Note: Between work and my personal commitments, I found myself overbooked as never, so I feel obliged to apologise for this long absence. I will finish this fiction, there is no need to worry about that. Besides, I'm already working on the last three chapters. I will take advantage of the next October holidays to immerse myself in it. On the other hand, I must define to myself a precise agenda.

This is why the rest of this series will not arrive until next summer.

I started this fiction in the middle of the summer holidays, even at the end, so it's normal that the rest of the chapters are eventually published in September/October. But now, that kind of thing is over.

Zoku Touken Ranbu will begin to be written and will only be released in Summer 2019, and Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu will follow Summer 2020. Exactly like the animes. I reserve the other months of the year for my novel and my personal job.

I don't say that I would not write any other fiction at the same time, but in any case, the Touken Ranbu series will now be published this way. And this also applies to the continuation of The Past of the Cherry Blossom Tree (current 2021 or before if I have a sudden inspiration).

There you are! happy reading to all! ;)

Chapter Eight: August - Hazuki (葉月): Ghost Extermination Rangers, assemble!

The year is 2205 A.D.

To annihilate the History Retrograde Army who schemes to alter history

Them, who were born from swords,

Engage in mortal combat as well!

Hahaha… Now, really? Not sure it's the best moment, Nihongou-san.

Xxxxxxxxxx

"What are you doing here?! I'm looking for you everywhere for an hour! "

Turning half around the Sage chuckled slightly at the kitsune standing in front of him, looking annoyed. Narrowing his eyes with mischief, he resumed his observation of the landscape from the roof of the citadel, and replied, laughing:

"Exactly. This is the perfect place to escape you. "

Konnosuke growled weakly at the remark as he joined the boy near the edge, and settling in, declared in a jaded voice:

"Very funny. You have work to do! "

Sighing, the Saniwa ran a hand over the animal's fur, simply ignoring the remark. There was nothing wrong with him taking a day off, right? Although, on second thought, it surely wasn't something that the Retrogrades had to do often. No, actually, something they never had to do.

Getting up tiredly, he dusted off his clothes and started to walk to the back of the building, making sure he did not slip on the tiles as he descended back on terra firma.

"Do I have to expect you to stay here? " he exclaimed from the engawa towards the fox still sitting motionless on the roof.

"Since I have walked the estate from top to bottom to find you, I think I deserve a break. " said the latter in return, his muzzle raised in the air.

"Of course... " the Saniwa murmured with a chuckle, quietly taking the path to his office.

A bright sun lulled the infinite blue sky of this early afternoon, and as the wind blew gently between the branches of the multicoloured trees of this August month, he moved slowly, savouring the freshness of this day that announced itself auspicious. An incomparable calm prevailed in the estate, as the Revisionists' attacks had surprisingly diminished in the recent weeks, and that a continual torrent of new Touken Danshi made their appearances in the citadel. The evening before, the three great spears had finally been reunited for their greatest pleasure, bringing with their arrival, a smile filled with joy that had not left their faces since.

The excursion where he had sent them this morning had quickly confirmed what he had suspected for a long time; together, the three Yari were fighting with a synchronicity he had never seen before. At last, since their return, the bonds slowly began to be tied between each of his swords. A thin smile formed on his lips as he approached his office, passing before his Toudan, Tonbokiri reading a story to Gokotai whilst Hakata was watching the horizon perched on Otegine's shoulders, and that Nihongou, laid on the engawa, was daydreaming.

The rest of the day will look great if it continued in the same way.

Opening the door of his office, he was surprised to discover Kashuu in it, leaned against the closed window, immersed into the pages of some book.

"Can I know what you're doing here? " he said, not the least bit disturbed by his inopportune presence.

"I borrow master's books when he isn't there. " said Kiyomitsu, sarcastically.

"Oh, and I guess that these are books you have no right to touch if you take advantage of my absence to consult them. " indicated the Sage with a slight laugh.

"Obviously. "

Closing the book with an abrupt gesture, Kiyomitsu took his place on the sofa facing the one in which the Saniwa had settled, a pile of paperwork placed in front of him on the small coffee table.

"Where is Konnosuke? " asked the Uchigatana, intrigued, the animal never being far away when it came to working on reports from the Government of Time.

"He's sulking on the roof. "

"Some things never change… "

Catching a random sheet on the pile, Kashuu began to read slightly between the lines as the boy questioned him in turn, still studying over his files.

