Author's Note:
To those who celebrate the holiday - Merry Christmas! To those who don't, and those reading this chapter post-first publication - I hope you enjoy your time with Saitou, Chizuru, the Kazama clan, the Yase clan, and assorted Shisengumi.

This is the long-awaited chapter in which Kazama Chikage and Saitō Hajime come face-to-face for the first time since their brief meeting in Chapter 16. The wolf cub now has proper fangs-and horns and claws. But he also has a lot more to protect. There are a several things going on in this chapter, as is more and more often the case as this story progresses. I can only hope that I managed to convey the greater part of what is in my fevered brain.

~ Impracticaldemon

Chapter 93—The Breach, Part 2

Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.
~ Shakespeare, The Tempest (Act I, Scene 2)

The stars were just beginning to ghost into view against the twilight sky when Saitō sensed and heard Kichirō's direction to stop. He could tell that they were close; there was an unfriendly feeling in the air that made his hackles rise. He wondered if the Kazama protective magic—or whatever it was—recognized the upstart descendant of a foe long-vanquished. Though the Sakurai hadn't been vanquished so much as slaughtered. Aware that his emotions were too close to the surface after the gruelling afternoon and evening of travel, and too long spent in Oni form, Saitō took care to guard his expression before turning to face his companion. He resumed his human form with inward relief; it was like coming in out of the harsh glare of a noon-day sun.

"We are just at the boundary of the main estate now, Saitō-sama." Kichirō had been unusually quiet, and very correct, since their earlier conflict. To his credit, he showed no signs of sullenness, or resentment; Saitō took his subdued spirits for concentration, rather than ill-will, and silently commended his efforts.

"Thank you, Kichirō. We should probably rest briefly"—Saitō had noted the fatigue that the boy was trying so hard to conceal—"and take the time for food and drink."

"Yes, Saitō-sama. If you'll come this way, there's a stream with good, fresh water, and"—Kichirō ventured a tentative, but apparently genuine, smile—"it is on the side of the estate where Kenshin likes to spend his time." Seeing that Saitō was listening courteously, he added: "Ken likes to go off on his own from time to time, and Nee-san was starting to allow him a fair bit of leeway, since he knows the boundaries pretty well, and always comes back when he should."

"Mm." Saitō nodded his comprehension. He didn't know a great deal about ordinary family dynamics and interactions, but he was forming a picture of Kenshin-kun based on his dealings with Chiharu-sama and Kichirō-kun. Chiharu-sama was probably both strict and a little doting with her youngest brother, while Kichirō was by turns the boy's senior and playmate.

They both drank at the stream, and took a few minutes to rest their minds and bodies now that the goal was in sight. Saitō's instincts told him to hurry, but rushing in unprepared could mean disaster.

"I've never actually brought a—a visitor here," Kichirō said, into the shadowy silence of the darkening woods.

"Is that so? Hopefully it will not be a problem." Saitō's tone was carefully conversational.

"Amagiri wasn't really a visitor—and he was usually with Nii-sama, of course."

"Aa." He knew that Kichirō was becoming increasingly tense, but there was also resolve in his face and dark ruby eyes. "Shall we go then?"

"Hai!"

"I will follow your lead with Kenshin-kun, when we find him. Remember, your task is to keep Kenshin with you, and to show him that you are confident in yourself and in me. You must remain calm in order to inspire calm."

"Yes, Saitō-sama."

After a little more discussion—very little, since Saitō did not feel comfortable holding a conversation in such an open location—they pressed forward, Saitō following silently in Kichirō's wake. The boy was becoming noticeably better at walking quietly, he noticed; he was a quick study when he turned his mind to something.

They pressed on, Saitō rapidly becoming near-invisible as the light failed. He was wearing dark hakama over his kimono, as he often did for travelling; in contrast, the white scarf seemed to glimmer around his neck and shoulders. Then again, when he actively masked his presence, he usually went unseen regardless of attire. He was doing so now, because concealing his ki seemed to ease the pressure he still felt from the Kazama wards, despite Kichirō's company and explicit permission to enter. The only downside was that Kichirō kept turning to make sure he was still there.

The trees became sparser, and then yielded to grasses dotted with carefully tended shrubs and rose bushes. The air was redolent with the scent of late-summer blossoms. Even in the gloom, it was evident that this was a beautiful garden, although a little wilder than those kept by the nobles who lived in and around Edo and Kyoto. A distant outline against the purple sky suggested a large manor house suitable to the size and style of garden.

The boy they were looking for was easily found, as it turned out—a testimony to Kichirō's good instincts. He was sitting quietly on a large stone, head tilted up to the sky, and Saitō wondered how anyone could take him for a Kazama when there was so much of his father—or at least his father's clan—evident in his profile and colouring. His neatly tied hair shimmered with red, and would no doubt be brighter in daylight. It occurred to him that Lady Kazue must have expended some effort to keep the truth from her other children.

"Oi!" Kichirō was approaching the boy now, and Saitō could feel the smile of relief and genuine pleasure that flowed from him at seeing Kenshin. "Ken! I'm back!"

The younger boy jumped down off the rock. He was just coming into his first serious growth, Saitō thought, automatically appraising. Tall for his ten or eleven years, and bony—his shoulders were clearly thinner than they would be in a year or two.

"Kirō-nii! Welcome back! Is Nee-sama already at the house? Mother has been fretting."

The boys greeted each other with evident affection. Kichirō had given his brother a light thump on the head the moment they'd met up, which Kenshin was attempting to return by jabbing unsuccessfully at Kichirō's ribs. Saitō was reminded of Harada or Nagakura with Heisuke. There were fewer edges, and much less rough humour, however; Kenshin was truly an innocent, and Kichirō not nearly as far from a child as he thought. They'd been raised in wealth and security, and it showed. Saitō had a momentary—and far from welcome—insight into Kazama Chikage's character: whatever else might be ascribed to the man, he'd kept his younger siblings safe, and even happy.

"Haru-chan's still in Kyoto with Osen-chan. I came to see Mother—and you!—and to introduce you both to a new relative." Kichirō turned and stared meaningfully in his general direction, and Saitō took his cue to step forward. Relaxing the hold on his ki brought back the irritating thrum of the wards, but he was getting used to them, and was somehow counteracting them a little now anyway.

