Previously:

"Didn't you tell them I was waiting on standby to patch you guys up?" Sumiko asked.

"I was just about to when you made yourself known," Kazama replied with a straight face. "As you can see, I'm fine," he reassured her. "Your patient is over there." He pointed, and she followed his finger to look at Hijikata and Chizuru after a quick glance at her fiancé to assess his already healing cuts. She agreed that Hijikata was definitely the more serious case since Kazama's life wasn't in any danger. Especially with Hijikata collapsed on the ground. As she moved closer to her patient, Hijikata's vision blurred, and his view of everyone else went dark.

Chapter 65: Catching Up

Sumiko quickly kneeled down to check on the unconscious Hijikata.

"Will he be all right?" Chizuru asked, concerned.

"It'll be a close thing," Sumiko replied as she quickly wrapped Hijikata's face with bandages and removed his distinctive jacket and vest. She took his sword and handed it to Chizuru. "We can't let anyone know who he is. It's very important, Chizuru. If anyone asks you where he is, you have to tell them he died."

"Eh!?" Chizuru gasped.

"Can you carry him?" Sumiko asked Kazama.

"If I must," Kazama said, and he leaned down and picked Hijikata up to carry him.

"W-Why!? Why must I tell everyone Hijikata-san died?" Chizuru asked.

"Let's go. He needs a blood transfusion, so time is of the essence. I'll explain along the way," Sumiko said firmly.

"Hai!" Chizuru agreed, determined to help them help Hijikata.

"So, this is going to sound crazy, Chizuru... but I was actually raised in the future," Sumiko said carefully. Although she had explained to Chizuru how she was Koudou's long-lost niece, she had left out the part about how she had been living in the future for most of her life.

"Huh!?" Chizuru exclaimed, shocked that she would make such an unbelievable claim.

"According to Koudou-sensei, my mother was a powerful oni who had unusual powers," Sumiko said. "He thinks that's how it happened. Somehow, she sent me to the future to protect me from the people who were pursuing her and my father to make sure they couldn't hurt me. This was a powerful tool, it seems," she explained, removing the magatama bead that she had owned ever since she was an infant and had been carrying on her person when she was brought back to the past to show it to Chizuru.

"It seems like an ordinary bead to me..." Chizuru said, looking at it.

"It is now," Kazama said. "They can be used to store energy, but if that energy is used up, then it will become nothing more than a mere trinket."

"Koudou-sensei believed there was still energy left in it along with my mother's wish for me to be taken 'somewhere safe from harm', and it activated when I was in danger to save me," Sumiko continued to explain. "When I was in the future, I messed up and was nearly killed. But before that could happen, I was surrounded by a blinding light and then suddenly found myself in this time. He was just on his way home from visiting a patient when he saw me appear out of thin air, so he believed me when I told him where I had come from."

"My father believed that?" Chizuru asked.

"Yes. He helped me conceal my true origins to avoid trouble. I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner, but it was so unbelievable..." Sumiko said apologetically.

"I understand," Chizuru said. "Even now I'm having a hard time accepting it. But what does this have to do with Hijikata-san?"

"I know when he's supposed to die. It's supposed to be today," Sumiko said gravely, making Chizuru gasp. "Don't worry! I have no intention of letting that happen. But we have to let the rest of the world believe he's gone, or we'll change history. I did the same thing with Sano-san."

"Harada-san is alive!?" Chizuru exclaimed, excited and relieved.

"I explained everything to him and sent him to China. In the future there was a rumor that he didn't die but survived and became a leader of a group of horse-riding bandits there, so I'm hoping if he does that, everything will be fine," Sumiko said.

"Will he be okay by himself?" Chizuru asked.

"Shiranui-san went with him," Sumiko said. Chizuru gave her a dubious look. "I know, but those two get along surprisingly well. I think they'll be okay."

"Then I'm glad. Harada-san is alive... Hijikata-san will be so relieved when he finds out," Chizuru said, smiling.

"But we can't tell anyone else about it," Sumiko said strictly.

"I understand," Chizuru said.

