Chapter 14: Second meeting

No one's point of view:

The men who went to the castle came back to HQ. Hijikata went to talk to Kondou while Saito went to see Sannan, the other men had been told to wait in the meeting room, or just outside if they wished to wait until they had a meeting on what they had learned. Okita was the first one to moan once they was alone and waiting. "I hate this we don't know if Himura kun is alive or not and what was those things anyway? Calling themselves demons." Sano agreed he to was worried for Himura just as much as the others.

Tenma's point of view:

I had taken notice that Sannan seemed to like running his fingers through my hair, which seemed to be down and not tied up. Had I let it down I don't think I did but I was not going to complain as it felt nice to have someone run their fingers through my hair, almost relaxing maybe that was what Sannan san was trying to do. Also every now and then the man would be lightly rubbing or stroking my wolf like ears. This in turn was making me blush a little as my wolf ears seemed to be more sensitive ever since I had became a half demon. Sannan had handed me a cup full of animal blood as he was unsure if I needed it due to what had happened. I was thankful that he was here, and was trying to help me. I took the blood and sipped it at first before drinking it slowly.

The whole time Sannan was watching me, studying me and waiting to see how I was going to react. At that moment of me sitting up with Sannan's hands playing with the ends of my hair, Saito came into the room. He looked at Sannan with an unreadable look. "Colonel Sannan san there will be a meeting soon, Himura kun is also invited if she is up to it" Sannan nodded and replied, "of course we will be there soon." Saito looked at me and nodded before saying, "I am happy to see you are well Himura kun and I know the others will also be pleased to see your alright" and with that he left the room most likely to go to the meeting room.

Sannan looked at me with a warm smile. "When you are ready we will go. You will have to put your hair up and re look like a boy again." He told me as his hands left my hair and reached into his robes to pull out a hair tie. He handed the hair tie to me and I accepted it re doing my hair and making myself look more boy like. A smile graced both mine and Sannan san's lips. He helped me up and we both started to walk towards the meeting room. On our way there Sannan started up a conversion.

Sannan: "So Himura kun I want to know why did you save Saito san? Not that I am ungrateful or anything but you have not known as long and we have been keeping you as a prisoner of sorts. So I was just wondering why save someone who is keeping you rooted here?"

Tenma: "Hmmm to tell you the truth I don't know why I did it. I knew what was going to happen but I don't know how I knew it. I have a feeling that I know that demon from somewhere, but I can't remember."

Sannan: "I see what is the last memory prior to coming into our care here? Before you become our prisoner I mean? Can you remember your childhood? Or any family you have?"

Tenma: "I can remember everything from age 12 but anything before that I can't remember. I don't remember my family, any friends from before that age. Not even who taught me how to use a sword. However that being said I do remember a face of a female but it causes me pain when I think of her."

Sannan: "Maybe you met the demon before age 12. I could look into if you like"

Sannan's voice reassured me as we had reached the meeting room. I merely nodded as we walked in. I could see everyone was here, they was all looking at both me and Sannan, as we entered and took our seats. I sat almost next to Sannan but facing more towards the door. Something that I am sure everyone had taken note of if the looks on their faces was anything to go by.

Saito seemed to me anyway to be the same yet his eyes shone with something akin to respect and a little hint of amusement. Hijikata coughed into his hand and said, "Okay on with this meeting now that everyone is here." Everyone nodded and waiting for someone to go first. Hijikata started it off, "I think I speak for everyone when I say that I am happy you are doing well Himura kun, we was all really worried about you" I looked at him and nodded a little unsure on how to proceed. "That being said we have saved Himura kun but I can't help but worry about that demon, he knows something and it seems that he knows our Himura kun as well."

Sano's eyes widen at that, "How is he after Tenma kun?" he asked as Hijikata let out a deep sigh, "I don't know Sano I really don't know" Sannan then put in his two cents. "Himura kun also doesn't remember much about her past only from age 12, so it is possible that this demon knew her from before. Also I have discovered something about Himura but I think I will let Himura kun tell you" No one missed the parts of where Sannan used her rather then him. From that everyone in the room then knew that the demon that had called Himura by the chan honorific knew that their Himura Tenma was really a girl.

I lifted my head up looking at Sannan and seeing him nod in his own way letting me know that I can talk freely now. I swallowed and looked at everyone looking at their faces as their eyes was fixed on me. "It's true I can't remember anything from before I was 12. Also I am a female by birth I am sorry for not telling you" I told them the truth I could see some had shocked faces while others blank or a knowing face. I heard Shinpachi cry out, "Wait your a girl? How? no way" Sano trying to lighten the mood replied "well why don't we strip her to find out" And Kondou yelling at that remark "What! No we will do no such thing" I was trying to hide my laughter. I looked over at Sannan to see him trying to suppress a grin on his face. It was amusing on some level. I could feel myself relax a little watching them act like this.

Once everyone had calmed down the meeting went under way. I ended up telling them how I had found the red shard while gathering medical herbs. I took notice at how Sannan's eyes lit up at the words medical herbs. It was then he had asked if I knew any medical skills. I nodded, but told him it was only small stuff like first aid and treating small wounds. He only hummed in thought at that. I told them what I did know from my past even telling them about an image of a female I knew, all things I had told Sannan already but now I was telling all the captains. Once the meeting was over Hijikata gave me a calm yet almost cold look. It was as if he had reached something.

He looked at me and said, "Now we know you really are a female we can not allow you to be seen when the men bathe. So from now on we will be keeping you as Sannan san's page, still you can still go on patrol with Saito but only when Sannan tell you to. Is that understood? Oh and as for sword practice you will train under Sannan when he has the time. After all in the fury core where Sannan and you worked that first time, there is a training room as well as a bathhouse. So you don't have to worry about anyone seeing you. Also you will continue to dress as a man understood? Good" I only nodded with a smile. We all got up and slowly left the meeting room. Once back outside Sannan looked at me and told me to wait for a bit. I saw him talk to both Kondou and Hijikata.

Once he was done he came back with a smile on his face. "Himura kun from now on you will be living in the fury core, as for Towa chan don't worry we have not forgot about her, she will live in the room we first gave you. She will be safe so please do not worry. The reason behind this is as you are a fury we feel it best if you moved into the fury core in a privet room. It will be next to mine so please do not fear about being chained up or caged like the other furies who have lost their minds and thus require to be chained up or caged." He explained I still didn't feel the need to tell him what I really was there was no need, I could see they was doing this to keep Towa chan safe and for that I was happy that these men cared enough about a child they didn't really know. "Okay Sannan san will I be moving in today or tomorrow?" I asked. He smiled and said "today your room has already been prepared mostly by Kondou san as he was going to make this change anyway." I only nodded and followed him to my old room to take my stuff.

I told Towa chan about what is happing and she smiled and nodded. Even told me not to worry that she knows I will be alright. Sannan was watching us a look in his eyes told me this was not normal behaviour for a child to show. It made me wonder if he would start to ask about the child. About me and Towa chan would he pry into my life trying to find more out about me? What if he finds something about me and Towa chan? What if he finds out that Towa chan is not really my little sister. Would he get mad? Would he try to find her family? I knew she didn't have any as she had told me. But what if she had lied? I shook away those thoughts and got my stuff hugging Towa chan and bidding her a good night. Me and Sannan made our way back to the fury core in silence. Once we entered Sannan showed me to my new room. It had a desk a bookcase and a futon that was already laid out. I thanked him as I put my stuff next to the desk. Something told me this was going to be a long night.