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Suggested Listening: The Gathering of the Deer by Black Hill & Silent Island
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Twenty Six: Cruel Reality
Okita ran. His breath came in sharp pants. His lungs stung harshly against the cold. He had to be quick. Saito and Hijikata weren't far behind him. News of the furies escape had spread swiftly. So the two had joined him in his pursuit of the escapees. Their only job now was to exterminate the threat those furies posed before it became a problem.
His brows dipped into a sharp furrow. This was why he hated dealing with those damn things. They were a bigger pain in the ass than they were worth. His mind summoned the image of Kagome's shaken expression. She'd done well to find him as he'd requested. He couldn't let her down.
They rushed at the sound of screaming. The furies weren't far. Okita fell behind Saito. His hand dove to the hilt of his katana.
"Please don't!" The cry was cut off by the sound of flesh tearing. A wet gurgle bubbled out afterwards.
The ronin closed in. He and Saito rounded the corner. His colleague wasted no time impaling his blade through the heart of one of the furies. Okita shifted his attention to the one beside him. He thrusted the tip of his sword through the cavity of its chest. Terror reflected in scarlet eyes back at him. For enhanced soldiers they weren't that hard to kill.
They turned their attention to the third. The fury trembled in fear. It shifted on the ball of its heel and attempted to flee. Saito ran forward. His katana found its heart with deadly precision.
Okita sheathed his blade. His shoulders relaxed somewhat. The physical threat was nullified for the moment.
A feminine gasp of horror drew his attention to a tiny alleyway. His eyes scanned the darkness. Hidden behind a stack of firewood was a girl. She had her hands clamped over her mouth and tears brimming her eyes. The only odd thing was the masculine clothes she wore. It was different from Kagome's training uniform as it hid most of her feminine features. His brows furrowed.
"Ah," Okita tucked his hands into his sleeves. "This isn't good." A sharp smile tugged at his lips. This kid had just found herself at the center of something she really shouldn't have seen. It wouldn't be good to just let her off scot-free. His thumb flicked at the hilt of his blade. It'd be easier to just kill her.
The girl sensed his intent. She scrambled back, holding her arms close to her chest as if to shield herself. A sickening feeling twisted in his stomach. The memory of his wife's pale complexion and terrified eyes resurfaced. Kagome wouldn't be able to look at him if she found out he'd killed an innocent. His thumb dropped away. Damn it.
"What's your name?" His tone bit out in a command.
The girl jumped. She shivered, looking between him and Saito much like a trapped rabbit. Silence permeated the air. Was she too afraid to speak? The ronin fought the urge to sigh. Just great. Escaped furies, dead bodies and a witness. Could this night get any worse?
Hijikata stepped in her line of view. He pointed the tip of his katana at the hollow of her throat, "Don't try to run." She shivered at his command. The sickening feeling returned. A little over a year ago he would've been able to kill her without batting a lash. Now the very thought caused his stomach to roil violently. There was something about the girl that reminded him too much of Kagome. He kept his eyes trained on her. Why was this so difficult now?
A flurry of snow began to fall around them. The girl's eyes closed as her body lurched forward onto the ground. Hijikata drew his blade into its sheath, barely missing her throat as she collapsed.
"Now look what you've done." Okita strolled up to the witness. He lowered himself onto his haunches. The ronin stretched out his index finger and gave her cheek a sharp jab. Her brows twitched but nothing else. The girl was out cold. He cocked his head over his shoulder to pin the Commander with a baleful look, "You scared her so much that she fainted. You might want to work on your people skills."
Hijikata glared at him, "Knock it off. Remove these guys haori and grab the girl." Violet eyes settled on her unconscious form. "We'll figure out what to do with her after she wakes up."
Okita rose to his feet, "Fine." He collected the blood-soaked petticoats from the deceased furies. Blue linen became a dark shade of scarlet. The scent of rust burned at his nose. He was far from queasy but these things were a nightmare to clean up after. The gory scene was bound to draw their ability to protect the streets of Kyoto into question. He was just glad that Kagome didn't have to witness any of this.
A wave of protectiveness rushed through him at the thought. Those furies had been too damn close to her for comfort. How had they slipped past him? His teeth gnashed in frustration. He hadn't been able to ignore the odd feeling of foreboding all day. Now he could guess as to why that was.