"Where is Yasusada? "

"Hmm... I haven't seen him since he returned from the excursion. "

"Say rather that you try to avoid him since he returned. " declared the Saniwa, scanning his sword from the corner of his eye.

"I don't see why I would do that. " replied Kiyomitsu in a small voice, embarrassed.

"Maybe because you're both assigned chores at the stables... I perfectly know you hate it almost as much as you hate working in the fields. " related the Sage, smiling mockingly.

"... ".

The embarrassed silence of his Toudan made him smile even more, and raising his head, he started folding his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow to make him understand that his attempt to escape from the task wouldn't work.

"I have to go, right? " whispered the Uchigatana, pouting.

"Absolutely. "

Sighing dramatically, and snatching a new laugh from his master, Kashuu stood up grumpily, and turned back to the door, adding one last time:

"After all this time, I could at least be entitled to privileged treatment... "

Xxxxxxxxxx

The minutes passed without him being able to concentrate, the silence outside stressful him strangely. It was illogical and he knew it, but he had learned to be wary of those long periods of calm in the citadel that never ended very well.

Sighing in rubbing his tired eyes, he got up and, getting out of his office, walked across the estate in a stupid attempt to reassure himself. Everyone attended to a particular occupation, and besides the absent Toudan due to an expedition, everyone seemed to behave themselves perfectly well. He laughed nervously as the pressure dropped back, his shoulders, in alert from the beginning of his inspection, slowly sagging.

I become paranoid. he thought with amusement, feeling utterly ridiculous.

Deciding, however, to check the stables as a last resort, he left the fields, crossing the yard before getting suddenly and abruptly barred the road by a large silhouette armed with a clothesline and covered with a large white sheet.

"What…?! " he had just enough time to say before being violently jostled by it.

Falling backwards forcefully, he collapsed to the ground, completely dazed and only managed to regain his senses when a cry of panic sounded above him. Raising his head, he widened his eyes a little more when his first sword came crashing down a few feet away from him, a cloud of dust rising in the air as his body hit the soil.

"Kiyomitsu! "

The Uchigatana began to groan at the call of his name, stunned. Kneeling, he rubbed his aching head and finally stood up, staggering slightly. The Sage breathed when he saw that he was well and, also standing up, advanced towards his Touken Danshi, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Aruji? "

"What was that?! " asked the boy with a new sigh whilst closing his eyes in pique.

"No idea. I thought it was Nihongou perched on the shoulders of Tonbokiri and Otegine, but... it's impossible, right? "

I would have bet it...

Shaking himself to empty his foggy mind, the Saniwa inhaled insistently, trying to tell himself that he was definitely not losing his mind.

"Ah! Yasusada! "

Awakening suddenly, as remembering something important, Kashuu quickly rushed to the stables, his master just behind him. Stopping, they watched with some inquietude as Okita Souji's former sword was lying on the ground, unconscious.

"What happened to him? " exclaimed the Sage crouching down beside him, his fingers touching his face tenderly.

"He knocked himself out with the... garden fork... " Kiyomitsu said, dazed.

"How is he... " began to question the Saniwa, curious, interrupting himself suddenly when he saw the s-called object resting at the foot of his Toudan.

"They came in fury and it scared Hanatarou and... well... I don't even know how it happened! "

Shouting these words, obviously completely lost, Kashuu ran a hand through his hair, his pupils dilated under the stupor. Turning a glance at the recently named horse, he took a step in its direction, reaching out an arm to reassure it with a caress as Yamatonokami slowly regained consciousness under the cares of their master.

"Hmm... what happened...? " he murmured, blinking a few times, getting up with the boy's help.

"That's what I'd like to know! " said the latter, frowning, in all likelihood displeased.

And as they retraced their steps together, following the footsteps of the three Yari, they were able to admire with some dismay the result of their surrealist acrobatics. Recrossing again the fields, now devastated, they met Ookurikara who was content to indicate straight ahead of him with one finger, before running into Hasebe, a branch of a tree in his hands, the features of his face twisted into a grimace of pure irritation.

"Don't tell me that they managed to do that?! "

Turning to the sound of this voice, the attendant opened his eyes wide with surprise, starting to writhe in all directions, panicked, trying to hide the branch by all means, in vain.

