Author's Note: More hints about what is to come. Definitely going further AU, while keeping things familiar. I can oni say this (oh, that was bad - gomene!): there are reasons for quite a few of the things that might have seemed odd in earlier chapters, it just takes time to get to everything.

red1Rogue: Assuming that Chizuru could sense the Oni (or was reacting to them), why didn't they sense her? Well, I think some of them did. Also, being around full-fledged Oni with developed powers might mask out a stronger aura farther away unless you were looking for it. Also, maybe not all Oni are as good with all powers. Just some ideas. Either way, thanks as always for your reviews and for making me laugh! :)

Thank you for kind reviews to: eireannlily (sorry, more suspense); Swanna (glad you are seeing the light - or at least the dark blue eyes); xMousex (glad you stayed and glad you like seeing stories get a little different), nakigaoyuu (I really love the encouragement), AzureArchxngel (your enthusiasm is great and it always makes me smile), StariChanx (yay Yamazaki Ninja Arts; encouraging reviews as always :), 2human (Guest) (I really hope you're right, lol; nice to see you again ;) , AsthaRen (really happy that the demons "worked" for you - and yes, the line was adapted from the anime; I try not to do that too much, but lines that stick out for me seem to wiggle their way in); and ArchimedesAckermann (wolf cub! lol)

If I missed you here, I'll catch you next time!

Quote of the Day (it's Shakespeare and it applies; also, it may be overused, but who can resist?):

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio

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Chapter 17 – The Trials and The Gifts, Part I

Once again, three men stood by an open window overlooking Kyoto. This time, however, the view was of Shimabara, the gaily painted red-light district of the city. It was very late at night, or very early in the morning, depending on your frame of reference, but in The Quarter there were still people about, mostly men and mostly drunk.

Kazama perched himself on the window ledge, one knee propped up in front of him, the other leg dangling over a twenty-foot drop. He wore only his white kimono, trimmed in the black and red of his clan, and it clung slightly to his skin in the heat and humidity. The rainy season would be upon them very soon.

"I am sure, Amagiri. Do you really doubt me?" There was the hint of anger in the blond man's low, purring voice.

"No, Kazama-sama. I believe you are correct. However –"

"It must be soon. We cannot leave her in such… degrading circumstances for too long. Those men have no idea what she is."

"Well, neither do we exactly," said Shiranui, looking sideways at Kazama. "Amagiri, you have that Gift more than either of us – even Kazama – is it really possible that she's a pureblood?"

"Possible, yes. In my view probable. But –"

The red-haired man was cut off once again. With practised patience, he knelt and closed his eyes.

"Why are you even here, Shiranui?" Kazama demanded. "Not that I object, but we are technically on different sides of this little war in the making."

There was a derisive snort from the lean marksman.

"I wanted to find out what happened after I left, that's all. Besides, as long as I'm not seen with you, I don't think it matters."

"They do like their plots and counter-plots, don't they?" Kazama replied absently, deep red eyes now fixed on Amagiri. "Nothing much happened, I suppose, apart from the girl showing up. She tried to protect one of the Shinsengumi from me. But shouldn't you have been rushing to the aid of your comrades?"

"Not my problem if they're going to be morons. It was good odds they'd be targets tonight, you'd think they'd have been less obvious. I've agreed to gather intelligence and guard their backs from time to time, not throw myself into a wild swordfight in close quarters."

"Hnh." It was difficult to say whether Kazama was envious of the other man's freedom to choose his own terms or just preoccupied.

"Kazama-sama. We cannot fetch the girl immediately. We have other pressing matters to deal with. Do you believe that she will be harmed?" Amagiri finally got to make his point.

The blond man stirred restlessly on the window ledge.

"We are bound by oath and honour – I know we cannot stay long, Amagiri. However, we must find out who she is and whether she can still pass the Trials. For the sake of the clan."

"And of the girl, of course," murmured Shiranui with a wicked smile. "I believe you said that she could not be left in such degrading circumstances? No doubt you are deeply concerned."

Kazama leaped lightly to the floor, moving much faster than he had while fighting earlier.

"Don't push me, Shiranui. Or are you really that bored?"

The indigo-haired man held up his palms in surrender. Okita would have found his mirror-image in the smirk.

"No, no. Sumimasen deshita, Kazama-dono."

