Instructions for reading: (sorry for the huge note!)

So, the moment of our first choice is finally here! I have never written anything like this before, so I am going to be stumbling through this to make it as accessible as possible. Basically, there are going to be "tracks" that you can follow over the course of the rest of the story. I think it would be too confusing to try to put them all into different chapters, so most of the time, they will all be under a single chapter post. You can use "Control + F" to find the track you are following in that particular chapter. All scenes will now be separated into "sections" that will have the following tags:

Track 1: Souji/Chizuru [T1SC]

Track 2. Hajime/Chizuru [T2HC]

Track 3: Chikage/Chizuru [T3CC] - Kazama's track will begin in the next chapter!

Main Story: [MS]

Easy, right? You'll see how it all goes down in this chapter. Anything that isn't sectioned off or tagged is main story and should not be skipped.

There is 1 more layer of complexity to this, though. In addition to choosing the path with the boy you want to romance in this story, I am striving to write in jealousy scenes as well. You can choose to read only the track that you want and ignore all other tracks or you can participate in the dramatic "Track 4" alongside your chosen route. Scenes tagged with this imply that certain track-unique scenes are happening in the story simultaneously and will eventually lead to separate "Track 4" scenes filled with drama and Saito/Souji fighting for Chizuru. Scenes that will contribute to "Track 4" will be marked [T4]. Here is an example of a multi-tag scene:

[T1SC][T4] - Track 1 with Souji/Chizuru pairing that also contributes to Track 4 (Jealousy)

[T2HC][T4] - Track 2 with Hajime/Chizuru pairing that contributes to Track 4

Combined, the [T4] tag in the above 2 scenes implies that both scenes have happened. Track 4 scenes tagged with only [T4] will be standalone, which means if you are following a single track and romancing one boy, you can just ignore them. Even while sharing affections with several boys, Chizuru will eventually pick one…or will she? For the moment, I have written an ending that is Saito x Chizuru x Souji…but because I'm not sure how well received it would be, I think for now it will remain a "hidden ending" (hidden in the depths of my smut folder). As we are all aware, Kazama is not at all about sharing and he is in permanent possessive/jealous status, so he will likely not be participating in Track 4 ^_^

Have fun! I am testing this system out on you guys as I will be using this when I start writing for the otome game I plan to make in the coming year or so. For now, I am waiting to have surgery in a few days, and I am feeling a little afraid and worried. If you guys could leave a comment if you've enjoyed the read, it would help lift my spirits :) Writing this has been really therapeutic and has helped me stay strong during a very trying time. Thank you so much already if you've commented or left a fave/kudos!


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[MS]

"Doctor Yukimura! Doctor Yukimura!"

"Yukimura-san! Please answer us!"

I opened my eyes to another strange ceiling. My body was as heavy as a pile of lead. I took a big breath, and my lungs hurt as though I hadn't breathed properly in centuries. I lifted a hand to my face. Blood and dirt was trapped under my finger nails. My head still ached, but the pain was tolerable at least. I coughed and rolled onto my side, assessing the damage to my body. My right sleeve was torn open and caked in blood, but my arm was completely healed. Other than that, I seemed to be unharmed. I groaned as my head spun, the ground beneath me oscillating. I imagined this was what if felt like to be hit in the head with a hammer.

"Doctor Yukimura! Please answer us!"

Unfamiliar voices. Was it the Shinsengumi? Was the battle over? Still in a daze, I rushed to look around. I was in a different market shop than I remembered entering before. Stalls with multi-colored wax paper decorations stood empty within, cobwebs littering their corners. Stacks of moldy crates and empty boxes were piled in a corner. The walls were worn, the wood rotting and the paint peeling. I couldn't hear any sounds other than the men outside. I was alone. No sign of the creature with the red eyes. That crimson was the last thing I remembered. He'd asked me my name…then everything went dark. Evidently, he hadn't followed through on his threat to kill me. Had he left because he thought me dead?

