Chapter 6: Winter
"What's wrong?" the snow woman asked the girl, "Did you not like my gift?"
The snow woman was referring to the burning of the headquarters.
The girl shook her head. That wasn't it.
"Was your heart broken?" guessed the snow woman.
The girl's eye saddened, and then nodded.
The snow woman sighed and sat next to the girl.
"Are they the reason?" the snow woman glared to the group of men running from the fire.
The girl nodded.
"Do you want to hurt them?"
Did she want to hurt them? The girl contemplated the question.
She nodded her head.
The snow woman smiled.
"Do you want me to kill them?"
The girl shook her head. She didn't want to see them dead.
"Then how do you want to punish them?"
She gazed at the men again. They lost their home.
The girl gave the snow woman a sad smile.
"Thank you, but your gift was enough," the girl answered to the snow woman.
The girl returned to the human realm, satisfied with the 'punishment,' leaving the snow woman alone.
"Foolish child," said the snow woman, "that is never enough."
It has been four days since the Shinsengumi headquarters burned to the ground and four days since Akira went missing. They knew, no, they assumed she was still alive. After the men evacuated, they noticed she wasn't with them. Harada who was the closest to the girl did nothing to save her. He detested her. Okita was out on patrol that night. Shinpachi and Heisuke were the furthest and so couldn't go for the girl even if they wanted to. Sannan was ordered to scout for a new headquarters, while Koundo and Hijikata stayed to maintain order. Saito was neither close or far from the girl, but he assumed that she would hear the men screaming and evacuate herself. Fortunately her body wasn't found in the ashes, but they didn't know where she went.
It was hard on everyone, including the soldiers. Everyone kept saying how they should have gone for her. Saitou never said anything about the case, but he thought it. It was always in his mind. He saw her in the kitchen before the fire started, but he couldn't face her. He, like the rest of the Shinsengumi members, knew that she was no threat to them. She was fond of them, and they were fond of her. There was no reason to fear the young witch who couldn't even control her powers, but he did. They all did. After countless times they had looked at death in the eyes, they couldn't face a mere witch.
Snow? Saitou looked up at the sky. It was starting snow. If they didn't find her soon, she could freeze to death.
Tensions ran high in the new headquarters. Shinpachi and Harada were always fighting about how Harada should have saved Akira. Heisuke seemed to be out of it and unable to properly lead his men. Hijikata was always grouchier than usual. Okita kept unintentionally adding fuel to the fire. The soldiers defied their authority because the captains couldn't agree on anything. How did one girl change everything?
Saitou was returning his men back to their new headquarters, when one of his men called out. "Hey isn't that Akira-chan!"
Saitou instantly turned his head to the direction his soldiers were looking at and there she was. She was wearing a new kimono and bowing respectfully at the owner of a sweets shop. The owner smiled and nodded his head. Akira stood and smiled. She then began to joyfully walk away. Away from him. Away from the Shinsengumi. Their source of happiness was walking away, yet he could not bring himself to move. The shock of seeing her alive and well paralyzed him.
She stopped again at a flower shop and gazed at the flowers tenderly as if they were her lovers. Saitou took that opportunity to regain himself. "Wait here," he ordered his men and walked in her direction.
Akira leaned in closer to smell the flowers, her loose hair falling in her face. She used her used her left hand to pull it back. She was about to leave until she heard a voice calling her.
"Akira," he called. His heart jumped as he pronounced her name, knowing that she will respond to his voice. She had told him that his voice always made her turn, even when she knew who it was. He never thought much of it, nor did he care, but knowing he will see her face made him strangely happy. All their problems will be gone the moment she turns.
She turned her head up towards his direction and her heart sank to the ground. She could see he was greatly pleased to find her, while she was greatly horrified. Why now? she thought. She quickly lowered her eyes and stared at the floor. Saitou sensed the girl's uneasiness.
"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly. He reached out his hand towards her delicate shoulder and she backed away.
"Nothing," she lied, "I'm just surprised to see you here." She kept her gaze down, not looking into Saitou's eyes. She was lying and she was hiding something. She didn't want the man to know, but Saitou already had a feeling she was.
