If there had ever been a time in my life that I needed someone to tell me that everything was going to be all right it was now. Unfortunately those men weren't here. One had disappeared while the other was dead. And with them went a part of me. Now all I have left is my wits, sword, and courage. Oh, and Ohkami too.
Speaking of which, the ball of fir next to me began to move. A soft moan came from it before a head emerged. It'd been a very cold night and she'd decided that she'd be warmer in her wolf form.
"Did you sleep good kid?"
"Hmm?" She stared at me with half open eyes before transforming back. "Do I have to get up?"
"Yes Ohkami."
"Damn."
Moving slower than I thought possible, she sat up and stretched. Eyes sweeping the camp, they came to rest on the empty bowls next to me.
"Sorry, but we don't have anymore food."
"Can't we go and get some?"
"I don't think we have time."
"But Izumi…"
I sighed.
"Fine, we should wait for night anyway. It'll give us the greatest cover."
"Yay! I'll go get us some more fish!"
Though night had fallen several hours ago, we'd just made our way towards the Wolf's Point. It was our plan to attack when they were the most tired. Throughout the day, we'd taken turns watching and the guards hadn't changed all day. It was most likely that they had 24-hour shifts and only changed in the morning.
Silently, we split up, her coming from the North, I from the South. In the distance I could see her creeping behind them. A snap made me freeze. She did the same. The guards were immediately on alert.
I could hear Ohkami's question in my mind. "Should we go? Or wait?" We had to go. If we wait any longer, it might be too late. She wasn't going to make the first move, so I must.
With a flash of silver, the first guard was down. The second was struck down by a pair of claws. Neither had made a noise, a lucky break for us. For a moment, all we could hear was our breathing. It stayed that way.
The passageway was dark, nearly impossible to see anything to the front. It was Ohkami in front and I nearly ran into her when she stopped. We'd found our way to the labyrinth. It looked more intimidating this time.
"Do you remember how to get to the center?"
"No but-" She froze, her nose twitching. "This way!"
A laugh made her stop mid stride.
"You're males do not wish to see you."
"Who are you?"
"Am I right?"
Out of the shadows came Sanosuke and Saitou. My heart stopped when I saw the look in their eyes. It was hard, as if they could never feel emotion and didn't care what happened to those around them. Even if it meant my death, I would make Denique Nex pay for what he'd done to them.
"You're right Master." Sanosuke smiled.
"The two of you have no business here." That wasn't my Jime.
"What have you done to them?" Ohkami's voice surprised me. It was desperate.
"Nothing we didn't want done. What is it Ohkami, you surprised to find that I don't need you?"
That comment made her step back. Tears were welling up in her eyes.
"Sano…"
"Leave them out of this." I growled.
"They are already involved my Dear."
"Why did you do this to them? What did they do to you?"
"They are what holds you to your sanity. If I take them, then you will again become the Kitsune Majin."
"The Kitsune Majin is dead."
"Ah yes, but we both know that the dead grow restless."
"Not this one."
"I've had enough. Saitou, finish her."
Cold steel brushed my throat. There was a glint in his eyes I'd seen last during the fighting. It sent a chill down my spine.
"Of course Master."
"Jime…"
"Silence wench."
His fist collided with my chin. The ground was unyielding and sent pain through my body. Hajime…He stood over me, willing me to get up.
"Only a coward would not rise to fight."
"Hajime stop. I don't want to fight you."
"Heh."
"I know you don't want to fight me."
"It is my mission to destroy evil."
"But Hajime-"
"You are going against all that is just."
"No, you are. If Denique Nex succeeds many innocent people will die."
"Enough." He changed stance, it was one I knew well. "Aku. Soku. Zan."
There was no way that I'm worthy enough to have this perfect love laying next to me now. Yet there he lies, sleeping after the long night. Just thinking about it makes me shiver.
"I love you." I gently brushed a strand of hair from his eyes.
His eyelids fluttered for a moment, before opening lazily. A small smile crossed his handsome features as the gold met my blue. The gentle hand grazed my face.
"Good morning."
