A/N: This was my first attempt at this fandom, so I hope that I do it justice! I've only played through Kyoto Winds and Fleeting Blossom so far, so I'm just basing it during that game with a little switching around of when things happen/how they happen. I also haven't gone through all of the routes (or even the Kazama route in Fleeting Blossom), so hoping that I kept this one-shot contained as much as I could to just Kyoto Winds .-.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hakuouki.
If not for the way he drew her to her, Chizuru might not have continued to engage Kazama in these little debates. But at the end of it all, she knew that he would come back for her and she would be waiting. One-shot.
(slight AU with timeframe of when things happen)
A balmy wind had swept over the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji temple, although it had done little to warm Chizuru that night. Seated on the engawa outside her room, she gazed up into the clear sky, her arms wrapped around her. Around her, the compound was quiet and still. It appeared that everyone else was fast asleep. She had gone to Hijikata earlier that evening to once again seek counsel and he had done little to assuage her sense of guilt and uselessness. He had said many times that they had taken an oath to protect her and he would not break such a promise; however, hearing this repeated had given her pause and while she had not dared to broach with it with Hijikata, she wondered at what point she had gone from being a captive to a guest and now, to being a protected member. She was not like the other women in Kyoto, living their peaceful lives. She was not a normal woman that had come to be with the Shinsengumi as anything more than a captive. When they first encountered the demons, Hijikata had even said that she "knew too much" and therefore could not leave.
What, really, is my reason for being here then? she wondered gloomily. Outside of Harada and Heisuke, the others had not been so accommodating or welcoming. Saito had treated her with polite indifference, which had felt more comforting than she would have liked to admit at the time. Okita, Sannan, and Hijikata had always been cold or threatening, while Nagakura had been a shameless comedian towards anyone and everyone in the group. Even with those that had been kind to her, however, it had only been after they discovered she was a woman that she had been treated differently. Only Saito and Okita had remained consistent since the moment she had been saved in that alley in the city. Saito had a cool steadiness that had always been reliable and comfortable, much like an older brother or mentor. Okita, similarly, had a teasing aloofness that was too much like a brother that, at this point, she was unsure whether to take him seriously anymore.
She sighed softly, rubbing her forehead and brushing her hair from her face. Her position in the Shinsengumi had always been something that she had resented. She was not accustomed to being useless. Chizuru had always understood her role as a female, but her father had taught her basic defensive training, basic medicinal properties, and had made certain that she was self-sufficient. It had been why he was so comfortable leaving her in Edo while he worked in Kyoto. Outside of when she was a small child, she had never needed to rely on another person as heavily as she did while with the Shinsengumi. Here, she felt powerless.
Yet I'm not a human, she reflected, so shouldn't I have some powers that I am unaware of?
She frowned to herself and then squeezed her eyes, straining her body into a tight ball. Perhaps something would change? Would she feel power course through her? Would she feel stronger?
A few moments passed and then she exhaled, her body relaxing. She plucked a piece of her hair up from her shoulder and her mouth twisted in disappointment. Her hair was still brown and she felt no different than she had a moment ago.
Demon, she thought to herself with a touch of sarcasm. That is hard to believe.
Another warm breeze passed through and once again, she released a sigh to herself, getting to her feet and slipping her sandals on. Even though she was dressed down in her bed kimono and her hair was hanging loosely down her back, she felt safe in stepping away from the engawa. She was certain everyone else was asleep and, anyway, at this point Hijikata should not be worried about her running away. She had already told him that she had no intention of doing so after their encounter with the demons.
She made her way to the small courtyard garden, tightening the sash around her kimono as she knelt down to inspect the lotuses that seemed to glow ethereally in the moonlight. The lanterns had been lit in the garden, giving just enough light so that she could see the meandering stone trail that made its way through the garden.
Straightening up, Chizuru stood still in the middle of the path, looking into the garden while her eyes adjusted. As she did, she heard a sound behind her and, thinking it was the wind that had been coursing through the compound, did not immediately turn. As hands caught her shoulders, she gasped and made to run, but the grip had tightened and had pulled her against the owner's body abruptly.
