I own nothing but my OC.

Chapter 49: Burning Bright

March, 1868

After spending a day in Hino, the corps left Kondo-san and set out. Kondo-san had received a truly hearty welcome. Including the new enlistees from Hino, their troops had swollen to over 300. At midday, the Shinsengumi and their newly formed corps, the Kôyô Chinbutai, stopped to eat and rest in the shade for short while before continuing their march.

"Kondo-san still hasn't caught up with us." Shinpachi announced grudgingly as he walked over to join the others after checking on the troops. "I swear, he must think our journey to Koufu is a vacation or somethin'!"

"Don't be so harsh." Sano said. "Isn't Hino like his old hometown? He probably wants to return in glory."

"And I'm sayin' I wish he'd put more weight on the time and situation!" Shinpachi retorted, furrowing his brow. "We've been so busy with this war, that we haven't even had time to go after those bastards who took Sumiko! Without her and Yamazaki, anyone who gets shot is a dead man."

"Sumiko-san…" Chizuru said sadly as she and Sano looked down.

"It's not like Kondo-san is just guzzling sake." Hijikata said. "He's also examining the new group of applicants who would like to join us."

"You bastard!" They all looked up when they heard some curse, disturbing the peace of the rest of their group. "I dare you to say that again!"

"I said a lowly new recruit shouldn't throw his weight around!" One of their older members retorted.

"What's going on?" Sano wondered aloud as they glanced over and saw one of the new recruits grab one of their veterans forcefully by the collar of his kimono.

"What was that, you…!?" The new recruit demanded hotly.

"That's enough!" Shimada said sternly as he rushed over to break up the fight before it could escalate any further.

"You wanna fight!?" The new recruit snapped.

"Tch! Not again." Sano said, furrowing his brow in irritation as he got up and left to go help Shimada. "They never learn."

"Damn it." Shinpachi said, also standing up. "When the general's goofing around, the soldiers start slackin' off." He commented bitterly, glancing down at Hijikata as the fight continued in the background. He furrowed his brow when Hijikata remained silent and walked off to help Sano and Shimada. "Stop! That's enough!" He shouted as he jogged over to them. "Don't fight amongst yourselves!"

"Vice-commander," Saito said after a moment, "I will skip straight to the point."

"What is it?" Hijikata asked as he and Chizuru glanced at him.

"Do you think we can win this battle?" Saito asked seriously.

"!" Chizuru gasped.

"If we can hold up in the castle, we have a fighting chance." Hijikata replied, furrowing his brow. "But it would be tough if we fought them head on. Big shots from the Bakufu have provided us with weapons and cannons, but our foes are purchasing cutting-edge weaponry from foreign countries. On top of that, they displayed great morale and skill in Toba-Fushimi. We don't stand a chance against them as we are now." Chizuru's eyes widened.

"Then we will loose this battle?" Saito asked calmly.

"Of course I'll do what I can to see that doesn't happen. I don't want Kondo-san to experience losing a battle, and we still have to save Sumiko." Hijikata said solemnly. "Heh. But you know I couldn't tell any of this to Shinpachi or Harada." He said with a derisive laugh at the tough situation.

"I understand." Saito replied, bowing his head. Chizuru remained silent. Her brow was creased with worry as she thought about the upcoming battle and what it could mean for everyone she cared about.

'Sumiko-san… I wonder what she's doing now?" Chizuru thought as she stared up into the blue sky. 'I hope she's all right…'

—∞—

"Are you all right?" Amagiri asked Sumiko when she winced after the supply wagon she was riding on the back of hit a particularly nasty bump. He and Kazama were patiently walking just behind it with the rest of the Satsuma troop that was being sent to meet up with the Imperial forces that were already in Koufu.

"Yeah, fine… but I'm starting to think I might be better off just walking." She commented, sweat-dropping.

"You want me to carry you?" Kazama asked, smirking.

"Thanks, but no. That'd be kind of awkward since I'm not wearing hakama…" She replied with a wry smile. He looked like he was thinking something dirty, and they were almost there anyway. Kazama had arranged for her to have a proper woman's kimono instead, so she had to be a bit more careful when running around. It was going to take some getting used to after getting into the habit of constantly acting like a man for so long. The sun was setting, and the stars were beginning to come out as she glanced up at the sky.

