Author's Notes:

Because I found the time-keeping difficult, I though I would mention that the events in Chapter 49 take place on the fourth day after the Ikedaya Inn incident.

Which started in Chapter 15. It's been a busy, um, 34 chapters... (For pity's sake... somebody tell ImpracticalOni that she needs help...)

Day 1: Kazama and Amagiri left the morning after, to join the Satsuma forces currently encamped at an estate many miles from Kyoto. That same night, Sen summoned Amagiri back to look after Saitō and help him through the Trial of Body. (Chizuru also passed her Trial with Kimigiku, but it wasn't very challenging for her!) Kazama went off to find Shiranui to send back to Kyoto to spy on Amagiri and Sen.

Day 2: On the second day after the Ikedaya, Kazama visited his younger siblings.

Day 3: The following morning, after Kazama left, Suzuka-hime showed up and told Chiharu to go to Kyoto. Chiharu and Kichirō leave for Kyoto about mid-afternoon of the third day. [Note: Shiranui had already left Kyoto to find Kazama to tell him about what was going on with the Shinsengumi and the news about Chizuru.]

Day 4: First dates...

OK!

Thank you for reviews to: NyaPowa, Scintilla of Myself, Sweet maple and nakigaoyuu. I love seeing your reviews pop up in my email... it really makes my day!

Also thank you to red1Rogue and prussianbluepuppy for sending me encouraging comments on tumblr!

\(O,O)/

Chapter 49 – Cousins

[I] - What's In A Name?

Saitō Hajime was unable to decide which of his two most persistent thoughts was the more difficult to voice aloud. The quiet garden with its tall shrubs and green, leafy trees behind Sen-hime's home was pleasant, the water rippling into the pond was soothing, and there was a slight breeze to stir the hot air of summer in Kyoto. He had even managed to take Yukimura's hand while they walked without feeling that he had made a fool of himself or embarrassed her. Overall then, things were… satisfactory.

He had never held a girl's hand before, but it had seemed like a good compromise between not touching her at all and pressing fervent kisses against her neck and shoulders (an image that kept intruding that made him distinctly uncomfortable). Besides, something about feeling Yukimura's small fingers against his palm gave him a sense of comfort and belonging. He found it a surprisingly intimate gesture, in fact, because it spoke to him of more than a casual affection. However, that could just be him. Then again, a quick glance sideways at his companion's slightly flushed cheeks told him that there was at least one other person who felt the same way.

Unfortunately, while it was true that he was very happy to be in a situation that a week ago would have been unthinkable (except that he had thought about it anyway), he also seemed to be ridiculously aware of other things that he wanted to do. He managed not to sigh, but Chizuru glanced up at him anyway.

"Saitō-san?"

"It is nothing. A passing thought." He said it reflexively, to save both of them embarrassment, but her face fell. She knew it wasn't true and he had promised to try to be more open whenever possible. He immediately apologized:

"I am sorry, Yukimura. I find you very… distracting right now – ah, in a good way…" He broke off in some confusion, not sure whether he should be trying to explain what he meant or trying to reassure her that she wasn't a nuisance. It was an idea that she got sometimes.

They paused in their walk at the same time, half-facing each other, hands still clasped. Chizuru was looking with unseeing eyes at a display of feathery ferns surrounding an unusually large tree. Saitō was studying the small wooded area that they had just entered, which was surprisingly green for the time of year.

I don't want to be impatient, he wanted to tell her. I don't want to be… greedy.

"What I mean to say is that I have always known that you were a girl, but when you dress as a boy it makes you seem younger and it is easier to pretend that you are just… a child, I suppose. Right now you look more grown up, and I…" He honestly couldn't get the words out and stopped.

Chizuru was looking at him now, a little distressed and clearly confused. He could only imagine how his turmoil would seem to her. Although on some level he knew that it would just make things worse, he gently put his arms around her, careful of the pretty kimono and the ornament in her hair. More reckless of her finery, she immediately pressed closer and leaned her head against his shoulder. He found it very easy to slide one hand up to the nape of her neck, his fingers caressing the bare skin entirely without his conscious direction. She shivered slightly, and he immediately froze.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. He would have stepped back, but she had curled a hand into the fabric of his black kimono and he was left awkwardly poised with his hands just touching her shoulders.