Okita folded the clothes under his arm. By the time he'd turned around, Saito had hauled the sleeping girl upon his back. They started the quick trip return with Hijikata leading the front. Hopefully this wouldn't be a mistake. He closed his eyes. The image of his wife's smiling face rushed forth. He didn't want anything to threaten that. Not furies, war or anything else. His hands clenched into tight fists.
Nothing.
They'd returned as quickly as they'd set out. Okita casually dumped the blood-soaked haori. He'd deal with them later. For the time being he had other more important matters to settle. His eyes shifted to the sleeping girl upon Saito's back.
His colleague hauled her further up to prevent her from falling. The other man's eyes looked towards Hijikata, "Which room should I put the child in?"
The Commander straightened his shoulders, "Just toss 'em into one on the East Wing." He looked to him, "Souji, go get some rest. You'll go on guard duty first thing in the morning."
He had no problem with that. The man made his way back to his quarters. Saito followed him part of the way, stopping at a room at the end of the corridor. He watched as the man deposited her inside before standing guard out front. This was going to be a long night.
"Souji?" He heard Kagome's faint voice through the thin shoji screen. "That you?"
Okita slid the door back. He slipped inside and smiled down at his wife. She outstretched her arms to welcome him into their bed. He swiftly divested himself of his clothing, sliding beneath the sheets beside her once he'd finished.
"Were you waiting on me?" He coiled his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.
Kagome nodded, "Of course. What else would I do?" She buried her face at the space above his heart. Okita tangled his fingers in the thick mass of her hair. He tucked her head under his chin and took comfort in her presence. Tonight was the first time he couldn't bring himself to kill. His lips dipped downwards at the thought. He couldn't let himself go soft.
"Souji," His wife tipped her chin to meet his eyes. "Who did you bring back? They're terrified." The edging of concern in her voice caused his heart to twinge.
Okita sighed, "Someone who saw too much." He chose not to lie. "Hijikata-san is going to hold a meeting in the morning to figure out what to do."
Her fingers curled over his shoulders, "They saw those things, right?" Her voice was soft, as if to avoid being heard.
Okita nodded, "Yeah."
His wife drew back. Her brows furrowed, "Souji, what exactly are they? They're not human but not youkai either. Plus the bloodlust…" her mouth snapped shut, her eyes darting towards the door as if to ensure no one else could hear.
He sighed. It was going to come out eventually.
"They're the Shogun's experiment." A sour taste rose in the back of his throat. "Shortly before my recruitment mission, the Shogun ordered this doctor to help us out with these experiments. They were supposed to help our fighters become strong."
He sat up. Kagome leaned against him, her fingers trailing soothing lines down his back.
"But there was a cost." Her voice was small.
Okita closed his eyes, "There's always a cost." He felt her arms wrap around his middle in a show of comfort. He held his hand over hers. A small smile touched his lips. Even in spite of these circumstances she was always placing him first. He was grateful.
The man started, "We call them furies." The ronin continued, "In exchange for superhuman strength they have an uncontrollable bloodlust. Whatever consciousness they have is lost to madness."
Her arms tightened around him. It was the cold reality that they were living beside those things day after day. Sanan's diligence would only go so far. Just as tonight, there would always be a risk of their existence becoming exposed.
"So what happened to the doctor?" She question curiously.
Okita shrugged his shoulders, "Apparently there was a fire and he disappeared. No body or any evidence was found to indicate that he'd died." His fingers tightened their grip over hers protectively. "Sanan-san has been continuing the research but he hasn't had much luck in diluting the madness."
Kagome was silent as he explained. He felt her breath against his shoulder blade as she pressed herself against his back.
"Then that person saw them like that?" His wife grew concerned. "Were they injured?"
Okita breathed through his lips, "Not that I could see. I think the kid's just scared."
"Petrified, actually." Kagome interjected. He felt her lips dip downward in a slight frown. "I think it's a girl? It's hard to tell, but they're terrified."
That drew his attention. He'd known that she could sense the fury's bloodlust but could she sense people as well?
"How..?" She didn't let him finish his question.
"Every person has their own signature that they give off." Her hands moved up his abdomen towards his chest. "It's why I know when you're near. The more familiar I am with a person the easier it becomes to sense them." Her hands stopped at the space above his heart. "Right now I know that they're scared. I can't even imagine how terrifying that must have been."
He didn't want her to know either. Hell, it would've been easier just to kill the girl when he'd had the chance but his body had hesitated. A part of him knew that if he did then Kagome would have never looked at him the same. That was something he couldn't live with.
