Author's Note:

Housekeeping details: This chapter has a section that is rated M as it deals with sexual content and themes. Therefore, the full-length chapter 74 is found under "The Teachings of Demons-M-Rated Content" (in my story list). The T-rated chapter is found in the usual place (here). Very generally, the M-rated content follows Saitō's and Chizuru's time together after the latest upheaval and in particular their attempt to discuss their different perspectives on successful intimacy. Not surprisingly, Chizuru may be less knowledgeable about certain things, but she is also less afraid of making mistakes and being vulnerable.

Thank you to everyone for all the encouragement over the last two chapters! I managed to write back to almost everyone, one way or another (i.e., here or on tumblr); if I haven't responded to you yet, my sincere apologies, and I will. I'm trying to break an unusually difficult round of insomnia, and still make sure to get my writing in every day (or night, as the case may be!). All of the comments I've received have demonstrated a sincere engagement that impresses me and for which I am truly grateful. That being said, even touching base in a review to say that you enjoyed the chapter and/or are enjoying the story is greatly appreciated. Comments or concerns (or even noted typos!) can be sent to my PM here.

I'd like to welcome Bluebonnet, who just started reading Teachings of Demons after discovering and finishing the Hakuouki anime. Thank you for your kind review and for taking on the challenge of reading such a lengthy story! As you are already at Chapter 35 (Family Matters, Part III), you have a good idea of what you've gotten into and I'm hopeful that you'll stay with me!

Thank you also to Anon (Guest), for a tremendously encouraging review as well as some very good "educated guesses" about the future. I always enjoy hearing from you when you're able to get a review in!

Last: I'd like to post a revised an updated List of the Oni Clans, either as Chapter 75 or shortly afterward. While I will try to keep it spoiler-free, there may be indications of backgrounds that have already been hinted at in the story. If you have a chance, could you let me know any comments you might have on this? For example, do you want it kept absolutely spoiler-free? Are minor (and already probable) spoilers okay? Do you agree that having the Clan list updated will be helpful? Comments in Reviews or PMs would be appreciated.

I hope you enjoy the chapter!

~ImpracticalOni \(^u^)~

Quote:

Let's Hear It for the Boy

My baby he don't talk sweet
He ain't got much to say
But he loves me, loves me, loves me
I know that he loves me anyway (v.1)

…

Whoa, maybe he's no Romeo
But he's my lovin' one-man show
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Let's hear it for the boy (v.3, follows chorus)

- Deniece Williams

Chapter 74—Healing, Part I

[I] - In the Matter of a Young Widow

Harada and Nagakura left immediately after the ceremony—if such it could be called, given the circumstances. Harada placed a gentle hand on Sen's shoulder before taking his leave.

"I'm sorry things went sideways for you, hime-chan. I'm afraid that happens with an awful lot of plans."

Sen managed the ghost of a smile at the impudent nickname. She was conscious of how much she wished the tall red-head could stay, but managed to keep any look of entreaty off her face. Harada-san's time was entirely at the disposal of his commanding officer; Sen accepted that Hijikata-san had been very generous with his officers' time already. Also, it sounded as though the Shinsengumi officers were genuinely needed back at their headquarters.

"Thank you again for coming to our aid this afternoon, Harada-san." Sen inclined her head politely, cheeks only a little pink. "Thank you for your help as well, Nagakura-san," she added, giving her attention to the man behind Harada.

The Second Division Captain looked suitably serious, and bowed courteously, but an impish sort of smile seemed to lurk in his eyes.

"I hope we'll see you again soon, Sen-hime. It's been interesting."

Nagakura also took the time to wish Kimigiku-san all the best, which Harada viewed rather warily. It didn't entirely surprise him that his friend had already spent a few moments with Yukishima Akane-san; what did surprise him was that Shinpachi would evince any kind of interest in that direction in the first place. The part-Oni woman was striking enough, with her coppery hair and light grey eyes; she was quite tall, as well, and graceful, perhaps as a result of her Oni heritage. However, everything about her seemed muted, so that her height and good looks weren't immediately apparent; in fact, to Harada, she projected a sense of being easy to overlook, which he suspected was deliberate. It was odd, though: Shinpachi usually preferred a more buxom, easier-going type.