"Where are the dogs that serve you, darling?" the low, amused voice asked. Chizuru recognized the voice and tilted her head back to look up at Kazama, whose eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. There was that smile playing at the edges of his lips, a lazy smile that had, when she first met him, reminded her of Okita. When their eyes met, she felt her cheeks warm, aware of the heat seeping through her kimono from his chest and that when he had pulled her against him, he had shifted his grip so that his forearms were pressed against her sternum.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" she asked instead, ignoring his taunt. She would not let him rile her up, knowing how much enjoyment he received from it after seeing him do so to Hijikata.
His smile widened, perhaps acknowledging her dodging his own words or perhaps he had noted the blush that had risen to her cheeks. Even now, she could recall the first time meeting him how she had briefly been dazed by his eyes. She forced herself to look at the tips of his hair, the edge of his jaw, anywhere but his eyes so that she did not look too deeply into them. Kazama had a strange effect on her that she did not quite like.
His grip tightened on her and he bowed his face closer to hers. "I've come for my wife, what else?"
She pursed her lips, dropping her gaze to the ground.
Kazama laughed softly at her silence, but still did not release her and she did not try to withdraw – she knew it was useless, he was much stronger than her. "I think it's time we had a talk without prying ears, Chizuru Yukimura."
Frowning, she raised her gaze back to his, confused. He was still close to her, still smiling that smug smile, but when she shifted tentatively, he obligingly released her. The air felt colder being out of his embrace. She forced herself to put a few steps between them and adjusted her kimono to ascertain it had not become askew. He watched her and she felt the burn of a blush on her cheeks under his gaze. She did not have her kodachi, a mistake that she knew any of the Shinsengumi would have scolded her for if they had seen it. Even on their compound, there were dangers to be wary of and one was standing in front of her. Admittedly, she did not think Kazama had any intention of inflicting harm beyond her own purity. That thought alone made her shift from foot to foot uncomfortably.
Without waiting for her to speak, he continued, "Why do you stay here with the Shinsengumi?"
Taken aback, Chizuru's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"As little as you understand about politics, you're not stupid, so don't act it," he said with a slight scowl. "You know what I mean very well. There is no purpose for you here with the Shinsengumi. They treat you no better than a servant. You are of noble blood, higher than mere humans, yet you remain here as their slave."
"I...owe them my life. They saved me from Furies the night I came to Kyoto."
Quick as a whip, Kazama replied, "Fakes that they created."
Just as quickly, Chizuru said, "Those Furies were because of my father. It is his fault that such things exist."
"Kodo Yukimura," Kazama acknowledged thoughtfully, folding his arms over his chest. "Yes, I'm aware. But it is the Shinsengumi that are continuing to create his abominations. Blood-crazed, barely-living creatures that were never intended to exist. Your support of those bastards makes even less sense knowing that you nearly died because of their existence."
She hesitated a beat. If she admitted that she had been kidnapped and held captive by Hijikata, what would Kazama say?
"I see," Kazama said, as if reading the thought on her face. A distinctly humorless, inhuman smile slid onto his lips and he released a dark laugh. "He dares to keep you here, I'll kill him – "
"Wait," Chizuru hastily interrupted as Kazama lowered his arms, one of his hands reaching for the hilt of his katana. She had instinctively reached out to grab his arm and then snatched her hand back after feeling the warmth of his skin. He had paused, frowning at her. "I could have left by now, I'm sure. And...I mean...Hijikata has his reasons. He...wanted to make Kondou a true warrior and they thought, when my father approached them, that this would be the best way to raise the Shinsengumi. Nobody except for Sannan like the Furies. Many of them feel it was a mistake."
"Then they should kill them all. It is that simple."
"It...is more difficult for them, I think."
Kazama's gaze searched her face for a few seconds and then he lowered his hand from his katana, crossing his arms again. "Your blind faith is endearing," he told her, "but naïve. The Shinsengumi don't have enough political power and they rely on archaic methods of battle. The age of the sword and samurai is passing on. You have no reason to stay to watch them die, Yukimura."
Chizuru bit down on her lip and look away from him, towards a lotus that floated languidly in the water nearby. She had been close to their deaths during the Ikeda Incident and since Okita's diagnosis, she knew that he would not long be with them. She, like Okita, knew what it meant to be diagnosed with tuberculosis. He would have rather died on his sword than sick outside of battle. She had seen people die at her father's clinic, even at a very young age. Death was not new to her, but to have Kazama predict the deaths of those she had grown close to was painful.