Kenchin drew in a sharp breath when Saitō seemed to step out of the shadows, but although he was clearly startled, he concealed his apprehension with only the slightest frown, and waited for Kichirō to explain. Kichirō had his hand on Kenshin's shoulder.

"Saitō-sama, may I present my youngest brother"—there was the slightest challenge in the last word—"Kazama Kenshin. Kenshin, this is Saitō Hajime-sama, a cousin from the Eastern Clans related to Mother."

Kenshin bowed appropriately; he'd been well-taught. There was a stiff wariness in his posture, however; Saitō approved of the boy's caution. An unknown and previously unheard-of cousin would be a very unusual visitor, especially since he wasn't being introduced by Kazama Chikage.

"Konbanwa, Saitō-sama. Are you here to visit Mother? Do you—do you know my brother Chikage-sama?"

"Konbanwa, Kenshin-kun. I am here to visit Kazue-sama on behalf of Osen-hime and your sister, Chiharu-sama." He paused, but Kenshin was waiting patiently to hear the answer to his other question. "And yes, I have met Kazama Chikage-sama." It was harder than it should have been to speak the name aloud with equanimity—and an appropriate honorific—but he managed. Needs must. "He knows who I am." And that is the absolute truth. "I am also here on behalf of Amagiri Kyūju-san."

Saitō and Kichirō both sensed Kenshin's uncertainty grow, and his shoulder stiffened under Kichirō's hand.

"Mother told me that Onii-sama is angry with Amagiri-oji-san. Is that true, Kichirō?"

Kichirō hesitated, then nodded. "Aa. Onii-sama has said that Amagiri is not allowed to, um, visit here right now."

"Why?"

Kichirō didn't need a warning glance from Saitō to cut the discussion short. "Enough, Ken! Also, you are being rude to our guest."

Kenshin was obviously dissatisfied, but bowed politely to Saitō. "Sumimasen, Saitō-sama. I expect it has been a long journey." Saitō felt, as much as saw, the way his eyes lingered on the paired swords at Saitō's waist; he seemed torn between unease and curiosity.

"Yes it has, Ken," interposed Kichirō. "We came straight from Kyoto, you know! So can we please go in now?"

"Do you—do you really need me to be there?" Kenshin feigned an air of surprise, but Saitō knew equivocation when he heard it. The boy was probably out later than he was supposed to be.

"Come off it, Ken-chan! Mother's probably already sent somebody to look for you." Kichirō was handling things perfectly, acknowledged Saitō silently. Or maybe this was just a common occurrence.

Kenshin drew himself up with an annoyed frown, but as tall as he was, his older brother was noticeably bigger. With a smirk, Kichirō tugged his brother's short, rather wavy ponytail.

"Kichirō…" Kenshin suffered the indignity without other protest, but for an instant his expression was so exactly Amagiri's that Saitō was startled into imagining a different, but equally-smirking, Kazama scion, and a much larger Amagiri. He had to blink to banish the image.

On the way up to the house, Kenshin fell into step beside Saitō. "Do you like swords, Saitō-sama— like Kichirō-nii?" The boy's voice was a little shy, but without fear. "Or, is there perhaps more trouble in the East than here?"

Saitō considered the question. It was true that he'd seen relatively few swords among the Oni, and no daisho except the one at his waist—and the one of which Chizuru held the smaller sword of the set. With an effort, he set aside the question of how he knew, with absolute certainty, that Chizuru's sword was one of a pair. He hadn't recognized her kodachi in the slightest when he'd first seen it, but now he had a perfect mental image of the matching katana.

"Ah, sumimasen, Saitō-sama," interposed Kichirō, sounding half-embarrassed, half-proud. "You should know that Kenshin-kun is usually pretty quiet, but he can sometimes ask a lot of questions. Ken, Nee-san wouldn't be happy with your manners—"

"As if you wouldn't want to ask in my place!" scoffed Kenshin. "Kichirō-nii is very interested in swords, Saitō-sama."

"That is so." Saitō's flat agreement quelled the conversation for a moment, and he had to remind himself that he was supposed to be trying to win at least a portion of Kenshin's trust. He could sense that Kichirō had some doubts on that head. "Do you train with Kichirō-kun, Kenshin-kun?"

"Yes, and I'm getting much better. Kichirō-nii isn't a bad teacher, but I wish that Onii-sama, or Amagiri-oji-san, was here more."

"Mm. Does Amagiri really teach you kenjutsu? He did tell me once that he can use a blade, but"—Saitō glanced down at Kenshin and gave him a faint smile—"it sounds improbable to me that he would teach."

"I've never seen Amagiri-oji with a sword," Kenshin assured him. As Saitō had hoped, the obvious familiarity with Amagiri made him relax a little. "But before he was away so much with Onii-sama, he taught me interesting unarmed techniques, and all sorts of other things. Amagiri-oji knows a lot, and he's much less impatient than Kirō-nii."

"Is that so." Despite himself, and the difficult situation, Saitō found he was amused.

"I try to be a good teacher, Saitō-sama!" Kichirō's statement came out more forcefully than he had intended, and Kenshin didn't miss the emphasis. He looked at his brother in surprise, and then back at Saitō, who could practically see the wheels in his head turning as he processed Kichirō's reaction. Why would Kichirō value the good opinion of this new cousin so highly?

Kenshin tried to resume a conversational tone. "Anyway, the thing is, our sword instructor remains in—"

"Ken!"

"I mean, at our usual home." Kenshin threw his brother an apologetic look—they weren't supposed to mention place names or specific locations. Sensing that Kichirō was still unhappy about his earlier comment, he tried to make amends with Saitō. "Kichirō-nii teaches me almost every day when we're here, so it is rude of me to say that he is impatient—it's just, well—"

"It is fine, Kenshin-kun. I assure you that I don't undervalue your brother's ability."

