Disclaimer: Hakuouki is a visual novel game by Idea Factory. (They make a bunch of cute guys! Drools. So I always look up new series just so I can stare at them~) Hakuouki then was adapted into an Anime by Studio DEEN. And today, the Anime series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America. (I got this information from Wikipedia and I believe the information is accurate. I wouldn't know though!)

"Forever" will not keep us connected

Chapter 20

"Yuma, have you ever thought about getting a fine woman and get married?" Ren's bored voice asked.

Hajime's eyes lifted from the fire and he glanced to Ren and Yuma. The three of them were sitting around a campfire, keeping themselves warm under the starry night. Ren was staring at the clouds while Yuma was watching the movements of the flame.

"No," Yuma answered quietly.

"Eh?" Ren brought his eyes to the silver headed man. Yuma was always so calm, even his answers were almost boring. "You're kidding, right?" Ren smirked. "All men want to marry and have kids."

Yuma continued to stare into the flames. "Is that what you desire, Ren?" he inquired.

"Aw, sure," Ren supposed with a grin. "And when I do get marry and have kids, I will name the first boy Yuma, and then I will name the second boy Hajime."

There was silence in the air. Hajime blinked and did not seem to react much to Ren's words. But then he questioned, "Why would you want to name your sons after us?"

Ren snickered and picked up a stick next to him and begun poking the fire. "…Because we're under Haru's control," he replied, lowering his voice. "I would hate to remember about all of this, but we're pretty much friends, stuck in the same fate." He smiled and chuckled, "I don't want to sound cheesy, but the two of you are my first friends I made. And it's about time for me to truly cherish that."

Hajime studied Ren's eyes that were sparked with life and kindness. It seemed Ren liked to be around them, despite of Haru's control. He did seemed to mind either as long as he had friends to talk to. Hajime still wondered though, about why Ren and Yuma were calm about this. Ah, actually, Hajime was calm himself. That led him to think there was nothing they could do, but to keep each other company.

"What about you, Hajime?" Ren looked over to him. "Did you want a make a family for yourself too?"

His eyes twitched and he looked away slowly. "I…" Hajime uttered, but he could not begin that sentence. He just never thought about it before. His duty and life were devoted to the Shinsengumi. And that was all.

Ren sighed sadly at Hajime and turned his eyes to Yuma. "Okay, seriously," Ren tried to be more positive. "None of you want kids? Why not? Give me a reason already."

"Because if I ever loved a woman, she would be cursed along with the hatred of what my family carried," Yuma clarified with his eyes still glued to the dancing fire. Ren and Hajime gazed to him silently. "I do not wish to have the Kuromori Oni Clan to exist any longer. Therefore, I shall be the last one. To end everything that started many years ago."

On that night, Hajime never understood what Yuma meant by that. However, after confronting his friends and meeting with Kanon, Hajime grasped Yuma's purpose. That was the reason why Hajime would stop Yumeko from harming Yuma back then. Hajime hoped to help Yuma somehow. And some way. But as long as Yuma was under the mind control, there was no way of telling how anyone could achieve it.

Yet, what did Yuma had in mind to actually end everything that started long ago?

[…^…]

"Why are you protecting him?" Souji inquired again, his eyes now glaring into Kanon's own. Her gaze never changed in that moment. And Souji was beginning to hate it very much. He hated how she was guarding Yuma without taking her own two short swords to block Souji's attack. He hated it more when she did not give him an answer.

Sanosuke's voice then roared, "Everyone, there is an large group of people with rifles coming this way!"

In that second, Yuma stomped on the ground and escaped Kyou's gravity with a jump into the air. "Hey!" Saburo stepped forward. He wanted to catch Yuma. Because if they caught him, Kanon could free him of Haru's control. But then Yuma glanced back with one look to Kanon's back, he vanished into thin air.

"Ah, geez!" Ryunosuke glared. "Where did he go?!"

Kosuzu called to everyone, "We should hurry out of here!"