"You can't know that," she said at last, very quietly. The lotus floated calmly in her vision. She heard the sound of fabric moving and blinked, feeling the edge of his kimono against her cheek. She had not been aware that she was crying until he dabbed at her cheeks.
"You will not die with them," Kazama said to her and she raised her face to look at him.
"Because I'm a demon?"
He laughed. "Even we can die, darling. No, I've told you – you will be my wife. If you choose to walk with them, so be it, but I will be there to pull you out of the war when they all fall. They can't protect you, no matter how much they claim otherwise. They're too prideful to admit their weakness as humans. A disgusting trait of theirs. I have no intention of leaving you to die with them. You're worth more than that." He lowered his hand where he had been wiping her tears.
"Why?"
The question had left her mouth before she had thought it over. She knew that Kazama wanted a pureblood demon so that he could join their clans, but Sen and Kimigiku were also pureblood demon women, so it was not as if they were as rare as he often said. His obsession and sudden possessiveness of her was, in her eyes, odd.
As expected, Kazama replied, "I've already told you."
"But why me? There are other demon women, I've met them."
This gave him pause and then he shook his kimono sleeve away from his wrist, reaching up to smooth her hair from her face. "Because you're mine." She opened her mouth, feeling rather affronted and exasperated at this explanation, but he spoke over her before she could protest. "You can deny it all you like, but you felt it as well. I saw it in your face when I met you at Ikeda Inn. Any time I touch you, I feel it. You were meant for me."
Flushing, Chizuru said, "You said...that it was just because of my clan and..."
He shrugged, dropping his hand from her face. "Initially." Suddenly, a smirk lit his features as he added, "Are you admitting that you were attracted to me at Ikeda?"
"I'm not admitting anything!" she spluttered angrily. "You've been harassing my friends since the day I met you, why would I?"
Kazama laughed down at her and this time, when he took hold of her, it was to press his face against her neck. She stiffened, embarrassed, and did not relax in his hold, her hands braced against his chest as if to push him away. "Stay with your 'friends,' if you like," he murmured in her ear, "but I'll be back. Keep that in mind."
When he raised his head, his face was close to her own. She felt her stomach clench and, instinctively, her body seemed to relax against him. He smiled faintly, feeling the subtle submission, and one of his hands reached up to bury in her hair that was flying loose. With his gaze so intense on her, half of her wanted him to kiss her while the other half scolded her for being so foolish and easy to romance. Kazama did not, however, kiss her, but instead pressed a chaste kiss on her forehead before releasing her. In another instant, he was entirely gone and she was alone again in the garden. She felt flustered and confused. It was only after she heard hurried footsteps that she realized why he had disappeared so quickly.
"Yukimura?" Hijikata's sharp voice broke through her reverie and she turned to see him and Yamazaki. He had his hand on his sword and in the moonlight, she saw his gaze scan the garden warily. "Are you alright?"
"Yes...," she said slowly, looking around her. Somehow, she thought Kazama was somewhere in the shadows, laughing at them. "I couldn't sleep, so I went on a walk. Why are you here?"
"I was making my rounds and your door was open," Yamazaki told her. He gestured for her to follow them. "It's dangerous to be out alone."
Chizuru obliged, allowing Yamazaki to lead her back to her room with Hijikata lingering behind. She felt him follow shortly after and, walking as she was between the two of them, she felt the safety of their circle of protection. Even as she thought of that, she wondered how long that safety would last and remembered Kazama's words that had struck her heart so deeply.
"The age of the sword and samurai is passing on. You have no reason to stay to watch them die, Yukimura."
She halted and turned to look at Hijikata, who was trailing behind a few steps. He stopped next to her, frowning with concern. "What is it?" he asked her.
Hijikata has always seemed impenetrable outside of his fight with Kazama. Surely he wouldn't fall? She thought of entering his room and seeing him writing serenely, his hair flowing down his back, the fine lines of stress and dark circles of sleep deprivation on his face. It had been the only time she had seen him vulnerable, if one could even call that such. No matter the situation, he never seemed to break under the strain of his position as Vice-Commander. "Thank you," she said, feeling her eyes fill with tears again.
Uncharacteristically, Hijikata looked alarmed by her tears and, clearly unaccustomed to dealing with female emotions, turned to Yamazaki imploringly. The other male looked equally uncomfortable, approaching them and awkwardly clapping Chizuru on the shoulder.
