share a bed with a human. Tomorrow she might have to change her entire personality. Because the temptation to be with someone sometimes outweighed the good sense of an individual's mind.
However, rather than listening to the sensible and reasonable part of herself, she was plunging into following something else. Something that had found its way to radiate out from deep within her. A conflicting signal of sorts that fought against her instincts, one that opposed Amagiri's warnings. It was difficult to explain what it might have been. An unexplored emotion or sensation perhaps, like a strident voice from her heart. But whatever it was, she could tell it was there, growing in intensity.
At that thought, Asuna pulled her hand away from Hijikata's face and curled her fingers into a fist to stop from reaching out to touch him again. Her fascination with this man seemed to have shifted a fraction more, becoming more subtle, more complex. And it disturbed her as much as the oddest feeling she had. An odd yet comforting feeling, one which was bolstered by the fact that no one could ever know. Because it was nothing a demon, a true demon who was allegiant to her own race, would've ever had.
But if she no longer thought like a demon, as one of them, then what was she? Her identity, her very self, had been tied with demons her entire life. If that was taken away...No. If she was to be honest - if she threw that away, what would be left? What would she become? Adrift? Lost? Purposeless?
Her gaze was drawn irresistibly back to Hijikata's sleeping form once more. His face was tranquil in sleep, appearing younger and less intimidating. But not even unconsciousness could dispel the stubborn set of his mouth. Somehow it felt like an infinite privilege to be able to see him like this, as private as what they had shared that night in the woods. And tonight, for the first time since the waterfall incident, those same strong arms that had held her so protectively were embracing her again.
In this moment she was only a woman in the arms of a man who made every part of her awaken in a hunger she had never expected to feel and who, for this fleeting instant, was hers...
Perhaps the more pertinent question Asuna should be asking herself was, would she be willing to betray her family's memories and throw everything away for this mortal man?
X X X
The fragrance of flowers hung in the air, overpowering in its sweetness. The scent mixed strangely with the combination of alcohol and perspiration, creating another odor altogether that was repugnant. Even so, a steady trickle of men still came and went in Sumi, where they were enthusiastically entertained.
The excitement was understandable. After all, he too, knew of similar places where demons could get anything they needed, where they could fill any dark, uncontrollable desire that raged inside them. Many of these places were public and appeared to be nothing more than restaurants, shops or geisha houses. Most were frequented by wide-eyed humans who never suspected what went on behind the public view.
Tonight, another one of his mundane duties had brought him to one of them. He had visited places like this one, many times before. He had also disguised himself as a patron, not that anyone from outside his close circle would recognize him. But he knew better than to take chances, especially when he'd agreed on physical meetings. Though there was always the risk of being overheard by other ears.
He met Amagiri's eyes from across the room in the darkness. A pureblooded demon who would be one of The Ancient Ones' successors; an heir to their immense and supreme power, wealth and hierarchical position within the demon realm. For demons like him, he supposed nothing was too much.
"This," Amagiri handed him a tiny vial filled with life essence. The glass glinting in the moonlight, the contents dark red and swirling inside. "Is her blood."
He had never met her. Shinohara Asuna, the subject of the investigation. But of course, he'd heard quite a bit about her and had been looking forward to the chance to meet her through the vast bastion of her mind and memories. It was one of the reasons he had decided to oversee this trial himself.
"You must be curious." A meager smile playing at his lips. "Even I'm interested to know what her blood tastes like." And what visions he would see this night.
"I have no use for her blood. So no, I am not curious." A toneless response.
His gaze flicked to the profile of a demon so lethally cold, humans should have been too terrified to approach him. He could see why Amagiri had been chosen for the position as an Executioner. He was what they would refer to as a quintessential demon. Not only was he impassive and unemotional, but he'd been trained not to break even under torture of the most inhumane kind. Yet there was a fierce protectiveness to him when it came to his clan and those under his care.
In truth, there were very, very few 'perfect' demons in their world. Though at times, ones would just have to make do with what was presented to them, even under unsatisfactory conditions. Therefore they, as The Ancient Ones, would see the makings of a perfect Executioner only in demons who had great potential and strength. As for those who were flawed in some way, demons like Uchiyama Einosuke and Uchiyama Mitsuru, they became nothing but punishers of mankind. Much like plagues and floods with the promise of destruction and death, evil and pain.