"Souji," She began. He already knew where this was going.
"No." His answer was quick. He didn't give her the chance to finish asking. "I don't want you getting any more involved in this." The last thing he'd wanted to do was deny her. However the stakes were high. The girl in the other room was liable to be killed for witnessing something she shouldn't have. If he let Kagome close to her then they'd undoubtedly bond and thus cause his wife more pain when the inevitable occurred.
She didn't give in, "At least let me talk to them." The young woman shifted around him. She curled her legs around his hips and perched herself upon his lap. "They're terrified. Having you guys interrogate them will just make more defensive." He felt the softness of her hands upon his cheeks. They were small and a little callused in contrast to his own. "Please," Her tone becoming imploring. "I can't explain it but I feel like they might open up more if I speak to them. Just for a short time in the morning."
His shoulders sagged. His logical mind adamantly refused but his heart wavered. What had this woman done to him?
Okita sighed, "Alright but only for a short time." His eyes hardened. "I don't want you getting involved in the fury shit whatsoever. It's too damn dangerous, you understand?"
Kagome nodded firmly, "I understand." Her lips turned downwards. "I may not agree with it but these experiments, they're not your call are they?"
His expression darkened. Never. If he had his way then they never would've touched the shit in the first place. He felt only pity for the souls forced into the choice between harakiri or the serum.
Her arms wound around his neck. She pulled him close to her as he felt the heat of her breath upon his ear.
"I trust you."
Those were the words he'd needed to hear the most. His arms locked around her waist as he buried his nose into the crook of her neck. He wouldn't sully that faith. He'd make damn sure of it.
The ronin shifted to his side and slowly laid them upon the sheets of their futon in a tangle of limbs. He kept his face pressed against her flesh as his subconscious took him. He made a vow to protect her. Whether it was from Inuyasha, youkai or furies, he didn't give a damn. Right now all that mattered was her. His eyes closed.
He only hoped that at sunrise she would not grow too attached. The one thing he could not protect her from was that kind of heartache. His grip on her tightened. All he could do now was just hope.
Chizuru woke in layers. Her eyes blinked slowly as she tried to gather her bearings. An unfamiliar ceiling came into view. Where was she?
"You've finally awakened." A soft voice cooed from beside her. The teen sat up. She rubbed her palms at her eyes, wiping the sleep from them.
"Here," The stranger passed a cup into her hands. "It's oolong tea. So it should give you some energy."
Chizuru turned her head. Her voice had yet to return; still tightened by the terror she'd felt. Her eyes landed on a woman she'd never met before. A kind smile played upon her lips as she rubbed her palm against her back as if she were soothing a child. She was dressed in a simple houmongi and had tied her hair up in a casual braided bun. There was a kindness to her that made the teen relax somewhat in her presence. Had last night just been a dream?
"There, drink up." The woman continued. "It'll give you strength."
She obliged. The slight twang of the tea tasted sweet upon her tongue. Chizuru sipped at the beverage. Her frayed nerves calmed as she found her voice again.
"Where am I?" It sounded so small compared to normal. The woman smiled empathetically.
"You're at the Shinsengumi's headquarters. My husband and his colleagues brought you back last night." Azure eyes scanned her from head to toe, as if searching for any visible wounds. "You don't seem injured so that's the good news."
Chizuru blinked, "Your husband?" So it had been real. A sickening feeling roiled in the pit of her stomach. Her mind summoned the memory of the three men. Had one of them been her spouse?
She nodded, "Yes. My name is Okita Kagome. My husband is Okita Souji." She took the cup from her after she'd finished. "The Captains said that they'd wanted to speak with you once you woke up. Do you think you can stand?"
At that moment Chizuru realized that her legs were still shaking. She pressed her palm against her calf. Kagome stood. She leaned down and offered her a palm to take.
"Here," The woman pulled her to her feet. "I'll take you to them."
The questions died on Chizuru's tongue. Her body shivered involuntarily. What was going to happen to her? She could hardly make sense of the things she'd seen. She squeezed her eyes shut. No, it didn't happen!
Kagome's hand tightened over hers securely. No words passed between them but a sense of comfort came from the other woman's presence. Chizuru took a shuttering breath between her lips as she gripped Kagome's hand a little more firmly. Somehow, having another woman near made the experience a little less terrifying. Perhaps it was the maternal tone in her voice when she spoke to her, but it briefly reminded Chizuru of the years of her youth spent by her father's side. Her eyes became downcast. Would she even have the chance to find him now?