"As for Hijikata's case... Supposedly he died near the Ippongi Kanmon while leading his troops on horseback by a bullet that shattered his lower back," Sumiko said. "That doesn't seem to be the case, but it's what we'll tell people if they ask. Chizuru, you can give his sword to Shimada-san and the others as proof that you were with him when he 'died.' No one knows where exactly he was buried, so I'm hoping that's because his body was never officially recovered. So if people ask you where he's buried, pretend to be in shock and cry a lot so they'll leave you alone and stop asking. We'll disappear with Hijikata-san from here as soon as he's in a condition where he can travel. Until then, I'll be treating him as an unknown soldier who lost his memory and had his face ruined by shrapnel. Okay?"

"... Okay," Chizuru said, nodding in confirmation after thinking it over for a moment. She didn't like lying to Shimada and the others, but she had to save Hijikata-san, and she trusted Sumiko.

—∞—

When Hijikata opened his eyes again, he found that his pain had lessened greatly. He became aware that he was in a makeshift hospital, and Chizuru had fallen asleep next to him. He was relieved to see that she appeared to be uninjured. He wondered how they had gotten there. The last thing he remembered, he had been dueling with Kazama.

"Chizuru..." he said, reaching out to brush her bangs out of her face.

"Hiji... kata-san?" Chizuru said sleepily as she opened her eyes. "Ah! You're awake! I'll go get Sumiko-san," she said, bolting up into a sitting position when she saw that he was conscious. "Don't tell anyone your name. We've got you here under a false identity. If anyone tries to question you, tell them you have amnesia. That's the story Sumiko-san came up with for you."

"Eh?" Hijikata said, furrowing his brow. "Sumiko...?" Then it started to come back to him, how Sumiko had arrived and how she seemed to be on inexplicably good terms with Kazama. She had said something about waiting on standby to patch them up.

"Anyway, I'll go get her," Chizuru said, and she hurried off to find Sumiko, who was changing the bandages on Miyagawa Souichirou's wounds. Sumiko smiled softly down at the sleeping man.

"What's with that face?" Kazama asked when he saw her caring expression. She seemed fond of the man.

"Face?" Sumiko said, blinking as she looked at Kazama. "Oh, sorry. Did I make a strange face? It's just that this man is very important. To me, at least."

"How?" Kazama asked, frowning. He had never seen this man before, so he had no idea what kind of connection she might have to him.

"This is Miyagawa Souichirou. He's the direct ancestor of my adopted father," Sumiko said, smiling. "I was told before that he had participated in this battle. It was one of the things that drew the Miyagawas to me, because he had passed down the story of how he had been saved by someone with the same name as me." Her smile became a little wry. "I guess now I know how that happened. But I'm grateful. After everything the Miyagwas did for me, I was finally able to give something back to them."

"I see," Kazama said. So, it was love for her human family that made her make that expression. He put his arm around Sumiko. "You really treasure them."

"Yes," Sumiko said, smiling sadly. "They were the only parents I had a chance to know, after all. They and Annie made me who I am today."

"Then I'm grateful to them as well," Kazama said.

"Sumiko-san!" Chizuru called, rushing over to them.

"What is it, Chizuru? Keep your voice down," Sumiko said. People were trying to sleep.

"Hiji—I mean, your amnesiac patient is awake!" Chizuru whisper-yelled.

"Okay. I'll check on him now," Sumiko said, immediately moving to do just that. Hijikata's life shouldn't be in danger, but she wanted to confirm that he was recovering properly now that the silver bullet had been removed and his body had a chance to adjust to the blood transfusion from Chizuru and Kazama. She had discovered through some experiments that oni didn't have blood types, at least not like humans, and that their blood could be accepted by a human regardless of their type. She thought pure oni blood would help him more than regular human blood since he was a rasetsu. Kazama followed her, and the four of them arrived at Hijikata's side together.

"You're here, too?" Hijikata said, surprised to see Kazama.

"Is there something wrong with a man escorting his betrothed?" Kazama said, smirking when he saw the shocked look on the other man's face.

"What!?" Hijikata exclaimed, trying to sit up, but Sumiko stopped him. "Chizuru... you didn't..."

"Huh?" Chizuru said.

"No, she didn't," Sumiko said, guessing what conclusion he had jumped to, since Chizuru had already admitted to her that she hadn't told him about her engagement to Kazama. "Relax, I'm the one marrying him."

