I own nothing but my OC.

Chapter 37: The Course of Bonds

As Heisuke drew closer to the crossing of Aburanokoji and 7jô, he could hear the sounds of an intense battle. Men were yelling and swords were clashing. His eyes widened, and he skidded to an abrupt halt when he spotted Itou's corpse among the other dead bodies littering the alleyway. It was true… It was really happening…

"Yaah!" He looked ahead at the sound of a familiar cry and saw Sumiko take out a Satsuma samurai who had been going for Shinpachi's back while he was busy fighting off two other opponents.

"Heisuke-kun…" Chizuru said as she rounded the corner, trailing off when she saw the carnage before them and their friends fighting together in the middle of it. Of all the men they had brought with them from the Shinsengumi, only Sano and Shinpachi and Sumiko were still standing now. "Heh. This many opponents, and you're still only using the back of your blade?" Shinpachi asked as he kicked one of the men away and cut down the other. "If you don't get serious, you'll get hurt!"

"I like a good fight just as much as the next person," Sumiko said, knocking out another enemy, "but as a doctor, the idea of taking lives with the same hands that are supposed to save them still just doesn't sit right with me. Besides, who says I'm not serious? I'm seriously risking my life here! It's just that I'd rather get a few cuts and bruises while upholding my beliefs than letting something like this shake me enough to do injury to my own soul. A battered body is easier to heal than a battered spirit. Even if I can't move anymore or my back gets bent out of shape, it doesn't matter—as long as my soul's still straight, I'll keep going."

"Well, that's just like you, Sumiko-san." Sano said with a rueful smile as he cut down two more enemies. "Do what you want. Just disable as many as of them as possible and leave the 'disposal' to us!"He told her as the three of them regrouped to form a tighter defensive formation. They were all panting from the seemingly endless fight they had been drawn into as the next wave of opponents came forth. Amagiri smiled slightly as he stepped to the front of the line to address them.

"I have a proposal for the members of the Shinsengumi." He said, deciding to give them a chance of out respect for the half oni's determination. Miyagawa Sumiko's resolution not to kill even at the possible cost of her own life had struck a chord with his own dislike for senseless violence. The three of them furrowed their brows and glared warily at him, wondering what he was up to. "Would you be inclined to give us Yukimura Chizuru-kun, who is just over there? I shall allow everyone else to escape if you do."

"What!?" Shinpachi said incredulously as all three of them gasped in surprise. Their eyes widened as they turned to follow his gaze as saw that Chizuru was standing only about a yard or two further behind them than Heisuke, who had also arrived unnoticed while they were preoccupied with their fight.

"Chizuru… What are you…? Heisuke, get her out of here!" Sumiko shouted, appalled to see how close they both were to danger. She grit her teeth in frustration. Even though, she knew Heisuke was supposed to die here tonight, she wasn't about to just sit back and let it happen!

"I do not believe it is an unfair trade." Amagiri said, frowning slightly. Although he knew Miyagawa Sumiko was protective of Yukimura Chizuru, he had hoped to receive a more favorable reaction. "With this difference in numbers, I can't advise that you fight." The wall of men behind him served to emphasize his point. The three of them could only keep this up for so long. "Yukimura Chizuru. Will you accept our proposal, yes or no?" He asked, turning his attention onto the pureblood female oni.

"I…" Chizuru said, looking at the worried and tired faces of all her friends. "If I go over to your side… the others will be spared, right?" She asked solemnly, furrowing her brow with determination. They were always protecting her, now it was her turn to do something to protect them.

"Chizuru…" Sumiko said as her friend started walking, heading over to trade herself for their safety.

'Chizuru…' Heisuke thought as she passed him. Sumiko bit her lip and furrowed her brow as Chizuru stepped by. Sumiko sheathed her sword and started following her.

"Sumiko-san…?" Chizuru said, pausing for a moment as she glanced back at her friend in confusion.

"I said it before, didn't I? I'll go where you go." Sumiko said determinedly. "There's no way I'm letting you walk into enemy territory alone. Is that acceptable?" She asked grimly, turning to face Amagiri.

"Yes." He replied calmly. "We are prepared to accept that response as well." Shiranui smirked. He had been wondering what Amagiri was up to… At any rate, it looked like they were getting two for the price of one, now. The two female oni began walking forward together now. They were almost within reach, when Shinpachi and Sano moved to blocked their way.

"That was pretty cool, Chizuru and Sumiko." Sano told them.

"But leave the rest to us." Shinpachi added. "Get Chizuru to safety, Sumiko."

"Harada-san! Nagakura-san!" Chizuru said, surprised.

