"The Third Soul"
Chapter 8: Confrontations.
Standards Disclaimers Apply.
The song has been taken from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
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Tokio has only arrived at the ShisenGumi' s inn for a couple of hours, than she had already been under attack. He had promised!
Saito angrily sheathed his katana back in its saya. He had tried for an hour to do a kata to ease his nerves, but all he could think about was the fact that she had already been put in danger. Still angered, Saito left the dojo, behind the inn and headed to the bathhouse, next to it. He kept on clenching his fists and opening them, only there for, what? 2 hours and...
Saito stopped frozen in the bathhouse doorframe: he had lost control.
"Do you understand that in a soul lies one's mind, identity and, of course, feelings? If you, and that's the major risk of a link, get yourself too open to each other, you will lose yourself, I mean both of you or maybe only one, but you won't be able to say when the first ends and where the seconds begins."
The Magami Elder's words resonated in his mind and Saito, suddenly tired, leaned on the doorframe and murmured to himself:
"She's open. I'm not. She has never tried to hide her feelings, never ever. And now, since we are linked, since her soul is a part of mine, the feelings I tried to suppress all my life are coming back... with full force. I have to be careful." Saito pushed himself off the doorframe and went further in the bathhouse to take a hot bath, which he hoped would ease his over sensitive nerves.
Back in their room, sitting on her knees in the middle of the bedroom, Tokio was concentrating to create a shield on her new room. Carefully, slowly, gently she released the spell and in its perfect pattern, she found peace and relaxation, she admired the spell her father had taught her when she was little: it was an easy one, not powerful enough to be detectable but sufficiently for her to know whenever somebody would step in the room and prevent the sounds coming from the room to be heard from outside, even if somebody had his ear pressed on the door. And there was somebody. She whirled on her left, ready to face any danger, but it was only Okita, standing in the doorframe.
"Oh, that's you."
Okita blinked several times and scratched his cheek, confused, stepping further in the room:
"I'm sure I didn't make any sound, how did you notice me? Your back was at the door."
Tokio smiled and answered:
"I've just released a spell that protect this room. It will tell me whenever somebody would try to step in."
Okita smiled and sat down, in front of her.
"Magami-san, it's..."
"Please, call me Tokio. Everybody does and it makes me feel a little weird to be referred as `Magami-san'. My father or my brother are, not me." She cut him, smiling softly.
"Well, alright, how should I call you... I know! I'll call you Tokio-chan, after all we've got the same age!"
"Really? I thought you were older than I do."
"You did? Well, that's weird, usually everybody looks down at me because I look like a little boy."
"Well, if you call me Tokio-chan, how can I call you?"
"Why not Soushi? That's my first name."
"Hmm..." she tilted her head on the left. "I'll call you... Sou-chan!" She cried, smiling broadly.
Okita blinked `Sou-chan' ? he thought, only my mum used to me this way when I was really small.
"Oh, alright, if you want to, Tokio-chan." Now, no wonder why her brother seemed to be so fiercely attached to her: she's so pure and innocent. She doesn't know the dirtiness of the present world. She's been raised inside the Magami Estate, protected from the outside world since she was 7. Okita stared at her thoughtfully, how would he, in the 7 holy hells, knock some sense in her thick head?
Tokio's smile widened and chuckled:
"Actually, Sou-chan, you're the third person that came here, willing to talk me out of the meeting with him, tonight."
Okita raised an eyebrow and smiled back. "Kondo-sama and Harada-san, I bet."
Tokio nodded, still smiling. "But, as I told them, I will tell you that you are running to your deaths if you don't let me come along. Saito-san... ano, Hajime already knows this, that's why he didn't argue that much."
"Where is he, by the way?"
"Well, he was so angry when he left the room that he went to the dojo to practice and when he calmed down, I lost track of him."
"Oh, well, actually the second reason for why I came here was to ask where Saito was." Okita smirked at her surprised look. "You are like him: too stubborn for your own good." With that, he stood up and held out a hand to her:
"Come on, time for you to meet the rest of the ShisenGumi Captains. And if Baka' s not here to introduce you, well, I'll do it myself!" Okita grinned and Tokio chuckled a hand on her mouth.
"Does he even know you call him `Baka'?"
"Well, I've just decided to call him that way because he left you alone. Plus, he should know not to practice to ease his nerves. Let's go."
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Later in the afternoon, when Saito finally went back to the inn, he found it almost desert. Usually, at this time of the afternoon, the landlady, Kagome-san, would have come to greet any consumers that would stepped in her inn, but not this time.
Saito frowned, now that's weird. He thought. Before, that man and now that. What the hell is going on down here?
Nobody was in the restaurant, either but as he went further in the house, he could heard some excited voices from the kitchen.
As he neared it however, the chatter suddenly stopped and a single voice rose above the respectful silence. Tokio.
If the sky opened up for me,
And the mountains disappeared,
If the seas ran dry, turned to dust
And the sun refused to rise
I would still find my way,
By the light I see in your eyes.
The world I know fades away
But you stay.
Saito entered the kitchen, unnoticed by most of the people in there: the landlady, Kagome-san, her 4 maids sitting, their back to him at the table, Okita standing next to it and singing her eyes closed, sitting on the outside porch that led the kitchen to a small garden was Tokio. All around her, staring at her in awe were the 3 children of Kagome-san: 2 boys and their little sister. Okita turned his head to acknowledge Saito's presence and the brat grinned to the older man.
As the earth reclaims its due,
And the cycle starts anew,
We'll stay, always
In the love that we have
Shared before time.
Saito scowled him, but Okita didn't mind at all as he took his attention back to the girl. So did Saito and he lost himself again: she was sitting there, facing him. Bathed in the summer light of the sun, her hair almost glowing, she was breathtaking. She had gathered them in a loose bun and some locks gently blew by the wind caressed her neck and face. And Saito almost wished that she'd open her eyes so that he could stare in her night gaze. Defeated, he leaned on the doorframe and listened to her enchanted voice.
If the years take away
Every memory that I have
I would still know the way
That would lead me back to your side.
The North Star may die
But the light that I see in your eyes
Will burn there always
Lit by the love we have
Shared before time.
Movement behind him. Saito turned and watched Harada and 2 other captains coming closer to the kitchen door. Saito nodded to them as they mouthed a silent hello to him, not willing to break the magic scene playing before them. The newcomers had huge smiles on their faces and Saito rolled his eyes. He turned back his eyes to her.
A woman, caressing his cheek, singing this song to lull him back to sleep... Long black hair, gentle eyes, just like his...or rather hers. Saito shook his head to clear it from Tokio's memories. This song must meant a lot to her if her memories have managed to slip in his mind.
When the forest turns to jade,
And the stories that we've made
Dissolve away
One shining light will still remain.
He looked at her: she was smiling, as the song only brought back happy memories to her. She was so innocent... Sighing, Saito told himself that never a woman had taken so much importance in his life than this one. With her petite hands, she held his sanity and soul... maybe more, but he feared to name it, provided it actually was in her hands... He really should have a talk with Kamuro Magami. Soon, * very * soon. And a rather long talk too.
