Note: Thank you very much for all your support, your understanding, your wait each year, and your reviews always so full of compliments… Thank you.
For this last chapter, I recommend a little ideal background music. It's a song to the glory of Hijikata Toshizou during his last fight in Hakodate. Not only is it right on topic, but it's also beautiful. You'll find it under the title of Hijikata Toshizō Themed song by Kyounosuke.
Chapter Thirteen: Katsugeki - (活撃).
He collapsed on the stoned floor of the sanctuary with a sigh, two arms catching him before he completely loses consciousness. Lifting his head in a considerable effort, he narrowed his eyes in an attempt to get a glimpse of something through his blurred vision and smiled softly as he recognised the features of the mischievous white-haired Tachi, the latter gripping him a little more firmly as he was plunging into unconsciousness, vaguely perceiving the voices of Yagen and Tsurumaru as he was succumbing to fatigue.
"How is he? "
"He's exhausted. Let's take him back to his room. "
It was not until a couple of hours later that he emerged from his coma, still slightly stiff but more than rested. Straightening up in his futon, he got up but not without some difficulty and reached his bedroom window, watching as the sun was slowly setting over the hills. With its amber and fuchsia rays, it coloured the sky and the plains, the moon, although more translucent than a sheet of glass, already being perceived in the East, shades of silver and white overlapping each other such as in a great master's painting.
Roughly tidying himself up, he then descended the steps and rejoined his office in an attempt to get news from the First and Second Unit, opening the door only to find two of his Toudan waiting for him inside.
"Sorry for the intrusion again. " Mikazuki greeted him jokingly and he swept aside the offence with a wave of the hand, settling at his desk as his swords occupied the sofas.
"How do you feel? " Honebami enquired, fixing a suspicious gaze on him.
"Good enough. " the Sage retorted to shorten the subject although he had never felt so worn-out before today.
"We've been keeping an eye on them the whole time, don't you worry. " the Tachi warned kindly, knowing full well what was on the boy's mind.
"Eisuke? " the latter called out, turning his head towards the bespectacled kitsune for confirmation.
"So far, Konnosuke has not reported any issues. And the Time Retrograde Army has yet to invade Ippongi Kanmon. " the animal indicated, displaying the holographic screen with the corresponding data on the writing desk.
"Right. " the Saniwa sighed, relaxing a bit. "But just the six or seven of them won't make it. "
"How many the Retrogrades are this time? "
"A thousand or so… "
"One thousand!? "
"My… They must be really in dire straits, hahaha! "
"Or very determined. "
"All right then, we should get going. " Munechika announced, standing up. "Let's go suit up, Honebami. "
"Yes. " the Wakizashi acquiesced, following him to the door.
"Let's meet at the sanctuary in an hour. " the boy ordered, running a tired hand through his cherry wicks.
"Very well. "
Xxxxxxxxxx
"Are you sure it's reasonable in your state? I mean, you're not fully recovered. "
The question made him smile with delight and he picked up his pace a little faster to hurry to the sanctuary, Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Mikazuki Munechika, Yagen, Honebami Toushirou, and Tonbokiri following close behind.
Daylight was fading with each second passed, and soon the night would completely cover them, spreading its long dark cloak over the entire citadel and its surroundings.
At Ippongi Kanmon, on the last place of confrontation of the Battle of Hakodate, a hundred of time-space distortions had just opened, freeing one thousand Retrogrades soldiers ready to assist the forces of the ex-shogunate to prevent the Imperial Restoration. At Ippongi Kanmon, seven of his swords were finding themselves overwhelmed by the enemy's numerical superiority, struggling to stop each of them.
His physical state did not matter much under these conditions. All that counted was preventing the Historical Revisionists from succeeding in their business. What would happen to him next, he was ready to bear it. As long as the mission was a success and his Touken Danshi were coming back to him.
