Author's note: Hi, everybody! I'm so sorry for the wait, but I gave up fanfiction for lent. But that's over now, so the story is back!

I own nothing but my OC.

Previously:

"No matter what I say, you intend to go." He said with a sigh. "Why even bother asking?"

"Because I'd prefer to go with your blessing." She replied with a wan smile, blushing slightly as she continued. "I want to marry you." She said, looking away shyly. Kazama's eyes widened. "When this war is over, let's get married. By then I'll be done taking care of this, and you'll have finished repaying your clan's debt to Satsuma. Don't worry." She said, smiling reassuringly at him when she noticed the concerned look in his eyes. "I won't do stupid things like becoming a human shield anymore. I'll be more careful this time."

"Very well. I suppose I'll have to let you go, for now." Kazama said with a small smile. He pulled her into a deep and possessive, but gentle kiss. "That kiss is proof that you and I are not unconnected." He told her, caressing Sumiko's pink face as she breathed deeply once he pulled away. "Once you've finished sorting yourself out, come back to me. No, if you don't come, I will come and pick you up myself."

Chapter 55: Fleeting Dream

"You let her go? Just like that?" Shiranui asked, stunned, after hearing Kazama's explanation for the noticeable lack of Sumiko later that evening. "Wow. I definitely did not see that coming…"

"Yes. I misjudged Miyagawa Sumiko." Amagiri said. "You were wise to cut ties with her when you did." He told Kazama.

"Whoa, wait." Shiranui said as he and Kazama glanced at Amagiri with confused and disapproving looks on their faces. "Were we listening to the same story, because I could have sworn she and Kazama just got engaged…?"

"What are you trying to say, Amagiri?" Kazama asked lowly, narrowing his eyes dangerously at the red-haired oni.

"She has become too involved with human affairs." Amagiri replied calmly.

"Hmph. Isn't it a bit late for that?" Kazama asked sardonically. "She was raised by humans, remember? She has been involved with them since birth. She has her own code of honor."

"I thought she had begun to appreciate our ways, but I was wrong. She has strayed from the path of the Oni. We must have nothing more to do with her." Amagiri stated sternly. He didn't like Kazama's tone when speaking of Miyagawa Sumiko. He should be shunning her, not defending her.

"Amagiri, you—" Kazama began to growl angrily as his hand twitched on the hilt of his sword.

"—Speaking of cutting ties…" Shiranui bravely interrupted before things could escalate. "I think it's about time we pull out of this war. Forget Satcho, I heard they're planning on making their own rasetsu unit."

"What?" Amagiri said, taken aback, as he and Kazama whipped their heads around to stare at him.

"It's true." Shiranui insisted with a disappointed sigh as he crossed his arm. "They're following Tosa's example and have even made a payment to Koudou for his services."

"Hmph." Kazama furrowed his brow and frowned. This is why humans were…

"How foolish." Amagiri said, closing his eyes.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Shiranui agreed. "I know you all have a debt to repay, so you can do what you want, but as for me, I'm tired of this bullshit. I'm done."

"As am I." Kazama agreed. "Whatever debt we may owe the Satsuma clan, we have no obligation to assist them any further if they insist on creating more of those fakes."

—∞—

April 11, 1868

Edo Castle surrendered without a fight. That indicated that the Imperial Army had obtained supremacy in the Boshin War. Just outside the Tosa manor in Edo, Harada Sanosuke was keeping a careful watch from the shadows, observing their every move…

"I hope you're not planning on storming the fortress by yourself." A familiar voice said quietly from behind.

Harada's eyes widened as he spun around to face its owner.

"Yo!" Sumiko greeted him with a smile.

"Sumiko!?" Harada whisper-yelled, pleasantly surprised. "What are you doing here? How did you get away?"

"Surprisingly enough, they let me go." She replied frankly. "I—"

"!" Harada raised his spear as she felt the presence of another oni appear behind her.

"So, this is where you went." Shiranui commented as Sumiko turned to face him too. "Who knew you'd still be in Edo." He said, glancing at Harada. "Didn't you skedaddle with the others?"

