Author's Note:
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Wait, that doesn't make any sense. This chapter does contain some pretty significant reveals though. And... raises more questions.
Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, Faved or Followed.
I'd especially like to thank those who posted reviews (for some reason, I really needed a confidence boost this past week or two):
Scintilla of Myself (who chose to read her fanfics first - hah, nice alliteration there)
Hinagiku Zeelmart (whose question may be partially answered in this chapter) (and thank you for taking the time to review - I love seeing new names!)
Thank you also to nakigaoyuu, who not only corrected a misspelling in my Japanese but also sent it by way of a great review in a PM (partial quote):
"...I'm so happy that Souji 's reaction to those things was just super natural! No OOC at all!
I can really imagine his voice and face when he's confronting Hijikata and Saitou..!"
This was very helpful to me because there's been less of a chance to develop Souji in this story and so it's great to get it right when he's there.
\(O-O)/
Quote of the Chapter:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single [Oni] in possession of a good [clan] must be in want of a husband.
However little known the feelings or views of such an [Oni] may be on her first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that she is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their [sons].
- more or less from Pride and Prejudice, by Austen Jane-sama
Chapter 42 – The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything
[I - A Chat Over Tea]
Kazama Chiharu gritted her teeth and swung her katana – no wooden swords for this drill – for the one-thousandth-one-hundred-and-ninety-seventh time. The three swings left seemed impossible.
"You're so close, Nee-san! Just three to go!"
Although not quite sixteen, her middle brother's voice had finally settled into a low baritone not unlike Chikage's. Fortunately, Kichirō had yet to pick up his older brother's drawl; he still sounded young and cheerful. And less arrogant. Chiharu still wondered exactly when she had first noticed that mocking derision in Chikage's tones. Not that she didn't respect her elder brother for all that he had accomplished since their father had died; however, she was sorry that he'd needed to armour himself against the world to the point where he respected nobody and cared about very few.
Mercifully, her cogitations carried her through the last of the exercise and she could drop her arms, and her form, and try to regain her breath. It didn't help, really, that Kichirō had completed the same exercise, with less effort, in only three-quarters the time. He wasn't even an adult yet.
"Now that we're done, how about lunch, eh Chiharu? I'm starving…"
"You're always starving. You and Ken-chan both. And you should wash before you eat."
"Yes, Nee-sama, at once my lady…" Kichirō bowed deeply. The effect was spoiled when his sloppy top-knot came down and his blond hair tumbled around his face. He immediately straightened, pushing the hair back behind his ears and over his shoulders.
His hair was almost as long as Chiharu's, and occasionally a source of friction between the two older brothers. Chikage wanted the boy to cut his hair shorter, if not as short as Chikage's own. Chiharu thought it was a lost cause. While Kichirō admired his older brother deeply, he was trying to be his own person – not an easy feat with the recognizable Kazama features and colouring. Chiharu knew that, secretly, Kichirō's dream was to avoid becoming a clone of his older brother. Well, it wouldn't be easy…
Chiharu smiled affectionately at her middle brother. She sometimes wondered what would happen to him. Chikage was probably thinking in terms of an alliance with the Yukishima Heir, Chikame, but that would be problematic, for many reasons. Quite aside from the age difference, Chiharu didn't think that her elder brother would be able to bring himself to be so cruel. On the other hand, he had become very pragmatic in recent years.
Kichirō was going to be as strong a swordsman and all-around athlete as Chikage, if he continued to develop at his current rate. Moreover, he was taller and much keener to be a warrior than Chikage had ever been. It was another source of friction between them, as Chikage did not find it appropriate for an Oni to want to learn fighting techniques except as a matter of necessity. Well, as Amagiri always said: "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof – within reason." Which basically meant that you did what you could in the present and then left future problems for the future.
"So is Kenshin coming in for lunch?" Kichirō asked as they walked together toward the main house. The dojo was in a separate building, built about a hundred years ago by their grandfather.
"I don't think so. He's off on one of his rambles – you know how he is. He took food with him."
Kenshin was the baby of the family, at a mere ten years old. His unusual looks set him apart, for he had inherited his mother's violet eyes and the bright red hair of some Amagiri ancestor. It was exceptionally unusual for a male Kazama in the main line not to have blond hair and deep red eyes or at least some close variant on that theme. Chiharu wasn't surprised that he was Amagiri's favourite – Amagiri Kyūju-san, that is. They both shared the same quiet temperament, although Kenshin was still quite capable of childish pranks and smiled a great deal more than his much older cousin.