"Everything will be all right. Izuminokami and the others need you… " he stated, standing at the end of the platform, his Toudan taking place in the centre of his crest adorning the ground. "So let's hurry and get you over there. "
"Yes, sir! " the latter exclaimed, nodding their heads.
The languid flames licked the walls of the room in a melodious ballet, glowing inferno dyeing in an ochre yellow colour as the heat intensified, ever hotter and more dazzling as he was boosting the expedition process of his powers, allowing each of the Toudan of the First and Second Unit to join the battlefield.
The steam had ended up completely wrapping them, swirling around them like caught in a whirlwind, waves of electricity rushing through him as he stretched out his hands, increasing the flow even more until he could no longer distinguish anything within the sanctuary.
"This is a gift from me. Please accept it. " he said, redoubling his efforts and drawing on every last ounce of power inside him before collapsing to his knees on the floor, the kitsune gathering around him in worry.
"Aruji-sama. "
"Aruji-sama! "
"Everyone, I'm leaving the rest to you. " he huffed, exhausted but confident.
And the hours had passed unbearably slowly. Endless clock hands almost seeming to refuse to move as he had stared at them so insistently, only watching his screen out of the corners of his eyes in case something unexpected happened.
He had been asked to rest after the follies he had committed to send more swords than he had the strength to, to the frontlines. Follies certainly, but which had turned out to be more than necessary. And despite all this, he was feeling surprisingly well. Surpassing himself in this way perhaps had allowed him to realise his true potential. With each Touken Danshi summoned, with each unit larger than the previous one deployed, his spiritual power increased. As long as he could continue on this path, then certainly his powers were far from having reached their limits.
He put the cup of tea down on the coffee table with a sigh and removed the haori that had been placed on his shoulders after he had changed. If there was one thing he was unable to stand, it was being bedridden.
It was pitch black now. The stars twinkling behind the grey clouds of late summer. The midnight breeze was making shiver the trees gradually losing their greenness, shades of red and orange little by little spreading over their fragile leaves whilst the heat of August was decreasing and the nocturnal star was also disappearing, never to reappear.
The alarm rang with a distinctive bell sound, and he rose to glance at the map displayed on his desk, the multiple red dots signifying the presence of the Retrogrades fading away one by one until there were no more.
Unable to help himself, he let out a nervous laugh filled with mirth and left his office without delay, deciding to meet his swords so that he could quickly check up on them.
Good job, everyone. I knew you'd make it.
Xxxxxxxxxx
The golden halo scattered across the sky as his feet were touching Hakodate ground, his eyes opening on the sight of his gaping Touken Danshi, astonished to see him among them.
"Oh… What a surprise. " Tsurumaru exclaimed as he leaned slightly against Mikazuki's shoulder, eyebrows raised with curiosity.
"And here I thought it was our lift to go home. " Higekiri complained humorously.
"That's was the idea actually, but… " the Sage confessed with a sorry smile before turning his gaze toward Horikawa, the latter hastily bowing his head in shame and embarrassment.
The last rays of the sun were bathing the plains, amber colours mixing with the emerald green grass still soaked by the blood of war. The Battle of Hakodate had finally reached its end, a new era starting from now on with a new history unfolding.
Approaching the edge of the cliff, he plunged his look toward the battlefield and closed his eyes with nostalgia and emotion. He had been there a long time ago… chasing the past, learning from the future, and printing in his mind the faces of each soldier having fallen to remember each of their last wills…
The flow of history running its course on and on. For the worst and the best. It was his mission. To protect it. To protect both the living and the dead. Chaos and order. War and peace. Until nothing was threatening them anymore.
"Taishō? " Yagen called, puzzled.
"Ah, sorry. " the cherry-haired boy said, turning around. "I hadn't seen this place for a while. "
"You've been here? " Izuminokami questioned, stunned.