"Thank you, Saitō-sama." Kenshin's tone was formal again, but just a few steps later he returned to an earlier subject of inquiry with all of his original curiosity. "I… I think you must be a good swordsman, Saitō-sama. Do you teach kenjutsu to others in your clan? Although I don't perfectly understand which clan…?" He trailed off hopefully, but Saitō ignored the bait.

"Yes, teaching kenjutsu is one of my responsibilities. I can also teach unarmed combat, if necessary." Fighting was what he was good at. How strange that Chizuru had wanted him despite that. A sudden pang of anxiety assailed him, and he mentally cursed his lapse of concentration; he couldn't think about her just now.

Mercifully, they had finally reached the house. Kichirō hurried to a side entrance and all but shoved his brother inside. Saitō tried to follow, but found himself fighting a strong compulsion to stay out. He drew a careful breath, then allowed his presence to fade away. At the same time, aided by experience and training that weren't exactly his own, he slipped through the warding magic, allowing the bulk of its power to slide around him like water flowing over a smooth stone. He found it unnerving to keep discovering memories that belonged to a man—to men—centuries dead, but he'd be a fool to avoid using any helpful skill at his disposal.

Once past the threshold, the wards seemed to fade entirely; it was an immense relief, but now that he could think freely again, he had to wonder if some part of the magic had been directed against him specifically—or perhaps his long-dead Oni clan. Amagiri, who should have prepared him, had said nothing. Since he refused to believe himself betrayed, he suspected that the magic was either very old, or very specific. He had no way of knowing if the magic was Kazama Chikage's.

"—tō-sama?" Kichirō was looking concerned.

"Hm?" There was nothing to be gained by explaining what had happened. Saitō waited patiently, knowing that Kichirō wouldn't press.

"…Oh, well… it's just that we should catch up to Kenshin. He's taking us—you—to Mother."

"Of course."

Chizuru woke to darkness. She was in her futon—her futon at Osen-chan's—and it was late evening. Her thoughts were a little disjointed, but she eventually remembered enough to wonder who had carried her to bed. It was embarrassing, and she was disappointed in herself. She'd never been one to faint before.

"Shitsureisimasu." That was Amagiri-san, murmuring politely as he entered the room. The door to the adjoining sitting room had been left partway open, and soft lantern light glowed yellow behind his tall form. "Konbanwa, Chizuru-sama." He knelt within easy distance of Chizuru, seemingly as impassive as ever.

"Konbanwa, Amagiri-san. Have you heard anything?" Chizuru hurried to sit up, shy about being untidy—and in bed—but too anxious not to ask for information.

"Saitō and Kichirō-kun have reached their destination. Chiharu-sama has been invaluable in helping Sen-hime to find them." No need to tell Saitō's gentle wife that they had been unable to see anything else. Neither Chiharu nor Amagiri had been familiar with the barriers that had sprung up when Saitō had entered the Kazama estate. The strangest thing was that the magic didn't appear to be Kazama Chikage's doing. Sen-hime and Chiharu were still considering ways to get around it, but they didn't want to do anything that would draw unwelcome attention.

"Oh…" Chizuru frowned a little, and her hands tightened over a scabbarded katana. She wondered why she had Hajime's swords, but that question could wait. Amagiri-san was not telling her something, she was sure of it. "Is there a problem, Amagiri-san? I would rather know as much as I can."

She saw a flicker of surprise on Amagiri's features, and his eyes met hers before he looked down again. Chizuru thought that he chose his next words with care.

"There is no problem, as far as we know. However, they are within the estate proper, and we can no longer track them. Although it takes time and effort to watch them from so far away—without being conspicuous—none of us expected it to be impossible, especially Chiharu-sama."

"I see." With an effort, Chizuru pushed back her fear for Hajime's safety. "That must be worrying for Haru-chan. It is her home, after all." She thought for a moment, then added, "Can you tell me what happened, Amagiri-san? Earlier this afternoon, I mean?" When I passed out for no good reason.

"Of course." Amagiri's hand lay loosely on his thigh, but Chizuru could sense, if not see, how carefully it was placed, as though only continuous effort kept it from curling into a fist. Chizuru immediately wished she could help, but nothing came to mind that didn't seem like an intrusion. Amagiri continued: "As far as I know, you were speaking with Hijikata-san when Saitō reached the point where your connection to him attenuated to an uncomfortable degree. I can only speculate, but I suspect that Saitō's reaction affected you almost as much as your own. You take on the distress of others too easily, Chizuru-sama; it undoubtedly helps them—I believe you helped Saitō—but at a cost to you. This journey is difficult for him for several reasons. He is doing his best to stay calm, but he is inexperienced, through no fault of his own."

"Did you—can you—help him, Amagiri-san?"

"I have helped him as much as I can, Chizuru-sama. He is a capable man; he will find his way. In the meantime"—Amagiri seemed grimly amused by something—"his wife is as well-protected as he could wish."

Chizuru had been too anxious to notice, at first, but now she realized that there were others in her—in the sitting room next door. She put some of her lessons from Sen and Chiharu to good use and did her best to focus. However, a moment later, Sen was in the doorway, with Chiharu leaning over her shoulder. Yamazaki hovered at a discreet distance from Chiharu, quiet, but concerned. Chizuru's consternation became complete when a soft, mischievous voice spoke directly into her mind.

I think I'll just stay out here and entertain your other guests, Niece. This Amagiri isn't bad for a Westerner—which isn't exactly high praise, I know—but right now he's so tense that I'm worried he'll actually lose his vaunted calm and hit somebody. Or worse—be rude to them.

Chizuru blinked, unable to concentrate on Osen-chan's questions while Satoshi-sama projected irreverent images of Amagiri-san walking around with his hair on end and an expression like an angry cat. The addition of a dark thundercloud with little sparks of lightning was too much for Chizuru—she had to raise a hand to her mouth to stifle a totally inappropriate giggle. Sen reacted immediately.

"Stop it at once, Uncle! Chizuru-chan, ignore him—whatever he's doing! I know he's supposed to be teaching you this evening, but honestly, I think he's more trouble than he's worth. He insisted on coming here when he found out that you wouldn't be going to Yase as planned."

