Author's Note:

For those of you wondering why this chapter has been so delayed, I must once again plead ill health. But wow! Chapter 90!

The next few chapters should be exciting ones—this chapter is the prologue, if you will. Nobody is finding life easy at the moment, and it seems that every decision has downsides and risks. As the first shock of Amagiri's punishment and the slaughter at the Yukishima estate begins to wear off a little, Saitou, Hijikata, Sen, Chiharu and Amagiri start to consider what needs to be done next. Unfortunately, they don't all agree.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please look forward to the next one as well!

~ ImpracticalOni

Quotes for Chapter 90

To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them;

—Hamlet (spoken by Hamlet), by William Shakespeare

Prithee, peace!
I dare do all that may become a man;
who dares do more is none.

Screw your courage to the sticking point,
and we'll not fail.
I am settled, and bend up
each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

—Macbeth (spoken by Macbeth & Lady Macbeth), by William Shakespeare

Chapter 90—Who Dares do More is None

Part I—Saitō: To Go, or Not to Go

Saitō gently untangled himself from his wife's grasp and went to stand at the window to look out at the pre-dawn sky. It was ridiculous to be awake at this hour, especially after the late night before.

Chizuru had been asleep when he'd returned from speaking with Hijikata-san and Harada, and he'd spent several minutes watching her and trying to fend off the desperate fear that always seemed to grip him now when he saw her looking so young and vulnerable. Unknowingly echoing the words that Harada had spoken to Chiharu and Sen, Saitō had reminded himself that his job—in fact, his honour as a warrior—meant that being too cautious was just as bad as being too reckless. Worse in fact.

He had meant to sleep in his own futon that night. After all, it was very warm, they were both tired, and Chizuru would still be within arm's reach. Somehow, he hadn't quite managed it. As if less than a week had given him a lifelong habit, he had turned from his bed at the last moment to lie beside his wife. Chizuru had half-woken and reached out for him, demanding a kiss goodnight in blurred but insistent tones; after that she had started nuzzling his neck and chest, and his plan to go straight to sleep had vanished.

In fact, their lovemaking had gone on for some time and left them both covered in sweat. Saitō had fetched cool water and a cloth afterward in order to tidy them both up; for once, Chizuru hadn't protested. She'd fallen deeply asleep while he was helping her into fresh nightwear, and when he had curled up with her in his futon she hadn't stirred.

And now it was less than three hours later and he felt as awake and refreshed as if he'd had a full night's sleep. It had to be Chizuru's doing, and it seemed to be closely connected to their physical intimacy. While he was beginning to accept this new part of his life, he was troubled on two accounts. The first, and far more serious, was whether there was a negative effect on Chizuru other than—possibly—extra fatigue. The second was that it had occurred to him to wonder whether others might have noticed a similar… phenomenon. It was difficult not to be embarrassed. At the same time, as long as Chizuru wasn't harmed by it, then surely embarrassment was a small price to pay? Except that he had no idea how to tell if it was harmful. For now, he would simply hope that as Chizuru became more aware of her abilities, she would somehow learn how to limit their involuntary use.

He decided to take the opportunity to wash at the well, since it was unlikely that anyone was up. A chance to douse himself fully before drying and getting dressed wasn't to be missed. He ruthlessly banished memories of bathing with Chizuru—that had been a luxury, and he was already far more fortunate than could reasonably be expected.

Half an hour later, he was clean and dressed and sitting in seiza in his favourite place under the cherry blossom tree near Chizuru's garden. He spent several minutes—longer than usual—clearing his mind and slowing his breathing, before settling into deeper meditation. The horizon brightened, but although his body acknowledged the change in the light and the rise in temperature as sunlight touched the top of the tree, he remained still. He had deferred this moment for too long, and he had missed it.

Hijikata-san was the first to arrive in the courtyard, not long after the sun had risen. That made sense; he'd had very little alcohol, as usual, and wouldn't be among those nursing a sore head. Saitō opened his eyes as the Vice Commander approached the well.

"Ohayo, Saitō."

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Fukuchō," replied Saitō politely.

Hijikata-san eyed him narrowly for a moment. "Yukimura didn't kick you out did she?" When Saitō didn't respond to the patently absurd question, Hijikata smirked and added: "I'm just glad you finally decided to let her get some sleep last night."

Saitō felt the inevitable blush start to creep across his cheeks, but the meditation had helped and he was becoming inured to such comments. Or so he told himself.

"May I wash undisturbed, do you think?" Hijikata asked a moment later, pointedly glancing at the door to Saitō's room. "Or are we expecting company?"

"Chizuru is still asleep," Saitō replied automatically. He felt the blush deepen for some reason—the fact that he kept using her unadorned first name perhaps? Or the memory of his totally unaccountable jealousy during the episode to which Hijikata-san referred?

Hijikata tilted his head toward Saitō slightly. "You really can tell, can't you? Even from this distance you know that she's sleeping."

Or maybe it was that. "Yes. I am… aware of her." He felt uneasy, and curiously vulnerable. Amagiri would tell him that it was because he was finding it difficult to accept that he had family now, something that the Oni took very seriously, it seemed. And yet, Hijikata-san and Yamazaki had looked after Chizuru for him, as had Amagiri. He was going to have to come to terms with both needing and accepting their aid. It made it more difficult that his obligations to Amagiri were as yet unfulfilled.

"May I speak with you before breakfast, Vice Commander?" he asked, once Hijikata had rinsed off and scrubbed himself dry.

Surprisingly, Hijikata-san didn't make the obvious retort. His face regained its customary frown, but he nodded. "Yes, you can come with me now if you like."

Saitō picked up his swords and followed the other man inside Yagi House. Hijikata-san motioned for him to speak as soon as he had properly belted his kimono and reached for his hakama. He continued to dress while Saitō attempted to lay out the situation as simply as possible.