The pair wandered through the open air corridors. Kagome took her to large gathering room. She rapped her free hand at the door once.
"It's me. I've brought her."
Chizuru heard a familiar voice respond, "Come in."
They entered. Kagome kept her grip on her hand as if to provide her with a sense of security. The teen trailed behind the older woman. She instinctively tucked herself behind her back; fearful of the people they were about to face. She didn't want to face them. She didn't want to relive that nightmare. Her free hand gripped at the woman's sleeve. She wasn't ready.
Kagome shut the door behind them, leading her to the center of the room.
"Here," She stopped mid-stride. "You can take a seat." Kagome gave her hand one last squeeze of support. Then her fingers fell away and the cold reality of her situation dawned on her.
"Kagome," The green-eyed man from the night before caught her attention. "Head back to the room. We'll take care of the rest." There was a certain softness in his voice that hadn't been there before. Was he Okita Souji; the spouse she spoke of?
Kagome smiled warmly at him. She nodded then left the room as quickly as she'd entered. Chizuru swallowed. Terror began to chill her body as she wrung her hands in her lap. She only hoped that she hadn't gotten herself into too much trouble.
These men seemed dangerous.
Okita wanted to sigh. Kagome had caught wind of their witness and as such adamantly requested to be the one to speak to her first. He'd instinctually wanted to deny her. The girl they'd brought back was liable to be put to death if she posed a threat to them. He didn't want Kagome getting too attached. However the stern look, fierce determination and set line of her pursed lips caused him to cave.
Kagome wouldn't be able to ask the questions that they'd wanted, but she could at least put the girl at ease before the interrogation. That'd be more than enough.
The ronin had watched as the girl clung to his wife much like a petrified infant would to its mother. The absolute look of terror in her face when Kagome left caused him to rub his brows between his index finger and thumb. Well, at least she took to Kagome. It'd probably be the only comfort she'd get for a long while.
Okita only half listened as the guys bickered amongst each other. This was going to be a real bitch to deal with. Especially if Kagome got attached. Given the soft look she'd cast at the girl, he'd assumed that it was already too late for that.
"I'm Kondou Isami, the Chief of the Shinsengumi." He snapped back to attention as Kondou introduced himself. The man's eyes shifted to Saito. "Right, could you give us a run down of what happened?"
The taciturn male wasted no time in delivering his version of events. He keenly left off the details about the furies, leaving the knowledge as a wordlessly understood issue.
"Right," Hijikata began once Saito finished. "What about you?" Violet eyes narrowed on the girl suspiciously. She jumped. Her body visibly shook as she tried to piece together her response.
"I saw nothing." The paleness in her cheeks became more prominent. She wasn't exactly lying but she wasn't speaking the truth either. His brows furrowed.
"You sure?" He kept his tone even; a ploy to lure her into a sense of security. She gulped at his remark. Okita pushed further, "Looked like you might've seen a bit more than nothing." His duty to the Shinsengumi came above all else. This girl wasn't Kagome. She was a liability. He couldn't let himself go soft now.
She shook her head vigorously, "I swear! I had gotten into a bit of trouble and those men helped me out, but that's it."
He closed his eyes. It wasn't like the furies had done it out of the goodness of their hearts. They'd lost themselves to the madness. They were likely too caught up in the slaughter to even recognize her presence.
Harada spoke next, "So you saw everything then." His eyes shifted away. A grim look set upon his features. Their responsibility was clear.
This girl had witnessed the furies first hand. They couldn't just let her go, but they also couldn't kill her without just cause. Their reputation would only grow worse.
"I doubt the kid fully knows what he saw." Hijikata used the masculine pronoun for her. "I don't see any reason to kill him."
Their witness stiffened at his remark. Oh? Had she not realized how dire her circumstances were? Looked like she was about to have a very cruel reality check.
"Wouldn't it be best to just let 'em go? I mean, he didn't do anything wrong." Heisuke interjected.
Okita closed his arms over his chest. It was an innocent way of thinking. Sure the kid was at the wrong place at the wrong time, but that didn't make her any less of a threat. She accidentally stumbled upon the furies. That was something they couldn't ignore.
