A/N: Hello everyone! So I am back with Chapter... Ummm... Chapter 9. And I am really truly, so very sorry that I am uploading this late (well, maybe not but late in Korea). My days have been really hard on me... Anyways, enough about me and my tough life. So Amagiri and Shiranui don't know that Aye is a Rasetsu, YET. I guess Kazama just didn't really feel the need to tell them. Or... Or something else? I honestly don't know. Ahahahaha :P And somewhere in my story, I want to add a part where Chizuru saves somebody for once, because I don't want her to become a helpless little idiot. Because I really like the character Chizuru, and I was kind of sad that in the series she wasn't much of a help to the Shinsengumi. But that was a total different story in the movies. Also, is it just me, or does Kazama smirk more in front of Aye?

Happy reading!

It was pretty obvious that all of Aye's attacks were not doing anything to Amagiri. He kept on disappearing into thin air, but he never struck her back. But that was enough. The only thing she cared about right now was Chizuru getting out of this place, safe and sound. Her body felt like it was going to break, but she just kept going anyways.

"Stay away from me!" Chizuru yelled, startling Aye. The red haired girl looked back, and saw Kazama slowly gliding towards Chizuru. She had her short katana out, trying her best to defend herself as she slowly stepped away from the menacing man. Chizuru's hands were shaking, but her eyes told a different story. They showed no sign of fear, just pure anger.

But in that split second, Amagiri knocked away Aye's sword, and she was left with only her fans. With Chizuru being cornered by Kazama, and herself in trouble, this was probably the worst thing that could happen.

Maybe not.

The brunette had her katana out, it's blade facing the Oni who now had a spine-chilling smile. Kazama just kept walking towards Chizuru, and slowly. Aye threw one of her fans towards him, but it only ended up embedded into the poor wall. He smirked, and looked at Aye with his alluring yet petrifying eyes.

With his quick speed, he grabbed Chizuru's katana, and used it to knock her out. She slumped against Kazama, and he handled her with surprising gentleness.

"We have what we came here for." Kazama declared, and Amagiri nodded. The big man bowed to Aye, and walked away. But she wasn't going to let them just go. She chased after them, and struck Kazama with her fan, to no avail. He easily dodged, as Aye's movements were slowing down. All the pain she had pushed away were coming back. Biting her cheek, she swallowed everything she felt, and charged at Kazama, when she was stopped by a shout.

"Chizuru!" Hijikata-san yelled. He ran towards Kazama, as he was setting the girl down onto the floor. Then, unsheathing his katana and putting on his trademark smirk, he waited for the purple-eyed man to attack him. The first clang of swords clashing was like a signal for starting their own war.

Of course Hijikata-san was being pushed back, and Kazama obviously had the upper hand. But with his nickname as the Oni Vice-Commander, he was known for his persistence.

Aye ran towards Chizuru, and checked her pulse to see if she was fine. She seemed to be all right, just unconscious. Lifting up the small girl from the hard stone floor, she made her way towards the wooden floor of the compound. She would be warmer on wood, than on the cold ground. Aye turned towards the two men who were fighting, and looked at the view that was spread across her vision. Every time their katanas crashed each other, Aye held herself back. She wanted to go in there and help, but right now, she would only be a burden, and not much of a help. Her hand throbbed, so she raised her right hand up to her face. The once white-bandaged hand was covered in specks of red blood.

"You are injured," stated a low-pitched voice. Letting her arms drop, she looked at Amagiri, who looked like he had been standing there for quite a while. Getting into a defensive stance, she held her fan out with her left hand, in fear that the blood would stain the beautiful object. It was one of the only things she possessed that she actually cared about, the other being her katana.

"You will not take Chizuru." Aye declared through clenched teeth. She looked into the poised expression in the man's eyes, and found herself lost in them. But it was different from Kazama. When she looked into Kazama's crimson eyes, she was lost, and couldn't find her way back. With those cyan eyes, she was able to escape easily.

"I do not wish to take her, but it is Kazama who wishes to, and I will follow his command."

"I don't give a—" Aye was interrupted by the sound of a sword clanging against the stone. Hijikata-san was on the ground—not too far away—with Kazama pointing his sword at his chest.

"This will end it," he said in a deadly tone. He raised his arm, and Aye ran.

Two pale hands stopped Kazama's katana. A slender body standing in front of him, showing no sign of being a man. A woman? His gaze moved to the face that was looking him straight in the eyes with their gray ones. Copper hair tousled and bandaged, she didn't seem to be in the best shape.

Smelling the tang of metal and the bitterness, Kazama looked at Aye's hands, as red liquid seeped through. Her hands were shaking, and as if the girl had noticed it, her grip tightened.

"You… Won't kill anyone… Unless I'm here." She huffed. A drop of blood trickled down from her hands to the earth, and it was followed by a trail of more.

The man who was on the ground had gotten up—not that he cared—and after giving the girl one last glance, he left towards Amagiri and the female Oni. Amagiri could handle him.

He plastered that perfect smirk on his face, and looked at the person who was slowly loosening her grip on his katana. When she completely let go, he swung the blood off in one swift motion. The fluid splattered onto the ground.

"Why are you here?" She shouted, her eyes hooded by some shadow—possibly pain. But there was something else in her voice. Not anger, but something different.

Aye stood there, pulling at the urge to just give up and pass out right now, in front of the Oni of the West. No. She would not do that. But… She was a mess. Her hands were pulsating, screaming at her to do something to make them better. And she had a splitting headache, starting from her head all the way to her spine.

The man in front of her was definitely mocking her, laughing at her inwardly. But even if he was, he didn't show it.

"I am afraid my business is not with you, Rasetsu." And he was gone.

Less than a few seconds later, Kazama was above Hijikata, flying.

"Kazama!"

"I will not fail another time," he said, and his katana made it's way to Hijikata-san's heart.

Or was going to.

At that split second, two cries were heard.

Okay... So... How was that? Please give me a lot of honest and mean (I don't mean SERIOUSLY MEAN stuff...) reviews! Thank you everyone for being so kind and waiting... (Sorry!)

ILoveKuramaTooMuch: You know, I've always wanted to say this, but I always kind of lost it in somewhere... I really like your name! Hehe... Kurama is cool, and— Okay. So thank you so much for your review, I really thank you not only because it's long, but it's detailed, and I can actually understand it. Because sometimes people send me private messages and I never understand what they're saying... So, thank you so much, and please stay with me till the end!

kitsunekyubi1 (sorry, the site won't let me put periods between your name): Hey, thank you so much for your review! Oh my sister's story is not a fanfiction of any sort, just her own. She owns everything AND everyone her book, and yeah... Her username is 'juneirenekim', and her book is called 'The Queen's Essence Book 1: The Calling'.

Everyone, thank you for reading my story, and I will be back next week with Chapter 10!