"Aruji! " he emitted when the Sage found himself facing him, waiting for any explanations. "No, it's me... well, it's obviously their fault, but I... "

"It doesn't matter. " retorted the Saniwa, not letting his sword finish his sentence. "They better have a good reason for all this mess! "

Continuing on their momentum, leaving the light-brown-haired Uchigatana behind them, they managed to make the full tour of the citadel before finding the three responsible, finally standing on their own feet and accompanied by Uguisumaru, Mikazuki, Hakata and Gokotai.

"D-Do you think you could do it again? "

"Absolutely not! "

"Ah, there is water everywhere... " whispered Yasusada, surprised, interrupting the laughter of the others.

"Aruji! " said Otegine with terror.

Frowning a little more, the Saniwa began to fold his arms over his chest, a wave of dull anger making him tremble.

"What were you thinking!? " he yelled not wanting to look sweeter in his choice of words.

"Ah... "

Unable to answer, bothered and embarrassed at the same time, the three great spears remained obstinately silent, not knowing what to say.

"Not only did you put the estate upside down, but you also wounded many of your comrades! "

"We are sorry, Aruji, we did not intend to... "

"You have absolutely no good explanation to give me!? "

Stepping forward, head down, ashamed, Nihongou cleared his throat, and scratching the back of his head, related:

"It's my fault. Completely. I wanted to apologise to Gokotai by catching a blue bird like the one described in the story you gave him, and I... well, things have degenerated... "

"No! I'm the one who is hugely clumsy! " retorted Otegine with panic.

"We are all responsible... " said Tonbokiri softly, a small apologetic smile on his lips.

"The blue bird...? "

Whispering those words whilst tilting his head, curious, the Saniwa half-turned toward Kashuu as he handed him a book with a white cover that he had picked up on the engawa.

"The Blue Bird of Happiness. " he smiled, understanding and already inclined to forgive the three Touken Danshi.

Sighing with fatigue and exasperation, the boy fell back on the engawa, a nervous laugh seizing him, shaking his body with spasms as tears beaded at the corners of his eyes.

"A-Aruji? " worried Gokotai, approaching the Saniwa at the same time as the others.

"I cannot... I can't stand it anymore! " hardly pronounced the latter, continuing to laugh again and again.

"Is everything fine? " questioned Yasusada, not knowing how to react.

"Y-Yes… "

Finally calming down himself, and carrying a hand to his painful chest, the boy wiped the tears with the tip of his folded index, smiling at his Touken Danshi who was watching him with perplexity.

"I'm afraid I have been more cursed than truly blessed. " he declared mysteriously, intriguing his swords a little more.

"Hahaha! Well, I can't say you're wrong. " responded Mikazuki, seeming to be the only one to have understood the Sage's words.

"Does that mean you're not angry anymore? " asked Hakata in his lovely, worry-filled voice.

"No, no longer at all. But you won't be forgiven until you repair all the damage you have caused. "

"Of course! " answered the three Yari together, nodding.

"Aaah! " suddenly cried Kiyomitsu with panic.

"What? " questioned Yasusada, turning to him.

"My nails! I broke a nail! "

Pursing his lips, the Sage watched as Kashuu's face went from white to red in a few seconds as he turned toward the three spears, completely tense as if his limbs were trapped in stone, and clasping his hands together, the boy narrowed his eyes, grinning desolately.

"YOU! " abruptly yelled the Uchigatana, furious, frightening the three big Toudan who freeze with fear.

Xxxxxxxxxx

He opened his eyes in a burst of consciousness, his mind still clouded by the limbo of sleep, wondering how long he had fallen asleep. Looking tiredly at the reports on his desk, he gave an enormous yawn before getting up from his chair, stretching like a cat as he took the direction of the exit.

From a dark violet colour and invaded by an icy mist, the night sky seemed to spread over the citadel like a threatening shadow, as if the veil between the world of the living and that of the dead had just opened. Walking with a slow gait, exhaustion almost making him sleep up, he closed his eyes for a second, just enough time for him to bump against a hard surface, making him sightly stepped backwards as a hand gripped his left wrist to prevent him from crumbling to the ground, waking him up for good.

"Aruji! Sorry, sorry, I didn't see you. "

"Tsurumaru? "

Shaking his head, the Saniwa raised his pupils on his Toudan, a thin smile on his lips.