"Yes but this child would have no reason to keep our secrets." Saito's gaze swept over to her coolly. "If one were to use force against the child then he'd have no loyalty to us." His point was clear. If someone were to torture her then she'd spill everything. Well at least what little she did know.
Okita met the Commander's gaze, "What do you want to do Hijikata-san?" The final call would have to come from him. None of them could agree on what to do with the girl. His brows furrowed at her terrified expression. It'd be easier to kill her but that wouldn't do their reputation any favors either.
Hijikata scanned her stoically, "Take the kid back to his room for now. There's something I want to investigate first."
Okita pushed off of the wall he'd been leaning against, "Understood." His gaze shifted towards the girl. "Come on short stuff. Follow me." He heard her scramble to her feet. The ronin didn't speak as they left the Common Room. He tucked his hands into the sleeves of his haori. This was going to be a tough decision.
"Um…" She tried to start up a conversation.
Okita quickly cut her off, "You're in a rough spot, kid." He led her back down the corridors towards her holding room. "Just stay quiet and keep your head down. Don't go doin' anything stupid."
She gave a tiny 'eep' of surprise. He heard her shuffling around behind him as if trying to take in all the sights as they walked. He fought the urge to sigh. She didn't seem the type to make a break for it but just in case he'd keep an eye out. Besides, there was one thing he knew that would keep the girl in place.
Okita paused just outside of their shared quarters, "Kagome, do you have a minute?"
She slid the screen open. Her eyes shifted between him and the girl following behind him. A flicker of realization flashed in her gaze. He smiled at her warmly.
"Think you can keep an eye on this one?" He jutted his thumb in the girl's direction. "I've got to take care of a few things." It was a lie of course. By the slight dip in his wife's brow, he knew that she was aware of that fact as well.
The young woman peered around him. She offered their witness a gentle smile, "That's fine, I didn't have much to do today anyways. Hijikata-san gave me a reprieve of the morning chores."
They both knew why. They couldn't spare the men to guard her during those chores. It wasn't a strictly enforced rule, but there was an understanding among the captains that she was to be guarded as much as possible. Especially after the incident with Takeda. So in times like these she was often given a reprieve.
Kagome came to his side. She interlaced their fingers and cast him an affectionate smile. He felt his expression thaw. This woman was entirely too good at softening him. Okita led the women down to the end of the corridor. He slid the door back and allowed them entrance. He waited until they were fully inside before he closed it. The man came to stand just around the corner. He pressed his back against the wall and listened intently.
Okita didn't want Kagome involved. He didn't want her getting attached. But he also knew that she was the best person to get information out of the girl. If there was something they needed to know then she'd be able to figure it out. Unlike them, the girl instinctively trusted her. Perhaps it was shady on his part but Kagome fully understood his intentions. That was more than enough for him.
He rested his head against the wall. For now this was all he could do. He closed his eyes. Hopefully this wouldn't turn out to be a mistake.
Chizuru shivered. She wrapped her arms around her body but could not find the warmth to cease the trembling. Hot tears brimmed her eyes. How had she gotten herself into this?
A gentle hand came to rest upon her back. Her head shot up to meet Kagome's soft expression.
"Here," The young woman tugged her haori from her shoulders; draping it over her.
"I can't!" Chizuru shook her head frantically. "This is yours. It'd be rude to take it!"
Kagome either pretended not to hear her or didn't bother acknowledging her dissent. The older woman wrapped the cloth around her. She then moved to sit before her.
"This must be so terrifying for you." The empathy in her words gave Chizuru pause. "I won't go making any empty promises but I'll do what I can to ensure that you're comfortable while you're here at least."
The teen looked down at her lap. That was the question, wasn't it? How long would she be here? More than that, would they even let her live?
"What's your name?" Kagome tried redirecting her train of thought.
"Yukimura Chizuru." She rubbed the back of her hand at her eyes; wiping away the unshed tears.
The woman nodded her head, "Well it's nice to meet you Chizuru-chan." She offered her a small handkerchief to dry the rest of her tears. "So what brings you to Kyoto? It can be everyday that a girl decides to dress as a man and travel on her own."
Chizuru's head shot up, "You knew?" She thought she'd done a good job at hiding it. Perhaps her disguise hadn't been as thorough as she'd hope.
Kagome's smile turned kind, "Well I can't say for the other guys, but Souji and I figured it out pretty quickly. You tried hard but there's certain things that'll give you away."
The teen sniffed but cocked her head curiously. What did she mean by that?
