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Chapter 33: Revelations

The next morning, Chizuru woke up to find that Sumiko was still sound asleep. Her normally peaceful sleeping face looked tired and pale. Yamazaki had managed to stop the bleeding, but not before she had lost a terrifying amount of blood. Thankfully, Sumiko's life didn't seem to be in any immediate danger despite the severity of her wound, but it was still unsettling to see the strong girl looking so weak and fragile. Chizuru very quietly sat up in her futon, careful not to wake her sleeping friend, and unwrapped the bandages on her arm to check on her own wound. It didn't hurt anymore, and you could barely even tell the deep cut had ever been there. All the remained now was a thin, pink line of freshly formed skin. She didn't want to wake Sumiko since the older girl obviously still needed to rest in order to recover her strength, so she carefully set about the task of re-bandaging her arm and putting it into a sling to disguise the fact that it had already healed.

—∞—

"Good morn—" Chizuru started to greet the others as she walked over to the well to wash her face and clean her teeth for the day with them, when Shinpachi abruptly and angrily yelled:

"Give me a break!" Chizuru paused, startled, but then she quickly realized that he hadn't actually been talking to her. "How could we forgive such selfishness!?" He asked the others, throwing down his towel.

"Right on the heels of yesterday… He sure does move fast, that tanuki." Sano said, referring to Itou.

"Has something happened?" Chizuru asked as she stepped up to join them.

"Itou-san has announced he's leaving the troop." Inoue replied while cleaning his teeth.

"Itou-san?" Chizuru asked.

«« Flashback ««

"A guardian of the imperial tomb?" Kondo asked.

"Indeed." Itou replied calmly as he sat across from Kondo and Hijikata. "Upon departing, I, Itou, shall assume guard of Emperor Koumei's tomb, along with my men, of course."

"But, Itou-san, we can't simply allow you to resign." Kondo said reasonably. Normally such a thing would be unheard of according their group's rules.

"Are you saying I should stay, after that display of just last evening?" Itou asked, knowing he was putting them in a tight spot.

"Yes, well, about that…" Kondo said hesitantly.

"What's more, to think that San'nan-san is alive, after I'd been told he was dead… If I am an officer, what is the meaning of my not having been informed of this?" Itou said pointedly.

"All responsibility for this falls to me." Kondo said solemnly. Any further explanation would require revealing the existence of the Ochimizu.

"It seems other things have been kept secret as well." Itou added slyly, glancing at Hijikata. "When there are secrets among the top leaders, it has an effect on the morale of all."

"Your logic is sound." Hijikata said, glancing up at him. "Put simply, you're saying to split up the group, yes?" He asked, furrowing his brow.

"This isn't 'splitting up' by any stretch." Itou said with a laugh. "It's a constructive division of forces. I'll keep these secrets to myself, just as you'll keep the details of my leave to yourselves, yes?" He asked slyly.

"Well, if you're that adamant about it, it can't be helped." Kondo said somberly. It was a shame this outcome couldn't have been avoided. Hijikata got up and crossed to room, placing his hand on the door.

"You'll have no regrets, will you?" He asked, sliding it open to reveal Heisuke and Saito waiting to leave with Itou.

«« End Flashback ««

"Heisuke-kun and Saito-san?" Chizuru asked, taken aback after Inoue had finished recounting what had transpired.

"Yes. It seems they'll be going with Itou-san." Inoue said regretfully. "It's a shock."

"No way…" Chizuru said sadly, stricken by the news.

"Heisuke, that bastard! He didn't even come to us for a word of advice!" Shinpachi said bitterly, feeling betrayed. "Dammit! This ain't funny!" He said angrily as he grabbed his towel and stomped off.

—∞—

"How many times has it been, that the cherry blossoms of Kyoto have fallen like so?" Saito mused aloud while he stood under a large cherry tree and watched as the fragrant petals floated on the wind like a gentle pink snow.

"Saito-san…" Chizuru said when she found him there.

"Time passes, and many things change." He said as he continued to stare up at the blooming cherry blossoms while a gentle breeze ruffled his hair. "The workings of the world, ideologies, and also the Shinsengumi."

"You're going to leave us because it's changed?" Chizuru asked sadly.

"And yet, it's not as if all things change." Saito added. "It is those unchanging things in which I believe."

"Unchanging things…" Chizuru repeated softly as she watched him walk away.

