After the sun had set, the dim room in which Mikoto was kept was lit only by the soft glow of a few candles. She was sitting against the back wall, her head hanging, her thick, now disheveled, hair hiding her face. She had been stripped of her kimono and chest bindings and her restraints were now heavier, with rope around her neck that attached to the rope around her wrists, causing any movement of her hands behind her back to choke her. Her ankles were now bound as well. Her delicate skin was now marred by numerous untreated bruises and lacerations from being roughed up in an attempt to extract information from her, it hadn't worked though. As it turned out she had been kidnapped by the innkeeper himself. He felt he was owed by both her and Souji, so he had made a deal with some stray imperialist ronin that were seeking to profit from ties they had with the Choshu domain. Her door slid open, and the leader of their rag tag group, Nasu Tamenobu, stepped in. He had thin brown eyes that lacked any kindness, and long brown hair that was tied back, accentuating his narrow features. He bent over, roughly grabbed Mikoto's chin, and forced her to look up at him. Her face hadn't escaped their abuse. Her lips were painted with her own dried blood, and a large bruise had formed under her eye, right around here scar. Her cheeks were a bright rosy pink from the alcohol they had forced her to drink to keep her subdued. Though her golden eyes were glazed over, she still managed to glare at the man with a blazing fury.
"For a woman, you're impressive," he sneered. "Not bright though, are you? If you don't give me any information, that's fine. The Choshu will have much more...efficient methods. So why don't you save yourself that suffering, and end it now."
"I told you," she growled, her voice hoarse. "I know nothing about them." His vile grin fell.
"Iwata says otherwise," he stated, referring to the innkeeper.
"That man was just a customer. He wasn't important, and he definitely didn't whisk me away to join the Shinsengumi. I left on my own," she insisted. "What fucking idiot would think the Shinsengumi took a woman in?" Annoyance rolled off of him in waves as he dropped her head.
"Fine. Maybe this will help you think things through." As she was about to look up at him, a sharp pain shot through her right leg. She took in a sharp breath, hissing through her teeth. She refused to give the man the satisfaction of hearing her scream. He had plunged a throwing knife into her thigh, holding it there for a moment as blood gushed from the wound. For extra measure, he gave the knife several twists. In a feeble to attempt to distract her mind from the pain of the knife buried in her leg, she dug her nails into her palms. "Well, if that isn't enough for you, I do have a full set just waiting to get some use."
The nearly full moon hung high in the sky, washing the ground with a pale silvery light. Souji stood outside of his room, double checking that his sword was fastened securely to his hip. He had been out nearly all day, despite his orders. His search had been fruitless, however. He had started in the market near where the fireworks had taken place and gone shop to shop through nearly all of Kyoto, interrogating anyone and everyone. He had spent extra time in the areas that were on high alert for ronin and potential Choshu activity, but he had turned up nothing. He had returned to the compound, expecting that it wouldn't be long before the others would begin searching for him as well. After receiving a light scolding from Kondou, he was sent to bed, though he had only managed about an hour of uneasy rest before his cruel imagination forced him up again. He snuck quietly towards the base. His next shift wasn't until morning, and he was certainly in no mood to get an earful from Hijikata if he were to be caught leaving again. Unfortunately, he did not go quite as unnoticed as he'd hoped. Waiting for him at the gate were Hajime and Heisuke. He stopped in his tracks, eyeing the men as he gave them a weary smile.
"Saito, Heisuke, nice night, isn't it?" he started cautiously. He realized there was no way they didn't know what he was doing, but that didn't mean he wasn't about to try and weasel around them anyways.
"You should be resting, Souji," Hajime stated, not about to entertain his question. "You've been out all day." Souji's eyes narrowed.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that. Until she's back with us, safe, you aren't going to stop me from looking for her." He rested his hand on the hilt of his katana. They were his friends and allies, but he wasn't above clashing with them if it became necessary, even if it meant breaking the Shinsengumi's code. A wide grin spread across Heisuke's face.
"Of course we're not!" Souji blinked in surprise. "We had a feeling there would be no stopping you, so we figured it would be best to just join you. Mikoto is important to us too, and clearly searching in shifts is getting us nowhere," he explained.
"Nagakura and Harada are already out on their shift," Hajime added.