"You make it sound like a bad thing," interjected Satoshi, his tone as pleasant as always—and as full of false innocence. "You're the one who keeps insisting that I should exert myself more on behalf of others. You should be pleased. Besides, I was able to further my acquaintance with Chizuru-chan's brothers-in-law, although I'm not sure that Hijikata-san was pleased when I accidentally interrupted his time with Chiharu-sama to offer my assistance. Most understandable, of course, once I took in the situation."

Chizuru was torn between another fit of giggles, self-consciousness, and concern for Amagiri-san, whose face had betrayed a flash of annoyance, followed by weariness. She didn't know him well, but he had saved Hajime, and she sensed a close bond between them—though they both tried to conceal it, of course. He still intimidated her, but she also felt safe with him, especially since coming to understand how much he had risked for Hajime's sake, and maybe even her own. What to do?

"Osen-chan? Haru-chan?" She put on a smile, and bowed as best as she could from her futon. "Thank you so much for your care. I'm very sorry for worrying you, but I feel quite well now." Other than the ache she couldn't possibly describe, from the absence of Hajime. Dear gods let him be safe. No—she couldn't dwell on that right now. "May I ask, um, who else is here?" Hopefully not Hijikata-san. She'd been with the Shinsengumi for less than a year, but she knew that he never slept enough, and was especially busy right now.

"The Vice Commander isn't here, if that's what you're wondering," said Sen, obviously following Chizuru's thoughts with little difficulty. "Which is a pity, in a way, because he can be so expressive, and it's been that kind of a day. But don't worry, he left some time ago."

"And Yamazaki-san only arrived—returned—recently," added Chiharu. Her voice was quite calm, but her expression suggested that she didn't appreciate Satoshi-sama's insinuations. Chizuru nodded to her, and tried not to speculate about whether Hijikata-san admired the lovely Haru-chan. And Hijikata-san was very handsome …from a completely objective point of view, of course. They would make a striking couple. …And why was she even thinking about that?

You do consider the most interesting things, Niece. I can't imagine a princess of the Kazama even contemplating such a misalliance, but the world has been turned upside-down these past two weeks, so you never know. Besides, the handsome Vice Commander is probably the long-lost descendant of the last Duke of the Northern Clans. Our dear ancestress had an eye for talent—and looks. I do think we should train a little this evening though, don't you?

Chizuru nodded involuntarily. Her uncle's mental tone had been genial, yet also somehow warning. She obviously wasn't doing a very good job of concealing her thoughts.

"Chizuru-chan?" This time, Sen took a few steps into the bedroom. "I'm sorry we're all crowding you like this. You gave us a bit of a scare. Amagiri-san has stayed with you, for the most part."

"Oh… Thank you, Amagiri-san." Chizuru wasn't sure what to say, but she bowed politely.

Amagiri gave her an odd look, then gently shook his head. "There is no need for thanks, Chizuru-sama." Chizuru felt the barest of mental touches, and suddenly realized that Amagiri's mind had been—very lightly—with hers all along. It was a disconcerting thought, but before she could become flustered, she felt her uncle smile at her and then a very strong sense of reassurance.

He's closely attuned to you, Chizuru. Your husband left you in his care, specifically, and your husband is his lord. I doubt your Saitō-san fully knew what that meant—

Īe, Satoshi-ōji.(1) The mental voice was Amagiri's, emphatic despite the deferential honorific. Saitō-sama understood. Aside from his own perceptions of honourable service, he holds the living memories of his clan within him. You were not there, but his Trial of Mind was far more than an ordinary ascension to full power.

Chizuru perceived a moment of tension, but it disappeared on the instant. To her surprise, it was her uncle who backed down.

Ah… I had forgotten. Sumimasen, Kyūju-san. In any event, Chizuru, Kyūju-san is guarding you quite literally with his life. Anything you suffer, he will suffer first, to allow you the best chance of survival. It is—

"What?!" Chizuru couldn't prevent a cry of protest.

"It is a sensible thing, actually," Satoshi continued aloud. "It allows a vassal, or shinobi, to protect his lord even when he isn't physically proximate. Of course, it isn't the kind of thing one undertakes lightly, and it can go wrong. I only know of it theoretically, myself. Our family usually avoids burdens that impede free will."

Chizuru bit her lip. "…Osen-chan?"

"I suspected, but didn't know. It makes sense to me too, though—in this case, and in the specific circumstances." Sen looked uncomfortable, but shrugged. "You see, Saitō-san has the ability to shield you like this himself, in the normal way of things. Right? It's part of being Lord of the Sakurai."

"Oh… yes, that's true."

"But he can't protect you right now. This is a good substitute. Naturally, Amagiri-san doesn't mind."

"That is so," affirmed Amagiri, ignoring the distinct disapproval Sen had given the word 'naturally'."

Chizuru was silenced, but unhappy.

"Look at it this way, Niece," Satoshi put in. "Your husband is better off knowing you are safe. You don't want him distracted by worry, do you? Besides, you have more to protect than anyone here."

Chizuru suddenly felt the weight of several sets of eyes, and not a few powerful minds. You're pregnant. Everyone here knows it. We're protecting all of you. Before she could let emotion seize control of her—she felt tears prickle at her eyes—Satoshi intervened.

"Time for a snack and then lessons!" he said brightly. "Chizuru-chan, I'll give you a chance to wake up properly. Osen-chan, I need sake—nothing like giving lessons all day to provoke my thirst. Especially since I was privileged to assist Kyūju-san earlier."

Sen curbed a desire to snap and was grateful when Chiharu stepped into the breach.

"I will arrange for refreshments, Satoshi-sama. Osen-chan can wait to see if Chizuru-chan needs anything." Chiharu bowed with exquisite grace, her face serene despite her own complicated feelings about Saitō's mission, not to mention Satoshi's teasing.

"Now that Chizuru-chan's awake, I'll head back to base." The voice was Nagakura's, sounding quieter and more controlled than usual. Chizuru was startled; she hadn't sensed him or heard him until that moment. "Thanks for an interesting evening, Satoshi-sama." He poked his head over Yamazaki's shoulder and grinned at her.