"Why, yes. Though, I was but a child at that time. "
"A child? "
"For a Saniwa like me who possess the power to travel throughout history, to study every aspect of it is very important. As such, we visit from a young age the past and try to take a grip on its teaching. "
"Huuuuh… that's so cruel… a child should never be the direct witness of war. " Tsurumaru commented, shrugging.
"Sounds quite right. " the Saniwa acquiesced before getting closer to the former Shinsengumi short sword, tilting his head to the side as he asked: "Now, have you made up your mind? "
"I… " stammered Kunihiro, hiding his face. "I… "
"It was a battle already lost and yet your master has fought relentlessly until this point. It was truly admirable. "
"M-My master? " gasped the Wakizashi, not understanding.
Stepping forward, Yamanbagiri joined the Sage's side and, looking down at his brother, announced firmly:
"Make your choice here and now. Do you want to live in the past and continue to serve him even though he is gone, or are you finally ready to move on and serve our current master loyally? "
Widening his eyes in shock, Horikawa bit his lower lip forcefully, hands turning into fists before he finally let go and shook his head positively, tears running down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! "
"Now, now. There's no need to cry. " the boy asserted, smiling sheepishly. "Did you really have to be so dramatic, Yamanbagiri? "
"No! He's right.… " murmured Kunihiro as he rubbed his eyes, his brother stepping backward to give the Saniwa and the sword some space. "I acted selfishly. Only thinking about my pain and Kane-san's regrets. I didn't mean to cause all these troubles although I knew my actions would end up provoking some. It wasn't against you. I just… "
"I know all that very well, you know. "
"But Hijikata-san is dead now. And I want to protect the history he left behind. I want to protect his memory. I want to… stay with Kane-san and be a member of the Second Unit. I want to be your Touken Danshi! "
"Do you…? " the Sage whispered with another smile, touched. "What a relief. I thought I would never see you again. "
"Sorry. "
"No, no. It's fine. Of course, as part of the Government of Time, I must protect history at all costs. But as a Saniwa, I must watch over all of you and make sure nothing happens to any of you. This is my responsibility. And if I'm being honest, I tend to put that one over the other. "
"Hahaha, what a very caring master, indeed. "
"You're laughing, Mikazuki, but it's not always well regarded in the upper echelons. "
"Oh, but we always manage to get away from any blame, no? "
"Lucky us. "
"That's probably Tsuru-chan's doing. "
"Eh?! What are you blathering, old man! "
"Hahaha! "
"Anyway, I'm glad to have you back. "
"Yes, Aruji-san! " assured the Wakizashi with a nod, bringing a smile of contentment to everyone's mouth. "I'm sorry for everything. "
"And I'm sorry I put you in a difficult situation. Both of you. " indicated the Saniwa regretfully.
"As if we weren't able to overcome it! " declared Izuminokami, acting tough.
"I guess it's time to go home now. " pointed out Hizamaru after a slight moment of silence.
"Right. "
Placing himself in front of the First Unit reunited, the cherry-haired boy looked at the Second Unit with casualness and claimed:
"The expedition to come is a simple recognition mission, so you don't have to worry. It will be a tranquil patrol. "
"And then, we can finally return to the citadel?! " Mutsunokami hastened to ask.
"Sure. "
"Thank goodness! Aruji, you really work ourselves into the ground! "
"Is that right, Izuminokami? So the Second Unit isn't capable of it? "
"Of course we are! Mutsunokami! You moron better keep your mouth shut! "
"What did you call me?! "
And the usual bickering of the two Uchigatana resumed under general amusement, the time of worry, regret and sadness ending. Who knew what the future would hold for them? Whatever it might be, they would face it more close-knitted than ever. A united citadel. A master and his loyal Touken Danshi. Protecting history. Confronting Revisionists and Retrogrades. In tears and blood... until the end...
.
To be continued...
Last recommendation, go read the Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu manga which helped/inspired me a lot for this fanfic. Not only is the story more complete than the anime, but you learn more about the characters, and the humour is definitely more present.