When we shed our earthly skin,
And when our real life begins,
There'll be no shame
Just the love that we have made before time.
As the song's last notes faded in the air, Kagome and her maids heavily sighed of pure happiness and Kagome-san congratulated Tokio for her song while the girls giggled like mad, whispering among themselves. Kagome's kids had jumped on Tokio as soon as she had stopped singing and now, she was laughing her heart out as the boys fought to sit in her lap while their little sister simply took the place, unnoticed by her brothers. Saito stepped back in the shadow, watching her.
Tokio, still laughing turned her head towards him but she couldn't see him, she blinked and Saito felt an inquisitive mental push on his mind's barriers: she was trying to locate him. He stepped out the shadows and went further in the kitchen, she smiled to him and turned back to the fight going on between the boys.
The girls were chatting with Kagome-san, on how delighted they were at hearing such a beautiful voice and a so heart-wrenching song. Harada teased them, asking them if any of them would follow his light. One of the girls, Arashi who was actually in love with him, blushed like mad, causing the other 3 girls to giggle even more while Okita greeted the other captains who had arrived with Harada and asked them about their daily patrol in the city.
But Saito took none attention of these as he headed to Tokio's side. He stood behind her and his eyes twinkled as she laughed again at the kids playing around her. The boys were still trying to determine who will sit next in Tokio's lap, after their sister.
She looked up at him and put the small girl down and stood up as well, but as she was now in the garden she had to look up to look at him. She smiled and he extended a hand to her. As she took it to be lifted on the porch, Sakura-chan, Kagome's daughter, pulled on her kimono:
"Ne, Tokio-neesan, I will, won't I?"
"Will what, chibi-chan?" Tokio smiled down at the little girl, clutching her doll again her chest, eyes full of worry.
"Nii-chan said i won't be pretty like you because I'm too small! Is that true?"
Tokio laughed and kneeled on the wooden porch and took the little girl in her arms:
"He's right, chibi-chan, because you'll be when you'll get older you'll be beautiful, not pretty! But beautiful!"
"Is beautiful more than pretty?"
Tokio laughed again, as Saito rolled his eyes and answered the small girl:
"Why don't you go and ask Harada, chibi, he knows a lot about that. And you boys, why don't you go with your sister and annoy someone else for a change, like Okita?"
The brothers looked at themselves, mischief burning in their brown eyes and ran, yelling for Okita while their little sister called for Harada.
"Oh, Hajime, that was mean!" Tokio followed the children with her eyes, still smiling.
"For whom? Those brats or Okita?"
Tokio laughed once more and put a small hand on his arm. He jumped on the occasion to take her hand and led her in the garden, hidden from the curious of the kitchen.
Kagome's elder sons nearly jumped on the Captain of the 1^st squad of the ShisenGumi: he, unlike that scary looking man with Tokio-neesan, was kind and always willing to play, so the boys tugged on his pants, yelling in delight for the game that would surely follow. But the young man wouldn't play with them now, because he had caught Kagome's knowing smile as she watched the couple disappeared in the yard.
When she looked up at him, her eyes twinkled even more, full of secrets. Okita blinked, not really believing what Kagome was implying and the woman hid her laugh behind the sleeve of her long red kimono.
If Okita's mouth could have hit the floor, it would have: he turned his gaze to the garden then back to Kagome who nodded, smiling and back to the garden again. He mouthed a "no" to Kagome but it only elicited more laughter from her. She stood up and shook her head, whispering "youngsters..." but Okita who wanted to ask her more was nearly dragged away from the kids mother when they decided that their preferred brother hadn't been giving them the attention they deserved.
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Saito led a smiling Tokio towards the end of the yard, under the Sakura tree.
"Tell me, did your mother sing that song a lot for you?"
Startled, Tokio's expression soon softened as the memories from her past emerged again:
"Yes... When I was little, she used to lull me to sleep, singing this song." After a pause, she looked quizzically at him "How did you know?"
"I saw it, or rather I remembered it. While you were singing, that memory slipped into my mind and it just came naturally to me."
"Oh... Then, I guess it means our link's getting stronger." Tokio looked down at her feet, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
Saito studied her for some time then broke the silence again:
"Tell me about your family."
"What for? If you want to know something on them, you can just..."
"I want to hear it from you, he cut her, in your words."
The golden eyes were burning again, but not with fury, rather with a gentle flame she had never seen before and it warmed up her soul. She put her hands behind her back and leaned on the Sakura tree, sighing:
"My mother was a beautiful woman... I don't really remember a lot of her, but I sometimes remember some feelings. A perfume can make me think of her...I remember that her hands were very soft and always warm. My father was deeply in love with her. He still is, by the way. Ryu-sama is not really my grand-father, in fact he is my great-grand-father: his daughter married an outsider of our clan, but her last daughter, my mother, had the talent so she was taken back to the Magami Clan. When my parents got married, lot of people inside the clan refused this union because she wasn't fully `pure' blooded as they put it, but my father didn't care a damn. And then, 4 years after their marriage, they had my brother and me, 2 years after."
"Your parents were relatives?" his question took her back from her reverie.
"No, well, very far relatives. You know, my family's really big: we even have some relatives in Tokyo and Hokkaido. I think there are some too in Okinawa."
He nodded and he leaned a shoulder on the tree trunk, too, arms crossed.
"We were happy. These memories are the happiest of my whole life... all destroyed."
The wind blew harder and a rain of Sakura petals turned around them as a shield from the past.
"After him..."she bitterly kept on "my father changed radically: he became extremely reserved and hard with everyone, even with us sometimes. It took him a while to open up a little to others again. In fact, he wouldn't talk for most of the times to the others and he would resolved the internal matters of our clan by a single look. He was pretty scary, I must admit to the others, but he remained really kind to us. Sometimes he would just show up and talk to us about our mother for hours and he held me in his arms, almost every nights because of the nightmares till my 11^th birthday. Oddly enough, the only person who would actually steal some words from him, apart from Toya and I was Tatsumi-san."
"Tatsumi-san..." Saito repeated.
"Yes, he too was very kind to Toya and I, when out father couldn't stay with us, or that he was needed in a matter where children just didn't have a place, he would take care of us. Or mainly watch over me and keep me out of troubles."
"So, you and your brother are really close to him."
Tokio nodded again and smiled sweetly at Saito, "I don't know what I would have done without him. I feel guilty sometimes... I know it's not my fault that my mother... But it wouldn't prevent me for having nightmares at nights. But Tatsumi-san, by watching over me, protecting me, helped me to push those nightmares away. And I think I owe him my sanity."
"Do you know if he has some relatives, here in Kyoto?"
"Huh? No, he would hardly leave the Estate. In fact, she frowned, I don't remember him leaving the Magami Domain once.. Or dressing in another color than black..."
"Why did your father let a complete stranger took care of his children?"