Chizuru was walking back to check on Sumiko when she spotted Heisuke sitting on a bench beneath another cherry tree, staring listlessly up at the sky as it rained pink petals. He turned his head and looked at her when caught movement out the corner of his eye, giving her a placid smile, as she came over and quietly took a seat beside him.

"I don't think Itou-san is completely wrong, like everyone says he is." Heisuke told her as he began explaining his reasons for leaving. "Imperial nationalism or adherence to the shogunate: I don't think you can know which is right until you try for yourself. Plus, I was the one who invited Itou-san in the first place. I can't word it well, but I want to see what is needed for the sake of this country. That's why I'm going with Itou-san."

"Heisuke-kun…" Chizuru said.

"But I want you to understand something." He said. "It's not like I've come to hate the others. If I said I'm not sad to be leaving you, that would be a lie."

"Well, then… is this place no good?" Chizuru asked. "You should be able to learn what's best for this world right here."

"You may be right, but… I've already decided to go." Heisuke said resolutely. "Even I am… I'm a man, too."

Chizuru stared at him for a moment before looking down sadly.

"I'm sorry." He told her. "I wasn't able to stay with you till you found your dad." And he also had to leave while Sumiko was still in that condition, too…

"It's all right…" Chizuru said quietly.

"Take care of yourself, Chizuru."

"You too, Heisuke-kun."

March 20, 1867. Itou-san led a band of thirteen men, plus Heisuke-kun and Saito-san, and left the Shinsengumi headquarters. The cherry blossoms fell, and the season leaned toward the beginnings of summer.

—∞—

It was quiet that evening during dinner. Sumiko had regained consciousness, but she had orders to remain in bed, so she was eating in Hijikata's room, where the girls were staying until the doors for their room could be fixed. Between her condition and the departure of Heisuke and Saito, they had a lot on their minds. The only sound in the room aside from the clicking of chopsticks against plates while they ate was Shinpachi's constant grumbling about Heisuke while he furiously stuffed his face.

"Don't worry, you're of the same 'expel all foreigners' ideology. You'll meet again." Kondo said, trying to reassure them.

SLIDE.

They all glanced up when the door opened.

"Commander. A female visitor is here." Shimada announced.

"A female visitor?" Kondo asked, surprised.

"She said she's come to see Yukimura-kun and Miyagawa-san, but also wants to meet with you and the others." Shimada said. They all glanced at Chizuru.

"Me and Sumiko-san?" She asked, wondering who it could possibly be.

–∞–

"Osen-chan!" Chizuru said, surprised to see who their visitor was after they had all gathered in Hijikata's room to receive her so Sumiko could be present, too.

"Hey, long time no see." Sumiko said, smiling wryly, as she wondered why Kimigiku, who happened to be accompanying her, was dressed like a kunoichi.

"I've come for you, Chizuru-chan, Sumiko-san." Sen said seriously.

"Eh?" Sumiko said.

"What do you mean?" Chizuru asked.

"There's no more time." Kimigiku told them. "Please prepare to leave here at once." Chizuru and Sumiko blinked as they stared at their fellow female oni in surprise.

"You can't just say something like that…" Chizuru said.

"Yeah, it's too sudden. What's this all about?" Sumiko asked.

"That's right." Shinpachi said. "Can't you explain it so we can understand too?"

"You know of Kazama Chikage, don't you?" Sen asked the men.

"Kazama?" Chizuru asked.

"Not him again…" Sumiko said as she furrowed her brow, chagrined.

"That ally of Satsuma, right?" Sano asked.

"He and his palls Amagiri and Shiranui have gone up against us several times." Shinpachi said.

"And you know they're after these girls?" Sen asked.

"We're aware of it." Kondo replied. "Apparently, they refer to themselves as oni."

"They're certainly incredibly skilled," Shinpachi said, "but 'oni' is kinda…"

"I, too, am an Oni." Sen stated confidently, surprising the men.

"This is Sen-hime, descendent of Suzuka Gozen of the ancient Oni bloodline." Kimigiku elaborated. "And I am Sen-hime's shinobi, of a line that has served her family for generations."

"Huh? Come to think of it, you were at Shimabara." Sano said, finally recognizing her.

"Ah, Kimigiku-san!" Shinpachi said.

"Eh? You mean you all only just now realized that?" Sumiko asked, sweat-dropping.