Once the two captains had gone, Sen and Kimigiku set about dealing with their most urgent problem: the matter of roughly two dozen bodies currently lying in the house and on the grounds. On top of that, Chiharu was still injured, and Chikame and Mamoru were still unconscious.

"Well, we're obviously going to have to get my uncle involved," Sen said decisively. "He behaves like an old woman sometimes, but he's competent and he'll know what to do and who to contact. Besides, Haru-chan and I were supposed to have lunch with him."

"I was wondering about that," murmured Chiharu. Although she was grateful for the coat that Akane-san had brought her to put over her torn and blood-stained finery, she was rapidly reaching the point of wanting to wash and lie down.

"How can I help?" Chizuru asked, although she truly didn't want to go back into the blood-soaked rooms.

"You're going back to my home in Kyoto," Sen told her firmly. "You've already worked wonders. Besides, now that I've recovered a bit, I can tell that your husband is closer to falling over than he's admitting."

"I agree that Chizuru should return to your home," Saitō said calmly. "Moreover, the Vice Commander made arrangements for Yamazaki-kun to be available there to assist with any wounded. I suggest that Chiharu-sama and Kichirō-kun come with us."

Saitō knew that Chizuru was torn between helping Sen-hime and Kimigiku-san with their grievous responsibilities, and looking after her husband and Chiharu-sama, and he had no intention of leaving her with such a decision. Besides, he had a strong intuition that Kimigiku-san would prefer to deal with her immediate problems without other clans, or clan-heads, involved. That meant that while Sakurai-sama and Kazama Kichirō-kun could be of obvious assistance to her, it was unlikely that she really wanted them there. Sen-hime and her clan would be far more welcome, and perhaps Yukishima Akane-san.

"I agree, Saitō-san," Kimigiku said at once. She turned to her new-found relatives. "This is a difficult time for you as well, Akane-san. However, I would be grateful for your knowledge and assistance."

The quiet woman bowed.

"I would be happy to serve you, Yukishima-sama. Also, I believe that I may be of assistance with Chikame-sama. We have spoken with each other many times over the past two years."

Kimigiku smiled at her aunt-by-marriage, trying not to envy her friendship with Kameko. Of course, she didn't know this part-Oni, but she sensed no danger from her either. The fact that Sen-hime, Chiharu-sama, Chizuru-sama and even the paranoid Saitō-san seemed inclined in the woman's favour was no small consolation as well.

"Arigatou, Akane-san—if I may use your given name?"

"Of course, Yukishima-sama. I would be honoured. May my children stay with me, or would you prefer them to remain with Sen-hime's household?"

Saitō saw or sensed a glimmer of both approval and dismay from Kimigiku-san. Akane-san knew that the others didn't—couldn't—quite trust her, and was indicating that she accepted that her children might be held as hostages against her. Even to Saitō's coldly pragmatic mind, such behaviour was a chilling, if unspoken, indictment of Akane-san's experience and expectations with respect to the Yukishima, or perhaps Oni in general. His eyes shifted to Kimigiku-san, who reacted as he expected.

"Of course Michi-chan and Mikio-kun may stay with you, Akane-san. However, it might be best for them to remain at Sen-hime's Yase estate this afternoon, while the rest of us make suitable arrangements."

"As you say, Yukishima-sama," Akane agreed. She turned to her children, who were still sitting silently a little ways behind her. "We will visit Sen-hime's home shortly. Please behave appropriately."

Saitou put his hand over Chizuru's, even though it was not strictly decorous, under the circumstances. He knew that she found the discussion heart-breaking: these children had just lost their father, and their future was uncertain, but they were expected to be as quiet and obedient as if nothing out-of-the-way had happened. Chizuru relaxed immediately at his touch, somehow reminded without words that she could trust Osen-chan and Kimigiku-san to deal kindly with Akane-san and her twins. As always, Saitō found it strange that Chizuru found his presence comforting, although he accepted the clear evidence that it was so.

