"Welcome welcome!" A man with extravagant colored robes and expensive jewelry greeted us at the entrance of his home. "Ive been waiting for you, Kondo!"
"Yes, Kiyoshi!" Kondo laughed, giving him a huge bear hug. "Ive missed my friend"
"I missed you as well!" Kiyoshi cried, "Come inside, we have food for our guests!"
"I dont wanna eat, I just want to sleep" I whispered to Hijikata.
When we got here, it was 6 in the morning.
I could barely keep my eyes open!
Try sleeping on a horse, its the worst experience ever.
And it wasnt only the horse, everytime id slowly tip over in my sleep onto Saitou, and he woulld awkwardly push me off of him. But I kept doing it, so somehow he put me onto Hijikatas horse.
And Hijikata didnt mind me sleeping on his chest, so when I woke up from my sleep, I almost had a heartattack, realizing how close I was to him.
"Fine, Ill take you to your room and bring the food to you" Hijikata replied.
I slept for a couple of hours, and ate the food Kiyoshi provided for us. The captains and Kondo were discussing some things with him, so I wandered around the mansion.
I got lost in some garden, and ran into the guy's kids. He had three boys. They wanted to play hide nad seek with me, so I did...
But then they ditched me, somewhere deep in the woods!
I tried to find my way back, but It looked like I kept walking in circles.
"That woman Iwa told me that there is a suspicious girl, who might be a Recollector"
Huh!? Who was that? I hid behind a couple of bushes and saw Kaede and a man with short wavy blond hair and bold red eyes. They were standing a couple of feet away from me.
"And you believe her Kazama? " Kaede replied. His wavy green hair was loose, and sweeped across his shoulders. He looked like he was really tired.
Was this man his friend he mentioned before?
"Yes, Iwa over heard it from Makota, the old ladys daughter"
Heyy! Makota was Suzus daughter..
'Us demons need more female onis" Kazama continued, "With the help of this Recollector we can travel to the past and bring demon females here, keep them for a while, have them reproduce and then take them back home" His voice was deep and low, the way he looked at Kaede was pretty intimidating.
'Wouldnt that mess with time?'
'No traveling through the blue train doesnt affect the past or future or present, it will be alright'
'Beisides, Recollectors are special people, and there are a few, they can only be ones who have boarded the blue train or red trains'
"Kazama..have you talked with your father about this?" Kaede asked.
"Yes, it wont be a problem. Iwa says that the girl is staying with the Shinsengumi, so we should attack right away"
"Understood"
Wait a second..this guy..he was talking about me!
And what the hell does he mean "us demons"? And get female oni to reproduce..?
Augh! Im so confused right now!
I was a "Recollector" I guess, someone who remembers boarding a train and is alive and present.
This was what Suzu was warning me about!
But I kept my mouth shut, it was Iwa and Makota who ratted me out.
I have to warn the captains!
As soon as Kazama and Kaede left, I stood up and ran back to Kiyoshis mansion.
Dont ask me how I found my way there..I guess it was just the adrenaline.
But I was already too late.
The mansion was surrounded by men, the captains were fighting against them.
Kaede and Heisuke were fighting with each other...
Kazama and Hijikata were as well.
Sanosuke was going against this guy with guns.
And the others were just slashing people all over the place!
This was so crazy!
It would be stupid of me to barge right in there, I know I cant fight, and Id just get in the way.
And probably get killed.
They want me afterall..
I turned back around, and ran as far away as I could from the mansion.
Until I reached Suzus place.
"Hey crazy old lady!" I screamed, banging my fists against the door to her home.
"Open up, I need help!"
'What is it?" She yelled, pulling open the door. Her hair was all over the place, and she looked like she was woken up from sleep.
"Your daughter and Iwa got me in some trouble!" I snapped, "Kazama and Kaede are fighting with the Shinsengumi right now, and they want me!"
"What?! My daughter wouldnt do such a thing!"
"Oh yeah she did" I grumbled.
"Makota! Come here right now!"
Makota appeared in a few seconds. When her eyes laid on me, she gasped.
"U-uh .."
"I know what you did lady!" I sneered, "So I guess you and Iwa are friends or something? You trusted her to keep your secrets huh? Well look what you guys did now!"
"I-im sorry, I didnt know Iwa knew Kazama.."
"Get me out of this mess" I screamed, "I dont want my friends to get killed!"
Or me..
"Well, I guess now that your secret is out, you have to leave Kyoto"
"And go where!?" Hello! I was a foreigner, I barely knew the culture around here,let alone the country.
"Well send you to a different city, and have you stay there. Until then, we can trick the demons into thinking that you went to a different place"
"Im so confused though.."
"We dont have time for explaining things! You have to get to a safe place first"
Suzu grabbed my arm and pushed me to the back of her house.
"Here are some supplies, food, clothes, and a map" she handed me a huge sack filled with the sutff.
"How'd you get that stuff together so fast?"
"Im always prepared!"
"Now, follow me"
I followed Suzu out of the house and outside on the road.
Follow this road, until you see a fork, take the far right one, then keep going until you see a dock, then look around for a geisha house or something. They should keep you for a while"
I wasnt used to traveling to places by myself. And I was a nervous wreck.
Kaede was some kind of demon and he was after me.
I thought that Kaede was a good guy...
That guy Kazama wanted "female onis" to reproduce or something.
I had to leave the Shinsengumi, battiling with those crazy guys.
Would they be ok? Oh please, please! I hope none of them die.
"T-thanks Suzu, you be careful now"
"Ha!" She gave me an arrogant smile, and patted me on the back, "Your're the one who should be careful!"
"Hey! Kaede and Kazama know about you too!"
"But an old woman isnt any use to them" She replied, "You are young and have more energy, so you will be of more help to them"
"Wait a second-did you know that Kaede and Kazama were after me!?"
"I did tell you before.."
"No, you said 'dangerous people', if you actually gave me descriptions-"
"It wouldnt matter anyways, this is your destiny"
Destiny my butt!
"Everything happens for a reason.."
Thats just her excuse for Makota spilling my secret to Iwa..
"Whatever" I sighed, "Wish me luck"
"Try not to do anything stupid!" She called, as I began to walk in the direction she pointed at.
"I'll try"
I'll try...