"I'll let Hijikata-san know you're okay, Chizuru-chan. Heisuke went back a while ago—with Sano—but I figured one of us should wait for you to wake up."

"Oh—oh okay, Nagakura-san! And Heisuke-kun and Harada-san were here too?"

"Yep, though Sano didn't stay long—as far as I know, anyway." He shot a brief glance at Sen, who was waiting patiently to help Chizuru get changed. Sen's expression didn't alter, but Chizuru was suddenly convinced that Nagakura's implication was correct. "As I was saying though, Yamazaki's here now, and I really need to get back so…"

He waved at Chizuru, nodded to Yamazaki, and bowed politely to Sen and Chiharu. Chizuru's impression that he seemed unusually serious was confirmed—in her mind, at least—when he bowed to Amagiri with a formal courtesy that Chizuru hadn't known he had. It was easy to forget that he was the son of a respected samurai family—or at least, that's how he'd been raised. She couldn't help but wonder how things were going between him and Satoshi-sama.

"Thank you for your teaching, Amagiri-san. I wish you hadn't hurt Heisuke so badly—but for my part that's done and over."

"I understand, Nagakura-san. Oyasuminasai." Amagiri had partially turned so that he could see those in the next room without turning his back on Chizuru. She couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Nagakura returned the goodnight, and headed for the outer door of the living quarters. Satoshi left with him, and Chizuru hoped that maybe they were getting to know each other a bit better.

You are insatiably curious, aren't you, Niece? It seems to be a family failing—at least among the women of the clan. For my part, I'd rather stay unenlightened than discover yet another thing I should probably look into.

Chizuru blinked and reddened. She'd forgotten that Satoshi-sama was hovering around in her head, so to speak. Nobody else, not even Osen-chan, seemed to take mental contact so lightly. Then she scolded herself—she was making it too easy for him, that was his point. She had to be more on guard—that's what Hajime would want.

Chizuru-sama. Amagiri-san's tone was more aloof than Satoshi-sama's, but he was also more respectful. The implied emotional distance also made it easier to maintain some illusion of privacy.

Y-yes, Amagiri-san?

Satoshi-sama is extremely gifted at reading others' thoughts. You are naturally trusting, as well as largely untrained. Do not be too hard on yourself. Amagiri allowed his words to sink in before going on. Although our methods are… different… our goal—Satoshi-sama's and mine—is the same. We intend to safeguard you, partly from an enemy, mostly from yourself. For the prince to teach you anything of value regarding your healing abilities, you need to employ them. But if there is a problem, then you may draw on your life force, as I understand you've done before. Our hope is that I can act as the fail-safe, both to protect Saito from sensing any distress, and to protect you from personally bearing any further drain on your resources.

"But Amagiri-san!" Chizuru was appalled. "That means—"

"Right now, your life is the most important. And I am far better equipped than you are to deal with the costs of power."

Sen knelt at Chizuru's side, shaking her head ruefully. "You're not going to be able to change his mind, Chizuru-chan, and it's definitely safer for your beloved Saitō-san." Sen winked at her, and Chizuru found her cheeks growing warm. "Now then, before our chaos-peddling uncle gets back from his chat with Nagakura-san, let me find you some cool, fresh clothing. Amagiri-san?"

The big Oni was already at the doorway. He slid the door shut behind him with a polite 'excuse me'.

Not too long afterward, Chizuru was able to emerge into the softly-lit sitting room washed, changed, and refreshed. She'd tried to question Sen about Hajime, but without result. Sen confirmed what Amagiri had said, but emphasized that not knowing didn't mean that things had gone wrong. They didn't discuss the mystery posed by Chiharu's inability to reach her mother.

"Now then, let's see," said Satoshi, when Chizuru appeared. He had a jug of sake beside him, and there appeared to be water and assorted dishes of easy-to-eat food on a low table beside him. "You can start by having a little to eat and drink, and I'll get our, ah, audience to give us some privacy."

Amagiri, who had risen to stand near Chizuru, said nothing, but didn't move. Neither did Sen or Chiharu. Yamazaki remained kneeling by the open window, his face impassive. The silence had the oppressive weight of many things not being said.

"I am quite serious, you know," commented Satoshi, drawing Chizuru to sit beside him, and putting food in front of her. "Yamazaki-san, you can wait outside the door. Osen-chan, Chiharu-sama, please return to your attempts to scry out Saito-san. It may be important, and it's what Chizuru wants you to be doing in any event. I can't do anything about Kyūju-san, but the rest of you must go."

Sen rose reluctantly, but it was a signal to the others to move as well.

"If you do the slightest thing to upset Chizuru—"

"My dear girl, have some respect." Satoshi smiled thinly at Sen; for once, Chizuru sensed irritation, and more than a hint of power. "If not for me, then for Kyūju-san and Chizuru-chan. Do you think so poorly of them?"

Eventually, everyone had left other than Chizuru, Satoshi, and Amagiri. Chizuru had finished her light meal and was facing Satoshi. Amagiri sat by the window where Yamazaki had been, eyes closed.

"The very first thing," Satoshi told Chizuru, "is to find out what you can do of your own volition. To do this, we will examine both the magical energies in play, and the way that you manipulate them. Unfortunately, I will need an injury in order to demonstrate."

"But!"

"It's a small matter, truly." Chizuru was horrified when Satoshi pushed back his sleeve and nicked the top surface of his forearm—with what she didn't catch. "Now then, I want you to study closely as the wound closes. I will slow down the healing."

"Toshi-san!" Chizuru stretched out her fingers towards the small cut. A drop of blood began to form.

"Now, Chizuru."

"Hai!" Without conscious effort, she formed a simple magical sigil and used it as a lens to study her uncle's slowly healing arm. She began to process her augmented perception of how Satoshi's body rebuilt the damaged skin. Then her concentration wavered—or rather, her mind asked her how she was doing this—and her vision swam.

"Start over, Chizuru."

"But—"

"Your four-year-old self remembers your time with your father and I. That lens you used—I designed it for you, because you hadn't passed any Trials, and couldn't use standard magic. I think if you just focus on the lesson, you'll find more of your unconscious memory returning. That would be very helpful."