Sometime later, Chiharu and Kichirō were having lunch in a partially-enclosed room connected directly to the engawa. Both of them had rinsed the sweat out of their long blond hair and then tied it back damp; despite the difference in their eye-colour, the resemblance between the siblings was striking.
"Shitsurei shimasu."
The words, spoken in a commanding alto voice, sounded anything but apologetic. Not fifteen feet away stood a tall woman with long, honey-coloured hair, bright golden eyes and three visible golden horns – yet she was not in Oni form. Silk robes of shimmering reds and yellows and emerald greens did little to conceal a voluptuous figure and made her appear to be some vision from the court of an ancient emperor. She was very beautiful, but also clearly very powerful. Her amused smile showed slightly pointed teeth.
Both young Oni leapt from their seats, badly startled at being taken unawares in one of their own homes by a complete stranger that neither had sensed approach. Moreover, the estate was warded… Kichirō automatically placed himself between his sister and the intruder, eyes darting to the stand where he had set his katana while they ate. His heart was pounding: he couldn't let anything happen to Haru.
"Who are you, Lady?" asked Chiharu, clamping a firm hand on her brother's shoulder, her voice surprisingly calm and polite under the circumstances.
The unknown woman's smile became warmer and her bright eyes seemed to sweep over Chiharu with approval. Chiharu felt her brother tense in front of her, but she could tell that he was simultaneously afraid – for her, not himself – and a little aroused. Poor Ki-chan!
"Don't you know? Well I suppose it has been a very, very long time since I took the trouble to appear like this." The woman walked gracefully toward them, gave them the shallowest of shallow bows, and indicated the abandoned table.
"Please sit down again, Kazama-san, we have much to discuss. I won't hurt you, I assure you. Quite the contrary, really." She was already kneeling at the table.
Somehow, Chiharu found herself resuming her place, although all thought of food was gone. The stranger was bestowing what could only be described as a sultry smile on Kichirō.
"And you may fetch your sword, young bushi, and guard us while we talk, ne?"
Silently, his eyes barely moving from the visitor, Kichirō went and picked up his katana and put it in his belt. Unlike Chikage, Kichirō most often wore hakama and either a hakamashita or – as now, in mid-summer – a short, sleeveless coat of a light material belted closed with a long sash. It was very daring apparel, but again, Chiharu wasn't surprised. She wasn't sure if she approved of the way the strange woman was appraising her brother's bare chest and arms – he was only fifteen after all!
"There, that's perfect. If you'll just stand there by the entrance to the engawa, your sister and I can enjoy a comfortable discussion."
The woman picked up a cup of tea and sipped at it delicately. Chiharu always had extra cups supplied with meals, but she hadn't seen anyone pour tea… however, that was a small thing among all the rest of it.
"So, you are the reigning daughter of the Kazama clan?"
Chiharu blinked.
"I – I am the only daughter of this clan, yes. But my brother Kazama Chikage-sama is the Lord of this clan and of all the western clans."
"Ah, yes. After so long learning everything you would think I could remember the… odd… new customs. But honestly, when I choose to be myself – like now – it is more difficult. I am glad that at least my own clan did not give up the old ways. What use is it to be the head of a clan if you can't even produce your own offspring? I was sorry to see that the Yukimura finally gave in to the new ways. It took them longer than most, though. They seem soft, but there's always been steel there; of course, stubbornness is really just a trait of our foolish kind, isn't it?"
Chiharu sipped at her tea before she realized that she didn't remember having picked up the cup. She choked slightly and under the guise of coughing tried desperately to regain some control of her own faculties. It was as if there were silk wrappings around her mind. The woman across from her merely nodded.
"Well, yes, Kazama-chan – may I call you that? – but it wouldn't do, you know, if you were to call out for somebody right now. I will try to stop, er, directing your actions though. It's just habit, mostly. We used to be awful schemers in my day. Sitting here in your home having tea with you just reminds me a bit too much of the old days, you know?"
The young blond woman didn't know. And she was starting to get fed up.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my home?" she demanded, with some force. She kept trying to push the woman out of her mind, but she'd never encountered a coercive will like this before.