"No… don't. Please, Saitō-san, don't apologize. I know that I seem very young to you, and to everyone else. But I'm not a child and I don't want to be a child, especially not with you." She was obviously embarrassed and at the same time determined to make him listen. "You think that I don't understand. But you forget…"

Chizuru released his kimono, so that she could look up into his face. Her dark eyes had lightened to an amber-hazel colour, which was a good indication of her agitation; he could see the gold beginning to ring her irises. Saitō had no idea what to do, so he left his hands on her shoulders. Unaware that she was beginning to change form, Chizuru continued in the same quietly passionate tones.

"The first time I saw you... you killed three men right in front of me. That is my very first memory of you. You cut them down without an instant's hesitation and your expression never changed. You were covered in blood, but you just stood there with Okita-san as if, as if it was all normal to you. If Hijikata-san had ordered you to kill me then, you would have."

Her eyes couldn't help asking the silent question: And what about now?

"Yukimura…" He felt light-headed and his hands dropped to his sides.

"I have spent months with you – with all of you. And I noticed something. Most of the others would bring me mending, or washing, but you wouldn't. And I eventually knew why. Because you didn't want me to see the blood. But I did laundry with Inoue-san often enough to know how much blood there was sometimes – although he did say that you were much tidier than the others."

Saitō watched her mutely, since it was obvious that she had more to say. It felt strangely surreal: Yukimura looking lovely in her borrowed silk kimono, her hair in an elegant knot on the top of her head, ordering him – or begging him – to remember what she'd already seen and been through.

"And I was there at the Ikedaya, Saitō-san. I try not to think about it, but I remember it perfectly. The heat, the fear, and so much blood. And the Shinsengumi cutting men down without remorse. I know – because I almost always know how people are feeling. You saved my life on the stairs by running a man through the heart and you didn't care when he died at my feet except that he was no longer a threat. You were relieved that I wasn't hurt, and angry that I hadn't defended myself, but that man's death in itself didn't occupy a single instant of your thoughts."

Chizuru suddenly turned away, but Saitō had already seen the tears. He didn't try to make her face him, but instead put his arms loosely around her shoulders from behind. Anyone seeing him would have found him strangely cold, as his face was impassive and his emotions well muted. The only other person present found his calm extremely helpful, however.

"I think… what I'm trying to tell you," Chizuru finally said, her voice soft but no longer strained, "is that I'm not as unaware of who you are as you believe. It's true that I don't like the violence, and I don't like the killing. I was very frightened when you, and Hijikata-san and especially Okita-san made me come with you that first night. But I'm not now and it's not just blind trust or… or reckless optimism. Even though there are other things going on that you can't tell me about. Even though you've probably done things that I might find hard to accept."

She finally turned around again, and her eyes were once more a soft, dark brown. She leaned her forehead against his chest. Saitō wondered whether he should say something, but his mind was still scrambling to understand what she'd been saying – and why.

"I want us to be together," murmured a quiet voice from underneath his chin. "I want you to know that it's alright to want to… to touch me… I'm not a child. I won't break. "

Saitō could tell that she believed what she was saying and he was grateful and slightly abashed. He had been wrong to equate her customary optimism and fearless trust with a certain amount of wilful blindness and basic naivety. Nevertheless, a mental review of the things that she didn't know – about him, about the Shinsengumi, about men in general – was still daunting. He knew a great deal about her after seven months of close observation.

"Until you came to Kyoto, you lived a completely sheltered life," he said, finally. "You still don't know much about the world or what people can do to each other. I don't want to do anything that I will deeply regret afterward."

"You won't."

"Tch. You have no idea." He felt his face redden slightly. He might not have personal experience in certain areas, but it would be impossible to have lived as he had for the past few years without acquiring a significant amount of second-hand knowledge. Fortunately, Yukimura couldn't see him.

"I have some idea," she said, with a hint of stubbornness.

"Alright… you have some idea. Some idea about who I am when I'm not with you and some idea about other things."

"Yes. Especially other things." The tips of her ears were red, but her voice was resolute.

Saitō felt his lips twitch into a faint smile. He was still trying to recover his balance – again – but her determination to be taken more seriously was reasonable (and endearing). He was the one who needed to have more courage.

"May I kiss you before I go?"

"Yes…" She immediately raised her head from his chest, looking very happy, and he couldn't entirely blame himself for the way his heart started to beat faster.