After seeing the blue glow around him, I had no doubt: he had been a demon like me. Pure blooded, too, for I'd glimpsed his horns appearing for a moment. Other than my father, I'd never seen another demon before, and my father wasn't able to change his appearance at all. But, if the creature was a demon, there was no chance he'd mistaken me for dead. He would have felt my life force, would have heard my heartbeat. All I could rationalize was that he must have recognized what I was and had chosen to let me live for reasons unknown. After the seeing the cruelty in those eyes, I couldn't imagine it was out of kinship.

"Yukimura-san!"

The voices outside grew closer. I sat up straighter, my thoughts speeding up despite the fog in my head. I couldn't let the humans see me like this! I reached into my satchel and pulled out a roll of gauze with trembling hands. Clumsily, I wrapped it around my healed arm, spotting some blood from my clothes onto it and making sure the location matched the tear in my sleeve. It wouldn't do for anyone to suspect my wounds had healed so quickly. Bringing hanks of my hair in front of my face, I made sure it was its usual black. My hair tie had vanished. Hopefully seeing me with my hair down wouldn't give away my true gender to the other warriors. By habit, my hands touched the swords at my sides. Someone had sheathed my blade for me. The demon? Why bother doing such a thing? For now, I stopped trying to remember more about our encounter. Every time his eyes flashed in my mind, my headache got worse.

I gasped with realization. The battle! Saito and Souji! They'd been completely surrounded! Were they alright? Why didn't I hear their voices calling for me? Panicking, I got to my feet. Too fast, apparently. Off balance, my body reeled sideways into the wall. I caught myself with my hands and winced, waiting for the dizzy spell to pass. My temples were throbbing in pulsating agony. Dark blots swam in my vision. What had happened to me? My wound wasn't so serious that I would have lost consciousness from it. Nor had the demon attacked or injured me. I hadn't fallen or hit my head. So, why did it feel like I'd been run over by multiple ox carts?

When I could move again, I stumbled to the door and pushed it open. Step by step, I made it out to the street. Some distance away, I saw men in Shinsengumi blues searching various shops and building alleys. They cupped their hands over their mouths and shouted my name. My eyes desperately searched for Saito and Souji, but I couldn't see either of them. Squashing down overwhelming fear for their safety, my heart pounding out a rhythm of fear, I took a deep breath and….

**Called out to Souji** [Track 1]

**Called out to Saito** [Track 2]


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[T1SC] - Track 1

"Okita-san…"

His name came out like a whistle of air. My voice was too weak to carry more than a whisper. I coughed to clear my throat. My mouth was dry, my throat sore and tight. Why did my lungs feel like they were collapsing? It hurt to breathe, much less speak.

"Okita-san," I tried again. But, a rock pressed on my chest, a kind of weakness I hadn't felt in a very long time. I recognized this sensation as pure exhaustion. None of the men heard or saw me at all. They kept calling my name, searching. Their feet stepped over more dead bodies of ronin than I could count, their coats spotted red. Terrified for Souji and Saito since I couldn't see them at all, I let go of the doorway and continued stumbling forward. My vision blurred as tears stung the corners of my eyes. I couldn't imagine that something had happened to either of them, and even if I could, I didn't understand why the thought rent my feelings to such a degree. Guilt, perhaps? The fear that my being here on patrol with them distracted them somehow and caused them to make a mistake?

Clutching at my chest, I took another deep breath. "Okita-san…where are you?" Nothing in response. Then again. "Okita-san!"

Finally, my voice carried some weight. My toe caught on something on the ground; I stumbled and had no strength to regain my balance. I would have fallen, but suddenly a warm solid arm caught me from behind and pulled me up against a hard sinewed chest. Blue sleeves with white triangular patterns came into my line of sight.

"Stop screaming, would you?" a voice murmured against my ear, sending a wave of goosebumps down the right side of my body. "You'll wake the dead." Rough hands turned me around to see the owner of the voice. A ragged gasp of relief released all the tension in my chest. I made a strangled sound.