"Oh, that's better! No meekness – it doesn't suit a Kazama, you know. Of course, that's why your brother – the older one – will have to give up the Yukimura child. It's a shame for him, of course, but debts must be paid. And the Yukimura wouldn't have fallen ten years ago if the Kazama hadn't conspired against the Sakurai in the first place, so…"
Sensing her (reluctant) hostess' total confusion, the woman paused.
"Yes, that's right. That's all two or three centuries ago for you, isn't it?" She frowned. "Well, let me ask you this: would you like to go to Kyoto? I need somebody reliable there, and although Osen-chan is extremely capable, she could use a friend to help her manage the Yukimura girl as well as my son."
Her frown turned instantly to a bright smile, and bewildered as she was, Chiharu instantly saw Osen-chan's face with that exact luminous expression. She began to think she must be dreaming. Too much exercise? Too much heat?
"Ah… Lady, perhaps you could… explain? What should I call you?"
The stranger huffed slightly, although it was a friendly kind of indignation.
"That again? Honestly, and I had decided that you were the most intelligent one of this generation. No… I suppose that is unfair – to you and to Yukimura and Osen-chan. Things have changed so much… I am Okikurune Suzuka, once called Suzuka-gozen. But in this era, I think that Suzuka-hime will be appropriate. After all, I was the first Princess of the Oni and Lady of Yase and Kyoto."
[II – Morning of the Shinsengumi]
Hijikata woke early; it was just dawn, which in these summer months meant sometime before six. Although he had only had about five hours of sleep – on top of all the other near-sleepless nights – he felt surprisingly rested. Not that he'd ever needed as much sleep as others. But his head felt clearer this morning than it had in several days.
There had been dreams again, he thought. Once more he had stood on a rocky coast, and the froth of the waves had been pink with blood. There had been sadness. And something else, or somebody else, but he couldn't remember. Despite the dreams, he found himself smiling slightly to himself as he pulled on hakama and went out to the well for fresh water.
He enjoyed the silence as he made his way rapidly across the inner courtyard. It was refreshing to sleep through the night and wake up feeling cheerful – although he couldn't really account for the cheerfulness. It wasn't as though anything had changed or any of his various problems had disappeared.
When he reached the well, he drew up a pail of water, stripped off the white yukata that he usually slept in, and carefully poured the water over his head and shoulders, leaning forward to get as little as possible on his trousers. The cool water helped to get rid of some of the sweat and grit from sleeping in the ridiculous Kyoto heat. He'd have a bath later; this would do for now.
After a minute, he stood upright and combed out his hair with his fingers. He used the discarded yukata to blot the water trickling down his chest and back, enjoying the slight breeze, the smell of summer and the colours in the dawn sky. Just as he was reluctantly preparing to go back to his room to dress for breakfast, he sensed somebody approaching rapidly and quickly turned.
Of course, it would have to be her. Yukimura came hurrying toward the courtyard along the wooden walkway, looked up with a start when she reached stairs and stumbled, her eyes widening in surprise at finding Hijikata walking toward her from the well wearing nothing but hakama, his long black hair hanging damp around his shoulders and over his bare chest and back.
For a moment, he thought she was going to fall, but although he closed the distance between them just in case, she regained her balance and stopped on the lowest of the three steps, still staring at him. He was torn between amusement and exasperation. With her lovely, soft brown eyes still wide in surprise and a deepening blush on her cheeks, he couldn't help but think that it would be fun to kiss those pretty lips and see what would happen next… With a soft curse (at himself and wherever the hell that had come from), he glowered at the girl instead.
An instant later, Saitō appeared behind Yukimura, presumably coming from his own room further down the walkway in response to who knew what strange imperative. Or maybe he was just going to breakfast, which would be the sensible assumption since Hijikata recalled that he had assigned the Third Division Captain to the morning patrol. But… he doubted that it was coincidence that had brought Saito to this place at exactly this moment.
"Ohayo, Saitō, Yukimura."
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Fukuchō." Saitō's response was as polite and slightly formal as usual.
Looking from Yukimura, who was now blushing even more, to Saitō, who was completely unreadable, but standing awfully close to Yukimura, Hijikata suddenly wondered if his general good mood had as much to do with the girl as it did with finally getting some decent sleep. It was muted now, but her feelings had been as transparent as ever when she had sensed Saitō behind her. Hijikata was tempted to ask if they'd had a nice evening together, but he actually did want to get on with his day.
"O-Ohayo gozaimasu, Hijikata-san," murmured Chizuru with a small bow. "I was just coming to get water for cooking breakfast."
