Chapter 21
He stared at the city below them. The ridge they had halted atop, gave a perfect view of Kyoto and it's glittering night lights, lights that mocked them with their undulating sparkles and dances, creating a false image of beauty and peace. The markets in west and south of the city bustled with life and light, the quieter urban areas lit with a soft glow of street lanterns and candles. He shook his head in dismay, the city was ignorant to the death that stalked the night elsewhere in its streets.
His gaze shifted to the north, where the Shinsengumi base lay, it was dark there, only the occasional flickering torch and glint of a steel blade showing signs of life, it seemed like the earth had opened up and swallowed the area whole, the dark in the streets seeming impenetrable and infinite in it's blackness . He could only imagine what waited for them in those darkened, cobbled streets.
Okita gripped his katana tighter, the tension in his shoulders and neck running into his hand, the angst of their slow travels now firmly seated in is gut.
"I'll take my men around, we'll attack from the North." Nagakura's deep voice spoke from behind the first division captain.
Okita solemnly nodded his agreement.
"I'm taking my men through the front gate," he answered without any hint of emotion.
"Ha!" Nagakura smirked. "Always count on the first division to do something reckless." he patted Okita on the back. "I will see you later, if not at home, then in the afterlife."
A brief smile flitted across Okita's face as he heard Nagakura leave, his friend's nonchalant remark about death reminding him how strange and messed up their lives were.
"I can't die here tonight Nagakura." he said to himself as he turned to his men.
"Get ready to move out!" he ordered. "The second division will attack from the north, tenth division from the west."
"Taicho!" his men responded in unison, ready to defend their beliefs and the Shinsengumi dream.
Okita looked at his men with pride, this was the first division, men highly skilled at combat with little fear for other men's blades. They would fight to the death to protect the unified dream.
He couldn't let them down.
With his will firmly set, he mounted his horse and edged her towards the path leading down to the city, his katana loose in its saya, ready to be drawn in a single moment.
She was covered in blood and gore.
Monster blood, human blood, comrade's blood, her own blood.
Crimson ran down her arms and made her hands sticky where they connected with the tanto hilts in her palms. She had killed so many, but the stream of creatures seemed to be never-ending, when she struck one, two took its place, their vile breaths thick in her face, claws grabbing at her in a frenzy.
Her lungs burnt from exertion and her legs were achingly tired, but the constant wail of creatures and humans alike drove her to straighten her spine and forge forward. The sound of death roared in her ears, the stench of blood and innards assaulted her nose. She felt sick.
She tensed as an unearthly growl sounded behind her.
She turned in a practised swirl, the ball of her right heel carrying her weight as she thrust her blade forward, piercing through skin and soft organs, as she jerked the embedded steel sideways she heard the blood gush from the mortal wound and felt the sickly warm fluid stain her skin once more. Her breath came in short gasps as she followed through, twisting her body back to its original position to catch a blade aimed at her open back. She felt her strength wane as she caught the blade with the flat of her tantos, the impact thrumming and stunning down her weakening arms.
Her attacker leaned forward and placed more weight on her arms, his half-human face only inches from her own, he bared his teeth at her and his death-like breath billowed and swirled in noxious fumes.
Kasumi's legs buckled under the monster's weight and she dropped to one knee, gravel cutting and piercing her skin. She let out a cry at the unexpected pain and the creature above her mewled a wicked laugh. A laugh that came to an abrupt end as a blade skewered itself through its chest, then swiftly retracted. The monster grew limp above Kasumi and fell on top of her moments later, eyes glazed and unseeing.
She collapsed under the dead weight and only found her breath when the body was unceremoniously shoved off of her.
Shinji stood there, breathless and wide-eyed as he confirmed that she was still alive.
"Get up!" he commanded moments later, a tremor of fear in his voice as he offered her a hand, which Kasumi took without a thought.
"Where's your brother?" he demanded of her, as he pulled her closer, never letting go of her hand.