"I have outstanding obligations to Amagiri as well as to Kimigiku-san in her new position as Yukishima Kimiko-sama." Saitō paused, giving his senior officer a chance to sigh and remind himself that the Oni were a fact of life—like bedbugs, which were both too close and too annoying to easily ignore. "The first matter is pressing. Amagiri expects that Kazama will remain with the Satsuma leadership during any upcoming confrontation with the Chōshu. What we do not know is whether Kazama has been in contact with his mother since learning that Chizuru is married. According to Chiharu-sama, the only reason Lady Kazama agreed to her—and Kichirō-kun's—journey to Kyoto was for the purpose of securing Chizuru for Kazama Chikage."

"You figure if she's disappointed about the match then Kazama's mother may tell him about the child—Amagiri's, I mean—and that could be a problem?"

Saitō bowed. "I apologize, Vice Commander, but my personal matters may cause difficulties for the Shinsengumi. Kazama cannot be taken lightly, and I believe him to be in a dangerous temper."

"Aren't we all?" demanded Hijikata, grimacing as he quickly combed out his damp hair. He immediately waved a hand at Saitō. "Warui. I know what you mean. I did warn Amagiri, you know."

"Hai."

"Oh for the gods sakes raise your head! To sum up: Kazama's totally pissed with you for stealing his bride and his—whatever the hell Amagiri was—loyal retainer?—and he either might or already has threatened the Shinsengumi over it. He'd be thrilled if you would just die, and he'd love to run you through, but unless I misunderstood things, Sen-hime told him to play nice now that you're an Oni. Meanwhile, Mama Kazama may or may not have told him that he's got the perfect hostage against you and Amagiri—except it means threatening a boy he presumably thinks of as a kid brother."

"Aa." Saitō decided not to mention the other problem—that he himself could eventually end up in trouble with Sen-hime for actively participating in human affairs. Although with Kazama and Shiranui already involved, there weren't any obvious solutions at the moment. Shiranui had stated outright that he wasn't giving up his involvement with the Chōshu, no matter what Sen-hime (or anyone else) said or did.

"So we're still on alert, but you want to rescue Amagiri's kid. You need my approval—and Kondō-san's!—to leave when we're still short of men. And let's not forget that we've already got one maverick Oni out to get us who may be your brother-in-law."

Saitō blinked. He hadn't realized that Hijikata-san had fully worked out that last part. Then he remembered that Yamazaki was an excellent listener who had probably given the matter considerable thought.

"… Aa." Saitō felt like bowing in apology again. Having thought about it at length himself, he was forced to conclude that at least some of the spy's attacks on the Shinsengumi—and most likely all of the attacks on Sōji—had arisen because he had become too close to Yukimura. Chizuru. My wife.

"Tch. Stop feeling sorry for yourself—it doesn't suit you."

Saitō blinked again. Hijikata-san was now seated opposite him, scowling. Unlikely as it sounded, it was a reassuring scowl.

"Vice Commander?"

"Look, I don't think Kazama was ever destined to be a friend of ours, you know? If he's with the Satsuma troops now, then presumably he'll have to be officially neutral as long as they are. Even Nagakura isn't sure which way Satsuma will jump eventually—the Chōshu aren't exactly their buddies, but they both hate the Aizu. As for whether Kazama will go after you because of Yukimura, who knows? Personal grudges are strange things and lots of people here have had to deal with them. Either way, the Shinsengumi have got to get back to business as usual."

Saitō nodded, but he waited patiently for Hijikata-san to address his concerns about Amagiri Kenshin—or whatever his name was. Then again, the Vice Commander would be well within his rights to tell Saitō to shelve the problem for now. Was that what he was trying to say with that last part?

"The way I see it," Hijikata said slowly, as if thinking things through as he spoke, "you wouldn't have to deal with Amagiri's problems if you hadn't suddenly decided to become a happily married Oni"—he smoothly ignored Saitō's twitch at the description—"but at the same time you've acquired some pretty significant abilities now to help you deal with the mess—right?"

"I have greater strength and speed at my disposal, as well as some capacity to regenerate. I have yet to determine my limits, and I still have a great deal to learn. It will take a little time to regain full precision with my blade." Saitō's response was as precise as usual.

"Saitō." Hijikata's voice was entirely serious now. "As the Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi, the most I can do for you is not directly forbid you from leaving the compounds except as required by your duties as Third Division Captain. I cannot give you approval to leave—that would be a breach of my own duty to Kondō-san and the Shinsengumi."

Saitō looked down. If he wanted to act now to secure Amagiri's son, he would have to accept that he was acting outside of the best interests of the Shinsengumi, as well as outside the rules. That's what Hijikata-san was telling him. However… if he had the ability as an Oni to move quickly enough to do what had to be done without being missed, or too obviously absent, then Hijikata-san wasn't going to actively prevent him from taking action.

"I should have mentioned this sooner," Hijikata commented, as though a propos of nothing, "but you're on the morning patrol today. Even though you offered to take the next few night shifts, Sōji and Harada have volunteered for tonight instead. Souji insists—vehemently—that he's ready and able. I have no idea why Harada wants your shift, but he suggested it to me late last night and I have nothing against it. So that gives you from about noon today until about noon tomorrow to think things over, as it were."

Purple eyes met blue. The Vice Commander's expression was bland. Saitō did his best not to appear baffled by the way that various others seemed to be anticipating his needs. Sōji actively preferred the night shift, but Harada's sudden change of plans was… suspicious. Bottom line, it was up to Saitō to decide whether he was going to risk leaving the compounds at a time when he might be needed.

"I will go inform the Third Division of the change in schedule," he said, after a slight pause.

"Don't be too hard on them, some were with the joint patrol last night."

"Yes, Vice Commander." As if Saitō would forget that.