"May I ask you a personal question?" Amagiri asked her.

"Hmm, that depends on what it is." She replied.

"Why are you and Yukimura Chizuru so interested in the Shinsengumi?" Amagiri asked. "Even now, despite knowing they will eventually lose anyway, you carefully guard any information you have on them. Is it because you favor the Bakufu over the Emperor?"

"Who's right and who's wrong… it's difficult to say. Everyone has their own ideals and truths to uphold; their own path to follow. There are as many different ways of living as there people in this world. Your way isn't the only way. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's wrong. This world is just like when you look up at the night sky. There are countless stars, each shining with their own light. Some might seem a little bigger and brighter than the others, but they're all beautiful in their own way; they all shine with the same white light together as part of a bigger picture. And that's what makes them so wonderful to look at, don't you think?" She asked as she tilted her head back and looked up at the darkening sky that was rapidly filling up with stars. The two male oni followed her gaze and saw the endless sea of stars and river of light that was part of the Milky Way. "I love stars. You can't see as many of them in the future because there's too many lights in the city. It's the darkness surrounding them that makes them so beautiful. The darker it is, the brighter they shine. I think people are like that. It's during the times of trouble, when being strong is the only choice you have, that you find out what you're really capable of. You may not think so, but the men in the Shinsengumi are all true warriors. Just watch, and you'll see. They're not stupid. By now they should know they're fighting a loosing battle, but they'll continue to fight anyway, because that's who they are. They're all burning brightly while doing their best to defy the odds and carve their own destiny. Who am I to deny them that?" She asked with a wan smile.

"…" Amagiri said as he stared at her, astonished by the beauty and depth of her thoughts and words.

"Amagiri. Don't fall in love with her." Kazama ordered, furrowing his brow slightly when he saw the look of appreciation on the other oni's face as he stared at Sumiko.

"Eh?" Sumiko said as she glanced back at them, blinking. "What did you say?"

"Nothing you need to worry about." Kazama replied coolly.

—∞—

"The enemy is already in Koufu Castle!?" Hijikata asked when Shimada returned to camp later that night from scouting ahead with terrible news. They had laid out their campaign map and placed a rock over the castle.

"You sure about that?" Shinpachi asked.

"Hai." Shimada replied grimly. "The enemy general is supposedly a descendant of Kai Takeda, allowing him to form an alliance with the local army. It appears they are preparing to march toward us." He explained, placing another rock on the map to mark their location.

"This sucks! We can't fight here." Sano said, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah. Whether we fight or flee, we can't stay here." Hijikata agreed. "We'll relocate to the side of the highway and set up camp there. Shimada!"

"Sir!"

"Inform Kondo-san of this immediately!" Hijikata ordered.

"I warned you…" Shinpachi said, gritting his teeth. "If we didn't fart around in Hino, the enemy wouldn't have beaten us to the punch!"

"Don't go there." Sano told him. "The damage has been done."

"Tch!" Shinpachi clicked his tongue in frustration.

"I shall awaken the troops." Saito said calmly as he stood up and left to accomplish his task.

When they heard that the enemy had taken Koufu Castle, that night, roughly half of their soldiers defected. Kondo-san did not rejoin them until the morning after learning of the situation.

"Since they beat us there, I think we should pull back." Shinpachi said once they had all gathered to discuss tactics with Kondo.

"I agree with Shinpachi." Sano said. "It takes vastly superior forces to siege a castle."

"I shall follow my orders." Saito said calmly.

"We will not retreat." Kondo stated resolutely.

"!" Sano and Shinpachi said, staring at him with wide eyes. Did he know what he was saying!?

"We will set formations here and see how the enemy responds." Kondo continued on, as if he hadn't heard them.

"Wait a damn second!" Shinpachi said, slamming his hand on the table.

"We accepted financing from the Shogun before setting out. It would be a disgrace if we had the audacity to turn back now!" Kondo said firmly.

"You want to fight in our current state? Are you nuts!?" Shinpachi asked incredulously. Did Kondo-san fall off his horse and hit his head on his way over?

"Scared?" Kondo asked calmly.