"Relax!?" Hijikata said, only slightly relieved. He was still concerned for Sumiko, and he wondered when Kazama had changed targets.

"Hush! People are trying to sleep. It's a long story, so I'll explain after I've examined you," Sumiko said as she went to work checking his vitals again. "Don't worry. We're not in any danger."

"You're not?" Hijikata said, puzzled.

"No. Like Sumiko-san said, don't worry," Chizuru reassured him, wanting him to relax and rest properly. Sumiko checked his wound.

"Good. It's already healing," Sumiko observed. Even though it had taken Okita a while to recover when he was shot by a silver bullet, Hijikata was starting to heal as if it had only been a normal one. 'It must be the oni blood,' she thought.

"It is?" Hijikata said, surprised.

"Thank goodness!" Chizuru said, relieved.

"We should be able to move you soon," Sumiko said. "We need to get you out of here before they realize who you are. For now, we've given you the name 'Yamada Taro'."

"I can't leave! What about my men?" Hijikata said.

"I'm sorry, but you've lost. The military of Ezo Republic will surrender on June 27th," Sumiko informed him.

"How can you be so sure? What day is it?" Hijikata asked.

"It's June 22nd," Sumiko said.

"Then you can't be sure—" Hijikata started to argue.

"She can. I'm sorry, Hijikata-san, but Sumiko-san already knows what will happen, because... because she's from the future," Chizuru said, backing Sumiko up.

"Huh?" Hijikata said, thinking he must be turning delirious. There was no way she just said that with such a serious face.

"It's true," Sumiko said. "I have no real proof to give you, other than the knowledge I've brought with me. Did you never find it strange that I know so much more about medicine than everyone else at this time? I'm only thirty-one, but I know more than doctors with much more experience than me, things that haven't been discovered yet."

"Is... Is that so?" Hijikata said, furrowing his brow and frowning. He didn't have much medical knowledge beyond basic first aid and how to mix his own family's medicine, so he knew Sumiko was amazing, but he hadn't realized just how strange it was for her to know some of the things she did, because no one else would have. He recalled now that Yamazaki had once made a comment about how he wondered who had really taught Sumiko her medical skills, because they seemed more advanced than Koudou's, who was supposed to be her mentor. "Let's say I believe you... what does this mean?"

"It means I need you to believe me when I tell you that your part in history is supposed to be over," Sumiko said gravely. "You were supposed to die two days ago. That's what history says."

"Then why did you save me?" Hijikata asked.

"Do you really have to ask?" Sumiko said, annoyed. "How many people have we watched die? Friends and comrades? I couldn't standby and watch it continue without doing something." Hijikata stared at her. He understood. He had also become fed up with losing people. It was why he had tried to avoid bringing her and Chizuru with him to Ezo. Sumiko looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry I couldn't save Kondo-san."

"No, I couldn't save him either..." Hijikata said, the crease in his brow deepening from guilt. "Or Sano-san... I should have made him come with us."

"Sano-san is alive," Chizuru said.

"Eh?" Hijikata said.

"I saved him, even thought he was supposed to die, too. But he couldn't stay in Japan, so after we faked his death, I sent him to China," Sumiko explained.

"Am I going to be sent to China, too?" Hijikata asked.

"Not as long as you behave yourself," Sumiko said. "Don't worry about everyone else. Shimada-san and the others will survive. They'll be punished at first, but they'll make it through the war and be released, and when they're pardoned, they'll be able to live full lives. Even Shinpachi-san. I said it before: that muscle-head will outlive everyone." She gave Hijikata a reassuring smile.

"I see... It'd be great if that's true," Hijikata said. It would be a relief if he could believe what she was saying, but he still had his doubts. She said herself that she had no real proof, after all.

"So, when you're well enough to leave, we'll move you somewhere safer. Until then, keep your face hidden under those bandages and go by the name that's been assigned to you: Yamada Taro," Sumiko said.

"When you say 'we', are you including him?" Hijikata asked, glancing at Kazama.

"Yes. As said before, we're going to get married. I originally agreed to it in exchange for him leaving Chizuru alone, but he's really not so bad once you get to know him," Sumiko said.

" 'Not so bad', huh?" Kazama said.

"You have to admit, you didn't make the best impression on us in the beginning," Sumiko reminded him.