"With the gate guards in the courtyard." she rasped, confused at Shinji's question. "Why are you looking for Susumu?" she asked softly.
Their eyes met for an instant and Kasumi saw anger and hatred burning in his dark irises.
"Come!" he dragged her by the hand towards the courtyard, not noticing her stumbles as her tired legs tried to keep up with his pace.
He was annoyed.
He had planned to have all this done by now, Susumu should have been dead already, Kasumi should have been distraught in his arms, they should have fled in the midst of the battle currently raging around them, but the Yamazaki siblings had separated as soon as the enemy rushed the compound and he had spent most of the skirmish looking for at least one of them, at times both.
Now I have to force the issue. He thought as he dragged Kasumi towards the courtyard.
Shinji winced as a sharp pain shot through his arm where he had cut and stitched himself earlier, another part he had not planned.
His heart had burnt with a desperate fire when he had seen Kasumi at the compound gate, he yearned to see her and in his irrational desire, he had cut himself as an excuse to enter the enemy's base.
His forceful pulling made Kasumi stumble again and she fell to her knees, bringing Shinji from his musings.
"Give me a moment." she begged and Shinji stopped. She was exhausted and covered in blood, her breath wheezing from tired lungs.
"We are supposed to cover the exit Shinji." she exhaled, her eyes glaring accusingly at the man holding her hand.
"Shut up!" he exclaimed as he pulled her back to her feet, looking ahead where the courtyard was now visible. His eye caught his target and he watched as Susumu cut down a large creature. He surged forward yanking Kasumi along, his determined eyes only focused on the man he hated more than anything in the world.
The monster fell at his feet with a loud thud, its last breath loudly whooshing from its lungs as it connected with the gravel. There was a momentary calm and Susumu looked up to see yet another small force of creatures approaching from across the courtyard. Growling and salivating in bloodlust, the monsters formed a terrifying, clawed background for the oncoming Shinji, Kasumi dragged stumbling along with him.
Susumu's first thought was that his sister was injured, he felt worry rise in his gut and he ran forward to meet the pair. On closer inspection, he noticed the look on Shinji's face, rage and madness swam in his eyes, his teeth bared in pensive anger.
"Kanzaki! Is Kasumi injured?" Susumu's eyes darted from Shinji to Kasumi to the group of threatening monsters coming up behind them and felt a sting of panic jabbing in his chest.
"No." he heard his sister's ragged voice from behind Shinji.
"She's fine." Shinji growled as he stepped even closer to Susumu, letting go of Kasumi's hand as he reached to loosen the katana at his side.
"YOU, on the other hand, will not be."
Confusion flitted over Susumu's face as Shinji barreled forward and grabbed him by his collar, shoving him backwards with force.
"Wha..." his bewilderment was met with a sharp pain as Shinji's fist connected with his jaw, his sight swimming for a moment as a thousand sparks flashed on the back of his eyelids. The punch was accompanied with a loud, approving howl from the creatures behind Shinji, their voices tapering down to an excited chatter.
"You!" he heard Shinji's manic voice hiss. "You destroyed me!" another violent shove connected with his chest and Susumu found himself on his back, his head throbbing from the impact it made with the ground.
"You took everything!... my life...my passion...my love..." Shinji's blade was now drawn and the tip of the katana waved dangerously in front of Susumu's face.
Slash. Once again the monsters howled their approval.
The blow was badly aimed and Susumu felt the steel glancing off the kurata he wore and cutting through the flesh of his upper chest, slicing his haori.
"Onii-san!" he heard Kasumi scream and the gravel made a harsh grinding sound as she tried to get to her feet.
"Stay out of this!" Shinji's voice bellowed and he turned, his fist striking the woman in her stomach leaving her gasping for air.
Shinji's expression changed in an instant.
"Sorry! Sumi I'm sorry, please forgive me!" his voice had changed to that of a small child begging, he stepped closer to Kasumi giving stricken Susumu enough time to come to his senses and pick up his dropped blades.
