A/N: As promised, here is the new chapter!
On the day of the Gion festival, everyone was excited for the upcoming night as they would be able to take the night off. When evening arrived, everyone dressed up in their best clothes and split up into groups or went to the festival by themselves. Mizuki had gone off by herself to look around, when she spotted Saito just leaving a weapons stall.
"Hey Saitou! Do you mind if I accompany you for the rest of the night until we get back to headquarters?", Mizuki asked as she caught up to Saitou and matched his pace.
Saitou shook his head, so the both of them continued walking down the path until they light from the lanterns faded and when they had reached an open field. Saito and Mizuki stopped in the middle of the field and gazed up at the sky admiring the twinkling stars that adorned the night sky.
"The sky looks especially pretty tonight, doesn't it?", Saitou asked giving one of his rare smiles to Mizuki.
"Yeah, it does.", said Mizuki as she smiled, mentally taking a snapshot of the memory of this night, and tucking next to her heart to cherish forever.
The warm mood that lit up the atmosphere suddenly diminished when Mizuki sensed a familiar feeling of dread in the area that was coming closer. Immediately standing up, Mizuki scanned their surroundings andsaw that they were surrounded by a horde of half oni and bandits that were slowly advancing upon them, lead by the one person that she hates the most, her brother.
"What is it?", asked Saitou, alert and on his feet.
"We're surrounded.", Mizuki muttered, summoning Lyra and Starfire.
"What are we going to do?", asked Saitou gravely, there is no way they would be able to survive.
"I'm going to face them by myself-", replied Mizuki sternly, but Saitou interrupted her.
"No, I am not leaving you by yourself."
"You are out of line, Saitou, this is a personal battle between me and my past. Now you are going back to headquarters with Lyra. No objections.", Mizuki was furious, her just had to appear at this time!
Saitou continued to protest against her decision so Mizuki had no choice but to knock him out to get him on Lyra's neck Then she placed her necklace around Lyra's neck for Chizuru.
Mizuki faced her brother and unsheathed her katanas, as Lyra, in one leap spread her wings and flew off to Shinsengumi headquarters carefully, so she won't accidentally drop Saitou and kill him. (A/N: I'm sorry I just had to put this in! Don't kill me!)
"It has been such a long time since I last saw you imouto-chan.", Seiji said, Starfire growled at the sound of his voice.
"Don't call me that! You lost that right because of your action 6 years ago!", Mizuki snapped angrily. (A/N: Btw, Mizuki is 18 years old.)
"Now, now Mizumi, we are still bound by blood are we not?", Seiji replied amusingly.
"My name is Mizuki now. What do you want Seiji?", Mizuki's patience was wearing out, 'He deserves to dies!'.
"What made you think I wanted something Mizumi? Well, since you mentioned it, I want you to hand over it and Chizuru or you and those humans you call friends and family are going to die. Bring them forward men!", shouted Seiji.
Two figures were roughly shoved towards Mizuki, both people fell in front of Mizuki. Upon closer inspection, Mizuki noticed that it was her adopted parents!
"Don't worry, Starfire will bring you to safety.", Mizuki whispered and in a flash Starfire flew away with them on her back, only Mizuki was left.
"Why you-", Seiji turned red with fury.
"I'm not the same person from 6 years ago Seiji, I am wiser, stronger and I absolutely refuse to hand it or Chizuru over!", Mizuki turned into her oni form and gathered her strength and power, prepared to fight to her death.
"Have it your way Mizumi, you shall suffer the same fate as our parents did. Destroy her!"
The horde of half-oni and bandits swarmed towards her but at the last moment Mizuki shot straight up, her wings keeping her in the air. She gathered wind and ice magic on her blades and with one sweep of her katanas flurries of icicles and wind blades impaled or decapitated some her foes. But it was just the beginning of the battle, Mizuki knew that she couldn't run, now that the fate of Chizuru and countless others were in her hands...
Meanwhile, Lyra and Starfire arrived at headquarters carrying the still unconscious Saitou and the parents, surprising Chizuru in the process. Quickly Chizuru went to get the others and soon Saitou and the parents were put in their rooms to rest. Everyone was in Saitou's room waiting for him to wake up when suddenly he did!
"Mizuki!", he shouted bolting up to a sitting position.
Instantly everyone swarmed him, Yamazaki was the first to speak.
"What happened? Where is Mizuki?", asked Yamakazi frantically as grabbed Saitou by the shoulders and shook him.
"Stop it Yamazaki, your going to make him vomit!", Chizuru exclaimed as Saitou was visibly turning a light shade of green.
"Oh, Sorry.", Yamazaki let go of Saitou and he gradually got over vomitting.
"...Where should I start?", Saitou said.
Suddenly Lyra and Starfire, in their normal, cute forms, appeared at the doorway whining and scratching at the door begging to be let in. When Chizuru opened the door, both familiars entered, but they were in bad shape. Before they disappeared however, Lyra dropped Mizuki's locket in Chizuru's hand.
"How about before she knocked you unconscious?", Hijikata asked.
"Okay. We were surrounded by enemies and there were too many of them to count. So I asked about what we should do but she told me that she was going to deal with the enemies by herself because it was personal, regarding her past. I tried to protest and the next thing I know, I'm here in this room.", Saitou explained.
"Yamazaki, do you know anything about her past?", everyone looked expectantly at Yamazaki.
"No, but when we took her in 6 years ago, she was covered in blood and was scared of sudden movements and loud sounds. Then she would disappear for hours and come back better, we even found out that she was freakishly good with weapons and she could even fly. After that, I came here and I haven't seen her since until now.", Yamazaki informed them of all he knew about Mizuki.
"Hey guys! I think I know where she is!", Chizuru shouted excitedly, a beam of silver light could be seen emerging from necklace, it pointed in a certain direction.
'Hold on, we're coming to find you!', everyone thought as they ran in the direction of the beam of silver light.
A/N: I'm finally done this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Please review and tell me what you think about this chapter.