"Don't worry, Michi-chan, Mikio-kun," Sen was saying to her young soon-to-be guests. "I'll make sure that you have your own rooms to use. There is no need for you to have to deal with any more new people than you've already met." Despite her own concerns, she gave the children—who were only four years her junior, after all—the conspiratorial smile that Harada found so engaging. It was particularly irresistible with the force of Soul and Mind magic behind it.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Sen-hime" Michi said, bowing. After a moment, her brother followed suit.

A few minutes later, Saitō bowed respectfully to Sen-hime and Kimigiku-san.

"Shitsurei shimasu, Sen-hime, Yukishima-sama. We should go. Kichirō-kun and I will escort Chiharu-sama and Chizuru back to your home, Sen-hime."

"Of course, Saitō-san." Sen-hime smiled fondly at Chizuru, before taking her older cousin's hands and pressing them tightly. "Haru-chan, I am in your debt. I can only hope to repay you in the future for your staunch defense under such circumstances."

Chiharu flushed at the warm words. That the Princess of the Oni was acknowledging a personal debt was no small thing, but at the moment she found that the greater satisfaction lay in knowing that she had successfully done her duty, and had done it without reservation. And Saitō-sama and Hijikata-san had recognized it as well, which was curiously important to her. She never would have believed that the respect of two relative strangers—and one only a part-Oni—would matter so much.

"You can always rely on me, Osen-chan," she replied, bowing once her cousin released her hands. "Please take care of yourself, Kimigiku. I know that you will manage everything efficiently, as you always do, but… if I can ever be of assistance, I hope you will let me know."

Kimigiku met eyes an even darker purple than her own, and nodded. The young Kazama woman had surprised her over the past few days, proving on several occasions that she had qualities beyond her intelligence and Oni Gifts. Grudgingly, she had to admit that Suzuka Gozen, so-called First Lady of Yase and Kyoto, had done the right thing in sending the Kazama siblings to their aid. Not that it paid for her other sins.

Saitō made sure that Kichirō was assisting his sister to rise, and then he took his leave politely of Akane-san, a courtesy that would have surprised his colleagues, except that they would have (correctly) assumed that he was simply gathering information. Chizuru, on the other hand, was far more genuine in wishing the woman and her children well. Saitō managed not to sigh. Preventing Chizuru from caring about people was beyond him. The best he could do was walk the thin line between ensuring that she didn't harm herself through physical and emotional exhaustion, and not adequately respecting her right to make her own choices. He already knew that sometimes he was going to err on the side of caution and get it wrong, but so be it; better that he take on the guilt for refusing to heal somebody than Chizuru get seriously hurt.

[II] - Conversations and Diversions

They returned to Sen-hime's house in Kyoto by as direct a route as possible. Eventually, despite his own unacknowledged pain, Saitō had picked up Chiharu-sama so that they could get her to a safe place faster. Not one of them had been comfortable with it, but after the young woman had stumbled a second time, and Chizuru had discovered that her wound was bleeding a little again, Saitō had told them what they were going to do and they had done it. Kichirō-kun was getting better at Fast Travel, at least.

A very grim-faced Amagiri met them at the door, along with Sen-hime's female servant. His feelings were carefully contained, however.

"Kichirō-kun, carry your sister up to her bed. Mika-san will care for her. Yukimura-sama, I expect that you will wish to attend to Chiharu-sama as well."

Chizuru was impressed with how well he made an order sound deferential. She smiled at her husband, who was wordlessly handing Chiharu-chan over to Kichirō-kun. He gave her a rueful smile in return and watched in silence as she disappeared off behind Kichirō-kun.

"I must bathe and change, Amagiri," Saitō said quietly, once the others had gone.

"I agree. You look and smell like a slaughterhouse. And you are injured, as is Chiharu-sama. Do not worry, Akio-san is looking after the baths as we speak, and I am certain that your wife will want to look after your injury herself. Come to my room—it is right by the kitchens, after all, and your own medic is waiting for you."

Saitō nodded. He had wondered where Yamazaki was.

In Amagiri's room, Saitō gratefully stripped out of all of his blood- and sweat-soaked clothing. He valued his modesty, but not above practicality. Yamazaki's eyes had opened wide upon taking in his appearance, and both Amagiri and Yamazaki had waited for him to wash his face, neck, arms and hands, and change into a clean pair of hakama, before Yamazaki had examined his knife wound and Amagiri had asked to hear a summary of the morning's events.

