Chapter Twelve: Hakokan sensō - (箱館戦争): Battle of Hakodate.

In the dark night sky were heaping up hundreds of steel grey clouds, an orange glow igniting the centre of the circle like a piercing eye that exploded in a thunderous blast, a time-space distortion forming. Shimmering halo flooding the skies with its golden colour, a bolt of electric-blue lightning emerged from its black hole, hitting the roof where the two Uchigatana were located before the fine features of the Saniwa got discerned in an illuminated fog, the latter offering a reassuring smile to the Tosa's sabre who had worried for a moment.

"A-Aruji? "

"This is worse than I imagined. " he said with a contrite face, observing the Satsuma residence and its surroundings burning in the long-lasting blazing flames.

"Aruji-sama! " called out the kitsune, rejoining them at full speed.

"Konnosuke, could you bring me up to date? " the Sage asked gently, looking to know the last pieces of information that missed him.

"Yes. Just after noon today, Sakamoto Ryōma left the Satsuma Residence earlier than he did according to history. Yagen-san, Tonbokiri-san, and Tsurumaru-san have been dispatched to protect him. Also, fires broke out at the Satsuma residence, and the area around it has been devastated. Most likely, this is the work of the Time Retrograde Army. " explained at length the little fox, focused on the black-charcoal smoke rising in the air.

"I see. " huffed the cherry-haired boy, nodding. "Understood, thank you. "

Closing his eyes, he thought for an instant, the seconds seeming to last for hours, and resignedly turned to Izuminokami at last, completely impassive.

"And one more thing. About Horikawa's actions, which I read in the report… Do you know why I came here? "

"To bring me to justice? " the Shinsengumi's former blade assumed, his gaze looking vacant after having turned his head toward the Saniwa as if to judge his state of mind.

"Izuminokami, have you done something that I would have to judge you for? " asked the Sage with interest, still unfazed.

"I wouldn't say that. But… " hesitated Kanesada, finally looking at his master without any more shame in the eyes.

"Horikawa has vanished, right? "

"Yeah. "

"Did anything happen since then? " the boy wondered, a veil of sadness and regret covering momentarily his face.

"Just now, he showed up before me. " confessed the Uchigatana, surprising at the same time the Saniwa who became livid. "He had the gall to ask me to join him. He wanted me to help him save Hijikata-san. "

"So you turned him down? " the Sage noticed once again, looking up at the sky calmly.

"You're the one who is my master right now. " asserted Izuminokami without a hint of doubt in the voice.

"Why do you think Horikawa came to ask you to join him? "

"I don't know. But I do wish I could save Hijikata-san as much as he does! "

Smiling sadly, the cherry-haired boy gripped his cloak, squeezing it between his fingers for a short moment before releasing it abruptly and inhaled inwardly for courage as he enquired compassionately:

"Izuminokami, how are you dealing with your feelings towards your former master? "

"I believe that they should stay hidden. " the sword revealed, unsure.

"But Horikawa let those feelings show. " the Saniwa specified, melancholic. "Did he say anything else? "

"That he wanted to protect the history that I wanted to protect. "

"And what history do you want to protect, Izuminokami? "

"All this time, we've received orders from you, our master, and protected history from the Time Retrograde Army so that the future won't be altered. " declared Kanesada, disillusioned. "Maybe in terms of the big picture, we have been safeguarding the future. But innocent bystanders have been dragged into these battles, and so many lives have been lost. "

"Perhaps we haven't actually been protecting history. Is that how you see it, Izuminokami? "

"Yeah. "

"That's the conflict and the contradiction that exists in your soul. And Horikawa asked you to join him in an effort to dispel that. " announced the Sage reassured, finally understanding. "It sounds like Horikawa left the unit to make your wish come true, doesn't it? "

"That can't be. " argued the Uchigatana, shocked. "Why would he… "

"You know why! " exclaimed suddenly Mutsunokami, fists on hips. "Because you're not versatile. "

"You shut up! "

"And you're always blowing your top like that. "

"I guess he's your partner and your assistant, so to speak. " noted the boy with an amused smile.

The tension seemed to have dissipated, the mood easing. He had thought for a moment all hope lost. He had thought he had failed with his Toudan. And it was a feeling he hardly could have coped with. As a Saniwa. As their master. Theirs, even though he sometimes did not feel worthy of such a title.

It was a responsibility to bring what used to be mere objects to life. It was a gift and a curse. Because if his soul was intrinsically linked to them, the opposite was not true. And from a separation between the Saniwa and his Touken Danshi resulted in a pain worse than that of a dagger drove into the heart...

There was still hope. Continuance is power.

"Oh, and one more thing. " informed Yoshiyuki, arms crossed over his chest. "It's in Hakodate, isn't it? "

"That has nothing to do with this. " retorted Izuminokami, getting up.

"But if Horikawa's doing this out of sympathy for you, I don't think it's all that irrelevant. " pointed out the Tosa sword.

