Chapter 13: The battle for the soul
No one's point of view:
With one demon puppet down the captains went onwards. The moved through the hallways checking each room on the ground floor. One room had a demon a weak one but still a demon none the less. They soon entered into battle with this weak demon. Swords clashed as they fought this new threat. This demon unlike the demon puppet even talked to them while fighting. Mocking them for trying to save their friend. Telling them that their friend is nothing more then a monster now and that they should give up. This of course had made the men mad with anger. And they starting fighting even harder to save Himura Tenma's soul.
Meanwhile back at HQ Sannan had been keeping a close watch on Himura chan. He would often stroke her long hair as her body lay there. Worry gripped him as his long slander fingers ran through the young women's hair and lightly touching her wolf ears that was soft and fluffy. He wanted to tell her that he knew her gender, that she should have told them. After all Sannan knew that the shinsengumi would never harm a women. She would be safe and wouldn't have to go out on patrol and risk her life.
For a brief moment Sannan began to wonder what was the woman's life like before she fell into their laps. He had seen the scars on her back and knew she must have had a rough life, a painful life. How many scars did she have? Was they all over her body or just on her back? He now knew why she had been keeping everyone at arms length. She must not have much trust or faith in people. Sannan san's eyes soften as he looked down at her face. She looked so peaceful as if she was just sleeping. He wanted to help her in the very short amount of time she had been with them he had seen her be rather calm, kind and although distant she was a rather good helper and worker when she was helping him. His own heart hurt when he thought that she would now need blood to live, and couldn't think of what she must have been feeling when she found that out, when she was turned into a fury. And yet she had seemly took it all in and acted more like a warrior then most men would have.
Back at the castle the demon the men was fighting laughed at them. "Ha is that the best you fools have? How can you save Tenma chan if you can't even beat a weak demon like me?" It asked. This of course made the men blink at the chan bit. Was Himura kun a girl? Hijikata glared harshly at the demon and seemed to move more faster then before. "SHUT UP" he roared at the demon cutting his head clean off. The others just looked at their demon vice-commander wide eyed. Okita smirked at what he had seen. Did the demon's words make Hijikata lose control? Then again what the demon called Himura kun by saying Tenma then putting chan at the end. Now that Okita thought about it the name Tenma sounded more feminine and Tenma did have a more feminine look about him. Okita's eyes widen as he blinked could it be that who they thought was a boy was really a girl? Okita was already going to be teasing Tenma when he saw her if that was the case.
Hijikata sheathed his sword, "come on let's hurry and find Himura kun's soul" he said leaving nothing up for debate. The other nodded and followed him. Sano whispered to one of the other captains "so do you guys think what that demon said was true? He did imply that Himura kun is a girl right? Or am I just over thinking it?" Saito was the one who replied. "You did not over think it the demon did imply that by calling Himura kun chan which is used when talking about a female, and I am beginning to think it might be true. I had noticed that Himura kun doesn't seem to want to bathe with the other soldiers or even change in front of them. This might be why if it turns out that Himura kun is a girl." Sano blinked at Saito and smiled as he said to him, "That is the most you have ever said without it being a report" Saito only spared him a glanced as they hurried off to find Tenma's soul.
They fought a few more demons each one weak, but still they made the men put up a fight. Once they got to the top level of the castle they heard a wicked evil laugh. "So you finally got here did you? And tell me did you bring me the red shard like I asked you to?" Came Naraku's cold chilling voice. Hijikata glared at the half demon. "We brought it now release Himura kun's soul. And we will give you the shard" He demanded. Naraku laughed as he held Tenma's soul in front of him for all the captains to see. They could see two faces they knew and the others they did not know. Hijikata looked at the faces of those he did not know and thought who are they?
All the shinsengumi men that was there blinked at seeing the faces slowly moving. Fading into the next face with only a small few being seen more clearly then the others. Sannan san's face was one of those that was more clearer leading the men to believe at least Himura kun had a strong feeling towards their colonel. Although they do not know what the feeling that Himura kun had was, it could be something like respect or a strong case of friendship or kinship. Either way the men knew they had to get Himura's soul back. Naraku smirked seeing the looks on their faces. "I see that you didn't know that Tenma chan had feelings for one of your own comrades. I will give you her soul as soon as you give me the shard"
Hijikata threw the red shard at Naraku who caught it with ease. Naraku true to his word threw the soul which as soon as it was no longer being controlled flew out of the open window and back towards the shinsengumi headquarters. Back to it's body, back to Himura Tenma. Naraku smirked at the men and said "thank you for bringing me the shard I hope we never see each other again" and with that he vanished into thin air along with the castle. It was almost as if what had happened had never even exist. But looking around the men could clearly see the dead bodies of the weak demons that they had killed.
Back at HQ Tenma's soul floating into the room where her body lay. Sannan san looked up seeing this dull golden orb float in and hover above Himura chan. He blinked a few times as it slowly rested on Himura kun's body then seemly the golden orb sunk in. Himura chan's skin colour started to return and as Sannan placed a hand on her head he noted that she was no longer as cold as ice but was slowly warming up. The man's lips turned upright in a warm joyful smile. She was safe now and that was all that mattered. He watched as her cheeks turn a nice healthy colour. Her breathing had gotten better. Sannan moved his hand back as he watched her as if there was nothing else in the world to look at or see.
Tenma's point of view:
My eyes slowly flickered open as I looked up at Sannan. He smiled down at me and said, "your finally awake Himura kun I am glad everyone was worried about you." I blinked up at him, I knew him and I smiled my mind was a bit foggy but I knew that it would clear up. "Yeah I am okay sorry to worry everyone" I said as his name entered my mind and I sat up. Just as I was getting myself to sit up I felt his hands on my back as he helped me to sit up. "How are you feeling?" Sannan asked me as he looked at my face with concern. "I think I am fine just a little bit fuzzy Sannan san" I replied which he nodded. "Understandable you did save one of our men Saito kun from having his soul sucked out. And in doing so you ended up having your soul sucked out." He told me although that was a blur as I didn't fully remember my soul being sucked out.
"Himura kun I want to tell you something and please don't be alarmed, it's nothing bad or anything. You know you can trust us here we won't hurt or kill you I promise." As Sannan san was saying all this I was getting a little worried with how he was saying this. However I allowed him to continue in what he wanted to tell me. "Himura kun I know your a female, may I ask why you felt the need to hide your gender from me? From the captains?" I blinked as I remembered I hid my gender for many reasons. I swallowed as I replied, "I hid my gender because I know how dangerous it can be for a female. I didn't want to be killed but I also didn't want to be raped or sexually harassed, hiding my gender and learning how to fight seemed to be the best way. Thing is I can't fully remember how I learned to fight or who taught me to use the weapons I know. I also can't remember much other then the fire revaluation. Meeting and raising Towa chan for a year. But I have started to remember a face that seems to bring me pain" as I spoke I could see Sannan taking in my words. "I see I will have to tell the others, don't worry we can keep you safe no one will ever hurt you I swear" his words seemed to be so sure and genuine. I smiled at him as I said "thanks Sannan san" he handed me a cup of water which Gen san had brought not long ago.