Without hitting on the sharp edge, Kanon slapped Souji's katana away as her glare softened. She turned around and hurried to Kyuuju. Souji lowered his blade and could not help but wondered what her intention was when she defended Yuma like that. He lightened up his stare and looked over to Hajime, who was on the lookout. Faint horses were heard in the distant.

Making certain Kyuuju was trapped, Kyuu kept up with his power as he lowered his other hand that could not hold Yuma back. Just as Kanon kneeled down to Kyuuju, a gunshot was fired. Everyone were all frightened and tried to find where the bullet was coming from. In the corner of Kyou's eyes, he saw a bullet was heading directly to him. 'Why are they aiming at me?' Kyou was asking himself in that split second. Was it because Haru could not afford to let Kyuuju escape from her control? Did Kyuuju know something they were not aware of? Yuma had been going after Kyou as well. That would make sense if they aimed for Kyou.

Before the bullet hit, it had disappeared and appeared over their head and shot into the town wall. Taking a deep breath, Ryunosuke had a sweat on his face and he tightened his grip on Kosuzu's hand. Kyou smirked and glanced to him, "Thanks a bunch, Ibuki." To have Ryunosuke teleport a fast-moving bullet was really something!

With a single finger, Kanon touched Kyuuju's forehead and watched the light formed. '…I knew my healing power changed a bit,' she narrowed her eyes. Something altered it, but this was better. She did not have to bend down to use her forehead against his. That would have been an awkward position.

'Damn you, Kanon!' Kyuuju heard the last of Haru.

Saburo rushed over to them as Hajime looked back to the others. "Ibuki, teleport us away from here," Hajime told him, walking over to the group. Sanosuke's eyes were still glowing and he turned his back to the others as he took a couple of steps back. "Hurry," Hajime stared over to him and Kosuzu.

"Alright, I'll try," Ryunosuke uttered, his breath shaking. As the light between Kyuuju and Kanon disappeared, Ryunosuke soon used his power and created a clear map in his head. His power was getting clearer and he knew where to safely take everybody. And then he teleported every one of them away from the eyes of the enemies.

Within those few moments, men armed with rifles were riding horses and stopped in the middle of their tracks. The one who led them was Ren and a man in black armor, the same armored man who attacked Ryunosuke and Kosuzu back in the hospital.

'Ren, wait for my orders,' Haru told him.

The eye patch guy smirked, "Lucky for them to get away, right Akio?"

The man in the black armor glanced to him quietly. His long, brown ponytail hair was tied back and his deep orange eyes blinked. "Why would you say that?" Akio inquired, composed. "Are they not the enemies?"

Ren chuckled, turning his horse to face the man. "Because I'm starting to feel sorry for them," he honestly said. Akio's eyes drifted away and Ren smiled. 'Akio and some of these men aren't under Haru's control…' But they agreed to work for her because they wanted to expel the foreigners. If only Ren could tell them about Haru, who only cared about the Time Healer's child.

"It would appear Ren-san is trying to tell me something," Akio thought out loud. "Whatever it is you're hiding, I'll find the answer myself someday."

With a pause, Ren stared at him blankly. "Heh," Ren smirked to him. Akio was a lot smarter than he looked. 'Haru, you can't control so many people forever, right?' Ren inquired mentally. Of course, she did not respond.

[…^…]

The teleportation power took everybody in the middle of a deep forest. Ryunosuke fell on his knees and Kosuzu hurried to help him. "What's wrong?" she asked with concerned.

He raised his hand to assure her he was fine. "Teleporting a large group of people just snapped most of my energy away," Ryunosuke closed one of his eyes, smiling to her. "I'll be fine though." There was that bullet he tried hard to teleport too.

"Geez, that means we can't count on Ibuki all the time," Souji complained with his eyes on the couple. Ryunosuke shot a glare to him and Kosuzu smiled with a pat on Ryunosuke's shoulder. Afterwards, Souji gazed over to everyone.