"He wasn't a complete stranger. I mean the Elders knew him and recognized him as one of ours."
"I thought you said he was unknown to everybody." Saito frowned... Now, he thought, that was odd...
"Well, the Elders never actually said us they knew him but when my father declared he was to be our Guardian, some feared he was him... But the Elders took his defense and declared that he was the most suitable for the Guardian role."
"Oh, really? When did you say that he arrived at the Magami Estate?"
"Soon after my mother's death. He popped out of nowhere at the Magami portal and went straight to my father's office where they stood lock in for what seemed to be hours back then. I remembered being scared first, because nobody knew that man or why he wanted to talk to my father or how he found the office without a guide. And suddenly, my father opened the door and told us he was to be our Guardian."
"Do you trust him?"
Tokio turned to face Saito and put her hands on her hips, frowning. "What does that mean, Hajime? Are you suspecting my Guardian to be him?"
"Why are you so afraid of saying his name?" he asked, bluntly, ignoring her question.
Taken aback, Tokio froze.
"You wouldn't pronounce his name." He stated calmly.
"I..."
"I'm suspecting everyone. You told me once that Muraki can take anybody's appearance so I'm gathering as much as information on the people I don't know. That's all."
Clapping her hands in her lap, head bowed, Tokio apologized but Saito dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"Let's go back. If you want to come with us tonight, you'll have to get yourself prepared. Come on." Saito turned on his heels and headed back to the kitchen but he stopped when Tokio closed her fingers on the back of his gi.
"Yes, I am very close to Tatsumi-san: over the years, he had became my Guardian but also my closest friend and he actually was the only one that would talk to me without fearing me because I hold a part of... Mu...Muraki's soul in me." She added difficultly, Saito turned his head slightly towards hers: her fingers were clenched on the fabric of his shirt and her voice had dropped an octave because of the painful feelings held in it as she remembered. "Other children would hardly even speak to me, they were scared of what they felt inside of me, or of what they heard from their parents. Apart from Toya and Tsuzuki-kun, I had no friends of my age. I guess that makes our childhood a little more alike, don't you think?" She looked up, smiling softly to him.
Saito, grunting, nodded and led her back to the house, without her letting go of the material of his gi.
Back in the kitchen, Saito introduced his "wife" to the Captains Hijikata and Nagakura. The men congratulated her for her beautiful voice and her wedding, causing Tokio to blush furiously. Harada smirked, which made Saito glared at him. Tokio had let go of Saito's gi but they were standing really close, almost touching, Saito a bit in front of her. Tokio, then, excused herself and went upstairs to get prepared while Okita gestured Saito to follow him in the garden. They walked in silence till they were hidden in the shadows of the garden, Saito after Okita and Saito could see the window of their room.
As soon as the older man reached the other Captain's side, the younger attacked him:
"Where have you been? What would have happened if she had been attacked while you were away?" Okita glared at Saito: of all the people, he had to be him, the Miburo, to be her protector. She was too pure, too delicate, too fragile to stay with them. To stay with him. "By the way, I know about Muraki's powers. I've asked her about." He added hastily, he would have preferred Saito to tell him about this but the damn man had disappeared.
Saito looked down at Okita for a long moment before leaning on the wall which surrounded the inn, shielding them from outside, his face expressionless, as usual:
"I've been wandering in the city, trying to find some information on the Magami Family." A bitter smile came to his lips "an old woman told me that whoever ever crossed the path of a Magami will see his life change from point to point. She also told me the Magami were believed to be descendants of some minor God who lost his way on earth. The God in question fell in love with a human girl, but she was mortal. So, in order to prove her his love and devotion for her, the God got rid of his immortality. That's how the Magami Family was created." The golden gaze left the younger man's face to settle itself on a particular window, on the first floor, where most of the city of Kyoto could be seen. "I've seen something surprising this afternoon, though."
"Which is?" Okita was still a bit angry at Saito, but he couldn't blame him the logic of his behavior: when you know nothing of your enemy, ask your allies or rather spy on your allies: they always have something hidden in theirs hearts, something that might lead you to your common enemy.
"Tatsumi. Tokio's Guardian."
"I remember who Tatsumi-san is. And?" Okita irritably said.
"Theirs orders were clear: drop Tokio here and come back home at once." Saito informed him.
"But- what was he doing in the heart of the city? Do you think he came back to see Tokio-chan?"
"Tokio-chan?" Saito dumbly repeated. He looked down at Okita again.
Okita rolled his eyes "You weren't there to introduce her to Kagome-san. Somebody had to do it and we are the same age, actually. And it felt weird to call ourselves by our family names."
"Whatever."
"Oh! Why don't you just spill it!? Where have you seen Tatsumi-san?" Okita scowled the older man, upset.
Saito's feral smile widened. Once a Miburo, always a Miburo... "He was walking near one of the murders place. The third one." This time, both men looked at the Saito's room window, the shadow of doubt forming in their minds: well, what if it wasn't Tatsumi-san but someone else, someone who would have some unresolved matters in this city, one who could take somebody's else looks.
"Does she know?" Okita's voice was clinical: this was business.
"No."
"Don't tell her, it may get her confused and scared."
"I'm not stupid." Saito harshly answered.
The Captains fell in silence, both trying to find out for what reason the real Tatsumi could actually be in the city or if it was reasonable to consider that someone may had taken Tatsumi's looks.
A bird cried out, causing Okita to look up at the sky and the dropping sun.
"We'd better leave soon if we don't want to be late."
"You're not supposed to come, you know. Kondo needs you in the city tonight." Okita smirked: as if, he could let Saito and Tokio go alone. Whatever Kondo-sama may tell him, Okita wouldn't miss this meeting for the world. Saito rolled his eyes, he had folded his arms on his chest, and went on staring at the window again when he suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong?" Okita asked, a bit surprised by the intensity of his gaze set on the window.
"I don't know. I feel something on the bedroom, but I can't put my finger on it."
Okita smiled and turned to leave: "Ask her. It would be easier, don't you think?"
Saito grunted back and pushed himself off the wall.
.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
When Saito neared the bedroom, the odd feeling he felt back in the garden annoyed him again.
"Tokio, he said, I'm coming in." Without waiting for her answer, he opened the panel and stepped in. Tokio turned to greet him and Saito's mouth dropped open, surprised.
She was dressed like a priestess: white gi with the Magami Seal above each breasts, red hakama and white socks. Her hair were tied in a loose white material, just like other Shinto priestess. Her arms were still raised as if she had just finished tying her hair. The sunlight enveloping her hair in a red glow, she was beyond reality. Maybe, he thought, she truly is the descendant of a God.
"Hum.. What?" She dropped her arms at her side.
Turning his gaze away, Saito bluntly asked:
"What have you done to the room?"
"I've put a shield on it so when somebody comes in, I'll know. So will you."
Saito nodded and came further in the room.
"Ano..." she hesitated, causing the man to turn back to her "I've also blocked the sounds of going out of the room."
Saito nodded again and turn to watch the sun coming closer to the horizon.