Souji looked at me without saying a word, steadying me until I could stand on my own.

"Okita-san! Are you hurt? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he replied coolly. "As you can see."

That's when I looked at him. Really looked at him. Some of the men had spots of blood on their uniforms, but Souji was drenched in it from head to toe. It coated his jacket, sleeves, and pants. It was all over his chest, face, and his soft auburn hair. I hardly recognized him. His eyes had none of their typical myrth and sarcasm. They weren't green, but a pale aquamarine, his pupils shrunken even in this darkness. In his hand, he held his sword. I could hardly see the silvery steel beneath the globs of red that coated it. With a single powerful thrust, he shook a stream of blood from it and sheathed it.

"They're all dead," he said with the casual air of someone commenting on the weather. "We should continue the patrol now."

I swallowed past a thick lump in my throat. "W-Who were those men?"

He shrugged. "Don't care, really. They attacked us so they got what they deserved." Finally, he smiled. But it was not a smile I recognized. It was full of darkness. "At least this patrol ended on a good note. I was worried I'd be bored all night."

"…bored…?"

Souji stepped towards me and reached out a hand towards my bandaged arm. "Did one of them get you?" Before he could touch me, my body jerked away. His eyes widened momentarily; he saw I was trembling. Again, he smiled a stranger's smile. "What's with that face? I can't be nice all the time, Chizuru-chan. Sometimes I want to play, too."

"So many are dead…men have lost their lives…" I protested. "This isn't a game, Okita-san."

"I am the sword of the Shinsengumi. I'll kill anyone who goes against us." He reached for me again. "Now, let me see that cut," he demanded. I tried to twist away, but he grasped my chin in his large hand and held me still. "Is it just your arm? Why is your face bloody, too? Shit, Hijikata will have my hide..."

Reflexively I wiped at my nose. My sleeve came away covered in crumbles of dried blood. "I'm fine," I insisted. "Really. Please, let me go." He did, allowing me to step back from him. I hugged myself, pushing down the panic I felt at his touch. The hands that had killed so many. The hands that felt nothing when taking a life. Helpless to stop it, my mind flashed back to the night when I'd found him coughing in his room. Those hands had wrapped around my neck, then. He had been ready to kill me without knowing a thing about me. Had anything changed since that night? Or was I still just as disposable to him? He certainly enjoyed threatening to kill me for the smallest of things often. I hadn't taken him seriously…but, now…

"You look scared," he smirked. "Am I that intimidating? Or should I have let those criminals kill me, do you think?" His voice dropped to a low hard rumble. "Should I have let those men cut you in half? They certainly tried."

My hand cupped my throat. "No! That's not it…I'm sorry…you protected me, Okita-san…thank you…I just…you're different…"

"This is who I am," he said, his smile vanishing. His tone could have cut metal. "If you thought I was anything else, you were wrong."

I looked into his aquamarine eyes devoid of any emotion…devoid of empathy. All I saw in their depths was the thrill of mastering death. The moon illuminated the depths of his depravity, his eyes glittering with madness. When he smirked, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the silvery sheen of light on his full lips. The red of the blood contrasted with his pale skin. Horrifying; sickening. Yet, even drenched in blood like a demon from a human horror story, I couldn't help thinking he was beautiful. Then his smile widened and he gave a low, measured chuckle. My heart skipped a beat. I'd never heard him laugh before…not quite like this…

"Do you see a monster, Chizuru?"

"No," I shook my head. "I see you, Okita-san."

He put a hand on his waist and tilted his head, his expression bemused. "If you aren't running by now, kid, then there's clearly something wrong with your head."

"I'm not going anywhere," I told him with a glare, tilting up my chin. "You can't scare me."

"Sure," he chortled. "Just give it time."

By this time, the men in the distance noticed us. They ran towards us, and I was relieved to see Saito leading them. A few spots of blood stained his coat, but he looked unharmed.