"I have my own work to attend to." Sano replied, furrowing his brow slightly.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Shiranui-san. Has Kazama changed his mind about letting me go?" Sumiko asked, frowning slightly.

"Hm? Well, Amagiri's been giving him a hard time about it, but I'm not here for that." Shiranui said frankly. "So you can relax." He told Harada.

Sumiko nodded to let him know it was okay, and Harada lowered his spear.

"Is that so? Oh yeah, I appreciated the help back in Koufu." He told Shiranui, remembering he had been wanting to thank him for that.

"Heh. I just didn't like that old fogy." Shiranui said dismissively.

"What's happened since then?" Harada asked.

"For some odd reason, the Imperial Army paid the remainder of our balance due to that old fart Koudou!" Shiranui said, furrowing his brow.

"What the hell?" Sumiko and Harada asked in unison, also furrowing their brows.

They must be good friends if they could still do that after being apart for so long.

"I've cut my ties with them." Shiranui continued. "I don't owe them shit. But I did hear somethin' interesting. Koudou is planning to team up with the radicals and start another war soon."

"!" Sumiko gasped in alarm.

"Another war?" Harada asked.

"It's because of his rasetsus." She said, frowning. "He needs lots of blood to keep them alive."

"Bingo!" Shiranui said. "So he's got his sights set on Edo."

"No way! You're saying he's gonna start a war just to steal blood for his rasetsus!?" Harada demanded, shocked.

"It's so he can create an army that never dies." Shiranui explained. "We've got gobs of enemies in other countries, too."

"So, in order to protect this country from outside forces, he's going to terrorize it from within? Sensei's gone off the deep end." Sumiko said grimly, clenching her fists.

"What!?" Harada slammed his fist against the wall, shaking with anger. "He's going to involve people who have nothing to do with this?"

"We can't let that happen!" Sumiko said urgently. It would definitely change the whole future for the worse if the rasetsu were allowed to take over!

"I'm not interested in whatever history you humans carve." Shiranui stated bluntly. "But I won't sit back and let that geezer do as he pleases."

"What about Kazama and Amagiri-san?" Sumiko asked.

"Naturally, they aren't too thrilled about these plans either, but they still haven't concluded their business with Satsuma yet." Shiranui replied.

"Shiranui, are you going to stop Koudou-san by yourself?" Harada asked, taken aback. "Why would an oni go through such lengths for us?"

Shiranui uncrossed his arms and looked up at the sky.

" 'Even should my life expire in the fields of Musashi, my Japanese spirit will still here remain.'" He quoted.

"What's that from?" Sumiko asked.

"It's something a certain guy used to say a whole bunch." Shiranui replied as he turned to leave. "Although I think embracing a 'Japanese spirit' is just a convenient fantasy you humans came up with."

"I will pay you back in full for your help Koufu." Harada promised solemnly as he and Sumiko watched the purple-haired oni disappear.

—∞—

The Seihei Corps, where Nagakura Shinpachi served as Vice Commander, met with the former Bakufu Army at the Kanuma Inn.

Shimada was drawing some water from the well, when a familiar voice called out to him.

"Yo, long time no see!" Shinpachi greeted him cheerfully.

"Nagakura-san!" Shimada gasped in surprise.

"Heheh." Shinpachi grinned at the look on his face.

–∞–

"They got Kondo-san!?" Shinpachi exclaimed when he heard the news.

"Hai." Shimada said regretfully.

"Is that… so?" Shinpachi said, holding a hand to his forehead. "Hijikata-san is stuck bearing a heavy burden."

"How is Harada-san fairing?" Shimada asked.

"He had some important business, so he went back to Edo." Shinpachi said, lowering his hand again.

"And here I thought I would get to see him again. What a pity." Shimada remarked with disappointment.

—∞—

April 19, 1868

The former Bakufu Army laid siege on Utsunomyia Castle, which had allied itself with the Imperial Army. With over twice their forces, the former Bakufu Army crushed Utsunomyia's army. But then they used the castle as a shield, creating a standstill.

"We'll never get anywhere at this rate." Hijikata said grimly, furrowing his brow, as bullets whizzed past him. He and his men had taken cover in a bamboo grove near the castle gates. "It's about time we charged the enemy lines."