"Mm-hmm... It's me who did not look where I was going. What are you still doing up at this hour? "

"It's nothing. Kitsune fell asleep in my room by mistake, I went to give him back to his owner. "

"I see. "

Offering a worried pout to his master, the Tachi sighed, unconvinced, before finally deciding to ask the question which was spinning in a loop in his mind.

"You were still working, weren't you? " he asked, knowing very well what to expect.

"Yes, there is always something to do here. " the boy replied with a new smile.

"Try to rest too, so you would not fall ill again. " Kuninaga said, frowning, never looking so serious before.

"Promise. " murmured the Sage, nodding to show that he had learned the lesson.

Greeting his sword with a wave of his hand, he continued his way down the hallway, making a mental note for a quick reminder of the rooms' allocations the next morning. He stopped at an intersection, however, when strange whispers reached him from the end of the engawa as if someone were counting down. Deciding to go see what it was, he stopped at the sight of one of his Touken Danshi hanging from a beam, doing pushups.

Lifting at a steady pace, Doudanuki Masakuni counted each of his flexions, seeming not to notice his presence.

"Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three... "

"Doudanuki. " he called in a neutral voice, at once bewildered and completely jaded.

"Yo Aruji. " said the Uchigatana, monotonous, jumping to the ground to face the Saniwa.

"What are you doing? "

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I could train. "

Sighing with composure, the boy contents himself with looking around for a moment before retorting without the possibility of objection:

"Go back to bed. "

Doudanuki did not even try to understand, probably not being the type to question a direct order given by his General, and without answering, returned to his room, striding along the long dark corridor. Huffing, the Sage also retraced his steps, stopping again when he saw a faint light from the kitchen and curious, took the direction of the latter.

"Haaa... I should not clean when I'm drunk... "

"Jiroutachi! "

Jumping in spite of himself, the Ootachi with an effeminate air turned abruptly, letting out the red-stained cloth from his hands.

"Aruji! You'll willing to take a drink with me! "

"I think that's enough for today. "

Looking suspiciously at the carmine cloth, he breathed in relief as he noticed the half-cut tomatoes on the worktop, and shaking his head once more, grabbed the arm of his Toudan, guiding him through the aisles to arrive at a high sliding door. The shōji opened by itself before he had time to touch it, revealing a large figure dressed in a big white kimono.

"Aruji-sama. Thank you for bringing him back. I was just going to look for him. " declared Taroutachi, nodding, his eyes closed, grateful.

"Mooh, Aniki, what a killjoy you are! I went to make myself a drink. " did not hesitate to complain Jiroutachi with a certain hint of amusement, distracting the Saniwa in a certain way as he maliciously looked at the tender glance the two brothers exchanged.

"I don't think he'll run away again tonight, so it'll be fine. " reported the Sage, mischievous, greeting the two Ootachi before heading back through the corridors of the citadel.

Why are there so many people standing up at this hour?

Making himself this mental reflection, the boy stopped again when he saw another of his Toudan, awake, sneaking discreetly out of one of the individual rooms, and not the one belonging to him.

"Kasen? "

"Aruji! "

Jumping and freezing on the landing of the half-closed door, the Uchigatana of the second generation of the Kanesada turned slowly, as if caught in the act. Giving a tense smile, the sword giggled with embarrassment, and closing the shōji completely whilst moving away, tried to explain before being abruptly interrupted.

"Night laundry? " questioned the Saniwa with amusement, refraining himself from laughing under the sickly obsession of his blade with the whiteness of clothes.

"Ah, you guessed? " pouted Kasen, continuing to walk down the aisle to his own apartments, which he shared with Izuminokami.

"Since the time, yes, it starts to be a routine. " explained the Sage, sweeping the air with his hand. "He might realise it someday, you know? "

"In the meantime, I will continue this way. "

Arriving finally at his destination, the Uchigatana slid the door as discreetly as possible and quietly nodded to the boy whilst watching his brother's regular sleep.

"By the way, I met Nikkari and the Toushirou brothers. They seem to have confused me with a... ghost they hunted down if that interests you. " added Nosada, his eyes raised up, a finger mechanically patting his chin.

"A ghost? " repeated the Saniwa incredulous.

"Mm-hmm. I'm not sure I understood all the details of the story, though. "

"It doesn't matter. I'm going to see what's going on. "

Greeting the sword one last time, the Sage resumed his walk, deciding to cut short from the outside and being caught by some kind of a fishing net as he advanced without really looking where he was going.

