Sorry for the major long wait. I wanted to rewrite this chapter and so I did! Chapter five is about half way done so If I'm lucky I can upload it by tomorrow.
Thanks!
Chapter 4
Heisuke turned pale, Soji stiffened, Hijikata starred, Koudo's jaw dropped, Harada and Shinpachi shouted, "EHHHHH?!" and Saito's eyes narrowed. Chizuru and Kaoru fidgeted under the stares of the Shinsengumi.
"Excuse me can you repeat that?" Harada said as he attempted to clear out his ear. Chizuru nodded and shouted, "WE. ARE. NOT. HUMAN."
"That's what I thought you said- what do you mean you're not human?!" Shinpachi yelled. Chizuru winced and covered her ears and Kaoru growled and said, "Let us at least finish our breakfast in peace. Then we'll explain."
The Shinsengumi nodded slowly and kept their eyes on the twins as they finished their breakfast like any other morning.
"Now then, have you heard of Oni?" Chizuru asked.
"Oni, as in demons?" Sannan-san asked.
"Yes, there are four major oni clans. To the north is the Ozumi, to the south is the Shoran, the the west is the Kazama, and to the east is our family, the Yukimaru clan. Demons don't like to get involved in human conflicted, so we spread out. Now their are only a few pure blooded Oni left on Earth because our kind mingled with your kind. Our family was murdered brutally when we refused to get involved in a war and so they were all killed. Only Kaoru and I remained and were found by Kodo, a friendly medic who took us in," Chizuru explained, "but Kaoru and I are still the strongest to the east. Our family was one of the purest lines of Oni blood out there and we inherited many skills from our ancestors."
"So you mean the further down the family tree, the more powerful the Oni?" Okita said curiously. Chizuru and Kaoru nodded and Kaoru said, "We're the 27th generation, which means that we rank second; right behind the Kazama family."
"So then why are you here?" Hijikata asked.
"Kodo raised us like our father ever since we were eight. It's wrong for us to abandon our father after all he's done for us," Chizuru said. Koudo nodded and said, "It's good that you two have pride in your family."
Kaoru smiled and said, "An Oni's pride is most important."
The twins got up in unison and told the Shinsengumi they were going to go around and find a sparing area (Chizuru was still mad about Kaoru beating her). The Shinsengumi watched them go and Okita sighed.
"We're going to follow them, aren't we," he said. Koudo smiled sheepishly and nodded.
*BREAK LINE*
"Ah, here looks pretty good," Chizuru said as she walked around a big clearing near a small pond. Her brother nodded and took out his sword.
"We never did get to use our full strength last night, why don't we have a go at it now," Kaoru said. Chizuru beamed and nodded. The Shinsengumi captains turned to look at each other in shock and amazement. So they hadn't used their full strength after all. They felt the air crackle in tension and the twins began to change. Their hair became a snowy white, their eyes glowed red, and two small horns appeared on their head. If the Shinsengumi didn't know any better, they would have said that they were rouge soldiers. Chizuru somehow looked menacing even though she smiled cheerfully.
"First one to draw blood wins," Kaoru announced.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Chizuru said and the two disappeared from sight. This fight was completely different then the previous night. They could still hear swords clanging together, but they couldn't even catch glimpses of the two as they spared. In a matter of seconds, to two returned to their starting positions, and Chizuru was the one who was smiling victoriously. Kaoru pouted and gently rubbed his calf where a small cut bled steadily. The Shinsengumi watched in horror and fascination as the wound closed in a matter of seconds.
"Hmmm, this leads us to yet another tie, how trouble some," Kaoru said with a frown. Chizuru's grin faded as a thoughtful expression crossed her face.
"Hmmm, I didn't think about that. What do you think guys?" Chizuru asked as she turned to face the bushes that the Shinsengumi were hiding in. The men looked at each other warily before Soji spoke up.
"Another tie would be a nuisance wouldn't it. So why don't you two have an official tie breaker?" Okita said.
"Sounds good to me," Chizuru said with a shrug. She stood their for a second, then she and Kaoru disappeared from sight, leaving trails of dust behind them.
"STOP!" a voice bellowed. Everyone froze, oni and shinsengumi alike. A blond haired man walked gallantly out of the shadow, glaring at the twins in mid air.
"Chizuru, Kaoru you are pure bred oni, not children. And Chizuru, you are to be my mate, why on Earth do you continue your endless fights?" the man asked.