"Has Yamazaki-kun had an opportunity to examine your injuries, Amagiri?" Saitō asked bluntly, after Yamazaki had cleaned and examined the gash on his ribs.

"He will do so after he's seen to Chiharu-sama," Amagiri told him.

Yamazaki coolly ignored Amagiri's statement. "There is little I can do with your injury, Saitō-san. It does not need stitches, because the cut itself has closed. However, I sense an almost feverish heat in it. I think—and I may be incorrect—that what you need is rest. Do you know what prevents it from healing?"

"Magic," said Saitō, more or less truthfully.

"Actually, I can assist you with that part," said Amagiri unexpectedly. "Unlike Sen-hime and Chiharu-sama, I did not push myself beyond all reasonable bounds this morning."

"We will wait for Chizuru to join us," Saitō told him neutrally. He had been sitting on Amagiri's bed for Yamazaki's examination, but now he took up his favourite kneeling position on the floor and gestured for Amagiri to sit on the bed. "Yamazaki-kun, I appreciate all your help here, however, I need to speak with Amagiri about certain personal matters. I believe that Chiharu-sama will be ready to receive you now. I will direct you."

Once Yamazaki was gone, Saitō didn't waste any time. He had only explained to Yamazaki that Sen-hime had gone to visit a vassal whom she suspected of traitorous dealing, and that the visit had resulted in a pitched battle that ended with the vassal and her principal accomplice—her brother—dead. Yamazaki had accepted what he was told, knowing that he would likely hear more later from either Saitō-san or Hijikata-san.

"I didn't kill Yukishima-sama or her brother," Saitō said, resettling himself. "Although, to be perfectly accurate, Yukishima Masaru was killed in battle by Harada and I working together. Also, I would have killed Yukishima Chiyoko-sama, but Sen-hime and Hideo-sama prevented me."

Amagiri's expression and emotions remained closed off, although he nodded for Saitō to continue.

"Sen-hime pronounced a death sentence on Yukishima Chiyoko-sama, and Hideo-sama acted as her agent and executioner. I am sorry to tell you that your uncle died as well; he told me that it was the only way to save Chikame-sama from dying along with her mother."

The red-haired Oni might have been a block of granite for all of his reaction to Saitō's news or the mention of Chikame's name.

"The main reason for the… battle… was that Sen-hime demanded to see Chikame-sama. Eventually, Chikame-sama was brought to the room by her uncle—Yukishima Masaru—but it was evident that something was badly wrong. After she fainted, both Yukishima Chiyoko-sama and her brother attacked Sen."

"That is nearly unbelievable."

"Based on what I saw and experienced," Saitō said bluntly, meeting and holding Amagiri's eyes, "the lady of the clan was insane, her brother was employing the darkest and most brutal of magic and coercion, and there was nothing that Sen-hime could have done differently other than take more warriors with her to secure her safety. Kyūju-san, you may not wish to believe it, but you must. They were creating rasetsu. They had converted most or all of their servants and guards before we arrived."

"… That cannot be. They would not."

"Then see for yourself," Saitō snapped, his patience abruptly gone. He hoped that it was the residual effect of the difficult morning and having spent too long in his Oni form. "See for yourself and see also your uncle's final moments. I doubt that I will ever forget them. Then you can hear the rest and then I am going to bathe."

Without another word, he projected the whole awful scene into Amagiri's mind: the seemingly endless fury guards, Hideo-sama's cruel-but-necessary manipulation—using Amagiri's own connection to Saitō to gain access, no less—the end of Chiharu-sama's valiant battle, Sen-hime's desperate defence again Yukishima-sama, Chikame-sama's body in a crumpled heap on the floor, Masaru's decapitation, and finally Hideo-sama's horrible execution of his wife followed by his own relatively peaceful death.