"Look at me," he commanded. The girl's eyes turned to meet his. She's lying. She turned away at once, but she knew he had already seen in them. He decided to let it go for now.
"Let's go," he commanded again. The girl's heart shattered. Go? She didn't want to go, at least not to where he is going. She wanted to stay and be free for a while longer, looking for her book.
She softly said, "I don't want to." It wasn't that she disliked them. She was very much still fond of them, but she couldn't now that…
Saitou's irises split and his glare was terrifying. He had been upset a number of times, but this was the first time he looked absolutely furious. It frightened the girl. She was a mouse staring in the snake's eyes.
"It's an order," he growled in his deep voice.
The girl flinched at his voice, and then nodded. She followed Saitou back to headquarters.
Everyone was arguing as usual in the new headquarters. Harada and Shinpachi were practically at each other's throats today and Hijikata just about enough of it today and was about to give them a lecture when Saitou entered.
"Good timing," said Okita lazily, but when he turned his eyes widened at the sight of the girl behind him. "Akira-chan?"
Everyone turned their eyes to the curious little girl behind him. As they entered Heisuke jumped up and ran towards her.
"Akira-chan!" he exclaimed. He reach out his arms to hug her.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled.
Heisuke stopped in his tracks, shocked that the soft spoken girl had just yelled. She hid more behind Saitou and kept her eyes down. She didn't want to be mean, but she had to.
"What's wrong, Akira-chan?" asked Shinpachi worriedly.
Akira looked down at her hands. They couldn't see but she could see it very well. This place was trying to kill her. "Please, don't ask," she whispered.
"Did someone do something bad to you? If they did then I will…," Shinpachi was cut off by Harada's voice.
"Your kind isn't exactly welcomed in temples are they?" Harada wasn't being cruel to her by pointing it out. In fact, he was treating her like an average person, but to her they were the most evil words that could come from his mouth. She didn't want to admit it, but she was never able to enter into any type of temple. Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, you name it and she never entered.
She nodded her head. Temples purify and it's attempting to purify her blood, but it's never that simple. Her witch blood has been in her for generations and it's too late to purify it now.
Heisuke smiled. "Come on I'm sure it's not that bad." He patted her shoulder. A wave of currents became visible.
"No!" she yelled, but it was too late. The electrical waves shocked him and he fell backwards. Tears formed in her eyes threatening to spill over at any moment.
"Hey, watch what you're doing!" Harada screamed at her.
Everyone approached Heisuke to see if he's alright. When he said he was fine just a little surprised, everyone visibly relaxed. Everyone except Akira. It's true he was fine, but that was only because this is a temple. Next time could be much worse, especially since the winter season is here. It's her time of the year. The time where her power is the strongest and most unpredictable.
"I think it would be best if I leave," she told her companions.
Everyone stared at her like she was crazy.
"No, it's fine. We just have to keep our distance right?" said Heisuke cheerfully, but he was forcing himself. The thought of the girl leaving frightened him.
"That's right," said Harada. "If you leave I'll never hear the end of it from these guys." He smiled at her. He smiled.
She shook her head and gave him a sad smile. That was not the problem.
"It's already winter," she said.
"I thought winter was an even better reason to stay in a nice place," Okita added.
Hijikata and the rest agreed and would not let her continue what she was about to say. Saitou took her to her room. She planned to stay until nightfall and then leave to not cause any trouble. She would leave a note in the kitchen, but Saitou followed her into her room and sat there, staring at her. She felt uncomfortable at the man's stare and had to speak up.
"Is something wrong Saitou-san?" she asked.
He merely stared at her saying nothing, while she was waiting for his response. What he did, he said, was something she never imagined.
Author's Note:
After getting several follows, one favorite, and one review, I am so happy T-T. No literally. Thanks to you guys I feel like I can keep writing, no, I HAVE to keep writing. I can see the next chapter in my head already and it's #%^*$#%#. Sorry but I'm not going to spoil it for you =P. But as a heads up, I might get a little side tracked for a chapter or two more before I go back to magic spells and the the book. Please keep reading, and don't forget to review because I like critics :D