"Hmm... Aruji-sama...? "

"Kousetsu. What are you doing in there? "

"I was caught. "

" I see that. You and Sayo, by the way. " the boy nodded with composure, this night seeming unwilling to end. "How did it happened? "

"Osayo and I got lost when we came back from the bathroom, and I did a lot of commotion as I walked down the halls to find our room. " explained Samonji calmly as if the whole situation was more than normal.

"The ghost? " easily guessed the Saniwa, looking away to try to catch sight of the Awataguchi or the Wakizashi with long green hair.

"That's what I understood. "

"I see... I guess it's better for you to stay here so you don't wake him up, right? " said gently the Sage, a thin smile on his lips.

"I... Yes..." whispered Kousetsu, slightly surprised that the boy had so easily understood his feelings.

"I hope it's not too uncomfortable, at least. " asked the Sage in a laugh that looks like a whisper.

"No, it's fine. Thank you for your consideration. "

"Nikkari? "

"He went back to puts the Awataguchi to bed. "

"Thank you. "

Waving his hand in a goodbye way, the Saniwa took the direction of the rooms, walking at a weary pace. But despite the late hour, and the surprise that tonight turned out to be for him, a certainty illuminated now the features of his face, as having finally put his finger on a truth that had previously escaped him. Finally finding Nikkari Aoe at the end of an aisle, he set forth to meet him, sighing slowly before speaking.

"How was the hunt for spirits tonight? "

"Very unsuccessful. Did we wake you up by any chance? "

"You and the dozens of other people still up at this hour, you mean? Not at all. By the way, maybe I should establish a curfew if all nights are so active... "

"I don't think this is the case, rest assured. "

Narrowing his eyes, the Sage looked at his Toudan with interest, as if trying to read in him. Then, realising that the silence seemed to embarrass him, he shook his head with amusement, again questioning the sword that was barely retaining himself from yawning under the fatigue that caught him up quickly.

"So, no ghost, huh? "

"No... although... " hesitated a moment Nikkari, uncertain.

"Yes? " the boy encouraged him with a smile.

"I counted everyone when they returned to their room, and there is a detail that bothers me a little. "

Crossing his arms against his chest, the Wakizashi thought for a moment, looking for his words, and looking down at his master, said with concern:

"They were eleven. Not ten, but eleven! I mean, they all wished me a good night, and they all walked past me on entering the room, so that cannot be a mistake on my part. There was an eleventh! I clearly heard him! "

Nibbling the inside of his cheek, the Saniwa lifted a comforting hand on his Touken Danshi's cheek, whispering affectionately:

"I believe you. But it is definitely too late to deal with such a thing now. Go to bed. A little rest will do you the greatest good. "

Nodding his head in the affirmative, Nikkari offered the boy a small smile before passing him, eagerly walking towards his apartments as he firmly held his sword between his fingers.

Huffing, the Saniwa closed his eyes for a few seconds, then, looking around with suspicion, began to move steadily toward the courtyard, stopping abruptly on the edge of the engawa, and crossing his arms in turn, frowned as he exclaimed:

"I hope you had fun! "

A strange white glow suddenly morphed in front of him at these words, starting to shine more and more strongly as the colour changed to a celestial blue whilst taking the odd shape of a schoolboy looking barely taller than Atsushi.

"Sorry... I was bored. "

"This is the second time you play a trick like this one. Scaring Kiyomitsu two years ago wasn't already enough? "

"There is not much I can do anymore... "

"That is true. But eternity is not made to look desperately for a breath of life, either. It's time for you to discover the other world. "

"I'm scared… "

"I'm here, I won't leave you until you're sure you want to go. All right? "

"Hmm. "

Taking the hand extended to him by the Sage, the boy squeezed it tightly as they slowly moved away, taking the path leading to the sacred cherry tree. The latter lit up with a tender, warm golden light, enveloping the two boys until a discreet but powerful breeze made avert the Saniwa's eyes, who, when he opened them again, discovered with sadness that he was alone anew.

He, who was used to give a life and a body to the souls of inanimate objects, to send back one of them, human moreover, tore his heart in a way he had never felt before. At least he knew, better than anyone, that the rest of the journey that was waiting for the child would be with the kindest Gods...