Satoshi watched Chizuru absorb his words—it had to be hard for her to come so suddenly into her heritage. He kept strictly to himself that Kōdō likely accessed her half-formed, childish understanding of the Gift of Healing, and might have found there a hint to making the vile ochimizu tolerable for longer to part-Oni—and maybe even to humans. The last time the ochimizu had been used to any serious extent, as far as the Oni of Yase were aware, was over two hundred and fifty years ago. At that time, only those who were at least lesser Oni—which really meant part-Oni—could use the stuff at all.

"I wish you didn't have to hurt yourself, oji-sama."

"It doesn't hurt. Even your human warrior friends know the trick of diverting such a tiny sensation. Surely you must know that they regularly suffer more than this in the course of ordinary training and practice. You should be a lot more impressed by the fact that I can force it not to close—for a short time, at least."

"Oh." The stubborn set of his niece's lips told him that she still didn't like it; however, he could tell when she finally martialled the proper resources to study the energies around the cut. He was somewhat surprised when she instinctively refined her magical lens, and then wove Spirit and Body magics together to assess not the wound, but the magic he was using to maintain it.

"Have you done this before, Chizuru?" Whether it was the finite nature of his magic, or Chizuru's mild probing, the cut suddenly closed, leaving Satoshi's skin whole and unmarked.

"Yes? I think that the way we—Osen-chan, and Haru-chan, and I—examined and tried to remedy Yamazaki-san's, um, illness, was like this, a little?"

"Ah, I did not know you had done something of that nature." Satoshi was rapidly assessing his niece's very unexpected skill and strength. He had only known her as a young child, of course, and now she was a young adult—though she still seemed very much like a child to him. "There has been a great deal going on."

"Yes. …Satoshi-sama? May I ask you something that is, maybe, not quite connected?"

"Of course. Ask away."

"How can I guard myself against using my ability by mistake? I mean, thanks to Osen-chan and Haru-chan, I can now control it much better when I'm awake. But Saitō-san is worried that unless I can be certain about not healing people kind of… all the time… then I shouldn't be in a place where people get hurt—at least a little—rather often."

Satoshi felt a moment's sympathy for Chizuru's beleaguered husband, but easily set it aside. The boy knew his business and accepted his responsibility; he was born and bred—somehow—to cope with the principal dangers that would beset his overly-altruistic princess. Satoshi's original concern—that the former part-Oni would lack the raw power of a true Oni lord—had been banished as soon as they'd met.

"The simplest way to guard against it would be to set a ward. Maybe the two of us can work out enough of the basic pattern of your magic to contain its range while you are asleep, for instance." He frowned, revolving the problem in his mind. "…Or maybe the difficulty is that something you do unconsciously makes you over-sensitive to wounds and illnesses? Because you wouldn't be reaching out if you weren't finding a problem to begin with. I wonder—do you need to be aware of the problem in the first place?"

"I'm not sure. I think—I think I've always been at least a little aware of any problems that I've, um, made better?"

It was an interesting puzzle. Was Chizuru really able to extend her resources based on something as nebulous as awareness and—Satoshi tried to put words on what he sensed—a general, but exceptionally strong desire to help? He felt that there was something he was still missing.

"It seems to me that we have several objectives, Chizuru. In the short term, you need to learn a number of basic lessons regarding the use of Body and Soul magic, with a view of blocking both inward and outward energies—basic wards of protection are useful if you have the aptitude. Both Kimiko and Sen are experts with wards—it comes naturally to most Oni from the two Yase-based clans. In the long term, you'll want to hone your ability to heal without drawing on extra power—and to find out if you can heal illnesses and more complicated wounds. However, your primary goal must be for you to take your Trial of Mind as soon as possible. It keeps coming back to that."

Chizuru didn't react as strongly as Satoshi had feared, given what she'd seen and heard of Saitō's Trial of Mind. In fact, he couldn't read her emotions well at all. When she spoke, he realized that he hadn't anticipated how much of her concern would be for others, when he'd looked for anxiety for herself. It made him laugh inwardly at himself, since he'd just been thinking how her lack of self-preservation presented a problem for her husband.

"I can see how important it is, of course, oji-sama." She squared her shoulders, and briefly met Satoshi's eyes, before looking down again. "First of all, I may not be able to properly heal people until I pass that Trial. That's a problem because Hajime's sisters are not well, and he promised Kimiko-sama to try to help them. Second, my control may not improve enough for me to not heal people when I shouldn't. That will worry Hajime and could affect, um, others. Third, I think… no, I feel as though it's important for me to become an adult, as an Oni. I will be more helpful to Osen-chan, and Hajime will be able to rely on me more." Chizuru smiled shyly at Satoshi, and he was shocked to discover that he wasn't past missing his beloved youngest sister. There was something about Chizuru that defied detachment.

"We should get to it then, Chizuru. Let me show you the mysteries"—he deliberately lowered his voice, as he used to do when he was trying to keep young Sen's attention from her mother's illness—"of the magic of Soul."

The Dowager Duchess of the Western Clans, Kazama Shiranui Kazue, had been expecting him. At least, that was Saitō's impression from the collected way in which she'd received him. He'd somehow forgotten that she wasn't herself a Kazama; he'd expected blond hair, not a frail version of Kimigiku-san, or her late, unlamented mother. Everyone is related to the Yukishima. He did his best not to dwell on the obvious resemblance to Hijikata-san.

They had exchanged formal greetings, and then Lady Kazue had surprised everyone by dismissing her sons to wait outside the small reception room. Kichirō had tried to protest, saying that his mother should not be left unattended—though he clearly meant unprotected—but he'd been overridden with an irresistible grace that had left Saitō both impressed and a little wary.

"We do not have very long, Saitō-sama." Kazue had shown no hesitation in using the name under which Kichirō had introduced her visitor. Kichirō had only gotten as far as saying that they'd just come from Kyoto, when his mother had nodded her understanding and asked to be left to speak with her visitor alone. "You are my brother Toshio's son, is that correct? And you have claimed the old Sakurai Clan? I was told that Sen-hime of the Okikurune had confirmed your bloodlines."