"Doctor Yukimura, are you alright?" one of the younger recruits asked as the men approached. "We were worried when we couldn't find you." I was touched by his concern and did my best to smile.

"Yes, I am quite alright. And you all? Is anyone injured?"

"A few scrapes," Saito said. "Nothing life threatening."

"I can help," I said, pointing to my satchel.

"You sure like to go the extra mile," Souji snorted in a snide drawl. Ignoring his jab, I stepped around him and called to the men.

"Does anybody need medical assistance?" A few of the men stepped up, mumbling words of thanks as I bandaged their deepest cuts and grazes. Taking out my needle and thread along with a miniature bottle of hand made antiseptic, I began stitching up the more serious cuts some of the men had on their arms, legs, and shoulders.

Saito spoke to Souji. "We need to retreat to headquarters and report this ambush to the Vice Commander," he said. "We shouldn't stay here in case more men come."

"Saito-san, do you know those men?" I continued working as we spoke.

"We examined their uniforms. It seems they were hired by the Satsuma. They carried some documents stamped with their crest."

"Satsuma?" I'd heard the name of this group several times in my time with the Shinsengumi. Though I still wasn't clear on the politics of everything, I knew they stood with the Aizu in support of the unification of the Shogunate and the Imperial Court. Why would they arrange an attack on the men they supposedly supported?

"It is unusual. They focused the bulk of their forces on attacking Souji and myself. This was a direct attempt to murder Shinsengumi captains."

I shuddered at the thought. It certainly seemed that way. Yet, even when the enemy had brought so many men, they hadn't been able to put a scratch on either Captain.

"We're not done with the patrol, Hajime-kun," Souji frowned.

"Per orders, we are to return if there is a conflict of this magnitude," Saito said. "Some of our men are injured. Not to mention, Yukimura was hurt as well."

"Yeah, yeah…" Souji sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm fine actually," I insisted, not wanting to be the cause of any more tension between Souji and myself.

Saito pointed to the way we came. "Let's gather your things and move back towards headquarters."

"Oh…" I'd forgotten about my dropped basket. Together, we went back to the shop I originally ran into. Saito and the men helped me gather the dropped herbs, jars, and supplies while Souji kept an eye out for danger. Once I slung the basket over my shoulders, we took patrol formation and moved back towards our base.


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[T2HC]

"Saito-san!" I yelled, my heart twisting in my chest. "Saito-san! Please answer me!"

In the distance, the men saw me and started shouting and pointing my way. "Captain Saito!" they called. "Captain Saito, we found him! Over there!"

I cried out in pure relief when I saw Saito step out of another abandoned shop. Wrapped up in the tension of the patrol, I hadn't realized this part of the city was completely empty when we were scouting it last night. It must have been an older district that was falling behind Kyoto's rapid growth. When he saw me, Saito broke into a run. He reached me just as my knees gave way, catching me and pulling me up against him.

"Yukimura," he murmured my name. I shuddered, clutching at his jacket. How could it be that just by stepping close, he made me feel so absolutely safe? His scent wrapped around me: musk, metalworking oils, and a hint of…something else. In the wake of it, the pounding in my temples lessened. The horror of the battle faded into the back of my mind.

"Saito-san," I breathed. "When I didn't see you and Okita-san…"

"We are unharmed. Where are you hurt?" I couldn't answer him; not just yet. I wanted to feel his strength for just a moment longer. I was drowning in my fear and he was the island I hung onto to in order to keep afloat. "Yukimura, I can't see where you're hurt if you're this close."

Hearing his voice right next to my ear finally snapped me out of my stupor. Realizing that I was practically clinging to him, I pushed myself back and away. "I'm so sorry for my rudeness. I was just a little dizzy. But, I'm fine now. Truly. My arm was cut a bit, but I bandaged it." I glanced up into his face. His blue eyes gazed back, calm and serene. After such an intense battle, I expected him to look harrowed. But, his hair didn't even look mussed. Aside from a few bloody stains on his jacket, he didn't look any different. Fortunately, he didn't seem bothered by our closeness, instead concentrating on inspecting me from head to toe. His eyes were focused and serious. As always, I couldn't read a thing from his lack of expression. His handsome face was statuesque.