"Now I get it." Hijikata said. "I thought you were overly friendly, but your goal was Shinsengumi information." Kimigiku let out a quiet laugh and smirked like a fox.

"Since antiquity, those in power have come after us in hopes of gaining our powers for their own purposes." Sen said, getting back on topic.

"Generally speaking, the Oni clans dislike fighting and getting involved in human wars." Kimigiku added. "In the end, we all went our own ways and began living in hiding."

"After mingling with the humans for so long, only a few pureblooded Oni remain." Sen finished.

"Such as you and Kazama, you mean?" Kondo asked.

"Yes. Kazama has the strongest blood in the west. Largest Oni family in the east was the Yukimura family.

"Ah!" Chizuru gasped. So that's why Kazama kept emphasizing the importance of her family name…

"I'd heard that the Yukimura family had been destroyed, but…" Sen said, glancing back at Chizuru.

'Destroyed…?' Sumiko thought, furrowing her brow. How? And why…?

"H-Hang on second!" Sano said. "So, you're saying what? That Chizuru's an oni!?"Sen glanced at Chizuru, wondering how they could convince them of the truth.

"It seems you've perhaps thought of something…" Sen said, noting the thoughtful expression on Chizuru's face. Chizuru slowly slid up the sleeve of her kimono, showing the others how any signs of the deep cut she had received the other night had already disappeared completely. The men all stared at her, stunned.

"Your wound! But it looked so deep…" Shinpachi said.

"It's because… I'm an oni." Chizuru said quietly, unable to look them in the eye after having hid it from them for so long.

"Incidentally, I've been told that I'm also supposed to be part oni." Sumiko added with a sigh. "That's probably why I heal abnormally fast, too. Though it's nowhere near the same rate as Chizuru's…"

"I see…!" San'nan thought as he stared at her. 'Her blood is the reason I regained my senses that night.'

"If those with strong or pure bloodlines breed, they can give birth to an even stronger Oni." Sen said.

"So that's what Kazama's after." Hijikata said.

"Yes. If Kazama were to go all out against you, you'd be helpless to stop him. Especially with Sumiko-san injured like this." Sen replied gravely.

"Say, Senhime-san, ain't 'helpless' goin' a little too far?" Shinpachi asked, chagrined.

"We are the Shinsengumi, called the Wolves of Mibu. Going up against an oni or two gives us no pause at all." Hijikata stated.

"You should be well aware of Kazama's strength." Kimigiku said. "We, however, may be able to protect these girls if they're with us."

"That implies you may not be able to protect them." Hijikata said shrewdly.

"!" Sen and Kimigiku said, taken aback.

"Yukimura-kun, Miyagawa-san, what about you?" Kondo asked.

"Huh?" Chizuru asked.

"You should decide for yourselves whether you want to leave with them or stay here with us." Kondo said.

"Kondo-san, that ain't right!" Shinpachi protested. The girls would obviously be safer staying with them. They barely even knew Sen and Kimigiku.

"Be quiet, Shinpachi." Hijikata said. He felt the same, but this was a choice the girls had to make for themselves.

Chizuru glanced questioningly at Sumiko, wondering what she wanted to do.

"I'll go along with whatever you want." Sumiko told her. "After all, you're the one who has the most to lose. You're Kazama's main target. I'm just an afterthought. But don't worry, whatever happens, I won't leave you alone. Where you go, I go." She said, smiling reassuringly at her nervous friend.

"I…" Chizuru said hesitantly, clenching her fists as she stared down at her lap. She lifted her head and glanced around the room at the faces of all the others. Her eyes landed on Hijikata. "I want to stay here." She said determinedly.

"Chizuru-chan…" Sen said, surprised. Sumiko just smiled and nodded, as though this had been the outcome she had expected all along.

–∞–

"I'm sorry, Osen-chan." Chizuru said as she saw Sen and Kimigiku off at the gate.

"Chizuru-chan, could it be there's some reason that you don't want to leave here?" Sen asked.

"Huh?"

"There's someone here you fancy, for example?" Sen asked, smiling.

"U-Um, well…" Chizuru said, blushing slightly.

"Hime-sama, is this really all right?" Kimigiku asked.

"Mn." Sen said, nodding, before turning back to her friend. "Chizuru-chan, don't forget. I'm your ally, all right?"

"Thank you." Chizuru said, smiling softly.