Chapter 12: To save a life

No one's point of view:

Night was about to fall as members of the shinsengumi rushed to Yokai castle. Hijikata in front leading them the shard with him. He was determined to save Himura kun, for Sannan san's sake if nothing else. He had never really seen his friend care and take as much interests as he had with Himura. He had wanted the man to smile more even talking to him when he had first brought Himura back and then again each time about the boy seeing his friend as he told Hijikata and Kondou what he had learned. It was like he had found a rare treasure or gem. And when they found out the boy was really the Battosai, Sannan seemed to be even more happy that they had such a strong addition to their ranks.

However right now that strong addition needed someone to save him. Even Hijikata himself had started to like the boy and was willing to give the boy a chance due to how he was trying to take care of a child. To him Hijikata had seen there was something wroth saving, as he knew the boy must have a good heart to look after a little child that was not his own. Hijikata doubted the boy had any kids of his own he looked to young then again some did marry young and had kids. However he knew that the Battosai from the stories that was said to be a manslayer who never fell for any female. For a moment Hijikata wondered if maybe Himura kun liked men. After all he did catch Himura kun going to where Sannan san would be working. And he was gone for a bit.

Okita was in his own thoughts as they was running towards the castle. How did that guy even get himself into this, getting his soul sucked out of him. Don't get Okita wrong or anything as he would have done the same thing, but Himura kun was an outsider that they had brought in. He was also a fury which demanded a close watch at all times. They couldn't have a fury lose control. Then there was that kid as well. What if Himura kun killed the very child he claimed to only want to protect? Okita couldn't let that happen. And now that fury that idiot Himura was in need of saving he might just have to tell him when they save him not get into such danger or not to let anything like this happen again or he will kill him. That made Okita smile at that thought.

And yet there was something that had bothered him. Something had seemed to him at least off with that fury. He had noticed that he always seemed to want to bathe alone and he didn't change in front of anyone. On top of that it did look like he cared about the child at least, and he did save Saito san from having his soul sucked out of him. That had earned some bonus points in Okita kun's books. He had liked the boy well enough as he was more well behave then Heisuke kun but he still gave him the creeps. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone, he wouldn't live that down. He would just have to tease Himura kun once they save him.

Sano was having a hard time. When he had saw Himura kun's almost lifeless body being carried by Saito he had feared the worse. He himself had some respect for the boy. And after hearing what had happened his respect only grew more. He was pissed that some monster could take someone's soul right out of their bodies. He had always felt bad for Himura kun due to him being a fury or at least that is what Sano and most if not all the captains believed. He was very impressed with how the boy was handling the sunlight and how he was keeping himself sane. Most would have gone mad but the boy had not. On top of that he had found himself liking the quite calm boy. It was as if he was really a warrior of some kind. Then again he was once the legendary Battosai so it only made sense to Sano, and yet Sano just couldn't believe that the boy was really the Battosai.

Shinpachi was also in his own thought about the boy. He didn't mind him but he had not really warmed up to him. He had noticed that Sano seemed to like him during meal times. But then Sano was friendly with everyone. It was just the kid's eyes he felt himself on edge but little by little he had felt himself becoming used to the boy being there. And when he heard about how Himura kun had saved Saito's life by jumping into save Saito from having his soul sucked but ended up by having his own soul sucked out Shinpachi wanted to tear the person who had done that to someone. Who had attacked with the intent to take one of his friend's soul. It made him sick that there was someone like that out there. Trying to hurt his friends and even manged to suck the soul out of someone that had saved one of his friends. He would have to take Himura kun out drinking with him and Sano and Heisuke.

Heisuke's thoughts about Himura Tenma was one where he was alert but he did like the boy as he seemed rather nice enough. And yet he had not really gotten to know him, and that was because he could see just how much Sannan seemed to be drawn to the boy. He didn't want to make Sannan mad or upset, as he knew just how scary the man could get. And yet after hearing about how Himura kun had saved Saito at the cost of his own life or rather soul, he was going to try and get to know the boy much more. After all Himura kun couldn't be as bad as the other furies, right?

Saito was at Hijikata's heals, he was very worried about Himura kun. The boy had after all with no warning saved him from having his soul sucked out. Was it painful to have one's soul sucked out of you? Saito thought it must be as he remembered the look of pain when Himura kun lost his own soul to that veil monster. He just hoped that they was not to late as they ran towards where the castle is. Saito had felt a kind of kinship with Himura. Warrior to warrior as if the boy had been through a great battle or war and in one way he had. Since learning that the boy was really the Battosai Saito had wondered just how hard Himura kun's life must have been before he vanished for 5 years and took in a child. Was he happy or did he have regrets?

They was now at the castle Hijikata's eyes glared at the door almost willing it to but into flames. "Alright men this is it lets do everything we can to save Himura kun. Let's go" and with that they charged into the castle without knowing what was awaiting them. Naraku knew they was here he had set up a demon puppet as their first task to beat. He also knew they had the red shard. A smirk touched his veil lips as he chuckled to himself and then said to the soul that was floating, "your friends are here for you Tenma chan it seems they cared enough to come and get you, they even brought the red shard like I asked them. But I doubt they will last the night."

In the hallway of the castle stood a demon puppet, a man in a white baboon outfit or so it seemed was there to greet the shinsengumi. "Who are you?" Hijikata asked but only received a chuckle. Then tentacles made of what looked like dirt and wood shoot out. The men jumped out of the way of being hit and started to use their swords to cut the tentacles. They worked fast it was Saito who landed the killing blow. He sliced the puppet into half with his swordsman's skill. The demon puppet turned to dust and seemly blew away as if it had never been there. The only thing left was a broken wooden puppet.