His footing regained, Susumu's voice rose. "Kanzaki! Step away from her!"
"Never..." the man growled in response and he shoved Kasumi to the side, her breathless body falling out of the way and chafing on the loose gravel.
"Today I take back what is mine..." with those words Shinji turned and rushed towards Susumu, his attacks frantic, his blade slicing air, clothing and flesh at a disturbing, inhuman pace.
Surprised by the frenzied attack, Susumu stepped backwards with each strike of Shinji's blade, the madman's fever adding strength to his blows, another step and Susumu felt his back hit an obstacle, it was the bannister of the entrance stairs digging into his flesh.
Fuck. Shinji had cornered him so easily.
Susumu watched as Shinji's overhead blow rained down and ducked, sweeping his leg out as his hands hit the ground. Shinji faltered as Susumu's foot connected with his ankle and stumbled to the side, giving the spymaster the opportunity he needed. He ran, practically on all fours and scrambled towards his sister, still stunned on the gravel.
"Sumi!" his voice came frayed, he reached her in time to see the hungry eyes and claws of the Mori monsters reaching for her. "Sumi! Get up!"
Kasumi stirred at his desperate pleas. "Oni-san?" her eyes became focused and then widened as she saw Shinji come from behind her brother, katana draw and deadly in its sheen.
"Oni-san!" she shouted as she shoved Susumu out of harm's way, taking the heavy katana blow in her brother's stead, the sharp edge sliced through her shoulder and down her exposed side. As an agonised scream rose from her lips, the monsters around her became more riled, their growls growing insistent for blood.
"Woman! I told you to stay out of this!" Shinji's voice roared, his anger overruling even his feelings for her.
He glared at the force of beasts at Kasumi's back. "Stop!" he screamed at the creatures. "This kill is mine!"
He lunged at Susumu once again, his fury driving a mad assault.
The two men circled each other, frenzied strikes countered with measured blocks and aimed attacks, Susumu felt his strength waning, the travelling and combat of the last two days quickly draining him, Shinji's attacks came hard and fast.
"I will take back what's mine!" Shinji repeated. "I will take her back!"
Both men struck a blow, slicing through flesh and staining the gravel crimson, Susumu saw his chance and kicked forward, connecting forcefully with Shinji's shin. The man dropped to his knee, pain fuelled rage clear on his face.
Now. Susumu told himself as he closed the gap between them and swung a killing blow,
Stab.
His blade never struck.
Stumbling a step backwards Susumu looked down at the short tanto hilt jutting from his stomach, his tattered clothes already drenched in his own blood as the red bloomed across his abdomen. He looked at Shinji, confusion flooding his expression before realisation set in and his blade clattered to the ground.
"You taught me that!" Shinji laughed at him as he rose and kicked at Susumu's legs, sending him sprawling to the ground. "Get ready to meet your end Yamazaki Susumu" he growled, a wide manic grin contorting his face, his bloodied katana drawn.
"Oni-san! Susumu oni-san!" Kasumi scrambled, the pain in her shoulder forgotten as she flung herself between her brother and the man intent on killing him. She had nothing, her blades lost, her shurikens long ago depleted. She stared determinedly at the man in front of her, her body trembling as the last of her adrenalin thundered in her veins, fear eating at the edges of her desperate thoughts.
"Kanzaki Shinji!" she demanded. "What is your purpose!"
Surprise flashed on Shinji's face, her words puzzling him. After a moment of thought, his head tilted slightly.
"I have loved you since the moment I met you..." he said softly. "Since the day you thrashed me at the training camp, my heart only beats for you... but HE..." Shinji pointed at her brother bleeding out on the ground. "HE never approved..." His gaze moved back to Kasumi and his eyes visibly softened in their stare. "Everything I did was for you, for us..."
His words triggered the anger that boiled in her blood and rose in her gut.