"They're all dead, Kyūju-san. Not just the traitors, not just the warriors, but the servants, too. Every part-Oni on the estate. I had to kill them all; they had made them furies and they controlled them to the bitter end. It was worse than anything I have ever seen. Kichirō-kun will never forget the sight of the trail I left, I am certain of that. Neither of us will forget Chikame-sama begging Sen-hime for death."

Amagiri raised a hand in a wordless request for Saitō to stop.

"I can't," Saitō told him. "There is more you must know. Yukishima Masaru had married; were you aware of that?"

"… I heard… a rumour, no more. Is that true as well?"

"Yes. I am told that Yukishima Amagiri Akane-san is the daughter of your youngest uncle. A part-Oni. She was given at a young age to Yukishima Masaru as his bride and bore him twins. Akane-san and her children are presently with Sen-hime and Kimigiku-san. They appear to be the only survivors of the Yukishima clan, with the exception of Kimigiku-san, Chikame-san, and Mamoru-kun."

Amagiri's eyes were closed. He was far less controlled now, and Saitō sensed a wide range of emotions, from shock to near-despair. Saitō found it ironic that he was using the lesson he'd been taught by Amagiri's uncle on mental shock tactics on Amagiri.

"Is there anything else? How does Sen-hime propose to arrange things now?" Amagiri's voice was low, and not quite steady.

"Sen-hime revoked Kimigiku-san's exile, based on the evident treachery of the one who had exiled her. Kimigiku-san has now fully accepted leadership of the clan."

"She wears the four-pointed crown?" Amagiri looked momentarily surprised, rather than beleaguered.

"Aa. She cannot be forced to marry, but Sen-hime will accept a reasonable Heir of Kimigiku-san's choice—either one of the Shiranui girl-children by adoption, if Chizuru can heal them and their clan accepts—or her brother, if he becomes more rational. Who knows? Her cousin, the daughter of her mother's brother, may yet survive the Trials. Sen-hime and Kimigiku-san say that both mother and children are powerful, for part-Oni."

"… Saitō… That would be—"

"No different than what has happened to me, except that Yukishima Michi-san has evidently been well-trained with her Gifts as they have developed." Saitō could sense Chizuru and Yamazaki approaching. "Kyūju-san… You have given me good advice. In return, I advise you to consider well before you decide to avoid Chikame-sama. It has been plain to me for some time that there was a breach. Knowing you, I have assumed that it was serious. But whatever happened ten years ago between you must be reevaluated through the lens of present knowledge. Also, I have given my word to stand by the Yukishima and Kimigiku-san."

Amagiri's sky blue eyes were hard and flat as he tried to process Saitō's comments; however, he saw the same steel in Saitō's expression that he had seen once before. The man might be younger, slighter and far less experienced as an Oni—but he was Amagiri's lord, by Amagiri's own declaration.

"Shitsurei shimasu," called Chizuru's soft voice.

"Dozo," replied Amagiri, when Saitō said nothing. "Enter."

Both Chizuru and Yamazaki stopped just inside the door, sensing the tension. Then Saitō rose.

"Yamazaki-kun, how is Chiharu-sama?"

"She is asleep, taichō. There is not much I can do for her injury, although I was able to clean it more thoroughly than Yukimura-san and that seemed to help somewhat."

"Yamazaki-san was very helpful," Chizuru said firmly. "It turned out that there were tiny—really tiny—fragments in the wound that I couldn't see. Yamazaki-san found and removed them with the assistance of a magnifying glass and Chiharu-chan was much better after that."

Yamazaki shrugged uncomfortably.

"That does not surprise me," Saitō said. "Very well, Yamazaki-kun. You and Chizuru will examine Amagiri's wounds together and she will explain the difficulty with the healing."

"You won't remain, Saitō-san?" The shinobi was surprised.

"I won't be far away," was the cryptic response. Saitō nodded to everyone and left, his hand briefly touching Chizuru's shoulder on the way by.

Chizuru was still trying to understand Amagiri's unusual stress, but even as Saitō-san closed the door behind him she felt Amagiri's calm return. With deft hands—she really was becoming quicker and less clumsy, she thought—she removed Amagiri's jacket from around his shoulders. Seeing that he was going to have little choice but to submit, Amagiri allowed Chizuru to expose the worst of the injuries—the deep cuts on the torso and, of course, the right arm.