"I'm sorry," I felt compelled to keep apologizing. Though he didn't seem to notice my inappropriate behavior, I couldn't let it go. He offered me a hand, but I declined. "Thank you. I can walk. I was just…the fight was…" I choked on my words. "I was scared."

"I understand."

"Is everyone alright?" He helped steady me and stepped back, keeping a respectful distance between us. The other men caught up to him and filed around us in a semi circle. Among them, I saw Souji. To my relief, he also looked unharmed, though he had considerably more blood on him than Saito did.

"Doctor Yukimura, are you alright?" one of the younger recruits asked. "We were worried when we couldn't find you."

I was touched by his concern and did my best to smile. "Yes, I am quite alright thanks to all of you. You fought valiantly." The man who had spoken and his companions practically beamed at my compliment. "And you all? Is anyone injured?"

"A few scrapes," Saito said. "Nothing life threatening."

"I can give first aid to those who need it," I said, pointing to my satchel. Early treatment would prevent infection and complications.

"That would be most helpful," Saito nodded. Elated that I could be useful somehow, I stepped around him and called to the men.

"Does anybody need medical assistance?" A few of the men stepped up, mumbling words of thanks as I bandaged their deepest cuts and out my needle and thread along with a miniature bottle of hand made antiseptic, I began stitching up the more serious cuts some of the men had on their arms, legs, and shoulders.

Saito spoke to Souji. "We need to retreat to headquarters and report this ambush to the Vice Commander," he said. "We shouldn't stay here in case more men come."

"Who were those men that attacked us?" I continued working as we spoke.

"They pretended to have a personal grudge against Souji, but upon closer examination of their uniforms, we found evidence that they were hired by Satsuma."

"Satsuma?" I'd heard the name of this group several times in my time with the Shinsengumi. Though I still wasn't clear on the politics of everything, I knew they stood with the Aizu in support of the unification of the Shogunate and the Imperial Court. Why would they arrange an attack on the men they supposedly supported?

"It is unusual. They focused the bulk of their forces on attacking Souji and myself. This was a direct attempt to murder Shinsengumi captains."

I shuddered. "You saved my life, Saito-san. You made a path for me in the battle."

"You did well evading the conflict. It is lamentable that you were hurt, but it is good that it wasn't more serious. When the Vice Commander suggested we take you on night patrols, I was against it. Those who oppose us have been more active at night lately." He glanced at the doorway that I'd come out of. "How did you make it this far from the battle without being seen?"

It was a question I'd been asking myself, too. Had the other demon carried me here? My sword had been sheathed, suggesting he might have. But, if he'd bothered to carry me this far and put away my sword, why leave me here? Why not kill me?

"I'm sorry…I was in such a daze…I hardly remember running at all."

He nodded in understanding. I hated myself for lying to him immediately, but stomped down the emotion. Now wasn't the time to get soft. My demon heritage was not something I ever wanted anyone to know about.

"Let's gather your things and move back towards headquarters."

"Oh…" I'd forgotten about my dropped basket. Together, we went back to the shop I originally ran into. Saito and the men helped me gather the dropped herbs, jars, and supplies while Souji kept an eye out for danger. Once I slung the basket over my shoulders, we took patrol formation and moved back towards our base.


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[MS]

Hijikata was waiting for us upon our arrival. He watched the men file into their dormitories, but signaled for us to wait. It wasn't until the four of us were alone that his face transformed into an expression of fury. He pointed to me with a finger, and I automatically shrank back.

"What is the meaning of this?" he growled. To my frustration, Souji just looked amused. I hated that he had a tendency to provoke Hijikata's anger. Now was not the time to test his limits. My first patrol with the men had been a disaster. I couldn't imagine I'd be allowed out of the compound for weeks at this rate.