"Oh—and I'll leave it up to you to decide whether Yukimura is going to be working here with Yamazaki or visiting her relatives later on today."

"Yes, Vice Commander." Saitō could feel his expression becoming more and more wooden.

"Anything else to discuss, Captain?"

"No, Vice Commander." The Yukishima problem would have to wait. Saitō tried not to let concern for two unknown half-sisters cloud his judgment. After all, he couldn't risk Chizuru or the twins either—and why did he keep thinking of the unborn babies as… as people?

Hijikata rose and Saitō followed suit, a little bemused and feeling a trace of something like annoyance, for no apparent reason. The hour's meditation had not been sufficient, it seemed.

"You'd better get yourself and your men organized. Oh, and Saitō"—Hijikata waited for Saitō to pause in the doorway—"don't get yourself killed."

Saitō bowed wordlessly. As soon as the Vice Commander strode off toward the common room for breakfast, he turned and headed for his own rooms, mind turning over ideas for keeping Chizuru out of harm's way while he was absent.

Part II—Nagakura and Harada: They Dare Do All That Becomes a Man (Probably)

Harada woke up with a sigh. He'd patrolled the compounds for another hour following his second conversation with Hijikata-san late last night, which meant that he'd hoped to sleep in. Shinpachi obviously had other plans for him.

"Don't be a baby. I brought you food, at least. Besides, it was a late breakfast to begin with so it's not really that early now."

"Fine." Harada sat up grudgingly and ran his hands through his hair. "What's up?"

"I'm supposed to head over to Yase after my patrol this afternoon. You're coming with me."

Harada paused in sipping his slightly tepid soup. He studied Shinpachi for a moment and then shrugged. "Can't. I'm on patrol this evening."

"What? You're with me this afternoon, Sano! Don't tell me you switched with somebody? Wait… Saitō's on tonight, isn't he?"

"He's out this morning. Heisuke'll go with you this afternoon." Harada waited for his friend to ask about the change of plans, but Shinpachi was studying him through narrowed eyes.

"Does Hijikata-san know?"

"Huh?" Harada quickly gulped some more food to give himself a moment to think. "Know what? He knows I'm planning to go out this afternoon for a couple of hours, if that's what you mean."

"Like that is it? Give me a break, Sano—you can't keep secrets to save whatever's left of your blackened soul." The muscular Second Division Captain lowered his voice. "Don't tell me Saitō's getting a full day off from patrol so he can go sight-seeing, I won't believe you. Especially after that blood-bath the other day, which—incidentally—nobody has ever fully explained to me." Shinpachi shook his head, then resumed his normal tone, although more quietly than usual. "I assume you'll head over to Sen-hime's in the afternoon to speak with Amagiri-san, then? Damn! You always find a way to make me do this kind of stuff on my own—you were always abandoning me when I had to hang out with Serizawa-san too…"

"Invite Heisuke," said Harada, grinning. "He hasn't had a chance to meet Satoshi-sama, has he? No, wait, of course he did."

There was a brief silence, while both men contemplated Sen's announcement that both Heisuke and Sōji were Kazama's half-siblings. That had been a weird meeting, and Satoshi hadn't exactly been a calming influence, for the most part. Shinpachi brightened after a moment, however.

"You know, I think I will take Heisuke with me. He was in a good mood this morning at breakfast, and he's curious about all this crap too. He had a fair bit of sake after he was done working with Sen-hime and Chiharu-sama, but you know him—gets drunk easy, whines a bit in the morning, gets over it fast. I hope he doesn't screw things up for himself by getting too involved with that Kichirō kid, though—I mean, I get it, but Heisuke's not being careful enough, as usual."

Harada nodded thoughtfully. "Mm. Yeah, he's maybe a little bit too excited about having a younger brother. Kichirō-kun seems pretty nice—I don't think he's hiding anything, anyway—but he's not human and we don't actually know him very well."

"Or at all, really. You need to be more careful too, Sano. It's bad enough that Saitō's up to his ears in Oni business as far as I can tell, but you've been a little preoccupied yourself. You sure you can't come with me tonight?"

The red-haired owner of the room suddenly laughed. "Oh, I see what it is now! You're interested in the lovely widow, and you figured I could draw your—well, Satoshi-sama's—attention for you. Plus, I might not notice what you were up to between admiring Osen-chan and trying not to say the wrong thing to her uncle!"

"What? No way!" Shinpachi's cheeks had reddened slightly. "But I am curious about why the hell you're flirting with a princess, Sano. Seems unlike you, somehow."

"Hah, you're trying to turn the topic!"

"Am not. Crap, why did I even bother bringing you breakfast?!"

"Easy, you wanted to talk me into coming tonight so Satoshi-sama would have a second target. It was a pretty decent breakfast, by the way, thanks."

"Well you can clear it up yourself," grumped Shinpachi. "Think I'll go see what Heisuke's up to and tell him we're going out tonight."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate the invitation," Harada called after him. "After all, Akane-san does have a pretty daughter!"

Interlude: Lord and Vassal

Saitō was forced to leave on patrol before Chizuru was fully up and dressed—she was feeling sleepy and a little unwell again that morning—but Yamazaki was patiently waiting outside on the engawa for her so that they could continue their work on the medical supplies once she was ready. Saitō received the distinct impression that the shinobi-medic would not appreciate any further thanks for watching over Chizuru, which meant that the two men exchanged little more than nods before Saitō went on duty.

Ohayo gozaimasu, Saitō.

For a moment, Saitō froze—he was more on-edge than he'd realized—but then he recognized Amagiri's distinctive mental presence and gave his men the signal to move out toward Kyoto.

Ohayo gozaimasu, Amagiri.

I will watch over Yukimura-sama again this morning if you like.

Saitō hesitated, unusually torn been inclination and logic.

No… he responded at last. If you would check on her from time to time that should be sufficient.