"Are you ready?" he asked after a pause.
"Yes."
The man nodded again and left the room, Tokio right behind him.
Harada was leaning on the opposite wall, his arms folded on his chest. As the door slide open, he pushed himself off it to greet Saito with a deadly glare:
"I can't go with you tonight. Kondo trapped me here to do yours and Okita's jobs." The younger man turned on his heels and without another glance walked away. Saito followed him with his eyes and shrugged, he turned on his left and exited the room.
"What was wrong with Harada-san?" Tokio quietly asked as the couple, sneaking by the kitchen door, reached the yard's door, behind the inn.
"He hates to stay behind but someone had to." The man answered, opening the door and peering outside for an eventual enemy.
Tokio looked at the sun, not really able to suppress the daily wish... Don't disappear ... "The sun has almost set."
"Then, walk faster." The quiet answer reached her mental ears since Saito was already in the street, waiting for her.
Tokio gritted her teeth in annoyance and stormed outside, leaving Saito behind her. What was wrong with him?
Saito waited for the outburst...but it never came. Tokio almost ran past him, ignoring him and was now storming out of anger. The Miburo chuckled under his sleeve and his eyes twinkled and his koneko, feeling the man's amusement, let her anger flare up with a new flame.
Suddenly, Saito's amusement made itself announced through their link.
He's laughing at me! What a jerk!!
Tokio clenched her fists and tried to walk faster than him, but he had no problem to accord his pace to hers. Finally, she gave up but decided to keep at ignoring him and, when Saito reached her, she abruptly turned her head on the opposite side, making her hair slapped lightly his left arm.
Since Tokio wasn't looking where she was going, she bumped into someone.
"Oy! Tokio-chan, watch out!" Okita exclaimed. He too had been lost in his thoughts so when the arrival of Saito and his wife took the young Captain completely by surprise.
"Oh! Gomen ne, Sou-chan!"
Saito merrily rolled his eyes heavenward and without waiting for the youngsters walked away.
Towards a particular temple, up the northeast hill, surrounding the city of Kyoto, the Temple of the Ise.
:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;;:;:::;:
"He's late." Okita looked around the place: after climbing up some stairs, they had arrived at the entrance of the Temple, surrounded by some ancestral trees, the old building breathed of purity and serenity in the setting light of the sun.
It was early summer of the year 1864, three people were waiting for a killer on the top a hill, in front of a temple caressed by the red light of the sun, making it look like painted with blood.
Tokio suddenly spun on her left while Saito calmly withdrew his katana from its saya: something or rather someone they both had felt was coming closer to them. It was a familiar feeling, almost comforting, oddly warm, a feeling that swept away the last of Tokio's self controlled and the cold fingers of Panic slowly reached for her heart.
Saito walked in front of her, protecting her from * him *. Tokio's breathing quickened. "Calm down" Saito said "I'm here."
The girl nodded difficultly and tried to calm down her racing heart; she closed her eyes and put her hands above her heart. And when she opened her eyes again, Saito would have sworn that a great white bird with eyes like the night was standing on its little mistress shoulder, ready to spread its wings to protect her.
He risked a glance behind him and as expected, the great white bird was there, he nodded at her and turned back to the man, who was now stepping out of the woods where he had been watching them.
Tokio watched in pure horror her tormentor coming closer. She was almost able to put a face on the man who haunted her nights.
Okita withdrew his own sword. How on earth did that man come so close without being detected? Saito and Tokio had felt him, true, but the man was already few meters from them! How? The question whirled in Okita's mind...Maybe, maybe Tokio-chan and her brother were right...Maybe the Magami Family truly have a power normal people don't...
Okita gritted his teeth: the questions would be for later, now it was time to fight.
The man, all in black dressed, stepped out of the woods. Tokio inhaled sharply and put a hand over her mouth: it was Tatsumi.
Grinning like mad, Muraki welcomed Tokio and the Captains:
"Tokio-chan" he exclaimed happily "I'm so happy to see you! You've grown into a beautiful woman, I was right to spare your life 7 years ago. Our children will be as beautiful as you."
Tokio came closer to Saito, shaking with horror, she grabbed his shirt as if her life depended on it but she couldn't stop staring at `Tatsumi'.
"Muraki, I presume." Saito said.
"I didn't know we already were that acquainted, Miburo-san." Muraki smiled back at Saito. "Anyway, I didn't expect you actually, Okita-san." He kept on "What should we do about him? What do you think Tokio-chan? Do I destroy this place spiritual balance with that little boy's blood?"
"Tat...Tatsumi... What...what have you done to Tatsumi?" Tokio yelled, crying. Surprised by her outburst, Saito looked at her from the corner of his eyes, never letting Muraki disappeared from his sight.
Muraki laughed, "Why do you ask, Tokio-chan? Have you realized? Maybe you'd preferred me in your mother's form or of one of the 3 girls I've killed?"
"Stop it!" she cried back.
And understanding came to the Captains: Muraki could only take dead people appearance. And only the people he had killed.
"Tokio..." Saito started, wanting to be sure.
"We didn't know" she cut him, yelling, tears running freely down her cheeks. Angry flames of hate, pain and sorrow flicked in her eyes. "We weren't sure. But, now...He's feeling like Tatsumi-san! As if, he was his replica! And, and the only way to achieve that is...is to-"
"Don't bury me that fast, Tokio-sama." A weak voice stated.
Tatsumi appeared, climbing up the stairs, holding his side, blood running down his chin, down his left arm which remained lifeless at his injured side.
"I'm not dead yet. And I think, Muraki we haven't finished yet."
"Tatsumi!" Tokio said, heading in his direction but Saito's arm shot up and blocked her way. "What..." But her voice dried in her throat as she watched her Guardian walked to them. At each step he tried to take, blood splashed the ground, forming a red tail.
Finally, Tatsumi faced his uninjured mirror. He dropped his right arm at his side and stood as straight as he could, looking down at Muraki whose face hadn't moved a single muscle: he was still smiling. In fact, when Tatsumi started walking to him, his smile widened and now that the 2 men were facing each other, Muraki exclaimed:
"I'm so glad you're still alive, Tatsumi-san! But, how did you manage to survive? Or rather, should I ask you how did you raise from the dead? Because you indeed was dead!" Muraki's smile became even more brightly and he kept on. "Maybe you should explain who you truly are, Tatsumi-san. Or rather should I say Reiji Magami-san."
:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:
Heheheheheheheheheheheh, my mind twisted again! ANYWAYS, this is the longest chapter I ever wrote! Fiou! It was a tough part, and I will try to make Saito act a little more like he usually does around Sano (means a real big bad ass! ^_^ just the way I like him!! Ahou!) About the weird end, maybe some of you try to understand what it implies... My cousin found out in three second, watch in hand... maybe, I truly am transparent...Huuum....
ANYWAYS a big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big thank you to Dyosa who helped me to get the hell out of the mess I usually put myself in when writing too long sentences or weird ones... -_-;
Well, see you guys,
mikim
Chapter 8: Confrontations.