"We were ambushed," Saito said. "Satsuma men attacked us. They attempted to disguise their intentions by mentioning a personal conflict, but it was clear that this was an attempt on our lives."

"Satsuma?" Hijikata's brow cleaved in a deep worried furrow. He stroked his chin. "This doesn't make sense. Were you able to take any prisoners for interrogation?"

Saito's gaze briefly flashed to Souji and his jacket, drenched in blood. "No. Everyone has been slain."

"Souji," Hijikata ground out in warning. "How many times have I told you not to get carried away? You are a Captain, not a mindless murderer. Get that through your thick skull or I will demote you." The younger man shrugged with a smirk that seemed to set Hijikata off further. I thought the Vice Commander would hit him; instead, he shot me a fuming glare. "You."

"Y-Yes?"

"Return to your room. You will not be attending any further patrols. It was a mistake allowing this."

My mouth dropped open. I scrambled to argue. "But…Hijikata-san…I haven't been able to find any additional information on my father's whereabouts yet. Please, don't lock me away in the compound again. I need to keep trying."

"You could have been killed," he frowned. "Do you not understand how dangerous these patrols are now? This isn't the time or place to babysit little girls playing with swords."

"I am not," I raised my voice, bristling at the comment. "Had I chosen to fight, I could have." My hands flew over my mouth. I couldn't believe I'd just told him off like that! Immediately, I flew into a flurry of bows and apologies. "I just meant that…well..I can't give up when something goes wrong. I have to keep trying or it's meaningless…"

"You're pretty crazy, kid," Souji interjected, "but to ask to go out again after what just happened? Have you lost your mind?"

"No," I said with a confidence I hardly felt. "I know I'm a burden. I know it causes inconvenience. But, I need to keep searching for my father. Every day we don't search, his trail grows colder and colder. He is a doctor of Western medicine, he is skilled and friendly. He helps others. Yet, when I was showing his picture in town, people didn't know him. I don't understand how that can be. It's painful," I bit my lip to hide the quiver in my voice. "It's frustrating. But I have to keep trying." I glanced between all three of them. Saito was unreadable as always, Souji looked like he was about to laugh at me, and Hijikata looked like he'd just been forced to swallow bitter medicine.

"Vice Commander," Saito said. He and Hijikata exchanged secretive looks. Hijikata rubbed at his temple. I had a distinct feeling that he was debating whether to tell me something important or not. I looked him straight in the eyes, hoping he would see my resolve. Suddenly, he reached up and made a sound of annoyance and resignation, scratching the back of his head.

"Truth is…we received news early this morning that a man by Kodo's description was seen near and around a coal shop called Masu's."

"What?" I gasped, hope flaring inside me in a great explosion.

"We can't confirm the validity of this," Hijikata warned. "It could just be rumors."

I turned to Souji. "Was that shop near the places we patrolled tonight?"

"No," he shook his head. "But we can head there tomorrow to check it out."

"Let me come with you!" I turned to Hijikata, digging my fingernails into the straps of the basket on my back and bending my back in a low bow. "Please. Please let me go with them." I squeezed my eyes shut, praying.

After several agonizing minutes in which Saito described how I did well tonight and wasn't a burden at all—that I'd even helped give first aid to the injured after the battle—Hijikata relented. "Very well, but no more night patrols. You'll go out with Souji and Saito only during the day."

"Thank you!" I clasped my hands in front of me in a gesture of gratitude.

"Now get inside. It's late."

"Yes!"

As I rushed to follow his instructions, I heard Souji chuckle. "You're too soft on her…"


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[MS]

When I arrived in my study, I dropped the basket to the floor and rushed to make preparations for a bath. As I washed the evidence of the night's violence from my body, I thought about the possibility of finding my father. Of course I understood that this could be a baseless rumor. It was more likely that we would find nothing on the morrow at all. But, I couldn't shake the hopeful feeling inside me now. I'd received permission to go out and we had at least a small lead. This was a result of my hard work and dedication. If I kept working hard, performing my duties, proving I could be counted on at least in some way, fate would reward me. Just imagining a reunion with my father made me tear up in happiness.