As you wish. I agree that your brother is a capable guard. Harada-san, too, has become quite adept at sensing any danger.

Saitō chose not to address either comment. Amagiri knew that he was uncomfortable leaving his own duties—in this case Chizuru's care and protection—to somebody else; there was really nothing more to say. Also, while it was taking Saitō some time to fully process the idea that he and Hijikata-san and Yamazaki were so closely related, he did not dislike it. The unpleasant memory of his other brother, so carefully repressed for years and then so ruthlessly exposed by the Trial of Mind, no longer pained him—had become irrelevant to him, even.

It would be best for Kenshin to be in your care before I risk coming into contact with Kazama again.

Saitō? Amagiri was plainly caught off-guard—unusual in itself—and his tone was wary. Or perhaps 'stiff' was a better word.

I have not asked you where things stand with Yukishima Kameko-sama; however, regardless of your relationship with Kenshin's mother, I must consider the boy himself to be my responsibility. Do you disagree?

… No. Although if you are determined to—in effect—claim Kenshin on my behalf, then it would be better for there to be a formal bond between us.

Is it necessary? Saitō vaguely remembered Sen-hime mentioning an oath of allegiance at some point, but she hadn't pursued it, given Amagiri's wounds and everything else that was going on.

Sen-hime would tell you that the conditions have probably already been met, Amagiri replied after a moment. But she would agree with me that it is better to make sure.

Saitō didn't waste time debating the point. Whether it was a result of the unusual nature of his Trial of Mind, or simply the accumulated evidence of the past two weeks, he knew that belief was of critical important to the Oni.

Does Sen-hime need to be present?

No. I am no longer constrained by any other ties—even Amagiri's tremendous composure did not fully conceal the sense of loss behind those words—and even if I considered myself free to choose, I would make the same decision.

Amagiri's prospective (or more likely current) lord had to remind himself to keep walking. For the space of two strides, the fantastical nature of the situation overwhelmed him, and Saitō Hajime, Third Division Captain, objected vehemently to being forced into the role of Sakurai Hajime-sama. Then acceptance returned, fortified as always by memories of the last Lord of the Sakurai and his sister Chieko.

I will come see you after lunch. At that point we can discuss the best approach.

Will Yukimura-sama be with you?

Most likely. That is… another concern.

Amagiri indicated his understanding, and the connection faded. Saitō did his best to return his full attention to his patrol. It was likely to be a very long day, but that was no excuse for shirking his immediate duty. With that thought in mind, he signalled to his Vice Captain, Magoshi, to walk beside him, and asked for a report on the previous night's patrol.

Part III—Sen and Chiharu: Taking Up Arms Against a Sea of Troubles

Chiharu regarded her cousin over her teacup. Sen had seemed preoccupied all morning, and she had spent even longer than usual trying to find the mysterious—or possibly not-so-mysterious—rogue Oni who had been manipulating the Shinsengumi.

"Things are very unsettled, aren't they?"

"Yes…" Sen's response was half-automatic, half-emphatic. "Oh—I'm sorry, Haru-chan, I know I've been a terrible hostess this morning."

"We've all had a lot to think about. It's odd, really. Three weeks ago life was—to be honest—a little dull. Now I need it to slow down so I can do all the things I want to do."

Sen gave Chiharu a wan smile that managed to convey how much she agreed with that sentiment. The two young women sat in silence for several minutes, communicating understanding and reassurance in a way that neither had ever quite experienced up until the last few days. They had never seen much of each other in the past; both Sen and Chiharu were too precious to risk losing in the eyes of their respective families to have been allowed much real freedom as children. That being said, they had been writing to each other for almost as long as Sen could remember, first at Princess Shizuka's request and then out of genuine affection, which was no doubt what Sen's farseeing mother had intended to achieve. After the tragic events at the Yukishima estate, Sen had begun to believe that her mother had known in advance how important it was going to be for Kazama Chiharu to feel a personal attachment to the current Princess of the Oni.

"I'd like to learn how to fight," Chiharu said abruptly. "That came out wrong, but you know what I mean—I want to be better than just competent so that I can protect myself and others. I feel as though I've finally figured out that I can be something other than a bride and a mother, and now there's even an opportunity to learn. But I feel the shadow of my brother's imminent displeasure looming over me, not to mention guilt for not being there to support him when he probably needs me."

"Displeasure? I don't think Kichirō-kun is upset, do you?"

Chiharu gave her a mock glare, but otherwise ignored the interruption. "And I have very mixed feelings about Kenshin—and Amagiri, and Chikame-sama. Or rather, Kameko-sama."

"As to that… the men are plotting behind our backs, as usual," Sen told her, a little bitterly. "Saitō-san is on patrol in the city right now, and I'm almost certain he's been in contact with Amagiri. And I—yes, I know you'll laugh at me—I spoke with Harada-san this morning and although he didn't come right out and say it, I gather that he and Hijikata-san—and probably Yamazaki-san—well, you saw for yourself how they are—um…"

"Osen-chan."

Sen sighed. "I suspect that the whole lot of them are conspiring to give Saitō-san the opportunity to track down and retrieve Kenshin."

"Without talking to me first?! Or you?"

"Or Chizuru-chan. She puts up with a great deal, in my opinion."

The two young women looked at each other and for a moment their annoyance gave way to amusement.

"Not that she seems unhappy," Chiharu murmured.

"No…" Sen had to repress a momentary wistfulness.

"But still."

"Yes. Saitō-san is going to find himself in difficulties if he keeps trying to avoid discussing things with her before he starts making arrangements with others!"