"You killed an innocent child for US?
You betrayed your comrades for US?
Your bloodied hands are for US?"
"Yes!" he screamed.
"Fuck you..." she growled. "I'd rather die than be with you."
Shinji broke, the tenuous thread that kept everything together snapped at her words, his fury came in waves, crashing on the rocks that were his sanity.
"Fine!" he spat. "I will show you what those words mean..." he moved towards her, katana swaying like a viper ready to strike, his eyes gleaming in their madness.
He swung his blade.
The sharp edge of steel caught her armoured forearm as she protected her face, but a hard fist followed the sword, slamming into her jaw from beneath. Her vision swam in dark ripples as she felt another blow and then a slice across her chest, her strength dwindling, she stepped back towards her fallen brother, her sole purpose to protect him. She tripped and fell, her body falling but still obstructing Shinji's target.
Her senses were lost, confused, her dazed mind conjured an image of Okita in front of her, Shinji's approaching form changing to the tall, muscular man she loved, his red-brown hair wild and his emerald eyes piercing. She reached out, her heart aching for Okita, for the love she felt and could not show, for the illness that consumed him, for her death that would mean Okita's death.
"Okita-dono." his name came from her lips in a whisper, tears rolling down her blood-ridden cheeks, her hands clutching at the imagined man's hoari.
Shinji stilled his attack as Kasumi's hands weakly fisted his clothing, pulling him towards her, he watched as the tears ran rivulets down her face, turning red as they washed the blood from her cheeks. His eyes locked with hers and he saw the love he had so desperately sought, longed for years, but that love was not his. He grimaced at the understanding, his hand gripping the katana tighter as he readied himself to strike the last blow.
Absorbed in their own struggle, neither Kasumi nor Shinji had noticed the wails of death or the roar of anger that rolled across the courtyard from the main entrance. Neither noticed as the creatures around them dispersed in panic, only to be drawn and quartered in their escape. The precise strikes of a masterful katana passed them, their eyes locked on each other in a silent struggle.
A heavy foot kicked at Shinji's side, sending him stumbling away from Kasumi.
He looked up in panicked confusion and met two menacing green orbs, those eyes caught him in their cold stare, death swimming in their irises. Without a word, Okita stormed at the man, his katana slicing before Shinji could react, the blade thrust forward, skewering through his chest, puncturing his lung. Pain lanced through his body and bubbled from his lips, red spittle covering his chin in short seconds.
Shinji lifted his blade in a futile motion to protect himself from Okita's next blow, a simple flick of Okita's wrist and Shinji's katana flew through the air, thudding uselessly a few meters away with a loud clang, ringing like a death knell.
The shinsengumi stepped closer and said his first and last words.
"Don't touch my woman." he growled through clenched teeth before his blade slid forward, slicing through Shinji's haori and piercing his flesh, impaling Shinji on steel.
A memory flashed before Shinji, Kasumi calling a name in a pained stupor, the syllables falling from her lips like soft feathers.
"You're...the...one." he uttered as he clutched the hilt in his side, his eyes boring into Okita's in frenzied anger. His legs buckled and he fell to the ground, blood spilling and pooling around his knees and torso.
They had rushed the main entrance with demonic-like force, cutting, piercing and killing in a whirlwind of violence, the night sky filled with a thin red mist that seeped through their blue haoris, turning the bright colour a muddy brown.
A strange panicked calm drove him, his gut clenched and twisted but his mind was precise and clear, his goal doubtless. A roughed and injured gate guard informed him that Susumu-dono was defending the courtyard and Okita ordered his men to cut open a path through the throngs of crazed beasts that stood between himself and the spymaster.
They forged ahead, severing limbs and impaling the sick abominations with swift strikes, the cries of the dying fuelling the angst that clutched at his heart. Faster, let us be in time. His silent prayer sent to any who would listen.