There was the smallest of reactions from Yamazaki-kun, as the missing hand and severe scarring shocked even the stoic Shinsengumi medic, and then he began his examination. When he was done, he was frowning slightly.

"This is similar to Saitō-san's and Kazama-sama's wounds, but more severe." Yamazaki still found it strange that he had been asked to attend on the sister of the man who currently figured at or near the top of the Shinsengumi's "enemy" list. He supposed that there were reasons, however. He had tried to ignore how pretty she was, but it had been difficult, especially since she had helped him the night before.

"Yes, that makes sense," said Chizuru. Yamazaki dragged his thoughts back to the present. It occurred to him that these women—including Yukimura-san—might have a greater impact on the Shinsengumi officers because of the shared Oni heritage. It was something to consider later.

Since Yukimura-san was waiting for him, he cleared his throat and continued:

"The difficulty is that I am not familiar with how Oni regenerate. Although I have some limited experience with the concept of regeneration"—he caught Amagiri's cynical expression and realized that the furies were not the secret that they should be—"I don't have others' knowledge at a fundamental level. I am not a doctor, merely a warrior and field medic."

"I was hoping," Chizuru said diffidently, "that you might be able to help me set the bones better in the forearm. You know the anatomy far better than I do, Yamazaki-san."

Yamazaki considered her point and then nodded reluctantly.

"Possibly. But as I understand it, true regeneration will resolve such a problem without requiring the bones to be re-broken and then set. These wounds are deep—I will admit that the blow to the chest appears mortal—and I do not wish to reopen them. Nor can I do anything with respect to the missing hand. I have noticed in others with significant injuries and illnesses that the mental state of the patient can often affect recovery."

Amagiri had been studying Yamazaki throughout his discussion with Chizuru.

"Since you are here, I assume that you are in the confidence of Hijikata-san," he commented.

Yamazaki looked at him, but didn't speak.

"If, in the future, Hijikata-san and Saitō request it, I would be willing to assist with your training, Yamazaki-san. It may benefit you."

This time, Yamazaki looked startled, but he hid his reaction with a short bow.

"Thank you for your offer, Amagiri-san. I will tell the Vice Commander and Saitō-san."

"I believe that we are done here, Yukimura-sama," Amagiri said to the brown-eyed young woman, who was watching them with unfeigned interest. "You will be wishing to look after your husband. You know that he is not quite as well as he appears?"

Chizuru nodded.

"Of course," Amagiri nodded. "Forgive my impertinence."

"O-oh. Not at all, Amagiri-san. I will show Yamazaki-san out, then. Good afternoon."

Appropriate—which is to say brief—farewells were said, and then Chizuru walked Yamazaki to the front door. Saitō was waiting for them not far down the corridor, arms crossed over his bare chest.

"We will talk later, Yamazaki-kun," he said briefly.

"Hai." Yamazaki bowed. "Ah—captain?"

"Yes?"

"Congratulations on your marriage, sir. And to you, Yukimura-san."

It was hardly a matter for embarrassment, and yet all three of them reddened slightly. Saitō managed a slight smile, however (which may have unnerved Yamazaki further, it was hard to say).

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Yamazaki-kun," Saitō replied. "Until later, then."

When the door closed behind Yamazaki, Saitō turned to his wife.

"I am looking forward to being clean."

"Yes. It seems unfair that you have had to wait so long."

Saitō shrugged, and then reddened again. "You will… join me?"

Chizuru looked taken aback for a moment, and then she blushed even more than Saitō.

"Of course, Hajime." She was embarrassed and ridiculously pleased at the same time.

Saitō took her hand. Of all of his concerns about returning to his duties with the Shinsengumi, this was—for no good reason—his greatest. He still couldn't seem to look at his wife for any great length of time without wanting to make love to her. And the more that Chizuru made it clear that she wanted to be with him—that she wanted him—the worse it was. All that being said, he wasn't going to waste the last two or three hours of privacy that they had. He had no illusions about what it would be like in the confines of Yagi House.