"But Kazama," Chizuru whined and the shinsengumi froze, recalling the words Chizuru had said before. The Kazama were the most powerful oni clan to the west, and reigned over all oni.
"If you must fight then let me do it for you. A proud oni such as you shouldn't fight," Kazama said. Chizuru's eyes narrowed and seemed to glow brighter.
"Are you saying that you will ruin my pride so that your's will go unscathed?" Chizuru growled. Kazama growled back, his hair turning silver, his eyes turning red, and two small horns poking out of his hair.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Kazama growled, "Now put away your sword."
Suddenly, a murderous aura surrounded Chizuru. Kazama growled and drew his own sword. Kaoru grabbed the Shinsengumi and quickly herded them out of the clearing and back into the trees.
"Kazama's done it now," Kaoru said nervously as the air sparked with tension.
"What did he do?" Okita asked.
"I told you, didn't I? An Oni's pride is most important. If someone threatens your pride, you have no choice but to defend it, it's a natural instinct for us," Kaoru said, "and Kazama just seriously hurt Chizuru's pride."
The Shinsengumi watched in awe as a furious battle of swords and claws took place, flashing in and out of vision.
"They look serious," Hijikata observed.
"That's because they are," Kaoru said.
"But aren't they mates, even if they did insult each other's pride, why would they hurt each other?" Saito asked.
"Mates, best buddies, enemies, it doesn't matter. An oni is required to fight anyone who damages their pride," Kaoru said. Suddenly, Kazama was thrown roughly against a tree and growled.
"Don't you dare insult me again, or I will cut you down," Chizuru said, her eyes glowing. Kazama gritted his teeth, but bowed and said, "I will honor your wishes for now, woman."
Kaoru and the others came back into the clearing, glancing warily at the couple.
"So wait, you two are going to be husband and wife?" Heisuke asked.
"No, a mate is just an Oni thing. We have a big meeting on the first day of fall to decide who our mate is going to be for the year," Chizuru said.
"So wait, why only for the year?" Hijikata asked. Chizuru blushed and gently said, "Remember what I told you about the pure blood lines? How Oni descending from the purest blood lines have the most power?"
The Shinsengumi paled and Harada held up a hand.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... your going to be a mother?!" he shouted. Chizuru nodded and said, "I've already two kids."
"Yes, and they will not stop pestering me," Kazama said.
"But your like... twelve!" Shinpachi exclaimed.
"Sixteen!" Kaoru and Chizuru shouted in unison.
"That's still way to young," Koudo said disapprovingly.
"Not to us," Kazama said, "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go get our blithering children. I expect the house is going to be demolished... again."
"Tell them that I'll come visit them as soon as possible. I... I just have a few things I need to sort out before I can come home," Chizuru said. Kazama's expression almost softened, then nodded and quickly bowed with Kaoru before disappearing.
"Sooo, What are your kids like?" Heisuke asked, his eyes burning with curiosity. Chizuru smiled warmly and said, "Kazu is already three, and very brave, but very stubborn. His younger sister, Sakura just turned one and just began walking."
"She's already walking? Isn't she a bit young?" Harada asked, frowning slightly. He had come from a big family and had helped raised many of his siblings.
"She'll be a wonderful heir to the Yukimaru line," Kaoru said smugly, obviously fond of his niece. Hijikata shook his head in confusion. So much had happened in one day, it felt like his brain had been filled with a years worth of reports. Suddenly there was a rustling in a near by tree and everyone tensed. It was too loud to be a bird, and they heard feet connect with a branch. Chizuru slowly redrew her sword and-
"Mama!"... Oh no.
Preview for chapter 5
Chapter 5
A young, babyish girl with a tuff of white hair and red eyes climbed slowly out of the tree. Chizuru slowly sheathed her sword and gathered the baby up in her arms.
"Sakura, what are you doing here?! You could've gotten hurt or... or," Chizuru's voice choked with worry and Sakura looked at her mom, her head tilted to the side in confusion.
"Mama! Mama!" Sakura exclaimed.
"I've missed you too, but Mama is busy with important business. Remember grandpa Kodo?" Chizuru asked, bouncing Sakura lightly. Sakura nodded and clapped her hands happily, "Well, we're trying to find grandpa. So you have to stay with Daddy, 'kay?"
"Dada!" Sakura squealed and nodded eagerly, showing she understood. Kaoru straightened and said, "I'll go get Kazama."