Standards Disclaimers Apply.
The song has been taken from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tokio has only arrived at the ShisenGumi' s inn for a couple of hours, than she had already been under attack. He had promised!
Saito angrily sheathed his katana back in its saya. He had tried for an hour to do a kata to ease his nerves, but all he could think about was the fact that she had already been put in danger. Still angered, Saito left the dojo, behind the inn and headed to the bathhouse, next to it. He kept on clenching his fists and opening them, only there for, what? 2 hours and...
Saito stopped frozen in the bathhouse doorframe: he had lost control.
"Do you understand that in a soul lies one's mind, identity and, of course, feelings? If you, and that's the major risk of a link, get yourself too open to each other, you will lose yourself, I mean both of you or maybe only one, but you won't be able to say when the first ends and where the seconds begins."
The Magami Elder's words resonated in his mind and Saito, suddenly tired, leaned on the doorframe and murmured to himself:
"She's open. I'm not. She has never tried to hide her feelings, never ever. And now, since we are linked, since her soul is a part of mine, the feelings I tried to suppress all my life are coming back... with full force. I have to be careful." Saito pushed himself off the doorframe and went further in the bathhouse to take a hot bath, which he hoped would ease his over sensitive nerves.
Back in their room, sitting on her knees in the middle of the bedroom, Tokio was concentrating to create a shield on her new room. Carefully, slowly, gently she released the spell and in its perfect pattern, she found peace and relaxation, she admired the spell her father had taught her when she was little: it was an easy one, not powerful enough to be detectable but sufficiently for her to know whenever somebody would step in the room and prevent the sounds coming from the room to be heard from outside, even if somebody had his ear pressed on the door. And there was somebody. She whirled on her left, ready to face any danger, but it was only Okita, standing in the doorframe.
"Oh, that's you."
Okita blinked several times and scratched his cheek, confused, stepping further in the room:
"I'm sure I didn't make any sound, how did you notice me? Your back was at the door."
Tokio smiled and answered:
"I've just released a spell that protect this room. It will tell me whenever somebody would try to step in."
Okita smiled and sat down, in front of her.
"Magami-san, it's..."
"Please, call me Tokio. Everybody does and it makes me feel a little weird to be referred as `Magami-san'. My father or my brother are, not me." She cut him, smiling softly.
"Well, alright, how should I call you... I know! I'll call you Tokio-chan, after all we've got the same age!"
"Really? I thought you were older than I do."
"You did? Well, that's weird, usually everybody looks down at me because I look like a little boy."
"Well, if you call me Tokio-chan, how can I call you?"
"Why not Soushi? That's my first name."
"Hmm..." she tilted her head on the left. "I'll call you... Sou-chan!" She cried, smiling broadly.
Okita blinked `Sou-chan' ? he thought, only my mum used to me this way when I was really small.
"Oh, alright, if you want to, Tokio-chan." Now, no wonder why her brother seemed to be so fiercely attached to her: she's so pure and innocent. She doesn't know the dirtiness of the present world. She's been raised inside the Magami Estate, protected from the outside world since she was 7. Okita stared at her thoughtfully, how would he, in the 7 holy hells, knock some sense in her thick head?
Tokio's smile widened and chuckled:
"Actually, Sou-chan, you're the third person that came here, willing to talk me out of the meeting with him, tonight."
Okita raised an eyebrow and smiled back. "Kondo-sama and Harada-san, I bet."
Tokio nodded, still smiling. "But, as I told them, I will tell you that you are running to your deaths if you don't let me come along. Saito-san... ano, Hajime already knows this, that's why he didn't argue that much."
"Where is he, by the way?"
"Well, he was so angry when he left the room that he went to the dojo to practice and when he calmed down, I lost track of him."
"Oh, well, actually the second reason for why I came here was to ask where Saito was." Okita smirked at her surprised look. "You are like him: too stubborn for your own good." With that, he stood up and held out a hand to her:
"Come on, time for you to meet the rest of the ShisenGumi Captains. And if Baka' s not here to introduce you, well, I'll do it myself!" Okita grinned and Tokio chuckled a hand on her mouth.
"Does he even know you call him `Baka'?"
"Well, I've just decided to call him that way because he left you alone. Plus, he should know not to practice to ease his nerves. Let's go."
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Later in the afternoon, when Saito finally went back to the inn, he found it almost desert. Usually, at this time of the afternoon, the landlady, Kagome-san, would have come to greet any consumers that would stepped in her inn, but not this time.
Saito frowned, now that's weird. He thought. Before, that man and now that. What the hell is going on down here?
Nobody was in the restaurant, either but as he went further in the house, he could heard some excited voices from the kitchen.
As he neared it however, the chatter suddenly stopped and a single voice rose above the respectful silence. Tokio.
If the sky opened up for me,
And the mountains disappeared,
If the seas ran dry, turned to dust
And the sun refused to rise
I would still find my way,
By the light I see in your eyes.
The world I know fades away
But you stay.
Saito entered the kitchen, unnoticed by most of the people in there: the landlady, Kagome-san, her 4 maids sitting, their back to him at the table, Okita standing next to it and singing her eyes closed, sitting on the outside porch that led the kitchen to a small garden was Tokio. All around her, staring at her in awe were the 3 children of Kagome-san: 2 boys and their little sister. Okita turned his head to acknowledge Saito's presence and the brat grinned to the older man.
As the earth reclaims its due,
And the cycle starts anew,
We'll stay, always
In the love that we have
Shared before time.
Saito scowled him, but Okita didn't mind at all as he took his attention back to the girl. So did Saito and he lost himself again: she was sitting there, facing him. Bathed in the summer light of the sun, her hair almost glowing, she was breathtaking. She had gathered them in a loose bun and some locks gently blew by the wind caressed her neck and face. And Saito almost wished that she'd open her eyes so that he could stare in her night gaze. Defeated, he leaned on the doorframe and listened to her enchanted voice.
If the years take away
Every memory that I have
I would still know the way
That would lead me back to your side.
The North Star may die
But the light that I see in your eyes
Will burn there always
Lit by the love we have
Shared before time.
Movement behind him. Saito turned and watched Harada and 2 other captains coming closer to the kitchen door. Saito nodded to them as they mouthed a silent hello to him, not willing to break the magic scene playing before them. The newcomers had huge smiles on their faces and Saito rolled his eyes. He turned back his eyes to her.
A woman, caressing his cheek, singing this song to lull him back to sleep... Long black hair, gentle eyes, just like his...or rather hers. Saito shook his head to clear it from Tokio's memories. This song must meant a lot to her if her memories have managed to slip in his mind.
When the forest turns to jade,
And the stories that we've made
Dissolve away
One shining light will still remain.
He looked at her: she was smiling, as the song only brought back happy memories to her. She was so innocent... Sighing, Saito told himself that never a woman had taken so much importance in his life than this one. With her petite hands, she held his sanity and soul... maybe more, but he feared to name it, provided it actually was in her hands... He really should have a talk with Kamuro Magami. Soon, * very * soon. And a rather long talk too.