Hand-in-hand, they walked down to the room adjoining the bathroom, and Saitō finally—finally!—pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair and letting her scent blot out some of the morning's memories. After a minute or two, he realized that he was probably getting traces of blood and sweat on her clothes and stepped back slightly. Gravely, he undressed her down to her short white under-kimono and then had her turn so that he could untie her hair without pulling at it.

**[M-rated content remove HERE: sexual themes]**

Saitō dropped his head against her shoulder with an apparently genuine groan. "… I can't win."

Chizuru's boldness faded all at once, leaving embarrassment in its place.

"I'm sorry, Hajime. I'll stop asking. Maybe, if you wouldn't mind, I could help you wash? I know you had an awful morning."

A strong hand lifted her chin, and rueful blue eyes looked down into her brown ones.

"No more apologies today between us. Agreed?"

"O-ok?"

"How is the cut doing? It has felt slightly fevered for the last two hours."

Chizuru accepted the change in subject.

"You will have to sit on the ledge so that I can see it."

Saitō inclined his head, trying not to smile as she tucked her hair behind her ears, and examined the short slash over his ribs. She had a tendency to bite her bottom lip when she was being especially serious. [**MINOR SEVERING**]

"Well, it's much better than I thought it would be," Chizuru said, sounding surprised. "And I don't see any trace of redness. Does it still hurt?"

"Not really. But then, I have you."

"But I didn't do anything!"

Straight-faced with an extreme effort, Saitō slipped back into the bath and took his wife's hands.

"…I'll try not to take that the wrong way."

"What?"

"Never mind. Here, let me help you wash."

Getting clean was mutually satisfying, although not at all efficient. Saitō concluded without regret that his imagination had not misled him with respect to the benefits of bathing with Chizuru. Chizuru, on the other hand, was deeply content but also tired and decidedly wobbly-legged. Fortunately, it took very little time for her husband to carry her to their bedroom and tuck her into bed. While she slept, he contemplated their return to the Shinsengumi.

[III] - Kazama's Cub Meets the Wolves of Mibu

Kichirō had been wary of the man who had examined his sister's wound. However, Chizuru-sama's presence had helped a great deal, and the man appeared to be competent, although very reserved. Also, Yamazaki-san reminded Kichirō of the part-Oni craftsmen who lived on the Kazama estate located in Satsuma han, although purple eyes were only rarely seen in the descendants of the Western clans, who tended more toward blue and sometime blue-green eyes. When the medic's intervention had produced a material improvement in Haru-chan's condition, Kichirō began to be even more enthusiastic about the idea of visiting the Shinsengumi's headquarters: it was clear that Hijikata-san had gathered together an exceptional group of part-Oni.

With the optimism of both age and temperament, Kichirō was starting to recover a little from the morning's strange and frightening experiences. He had not actually been hurt, after all—Hijikata-san had helped him to defeat his strange opponents. In fact, thinking about it, he hadn't properly thanked the Shinsengumi Vice Commander for his assistance. Also, Hijikata-san had mentioned Nagakura-san as an excellent swordsman, but Kichirō hadn't had much opportunity to speak with him. He was also hoping to meet Sōji-san and Heisuke-san—although he worried that those were first names rather than last names as was proper.

Time passed very slowly, once Haru-chan fell asleep. He considered practising in the dojo, but it held little appeal after the day's excitement. Haru-chan had forbidden him from bothering Saitō-sama or Chizuru-sama that afternoon; however, as the afternoon wore on, it occurred to him that she hadn't forbidden him from going out for a walk. The more practical part of him immediately insisted that this was a bad idea. It was strangely liberating, though, to realize that Sen-hime and Kimigiku-san—or rather, Yukishima Kimiko-sama—were busy in Yase, his elder sister was deeply asleep, and Amagiri had specifically refused to admit Kichirō to his room (the day before, admittedly, but Amagiri had not appeared to be in a welcoming mood earlier today either).