"I suppose that's true, as you've explained it to me," Kazama agreed reluctantly.

"So you're no longer after Chizuru?" Hijikata asked Kazama. "And you're okay with this arrangement?" he asked Sumiko.

"I no longer have any interest taking Yukimura Chizuru as a wife," Kazama confirmed.

"Yes, I am," Sumiko answered, and she smiled. "I'm actually happy." Hearing her say so made Kazama happy, too. He put his arm around her. Hijikata stared at them like he didn't know what to make of the situation, but since it was clear Sumiko wasn't agreeing under duress, he decided to let it go. It was true that Kazama had caused them trouble in the past, but he knew it would be unwise to start a conflict with him again, and he thought Sumiko also deserved to be happy after everything she had been through. "So I guess that means we're all going to be family. What with you marrying Chizuru and all."

"Eh!?" Chizuru exclaimed, blushing. "H-hold on, Hijikata-san never said—"

"Yes, I suppose that's true," Hijikata said calmly, making her blush deeper. It made sense to him, since he was aware that Sumiko and Chizuru were actually cousins to some degree.

"Ehh!?" Chizuru gasped happily. "Hijikata-san, you mean...?"

"Yes," Hijikata said, taking her hand and smiling at her. "If you'll have me."

"Of course I will!" Chizuru said as happy tears formed in her eyes, overjoyed.

—∞—

They snuck Hijikata out with the first wave of the injured that was sent back home. He was taken to the girls' home in Edo to finish his recovery. Life was peaceful again, though Hijikata wondered what he could do now that he could no longer be himself.

"You could sell medicine again," Sumiko suggested to him while they were all eating dinner together. "Whatever you decide, I would recommend staying away from any work that requires a sword. In 1876, they're going to pass the Haitōrei, an edict that will prohibit people, with the exception of former daimyos, the military, and law enforcement officials, from carrying weapons in public. It's basically a sword hunt."

"What? But that means..." Chizuru said, looking at Hijikata and Kazama.

"We won't be able to carry our swords anymore," Kazama concluded, frowning.

"Right," Sumiko said, also frowning. "And if you join the military or law enforcement, they'll probably want to do a background check, which would reveal your true origins. An oni and a dead man should probably steer clear of that."

"Is this the end of the way of the sword?" Hijikata asked, furrowing his brow.

"It's the beginning of the end for it as a practical weapon in modern warfare, but it will survive in dojos. There are still many kendo practitioners in the future, but most duels are confined to the dojo and tournaments, and they're usually done with wooden swords," Sumiko said.

"How depressing," Kazama said. "This is why humans are..." No one else could argue with that. They all mourned the passing of the Japanese katana from everyday life into an elusive legend.

"... I've been thinking... I want to see the Yukimura village," Sumiko said after a moment of silence.

"Eh? You do?" Chizuru asked.

"Don't you?" Sumiko asked her. "It might be painful, but I want to know what happened. I want to see it with my own eyes." Chizuru looked down and thought about it.

"I do, too," she said eventually. It was the place she had lived happily with her brother and real parents, though she couldn't remember it now.

"It's a secluded and deserted village in the mountains, where it's unlikely anyone would ever go," Kazama said. "But if you two want to see it that much, I will take you there."

"If it's that secluded, Hijikata-san might be able to show his face while we're there," Sumiko said. "You must be tired of hiding it all the time." He still had to wear bandages over his face to keep other people from recognizing him.

"But before we go..." Kazama said, putting his arm around Sumiko with his hand on her far shoulder as he gently pulled her closer to him. "There's the matter of our wedding to discuss."

"Ah, right. I did say we could have it once Hijikata-san was better, huh?" Sumiko said, smiling a little wryly. Kazama really was being very patient with her, since she kept putting it off.

"We'll have to get a shiromuku, then," Chizuru said, smiling. "We can split the cost, and I can wear it after you."

"Deal," Sumiko said.

"Is that all right with you?" Hijikata asked Chizuru. Was she really okay with being second?

"Of course. We share clothes all the time," Chizuru said. "Sumiko-san is only a few inches taller than me, so as long as it fits her, it should fit me as well."

"I see," Hijikata said. It seemed she was okay with it. Well, as long as Chizuru was happy, it was all right.