When we shed our earthly skin,
And when our real life begins,
There'll be no shame
Just the love that we have made before time.
As the song's last notes faded in the air, Kagome and her maids heavily sighed of pure happiness and Kagome-san congratulated Tokio for her song while the girls giggled like mad, whispering among themselves. Kagome's kids had jumped on Tokio as soon as she had stopped singing and now, she was laughing her heart out as the boys fought to sit in her lap while their little sister simply took the place, unnoticed by her brothers. Saito stepped back in the shadow, watching her.
Tokio, still laughing turned her head towards him but she couldn't see him, she blinked and Saito felt an inquisitive mental push on his mind's barriers: she was trying to locate him. He stepped out the shadows and went further in the kitchen, she smiled to him and turned back to the fight going on between the boys.
The girls were chatting with Kagome-san, on how delighted they were at hearing such a beautiful voice and a so heart-wrenching song. Harada teased them, asking them if any of them would follow his light. One of the girls, Arashi who was actually in love with him, blushed like mad, causing the other 3 girls to giggle even more while Okita greeted the other captains who had arrived with Harada and asked them about their daily patrol in the city.
But Saito took none attention of these as he headed to Tokio's side. He stood behind her and his eyes twinkled as she laughed again at the kids playing around her. The boys were still trying to determine who will sit next in Tokio's lap, after their sister.
She looked up at him and put the small girl down and stood up as well, but as she was now in the garden she had to look up to look at him. She smiled and he extended a hand to her. As she took it to be lifted on the porch, Sakura-chan, Kagome's daughter, pulled on her kimono:
"Ne, Tokio-neesan, I will, won't I?"
"Will what, chibi-chan?" Tokio smiled down at the little girl, clutching her doll again her chest, eyes full of worry.
"Nii-chan said i won't be pretty like you because I'm too small! Is that true?"
Tokio laughed and kneeled on the wooden porch and took the little girl in her arms:
"He's right, chibi-chan, because you'll be when you'll get older you'll be beautiful, not pretty! But beautiful!"
"Is beautiful more than pretty?"
Tokio laughed again, as Saito rolled his eyes and answered the small girl:
"Why don't you go and ask Harada, chibi, he knows a lot about that. And you boys, why don't you go with your sister and annoy someone else for a change, like Okita?"
The brothers looked at themselves, mischief burning in their brown eyes and ran, yelling for Okita while their little sister called for Harada.
"Oh, Hajime, that was mean!" Tokio followed the children with her eyes, still smiling.
"For whom? Those brats or Okita?"
Tokio laughed once more and put a small hand on his arm. He jumped on the occasion to take her hand and led her in the garden, hidden from the curious of the kitchen.
Kagome's elder sons nearly jumped on the Captain of the 1^st squad of the ShisenGumi: he, unlike that scary looking man with Tokio-neesan, was kind and always willing to play, so the boys tugged on his pants, yelling in delight for the game that would surely follow. But the young man wouldn't play with them now, because he had caught Kagome's knowing smile as she watched the couple disappeared in the yard.
When she looked up at him, her eyes twinkled even more, full of secrets. Okita blinked, not really believing what Kagome was implying and the woman hid her laugh behind the sleeve of her long red kimono.
If Okita's mouth could have hit the floor, it would have: he turned his gaze to the garden then back to Kagome who nodded, smiling and back to the garden again. He mouthed a "no" to Kagome but it only elicited more laughter from her. She stood up and shook her head, whispering "youngsters..." but Okita who wanted to ask her more was nearly dragged away from the kids mother when they decided that their preferred brother hadn't been giving them the attention they deserved.
:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Saito led a smiling Tokio towards the end of the yard, under the Sakura tree.
"Tell me, did your mother sing that song a lot for you?"
Startled, Tokio's expression soon softened as the memories from her past emerged again:
"Yes... When I was little, she used to lull me to sleep, singing this song." After a pause, she looked quizzically at him "How did you know?"
"I saw it, or rather I remembered it. While you were singing, that memory slipped into my mind and it just came naturally to me."
"Oh... Then, I guess it means our link's getting stronger." Tokio looked down at her feet, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
Saito studied her for some time then broke the silence again:
"Tell me about your family."
"What for? If you want to know something on them, you can just..."
"I want to hear it from you, he cut her, in your words."
The golden eyes were burning again, but not with fury, rather with a gentle flame she had never seen before and it warmed up her soul. She put her hands behind her back and leaned on the Sakura tree, sighing:
"My mother was a beautiful woman... I don't really remember a lot of her, but I sometimes remember some feelings. A perfume can make me think of her...I remember that her hands were very soft and always warm. My father was deeply in love with her. He still is, by the way. Ryu-sama is not really my grand-father, in fact he is my great-grand-father: his daughter married an outsider of our clan, but her last daughter, my mother, had the talent so she was taken back to the Magami Clan. When my parents got married, lot of people inside the clan refused this union because she wasn't fully `pure' blooded as they put it, but my father didn't care a damn. And then, 4 years after their marriage, they had my brother and me, 2 years after."
"Your parents were relatives?" his question took her back from her reverie.
"No, well, very far relatives. You know, my family's really big: we even have some relatives in Tokyo and Hokkaido. I think there are some too in Okinawa."
He nodded and he leaned a shoulder on the tree trunk, too, arms crossed.
"We were happy. These memories are the happiest of my whole life... all destroyed."
The wind blew harder and a rain of Sakura petals turned around them as a shield from the past.
"After him..."she bitterly kept on "my father changed radically: he became extremely reserved and hard with everyone, even with us sometimes. It took him a while to open up a little to others again. In fact, he wouldn't talk for most of the times to the others and he would resolved the internal matters of our clan by a single look. He was pretty scary, I must admit to the others, but he remained really kind to us. Sometimes he would just show up and talk to us about our mother for hours and he held me in his arms, almost every nights because of the nightmares till my 11^th birthday. Oddly enough, the only person who would actually steal some words from him, apart from Toya and I was Tatsumi-san."
"Tatsumi-san..." Saito repeated.
"Yes, he too was very kind to Toya and I, when out father couldn't stay with us, or that he was needed in a matter where children just didn't have a place, he would take care of us. Or mainly watch over me and keep me out of troubles."
"So, you and your brother are really close to him."
Tokio nodded again and smiled sweetly at Saito, "I don't know what I would have done without him. I feel guilty sometimes... I know it's not my fault that my mother... But it wouldn't prevent me for having nightmares at nights. But Tatsumi-san, by watching over me, protecting me, helped me to push those nightmares away. And I think I owe him my sanity."
"Do you know if he has some relatives, here in Kyoto?"
"Huh? No, he would hardly leave the Estate. In fact, she frowned, I don't remember him leaving the Magami Domain once.. Or dressing in another color than black..."
"Why did your father let a complete stranger took care of his children?"
"He wasn't a complete stranger. I mean the Elders knew him and recognized him as one of ours."