For a few minutes, the state of the world and everyone else in it became largely irrelevant. What they lacked in experience was made up for to a significant extent by the fact that they could share each other's thoughts and feelings. It was extraordinarily reassuring, although it left them both feeling a little drunk on the emotional and physical high. Also… while Chizuru was perfectly content to go where Saitō led (although that distinction blurred after a time), Saitō never quite relaxed his guard – over himself or his thoughts.

"I should return," the indigo-haired captain finally said regretfully.

He wondered whether now was a good time to ask. There was something about being here, within Sen-hime's home and its grounds, that was very different from being within the Shinsengumi compound – other than the obvious, that is. He thought it was the feeling of being hidden from the rest of the world.

"You always have somewhere to go Saitō-san," Chizuru complained, although both her eyes and tone were soft with affection. "Um, what do you want to ask?"

"Ah…" It was very strange having these conversations on two levels. Plus he was embarrassed that he'd finally let that thought slip past him. "The others… use your first name," he said haltingly. "And you do not seem to mind. I thought, maybe when it is just us, we could use each other's first names."

It was bizarre how difficult it was to suggest such a simple thing. But it was another layer of connection, he realized: one more tie that would bind him to somebody else and one day maybe a different path from the one that had always been so clearly out laid before him in his mind.

"You want me to call you… H-Hajime? I don't know if I can – I'm used to Saitō-san." They were both blushing (again!), but he hadn't thought that she would be so taken aback by the idea of using his first name. He had probably asked too soon.

"Oh, well, maybe we can just… think about it, for now," Saitō suggested, trying to find a way to back-track. This is very confusing. She says that anything we do together is acceptable to her – without really knowing what she is saying – but using my name upsets her?

But the girl was already squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin in that particular way that told him exactly what she was going to say.

"Gomenasai. Of course, if you wish it – don't mind, I mean – then it is no trouble. Shall I call you H-Hajime-san then?"

"No. Not if it makes you uncomfortable." And then in a rush, before he could retreat again: "But I would prefer just 'Hajime', if you can. Nobody else calls me that." Not anymore, not since he had been very, very young.

"Okay!" She bit her lower lip in a way that he had seen before, looked up shyly into his eyes, and told him: "Of course you can use my first name, Hajime. I would like that much better. Thank you."

We look like idiots, Saitō thought, as she beamed at him and he could feel himself smiling back at her. And I don't care. That is… very surprising. Also, most satisfactory. There was a warm feeling in his chest that was different from the other heat that he so often felt lately. Although they were connected, too.

"And I didn't stutter that time!" Chizuru was saying triumphantly. "Hajime."

"You managed that very well, Chizuru," he agreed gravely, feeling relieved to finally use the name that had been on his mind for weeks now. Although how she could tell him that she was not a child and then look so absurdly pleased with herself… Hmm. Maybe he was doing the same thing though.

He kissed her forehead, then her lips (and only briefly contemplated kissing her neck and shoulders this time). He knew perfectly well that he'd been gone much longer than he should have. It was part of what troubled him about his own behaviour.

"I will see you later, Chizuru," he told her. "I assume you will be spending time with Sen-hime. Please forgive me for not walking you back to the house but -"

"I know. It's fine."

She really meant it, and that helped a great deal.

With a final kiss, he made himself turn and then move back toward the house. In a moment, he was shedding his sandals and hurrying swiftly toward the training room. Although he could not quite repress the pleasure he felt on a number of levels, he was increasingly shocked at himself for having kept his teacher waiting.

He entered the dojo, as he thought of it, on his knees, and bowed deeply.

"Sumimasen deshita." He could sense Amagiri-san in his usual pose near the window, but the red-haired Oni didn't say anything.

There was a long silence, but Saitō knew better than to be impatient, since he was clearly at fault.

"Very well," Amagiri said at last. "I accept that there are a number of things occupying your… attention… right now. Nevertheless, my time is limited."

"I am most humbly sorry, Amagiri-san."

"Mm. You can make up for your tardiness, and my time, if you can show me that by improving your understanding with Yukimura-sama you have also improved your control over your earlier state of mind."

The implication was not lost on Saitō. But having finally resolved the issue of first names with Chizuru, he did in fact feel calmer than he had at lunch.

"Yes, Amagiri-san."

"Do you wish a few minutes to clear your mind, Hajime-kun?"