"!" Shinpachi said, looking as though he had just been slapped in the face. He bowed his head and straightened his spine as he clenched his fists at his side. "You can only say that because you weren't there for the Battle of Toba-Fushimi." He said grimly. "How many subordinates do you think I lost in that battle?"

"Nagakura-kun, are you only going to fight battles in your favor?" Kondo asked.

"Nng!" Shinpachi's eyes widened as he grit his teeth and his self-control finally snapped. "What did you say!?" He roared furiously as Sano shot out of his seat to intercept him as he lunged for Kondo, trying to prevent him from getting himself into even more trouble.

"Calm down! Calm down, Shinpachi!" Sano said urgently as he fought to restrain his struggling friend, who was practically foaming at the mouth. It was times like this, when he really wished Sumiko was still there to help calm him down.

"Kondo-san! You—You bastard!!" Shinpachi cursed as he continued reaching for their commander.

"I'll go to Edo and get reinforcements." Hijikata said abruptly, giving him pause.

"Reinforcements?" Shinpachi asked as he relaxed slightly, turning his attention to Hijikata.

"Yeah. The troop we were supposed to rendezvous with after this is on standby in Edo." Hijikata continued. "Once reinforcements arrive, we can siege the castle! Could you hang tight for a bit longer?" He asked Shinpachi.

Shinpachi stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh of defeat. Hijikata was earnest in his request.

"After hearing that, I guess I'll have to." Shinpachi relented. Hijikata nodded in appreciation before turning to address their commander.

"Kondo-san, is that acceptable?" Hijikata asked.

"Yeah." Kondo replied, giving him the okay to carry out his plan. Hijikata immediately stood up and left to saddle up. Chizuru stared after him worriedly as he passed her by.

"Hijikata-san." She called out to him, making him pause. "Please be careful."

Hijikata turned back to face her.

"Chizuru, leave as soon as you can."

"Huh?' Chizuru said, taken aback.

"This will become a battlefield soon. Flee to the safest place you can." He told her. He didn't want her getting caught with them if they lost.

"Hijikata-san?" Chizuru said as she stared up at him, suddenly feeling lost.

"I'm sorry I dragged you all the way out here." He said with regret. She would have been better off if he had let her go sooner…

Chizuru bowed her head. She couldn't leave. Not now.

"I refuse to go." She said.

"You what?" Hijikata said, furrowing his brow.

"I will stay here." She said determinedly, lifting her head to meet his gaze. "I can't run and save myself when everyone else is fighting. Until you come back, I will be Kondo-san's shield and protect him in your stead!"

"I never ordered you to do that." Hijikata said as the crease in his brow deepened, and he had to resist the urge to face-palm. He wanted her out of danger, not directly in its path!

"I know I'm stepping out of line!" Chizuru said urgently. "But I want to help everyone. It's my fault Sumiko was taken last time! Please!" She implored him, bowing deeply at the waist. Hijikata stared at her for a moment and closed his eyes. He knew how she felt. He also blamed himself.

"Then I order you, as a member of the Shinsengumi, to serve as Commander Kondo's bodyguard."

"Eh?" Chizuru gasped as she raised her head, surprised he had given in so easily.

"Stay with the commander at all times and assist him! I don't hear an answer."

"Hai! I, Yukimura Chizuru, will risk my life to—"

"No matter what, don't die." He cut her off firmly.

"Huh?"

"Don't put stupid ideas like becoming his shield into your head. If something happens before I return, collaborate with Saito to get Kondo-san to safety." He couldn't bear it if she ended up like Sumiko. "You'd better not die!"

"Hijikata-san…"

"Remove your short sword!"

Chizuru was surprised by the request, but she did as he said.

"Unsheathe half of it, with the back facing me." Hijikata instructed her.

"Hai… Like this?"

He did the same with his own, knocking it against hers.

SHINNNG.

"It's called 'Kincho'. Samurai do this when they swear an oath." He explained.

"It's an oath between samurai?"

"Heh." Hijikata smiled slightly as he slid his short sword back into its sheath and secured it at his waist again. "But neither of us are officially samurai, so we're just copying them. But I vow to you: I will come back! And you will survive and see me again. That is our vow. So have faith in me and wait! Don't you die."

Chizuru smiled softly up at him.

"Hai!"