He nodded at her, wondering how long it would take her to stop gaping at him and realize that she was directly in his way on the stairs. Also, he was starting to get a sense from Saito that the younger man was not especially happy about the situation. It was almost funny, but not quite. A moment later, Yukimura suddenly glanced back at Saito, blinked, and then hurriedly finished descending the stairs so that Hijikata could go by.
Hijikata quickly went up the stairs and paused beside Saito.
"Did you see Harada and Yamazaki?"
"Aa. Yamazaki seems fine. He lost sight of a spy though, because of Shiranui Kyo, so he and Shimada will be out later today looking. Sōji was there as well so I passed along today's schedule."
"Sōji, huh? Yeah, guess he wasn't too happy last night, was he? Wonder what he'll say when it's his turn?"
Saitō nodded thoughtfully. Observing him closely, Hijikata had to wonder if he had imagined that moment of jealousy a minute ago. Then a splintered indentation in the wooden railing under Saitō's hand caught his eye. Maybe it had already been there – but maybe not. It looked new. Oh well, minor damage to a railing was better than a headlong attack. Might as well look on the bright side.
Saitō was obviously waiting for any further questions or instructions. If he had noticed Hijikata's glance at the railing then it didn't show. Both men moved slightly as Yukimura went up the stairs and past them with her pail of water. She smiled and nodded at both of them, but Hijikata saw with amusement that she carefully avoided looking at him directly.
"Let me know how the patrol goes," he told Saitō once Yukimura had gone. "Nagakura says it's pretty hostile in town, no surprise there. Also, can you check in on Heisuke before you get breakfast? That way you can let him know you're taking his guys out with you. If he's awake."
"Hai." Saitō started to turn away.
"Oh and Saitō?"
The indigo-haired captain looked back at him. Hijikata decided that it was important to the well-being of the Shinsengumi to find out what he could about the man's current mental state.
"I take it things went well with Yukimura last night?" He couldn't keep a slight smirk out his tone – or maybe he didn't try hard enough.
For just an instant, the impassive face registered surprise and then embarrassment. Then Saitō fixed serious, dark blue eyes on Hijikata.
"Was there a problem, Vice Commander?"
"No. There was no problem that I am aware of. Yukimura just seemed to be a little distracted this morning, and, ah, quite happy."
"In that case…"
Hijikata waited to see how Saitō would tell him to mind his own business without being rude. Saitō thought for a moment, and then said: "In that case, I would say that things went very well indeed, thank you."
Hijikata stared incredulously at his most reserved subordinate. Saitō gave him a faint smile and added:
"I have had to give some thought to accepting things as they are. It… reduces… the embarrassment."
Hijikata nodded, still surprised but somewhat reassured as well.
"Point to you, Saitō. See you at breakfast."
The Demon Vice Commander (of Demons) – thank you Sōji, now I'll keep thinking that – walked away chuckling slightly. He felt more confident, now, that Saitō wouldn't fuse or go Oni – is that even a term? – in front of Kondō-san. But there was still a lot to think about. For one thing, he needed to talk to Yamazaki. He paused as he slid open his door and chuckled to himself. If nothing else, I can tell him that he is now in uncontested first place for the "needs to learn to relax" category… nah. Yamazaki already draws Sōji's fire for me…
Harada was lying in bed staring up at the ceiling. He didn't know how he felt. Chizuru had obviously made her choice a while back, no matter how he looked at it, and eventually that wouldn't bother him so much. But it didn't mean that it was fun seeing – worse, sensing – some of what was going on between her and Saitō. It was more envy than jealousy though. Once he'd realized that he'd been able to handle things better. But at the moment it felt lonely.
And what about Osen-chan? He smiled a little ruefully as he caught himself using the more informal, intimate name, if only in his head. Princess Sen… Sen-hime… There was no way of getting away from the fact that she was the head of her clan, the nominal head of all the Oni clans. Sometimes she seemed very young and other times she really didn't.
Sen-hime – better to keep her real name firmly in mind – was a very attractive little person. In every way, at least based on what he'd seen of her, which hadn't really been very much. But she was also very much an Oni. Which shouldn't bother him, but since he preferred to be honest with himself (it saved trouble in the long run), he knew that it did. Not in the shape or the form or the "differentness" exactly… but in the power and the culture and the sense, even with Kimigiku-san and certainly with Amagiri-san, that humans were just inferior in every way including and maybe especially their moral and ethical code.