Amagiri sighed.

"Shiranui. Kazama-sama is correct that the girl could be very important to us."

Shiranui inclined his head toward Amagiri in a gesture that was almost, but not quite, apologetic.

"As you say. But Kazama sometimes needs to be reminded that people are people, not just shogi pieces."

"You need not worry, Shiranui," snapped Kazama. "Thank you for your touching concern."

"Both of you – enough." Amagiri opened his eyes but didn't move. "Lord Kazama is correct that we must see the girl again and ensure that she is well and protected – and verify her parentage if possible. Shiranui, I assure you that we will have regard for her wishes, not just our own."

Kazama turned back to the window and stared out again. The sky was starting to lighten. If the girl was a pureblood it could mean… so much. But he had other obligations, just as Amagiri said. Seeing her must have shaken him more than he knew for him to be so unguarded in his speech that Shiranui felt tempted to bait him.

Shiranui and Amagiri both watched the uncommunicative back for a few minutes, and then Shiranui took his leave.

"See you in a few weeks!" he called out as he sauntered from the room.

Much to his surprise, Amagiri caught up to him on the stairs.

"There was something else you came for, Kyo. Something that you weren't sure about."

Shiranui's usually sardonic expression faded a little.

"You always know, don't you, Amagiri? I always thought you got more than your fair share of the Three Gifts."

The other man didn't comment; he just waited.

"Ah, well, this will probably sound as fanciful as Kazama finding an unknown Oni woman working with the Shinsengumi, but… there was a man outside, when I left the Ikedaya, a captain of the Shinsengumi. I think he's part Oni. But I could be wrong – I've never been able to tell properly with half-bloods who aren't raised among us. I don't even know why I think it now. I mean, it's hard to tell right? Unless they've somehow managed to learn some of the basic Gifts? And most part-Oni can't get there on their own."

Shiranui crossed his arms as if daring the other to mock him.

"You may be correct," Amagiri said mildly. "I will ask Kazama's leave to pay a courtesy visit to Princess Sen before we leave Kyoto to rejoin our current allies."

Shiranui looked startled.

"You think I could be right?"

"Kyo. You have more of the Gift of Soul than you like to pretend. But until you are willing to accept that and make it part of who you are, it will not work easily for you. Did this man remind you of your friend?"

Amagiri, ever-tactful, did not say "your reckless, human friend".

Shiranui shrugged and turned on the stairs.

"Maybe. Who knows? Well, I've really got to go! Oh – and say hi to Osen-chan for me!"

Amagiri sighed - again. He definitely needed to talk to Sen-hime. He wondered if she had felt the gathering storm as he had. She was immensely resourceful, although very young to have passed her three Trials; she was still fully assimilating her Gifts. Most importantly, she believed in the legend of her renowned ancestor Suzuka-gozen. For the first time, Amagiri Kyuugu hoped that she was right. Except that Kazama wouldn't like it. He shrugged his powerful shoulders - sufficient unto the day was the evil thereof. Within reason.

With a tremendous effort, Chizuru forced herself to open her eyes. Her head ached terribly and her skin felt as if it had been scoured in sand. She seemed to be lying in the grass with a blanket wrapped around her, which was very odd. The sky was starting to lighten toward dawn.

"Awake, Chizuru-chan?" asked a friendly voice from nearby. "I'll help you sit up and you can have some water."

"Harada-san?"

A large hand steadied her as she sat up, and the familiar amber eyes were smiling down at her. She caught herself smiling back and then, as if a switch had been thrown, memories came flooding back.

"O-oh," she breathed quietly.

"Well, you have been having quite a night, haven't you?" Harada said companionably.

The girl stiffened, but the spearman went on.

"Heisuke's still unconscious, but Saito says he might be dead but for you. Sōji's refusing to talk much; he can barely move. He admits that he was bested by a blond man, and kicked in the chest, but that's all he'll say other than the next time he'll win. Nobody other than you and Saitō seem to know exactly what happened after Sōji was injured. I guess Sōji was unconscious for a lot of it."

Harada watched her closely and sensed her cringing at something.

"Where am I, Harada-san?"

Internally, the spearman sighed, but he wouldn't force a confidence from her. On the other hand, at some point he wanted to find out why he'd seen strange lights in that upstairs room and why he'd felt so certain that Chizuru was afraid. It had taken a great deal of fortitude to stay on guard in the courtyard, and it was a good thing that Hijikata had come out not too long after.

