I woke up tied to a tree with Mika in her fox form with a leash tied to her neck, her tail in a snare and a cloth on her head. She seemed to have trouble breathing and was lying on her four paws, her belly and head on the ground like a scared animal.
« You're full of ressources, Saito-san. Travelling with the daughter of Koan. » I heard in a familiar deep voice « is the old man around ? »
« Amagiri. » I saluted my captor with a nod of the head.
He crossed his arms and waited for me to answer his question but I had no intent to do so. Koan was looking after Haruhi further away and I would not put the both of them in danger.
« Why did you come, Saito-san ? » he asked with his deep calm voice.
« I'm getting Chizuru back. » I answered with volition.
« You can't. Kazama-oujisama is no match for you. You will just die needlessly. »
« So she's here ? » I asked, ignoring his warnings.
He nodded and I felt relieved. She was there. Her plight was coming to an end.
I'm coming, Chizuru. I'm getting you out of there.
« Kazama-oujisama won't let you approach her. » he continued « I have a lot of respect for you, Saito-san, but your quest is doomed to failure. I'm offering you a chance to turn your heels. »
« I will not. I have vowed to protect her. I will find her and never surrender until she's safe again. »
« Then you can turn around now because she's safer than she's ever been. » he sighed.
« You lie. » I hissed but I could see in his eyes that he wasn't. He really believed Chizuru was safe here, in Kazama's clutch.
« I don't. » he replied « Kazama-oujisama is powerful enough to protect her, the shogunate is dying... If you take her with you, you will bring her back to the Shinsengumi, to battlefields, you will fight for a rotting cause and you will die doing so and probably take her to the afterlife with you. »
« You don't know what the future holds. » I said calmly.
« I know enough to see that you will throw her into danger. » he nodded.
« Kazama's hurting her. » I hissed « I'm not leaving her in his hands. »
« I can assure you he is not. Yukimura-himesama is perfectly safe. »
« Her name is Saito. »
It was unnecessary to point it out. He knew perfectly what her name was supposed to be. I just needed to say it. Kazama could try and marry her, she was my wife. Her name was Saito. Saito. Not Yukimura, not Kazama. Saito Chizuru. And I was coming to save her.
Amagiri just looked at me silently. He was probably wondering if he should kill me now because it was obvious that I wouldn't abandon her.
« Isn't her survival what matters the most to you ? » he asked suddenly « Kazama-oujisama is good to her. He's treating her with respect and he's protecting her. I agree he's an impulsive man but he never hurt her. »
« You weren't there. » I objected in a painful whisper as I remembered the events of the past month « you haven't seen what I saw. How he kicked her around, how he pulled her hair, how he tortured her physically and mentally by making me suffer. She won't forget. »
« He's good to her. Believe me, Saito-san. » he assured again.
« Liar ! » I yelled, unable to control myself « you told me once you were on her side... and now, you're just handing her over to a tormentor ? How do you know what can happen behind closed doors ? I saw how he treated her, I heard what he said to her ! I will get her out of here or die trying ! »
« Kazama-oujisama is never alone with Yukimura-himesama. » he told me calmly « He's waiting for her to accept him, as suitable. A male Oni will always protect a female, it's in the blood. »
« Bullshit. » I said.
It wasn't in my habits to curse. If Haruhi was there, she probably would have opened wide eyes. And Chizuru with her. It just came out naturally, out of anger. Amagiri watched me for a moment and threw my swords in my direction.
« Free yourself, I won't help you. Try not to ruin the rope, you'll need it. If you want to get to Hakone without crossing the Sekicho, you can use another mountain path, a bit east. It will be more climbing than hiking though. » he said, crossing his arms « The path you chose will only lead you to death. If you are prepared to face it, I won't stop you. You'll see that Yukimura-himesama is perfectly safe under Kazama-oujisama's protection. »
« Thank you, Amagiri. » I nodded, trying to unsheathe my katana with my feet and bring the pommel to my hand.
« I will not warn Kazama-oujisama of your arrival but that won't change anything to the outcome. »
I started cutting a rope to free myself under Amagiri's stare. Next to me, Mika was still flat on the ground and not moving at all.
« Send my regards to the old man. » said Amagiri, getting away « and if you do succeed to get Yukimura-himesama back, try to protect her efficiently. Don't make me regret that day. »
I didn't answer. My arms were free and I used them to pull on the ties and free the rest of my body. I took away the cloth on Mika's head and the leash around her neck but when I approached my hands from her tail, she squealed.
« Stop ! » she yelled. « Untie the other end first, you could cut my tail off ! I need my tail, it's the source of my powers ! »
I stopped and smirked at her.
« Tempting. »
« I hope it's a joke, Saito-san. » she pleaded « Listen, I already said I was sorry, okay ? Don't cut my tail off ! »
My grin grew wider and her animalistic eyes filled themselves with fear.
« Please, Saito-san ! » she pleaded again, not moving a single ear « please release me... »
« You deserve to be left here. » I said calmly, standing up as she froze, terrified.
I only did a few steps when Mika started barking again « Saito-san ! Come back ! Please, I'm sorry I played a trick on you, I'll be good, alright ? » she started whimpering when she realized she couldn't see me anymore and her voice turned desperate « Saito-san ! »
She felt the knot loosening around her tail and she jumped forward, changing into her human self. She turned around and came closer to slap my face but I blocked her hand easily.
« That wasn't funny at all. » she said with steel in her voice.
« Not as agreeable when you're the one who's played with, is it ? » I replied in my toneless voice, feeling a lot more joyful now that I took a small revenge.
She stayed stunned and then exploded in laughter, plunging her mocking silver eyes in mine with a mischievous grin.
« You would have made a wonderful Kitsune, Saito-san » she said, her playful attitude back « if I get a son out of you, he'll surely be powerful and smart. I wasn't mistaken. »
I ignored her and started walking to get back to Haruhi and Koan, the rope shoulderhung around me. We had to find the mountain path and with it, our way to get to Chizuru.