We resumed walking silently, reducing the distance between Chizuru and I. Mika was impressive at avoiding the imperialists. Everytime, she could sense the smell of gunpowder even before we could hear or see anything. We evade each trap set up by the Satcho to catch shogunate affiliated warriors very easily, thanks to her. When we finally arrived in Osaka, I was craving to get inside and stop bathing in the sunlight.

« We leave you here, Saito-san. » said Koan with a bow.

« Ha. » I replied, bowing as well « thank you for escorting me. »

I was wondering why they wouldn't come with me, especially if their princess was inside. She was their superior so they should report to her, shouldn't they ? Demons were really strange in my opinion. Mika saluted me too and smiled for the first time of the day. She was even more beautiful when she did it and I felt something strange in my chest. It wasn't a pure love like the one I share with Chizuru, neither carnal desire, but it was... something... I couldn't really put my finger on it... They turned their back on me and went back to the forest as the doors of the Osaka Castle opened for me.

« Hajime ! »

I didn't have time to set even a foot inside that already, I had arms wrapped around my neck and a cheek against mine. I closed my arms on the little body that wasn't touching the ground anymore.

« Haruhi. I'm back. » I just said and she chuckled while sobbing.

« They told me you were dead ! » she cried « I knew it was nothing but lies ! »

I wanted to hold her longer in my arms to reassure her but her proximity was starting to be dangerous for me, or should I say, for her. I could scent the blood beneath her skin and the hunger, lingering, was starting to awaken, especially since hers smelled a lot better than the one of my escort. I crouched and detached her from my body before standing up again and I got the crushed paper crane from my sleeve to give it to her.

« It protected me. Thank you, Haruhi. » I said and I saw her smile grow bigger « I'm afraid it got damaged in the process, though »

« She'll make you another one » I heard from the side « it's like her new hobby. »

« Souji. » I saluted my friend, relieved to find him well.

He came closer and served me his trademark grin, crossing his arms.

« You're late. » he scolded me.

« I got delayed. »

« I can see that... » he replied, looking at me from head to toe « you look awful. »

I smirked but didn't answer. It was Souji's way to express how afraid he had been.

« Even Chizuru-chan arrived before you and we can't really say she's a very good walker. The rest is already gone, by the way. » he added.

« Gone ? » I asked.

« Well the ones who survived, at least. We're still waiting for Inoue and Yamazaki but we don't have much hope. »

« They're dead. » I told him. « Defending the magistrate's office. »

« I thought so... » he replied « You'd better report this to Kondou-san. »

« I will. » I nodded « What about the others ? »

« Toshi, Sano, Shinpachi, and Shimada are all safe. Heisuke and Sannan too. They retreated here after the debacle of the attack on Gokounomiya shrine. Even the Rasetsu couldn't do shit against their guns, something about silver bullets or whatever. They arrived here to regroup with the rest of the shogunate army but only to find out that lord Yoshinobu has already fled back to Edo... »

« Lord Yoshinobu ? » I repeated, surprised.

What kind of leader throws his men into battle only to retreat as soon as they start fighting ? Could it really be true that our Shogun acted like such a coward ?

« Yeah... He embarked on a ship as soon as he could. Toshi was furious. You should have seen him banging his fist on the walls, a true demon. Anyway, they decided to follow lord Yoshinobu and got back to Edo with a ship. They departed yesterday just before Chizuru arrived. »

I nodded. I still had trouble understanding why lord Yoshinobu got on that ship but I needed to keep faith in the shogunate. That was probably a strategic manoeuvre. The commanders should know what they were doing.

« Is she alright? » I asked.

« Depends what you call alright. Her body is fine but she seems to be totally depressed and in shock. Not a word got out of her mouth since her arrival. » he sighed with visible concern.

« I need to see her. Can you lead the way ? » I asked, impatient.

« Sure. » he nodded « but maybe you should change and take a bath before. Your smell isn't better than your look. »

That was probably true. With my bloodstained kimono, the stench of blood was palpable and it was coupled to the one of my infection and sweat. Probably not a good idea to impose that on Chizuru. I nodded and he led me to his room to give me a fresh brown wool kimono with a kikkou pattern (small hexagons representing tortoiseshells). I noticed all the paper cranes everywhere.