Kyuuju was dusting himself with Hajime approaching him carefully. Kyou put his gun in its place and Sanosuke's eyes checked around the area for safety issues. Saburo whispered words of concern to Kanon, who had not wore a single smile on her face. She does not smile all the time, but something really felt off about her. Was she still mad at Souji for the kiss on the cheek?

"I cannot thank you enough, Kanon-san," Kyuuju closed his eyes, bowing down his head.

She and Saburo were in front of him now and she nodded. "You're welcome," she told him, her eyes getting watery. Her fingers twitched when she had a short thought about Yuma. "What was your name?"

"Amagiri Kyuuju," he introduced himself. "I'm an Oni."

Everything seemed to be connecting to Onis lately. And Kanon was reminded of Yuma again. She could not get him out of her head. And that one night kept rushing back to her. Once more, she ignored it, trying to get her mind together by shaking her head. "Tell me what you know about Haru," she stated, looking up to him seriously. "I'm so tired of her shit."

"Kanon-san," Saburo widened his eyes. She did not look at him, so he said, "Isn't Haru good at hiding herself? There's no way Amagiri can know."

"I do know," Kyuuju told them, surprising everyone as well as filling them with hope. "Her full name is Kazama Haru."

"What?" Sanosuke's eyes stopped glowing and he walked over to them. Souji did the same while Ryunosuke and Kosuzu stood where they were. "Are you serious? Kazama?"

"Her maiden name is Kimura Haru," Kyuuju corrected before any misunderstandings arose. "She married Kazama's younger brother three years ago."

Kyou blinked, "…For real? Kazama had a sister-in-law? And he even had a brother?"

"I don't care who she is," Kanon earnestly sighed. "Tell me what her object is."

Hajime then answered, "She mentioned she wanted to revive her brother…" He was once under her control, although that was the only information he learned of.

"And do you suppose she meant Kazama Chikage?" Souji stared at them strangely. They were in-laws after all. But the question was, what kind of relationship Haru had with Chikage to go to a drastic measure? "Did something happen to Kazama?" Souji inquired, looking to Kyuuju.

A sigh escaped Kyuuju's lips. He closed his eyes and shook his head, "Kazama passed away… after he fought with Hijikata?"

"Hijikata-san's alive?" Hajime's eye widened to him.

Souji's arms itched to learn more when Sanosuke queried, "Where is Hijikata-san now?"

When Kyuuju opened his eyes, they remained with the same quiet emotion. But the news he gave was dreadful, "Kazama died in Hijikata's blade… and Hijikata's life was snapped away from his overuse of his Rasetsu form."

"Say that again!" Souji moved roughly forward. He wanted to grab Kyuuju's shirt, but Saburo held him back uneasily. "Hijikata-san must still be alive! He can't leave us like that!" After going through the trouble to keep Hijikata safe that day, Souji exchanged it for his own. "He can't be—"

"Souji!" Sanosuke and Hajime narrowed his eyes to him. As heartbreaking as the news was, they could not afford to lose sight of life. The concerned Saburo gently pushed Souji back a bit more to keep any fight from breaking out. Souji glared and gritted his teeth in silence.

Kanon then voiced, "So Haru cares for her brother-in-law, Kazama Chikage… A sister who cares about her brother… just like me?"

Kyuuju's blue eyes stared to her own blue, watery eyes. "I am truly sorry for the loss," he bowed his head again. She looked very hurt and it seemed unfair. "But this is all I know. I met Haru-san a few times, but not enough to understand her motives."

Tears fell from Kanon's eyes and she rubbed them, keeping her fingers under her eyes. "I don't get it," she murmured, her voice breaking. "W-Why did she have to kill Ayumu…? Why did she have to… make me suffer like this? Why?" Kosuzu walked over to them and went to hug Kanon closely. "Why?"

Souji grunted softly. His hand gripped the handle of his katana. He really wanted to kill Haru for bringing tears to Kanon like that.

"You're not the only suffering, Kanon-san," Ryunosuke called firmly. All of the men looked to Ryunosuke, who was very serious what he said. Kanon's tears stopped and Kosuzu moved to smile at her. "…Just live, okay?" Ryunosuke lowered his voice to sound gentler.