"Yes, that is so." Saitō couldn't miss the implication. It was highly unlikely that anyone other than Kazama Chikage had given that information to Lady Kazue. His swords—the Sakurai swords—sat on the tatami to his left; it was courteous to place them where they were more difficult to draw, but Saitō almost wished that he had foregone the gesture.

"And you are now married to Yukimura Chizuru, Lady of the Eastern Clans?"

"Yes." Saitō saw no need to explain that Chizuru's status still depended on her passing the Trial of Mind.

"…I see." Kazue looked down at her hands. The thin fingers were clasped tightly together on her lap.

"Kazue-sama, please excuse any incivility, but do you know why I am here?"

She nodded, without looking up. "You are here on behalf of Amagiri Kyūju, is it not so? I understand that he is now in your service?"

"Aa. I am here on his behalf, and on behalf of Yukishima Kameko-sama." It was a gamble, bringing Kenshin's mother into it, but both Chiharu and Kichirō had been adamant that their mother would be sympathetic to Kameko.

Lady Kazue's head came up with a start, and Saitō could see the strain on her pale features. The dark shadows around her violet eyes seemed even darker now than when he had arrived. She began to speak, then stopped herself with a quick shake of her head. Saitō heard her whisper, "It doesn't matter, it's all in motion now."

"Kazue-sama, if you know the situation, then will you allow me to return Amagiri Kenshin to his parents? His foster-siblings, Chiharu-sama and Kichirō-sama, both thought that your blessing would ease the transition a great deal."

"And they are the reason why you came to me before kidnapping my son—my foster son, Kenshin?"

"That is correct." Saitō wasn't one to argue over emotional semantics.

"As you have no doubt surmised, my son Chikage already knows the story. He was here earlier today, and he pressed me—a little—on why I allowed Chiharu to travel to Kyoto to visit Sen-hime. You see, if Chikage married Yukimura Chizuru, then there would be no reason to keep Kenshin here. That is, there would be no need for Chikage to marry Yukishima Chikame—ah, Kameko-sama."

"What will you do now?" Saitō asked the question as calmly as he could, although it took considerable effort. While it was true that Kazue-sama had been in a difficult position, she had chosen a far from noble solution, in Saitō's opinion. Or perhaps it was appropriate for her to seek the best outcome for her eldest son and clan, even though it had left an innocent pawn at risk?

"…I was angry, I suppose, when I heard the news of Yukimura-sama's marriage to an unknown man—a human who had mysteriously become an Oni! And, also—Kyūju-kun's betrayal. That was why I told Chikage-sama about Kenshin. I had sent my beloved daughter to Kyoto hoping for a peaceful resolution to a difficult problem, even though I knew Chikage would be upset with me. Of course I hoped that Kenshin would one day be allowed to know Kyūju-kun as his father, but—"

"Kazue-sama, why did you say we had only a little time." His hand itched to draw his sword, but there was no presentiment of impending danger except what logic and experience would dictate.

"…" Kazue traced a faintly glowing word on the tatami in front of her. No, a name. Kichirō? And then… Kameko. Run. Kichirō, Kameko, run.

Saitō tried to process the information. Kameko? Kameko-sama? Or maybe—Kameko's son? Without further consideration, Saitō reached out along his link to Kichirō. It was highly unlikely that Kazama Chikage had expected him to visit and ask politely for Kenshin's return. That meant Kichirō's presence was probably unexpected. And if Lady Kazue was trying to avoid drawing her eldest son's attention, then using a name that meant very little to him made sense. …Especially if he were currently exercising some kind of arcane control over his mother, or this house.

Kichirō. Your mother wishes you to take Kenshin away from here as quickly as you can. Your elder brother knew that I would be coming, and Kazue-sama does not wish you or Kenshin to be present for any conflict. Saitō ignored—in fact, somehow quelled—Kichirō's immediate surprise at the instructions. You have to get far enough from the estate that Chiharu-sama can find you. Your brother has barred this place to all scrying. He didn't actually know that for a fact, but he was almost certain, now. Kazama Chikage would not want Sen-hime to interfere as she had before.

…But I… I can't… Saitō-sama, do you swear that this is my mother's wish? For me to leave with Kenshin? Kichirō's mental voice was tight with suppressed anxiety and conflict.

Yes. You have my word. Saitō tried to think what Hijikata-san would say, but he was too preoccupied with other things—mostly, with maintaining the softest possible presence—and Kichirō was left with his bare answer.

A few seconds passed, and then Kichirō's mind calmed, as the boy mastered himself. I will go, Saitō-sama. I beg you—please—be kind to my mother. The last part was not so calm, but Saitō could not fault the need that drove it. Kichirō was caught between present promises, and longstanding loyalties, but he wasn't allowing panic to dictate his choices. That was enough.

Arigatō gozaimasu, Kichirō. Saitō hoped that some part of his gratitude was conveyed along with the words. He couldn't tell.

"Mother says we're still too close, Ken. Come on, I want to show you something anyway."

It occurred to Saitō to wonder how Kichirō would persuade his intelligent and obviously curious younger brother to leave with him, but he'd forgotten the Kazama talent for coercion—or rather, he'd underestimated Kichirō in that regard. Across the light mental link, he felt his young companion nudge Kenshin into following him out of the house. It took very little more to provoke a chase, especially with Kichirō boasting that his skills were much improved after just a week away from home.

The moment Kenshin left the house, Kazue-sama let out a tiny sigh, and her shoulders slumped. Saitō half rose, concerned, then caught himself.

"Kazue-sama? Is there a problem?"

"No… yes…" For the first time since they'd met, she smiled, although it was a wan effort. "You are a mystery, Saitō-sama. You were not supposed to be able to enter without my knowledge. Kenshin's announcement that you were here surprised me." She took a moment to resettle herself, even raising a hand to check a comb in her neatly pinned hair.

Saitō watched her for a handful of seconds, eyes narrowing. Then he bowed—with propriety, if little deference—and rose smoothly to his feet. Against custom and civility, he deftly knotted his scabbards into his belt even as he bid her a crisp farewell.