"I thought you said he was unknown to everybody." Saito frowned... Now, he thought, that was odd...
"Well, the Elders never actually said us they knew him but when my father declared he was to be our Guardian, some feared he was him... But the Elders took his defense and declared that he was the most suitable for the Guardian role."
"Oh, really? When did you say that he arrived at the Magami Estate?"
"Soon after my mother's death. He popped out of nowhere at the Magami portal and went straight to my father's office where they stood lock in for what seemed to be hours back then. I remembered being scared first, because nobody knew that man or why he wanted to talk to my father or how he found the office without a guide. And suddenly, my father opened the door and told us he was to be our Guardian."
"Do you trust him?"
Tokio turned to face Saito and put her hands on her hips, frowning. "What does that mean, Hajime? Are you suspecting my Guardian to be him?"
"Why are you so afraid of saying his name?" he asked, bluntly, ignoring her question.
Taken aback, Tokio froze.
"You wouldn't pronounce his name." He stated calmly.
"I..."
"I'm suspecting everyone. You told me once that Muraki can take anybody's appearance so I'm gathering as much as information on the people I don't know. That's all."
Clapping her hands in her lap, head bowed, Tokio apologized but Saito dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"Let's go back. If you want to come with us tonight, you'll have to get yourself prepared. Come on." Saito turned on his heels and headed back to the kitchen but he stopped when Tokio closed her fingers on the back of his gi.
"Yes, I am very close to Tatsumi-san: over the years, he had became my Guardian but also my closest friend and he actually was the only one that would talk to me without fearing me because I hold a part of... Mu...Muraki's soul in me." She added difficultly, Saito turned his head slightly towards hers: her fingers were clenched on the fabric of his shirt and her voice had dropped an octave because of the painful feelings held in it as she remembered. "Other children would hardly even speak to me, they were scared of what they felt inside of me, or of what they heard from their parents. Apart from Toya and Tsuzuki-kun, I had no friends of my age. I guess that makes our childhood a little more alike, don't you think?" She looked up, smiling softly to him.
Saito, grunting, nodded and led her back to the house, without her letting go of the material of his gi.
Back in the kitchen, Saito introduced his "wife" to the Captains Hijikata and Nagakura. The men congratulated her for her beautiful voice and her wedding, causing Tokio to blush furiously. Harada smirked, which made Saito glared at him. Tokio had let go of Saito's gi but they were standing really close, almost touching, Saito a bit in front of her. Tokio, then, excused herself and went upstairs to get prepared while Okita gestured Saito to follow him in the garden. They walked in silence till they were hidden in the shadows of the garden, Saito after Okita and Saito could see the window of their room.
As soon as the older man reached the other Captain's side, the younger attacked him:
"Where have you been? What would have happened if she had been attacked while you were away?" Okita glared at Saito: of all the people, he had to be him, the Miburo, to be her protector. She was too pure, too delicate, too fragile to stay with them. To stay with him. "By the way, I know about Muraki's powers. I've asked her about." He added hastily, he would have preferred Saito to tell him about this but the damn man had disappeared.
Saito looked down at Okita for a long moment before leaning on the wall which surrounded the inn, shielding them from outside, his face expressionless, as usual:
"I've been wandering in the city, trying to find some information on the Magami Family." A bitter smile came to his lips "an old woman told me that whoever ever crossed the path of a Magami will see his life change from point to point. She also told me the Magami were believed to be descendants of some minor God who lost his way on earth. The God in question fell in love with a human girl, but she was mortal. So, in order to prove her his love and devotion for her, the God got rid of his immortality. That's how the Magami Family was created." The golden gaze left the younger man's face to settle itself on a particular window, on the first floor, where most of the city of Kyoto could be seen. "I've seen something surprising this afternoon, though."
"Which is?" Okita was still a bit angry at Saito, but he couldn't blame him the logic of his behavior: when you know nothing of your enemy, ask your allies or rather spy on your allies: they always have something hidden in theirs hearts, something that might lead you to your common enemy.
"Tatsumi. Tokio's Guardian."
"I remember who Tatsumi-san is. And?" Okita irritably said.
"Theirs orders were clear: drop Tokio here and come back home at once." Saito informed him.
"But- what was he doing in the heart of the city? Do you think he came back to see Tokio-chan?"
"Tokio-chan?" Saito dumbly repeated. He looked down at Okita again.
Okita rolled his eyes "You weren't there to introduce her to Kagome-san. Somebody had to do it and we are the same age, actually. And it felt weird to call ourselves by our family names."
"Whatever."
"Oh! Why don't you just spill it!? Where have you seen Tatsumi-san?" Okita scowled the older man, upset.
Saito's feral smile widened. Once a Miburo, always a Miburo... "He was walking near one of the murders place. The third one." This time, both men looked at the Saito's room window, the shadow of doubt forming in their minds: well, what if it wasn't Tatsumi-san but someone else, someone who would have some unresolved matters in this city, one who could take somebody's else looks.
"Does she know?" Okita's voice was clinical: this was business.
"No."
"Don't tell her, it may get her confused and scared."
"I'm not stupid." Saito harshly answered.
The Captains fell in silence, both trying to find out for what reason the real Tatsumi could actually be in the city or if it was reasonable to consider that someone may had taken Tatsumi's looks.
A bird cried out, causing Okita to look up at the sky and the dropping sun.
"We'd better leave soon if we don't want to be late."
"You're not supposed to come, you know. Kondo needs you in the city tonight." Okita smirked: as if, he could let Saito and Tokio go alone. Whatever Kondo-sama may tell him, Okita wouldn't miss this meeting for the world. Saito rolled his eyes, he had folded his arms on his chest, and went on staring at the window again when he suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong?" Okita asked, a bit surprised by the intensity of his gaze set on the window.
"I don't know. I feel something on the bedroom, but I can't put my finger on it."
Okita smiled and turned to leave: "Ask her. It would be easier, don't you think?"
Saito grunted back and pushed himself off the wall.
.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
When Saito neared the bedroom, the odd feeling he felt back in the garden annoyed him again.
"Tokio, he said, I'm coming in." Without waiting for her answer, he opened the panel and stepped in. Tokio turned to greet him and Saito's mouth dropped open, surprised.
She was dressed like a priestess: white gi with the Magami Seal above each breasts, red hakama and white socks. Her hair were tied in a loose white material, just like other Shinto priestess. Her arms were still raised as if she had just finished tying her hair. The sunlight enveloping her hair in a red glow, she was beyond reality. Maybe, he thought, she truly is the descendant of a God.
"Hum.. What?" She dropped her arms at her side.
Turning his gaze away, Saito bluntly asked:
"What have you done to the room?"
"I've put a shield on it so when somebody comes in, I'll know. So will you."
Saito nodded and came further in the room.
"Ano..." she hesitated, causing the man to turn back to her "I've also blocked the sounds of going out of the room."
Saito nodded again and turn to watch the sun coming closer to the horizon.