« Told you it was her new hobby. » he chuckled « Sano told her that if she did a thousand, she could be granted a wish. Poor girl is trying to cure me. »

That was cute, even if we both knew that it was probably ineffective. Children really could put their faith in anything. I nodded with a small smile and took the brown kimono before heading to the bathroom. I cleaned my body three times to get rid of all the blood, mud and sweat and took a moment to look at my new body. It wasn't so different from the previous one but it still felt strange to have an immaculate skin without any scars. It looked almost as if I was a child again who never fought a single battle... Apart from my absence of scars, the rest was pretty normal. Maybe I was a bit paler... Not sure though... But my muscles were still the same, neither enhanced nor deteriorated... I couldn't wait to train again to see if there really were changements.

I put on the brown kimono and attached back my hair before meeting Souji outside the bathroom.

« That's better. » he nodded « I guess I can lead you to her now, you won't be a mess. »

He led me to a private area upstairs and explained to me that Chizuru's room was there with the other women, Sen and Haruhi. Kimigiku was there too but as a bodyguard, she was sharing with Sen. I didn't tell anything but I was happy to see that Haruhi got a bedroom of her own and wasn't sharing Souji's. I guess he understood the message last time they had a « sleepover ».

« Chizuru. » I called from behind the shoji but there was no answer and I turned to Souji.

« See ? » he crossed his arms in concern « not a word... I don't know what happened to her but it must have been a terrible shock... »

I put my hand on the shoji but didn't slide it, hesitating. Maybe she needed some time alone ? She had no way of telling me what she wanted from me and I was caught off guard by her absence of an answer.

« Go. » said Souji with a smile « You're probably the only one who can cheer her up. And if you don't succeed, you'll be the only one comfortable with her silence anyway. » he added with a wryly grin.

His words gave me the confidence I needed and I slid the shoji to enter the room. Chizuru was there, sitting in seiza like she had been expecting me. She was wearing a new kimono, a yellow one with discreet flowers that you couldn't see from afar, making you believe that the fabric was plain. She didn't smile when I entered, nothing, and I felt guilty for not having been able to protect her. I came closer and sat in front of her. Her eyes were evading mines and it deeply hurt me.

« Chizuru, are you alright ? » I asked in a calm toneless voice.

She didn't answer and I felt a rock in my heart getting bigger. What happened ? Why couldn't I protect her ? Was she mad at me because I failed ?

« Did Kazama hurt you ? » I tried again.

I knew the answer to that question already. Why else could she be traumatized to that extent ? That demon should pray not to cross my path again because I would get revenge. I would track him down like a prey until I could kill him for what he did to her, to us.

« Chizuru... » I begged « talk to me, please... »

The silence was still there, unbroken. I tried to bring my hand to her cheek but she backed off instinctively. It was a small movement, nearly imperceptible, but I saw it and got the message. I wasn't welcome there.

« I promise you, Chizuru. » I said, taking my hand away from her « I'll find Kazama and I'll kill him. He won't get away with it. »

Something changed in her expression, a smile. It wasn't a loving smile or a sad one, no. It looked like... I just told a joke and she was finding it funny. How could she find this funny ? Something really was wrong with her and I hoped she could recover. I stood up, forbidding myself to touch her, hug her, kiss her and all the things I wanted to do now that she was with me again.

« I will come again, Chizuru. » I assured her « Everytime I get the chance, I will come. Things will get better, you'll see. I love you. »

She smiled again like what I just said was only a joke and I exited the room, not knowing myself if I was leaving her some privacy or if I was fleeing her silence and her smile that was unsettling me.

« Did she talk ? » asked Souji and I shook my head to deny. « Hum... I hope she'll start speaking again soon... »

I looked at the closed shoji. I couldn't understand Chizuru anymore. It was like her soul was so far away from mine, like she was a stranger.

« Do you want to see Sen or Kondou first, now ? » he asked again and I turned to him, not letting him see the turmoil inside my heart.

« Kondou-san. » I said firmly « I have a report to make. »