They broke through the last wall of Mori monsters and the courtyard played out before them in a thousand tones of grey, the air eerily silent, even with a large group of monsters hovering at the edge of the gravelled ground. Okita's eyes frantically scanned the space, searching for Susumu...his eyes found something else.
An unknown man punched another and his victim fell to the gravel, the loud thud was emphasised with a cry that was unmistakably a woman's, the man leaned forward menacingly over two bodies that now lay in the courtyard.
Kasumi... Okita knew without any doubt that it was her.
Okita silently ordered his men to deal with the creatures that seemed to be enthralled by the scene playing out in the courtyard, his own gaze firmly fixed on the man whose bloodied katana swayed in an uncontrolled fashion, trembled with barely contained emotion. Blood smears covered his face and upper body, but he seemed uninjured as he leaned even closer to Kasumi.
Okita ran, his feet loudly crunching gravel and churning loose stones as he launched an attack on the man, squarely landing his foot on his ribs and kicking him away from Kasumi.
He spared Kasumi a glance as he passed, noticing the bruises swelling her face and blood running from a gash across her chest, his angst turned to rage at the sight and he crossed the small gap between himself and the nameless man in a single step.
He wanted to hurt this man, kill him slowly and painfully.
As the man's katana clattered somewhere on the gravel behind him, Okita felt the satisfaction of victory, and as the words "Don't touch my woman." rumbled from his chest, warmth spread through his body, he had laid a claim that he couldn't back by any means, but it felt good giving his thoughts a voice. The words brought him back to the present and he turned, stumbling in his haste to reach the fallen woman.
"Kasumi-chan!" he called as he knelt next to her, pulling her close as his heart raced. "Kasumi-chan!"
She coughed weakly, spilling blood on the front of his hoari and her lips moved, whispering. Relief washed over him as he realised that she was still conscious and he leaned closer, trying to hear her words.
"Oni-san...Susumu..." her words made Okita lift his gaze and he met the sight of Susumu lying in a pool of his own blood, Kasumi's body protectively angled over her stricken brother.
"Ito-san!" Okita cried desperately for the one man among his troops that could possibly save Susumu. "Ito!"
A short man came running from the skirmish still ensuing around them, his face ragged and blood-spattered, worry filling his eyes at his captain's desperate pleas.
"Susumu needs help!" Okita shouted and Ito kneeled next to the bleeding spymaster, hands trembling as he saw the bloodstained hilt still jutting from Susumu's abdomen.
"I can't take it out here, I need light and water...bandages." Ito rambled what he needed, his mind racing through the options he had.
"Take him inside, you should find what you need." Okita ordered, still holding Kasumi close to his chest.
"Taicho!" Ito acknowledged and called some men over to help, after ensuring Susumu would reach the common room in safety, Ito turned to his captain: "Okita-dono...the woman?" he asked, looking pointedly at Kasumi wrapped in his captain's embrace.
Okita had not moved since taking Kasumi in his arms, his eyes not leaving her blood-stained face, the captain had lost all awareness of his surroundings, a fact that had not escaped the soldier.
"I'll bring her." Okita said softly, gently lifting her in his arms as he stood.
"Sir" Ito bowed. "I will meet you in the common room." he said as he turned to attend to the injured Susumu.
Kasumi groaned in Okita's embrace, pain shot through her body and her hand reached for the edge of his haori, desperately clutching at the fabric.
"Okita-dono." his name came from her lips in a soft moan and he gripped her tighter, his heart beating frantically at the sound of his name.
"It's over Kasumi-chan, your brother will pull through." Okita cooed softly as he slowly walked towards the entrance of the common room. "Rest now."
He looked down at the woman in his arms, battered and frail, she painted a stark opposite to the woman he had spoken to only two days ago.
She seemed smaller and younger, bruises covering her beautiful face and blood, blood everywhere. He instinctively drew her closer to his chest, an urge to protect her and keep her close burning brightly in his heart.
I can't die, I want to be by your side.