The woman continued, "But enough about that. Why were you traveling in Kyoto on your own? It's quite dangerous." Her brows furrowed in maternal concern.
Chizuru sucked a shuttering breath between her lips, "I'm looking for my father." She paused as her breathing slowly became normal again. "He came here for work but several months ago I stopped receiving letters from him." Her heart wrenched painfully in her chest at the thought.
"Do you know where he worked at?" Kagome pressured for more details. She didn't think she was asking for the Shinsengumi, but a genuine concern over her parent's wellbeing.
Chizuru shook her head, "He never said. I tried writing to a family friend but I ended up traveling here anyways to look for my father." Her hands clenched tightly over her lap. "I'd hoped that I could find him."
The older woman shot her an empathetic look, "Which was why you disguised yourself as a man."
The girl nodded again, "Yes. It's safer than traveling as a woman."
She felt Kagome's hand upon her own. Chizuru snapped her eyes to her. The woman smiled warmly, "You did well making it this far." Her fingers squeezed her hand in a show of reassurance. "I'm sure your father would be proud."
Chizuru felt her chin tremble. Then why did it feel as if she'd failed? Even now her life was on the line. She had no idea whether the men of the Shinsengumi would share Kagome's views on the topic. All she knew was that she'd stumbled on something she shouldn't have, now she may never get the chance to see her family again.
"What's your father's name?"
Kagome rubbed her back soothingly; as if she were calming a distressed child.
"Yukimura Kodo." She took another shuttering breath. "He's a doctor who practices western medicine."
Both women snapped to attention as the door slid back. Hijikata, Kondou, Sanan and Okita wandered into the room. Kagome looked between them, her face becoming grim as she spotted her husband's drawn expression. In that moment Chizuru felt more terror than she did in a long time.
Okita came to his wife's side. He whispered something to her ear. It was too low for her to hear but judging by Kagome's worried look, she knew it couldn't be good. The man gestured for her to leave. The woman sighed but threw an empathetic look in her direction.
"Chizuru-chan," Kagome addressed her directly. "No matter what just be truthful. Tell them everything you did me. Don't try to hide anything."
With that Okita escorted her out, leaving behind her haori which was still draped around her shoulders like a protective embrace. The teen stiffened once the door closed. She was scared. Her hands pulled the coat closer to herself instinctively.
Hijikata was the first to speak, "Yukimura," His eyes narrowed into thin slits at her. "Tell us everything you know."
She bit into her bottom lip. Be truthful. That's all she had to do.
The teen met his gaze, "My name is Yukimura Chizuru and I'm searching for my father." She only hoped that this would work.
Okita wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist. She'd leaned into his chest. Her fingers curled into fists over his haori. She was worried for the girl. A part of him wanted to reassure her but he knew that giving her false hope would be even more detrimental.
The man nudged his mouth beside her ear, "You did good." He traced his hands along the curve of her sides. What he hadn't said was that he'd alerted the others as soon as he'd heard the girl's name. It couldn't be any mere accident that the doctor's daughter suddenly appeared while they were still searching for him. Although her actual knowledge of furies was still up in the air. Had he ever divulged that information to her? Or had the doctor kept it away from his daughter to protect her? Regardless, she was caught up in it now.
"I know but," Kagome buried herself deeper into his chest. "Isn't there anything we can do? She's just lost and scared."
There it was. That unending kindness that'd drawn him to her in the first place. Okita sighed through his nose. If he had any power in this situation then he would've already set the girl free. He doubted that the kid posed any serious risk to them. Still, she held knowledge that they couldn't let escape the compound. His lips pressed into a thin line. This was going to be tricky.
"Just gotta wait and see what the Commander himself decides to do." He closed his eyes at the thought. "There isn't anything else we can do."
His wife had done a wonderful job in getting the girl comfortable enough to talk. It'd probably be easier if she could be beside her during the interrogation. However as far as the others went, no one besides himself was aware of the fact that she knew of the furies existence. He'd keep it that way too. His brows furrowed at the thought. The last thing he wanted was for Sanan or Hijikata to realize the depth of Kagome's sensory capabilities.
The pair perked up at the sound of the other door sliding open. Okita dropped his arms away from her as they left their quarters to investigate.
Sanan was first to greet them. The man's genteel smile did little to ward off the anxious feeling in his stomach.
"Yukimura-kun will become Hijikata-san's page." His eyes landed onto Kagome's worried expression. "She will be under house arrest until further notice. For now, you may visit her as you wish."