Saitō sensed the shift in mood. It was strange, but he had the feeling that the tension in his mentor had very little to do with him, his late arrival notwithstanding.

"Yes please," he responded, not falling into the trap of rushing into an important test unprepared.

"Then take your usual place. You may have five minutes."

"Thank you, Amagiri-san."

There was a small rumble from near the window that was actually a low chuckle.

"Enough. You may dispense with the formality now."

"Thank you, Kyūju-san. I will begin."

As it turned out, Saitō found it surprisingly easy to slip into the meditative state, emptying his mind of everything but his breathing and heartbeat. The moment the five minutes was up, he sensed the oncoming attack and shifted to his left, rolling and then sweeping out with his leg at his attacker. For the first time so far, he connected with Amagiri's ankle, although he did not succeed in knocking him off-balance.

"Good," Amagiri said, settling himself into a kneeling position on a cushion in the center of the room.

Saitō walked over and did the same, arranging his cushion so that he was facing Amagiri.

"We will now begin the Trial of Soul," Amagiri told him. "As I said before, I expect that this will be much easier for you than the Trial of Body. In fact, you and some of your comrades have shown great general natural aptitude for Gifts related to the Trials of Soul and Body. First, you must be able to sense the part of yourself that is Oni..."

[II] - I Spy... Sano?

Okita Sōji was glad to be out on a regular patrol again. He was especially pleased to find that he felt better, physically, than he had for the last few weeks.

He and Heisuke had both been in good spirits as they led their respective divisions out through the main gate toward central Kyoto. They had both agreed to join up with Shinpachi and Sano later to go out drinking, although Sōji's agreement was contingent on Kondō-san's wishes if he arrived back that afternoon as expected.

Okita was finding Heisuke to be good company these past couple of days, especially with all the strange things going on and Hajime off mooning over Chizuru-chan (or maybe that should be classified under the "strange things" category too). Okita was intelligent enough and self-reflective enough to perceive that he was on edge with Saitō these days, but he put it down to the fact that his comrade seemed to have gained more skills recently while he had been feeling less and less fit – until now. Either way, it gave him even more in common with Heisuke, who was trying not to be jealous of the Third Division Captain over Chizuru-chan. And both of them were spoiling for rematches against the alleged demons that had defeated them. They were also in unspoken sympathy with each other over Hijikata-san's apparently ambivalent attitude toward the demons – and the way that he was being so closemouthed with information.

People drew away from the Shinsengumi patrol as they made their steady way down the busy street. While Okita enjoyed the risks associated with the evening patrol, he liked the afternoon patrol because of the crowds and the chance to make an impression upon the local populace. The Shinsengumi belonged to Kondō-san, and Kondō-san was finally becoming known in Kyoto and beyond as the commander of the men in the blue haori. The citizens of this part of Kyoto had learned to watch what they said about the Shinsengumi around the handsome green-eyed captain. Some of the girls might sigh over his attractive, laughing mouth and well-muscled chest, but their mothers were wary and the men as a whole spoke of him as among the most dangerous of the Wolves of Mibu.

The First Division had reached the far end of its patrol and paused for a short break to drink water when Okita saw a familiar head of bright red hair above the crowd some ways down a cross street. Curious, since this wasn't a common area for Sano to hang out, Okita gestured for his men to stay where they were and drifted as unobtrusively as possible toward the patch of red.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to be unobtrusive while wearing the uniform of the Shinsengumi, and he was forced to stop. He was able to get a good look at Sano's companion, however, as they stepped out into the street from some kind of shop. Very pretty and very well-dressed, her hair an unusually light brown for a Japanese woman. Gold flashed in her hair and just for a moment he thought her eyes looked pink, but it could have been a trick of the light, since it was very bright and she was wearing that colour.

Well, it would make for an interesting topic of conversation if they went out this evening… He paused briefly, feeling as though he was being watched, then it passed and he returned to his men.

[III] - Garden Musings

Chizuru spent a little more time in the garden before wandering back inside. She felt slightly guilty, because she knew that Saitō-san – "Hajime" she whispered aloud to herself – had spent too much time with her. Also, she knew that there were quite a few things going on and everyone was very busy, whereas she felt as if she was on a sort of holiday.