'Live,' Kanon closed her eyes, moving to hug Kosuzu closer. 'I have to… keep living…'

Sanosuke smiled approvingly to Ryunosuke, who blushed back and snapped his head away. Hajime and Souji exchanged quiet looks and Saburo's hand patted on Kanon's shoulder. Kyou sighed and put his hands on his hips.

"I suggest we put an end to her," Kyuuju uttered. Surprised, everyone looked to him and he nodded. "Kazama Haru killed her own husband and became a stray months ago. Her own people want her dead for she inflicted pain on both Onis and humans. She meddled too much with the world, abusing her power." Kyuuju was not the type to say this, but this was what he felt. A monster like Haru must be stopped.

"My thoughts exactly," Kyou smirked, raising a fist. "I won't ever forgive her for what she did to Kanon that night."

"But revenge isn't good," Saburo looked to him, worried about the bloodshed. "I know Ayumu and Yumeko died because of her, but…"

With a blank face, Kyou stared at him in silence. Kanon eyed to Kyou emotionlessly and Kyou returned a quiet stare. 'I shouldn't tell anyone?' he asked himself. Kanon would be too ashamed of herself if they found out. Kyou kept calm about it and fixed his gaze elsewhere.

"We'll find Haru," Kanon considered, breaking from Kosuzu's embrace. "I think it's about time we strike back… Right?"

"I'll be there for sure," Souji declared, staring at her back with a smirk.

Sanosuke noted, "As I have said before, we're in this together." Hajime nodded in the background.

Kanon then took Kosuzu's hand and they looked at each other. "Kosuzu… you and Ryunosuke do not have to involve yourselves with this," Kanon told her softly. Kosuzu stared at her with a bit of shock. "You're not the type to fight. You and Ryunosuke still have a future together, am I wrong?"

As Ryunosuke seemed embarrassed about something, Kosuzu smiled. "Kanon-chan, Ayumu-san saved me and Ryunosuke," she reasoned. "I shall return the flavor by aiding your as well. It is the only way to repay for his kindness, as well as your own." Kanon lowered her eyes ruefully and Kosuzu gently patted on the hand that held hers. "I have super strength, you know," Kosuzu giggled.

"EH?" Ryunosuke and Kanon stared at Kosuzu, stunned.

Kosuzu smiled, winking, "Ayumu-san told me it was my power. That is why I am certain to remain by your side. I will be useful to you. Thus, we will go through this together."

"Hey, prove it to me by having an arm wrestle," Saburo curiously stared at her, raising his hand to her.

"No, I will only use it to protect," Kosuzu blinked to him, meaning every word she said.

Ryunosuke walked to them and stated, "I want to see that arm wrestle too." He just could not believe Kosuzu did not mention it until now. A bony girl with a crazy strength would be so interesting.

"What are you, a child?" Kosuzu gave him a light sigh.

Souji snickered, "I liked to see it too."

"This isn't the time," Hajime told the others with his eyes closed. Sanosuke had to laugh and Kyou was smirking.

Kyuuju made eye contact with Kanon. Her tears were gone and a small smile was on her face. She was lucky to have people like them around her. Life was still continuing. Kyuuju faintly nodded to her and she seemed to be relieved and happy. That suited her better than her tears.

"Kanon-san!" Saburo hugged her. "You're finally smiling! I missed you!"

Her smiled disappeared with Souji grabbed Saburo's head. "Don't get too touchy," Souji sneered. To his surprise, Kanon pulled on Saburo and hugged him tighter. Souji noticed her sticking her tongue at him and looked displease. 'She's definitely still upset,' Souji gloomed as Saburo cried happily in Kanon's arms.

Kyou was now exchanging silent looks with Kyuuju. Those two were the only ones who knew what exactly happened last night. Eventually, that secret will leak out. They could not hide it forever. How would Kanon handle it if everyone found out?

Author's note: Sorry for any mistakes you see. I am a slow editor and something like typos and grammar escape my eyes every time. 8D

Thanks for reading!