"We just got back from ours and figured it'd be best to go with you, you know her best." Souji gave them a grateful look and nodded. "We're following your lead." He thought for a moment, in his mind going through the places he had yet to check sorting through the most likely options. Then something dawned on him.
"Let's meet up with Sanosuke and Shinpachi, we're starting at Sumi," he declared.
It was a busy night, as were most, at the popular establishment. Cheery, raucous laughter floated through the walls , and the low buzz of constant chatter filled the air. Ayumi wore a smile as she made her way to her next customers, a serving tray of sake in her hands.
"I'm coming in," she announced as she reached the correct room. As she slid the door open, her smile fell and she had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from letting out a frightened yelp. She had been so startled, she nearly dropped the tray. What she had been met with was a pair of intense green eyes that she recognized all too well, and had hoped to never encounter again. The man was joined by four others, all wearing the same inscrutable expression. She attempted to regather her composure as she slid the door closed behind her.
"Hello again, Ayumi," Souji greeted, not an ounce of kindness in his tone.
"Wh-what are you d-doing here?" she questioned. She wanted to come off confidently, but that was nearly impossible to do in the presence of such an intimidating aura. "I swear, I've left Mikoto alone! I haven't seen her in months!" she quickly blurted in her defense. The other men glanced at Souji with slight confusion. They, of course, were far less familiar with Mikoto's background. His lips twisted in a wry smile.
"I know you haven't. Your past dealings with her are not why we're here," he explained. She relaxed slightly, but when Souji's expression became darker, her guard went right back up. "Mikoto is in trouble." Her brow furrowed.
"What do you mean, she's in trouble? What kind of trouble?" Souji's jaw tightened as he folded his arms across his chest.
"I don't know," he started, obviously frustrated. "She's missing. That's all we know. We don't know who took her, we don't know where they took her, and we don't know why they took her…" His concern for Mikoto became clearer and clearer as he spoke. This suddenly made him seem far less threatening, humanizing him to Ayumi, allowing her to feel more at ease.
"But...what can I do?" she asked tentatively.
"Information," he stated bluntly. "In your line of work, I'm sure you hear things. At least, that's what Mikoto once said. If you've seen or heard anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, we need to know." She thought for a moment, shaking her head as nothing came to mind.
"I don't think..." Suddenly, she perked up. "Ujikane!" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Ujikane Iwata. A lot of unpleasant rumors go around about that man and his inn," she explained. "The girls that work there often aren't there by choice, and they aren't employed as women of the arts...I've heard he sells them off to the highest bidder if they aren't making enough for his liking." His eyes narrowed, disgust clear on his features, as was it on all of the Shinsengumi captains.
"Where can I find this man?"
"Oh, well he runs the inn where Mikoto worked." His eyes widened.
"That bastard?" He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of that pathetic excuse of a man, he could just kick himself. He stood, realizing there was no time to wallow in his self loathing. "Let's go pay my old friend a visit." The others nodded in agreement and followed suit.
"Thank you," Hajime said softly to Ayumi as they filed out, making up for Souji's lack of manners. They hurried through the streets at a brisk pace. Sumi wasn't located far from the ramshackle inn and the group made it there in no time.
"Souji, we're just questing the guy, right?" Sanosuke questioned, knowing how the younger man could get.
"That's up to him." With no hesitation, he kicked the door in. The man in question stood behind his counter, a customer in front of him. Upon seeing the men of the Shinsengumi enter, the customer ran towards the back with a yelp, while Iwata cowered in the corner. Souji strode towards him, flanked by Hajime and Heisuke while Sanosuke and Shinpachi blocked the exit. He hopped the counter and took the man by the neck of his shirt. "Where the hell is she?" he demanded in a predatory growl. He brought the man's face close to his own, staring him down with a terrifying intensity.
"I-I don't know what y-you're talking about!" he swore, trembling like a leaf.
"You know damn well who I'm talking about, where the fuck is she?" He shook the man aggressively, his patience slowly wearing thin. Seeming to gain a little courage, he let out a shaky chuckle.
"Don't tell me you l-lost her. I told you sh-she wasn't trained." Though he was now feeling a little more bold, his voice still quivered as he spoke mockingly. Souji's eyes narrowed dangerously. Heisuke drew his sword, also enraged by the man's words regarding their friend, while Hajime calmly rested his hand on the hilt of his, ready to draw at any moment.