"It's alright, Yukimura," Yamazaki said in a soothing tone.
Kazama made it sound like I can't save them, she thought, feeling more tears spill onto her cheeks, and it feels like not even Sannan can help them with the Water of Life. These men are my family and have been since I've been unable to find father. I don't have anyone else.
"Yukimura," Hijikata spoke up, sounding irritable in place of his discomfort, "what are you crying about?"
"It's just..." She hastily wiped her face, sniffing. "What if everyone dies? What if, at the end of all of this, the shogunate doesn't survive and everyone dies?"
For some reason, this question seemed to relieve Hijikata. The subject of death and war was something he tackle. In his mind, she was sure, anything female-oriented would leave him at a loss for words. A Hijikata without words would have surely led to an angry, shouting Hijikata.
"Then we will have died honorably," he told her, a familiar, proud expression crossing his handsome features. "We trained and became warriors with the intention to die with honor. If we meet death defending the shogun and defending our values that the Shinsengumi stand for, then we will have lived for our purpose. Every warrior should feel the same."
Yamazaki nodded and upon looking at him, Chizuru saw a fire light in his eyes. "Well said, Vice-Commander," he said with approval.
"I see," Chizuru murmured, although she did not really understand.
"We do not fear death," Hijikata said quietly to her, as if sensing the conflict in her. His smile was gentle when he looked down at her. "We may have come from humble beginnings, but we're not fat and lazy samurai that sit in the court. We have not strayed from the path of a warrior. That is why our flag flies under 'Integrity.' None of us will stray from it, even in death. If we die, don't mourn for us, Yukimura, but celebrate our passing. We all will go one day and if we go in battle, then so be it. It will be a happy death. Nobody likes to see our friends die, but it's up to us to respect how our friends choose to leave this world."
Chizuru smiled and knew, without asking, that he and the rest of the Shinsengumi expected and even preferred to meet their end this way. "Thank you, Hijikata..."
He nodded curtly and the trio continued their walk from the garden.
Even with his words, Chizuru still felt a heaviness in her heart. It was not for them, but for herself, knowing that they would one day be gone and she, protected as she was, would survive them.
Chizuru, hearing the commotion farther out in the compound, released a bitter sigh, her hand on her kodachi. The compound was big, but not so large that she could not tell that the sounds were coming from the front. She had been ordered to remain in her room, which was situated towards the back of the compound, but she was not happy to sit placidly as asked. She had been listening for several minutes after hearing men shout and run through the compound, debating on whether she should obey orders or not.
At length, she tied up the sleeves of her kimono, gripped her kodachi a little tighter, and left the room. Regardless of where she was in the compound, she would be at risk.
Stepping out into the open air, she could see no other person nearby. The Shinsengumi were clearly occupied with the others at the entrance of the compound. Hurrying across the open courtyard, she made to head towards the front when a sudden snarl made her duck instinctively. She felt the air shift above her and her wide eyes searched above her to see something fast pass above her. Gripping her kodachi tighter, she unsheathed it and turned towards the guttural sounds. Her stomach dropped upon seeing the white-haired, red-eyed soldier. A Fury!
Her eyes swung around and she tensed upon seeing two other Furies stumble out, snarling. They had broken away from the rest of Sannan's group and he had likely not noticed given the distractions. She could not face one Fury, let alone three. She might have been able to hold off one until someone else arrived, though even then she had her doubts.
The first Fury shot towards her, growling, and she managed to dodge his attack. This, however, gave the other two their opening. She raised her kodachi to attempt to slash at them, but before her blade could touch them, a movement came from the corner of her eye and they were abruptly cut down. In another second, the first Fury was also sliced open and, trembling, she at last caught sight of the swordsman. Kazama cleaned off his katana swiftly and then sheathed it, casting a disgusted look towards the corpses that now lay in pieces on the ground.
Chizuru's knees buckled and she slumped to the ground, shaking in earnest. Human men had never made her all that fearful, but faced against the demons or Furies, she was always acutely aware of her own mortality and limited capabilities.
"Where are your body guards?" Kazama asked in a flinty tone. She flinched and raised her head to look up at him. She was aware, just then, that she had never seen him truly angry. His eyes were dark and the usual playful smile on his lips was not present. There was a barely-controlled rage underneath the surface that had nothing to do with herself or even the Furies.
"I...I don't know. I was supposed to...stay in my room."