Yet, he didn't get quite the same feeling from Sen-hime. There was something about a legend, involving a distant ancestor marrying a human… Something that she believed in so strongly that she would defy most of the rest of her race to see if it were true. So: what did he really think of Sen who was also Sen-hime, Lady of Kyoto. And why on earth was she attracted to him?
Reluctantly, he got up, put away his futon, and went next door to get Shinpachi. If Kondō-san did get tied up with Hijikata-san and Sannan-san, this might be a good evening to go – no, dammit. He was on patrol duty. Maybe he could get Hijikata to approve a switch. Well, he'd ask.
Elsewhere in the compound…
Yamazaki was awakened from a light sleep by Okita, who demanded whether the medic could find anything wrong with him now. The medic looked with concern at his partner, Shimada, who had been out most of the night and was fast alseep in his futon on the other side of the room.
"I will be with you in a moment, Okita-san," he said very quietly.
For once, the First Division Captain just nodded and went out, but his eyes were bright and he seemed very pleased about something.
Once outside, Yamazaki found Tōdō-kun as well as Okita-san standing outside his room.
"Yamazaki! You'll never believe this! I think my head is just about healed!"
Yamazaki sighed. Nobody could sleep through that. Heisuke correctly interpreted his look and was momentarily apologetic.
"Gomen, gomen… But man, I thought Hijikata-san would keep me off duty for at least another few days! I don't know what you put in that medicine of yours, Yamazaki-kun, but wow I feel great!"
"Let's go to Heisuke's room," Okita suggested, with an eye on the medic's lowering brows. "It's closer than mine. And then you can look us over to your heart's content doctor-dearest." He grinned cheerfully as Yamazaki's frown deepened.
Heisuke laughed a little and tapped the medic's shoulder as they made their way to the captains' quarters.
"Just ignore him, Yamazaki-kun, it's really the best way…"
Yamazaki nodded politely. He liked Tōdō-kun, but found him a little reckless.
"Yeah, yeah," said Okita, rolling his eyes. "Whereas I'm just reckless, I know, I know. Come on, let's get this exam over with. There are people – or Oni – that I need to deal with."
Heisuke looked puzzled, but ushered the other captain into his room. When he turned, however, he saw Yamazaki staring at Okita.
"Hey, you coming in?" he demanded.
"But I didn't say it out loud," Yamazaki muttered. Then he shook his head. First things first.
Okita-san was restless, but he was also right: he was fit, any bruising was gone, and he had no cough at all. Yamazaki pursed his lips.
"Well, you're right. You're fine to go back on duty."
"Thanks, ninja-boy!" As a gesture of his favour, Okita patted the shorter man on the head. Yamazaki bore it stolidly and let the green-eyed… man… continue. "Well, you get Heisuke all cleared for work too and we'll have lots of good news for Kondō-san, okay?! Right, see you at breakfast, Heisuke…"
"See you, Sōji!"
Yamazaki turned to his second patient with interest mixed with trepidation. He still wasn't sure how Heisuke had survived the original wound. And then a day later the thing had been half-healed, something that should have taken weeks. Who knew what he'd find now?
They were sitting facing each other, and at the captain's urging Yamazaki gently brushed the long bangs away from the other man's forehead. A moment later he sat back, baffled.
"It's just – gone. There's a scar and that's it. This isn't actually possible, Tōdō-kun."
Heisuke grinned. "Call me Heisuke," he said.
"I can't do that. You're my superior officer." The words came out automatically.
"Well, yeah, but hey we're in private, right?"
Yamazaki didn't even bother to respond. He just sat there, frowning at the floor. When Heisuke eventually gave up and trailed off, he looked up and said: "We have to tell the Vice Commander about this. I think he might have been expecting something like this."
"Really? I dunno… Why would he expect me to heal so quick?"
Yamazaki stood up and led the way rapidly – and silently – out of the room.
\(O-O)/ ?
A/Note: If you get a moment, all reviews and comments are welcome! And once again, thank you all for jumping down this particular rabbit hole with me...
Also a wave to Azure who has been a little under the weather but says she's looking forward to catching up on her reading.
By the way, my chapters just kept getting longer. So if you notice I've gone from 2-3 per week to 1-2 per week it's partly just number of words.
Now to find a way to support myself while writing fanfiction, playing computer games, and learning Japanese. Hmm.