"Where is she?" Souji asked one last time, his voice low and threatening.
"You know, it's a shame you're letting me scar up such a nice body," Nasu sneered as he dug a throwing knife into Mikoto's shoulder. "Not that-" The door suddenly slammed open.
"Nasu!" The man turned to face his ally as he burst into the room, panic written across his face.
"What?" he snapped. "I'm busy." For a moment all the man could do was let out unintelligible noises as he tried to slow his ragged breathing. "Out with it!"
"We have to leave, now!" he finally managed. Nasu's brow furrowed. "Th-the Shinsengumi!" Though she had no energy left within her body, that one word brought Mikoto's head to snap up. Nasu's face warped with shock and rage.
"Shit!" he hissed. "Guess we're leaving ahead of schedule." Mikoto scowled at him and opened her mouth to cry out, but he quickly covered her scream with his large hand. "I don't think so, little girl." He wasted no time gagging her and slinging her over his shoulder. "Get Ogawa, and get out the back," he ordered the other man. She tried to struggle against his grasp as he carried her down the hall, but she was greatly weakened and it was nothing for him to maintain his hold on her. She knew she had to do something, if they were here this was her best chance at escape. She wasn't about to give up until all the life left her battered body. As her hazy mind worked, she realized that in his hurry to get out, her captor had done a rushed job of tying her gag. It was loose enough that if she worked at it, she could get it off. Using her tongue, lips and teeth, she managed to push the cloth from her mouth. They were quickly nearing the exit, so this was her last opportunity. Taking as deep a breath as she could manage, she prepared to let out the loudest scream of her life.
"Souji!"
His name hit his ears, and a new wave of adrenaline coursed through his veins. He threw Iwata to the ground.
"Mikoto...Mikoto!" In an instant, his sword was drawn, and he raced down the back hall towards the room he remembered belonging to her. He slid into the doorway, his eyes darting back and forth as he searched the room. It was empty, save for the clothing that was thrown haphazardly into the corner and the pool of blood staining the floor. He recognized the clothing as Mikoto's purple kimono, and could only assume the blood belonged to her as well. White hot rage boiled up inside him, thick and molten. With a furious roar, he slammed his fist into the wooden doorway, hard enough to split his knuckles.
"Souji, look!" Shinpachi had run after him to provide backup in case it was needed, and as he approached, he pointed to something Souji had failed to notice. It was a trail of blood leading down the hallway towards the back of the inn. Without a word to his companion he turned and followed the trail. It led right out the back door, at which point it was lost on the dust covered ground, where the dirt had been turned up and shifted by several sets of footprints.
"Try to follow them." Shinpachi nodded and ran into the night. Souji whirled around and stormed back to the entrance of the inn. As he reached it, he saw Sanosuke still positioned at the door, spear at the ready. Hajime was waiting near where the hallway opened up into the entrance, ready to catch anyone that may have fled Souji's wrath. Heisuke stood, looming over Iwata, the tip of his sword pressed to his chest to prevent his escape. Souji stalked towards the man, and Heisuke stepped aside to allow him to reach Iwata. "Where are they taking her?" His eyes burned with a ferocity that Iwata had never witnessed from any man, and though his words were slow and seemingly calm, they dripped with venom and were backed by a tone that threatened nothing but violence. In that moment he was the embodiment of destruction itself, and it was clear that anyone that was to get in his way would be met with a cruel, brutal end.
"Th-they're sell-lling her to m-men in the Chosh-shu D-Domain…" The man's body was wracked with sobs as he forced the words out, tears of sheer horror streaming down his face.
"We can cut them off at the checkpoint if we're fast enough," Heisuke pointed out. Souji's expression didn't change as he nodded.
"Let's hurry then." The men turned to leave, but Souji turned back around. "You're the one that sold out my Mikoto…"
"P-please, I-" His pleas were cut off by the satisfying, wet sound of Souji's blade ripping through his flesh. He flicked crimson droplets from the tip of the sword and sheathed it. Iwata's lifeless body slumped to the floor with a dull thud. Souji watched the blood pool at his feet for a moment.
"I warned you, if you ever touched her again, I would kill you…"