"What? You can't expect me to just leave you!" Sumiko protested as Sano took up an offensive stance in front of them.

"Let's go." Sano told the oni, furrowing his brow, as he glared straight ahead at the oni and all the men with them. "Rather than handing them over so we can live, I'll take you all down with me instead!"

"Now look who's actin' cool." Shinpachi said with a wry smirk. "Heisuke!" He shouted, glancing back at their group's prodigal son. "Why're you just standin' there!? You wanna let Sano be the only one to look cool!?"

"!" Heisuke said, snapping out of it. He laughed quietly to himself as he started walking over to join them. "Shinpatsu-san, Sano-san, you're always like this. When it comes to a fight, it's always this way. You call out for me, regardless of what I'm doin'."

"You're the same way, right?" Sano asked.

"Mn!" Heisuke said determinedly as he drew his sword and stood to fight with his friends once again. Sano smirked as they fiercely stared down their opponents together.

"It's been a while since the three of us have fought like this, huh?" He asked. That alone made the decision to stand and face the overwhelming odds worth it.

"Heisuke! It hasn't been so long that you've lost your skill, right?" Shinpachi teased.

"I ain't got so bad I gotta have the two of you worryin' about it!" Heisuke retorted.

"Yaaahh!" The Satcho men yelled as they charged and the three Shinsengumi captains rushed forward to meet them.

"Stay close, Chizuru!" Sumiko said determinedly, smiling slightly, as she hung back to guard her friend's safety so the men could focus on the fight. She wasn't about to deprive those three of the chance to fight and show off together again. Heisuke was back on their side. Even though they were still outnumbered, it felt like there was hope for the future. After all, Heisuke had just changed his own, hadn't he?

Amagiri let out a sigh of disappointment. He stepped forward into the fray. The humans and Miyagawa Sumiko all seemed to have gotten a second wind. If this was how it was going to be, then there was no point in dragging it out. He may as well end it now.

"Amagiri. You're goin' down by my hands!" Heisuke challenged him.

"You intend to challenge me alone?" Amagiri asked, noting that his comrades were already otherwise engaged.

"You're facin' me whether you like it or not!" Heisuke said, raising his sword, yelling boldly as he charged at the oni. He still hadn't paid him back for that night at the Ikedaya! Amagiri simply deflected Heisuke's sword to the side with the back of his fist and sent the young human flying back with a blow to his abdomen.

"Aaah! Ungh!" Heisuke cried out, hitting the ground with a harsh thud.

"Heisuke-kun!" Chizuru cried out in alarm when she saw this, leaving the safety of Sumiko's side to run towards him.

"Ah!" Sumiko gasped as she glanced away from the opponent she had currently locked swords with. Her eyes widened when she saw three enemies headed directly for her friend. "Chizuru!"

"Ah!" Chizuru cried out when one of the men raised his sword, about to strike her down.

"Chizuru!" Heisuke shouted, gritting his teeth, as he pushed himself up and threw his sword away to protect her, killing the man before he could strike. Sumiko ran over and took care of the other two.

"Are you all—!" She and Chizuru gasped when they saw that Amagiri had taken hold of the unarmed Heisuke and was holding him high up off the ground by the front of his kimono. "Heisuke…!"

"Your bravery is admirable." Amagiri commended him as he raised his other hand. "However… it is foolish!" In one powerful strike, he thrust his free hand up sent Heisuke flying with a blow to the chest. Heisuke's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he coughed up blood as he immediately lost consciousness.

"Heisuke-kun!" Chizuru screamed as Sumiko shot forward to catch him and break his fall.

"Heisuke!" Shinpachi shouted when he turned and saw her sliding back while clutching onto their friend's limp body. He and Chizuru ran over to Sumiko's side as she laid Heisuke down and began examining him.

"!" Sumiko gasped as her eyes widened in horror.

"Hey! Heisuke! How's he doing?" Sano asked as he backed up towards them, keeping his eye on the enemies ad he took up a protective stance in front of them.

"He's not breathing!" She said, gritting her teeth and furrowing her brow as she felt around for a pulse and placed her head on top of chest.

"What!?" Shinpachi cried in disbelief. He glanced down at Heisuke and saw that his empty eyes were staring sightlessly up at the night sky while they huddled around him.

"Back up! Go help Sano-san!" Sumiko said sternly, snapping him out of it. "I need time and space to work!"

"But you just said he wasn't breathing! What are you—!?" Shinpachi started to ask, shocked when Sumiko suddenly tilted back Heisuke's head and pressed her lips to his. "Oi!?"