"Ch-Charge them!?" One of the men asked incredulously as the others paled and balked at the idea. "You want to charge through all those bullets?"

"Listen, those guns are old and have poor accuracy." Hijikata said. "It's not like you'll plop over dead if you take a hit or two."

"Y-You're nuts!"

"Didn't you come to fight a war?" Hijikata asked sternly, fixing him with a piercing glare. "You should be prepared to lay down your life." He turned back to face the front line again and raised his voice to address the rest of the troop. "When I give the signal, follow that guy and charge!" He ordered, referring to the man in front of him.

"I don't want to!" The man shouted with fear, shooting to his feet. "I don't want to die in a place like this!" He tried to run away, but Hijikata stood up and drew his sword, aiming it at the man's throat to stop him.

"Fleeing before the enemy is in violation of the Code and punishable by death!" Hijikata reminded him fiercely before lowering his sword and pointing it at the castle. "If you're going to die anyway, do what you can first! Follow me!" He roared, letting out a mighty war cry as he charged through the hail of bullets without hesitation, cutting down any enemy soldier stupid enough to come after him.

"He's incredible… I've never seen anyone like him before!" One of the men said, astounded as they watched him take on multiple enemies at once. "So that is Hijikata Toshizo of the Shinsengumi." He furrowed his brow and raised his gun. "Follow him! Follow Hijikata-san!" He rallied the others, letting out a war cry of his own as they all charged forth to join their commander, and together they stormed the castle.

Hijikata carefully made his way through the building. Dead bodies lined the halls. Slowly, he slide the door of one of the inner rooms open just enough to peek inside. What he saw shocked him.

"!" Hijikata gasped and quickly pushed the door open the rest of the way to face the two oni in the room.

"Hmph. You again, Hijikata Toshizo?" Kazama asked.

"Satsuma asked us to deliver a classified document. I never expected us to get drawn into battle." Amagiri said, answering Hijikata's unasked question.

"It would seem the time to pay you back for humiliating me has finally come." Kazama remarked, narrowing his eyes slightly at the rasetsu. Even if he had let Sumiko go so she could try to save her friends in the Shinsengumi, he had his own promise to uphold. He and Hijikata still had a score to settle.

"You came all the way out here?" Hijikata asked sardonically, furrowing his brow. "You oni must have a lot of time on your hands. Where's Sumiko? What have you done with her?"

"Hnh. She's none of your concern." Kazama said as he drew his sword. Hijikata narrowed his eyes slightly.

There was something different about Kazama's sword. It almost looked like it was glowing…

"I told you not to grow emotionally involved with this human!" Amagiri told Kazama sternly.

"Shut your mouth, or I'll kill you too." Kazama said, narrowing his eyes dangerously.

"Would you persist even at the cost of losing your respect as an oni, losing the support of our clan and becoming a rogue oni?" Amagiri continued. Kazama had always had an unfortunate interest in what humans referred to as 'warrior spirit', but he had never acted on it until now. "Is this because of that headstrong woman? Are you trying to follow in her footsteps? Perhaps I should have done away with—"

SWISH.

Before he could finish that sentence Kazama spun around and turned his sword on Amagiri, glaring fiercely at the older oni with the promise of a painful death if she should so much as touch a single hair on Sumiko's head. Amagiri closed his eyes and bowed his head in disappointment as he took a step back. Nothing was going to change Kazama's mind. He was a lost cause.

Satisfied with Amagiri's decision to back off, Kazama turned to face Hijikata again. Hijikata raised his sword, taking up an offensive stance as he activated his rasetsu powers.

"Hyaaaa!" Hijikata roared as he charged at the oni with white hair and red eyes. "!" Even though he was still in his 'human' form, Kazama was able to block his attack with only one hand on his sword. He was much stronger than before. Hijikata jumped back to put some distance between them, but Kazama wasn't having it.

"I won't let you escape!" The oni shouted as he lunged forth and swung his sword at the rasetsu in a series of fierce attacks. It was all Hijikata could do to block them. "We still have plenty of time until sunset." Kazama taunted him. "Is it a painful time for you to be moving about?" He applied more pressure behind his sword and slashed Hijikata across the chest.

