A/N: Hello everyone! I am back with more of Scarlet Moonlight. I know this chapter is quite short... But please try to enjoy it! And just incase anyone is confused or anything, Serizawa was not part of the old Shinsengumi in this story. Lately I have had to prepare for school and everything next week. I also had to do a 4 hour worth of volunteer service just for school. So I am sorry that I am posting this chapter later than usual, and that it is short. But I swear on everything I love. I will make it up to you guys someday. Now, I don't know when that 'someday' is, but it's probably not THAT far away.

Kind of late, but:

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

And happy reading!

The sound of chains woke Aye from her deep slumber. She didn't notice the state she was in, until she felt the overwhelming pain coming all at once. Where was she? And why was she chained up? Wherever she was, it was dark and reeked of blood. Footsteps echoed through the space, and she lifted her head, and found a large figure standing in front of her.

"I see, you have woken up," the man said. His voice was low, and he seemed to be smirking.

"Who… are you?" Aye asked, not remembering anything. She didn't remember why or how she got here either.

"Do you not remember?" He said, a venomous expression taking over his face. "Then why don't I help you remember?" The man pulled out a hair ornament from his robe. It was beautiful, but was coated with dry blood.

"Serizawa…" Aye whispered, as she recalled what had happened before she lost her mind. Everything was still dim and hazy. A growl of rage ripped through her dry mouth, and she used all the strength left in her body to pull on the cuffs that were holding her back from slitting the man's throat. She pulled, shifting into her Rasetsu form. But the cuffs and the chains would not budge. What were they made of?

"These were made from the finest iron in Japan," he commented, stating that her struggling was pointless. Aye was now panting, but tried to hide how exhausted she actually was.

"Damn it," she swore, making Serizawa smirk.

"Do not worry, you will be home soon, with the Shinsengumi." He spat. This earned him a startled expression from Aye.

"How…"

Everything was a blinding shade of white, and there was nobody else besides Aye. She was sprawled on the ground, looking up lifelessly. Wait… Something was wrong. She was… looking at herself? Aye moved closer to the body, and took a look. It really was herself. The Aye on the floor wasn't moving or breathing. She seemed to be dead.

"What…" She asked herself. What in the world was going on here? Then there was a person walking towards them, their laugh rumbling. The man was tall, and his blonde hair ruffled at the sudden gust of wind. Aye stared wide-eyed at the man, suddenly feeling too tired to look up.

"Kazama…" She whispered. Had he killed her? Why?

"Aye," Kazama said. Aye? He wouldn't call her that. This was wrong. Everything here was wrong.

"Aye!"

"Aye!" A familiar voice shouted. Aye opened her eyes, to find Chizuru and Harada-san atop her. From the looks of it, she was laying on the floor in front their headquarters. So everything was just a dream.

"What happened?" Chizuru asked, a little dumbfounded at the situation.

"I… I don't know," answered Aye. Her response was followed by a startled shout, as Harada-san hauled her up.

"We need to get you inside. Look at your wounds," he said. This wasn't the usual playful Harada-san. He was actually serious this time. Feeling her injuries, she lifted her right hand, as there was a hole that pierced it.

Chizuru was now treating her injuries, being careful not to hurt Aye. When she came down to her right hand, Aye hissed at how much it stung. Being the kind natured girl she is, Chizuru winced and looked at Aye with her beautiful honey-colored eyes.

"It's fine," she said, waving her other hand. It was a lie. It hurt like hell. She noticed that she was biting her inner cheek so hard; she could taste the metallic flavor of blood.

"About going back to Shimabara…" Chizuru started. "I really don't think you should go back." A frown formed between her eyebrows.

"Chizuru, I must go. To be honest, I haven't been of any help yet."

The brown-haired girl then started asking about things that had happened at the red-light district. Although she knew it wouldn't be a too pleasant talk, she was curious. Aye told her mostly everything—but of course, leaving out the parts with Kazama.

Then Heisuke called from outside, that Kondou-san wanted everyone to assemble at the meeting room.

"Aye-san, do you mind telling us what happened?" Kondou-san gently asked, trying not to sound like he was prying.

"The thing is… I… don't remember," lied Aye, feeling guilty that she said that. Even though her loyalties lay with the Shinsengumi, she felt like she would endanger everyone by telling them.

"What happened before? How can you not—"

"Lets not ask too many questions," cut in Chizuru. Despite being the quiet and polite one, she was confident when it came down to Hijikata-san. She just gave him 'the look', and he cleared his throat and quieted down.

Then there was a gunshot outside, and everyone jolted up. But they didn't even need to try and guess who it was. There was only one person who would use a gun in here, and only one person who could've ordered him.

So that's it! And you probably know who the 'one person' is. You know...

Anyways, I thank all of you who have even bothered to read my story, but I especially thank those of you who actually took the time to write me a review! Sorry, these things kind of make me all jumpy. I know my story is not perfect or anything, and that it has taken down the path of a little bit of— okay, maybe quite a lot—violence. But do not fear! The next few chapters just MIGHT have some romance between Kazama and Aye. I mean, I honestly don't know, but yeah...

Sakazaki-Rikou: I really thank you for writing a review for almost every chapter of my story!

anonia12: Yeah... I'm sorry if you dislike this story, but I am trying my best...

Kitsune Kyubi: THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have always wrote such kind reviews~ And I'm so glad to hear that my story made your day! It makes me want to cry out of joy. And your review makes MY day!

Goodbye, and see you next Monday!

P.S. If you guys get bored while waiting for this story, you can go ahead on Wattpad, and read my sister's AWESOME book. I'm not saying this because she's my sister, but because this story is truly the best.

It's called:

The Queen's Essence Book 1: The Calling

Thanks!