"Are you ready?" he asked after a pause.
"Yes."
The man nodded again and left the room, Tokio right behind him.
Harada was leaning on the opposite wall, his arms folded on his chest. As the door slide open, he pushed himself off it to greet Saito with a deadly glare:
"I can't go with you tonight. Kondo trapped me here to do yours and Okita's jobs." The younger man turned on his heels and without another glance walked away. Saito followed him with his eyes and shrugged, he turned on his left and exited the room.
"What was wrong with Harada-san?" Tokio quietly asked as the couple, sneaking by the kitchen door, reached the yard's door, behind the inn.
"He hates to stay behind but someone had to." The man answered, opening the door and peering outside for an eventual enemy.
Tokio looked at the sun, not really able to suppress the daily wish... Don't disappear ... "The sun has almost set."
"Then, walk faster." The quiet answer reached her mental ears since Saito was already in the street, waiting for her.
Tokio gritted her teeth in annoyance and stormed outside, leaving Saito behind her. What was wrong with him?
Saito waited for the outburst...but it never came. Tokio almost ran past him, ignoring him and was now storming out of anger. The Miburo chuckled under his sleeve and his eyes twinkled and his koneko, feeling the man's amusement, let her anger flare up with a new flame.
Suddenly, Saito's amusement made itself announced through their link.
He's laughing at me! What a jerk!!
Tokio clenched her fists and tried to walk faster than him, but he had no problem to accord his pace to hers. Finally, she gave up but decided to keep at ignoring him and, when Saito reached her, she abruptly turned her head on the opposite side, making her hair slapped lightly his left arm.
Since Tokio wasn't looking where she was going, she bumped into someone.
"Oy! Tokio-chan, watch out!" Okita exclaimed. He too had been lost in his thoughts so when the arrival of Saito and his wife took the young Captain completely by surprise.
"Oh! Gomen ne, Sou-chan!"
Saito merrily rolled his eyes heavenward and without waiting for the youngsters walked away.
Towards a particular temple, up the northeast hill, surrounding the city of Kyoto, the Temple of the Ise.
:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;;:;:::;:
"He's late." Okita looked around the place: after climbing up some stairs, they had arrived at the entrance of the Temple, surrounded by some ancestral trees, the old building breathed of purity and serenity in the setting light of the sun.
It was early summer of the year 1864, three people were waiting for a killer on the top a hill, in front of a temple caressed by the red light of the sun, making it look like painted with blood.
Tokio suddenly spun on her left while Saito calmly withdrew his katana from its saya: something or rather someone they both had felt was coming closer to them. It was a familiar feeling, almost comforting, oddly warm, a feeling that swept away the last of Tokio's self controlled and the cold fingers of Panic slowly reached for her heart.
Saito walked in front of her, protecting her from * him *. Tokio's breathing quickened. "Calm down" Saito said "I'm here."
The girl nodded difficultly and tried to calm down her racing heart; she closed her eyes and put her hands above her heart. And when she opened her eyes again, Saito would have sworn that a great white bird with eyes like the night was standing on its little mistress shoulder, ready to spread its wings to protect her.
He risked a glance behind him and as expected, the great white bird was there, he nodded at her and turned back to the man, who was now stepping out of the woods where he had been watching them.
Tokio watched in pure horror her tormentor coming closer. She was almost able to put a face on the man who haunted her nights.
Okita withdrew his own sword. How on earth did that man come so close without being detected? Saito and Tokio had felt him, true, but the man was already few meters from them! How? The question whirled in Okita's mind...Maybe, maybe Tokio-chan and her brother were right...Maybe the Magami Family truly have a power normal people don't...
Okita gritted his teeth: the questions would be for later, now it was time to fight.
The man, all in black dressed, stepped out of the woods. Tokio inhaled sharply and put a hand over her mouth: it was Tatsumi.
Grinning like mad, Muraki welcomed Tokio and the Captains:
"Tokio-chan" he exclaimed happily "I'm so happy to see you! You've grown into a beautiful woman, I was right to spare your life 7 years ago. Our children will be as beautiful as you."
Tokio came closer to Saito, shaking with horror, she grabbed his shirt as if her life depended on it but she couldn't stop staring at `Tatsumi'.
"Muraki, I presume." Saito said.
"I didn't know we already were that acquainted, Miburo-san." Muraki smiled back at Saito. "Anyway, I didn't expect you actually, Okita-san." He kept on "What should we do about him? What do you think Tokio-chan? Do I destroy this place spiritual balance with that little boy's blood?"
"Tat...Tatsumi... What...what have you done to Tatsumi?" Tokio yelled, crying. Surprised by her outburst, Saito looked at her from the corner of his eyes, never letting Muraki disappeared from his sight.
Muraki laughed, "Why do you ask, Tokio-chan? Have you realized? Maybe you'd preferred me in your mother's form or of one of the 3 girls I've killed?"
"Stop it!" she cried back.
And understanding came to the Captains: Muraki could only take dead people appearance. And only the people he had killed.
"Tokio..." Saito started, wanting to be sure.
"We didn't know" she cut him, yelling, tears running freely down her cheeks. Angry flames of hate, pain and sorrow flicked in her eyes. "We weren't sure. But, now...He's feeling like Tatsumi-san! As if, he was his replica! And, and the only way to achieve that is...is to-"
"Don't bury me that fast, Tokio-sama." A weak voice stated.
Tatsumi appeared, climbing up the stairs, holding his side, blood running down his chin, down his left arm which remained lifeless at his injured side.
"I'm not dead yet. And I think, Muraki we haven't finished yet."
"Tatsumi!" Tokio said, heading in his direction but Saito's arm shot up and blocked her way. "What..." But her voice dried in her throat as she watched her Guardian walked to them. At each step he tried to take, blood splashed the ground, forming a red tail.
Finally, Tatsumi faced his uninjured mirror. He dropped his right arm at his side and stood as straight as he could, looking down at Muraki whose face hadn't moved a single muscle: he was still smiling. In fact, when Tatsumi started walking to him, his smile widened and now that the 2 men were facing each other, Muraki exclaimed:
"I'm so glad you're still alive, Tatsumi-san! But, how did you manage to survive? Or rather, should I ask you how did you raise from the dead? Because you indeed was dead!" Muraki's smile became even more brightly and he kept on. "Maybe you should explain who you truly are, Tatsumi-san. Or rather should I say Reiji Magami-san."
:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:
Heheheheheheheheheheheh, my mind twisted again! ANYWAYS, this is the longest chapter I ever wrote! Fiou! It was a tough part, and I will try to make Saito act a little more like he usually does around Sano (means a real big bad ass! ^_^ just the way I like him!! Ahou!) About the weird end, maybe some of you try to understand what it implies... My cousin found out in three second, watch in hand... maybe, I truly am transparent...Huuum....
ANYWAYS a big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big thank you to Dyosa who helped me to get the hell out of the mess I usually put myself in when writing too long sentences or weird ones... -_-;
Well, see you guys,
mikim