Please wait for me, Father.

My spirits bolstered, I came back to my study, changed into a light yukata and evening kimono, and flipped through my father's tome until I found the elixir recipe. I fingered the worn parchment with care, deciding to make an extra copy in case something happened to this one. Naturally, I'd already memorized it, but one could never be too careful. Moving to my shopping basket, I took out the ingredients I would need along with a rather expensive set of alchemical supplies I'd purchased with the stipend I'd earned the past several months. Fortunately, despite my dropping the basket during battle, none of the equipment had been damaged.

I knew I should have been exhausted after my ordeal that day, but the sudden news of my father had given me a second wind. It was fortunate demons did not need as much sleep as humans did, for I was too excited to simply close my eyes and slumber. I opened my father's tome to the latest blank page and began writing out my notes in our secret language. I'd already decided that I was going to try to make the elixir again, but I just hadn't gathered the courage. Right now, while I had the strength and resolve, I wanted to keep moving forward and hold onto to this momentum. First, I would make my elixir by memory then compare it to my father's. After testing them, I would destroy them both to make sure no one knew of their existence. Perhaps seeing the differences between them would help me understand why my father had disappeared. Or how it was that he had made the elixir without my demon blood.

It took many hours, but by the time the sun had risen, I held two vials of pink liquid in my hands. I took detailed notes about each solution's color, appearance, texture, smell, and taste. Perhaps I should have been worried of its effects on me, but I'd spent the last ten years tasting all kinds of poisons, powders, and medicines. I was confident in my body's resilience. Dipping the tip of my nail into each, I placed a drop on my tongue and spat it out immediately, noting the difference. Mine was sweeter and thicker, almost like a film coating the tongue. Splitting my father's elixir into two vials, I decided to begin the final test. Unsheathing my kodachi, I sliced open my finger and placed two drops of my blood into each vial, leaving the third unspoiled. What I saw surprised me. The color of my potion turned a lighter shade of pink, taking on a pearly hue while my father's elixir turned to a dark red, almost the color of old blood. I performed another taste test. This version of my father's elixir burned the tip of my tongue while mine still tasted sweet, if a bit tangy.

"Here goes nothing," I mumbled. I cut my skin at the wrist this time and dripped a copious amount of blood into three small ceramic bowls. Tipping the vial of my elixir, I placed several drops into the first bowl. Nothing happened. However, when I placed several drops of my father's elixir containing my blood into the second bowl, I felt my chest tighten in concern. The blood in the bowl began to boil and hiss. Within seconds, it turned black as coal. I stirred it with a spatula. It took some time, but it eventually turned back to the normal color of blood, though the bowl remained hot. Using the portion of elixir that didn't have my blood, I watched as the same thing happened to this portion as the second. The blood boiled and turned to tar. However, no matter how much I stirred, it did not turn back to normal and went ice cold.

How bizzare. What could this have meant? My father's elixir was clearly not safe to consume for a demon, not to mention humans. Why was he making it, then? I was clearly missing a key ingredient, and I couldn't help but suspect that it was blood of a different kind. When memories of the white-haired monsters in the alleyway flashed in my mind, I pushed them away. Impossible. My father would never experiment on innocent people like that. Taking the bowls out to the back of the courtyard by my study, I use a trowel to dig a hole by the fence and buried the contents of the bowl within.

My mind raced with possibilities, but none of my theories led me anywhere new. Realizing that I wasn't getting anywhere, I decided to stop and rest for a few hours until my morning rounds began. The men would need medicine to follow up their physicals, and I would need more supplies to continue my tests. Unfortunately, I'd run out of money. For now, this would have to wait. I could be patient, especially since it seemed there was a clue of my father in the city. Looking forward to the day, I blew out my lamp, settled into my futon, and closed my eyes to sleep.