"You're in the garden behind the inn, Chizuru-chan. Hijikata-san carried you out of the inn, don't you remember? Mind you, he did say that you were in shock. That's his haori you've got, by the way. The grass was pretty damp and they wanted you away from all the excitement of rounding up prisoners."

He didn't tell her that according to Hijikata, she'd been silently crying when he found her upstairs with Saitō and the two unconscious forms of Heisuke and Sōji nearby.

"Hijikata-san? He carried me?" Now the girl was blushing.

"Oh yes," Harada told her with a cheeky grin. "The Vice Commander himself, with Saitō trailing at his heels."

"S-Saitō-san too?"

"Yes. He was very worried about you for some reason – well, in a Saitō-ish kind of way. You know, all calm and collected on the outside but a little harried-looking around the eyes and even more silent than usual."

Chizuru nodded, still piecing things together. After the frightening blond man had left, Saitō had knelt down beside her; she couldn't remember if he'd said anything. But yes, she remembered his eyes… they had looked haunted, she thought, not harried. How much had he seen?

"I have Hijikata-san's coat?!"

"Well, yes. Just as well, really, since his is pretty much the only one that's clean."

"He faced down the Aizu soldiers so that the Shinsengumi would be honoured for their sacrifice," Chizuru told him earnestly, vividly recalling Yamazaki's explanation and Hijikata-san's strong figure and stern face holding three dozen armed men at bay.

Harada had to cough to mask some amusement – she was always so serious when she spoke about the Vice Commander. But he was touched, all the same, that she cared so much about all of them. It was remarkable, really, when you thought of how they had treated her for so many months.

"So, any more questions, or do you want that water now?"

Chizuru's tear-stained face lost the frightened look it had worn since Hijikata and Saitō had brought her out to Harada. She even managed a small smile.

"Oh, water please, Harada-san! Arigatou gozaimasu!"

Sure enough, somebody had brought water over from the nearby well and a mug. It was a little warm, but still cool enough to quench her thirst and she was terribly thirsty. She knew she ought to offer to do something – there had to be wounded, she thought – but she was extremely tired. Being with Harada-san made her feel safe.

A short time later, Hijikata-san came into the small green space. Chizuru immediately stood up and held out his coat.

"I am sorry to have caused you concern, Hijikata-san. Thank you for loaning me this."

"It's not a problem, Yukimura. How are you?" Keen purple eyes inspected her.

She squared her shoulders the way she always did when trying to be braver than she felt. The men exchanged an involuntary glance, but remained serious so as not to embarrass her.

"I am well, Hijikata-san. I am sorry that I wasn't able to assist more after the battle."

"Were you hurt? Your sleeve was badly torn and there was blood, but I saw no wound."

The girl managed not to look down, but Harada judged it a near thing. It didn't matter, he didn't think the Vice Commander believed her reply any more than he did – except, what were the alternatives?

"I was not injured. I think that a sword must have cut the sleeve… and perhaps it already had blood on it."

Actually, it wasn't a bad story, in the circumstances. But for some reason he knew it wasn't the truth.

"Vice Commander."

"Saitō."

The indigo-haired swordsman kept his eyes fixed on Hijikata, and Harada wonder why he seemed reluctant to approach. The spearman shook his head; maybe his imagination was running wild after a long night.

"We are ready to return to headquarters, Vice Commander. Also, we have killed seven and arrested twenty-three."

"Casualties?"

"Among the soldiers: one killed, two badly wounded, several with minor injuries. Among the captains: Heisuke is seriously injured but likely to survive; Sōji is conscious but has massive bruising across his torso, front and back; Nagakura's hand was rather badly cut but should not result in permanent damage."

"Yamazaki has seen to everyone?"

"Aa. He sends his compliments to Yukimura."

Harada, watching in silence, noticed that Saitō didn't look at the girl. Then again, Chizuru had looked down as soon as the man had arrived. That was very odd. And why was he paying more attention to that than what Saitō and Hijikata were saying? Actually, why did he feel so ridiculously aware of everyone around him? It was annoying and made it hard to concentrate.

"Well, he can pass along his compliments himself tomorrow – or rather, today. Can you walk back to headquarters, Yukimura?"