There was another pause, and Chiharu's expression gradually faded from irritated to thoughtful. She glanced cautiously at her cousin's stormy eyes and finally said:

"Osen-chan? What if—just hear me out—what if Saitō-san isn't planning to do this behind our backs? I mean, I've seen enough of Hijikata-san now to realize that although he is as arrogant and self-satisfied as most men—especially warriors—he does in fact care about his subordinates, which isn't so common. At least, I'm quite certain that he cares about those I've met—even Okita-san, who seems to have very mixed feelings about him. And being the type to order people around, he probably looks after them all in a rather high-handed way—which could explain Okita-san's resentment, of course."

"Hijikata-san can be extremely irritating," Sen murmured. "But I'm glad that you have obviously given careful thought to his good points as a leader and so on." The magenta eyes held a gleam that Chiharu didn't appreciate and chose to ignore.

"My point is that Vice Commander Hijikata must be trying to balance things just as carefully as you are, from his perspective. You have to meet the needs of the Yukishima, find and hopefully somehow rehabilitate an Oni of unknown but obviously significant power, and deal with a, a clan's-worth of part-Oni with unheard of potential—"

"And Hijikata-san is dealing with the same bizarre collection of individuals, a pack of unwanted Oni, his own loyalties—which I concede seem genuine enough—and so on. Plus, he's feeling the lack of Saitō-san to act as his obedient, personal errand boy."

"Sen-chan…"

Sen looked down, slightly abashed by Chiharu's censure, mild though it was.

"Gomenasai. A lot has been asked of Saitō-san in the past, but that doesn't change how much Hijikata-san has demanded of himself; also, Saitō-san undertook his more… objectionable… tasks out of loyalty and respect, as well as duty. As Amagiri told me after that awful Trial of Body, we are generally right to be critical of humans, but we must also accept that they are limited in ways that we aren't, and they can still—occasionally—act with honour." Sen shook her head. "I was surprised to hear him say such a thing; then again, I'm not sure I knew him as well as I thought, since he rarely said much when he was here with Chikage."

Chiharu said nothing, but Sen wasn't surprised. She had realized over the past few days that her cousin admired the taciturn, red-haired Oni, and was quietly fretting over his break with the Kazama family and the scope of his injuries. And Kenshin. Sen made a point of smiling at Chiharu before returning to the original conversation.

"Getting back on topic, I think you're right that Hijikata-san takes his responsibilities more seriously than most humans. He is also coping with reasonable success—so far—with a series of completely unforeseen and disruptive problems among the men who are key to his organization. If Saitō-san has the time to help Amagiri with Kenshin, which appears to be the case, it could only happen if Hijikata-san is smoothing his path—unofficially, of course. And with everything going on, it's possible that there hasn't been time to tell us. I have to warn you, though, that Harada-san was very reluctant to discuss the matter, which is why I thought they must be trying to conceal it."

"Yes, but Osen-chan"—Chiharu leaned forward, her expression serious—"Harada-san and Hijikata-san can't officially countenance Saitō-san's absence. They may very well be trying to keep their own involvement as quiet as possible, and they are correct to be cautious in even thinking about it. Don't you see? Their ability to shield their thoughts is imperfect at best, by Oni standards, and they have at least one enemy who seems to be able to wield Mind Magic at an exceptional level. Moreover, you must have noticed last night that they don't fully trust one of their own comrades—Takeda-san, I think? So it's best for them not to act in concert except at the most, ah, unspoken level. They are less likely to give themselves away, you see."

Sen was torn between respect and amusement. "You seem to know quite a lot about these things, Haru-chan! You make good points, and I almost feel badly now. In fact, Harada-san has pointed out to me before that he is not skilled at keeping secrets, although I suspect he is deliberately over-stating the case. Still… Amagiri could have come to speak with us any time in the last two hours."

"He may be waiting for Saitō-san to arrive. Whether because he feels it is more appropriate, or because that gives him more time to think about how to handle the situation."

"And instead of fuming at possible slights, I should be turning my mind to the same point." Sen sighed.

Chiharu leaned forward and took the younger woman's hand. "I felt the same way, when you first mentioned it. Don't sell yourself short just because you have a lot on your mind. Saitō-san is a problem in his own right, after all, especially if the Shinsengumi get called into battle. While I have come to respect him far more than I ever expected, my brother—my younger brother—has good cause to be somewhat wary of his strength. And I still don't understand how Yamazaki-san has somehow become more of an Oni just in the past two days."

"Right. One problem at a time then. What are we going to suggest to Saitō-san when he—hopefully—requests our thoughts on the matter? After all, between us we can probably locate both your mother and Kenshin."

"Unless Chikage has already spoken to Mother and concealed Kenshin."

"Let's hope he hasn't. Where is your mother now, do you think?"

Chiharu responded slowly, and Sen could see how uncomfortable she was.

"Mother is most likely where she told me she would be—at our summer home. And although Chikage may not have spoken to her yet—he avoids dealing with Mother when he is in his rages, since she is so frail—I think that he probably will. He is feeling betrayed in every way—rightly or wrongly, Osen-chan!—and he will want to touch base with Mother to… to ensure that she was not complicit in that betrayal."

It was Sen's turn to shift uncomfortably, but she nodded. "I do understand why Chikage feels betrayed, Haru-chan. And he may have some reason for his anger given his previous betrothal to Chizuru-chan. Although what he did to test her was, um, unfortunate."

"Completely idiotic and possibly unforgiveable, you mean," Chiharu said bitterly. "I know. The reality is that he brought most of this disaster down on himself. I'm still a little shocked that Amagiri went as far as he did to help an unknown human—even a part-Oni—but I'm certain that part of it was an attempt to compensate for my brother's poor judgment."

"… I'm sorry, Haru-chan. For your sake, I mean. I'm still upset with Chikage, I'm afraid."

"They were betrothed though," murmured Chiharu. "He was only fourteen or fifteen at the time—and I was only a child—but he was deeply upset by Chizuru-chan's supposed death a few months later. Not that he said so, of course, but I knew. Looking back on it, I think that the destruction of the Yukimura and the loss of the betrothal bond made him very susceptible to adopting my father's more extreme views on humans."