She wondered if Osen-chan and Harada-san were having a nice time out together and hoped very much that they were. She thought that her cousin (she still liked the idea of having a real cousin!) was very taken with the Tenth Division Captain, and she was worried about that. Harada-san was one of the kindest men she knew, but she was personally aware of how cautious he could be, even when he was smiling. Her cousin seemed well-able to deal with any situation, however.

Her thoughts drifted back to Saitō-san, not surprisingly. She knew how she felt about him now, and although it still embarrassed her at times, the happiness and everything else that went with it were more than worth a few blushes. When she remembered the way that he had looked at her today she felt a now-familiar flutter in her heart and a slight swooping feeling in her stomach. Without being aware of it, she stood for several minutes staring dreamily into the pond and remembering the feeling of his lips and tongue on her mouth. The way he had caressed the skin of her neck had communicated such a feeling of desire that she had been unable not to react.

She came out of her reverie with a deep sigh, her cheeks pink from just the memory. Something had bothered her, a flicker of anger or ill-will, but she couldn't imagine what it had been. More aware now of what she could do, she tried feeling outward with her mind, but she didn't really understand what she was doing and she recognized that her thoughts were still otherwise occupied. Shaking off the momentary alarm, she returned to the house. She would ask Kimigiku-san about how to sense people around her – how to do it properly, that is. And she would like to hear more about her family, even if it made her a little sad.

[IV] - Kichirō the Warrior

Kichirō and his sister had been travelling at speed. He had been surprised and impressed with Haru-chan's endurance, especially that first afternoon. She had made it back faster than he had anticipated after taking Kenshin to their mother, and in a strangely angry mood. His sister was occasionally frustrated with him or Kenshin (and probably with Onii-sama), but he couldn't remember her ever projecting anything remotely like this smouldering rage. It had sustained her throughout a long, hot ride, but it hadn't been very comfortable for her travelling companion.

Such was Chiharu's haste that they had stopped only to rest the horses and eat before continuing on long into the night on the first day. Moreover, she had woken him before full light the next day, to remind him that it was easier to travel early at this time of year. She also said that she'd decided to leave the horses after all.

"The horses will tire faster than I will," she said, in response to Kichirō's surprised look.

"But… really?" Kichirō shook his head; they had gone to all the trouble of getting horses to spare his sister the trouble of the Fast Travel (and himself, but he wasn't worried about that). "Um, neither of us is exactly Onii-sama, let alone Amagiri."

"I'll be fine," said Chiharu, in the tone that had always signalled the end of arguments in the past.

By mid-day, when they paused, Kichirō had to admit that his sister was making good on her boast. However, he was secretly pleased to find that he was even less tired than she was – at least, in his own estimation. As they ate lunch at an inn (and drank plenty of water and mint tea to refresh themselves), he cautiously raised the question of what they were going to do in Kyoto.

His sister nodded thoughtfully, purple eyes veiled behind her surprisingly dark lashes.

"Well, if we can make it to Kyoto this evening – which I expect we will, unless one us get too tired – then we'll stay with Osen-chan. I suspect it will be too late and we will be too tired to accomplish much then, but in the morning I am hoping to meet with Yukimura Chizuru-sama."

Kichirō shifted uncomfortably.

"You… really think you should get involved with her, Haru-chan? Onii-sama told you that she was surrounded by the Shinsengumi and they have a pretty bad reputation. Although... they're supposed to be very strong swordsmen..." There was more than a hint of interest in the boy's voice.

"I think that Osen-chan and Kimigiku will be able to tell us what we need to know."

"Do you really think Osen-chan is sick, Chiharu? It just seems very unlikely to me."

Chiharu rose, absently smoothing her light kimono. The front part of her long, blond hair was pulled loosely back from her face and neatly braided with silver cord; the rest of it hung in a curtain down her back. She would put it up again properly when she wasn't travelling, but she hadn't had the patience this morning. She had noticed, however, that the innkeeper had given her and her brother very strange looks when they had arrived for lunch. Fortunately, a little pressure with Mind magic was all it had taken to avoid any difficulties in this foreigner-hating land. She would have to be more careful, though.

"I don't know if Osen-chan is sick, Kirō," she answered at last, after they had left the inn and walked some distance off the road. "I think there is something wrong with her, though. Suzuka-hime was not lying."