The idea having taken hold of his restless mind, Kichirō changed into his travel clothes, which had been cleaned but were deliberately nondescript, retied his hair into a slightly-less-sloppy-than-usual ponytail, and picked up his sword. The latter action made him wince. He hadn't cleaned the sword since fighting the red-eyed quasi-Oni at the Yukishima estate. Conscious that he was hoping to speak with swords-masters, and under no illusions as to what somebody like Saitō-sama would think of a bloodied sword resting uncleaned in its sheath in the heat and humidity of summer, he hurriedly corrected his oversight. When the quiet of the house still remained unbroken, and nobody came to dissuade him from his plan, he stole quietly out the front door, walked briskly down the lane, and then ran the rest of the way to the main thoroughfares of Kyoto.

The crowd and noise were rather appalling, now that he wasn't escorting noble palanquins under the protection of somebody with Saitō-sama's "don't-come-closer" presence and expression. On the other hand, nobody paid attention to him at all, which wasn't a bad thing under the circumstances. Greatly daring, he bought himself some dango to eat, and even flirted shyly with the girl helping her mother behind the counter. It was all very exciting. Nobody commented on his red eyes and blond hair, so presumably his mediocre illusion was holding.

He lost focus a little while he was eating his dango, because the dark-haired shop-girl had reminded him a little of Yukishima Michi-san. Not that he was interested in a twelve-year-old girl, of course, but she had been extremely pretty, with a fine-boned face, long silky-looking black hair and lovely purple eyes. Since he wasn't interested in her, he proceeded to walk the entire length of the street wondering whether he might have the opportunity to meet her again. He hadn't actually been able to speak to her, under the rather difficult circumstances of her father's and aunt's deaths. Come to think of it, her mother was Amagiri's first cousin. He wondered if—

"Stop and show us your papers, boy!" a harsh voice suddenly demanded.

Looking up, Kichirō discovered that his daydreaming had cost him dearly. While the street seemed suddenly empty compared to just a few minutes before, the group of men in blue Shinsengumi haori seemed to have no difficulty filling the space. One of the patrolmen was standing in front of him now, his hand on his sword-hilt.

"What've you got?" ask a lighter, slightly friendlier voice.

A second man joined the first, and Kichirō was surprised to see that the newcomer was shorter and slighter than he was himself, and didn't look very much older. The bigger warrior answered him immediately, however.

"Newcomer, I'd say, Tōdō-taichō, up from the south by his clothes. Seemed to be sightseeing… or something."

"Yeah, I see what you mean," the Shinsengumi captain replied, walking a slow circle around Kichirō. "What's your name, kid?"

Kichirō had to grip his teeth together so as not to react as his brother would have done, with a cool announcement of his name—if that—and a warning hand on the hilt of his sword. He didn't think that it would go as well for him as it would for Chikage-sama, who was a full adult and the Lord of the Western Clans besides. Then something clicked in his brain, and he forced his face into a more polite expression and bowed.

"Excuse me, but are you Tōdō Heisuke-taichō?" Kichirō bowed slightly. "I am Kichirō. I had the honour of meeting Harada-taichō and Nagakura-taichō this morning, and they mentioned your name. I was hoping to make your acquaintance."

Kichirō's heart began to beat a little faster. He had managed to gain the attention of the better part of the squad now, and it was a somewhat alarming feeling. More importantly, the young captain had fixed him with sharp blue-green eyes, and Kichirō realized with a sinking feeling that Tōdō-san was a part-Oni with cause to remember his older brother. After all, Hijikata-san had told him that Tōdō-san had been at the Ikedaya with Amagiri and Chikage-sama. At the thought, his felt his illusion waver and saw the captain's eyes go wide with sudden recognition.

"You?!"

Tōdō-san's sword flicked out with surprising speed. His squad followed suit, expressions grim. Kichirō suddenly wished that Hijikata-san would show up again—or even Saitō-sama. Just then, there was a hail from further along the street. Tōdō-san smiled, but not in a way that suggested any benefit to Kichirō.

"Sōji!" he shouted back, his sword still held unwaveringly in front of him. "You'll never guess who decided to come back for a visit!"

[END]

A/Note: And still so much more to come! Wish Kichirō luck as he gets his wish to meet Heisuke and Sōji—and bites off just a bit more than he can chew. Also next chapter: Amagiri and Chikame; return to the Shinsengumi; first drums of war.

Thank you for reading! As always, favourites, follows and reviews are much appreciated.