"What does he mean by that, Izuminokami? " enquired the Sage, frowning.

"The fact that I couldn't be with Hijikata-san during his final battle, the Battle of Hakodate. " stated the former Shinsengumi blade with a sigh. "The regret that I've harboured because of that. "

"You became a memento, and were sent back to his hometown. I remember. "

Joining then his hands together, the Saniwa looked up at his Toudan, and with a wide smile stretching his lips, stretched out his arms in front of him as he proposed eagerly:

"Understood. All right, why don't we do this? Let us go and claim it all. "

"Ha? " Mutsunokami gasped, definitely lost, his exclamation echoing in rhythm with that of the kitsune and the other Uchigatana.

"Eh? "

"Hmm? "

"Izuminokami, your desire to protect those who never should've gotten hurt and history in its entirety. I find that to be a magnificent thing. If such a thing can be accomplished, then we can also protect the history that I must protect. " claimed the boy, sincerely touched. "And the regret in your heart, Izuminokami. Let's go and eradicate that, as well. "

"Aruji, are you sure? " Kanesada questioned, not exactly sure what his master wanted to accomplish.

"It's my mission to protect history. To accomplish that goal, I will do anything. " simply replied the Saniwa with a soft smile, a hand put on his heart.

"Aruji! " exclaimed Yoshiyuki, jumping into the latter's arms shamelessly, unable to restrain his excitement and surprising him.

"Mutsunokami?! "

"You're a master who really gets it! We owe you one! " affirmed the brown-haired Uchigatana, delighted.

"However, you understand, right? " warned the Sage whilst turning to the former Shinsengumi sword, grim.

"Yeah. If Kunihiro does anything to alter the course of history… I'll have to… "

"Understood. " he acquiesced, confident. "All right, let's get going! "

"Are we going to the citadel? " suddenly wondered Konnosuke, his head tilted to the side.

"What are you talking about, Konnosuke? Of course, I mean Hakodate. " responded the cherry-haired boy with a pout before asking once again. "Is everyone ready? "

"Whoa! We're leaving already? " Mutsunokami asked, taken aback.

"You're coming with us, Aruji? " questioned Izuminokami, confused.

"This issue with Horikawa is a serious matter for me, as well. I can't just let it go. Also, once we get there, my ability to sense distortions in time should come in handy. " directly stated the Saniwa before shouting: "All right, let's go! "

Xxxxxxxxxx

Cannon shots resounded here and there, black smoke rising in the air until it covered the dark sky, ships revealing their position each time an amber colour lighted them with each cannonball fired, setting alight glowing fires on land or sea.

It had nothing to do with the little conflicts they had faced so far. A major war was unfolding before their astonished eyes. A war that would count hundreds, even thousands of victims. It was a weight that had to be carried. The weight of the dead. Even though it didn't sound right, the history of this battle was written that way, and nothing must change it.

"What's this? "

"It's the Battle of Hakodate. Since the Imperial Navy is in pursuit, I'd say it's near the end. "

Closing his eyes, he let his powers spread all around him, knowing full well that the Historical Revisionists were about to step in and this, since a long time ago. Finally looking up at the sky, he warned:

"Everyone, it doesn't look like the enemy is going to let this situation play out. The Time Retrograde Army is about to show up! "

"What, already? "

"If they're targeting anything, it has to be on the other side of Mt. Hakodate. " Izuminokami indicated, sure of himself.

"Yes, that's correct. " the Saniwa confirmed as he started running across the mountain to its other side. "At dawn on May 11, the Imperial forces will make their landing from the other side of Mt. Hakodate. With the success of this surprise attack, the ex-Shogunate forces will be driven into a corner. Since the Time Retrograde Army's goal is to change history, that's when they'll go after the Imperial forces. "

"That's when we'll return fire and stop them from interfering with history! " the long-brown-haired Uchigatana announced, determined.

"We're going to annihilate them! " added Mutsunokami.

"Here they come! Numbering fifty in all. " the Sage exclaimed as a time-space distortion was forming through the midnight blue clouds.

"Fifty? " gasped the Tosa's blade as they stopped on the edge of the cliff, suddenly worried. "What are they trying to do, reverse the entire battle of Hakodate? "

"We'll protect history no matter what. " Kanesada asserted. He had no right to fail.

Reaching the mountainous area of Mt. Hakodate, the Saniwa and his Toudan parted ways as a small number of Retrogrades emerged from the black hole, the two Uchigatana rushing to meet them.

"You're not getting your way! "

"Konnosuke! " called out the cherry-haired boy, still running under the cover of the woods.

"Yes! They're ready! "

"The second wave is coming! " he then warned once they were far enough away from the Imperial forces.

"What on earth? " Yoshiyuki whispered when he saw the twenty or so Retrogrades in front of them. "Okay, there's no way we can stop this many. "

"We're going to do it. We'll protect it no matter what. "

"Don't worry. I've called for backup. " reassured the Saniwa whilst jumping to the ground, placing himself in front of his Touken Danshi.