"Hai." It was a pale ghost of her usual emphatic assent, but it was firm enough.

Hijikata nodded and put his coat back on over his regular purple hakamashita and grey hakama, deftly adjusting the white cord.

"Good. Let's go then."

In front of the Ikedaya, the Shinsengumi were assembled, banner rippling above them in the slight breeze. Other than Hijikata, and some of the men of the Tenth, most of the soldiers and captains were more or less covered in patches of blood. Kondō was among the worst and looked unusually grim and weary. Silent, they marched home into the first tentative light of the new day, carrying their dead and wounded. Just as silent, the early-risers among the townspeople drew away from the warriors in unconcealed fear.

Hijikata was extraordinarily relieved that Sannan was waiting for them when they returned to their headquarters. He needed space to think, and that would not be easily come by with all the details of arranging care for the wounded and a burial for Okuzawa and even such ordinary things as baths and laundry and meals. He had sent an uninjured soldier back to Sannan with news as soon as possible, and the Deputy Commander had had things well in hand for their return. To his surprise, Hijikata had been able to strip out of his sweat-soaked clothes, bathe and return to his room in relative peace.

On the one hand, the raid had been a success. Given odds of almost three to one against in the initial attack, one dead and two severely injured wasn't bad. However, he had to factor in Heisuke's head wound, Sōji's extreme bruises – and whatever else was ailing him – and Nagakura's injured hand. But what concerned him more was Saitō's strange reluctance to talk about what had happened to Yukimura. Not that the Third Division Captain hadn't reported.

When Hijikita had first run into the second-floor room, following an imperative that he still couldn't quite explain, his eyes had been drawn not to Heisuke's or Okita's blood-stained forms, but to Saitō kneeling beside Yukimura. In that first moment when the younger man had turned and spoken, the fine-boned face had betrayed uncertainty and confusion and even a little fear. Then it was as if a door had slammed shut and the impassive Shinsengumi captain was firmly in control again.

Saitō had risen to his feet immediately, only a slight flush betraying his embarrassment. He had stepped away from the girl, leaving it to Hijikata to check her for injuries and finally carry her out of the hot, blood-stained room. Saitō had followed him out to the small enclosed garden at the back of the inn and silently seen the girl put into Harada's care. Orders had been given to the Tenth Division men to help Yamazaki look after Sōji and Heisuke. Once it was unlikely that they would be overheard, Saitō had given a quick report.

According to Saitō, he had found two men upstairs, all the rest having fled or been killed or incapacitated by Sōji and Heisuke. He had attempted to intercept the first man but had been unable to touch him, let alone detain him. According to Saitō, the man had vanished. The Vice Commander had let that pass. After that, Saitō said that he had moved on to find Sōji. Heisuke had clearly been bandaged by Yukimura. There had been a strange blond man with red eyes with Sōji and Yukimura. He had been unable to catch the man before he had jumped through the window and disappeared.

"I apologize deeply for my failure, Vice Commander," Saitō had finished, providing no explanation for Yukimura's shock or what the blond man had been doing before he had left.

Well, I'll have to get that sorted out very soon, Hijikata decided grimly. And I think… I think I was right that Saitō feels something for the girl. He sighed. He had hoped he was wrong. He wasn't sure how Saitō would cope with such a situation. Probably quite well, he told himself; he has the patience to work things out. Of course, Saitō wasn't the only one drawn to the girl. He was just the one who surprised Hijikata the most.

Then Hijikata smiled his wry smile and picked up a small silk pillow from his desk, about two inches on each side. It crackled a little under his fingers and smelled of lavender. She was a very thoughtful little thing, he conceded. Then he laughed at himself. He would remain her guardian – that was for the best all around.

A/Note: OK, so the burning question on almost everyone's mind goes like this: "Dear Abby: I'm stuck reading a story that's kind of fun, but the author is being a pain in the fundament and won't tell me who the love interest is. I'm thinking that needles and hot wax should do the trick. Or maybe I'll just try asking if it's true that they all live in igloos in Canada - I hear that gets to Canadians in a big way. Please advise. - MissingMyMainMan in Miami"

"Dear Missing in Miami - Good luck. Another good tactic is asking if they know Mike who lives in Toronto. Or casually saying: Toronto is the capital of Canada, right?"

- the Oni no Author

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