His wife took an audible sigh of relief. However Okita knew that there was a catch to this new agreement.
"So you're really saying that the kid has to be under watch." He folded his arms over his chest.
The Colonel's smile didn't falter, "Sharp as always, Okita-kun. You've been put on first watch." He strode past him, laughing softly to himself as if the notion was entertaining. "Please excuse me." With that he left them entirely.
Kagome peered up at him, "So she's being guarded?"
His jaw clenched, "As a prisoner. Kid can't leave." There was no use in lying to her. It wouldn't do him any favors nor would it protect his wife from the ugly truth. The girl was spared but at the cost of her freedom.
He felt a small hand upon his bicep. His body instinctively relaxed at her touch.
"May I see her?" Kagome implored. "She might not be able to leave but maybe having someone she's comfortable with can help."
Okita couldn't deny her that. He threw a small smile at her, "Fine by me. At least then I can eavesdrop on you all I want." It was meant to serve as a joke to lighten the atmosphere.
Kagome laughed heartily as she circled her arms around his middle. It felt nice. His arms wrapped around her shoulders much the same.
"You're an idiot." Her words were soft with the affection she felt. His lips quirked upwards.
"Yeah?" A devious idea popped into his head. The man drew back partially so as to provide the space he needed to do it. "Mind saying that again?" Okita egged her on.
Kagome grinned up at him playfully, "You're an idi-.." She was cut off as his arms slid around her and lifted her into the air. The man draped her over the full length of his shoulders and parallel to the ground. "Souji! Put me down!" He heard her pitch grow several notches higher. Funny, he hadn't heard her make that noise since the first time they'd had sex. He had to try harder.
"Nah, don't think I want to." He started to make his way down the corridor towards Chizuru's room. "You make a comfortable scarf."
He felt her thrash against his hold, desperately trying to free herself from his grip. Unfortunately for her, he was quite good at balancing himself. He didn't earn the rank of Captain for nothing.
"I am not a scarf. Now put me down!" Kagome threw herself against his hold. "Okita Souji I swear you will not like the outcome if you don't stop this!"
Ooh, that was the first time she'd ever used his full name. He was walking himself right into a pit of trouble but he simply couldn't stop himself.
"But why? This is fun." He came to a stop at the open door. Kondou had already left but Hijikata paused at the threshold. The man gave them a cool once over. His expression was stoic as ever but there was a slight twitch in his brow. Kagome dove to cover her face with her hands.
"You're horrible, Souji!" She sank into him as if to hide her embarrassment from the world. He ignored it. What, she hadn't figured that out about him yet? Well this would just serve as the crash course.
"Reporting for duty." Okita grinned at the Commander. They just said that he had to keep watch. They didn't say that he couldn't keep company with him.
Hijikata blinked, "I have no idea what you see in him." The comment was directed at Kagome. She buried her face further into her hands in response.
He faintly heard a 'neither do I' from her. His lips pulled into a slight pout. Now that was just mean. Okita threw a look at her covered face, "I heard that."
She shifted her fingers to peer at his sour expression. She stuck her tongue out at him, "Then be nice and put me down. If you do I'll think about taking that back."
The ronin was sure that he could put her tongue to a better use than that but he kept that particular comment to himself. Instead he slowly lowered her back onto her feet and smirked. Hijikata pinched the bridge of his nose—clearly put off by their antics.
"I don't care what you do. Just keep an eye on the kid." The Commander strode away quickly once he'd delivered his order.
Okita grinned, "Now what were you saying?"
Kagome stretched her arms in the air, "Oh nothing, just that you're a wonderful husband." She turned on the ball of her heel. "But I do have to say that you like teasing me too much for your own good." Her smile turned sickeningly sweet. "See you tonight, dear." With that she shut the door. He balked. Oh hell, he was not ready to have a repeat of the last time she'd been upset at him.
It was pure torture.
The man muttered beneath his breath. Great, just great. He loved his wife but sometimes she was cruel. Okita crossed his arms as he took up position outside of the girl's room. He'd probably should make himself comfortable. Kagome was liable to throw his ass on the engawa tonight. He sighed through his nose. What a wonderful start to his day.
Shippou rubbed his temples with his index fingers. This whole investigation had given him a massive headache. Not only was Kazama involved but so too were his retainers, Amagiri and Shiranui. Three of the biggest oni families that still existed. What a pain.