An exchanged look was all it took for the young women to silently fill in thought that it was tragically ironic that the Yukimura had most likely fallen due to betrayal from within—by an Oni—even though the immediate agents of destruction were human. It was no wonder that Amagiri had been so shaken by the knowledge of Yukimura Kōdō's probable guilt—his own upbringing and observations had taught him that humans were weak, shallow and untrustworthy, and it was doubtful that he had tried very hard to check Kazama Chikage's rage against the supposedly human murderers.

Of course, the whole thing raised yet another of Sen's ongoing headaches—where the hell was Yukimura Kōdō? It was clear that he had taken his niece and kept her ignorant of her heritage, but to what purpose? Some years later, he had apparently introduced the concept of the rasetsu to the Japanese government, probably in collusion with the (then) Lady of the Yukishima and her brother Yukishima Masaru. Again, his motives were unknown. Also, was it possible that Yukimura Kaoru was still alive and working with him? If so, why?

"We need to at least consider just talking to my brother about Kenshin," Chiharu said suddenly, interrupting Sen's dark—and off-topic—train of thought.

Sen blinked, taken aback. "Haru-chan… I know you care about Chikage, but—"

"What is Saitō-san going to do? Just walk in and kidnap Kenshin? Aside from the effect on Mother, think about how Chikage will react! He's lost his bride, he's lost Amagiri in the worst possible way, and at the moment he's bound by honour to work for humans in order to pay off a two-century-old debt. What do you think he'll do if he discovers that his worst enemy has managed to breach the security of his home and kidnap his brother?"

"I know but—"

"And it won't help matters when he discovers that Kenshin isn't his brother, and that a great deal of the blame for—for everything—lies with our father! Chikage is always at his worst when he or the family are most at fault."

Sen reached out and squeezed her cousin's hands. Not only was that the correct, compassionate thing to do, but she could feel her own exasperation growing and she didn't want to hurt or alienate Chiharu, who had obviously been concealing a great deal of anxiety about that… that fucking bastard of an older brother. For a moment, Sen felt as though she could hear Harada-san laughing at her for trying out some of Hijikata-san's bad language. This cheered her up a little.

"You still agree that we can't let fear of your brother overrule Kenshin's safety, or his right to know the truth—right?"

"Yes."

"Do you also agree that Amagiri's wishes and concerns must be given considerable weight? I'm not saying that Chikage is personally to blame for this particular situation; however, as Lord of the Western Clans and his father's heir, he must bear the responsibility. An Oni child should be cherished and protected, not used as a pawn to punish and control his parents."

"I agree. It is only the method that worries me." Chiharu looked and sounded calmer again. It had been unlike her to lose her cool—an expression Sen had picked up from Heisuke-kun the night before.

Before Sen could reply, a voice at the door politely requested admittance. Both Sen and Chiharu were taken aback that they hadn't sensed Amagiri's approach.

"Dōzo, Amagiri."

"Shitsurei shimasu."

The tall Oni came in and bowed, before taking a seat at the low table. The livid scars on his face and neck still creased the skin and bore mute testimony to the weapon used and the more vicious wounds hidden beneath his clothes. Even with Chizuru's healing (intentional and otherwise) and Yamazaki's care, the damage to Amagiri's chest and right arm remained significant. The right hand was another matter altogether, but since Amagiri had the arm in a tight sling, and wore a dark haori around his broad shoulders, its absence was well-concealed.

"I'm afraid that there's no tea left," said Sen, curious to see how her visitor would approach the topic that had been under discussion. She was reasonably sure that he had overheard at least the last part of the conversation.

"That is not a problem, Sen-hime. May I ask if you were speaking about Kenshin?"

"We were."

Chiharu merely nodded. She continued to be upset by what Amagiri had suffered at her brother's hands, despite understanding the provocation. It was odd that Hijikata-san, of all people, had been entirely unsurprised by Chikage's brutal actions. He had simply pointed out—as he had once before, according to Osen-chan—that in Chikage's place he would have had Amagiri killed. Chiharu wasn't sure whether to find Hijikata-san's view deplorable (as she did—mostly), or insightful (because it showed that he understood how a man like her brother would react, even without knowing him personally).

Amagiri was as calm and unreadable as usual this morning, which was in contrast to the way he had previously reacted to Chiharu's attempts to talk about Kenshin's situation. Chiharu wasn't certain that she appreciated the implication that he was more comfortable dealing with Saitō-san about his personal concerns. Especially since Kenshin was her brother—or foster brother at the very least.

"Thank you for your concern, Princess; Chiharu-sama. I spoke with Saitō earlier this morning, and he intends to act on the matter later today, if possible."

Sen frowned, and Chiharu fully endorsed her sentiments when she said, "You seem to have a great deal more confidence in Saitō-san than in Haru-chan and I. That is unfair, especially to my cousin."

"I apologize if I caused any offence," murmured Amagiri, bowing. "In fact, I came to ask for Chiharu-sama's advice."

"Oh." Sen glanced at Chiharu, whose face bore an unmistakeably irritated look. Her serene cousin had become noticeably less demure recently.

"It still seems as though Saitō-san's intentions are of greater importance to you than ours," Chiharu told Amagiri. Her voice was soft, but her dark purple eyes were not.

Sen could tell that Amagiri was a little taken aback, but it didn't show on his face.

"I value your opinion—and Sen-hime's—very highly, Chiharu-sama. At the same time, Saitō-sama"—there was a faint inflection on the honorific—"holds my direct allegiance. Moreover, he has experience with complicated situations that most Oni—fortunately—do not." His sky-blue eyes briefly studied Chiharu's face and then looked politely away again. "I had always intended to ask for your thoughts, my lady. You have been a kind and faithful sister to Kenshin, and I know that he trusts you to understand him better than anyone."