"It's all right, Nagakura-san!" Chizuru said urgently as she watched Heisuke's chest rise from Sumiko's breath inflating his lungs. "I've seen Sumiko-san do this before! She's going to save Heisuke-kun!" Sumiko gave Heisuke another rescue breath before checking his pulse.

"His heart's stopped beating as well… Chizuru, you remember when I showed you how to do chest compression before, right? I'm tired from fighting and CPR's exhausting. I need you to help me administer the chest compressions while I do the breathing."

"Hai!" Chizuru said, quickly moving into position to help.

"Jeez. These guys are a bunch of morons." Shiranui commented as he watched. "First they seem like they're in a hurry to die, and now they think they can bring back the dead?"

"Shut the hell up!" Sano shouted angrily, about to charge at the infuriating oni with his spear, when more men stepped forward to block him. Shinpachi grabbed his word and came over to join him in protecting Heisuke and the girls. Together the two men began cutting down more enemies while Amagiri curiously watched the two girls work on reviving Heisuke.

"Anything yet?" Chizuru asked worriedly as Sumiko paused to check Heisuke's vitals again.

"All right! He's got a pulse! It's weak but—shit!" Sumiko cursed as the look of momentary relief on her face darkened with a terrible new realization. "Scoot over, Chizuru!" She said, moving to kneel closer to Heisuke's chest as she raised her fist high above her head.

WHAM!

"S-Sumiko-san!?" Chizuru cried, startled when Sumiko suddenly slammed her fist down on top of Heisuke's heart with great force.

"Shh! It's just a precordial thump." Sumiko quickly explained, hushing her friend, as she felt Heisuke's neck for a pulse again and pressed her head to his chest to listen to his heartbeat. "Okay… All right. Good. The tachycardia's been disrupted. His heart's back to normal, but he still isn't breathing." She said, taking a deep breath before pressing her lips against Heisuke's for another rescue breath. That hit from Amagiri had really done a number on Heisuke's heart for it to set right into tachycardia just after being restarted by CPR.

"Eh? Tachycardia?" Chizuru asked, blinking in confusion. She was about to ask if she still needed to do more chest compressions, when Sumiko abruptly reared back when Heisuke let out a reflexive cough when his lungs started to work again.

"What the…? Did they seriously just bring that kid back to life?" Shiranui asked Amagiri, watching in disbelief as they rolled the still unconscious but now breathing Heisuke onto his side so he wouldn't choke on the blood he was coughing up. "Is that even possible?"

"It would seem so…" Amagiri replied stoically as he watched the miracle that was occurring before them. The boy was obviously still in critical condition, but he was alive. "Koudou said she was his student, but it would seem the apprentice is even more knowledgeable than the master."

"Man, if she were to ever get involved with perfecting those 'fakes', we'd be finished." Shiranui said with a rueful grin.

"Shinpachi, Sano! Heisuke's alive, but he's got some internal bleeding!" Sumiko said as she looked up from her patient. "We need to get him back to headquarters so I can operate!"

"Easier said than done! Dammit, there's no end to them!" Shinpachi grunted as he cut down another opponent, though both he and Sano were relieved to hear that their friend was breathing again.

"Shinpachi." Sano said determinedly. "If things get bad, make sure Sumiko and Chizuru—"

SLASH! SWIPE! SLASH!

"!" They all said, surprised when the whole row of men who had been about to charge at them were suddenly cut down with incredible speed.

"Saito!" Sano said, surprised when the men fell, revealing their attacker. Saito had used the enemy's misconception that he was part of Itou's faction to sneak in from the back. Saito quietly finished walking over to join his Shinsengumi comrades while the Satcho men just stared at him, stunned.

"Sorry. I was delayed." Saito said coolly as he turned to face the enemy with his friends and raised his sword. "Leave this to me." He said determinedly.

With Saito there, they were able to turn the tide against their foes. Some of the other men even turned tail and ran.

"Chizuru, help me get this door." Sumiko said, and together the two of them pulled off the door of a nearby shop to use as a stretcher board. They could reimburse the owners later.

"Oh, are you running away?" Shiranui asked when Sano, Shinpachi, and Saito cut down their last opponents, and they fell back to protect the girls and help them carry Heisuke away.

"Shut up!" Sumiko snapped sternly as they kept going even though the two oni were still there. "We ain't got time for that! We'll deal with you later!" Shiranui blinked as he stared after them while they all scurried off to bring their wounded comrade back to their headquarters so they could try to save him.

"Heh. They've got guts turning their backs on us like that." He commented with a rueful smirk. "Is it all right for us not to go after them?"

"Yes. Our work here is finished." Amagiri replied calmly. "The damage has been done. They may think they're getting away, but this will come to back to haunt them further down the road. They have sealed their own fate."