"Heh!" Hijikata laughed bitterly as he crouched down with a hand pressed against his bleeding chest. "This wound will…!" He gasped in alarm when he realized the bleeding wasn't stopping. "What's going on?"

"Confused as to why your wound hasn't healed, Fake Oni?" Kazama asked with a smirk as he looked down on him. "This is called Yasutsuna's Dôjigiri. Minamoto no Yorimitsu is said to have killed Shutendoji with this oni-slaying katana."

"You brought quite the weapon for killing a mere 'fake'." Hijikata remarked sardonically as he got back on his feet and raised his sword again. "All that means is that I can't let you stab me!"

"Fool!" Kazama said, striking Hijikata's sword with a enough force to send him sliding back a couple of inches.

"!" Hijikata grunted in pain as he charged forth, swinging his sword, but Kazama dodged each and every blow effortlessly. Hijikata gasped when the oni suddenly disappeared only to reappear right behind him. He spun around to face his opponent, but before he could block Kazama's attack, the oni's sword was already slicing into his shoulder. "Hng!" Hijikata winced as he raised his sword to block the next attack, gritting his teeth as he strained to hold the oni off while his white hair faded back to black.

"Have you just about reached your limit?" Kazama asked tauntingly, a little disappointed to have their fight end so soon. "You've reverted back to human form. You're more fragile and pathetic than a meager insect! I will lay waste to you along with the name of the accursed Shinsengumi!"

"You'll destroy the Shinsengumi?" Hijikata asked. Kazama's smirk fell slightly when he saw that look of fierce determination that was still in Hijikata's eyes as he continue to struggle against him. He wasn't defeated yet. "The Shinsengumi were a burden far, far too heavy for me to bear on my own… but the thought of someone like you destroying it pisses me off!" He shouted as he forced himself back onto his feet and off of his knees, strengthened by his anger. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Kazama's face as he had to place a second hand on the hilt of his sword when Hijikata began to push it back. Even more formidable than Hijikata's power as a rasetsu was his indomitable human will, his drive to keep fighting in the face of adversity… the same strength Sumiko possessed.

"They set the place on fire!" A voice shouted from somewhere outside the room as the flames suddenly began to spread across the floor they were standing on, surrounding them.

CREEAK!

"!" Hijikata gasped when the ceiling about them began to crack, and he and Kazama both had to break their deadlock to jump back as burning debris fell between them from the floor above. The two men glared fiercely at each other through the wall of flames that was now separating them.

"Damn it!" Kazama cursed as he sheathed his sword and disappeared into the smoke filling the room. Hijikata Sheathed his own sword and fell to his knees, panting, as he clutched at his open wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

"The more power a rasetsu wields, the more his life force is chiseled away." Amagiri cautioned him.

"That is a fair price to pay to protect what I hold dear." Hijikata retorted as he straightened up. Amagiri closed his eyes.

"We oni intend to cease aiding the anti-Bakufu forces." He informed Hijikata. "In the near future, the Shogunate will crumble. Are you going to stay aboard a sinking ship?"

"I don't want to protect the Shogun or the Bakufu." Hijikata said as staggered to his feet. "I want to protect the Shinsengumi, which I built up with Kondo-san!" He stated determinedly.

"… I shall leave Kazama to you." Amagiri said after a moment. "He is no longer of our concern. Now, if you will excuse me." With that, he too turned and disappeared into the smoke. The moment he was gone, Hijikata collapsed onto the floor.

"Hijikata-san, where are you!?" Shinpachi shouted anxiously as he and Shimada ran over to look for him the burning room. "Hijikata-san!"

"Ah!" Both men gasped when they spotted their commander lying on the floor amid the flames.

"Hijikata-san!" Shinpachi shouted.

"Vice-Commander!" Shimada cried.

Hijikata fought desperately in the siege on Utsunomyia Castle, but four days later, the Imperial Army effortlessly reclaimed it. The former Bakufu Army resumed its march to Aizu, but having sustained injuries, Hijikata-san stayed in Nikko, where he received medical treatment.