"Backup? " Izuminokami wondered, frowning. "You can summon Tonbokiri and the others? "

"Here goes! "

The Sage clasped his hands together, a celestial blue glow surrounding him vividly before changing into a vortex of flames that drowned the Retrograding Force in dazzling light before expanding into a sudden implosion of cherry blossoms floating across the skies.

From the blast emerged four swords that quickly took on a human form, charging the Retrogrades who saw nothing coming, the latter being slaughtered without the slightest resistance.

"Those guys are… " murmured the former Uchigatana of the Shinsengumi, surprised. "Oodenta. Higekiri. Hizamaru. Yamanbagiri. "

"I have no clue what's going on, but the Retrograding Force… has totally… overrun this place! " related the last member cited as he finished decimating what remained of enemy soldiers.

"So that's who you meant by backup! " Mutsunokami expressed cheerfully.

"Yes. For the first time, the First and the Second Units will be forming a hybrid team. " the boy acquiesced, smiling.

"The First Unit. They wiped out that horde in an instant. "

"So, Aruji, what should we do now? " Yamanbagiri questioned, turning around and putting his katana back in its scabbard.

"We have one goal. " the latter declared as he glanced over his shoulder, the Imperial forces would be coming soon. "Subjugate the Time Retrograde Army. Then, as history dictates, the Imperial forces will take over Mt. Hakodate from the ex-Shogunate forces. "

"Without causing any casualties that never occurred in history. " Kanesada clarified, turning slightly to his master.

"Yes. " the Saniwa assured, nodding his head. "And also, let's visit the sword owned by Hijikata Toshizou, Izuminokami Kanesada. "

"Right! "

Xxxxxxxxxx

The ridge bordering the other side of the mountain had gathered the rest of the fifty Retrogrades whose the Sage had revealed the arrival. Katana in hand, the members of the First and Second Units threw themselves against them with force, Higekiri, Hizamaru, and Izuminokami exterminating each one whilst the others were holding them at a safe distance.

"Izuminokami, you should get going! " the blond Kunihiro claimed a few feet away from the group. "You have an objective, right? Just leave this to us. "

"But… " Kanesada hesitated, concerned.

"I heard from Mikazuki, you know. That you have potential. "

"Oh, really? Mikazuki said that? "

"Now that's unusual. "

"We're the First Unit. Don't worry about us, and just go. "

"Let's go, Izuminokami. " encouraged the Sage, emphasizing to support his words: "Or else we won't make it in time. "

"I'm sorry! " the long-brown-haired Uchigatana apologised, continuing on his way.

"Members of the First Unit, I'm counting on you! "

"We came here to take out the Time Retrograde Army. " Hizamaru argued with a carnivorous smile.

"So we're going to take them out. That's all there is to it. " adjoined his brother in the same way.

The night was in full swing. Through the woods they paced without stopping, the smell of gunpowder and the smoke of fires spread. There was no longer any question of watching battles from afar now. The war was there at their feet. He could already feel the metallic taste of blood in his mouth and his body pierced by thousands of holes under the bullets. It was not a good sign.

They were running out of time. He was running out of time.

Slowing down, the Saniwa brought his hand to his chest as an orpiment-coloured bolt of electricity began to sweep through his entire body, weakening him considerably. Out of breath, he finally stopped, his Toudan regrouping next to him when noticing his condition.

"Aruji-sama, you're out of time! " Konnosuke shouted anxiously.

"Looks like it. My body can't take any more of this time pressure. " the boy said breathlessly, the thundering sound of cannons echoing abruptly startling him. "That's the Imperial forces' attack. Apparently, they've wrested control of Mt. Hakodate from the ex-Shogunate forces. "

"Hey, that's the First Unit for you! " Mutsunokami commented, delighted.

"If things proceed according to history after this, the arriving troops will suppress the town of Hakodate. "

"So the odds are high of the Time Retrograde Army showing up there, huh? " Yoshiyuki reflected, gazing down into the plain. "And I just have to defeat them, right? "

"Right. " the Sage huffed before collapsing hastily to the ground under the impact of the time pressure, the pain becoming unbearable.

"Aruji-sama, you've reached your limit! "

"Izuminokami, I have acknowledged your commitment to protect history. However, the battle is only just beginning. " he stated, looking up at his sword, confident.

"Right. "

Slowly, his body was dematerialising, his existence within this era coming to an end. If he didn't leave this place immediately, he would disappear into the meandering of history. However, something disturbed him and, watching the sky with concern, he revealed not without amazement:

"This is… Three hours from now, the Time Retrograde Army will appear at Ippongi Kanmon. Numbering… One thousand! "

"A thousand?! " the two Uchigatana exclaimed, their eyes widened.

"I know that you can protect history. I believe in you! " the Saniwa asserted as his limbs grew more and more transparent before he escaped into a ray of turquoise light.