And there was a place for demons like them in Tranquility Cave. A hidden tower that was built to hold demons, strong demons that had lost their minds. They would be held until deemed worthless and thrown away. That was, if they hadn't already received an instant execution, of course. Though in his opinion, both fates were equally undesirable and to be feared.
"She's currently staying with the Shinsengumi. I will seize her if you confirm it was a deliberate slaying of Uchiyama Mitsuru without any justifiable cause."
"You say she's with the humans?" In a world where both races should have been sworn enemies, she reached out to them and welcomed them with understanding instead?
Another interesting discovery, he thought, unreasonably impressed.
"Is that a problem that should be tackled?" Amagiri asked, with utter calm.
"Why speculate? We'll find out soon enough." He lifted the vial to his lips and drank every last drop of it.
The cold blood hit the back of his throat. It reminded him of the taste of the sea in its purest form, sultry and strong. The icy touch turned into a burning sensation as it slid down into him, passing through every limb of his body.
Thoughts and emotions that weren't his began to rush at him like a landslide, ricocheting and erupting inside his head at once. Pain and fury, agony and confusion; a tidal wave of memories that made him almost ache inside. He also felt her conflicting emotions, guilt being the strongest in the mix. Gradually the vastness of these sensations, nostalgia and dark memories calmed themselves and dissipated. He was left feeling...somehow empty now that they were gone. Saddened was probably the right word here. It made breathing difficult.
Turning away, he sucked in a fresh breath of hot summer night air. The sense of peace and freedom swept over him once again and he couldn't get enough of it.
What a mind she had.
He'd expected her to be something more than an insipid creature, but this was not quite what he had imagined. She was more willful, more of a handful and yet…
"What did you unearth?" Amagiri's deep voice cut into his thoughts.
Keeping his back to the taller demon, he breathed in slowly. "Nothing that would surprise you. She's innocent of the murder of Uchiyama Mitsuru." Though she may be guilty of something else altogether. Or perhaps he should say she was too deep into something else that she wouldn't find her way out of easily.
While he was sure Shinohara Asuna was nothing like the Uchiyama siblings, what he'd seen and felt in her emotions and actions was enough for him to know that she was slowly being engulfed by the darkness growing within her. A great and terrifying power which carried with it heat and anger and the insatiable desire to harm something, or someone. Not to mention her intriguing, yet forbidden connection with mortals. Lawfully, he had every right to imprison her.
"And her association with the humans?"
The adrenaline rush had lasted all but a short moment, the time between considering his options and making his decision. That had been it. But that other sensation – the emotion which had crushed him when he'd sifted through her memories – that was new. In all of his existence, he had never experienced that feeling before. It was new and he couldn't identify it.
After a thoughtful pause, his decision was made. "Reaching closure for this trial has been our main priority. We leave her be for the time being until the other more pressing problem is dealt with."
An unremitting problem that involved the Rasetsu. With their murderous insanity, they would kill anything in their path, hacking the humans to pieces and painting the streets in blood. Their animalistic rage could cause a true war between humans and demons to break out. Possibly even a war to end all wars.
Amagiri continued to maintain his relaxed pose, but fine lines were forming at the corners of his eyes. "There won't be any future complications if no actions are taken?"
"Only time will tell. Regardless of her ties with the humans, she knows she is a demon at heart."
Shinohara Asuna was an interesting demoness, unlike any other he'd met. Something about her spoke to him. And it wasn't just her mind he fancied either. It was the determination she possessed and her refusal to compromise. Yes, it would be a great pity to lock her away so quickly, and without better cause.
One day, he reminded himself. One day, he would have the opportunity to get to know her better. Even if he must create that opportunity himself.
He finally turned to face Amagiri again. "I want you to deliver a message for me."
X X X
AUTHOR NOTE:
Finally…this chapter is done *sweatdrops*. And no, I'm not going to justify why it took me so long this time either lol.
Anyway, Christmas is still more than a month away, but have any of you already started humming Christmas songs randomly? I'm guilty in that aspect, especially when I felt like irritating my beta reader after he annoyed me, haha! Revenge is a dish best served cold…*grins evilly*!
Well, time to wrap things up again. Hopefully I will update again before Christmas but in the meantime, enjoy the rest of your weekend, folks!