"Useless pigs." He knelt next to her, then, taking hold of her hand and lifting her to her feet. In spite of his anger, his grip was gentle. Unsteadily, she sheathed her sword and then bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Kazama." She straightened and wobbled slightly on the spot. He reached out and steadied her with a hand and she heard him make another uncouth remark beneath his breath. When he drew closer, enveloping her in the fabric of his sleeves and warmth of his body, she felt some of the adrenaline from possible death draining from her body. His familiar smell and touch seemed to ease her nerves.
"I had no intention to take you from them today," Kazama said almost to himself more than her, "but you're less safe here than I thought."
"Then why...?"
"To take care of the fakes and be a distraction," he answered without waiting for her to finish her question. "That was the only objective." Kazama released her then, although he kept a hand on her shoulder for support. Uneasy, she raised her eyes to his and there was a sober look to him to which she was unaccustomed. "Come with me, Chizuru. I can keep you safe."
Hearing her name from his lips startled her and for a moment, neither of them said a word. His hand lifted from her shoulder, the rough pads of his fingers tracing her cheekbone, idly playing with the strands of hair that hung messily from her tied up hair. There was that uncomfortable sense of longing and attraction in her chest that came with being near Kazama, something that had been growing since her first encounter with him. The sounds of battle and conflict seemed far enough, not near enough to interrupt, and she felt no need to break the strangely intimate silence.
Without thinking, she pressed her face into the palm of his hand, feeling him cup her cheek.
"I can't," she said quietly.
A slight smile lifted his lips. "I admire your loyalty, even if it is to a losing cause." He stepped closer and took her face in his hands, tipping it back so that she was forced to meet his gaze head on. "The more I see you, the more I know you are a perfect wife for me."
She blinked slowly, briefly entranced by the headiness of his gaze. There was a fierce, possessive desire there that burned her from the tips of her toes to her nose.
Shouts rang out across the courtyard and Kazama glanced to the side, the moment broken. In the corner of her eye, Chizuru saw Saito and Yamazaki arrive and could imagine what they might think of this scene. In their eyes, it must have appeared as if Kazama was attempting to abduct her or force himself upon her.
"Interrupted again," Kazama said softly so only she could hear and released her. More loudly, so that Saito and Yamazaki could hear, he told them in a lazy tone, "It seems you dogs can barely keep your own alive let alone my wife."
Yamazaki's face tautened with outrage. "The Vice-Commander will have your guts, monster."
Kazama chuckled. "You humans can't even handle other humans, yet you think you can kill me? But so be it." He pointed at the dead Furies, adding, "Before this, it was simply business. Now, it's become personal. I've allowed you to stay alive because she sees fit to remain here, but continue to test my patience by being careless with her and I will kill every one of you." His smile had faded and now he simply looked ominous. "Your vile experiments got too close to killing her tonight. Keep that in mind the next time you create more fakes."
"Yukimura?" Yamazaki glanced from the Furies to Chizuru, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "What do you mean?"
"Kazama saved me," Chizuru explained, feeling some of the tension easing in the courtyard amid the confusion. "The Furies – they attacked me."
"That does not absolve him from his earlier offenses," Saito spoke up. "He is still no ally of the Shinsengumi."
"No," Kazama agreed mildly, "but consider this a warning you may pass to your commanders. She is your responsibility while she is here. If she is harmed, I'll make sure to personally rip you all to pieces. Satsuma and Choshu be damned."
Chizuru shuddered, feeling the anger rolling off him in waves. Saito seemed unaffected, although his eyes did narrow slightly on Kazama as if expecting an attack. However, Kazama seemed satisfied that his message had been delivered and very briefly, his eyes met Chizuru's. He gave her a sly, secretive smile before, with a turn of his heel, he had disappeared.
The two men seemed to relax, although Yamazaki appeared troubled. "Are you injured at all?" Yamazaki asked as she walked to join them.
"No, I'm fine." She cast her gaze towards the fallen Furies, suddenly exhausted and wanting very much to be in bed.
It was some time before the compound settled down. It took them until nearly dawn to clean up the corpses and burn them. Hijikata's face had looked particularly drawn and after making everyone tea, Chizuru was led to her room by Yamazaki to ensure she was safely back in her quarters.