Chiharu found herself blushing a little at the praise, despite her resentment at the way that Amagiri had implied that it should be obvious why Saitō-san—or rather, Saitō-sama's—views would take precedence over hers. In fact, it was obvious, said the nagging voice of Chiharu's upbringing. Men were to be taken more seriously than women under most circumstances, and certainly in matters of conflict; female Oni were much weaker than males, and weren't expected to be experienced or capable warriors; an unmarried woman, even one of rank, was expected to be deferential to men to the extent that protocol allowed. Chiharu still found Osen-chan's behaviour to be unusually forward—but she was adapting quickly.

Amagiri was much better than most of the male Oni with whom Chiharu was familiar, when it came right down to it. Unlike Chikage, he at least respected Sen-hime's rank and position, and he was sincere in wanting Chiharu's advice regarding Kenshin. He and Hijikata-san were more similar than they appeared, really; they were better than most men at looking past the dictates of culture and over-generalized experience, which allowed them to value people as individuals. Chiharu thought that it was mostly a matter of being practical, but there was something more to it that she hadn't quite placed yet. … And regardless, they both continued to undervalue women. It was frustrating.

"Does Saitō-san have a plan?" Sen asked, while Chiharu's thoughts continued to run in circles.

"Īe. We were going to discuss matters after his patrol."

"Did you hear what Haru-chan was saying just before you arrived?"

"Yes. It was unintentional, but unavoidable. Also, I must agree with her that to simply steal Kenshin away would be dangerous." Amagiri turned to Chiharu, who was once more in command of both thoughts and features. "If Saitō decides that a direct approach is the only one feasible, given the limits on his time, then it may be difficult to persuade him of an alternative. However, I am confident that he will fully consider all reasonable suggestions."

Sen nodded in agreement, but turned to Chiharu. "Don't worry, Haru-chan. If Saitō-san insists on being completely unreasonable, I'll remind him that he has sworn to obey me. But I don't think that's likely to be necessary. He's not the easiest person to get to know, but he's almost frighteningly competent. No—scratch the word 'almost'." She smiled her bright smile, and Chiharu felt comforted despite herself.

"Saitō is very worried about Yukimura-sama, of course," Amagiri said. "It occurred to me that she might be safest with your uncle, Prince Satoshi. What do you think, Princess?"

"I'm not sure. Would Saitō-san agree to such an arrangement? Hmm… but if I were to stay there tonight, along with Haru-chan, then it could work out quite well. Chizuru-chan does need a great deal more training, and she was hoping to spend some time with Satoshi anyway." Sen caught sight of Chiharu's slightly scandalized expression and grinned. "Calling him Satoshi allows me to vent some irritation in advance. I know it's not proper, but then neither is he."

Chiharu suspected that Amagiri disapproved at least as much as she did, but he remained impassive. Then she remembered Hijikata-san's obvious annoyance with the Oni prince the other day, and the way Satoshi-sama had made everyone uncomfortable by continually baiting Okita-san (until the quiet Yamazaki-san had given away what he was doing—which was still disturbing in its own right). All things considered, Sen had reason to say that her uncle was not really a proper person. Chiharu had a sudden vision of how her own uncle, Sen's father, would have reacted to Satoshi-sama. She hadn't really known her Uncle Kichirō (after whom her brother had been named), but she'd heard that he was more or less the same as her father. In other words, the two male Oni had probably hated each other on sight.

… And why did her thoughts keep rambling? Ugh.

"Osen-chan? Amagiri? I agree that Chizuru-chan should stay with Satoshi-sama. There is a great deal to recommend it. However"—she raised her voice slightly, to avoid interruption—"I think that if Saitō-san must fetch Kenshin today, then I should go with him."

"What?!" Sen was staring at her, but her expression was rapidly going from concern to comprehension.

"That does not seem wise, Chiharu-sama." Amagiri sounded genuinely unhappy. "You will have a difficult enough time with Kazama-sama as it is. You should not be directly involved in this."

Chiharu glanced at Sen and then focussed on Amagiri. "With all due respect—and with thanks for your concern—I must disagree. My relationship with my elder brother is now strained, and I regret that, but it is up to me to decide how and when to mend it. My relationship with Kenshin is also very important to me, and I am worried about my mother. Saitō-san—Saitō-sama—you're a bad influence, Osen-chan!—will be better off with my help, unless he intends to kidnap Kenshin by force, which I strongly recommend against."

"I see your point, Haru-chan, but it's risky. If Chikage is keeping an eye on things…"

"Then Saitō-sama is still better off with me there to run interference. My respect for the man is significant—I have now seen what he can do, and it's intimidating—but Chikage-sama has considerably more years of training and I've never seen him defeated since shortly after our father died. Amagiri, please, you must agree with me on this at least—my brother could seriously injure or even kill Saitō-sama."

Amagiri looked down, obviously troubled. "I… don't know. You are probably correct, however. Until Saitō fully adjusts to his new form, it is unlikely that he can defeat Kazama-sama. If I sound unsure, it is only because I continue to be surprised by the skill and strength of not only Saitō, but also Hijikata-san and Harada-san. Okita-san too—remember, at the end of the day, a fully-trained and obviously gifted Oni was unable to coerce him into going past a certain point when it came to damaging his comrades."

"Yamazaki-san is becoming more Oni than human," murmured Chiharu thoughtfully. "I do understand your point, Amagiri."

"While we're at it," Sen added, "let's not forget that Heisuke-kun—who I think is rather sweet—survived an attack that should have killed him. Why did you hit him so hard, Amagiri?"

The non-sequitur caused both Amagiri and Chiharu to look at her in confusion.