Kichirō just nodded. He wasn't sure he entirely believed in Suzuka-hime. However, he was perfectly ready for an adventure, and he accepted his older brother's future anger philosophically. He was a great believer in Amagiri's saying that it was best to leave future problems for the future – after you had done what you could in the present, of course.

Suddenly, both siblings turned in unison and Kichirō's sword flashed from its sheath.

Three.

Yes.

We could just leave.

It's easier to Fast Travel if you aren't worried about who is behind you.

You just want to fight, Kirō.

…I'm supposed to protect you.

Three men stepped into the little clearing in the thin woods behind the inn. They were easy to read: a pretty, well-dressed girl and her young brother weren't going to be a lot of trouble. One of the men was debating whether to take the girl with them, but they were primarily focussed on robbery, not violence. Besides, the girl looked like she came from the kind of family that would pursue revenge – although it was odd that there was no palanquin or servants, and the travellers were carrying basic cloth bags with them.

"Hand over your purse, ojou-sama," said the best dressed of the would-be bandits. "Your brother won't fare well against three of us."

"You are making a grave mistake," Chiharu said coldly. It appeared that her older brother was correct on two points – humans were greedy and violent, and the roads to Kyoto were not very safe.

"Is that so? Is he secretly a noble warrior then, with the strength to fight us off with the purity of his heart?"

"You are fools," the young woman responded, with contempt. "I will not try to save you, then. Kichirō, no killing. And try not to ruin your clothes."

These instructions worried the three men for a moment. It was as if something at the back of their minds was trying to tell them to go find somebody else to rob. But the girl's purse had appeared to be well-filled, and they had gone without a lucky strike for some time now.

"Hai!" the boy responded enthusiastically. He flipped his blade unconcernedly and came at the first man in a light-footed rush that caught the spokesman completely off-guard. Within seconds the man was disarmed and unconscious.

The other two men attacked Kichirō from either side, but the teenager – lacking his older brother's restraint – simply leaped over one of them, flipped in mid-air, and brought his sword-hilt down on the man's head. The man crumpled soundlessly, blood trickling down the side of his neck.

"Sorry Nee-san! I don't think he's dead though!"

Chiharu shook her head in annoyance. She would have to check on all of them when Kichirō was done.

The last man took marginally longer, but Kichirō took him down by parrying away his sword and kicking him in the chest, just as Chikage had shown him. He had a feeling that he had accidentally broken a few of the man's ribs, but hoped the would-be-robber would recover. His sister hurried over, paying no attention to his combination of excitement and justifications.

"They'll all live," she said shortly, cutting off his recital. "Unless the one you kicked develops an infection. Fortunately, the lung's not pierced."

The man with the broken ribs was the only one conscious, so she stared down into his face with glittering purple eyes.

"Never, never attack peaceful travellers again. You never know when they might be demons in disguise."

"Hai, ojou-sama," the man mumbled, through groans of pain.

"Let's go, Kichirō."

"Hai, ojou-sama!" her brother replied, still apparently pleased with his battle.

She sent him a withering look, but he grinned unrepentantly.

"Well, Chikage wouldn't let them get away with insulting you!"

"Chikage wouldn't have bothered to stop for them," his sister told him bluntly. In fact, she agreed that if Chikage had stopped, he would not have let them get away with any insult to her. In fact, he would not have let them live. "You did very well, Kirō."

"Back to the Fast Travel?" her brother asked.

"Yes. Are you tired?"

"No. Well, maybe a little tired of concentrating on the Fast Travel…"

"Let's get away from here at least," his sister suggested.

"Aa."

An instant later, the clearing was empty.

[V] - Confidences and Kazamas

Harada and Sen heard voices when they entered the house. Kimigiku and Chizuru were speaking in quiet voices in the main room. When the princess and her tall escort entered, they saw that tea and small plates of sweets had been placed on the table. Whatever the two women had been talking about, it had obviously been a difficult discussion, as they both looked very serious.

Chizuru jumped up immediately, however.

"Osen-chan! How was your walk? And tea? Good afternoon, Harada-san."

Sen hurried to Chizuru and drew her over to the window.

"You were right!" she whispered with a grin and a blush.

Chizuru stared at her. "So… soon?" she whispered.

"Well, I did encourage him a bit, maybe. But Chizuru-chan, he said that he liked me too…" Sen was beaming at her friend.