Even though her body felt sore and she was drained of energy, Chizuru lay in her futon for a long time, staring up at the ceiling. And rather than the Shinsengumi, her mind was on Kazama. Even though it was clear he did not trust the Shinsengumi's abilities to keep her safe and did not like leaving her there, he was respecting her decision to remain until the end. He did not begrudge her for not leaving with him, either, something that she sadly did not believe would be the case if the roles were reversed and it was Hijikata to whom she said those words. The Shinsengumi had strict rules about abandoning the organization and had hunted down deserters prior to when she had begun to stay with the Shinsengumi. Even though it was true she stayed to remain with her friends, she also could not handle thinking that Hijikata might be disappointed in her abandoning the organization.
Perhaps Kazama suspected that was part of the reason she remained with the Shinsengumi.
Shifting onto her side, she pulled the blankets up to her chin, her brow furrowing. As she did, she heard the sound of the shoji opening and lunged to a sitting position just as it closed, dousing her room in darkness once again. The last time she had been unceremoniously visited, she had been attacked. Her heart stuttered, recognizing the pair of crimson eyes. Kazama put a finger to his lips and toed around her futon with nimble steps before kneeling next to her.
"Sleep," he ordered in a low voice without preamble.
How am I supposed to sleep with you in my room?! she demanded silently of him.
His expression, however, did not allow any argument. She was unsure why he had returned or how he had gotten this far into the compound to get into her room, but she sank back into the futon, pulling the blankets up to her face and staring at the shoji doors, at the wall, anywhere but at him.
She heard his soft chuckle that seemed to resonate deep from his chest. "You don't trust me?" he teased lightly, causing her to glance up at him with some annoyance. He was smiling a smug, sly little smile. "If I had wanted to take advantage of you, I would have had other opportunities. No, I simply don't trust those bastards and their fakes. The ones remaining will be more bloodthirsty tonight after the battle. I'll keep watch over you while you sleep for now until I'm satisfied."
Chizuru blinked, initially stunned, and then smiled. Sitting up, she hesitated and then shyly reached out to him, her fingers brushing the soft edges of his hair. Even when he had first entered her room, she had felt the angry tension emanating from him. He was still deeply displeased with the Shinsengumi.
He turned his head to her and, before she could lose her nerve, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his tentatively. As she made to pull back from the chaste kiss, one of his arms circled around her waist, keeping her in place. Her other hand, still caught in the silken threads of his hair, tangled delightedly in his hair as he deepened the kiss. To her, he was all fire and a burning, searing want seemed to spread from her abdomen to her chest. This was not the familiar attraction of being near him or how easily her heart had contracted when his katana had hit her kodachi on her way to Mount Ten'nou. There was nothing to be mistaken in this feeling, no uncertainties or room for interpretation. It hit her with an alarming force and she found both her body and spirit submitting to him, completely vulnerable.
When, seconds later, she found herself breathless and lying beneath him on the futon from the kiss, she wondered dimly where this night was leading. Her own body seared with the want for more, yet she felt far too shy for anything more. Kazama, kneeling over her, was still save for his hand. His thumb stroked her cheek idly and even in the gloom, she could see the amused smile twisting his lips upward.
"Soon," he murmured softly and there was a warmth to his eyes that she had not seen previously. "I promise you, soon. But for now, sleep."
His innate ability to read her thoughts so clearly was embarrassing. "I'm not tired," she said and even to her own ears, it sounded childish.
"No?" he queried with a smirk. "I can't imagine why." Kazama moved then, tucking the futon around her and lying behind her, his head propped up with an elbow, his cheek resting in the palm of his head. "Go to sleep, Chizuru. I'll be here."
The words comforted her, even if she knew that he would not be when she woke again. She tried to stay awake, wanting to keep this moment locked in time, but no matter how hard she fought to stay awake, her body would not obey. She slipped into a dreamless state and when she woke the next morning, she turned over to an empty side of the futon. She sighed, pressing her hand where Kazama had been lying, part of her wondering if it had been a dream.
Chizuru had convinced herself that she had dreamt the entire encounter until her fingers caught something in the futon. Frowning, she pulled it up and saw that it was a single, red silk piece tied neatly around a piece of parchment. Staring at it, she recognized it as the silk ribbon that Kazama tied around his neck. Untying it, she read the ink characters on the parchment and smiled faintly to herself. It was simple, yet so like Kazama.
I'll be back for you.