"I believe I was displeased with his arrogance and inability to gauge an opponent," Amagiri said eventually. "Also, he refused to believe that I was not a Chōshu, even though it should have been readily apparent that I was entirely different from the men that he and Okita-san had been slaughtering below." A hint of amusement showed in his face for a moment. "I cannot say that I found him 'sweet', Princess."

Sen rolled her eyes. "Well of course not—you were an enemy, or at least appeared to be conspiring with his enemies. And I realize that he is very impulsive, of course."

"No doubt you have heard more about him than I have," Amagiri said solemnly.

Chiharu's eyes widened a little. Had Amagiri just made a joke about Osen-chan's relationship—or whatever it was—with Harada-san? She would have assumed that he found the whole idea as strange as she did. Then again, he'd obviously been forming and re-forming his opinions about the Shinsengumi for almost two weeks now.

"I've changed my mind," said Sen, ignoring the comment with unfeigned equanimity. Chiharu was struck once again by how certain she was about Harada-san. "I think Haru-chan is right to suggest accompanying Saitō-san."

Amagiri immediately shook his head. "It would be terrible if Kazama-sama harmed his sister—for everyone's sakes."

"He won't. At most he'll lock me up somehow. Surely you know him better than that, Amagiri!"

"I apologize for the discourtesy, Chiharu-sama, but I know him better than you do when it comes to his recent behaviour. Please consider your most recent conversations with him. Did you not see how he has changed over the last year or two?"

Chiharu sighed. "I have. But even if I am wrong, even if Onii-sama could bring himself to harm me in some way, I should go. I can speak with Mother. I can explain things to Kenshin. And if Chikage shows up then I am by far the best person to intervene."

The advantage to having three strongly empathic Oni in the room was that the disagreement stopped there. It was obvious that both positions had merit, and there was little to be gained by further argument at this time.

"By your leave, Sen-hime, I will return to my room," said Amagiri. When Sen nodded, brows furrowed in thought, he bowed to both young women and rose to take his leave. The truth was that his chest and arm were starting to ache badly, and he wanted his privacy before the pain became more difficult to manage. He did pause to add a few words to Chiharu, of whom he was (quietly) very fond. "Thank you for your counsel, Chiharu-sama. I have great respect for your courage, as well as your ability to care for all of your family."

She gave him a strained, but genuine smile. "Arigatou Amagiri. In the end, I suppose you—and I—will allow Saitō-sama to make the final decision."

"Aa." Amagiri tipped his head politely to Sen. "Unless the Princess intervenes, of course."

Sen looked at both of them and sighed. "I doubt I will, to be honest. As I said before, Saitō-san is frighteningly competent. Stubborn, like his master, but competent."

"… I'm not sure it's appropriate to call Hijikata-san his 'master'," Chiharu told her cousin severely.

"I agree," Amagiri put in.

"No? Then why are you both trying so hard not to laugh?"

Amagiri bowed, and closed the door behind him. He couldn't help but think that Harada-san had an interesting road ahead of him, if he ever decided to marry Sen-hime—or rather, if Sen-hime decided to marry him. He sighed slightly. The Princess was correct: at this point, Saitō was the one who would make the final decision. And as much as Saitō would worry about his wife, Yukimura-sama would be just as worried about him. Amagiri hoped that he hadn't underestimated either of them.

Part IV—Kazama Chikage: The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune

Kazama sat in his favourite place on the windowsill of his room, smoking. One leg dangled over the thirty foot drop below. He needed to speak with his mother, but he would give himself a little longer to allow the worst of his anger to—not blow over, exactly, but to settle in deeper where it was less obvious and less likely to cause her anxiety.

In the meantime, it had become a habit to check on her and Kenshin at their summer home. She was fretting over Chiharu, of course, having been foolish enough to send her to Kyoto with only Kichirō as a guard. Kazama still couldn't quite believe that Chiharu was still in Kyoto. While he hadn't demanded her immediate return, she should have known that he would be expecting her. More to the point, he wasn't sure what was keeping her. His mother believed that Chiharu had gone to Kyoto to woo Yukimura Chizuru on his behalf. That was idiotic, of course, but marginally plausible. He occasionally found Chiharu difficult to understand, but she had always had his best interests at heart. Until now, maybe. Which was maddening, because her calm affection might actually be useful just now.

The problem was that he was certain that his mother—and therefore likely Chiharu—was concealing something. It seemed very unlikely, and he'd never noticed anything wrong before, but there was no other explanation for either his mother's behaviour or Chiharu's, and his mother was increasingly anxious about something. He wondered if she knew that Yukimura Chizuru had already married a human of the lowest kind. Surely Chiharu—or the self-righteous so-called Princess of the Oni—had contacted her? Then again, the summer home was a long way from Kyoto, although not as far as their regular residence in Satsuma han.

But why hadn't Chiharu returned, now that the disastrous marriage had taken place? She had always been there for him before. He would have to talk to his mother and find out what she knew—maybe sooner rather than later…

END

A/Note: So, so many threads to be woven into place... Will Chizuru stay with Uncle Satoshi? If so, what will she learn? Will Shinpachi learn to be an Oni or woo a less than disconsolate widow? Will Sen-hime try to find a way to cuddle up with Sano? [Yes.] What will Saitou decide - take Chiharu with him or refuse her aid? Will Lady Kazama panic? [Quite possibly.] Will Kazama arrive at the worst possible moment? [Doesn't he always? It's not the worst possible moment for him, after all.] Okay, but will he try to kill Saitou and imprison his sister? What will happen to Kenshin? Will Chiharu ever get a proper lesson from Hijikata? [Not if she's locked up.] What about Kichiro? What about Heisuke? What about the damn Hamaguri Gate / Kinmon Rebellion?!

All reviews much appreciated (but nice ones are... nicer ;) Just let me know that you're still out there and reading! Feel free to send suggested corrections (for typos) by PM or similar message on FFnet, AO3 or tumblr. Thank you for reading. \(^u^)/