Thankfully the man wasn't too good at picking apart youkai disguises. Kazama was tough but not infallible. He'd managed to exploit his weakness to the maximum, slipping into the oni's direct chain of command and catching wind of his true intentions. Shippou hadn't figured out where he was keeping the girl but that was no matter. Finding her would be child's play in comparison to stopping Kazama. It'd just take a bit of extra leg work.
"Shippou?" His wife touched his bicep. A hint of concern edged its way into her voice. He snapped to attention.
"Yes?" The question brought about his loved one's ferocious glare. Damn he hated that look. It caused a pit to form in the bottom of his stomach every time.
She leaned close to him, "That look," The woman poked her finger at his furrowed brows. "Only means bad news." He watched as her lips turned downwards. "What is Kazama up to this time?"
He sighed, "You're not going to believe this." His voice became sharp. "That absolute dumbass thinks he can reunite Japan under oni rule. He's kidnapped the girl and is trying to make her his bride since she's the last heir from the North."
Her glare grew fiercer, "Are you certain? Does she not have an older brother here in Kyoto?"
Shippou sighed, "Yeah, I did a bit of digging. He joined up with the Shinsengumi under Okita's Command to search for her." Which would make forcing Kazama's hand that much easier. With her blood relative in such short distance, he could object to the marriage. Only the bride's male relative reserved the explicit right to object to a union within the oni community. They were in luck with his presence being so near. The only real question was if Kazama would heed the laws that governed his people.
His wife gripped his arm a little tighter, "Then we must speak with him immediately."
Shippou shook his head, "No. I'm going there tonight to talk to Okita. There's something I need to tell him anyways." His eyes pinned her with an intense glare. "I don't want you near that compound. You know what they're experimenting with. Just let me handle it for now. Besides," The fox scratched the back of his neck. "It looks like the Shinsengumi has just taken on the Yukimura's heiress too."
That got his wife's attention. Her eyes snapped up to his, "Are you certain it's her? We've so little information to go by."
He wrapped his arms around her waist, "I'm sure. I snuck in a earlier today to check on a few things. That's when I saw her. She's got the Yukimura kodachi so there's no mistaking it." He really needed to speak with Okita soon. They couldn't have two oni heiresses captured. If he could convince the man to set her free then they could take her into their fold. Yase Village would be the safest for both of them at this rate.
"Promise me, Sen." He spoke her name as the light of stubborn determination sparked behind her eyes. He loved that about her personality but in this case he was not willing to take a risk. Especially not where her safety was involved. "I'll do what I can to set them both free, but I need you to trust in me. Think you can promise me that?"
Sen sighed. She was unhappy with the sudden turn of events. Even more so her sense of familiarity with the Northern heiress made her more determined to protect her. This was going to be a difficult battle. Especially if the Shinsengumi were to get involved.
Her eyes sharpened, "I trust you, but I will not hesitate to get involved." The tone in her voice was steely. "If either Kazama or the Shinsengumi denies the girls' release then I will see to the issue personally."
Shippou didn't have to guess to know what she was hinting at. A small smile pulled at his lips.
"Did I ever tell you that I love that about you?" He dropped his mouth to her ear. "It's sexy."
The fox laughed as his wife blushed furiously. He'd contemplate what to do next, but for now he'd just give Sen his undivided attention. They only had so much time in the day to spend together. He wasn't going to waste it.
A/n: This one is a little shorter than normal but I didn't want to inundate too many plot points at once. I'm trying to balance the development and plot pacing a bit more here since there's more I want to delve into before forcing plot points. Namely Chizuru and Kagome's development as individual characters and how they affect each other as well. Sorry it's just a tad shorter than usual though. I hope you enjoyed at the very least!
Oh and before I forget, I've decided a while back to dice headlong into the oni/youkai lore, especially where Chizuru, Sen and Shippou are concerned. This was done for two fold—first to provide a more accurate backdrop into their history and culture. Second was to avoid the same wash, rinse and repeat plot points from the Hakuoki series in regards to Kazama. I wanted to tweak his introduction and position in the overall plot. So I've given him a different storyline altogether that'll tie in with oni/youkai lore.
I'll try to make things a bit more clear in the upcoming chapters but so long as everything goes as planned then we'll get to see the introduction and development of all four important oni families that rule their people. Anyways enough about my rambling. Thanks guys! You're the best! XD