A dim light was invading the forest as the sun was rising and I opened my eyes, confused. Pain was gone and the fever too but I was still lying on the forest floor in my tored bloodstained kimono. Either the afterlife looked a lot like the normal world or I wasn't dead yet. My hand wasn't clenching to my katana anymore, it was lying next to me. I must have dropped it at some point... My fist was closed on something though and I opened it to have a look. It was Haruhi's little origami crane, all crushed by my hand.
A lucky charm... Did I really get so desperate that I relied on luck ?
I had kept it in my sleeve pocket since the day she offered it to me. It was with the rest, the hairpins, the medecine, the...
The Ochimizu.
I looked around me and found it. The little vial was empty. I opened my bloodstained kimono to look at my body. Kazama's cuts weren't there anymore, neither was my bullet wound. Even all the ancient scars covering my chest were gone.
I drank it... Why can't I remember ?
I closed my kimono and looked in my pocket. The rest was still there. I looked around me. My swords... Yeah, both there too. Good. My scarf was missing, though. Where...
Oh yes... It was around Chizuru's stomach...
« Chizuru ! » I shouted suddenly.
She was gone. She followed Kazama to save my life. Everything was coming back to my mind, in a painful swirl of memories.
How long did I stay here ? Has she been gone for minutes ? Hours ? Days ? And where ?
I stood up, full of energy, anger, hatred... fear. I failed to protect her and Kazama got what he wanted. Not on my watch. Not as long as I would be breathing. Now that I was a Rasetsu, I could be powerful enough to save her.
A Rasetsu... That's what I am now... A bloodthirsty monster...
I didn't know where Kazama could have taken her though. I knew he was a demon of the west but the west... That could mean anything. I had to find some information first... Maybe Sen would know. But how to find her ?
She's a princess of... the Yase clan... If I recall. Yase... That's in the mountains, north of Kyoto. I'm... south... Two hours away from Osaka...
I was at a crossroad. I could go back to Kyoto, find the Yase clan and try to get some help to find Chizuru or, I could go closer, to Osaka, maybe find what remained of the Shinsengumi and the shogunate army.
Going back to Kyoto by foot could take me nearly a day. If I walk to Osaka, maybe I could get a horse there... But I have no guarantee that they'll allow me to get back to Kyoto...
I heard some footsteps approaching and I instinctively took a defensive stance, quickly grabbing my katana on the floor.
« Saito-san ? » I heard « Do not fear, we are going to show ourselves. Please sheath your sword, we are unarmed. »
I didn't know that voice, could as well be a trap. Yet, I did what he said. My sword sheathed was as deadly anyway.
I saw the man approaching. He was tall and muscular with short silver hair and a giant scar on his face. His eyes were grey and shimmering like steel. He was wearing a white hakama on a grey kimono and didn't look armed. He seemed to be about fifty years old. He was followed by a gorgeous woman, younger, maybe in her early twenties. Just like him, she had silver eyes but her hair was ginger, flowing around her and reaching her hips. She was wearing a white hakama as well, on an auburn kimono, and didn't seem armed either. Both their faces were thin with bulging cheekbones and it was obvious that they shared the same blood. There was something odd about them, something predatory. They were probably good hunters and I hoped I wasn't the kind of prey they were looking for.
« I am Yasha Koan, » he said, bowing « and this is my daughter, Yasha Mika. We belong to the Yase clan. »
The Yase clan ?! Good, they could tell me where to find Kazama.
« Did Sen-himesama send you ? » I asked, cautious.
« She did. » he confirmed, nodding « we are ordered to escort you to Osaka castle. »
« Is Sen-himesama in Osaka ? » I asked, puzzled.
« She is. » he nodded again « with the heir of the Yukimura clan. »
« Chizuru ?! » I murmured, my eyes widened in disbelief.
« Herself. You have a valuable ally, Saito-san. » he explained « Amagiri Kyuju came to find our princess, telling her that Yukimura-himesama was getting out of Kyoto but that Kazama-oujisama was on her tracks. Yase has been a vassal of Yukimura in the past. A lot of family bounds were created between our two clans. The princess mobilized all our warriors for this rescue mission. As powerful as Kazama-oujisama could be, he cannot oppose an entire clan. The Yukimura heir is safe in Osaka with our princess and both of them are awaiting your presence. »
I would have hugged him. Truly. They saved her. They did what I failed to do and got her out of Kazama's clutch. She was only two hours away and I couldn't wait to be with her once more.
« Alright. » I just said in my toneless voice, not letting my emotions leak from my inexpressive mask. « Thank you, Yasha-san. »
« You should thank Mika. She's the one who found you. She always had flair to track down people. » he said with amusement dancing in his silver eyes.
« Thank you, Yasha-san » I bowed respectfully to Mika and she bowed in return, polite.
« Let's get going then. » she said, looking at her father who nodded in response.
We walked quietly in the forest. Their steps were assured and silent, as expected from people used to hide their existence to the rest of the country. They weren't big talkers either but I didn't mind. I didn't know them yet and I wasn't really eager to do small-talk with strangers.
The sun was now totally up and with it a whole new pain. My flesh was burning from the inside and even if I was keeping my emotionless mask in front of the two Yase, I was feeling more and more tired. I knew it was linked to my Rasetsu condition but I refused to surrender to it and kept walking with confidence, not letting anyone see the turmoil inside me.
Mika stopped and her father too. She was looking around us and I wondered what could have provoked that reaction.
« What's the matter, Mika ? » asked her father.
« Gunpowder. » she replied « Can't you smell it ? »
I tried as much as I could but I couldn't smell anything. I could only smell...
« Ugh... » I groaned, a whole new pain adding to the sunlight.
It was unbearable. A hunger like never I experienced before. I could smell Mika and Koan's blood underneath their skin. It scented... not so good actually... but I still craved it. I guess trying to focus on my sense of smell wasn't a really good idea as a Rasetsu. I'd better remember that.
« You know my smell isn't as good as it was, now... » replied Koan, not paying attention to me « I'm getting older. »
I fell to my knees, the pain unbearable. It was as if my intestines and stomach were eating themselves, tearing themselves apart. I began panting heavily, sweat flowing from all my body pores.
« Hey, what is this ? » asked Mika to her father. « He's an Oni ? I wasn't informed. »
Surprise wasn't tainting her voice, only curiosity and its with the same curiosity that her father crouched to look at me.
« The white hair could indicate an Oni form but his eyes are crimson. Doesn't look like a normal demon. » he answered, studying my features. « What are you, boy ? I thought you were human. »
It's been a long time since anyone called me « boy »...
I didn't reply and pushed him away. I wanted to unsheathe my sword and cut through him to feast on his blood. That was unacceptable. I refused to become a monster, whatever I chose to turn myself into. I would not surrender to my instincts. I dug into my pocket to find the medecine. I took one and unfolded it, swallowing the powder.
A powder made with Chizuru's blood... How obscene for me to eat this... But if I want to be reunited with her, the sooner the better, I need this right now. After I get a full understanding of my condition, I'll find an alternative.
Guilt replaced the pain, getting away, and I started to be able to breathe again. Chizuru was right. I was starting to get an understanding of what it meant to be a Rasetsu and it wasn't life. How could I continue to live an honorable life with an uncontrollable thirst for human blood ?
« Funny. » said Mika « his hair is raven-like again. »
« What was that powder, Saito-san ? » asked Koan.
« A medecine. » I replied coldly « Nothing of your concern. Let's go. »
I stood up, still feeling my body burning from inside because of the sunlight but the bloodlust was gone. I didn't know for how long though and I only got four bags of powder left. I needed to see Chizuru. She would know what to do.