"Thank you for receiving me, Kazue-sama. Kichirō-kun asked me to be kind to you. For his sake, and for the sake of the small respite that you have granted me, and for deciding to protect Kenshin"—he saw her wince, as the word 'eventually' hung in the air between them—"I will take my leave now."

She had wavered between loyalty to her eldest son, and love for all her children. Once Saitō was in front of her—to talk, rather than to take by force—she'd hesitated to bring Kazama Chikage down on him immediately, knowing him to be tired, and disadvantaged by the wards. She'd even warned him that his hope to avoid outright conflict was in vain; had hinted that Kazama was not very far away. He suspected that it was empathy for Yukishima Kameko, not sympathy for Amagiri, or himself, that had caused her to make a last-ditch attempt to send Kenshin where he might at least be visible to Chiharu-sama and Sen-hime. Unfortunately, personal weakness, or past trauma, had made her unable to form any firm decisions until the very end. And ultimately, she had elected to hope that Chizuru would marry her son, if Saitō died. Saitō held no illusions as to the danger, if Kazama had murder on his mind, and he had quickly realized that Kazue-sama had tried to delay him, once Kichirō and Kenshin were out of the way.

The first order of business was to escape the house, but that took little effort. The former Lady of the Kazama made no effort to impede him—for whatever reason—and the passive wards were keyed to defend against entry, not egress. Once in the grounds, he raced for the boundary of the estate. Some part of him might be raging to fight the Kazama lord, but it was far more important to complete his objective and return Kenshin to Amagiri.

He forced himself not to shift form, even as the first prickle of danger chilled his skin. He'd thought this through earlier, and he disliked the way that his Oni form left him more open to emotion. He was past the rock on which they'd first met Kenshin when the chill warning became cold certainty, and he spun with his sword drawn just steps from his goal. The descending blade, wielded with lethal force, shrieked across the Sakurai katana, throwing up sparks into the night. Saitō purposely allowed himself to be thrown back, carefully controlling his fall so that he came up on the safe side of the boundary with his sword raised defensively before him.

"So the Sakurai lordling is raider and a coward after all." Kazama strolled out from between two trees, his near-silent footfalls in contrast to his casual gait. His katana—not the demon-killer, Saitō was relieved to see—was held loosely in one hand.

Saitō watched him approach, noting that he was also in human form, though his eyes glittered dangerously in the dark. He discarded the man's words, and used the time to evaluate his immediate surroundings, noting rocks and small trees that might be obstructions, and keeping in mind the stream from which he and Kichirō had drunk earlier. He was glad they'd taken that break.

"Are you hoping to outrun me all the way back to your precious Princess? Or did you bring her with you, and are now sniffing your way back to her like the obedient dog that you are?"

Saitō kept backing away, gauging the way his opponent moved and swung his sword. It was fortunate that he'd sparred with Kichirō, who likely imitated his older brother's style. Kazama's bright katana neatly cut away a small sapling that obstructed his path. Saitō reflected that it was a pity that he was so tired from the afternoon and evening's travel—it would be interesting to fight such a worthy adversary.

The next attack came without warning, but Saitō deflected it easily, and put enough force into his return strike to give himself a bit more space again. The other man was incredibly strong, but he'd expected that, based on his training with Amagiri.

"Are you silent for lack of breath, or lack of sufficient vocabulary? You know you can't outlast me, surely. How is my former bride, by the way? You must be greatly indebted to Amagiri to have forced yourself from her side so soon after your marriage. But then, you wouldn't have her if not for him, so I suppose it's fitting. Still, those raised among Oni know that it's an insult to leave a bride on her own so soon after the wedding. Did she find you inadequate, or did your human instincts for stealing overcome your desire to be at her side? Or do you only wear the guise of an Oni—enough to fool the foolish Sen-hime, but not enough to draw you to a woman you can't possibly understand or truly value?"

Saitō wordlessly parried several more strikes, and responded to a few, but he could feel his temper rising. Worse, the carefully built wall around the longing for Chizuru was starting to crumble. He was going to have to fight in earnest soon, before fatigue and emotion wore away his control and exposed his true weakness. He'd hoped not to—at least, rationally, that was the case. What he mostly wanted to do was allow enough time for Kichirō and Kenshin to be found and concealed, somehow.

"How could any Oni woman be attracted to an obvious fake—a cold-blooded, emotionless killer—like you? You've tainted her with your foul touch, and now you won't even fight to protect her good name by protecting your own!"

The dam broke, too weak, and too hastily forged to withstand the onslaught of honed, poisonous words. Even as he beat back a flurry of fast blows, Saitō felt himself change form, and then the desperate insecurity of not having Chizuru beside him caused him to stagger. In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, it occurred to him that maybe Kazama Kazue, rather than Kazama Chikage, had been his true downfall: the attack on his mind—probably backed by strong magic—had possessed an intimate, bitter knowledge of the marriage bond.

Pain battered at Saitō, as half-a-dozen blows connected with his arms and torso, and the shattering feeling of loss raged inside his head. His blood spattered the trees, and flowed freely into the dirt and bracken. Time passed—seconds that felt like minutes of brutal pounding. His clawed hands were slippery on his blade. He heard Kazama's mocking voice, and barely twisted away from a killing blow.

He stared up at Kazama's scornful expression, saw him pull back his red blade for another strike. Then, as if he'd first needed to reach this point of near-annihilation, discipline reasserted itself, of a sort—human discipline, based on years of harsh practice and constant self-evaluation. His skills, his reflexes, his knowledge of his own abilities were his own, human or Oni. He didn't know what had called it all back, but it was there and he embraced it without reserve. Godsdamned goat-fucking self-important self-righteous bastard Kazama! And then, because the walls were well and truly dust: Traitor! Murderer! Kin-slayer! May you and your heirs never die old!

Saitō launched himself at Kazama, all restraint lost to past and present rage. His wounds closed as though they'd never been. Still silent—although he didn't know it—he began a lethal onslaught that rapidly forced his opponent into switching forms, and then onto the defensive. Four-horned, and golden-eyed, a blade in each hand, the demon challenging the previously unmatched Lord of the Western Clans was now beyond any Oni seen in several centuries.

[END]