I kissed the hand. "Good morning love."
He sat up before pulling me to him. I laid my head on his chest, quietly listening to his heartbeat. Arms wrapped around, pulling me tighter. It felt so right. Fingers gently took my chin and pushed it up to meet his gaze.
"I love you Izumi."
His lips met mine. Though it lasted only a few seconds, it felt like a lifetime. And I didn't want it to end. This perfect creature loved me, someone who had deceived and fought against him.
"I love you too Jime."
As he ran his fingers through my hair, I could feel his body tense.
"What is it?"
"Hmm?"
"You're tense." To add emphasis, I ran my hands over his muscular arms.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about Nagakura."
I said nothing.
"And all of the other creatures that have come after us in these past few months. It reminds me of…"
"The Shinsengumi."
"You never told me why you joined the rebels."
"The Shinsengumi thought my father was helping the rebels. So they burnt our farm down. Then Souzou showed up."
He tensed at the name, but I kept going.
"He told me that the rebels needed someone to infiltrate the Shinsengumi. I decided that it would be better than a whorehouse. And if I they found me out, I could take at least a few down with me."
All the while, his hands never stopped running through my hair. Once I stopped, my heart stopped. Why did I say that? I should have made something up, anything but that!
"Your revenge would have been just."
My heart stopped. He didn't just say that.
"It turned me into something I wasn't. A killer."
"It is a natural instinct. If it means we survive, we kill."
"You sound like you've had a long time to think about it."
"I spent many years trying to figure out why you'd betray us." I tensed when I heard us. "The ideas were much more elaborate then what you just told me. But there was always one constant. Survival. None of us would have killed if it hadn't meant survival of what we thought was just."Silence encased the room. I lay there, listening to his heartbeat. It seemed as if that was the only constant. My own was racing, fearful that he would hate me for what I'd done. I wouldn't be able to handle it if he left. I'd lost someone once, and I didn't want to go through it again.
"You're heart is racing." His fingers traced patterns on my back in rhythm with my heartbeat.
"Yes it is."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid. I don't want to lose you."
"Oh Izumi." He pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair. "I'll always be here. And I'll always protect you."
"Thank you."
I promised myself once we fell in love, that I would never pull my sword on him again. Twice I've broken that promise. Once out of anger. And the second time out of self defense.
Metal clanged as we swung at each other. The impact sent me back towards the wall. It took a moment to spot him again, and I barely dodged his next swing. He was using my sightlessness to his advantage. My only choice was to use the wall to mine.
"You've gotten slower Kitsune Majin."
"I think I'm doing pretty well, considering I have a slight disadvantage."
This time I saw him, and blocked. The counterstrike met its mark, his left shoulder. It didn't faze him. Even as the blood soaked his shirt, he continued to move as if it hadn't occurred.
A growl came from my left. Glancing over, I saw Ohkami dodge several of Sanosuke's strikes and land a couple of her own. Like Hajime, they didn't appear to have any effect. He just kept going after her.
"Izumi, he's immune to pain!"
Laughter filled the room again. "That's my favorite part about this little spell. They will continue to fight until they are dead. Oh, and did I mention that they will always fight with all of their strength? You see, my dear ladies, they feel nothing. Pain, emotions, exhaustion, nothing. Sometimes I even have to remind them to eat." Another laugh followed that. "They are unstoppable."
"No." I heard Ohkami gasp. "Please Sano, don't!"
"It's no use Princess, he only listens to me now."
No, this can't be happening. I looked at Hajime. Please stop.
"He can't hurt you."
What, whose there?
"Izumi, he can't hurt you."
Souzou? But, it can't be…
"I promised you that I'd always be there."
But-
"Just listen to me. He can't hurt you because he loves you."
Denique Nex is controlling him. And he said that Jime can't feel emotions.
"No spell can stop love."
I hope you're right because I don't want to lose him.
"You won't Izumi. Listen to me. The two of you will raise your children and grow old together. Don't lose faith in him."
I won't.
A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates. I just finished this a couple of hours ago. Hope you enjoyed. Please review!