Kimigiku took a sip of tea and then raised a pointed eyebrow at Harada, now sitting opposite her. For his part, Harada blessed years of experience for being able to suppress all but a slight blush.

"I suppose the dango was very good," he said innocently.

Sen and Chizuru finally came back after a few more confidences that left both of them blushing and bright-eyed. They looked very young, and Harada wondered for a moment what the hell he and Saitō were thinking, getting involved these lovely innocents.

"Well, I've been here with Kimigiku-san," Chizuru said as she sat down again, "and not only has she been teaching me new Mind and Soul techniques, we have also been talking about some of the family history. My father – Yukimura Kazuhiko-sama – was one of the few Lords of the Eastern Clans (they were mostly female rulers), and he and my mother both had the potential for extraordinary Gifts. The biggest loss, according to Kimigiku-san was the loss of the Oni medical arts. But there are some part-Oni working on these things now that I can meet eventually. Because I've been thinking," she added seriously, "that I may have a gift for healing that I just don't know how to use consciously yet."

"That would make sense," said Harada, accepting a cup of tea from Sen-hime with a smile. "We all seem to be healing very quickly around you lately, Chizuru-chan."

"Excuse me," Kimigiku said calmly, but with a hint of concern. "Princess... I feel something coming this way... it seems as though Kazama-sama may be on his way here. Can you sense it?"

"What! But he knows we're keeping an eye on things… And this isn't the best time. Anyway, I thought he was heading off to some war."

Harada's expression went from pleasant to professional on those words.

"Sen-hime," Kimigiku said softly. "It would a good idea to find out who is coming. Saitō-san is in the middle of his Trial of Soul."

"Right!" said Sen. "I assume they're not too far off?"

She conjured a white light, like a globe. Then she looked for Kazama Chikage. Sure enough, she saw not one by two Oni with strong Kazama blood signatures. It wasn't quite right for Kazama Chikage, however.

"Oh good heavens! Kimigiku, Chizuru-chan! It's Haru-chan and Kichirō-kun! And I think they plan to be here by tonight. You overestimated their speed, Kimigiku, since they aren't Chikage."

Sen looked at Chizuru's and Harada-san's blank faces.

"Um, they're Kazama Chikage's sister and next oldest brother. They're really nice. But… there's a lot going on right now… This could get complicated. The thing is – Chikage's very, very protective of Chiharu and it's very strange that he's not with them."

"Another cousin…" Harada murmured. "So there's Sen-hime, Yukimura Chiziru-sama, Kazama Chiharu-sama… And you are all cousins? I'm feeling rather underdressed for the occasion."

"Well," Sen said, concentrating, "to be more accurate, Chizuru-chan and I are first cousins on my mother's side, and Haru-chan and Kirō-kun are first cousins on my father's side, since he was a Kazama. But I think that Chizuru-chan is only a second-cousin or so of the Kazama. In any event, something is certainly upsetting Haru-chan, and she is not usually upset. They won't be here until after dinner, though. They've come from a long way.

At that moment the door opened and Amagiri and Saitō came in and bowed.

"Saitō-san was successful in completing the second Trial," Amagiri said simply, but looking pleased. "I believe we will try the Trial of Mind tomorrow morning, depending on his schedule."

Chizuru stood up and smiled warmly, her eyes shining.

We have done well today, between us, she told him silently.

Yes, we have, he agreed, almost returning the smile. Then, with a glint that would have surprised his comrades, he added: And we both managed to learn Soul magic as well…

Saitō greeted everyone else politely, and noted that Sen-hime and Kimigiku-san seemed concerned about something, while Harada looked more neutral than he usually did.

"What is wrong?" asked Amagiri bluntly.

"I don't know if anything is wrong exactly, Amagiri... but Haru-chan and Kichirō-kun will be here in a few hours. I have no idea why."

"What about Kenshin?"

For a moment it seemed to the two Shinsengumi captains as if the tall Oni's eyes became more golden.

"Kenshin? He is not with them," Sen replied with a tiny frown. "And I have no sense that they are bringing bad news. It is just... they are in a hurry and Haru-chan is not as calm as usual."

Amagiri nodded and appeared to have recovered his calm. Chizuru, who found that Saitō was now at her side, wondered what had upset the Oni in the first place.

"Well, it will be nice to see Haru-chan," Sen told the others firmly. "I think you'll like her - and Kichirō-kun - very much."

[END]

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