Disclaimer: I do not own Hakuoki. This amazing anime was created by Asuka Yamazaki, Kazuhiko Hasegawa and Mitsutoshi Ogura. I only created my Shinohara and some side characters.
Editor / Beta Reader: Waffle (Thank you)
Rated Teen for violence, blood, coarse language and / or sexually suggestive scenes (rating may change to Mature in the future as story progresses, readers have been advised).
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Kiss Of Snow
By: Swanna
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Chapter 11: Ikeda Inn - Part Two
"The Aizu Domain still aren't here yet," Sanosuke said, just as worried as Hijikata was.
A messenger had been sent yesterday as soon as they'd learnt of the Choshu's plans, and they'd requested the Aizu to press forward. They'd emphasized that since the Shinsengumi were divided into two groups to cover all their grounds, their men were too few to raid the Choshu's hideout alone. Especially when they had no insight on the size of the enemy's force. So Hijikata didn't understand the reason behind their inaction.
He was confident that even without the Aizu's aid, the Shinsengumi would still be capable of taking control of the situation. But it wouldn't happen without casualties, which he hoped to avoid if at all possible. It would mean their men would survive to fight another day.
"When should we make our move?" asked Saito.
Should they attack the enemies now without Aizu aid when they were least expecting it? Or wait until they had no choice? Hijikata debated internally and decided that sooner would be best. Still, he was concerned that his final decision would force his people out on a potentially treacherous encounter with the Choshu soldiers.
"Hi-Hijikata-san!" A voice called out from behind.
Hijikata looked back and was surprised to see Chizuru running towards them a few seconds later. The men around him stepped aside and made room for her to pass. That surprise however, turned to bewilderment when he saw Shinohara following behind her. He wasn't even sure what her presence here, at this moment, meant. Seeing the two was comforting in an odd sort of way, since Chizuru was less than capable of protecting herself. Though an explanation would be needed from them.
He watched Shinohara move in between people, her face was calm and composed as always. He also couldn't help but notice the way the men turned to look at her as she glided past. Even in the dark passageway, she was quite captivating with her long, ebony hair and skin white as mountain snow. The demoness could easily get any man she wanted, if she wanted any that was.
"Chizuru, what are you doing here?" Sanosuke asked, his voice laced with unease.
"Did something happen at headquarters?" inquired Saito, surveying her curiously.
"Hijikata-san," Chizuru started again, still panting. "Ikeda Inn is the correct location. You must go and help Kondou-san!"
Sensing that Hijikata may still have some questions for them, Saito said, "I will lead our men to Ikeda Inn first. We will meet you there."
When Hijikata gave a nod of approval, Saito immediately exhorted their men to move out and took the lead. As Vice-Commander, he was confident in his Captains' capabilities for the impending fight and that they could protect and care for Kondou better than anyone else. But the reinforcements would certainly turn the fortunes of this battle.
Hijikata then turned to Shinohara and asked, "And why are you here?"
He thought he knew the answer even as he asked the question. Considering the effort needed to trail Chizuru through the streets, he knew this was about taking care of her and ensuring her safety. That was why he did his best to ask the question nonjudgmentally, as it would provide a secure base of trust between them. What he truly wanted to know was why she offered to go out of her way to protect Chizuru.
"It's not her fault, Hijikata-san. I asked Shinohara-san to come with us," Chizuru came to the demoness's defense eagerly. "And thanks to her, Yamazaki-san and I were saved from an ambush."
"Are you alright?" Sanosuke asked Chizuru with evident concern. "Did you get hurt?"
"I'm fine," she gave him a reassuring smile. "And Yamazaki-san has gone ahead to Ikeda Inn already."
"You did well, Chizuru," Sanosuke complimented, patting her head complacently before turning to Shinohara. "And thank you for escorting her all the way here, Shinohara-kun. But we'll have to trouble you to bring her back to headquarters now."
"Wa-wait! I want to come with you!" Chizuru protested, pulling his arm.
Sanosuke paused, exasperated with her lack of self-preservation. "Huh? Why the hell would you want to do that? Women have no place in the battlefield."
"I want to make sure everyone is alright. I can also offer medical care to the injured if necessary."
"But given the situation, I wouldn't be able to watch over you and keep you safe."
Clearly, his stubbornness matched hers, and knowing that they weren't going anywhere at the moment, Hijikata decided to interrupt their discussion. "We're wasting time standing here arguing instead of moving into action. Yukimura, Sano has a point. We can't guarantee your safety if you come with us."
As much as they all cared for her well-being and were willing to spring to her side to shield her from danger, they knew she was trouble. A lot of trouble. Most times she didn't seek it out, but it seemed to follow her around. Not to mention that Sanosuke wouldn't stop his incessant worrying about her safety if she tagged along to a fight. A samurai who allowed his feelings to cloud his thinking was a distracted samurai, and right now the Shinsengumi couldn't afford distraction.
"I can stay close by her side and keep her safe," Shinohara finally spoke. The three of them were surprised at the proposal and her willingness to help.
Perhaps the demoness really isn't as unfeeling as she appears, Hijikata thought to himself as he kept his gaze on her, feeling an unexpected rush of pleasure at the idea. Perhaps she was just incapable of verbalizing and expressing her emotions openly. It was a moment before he realized that he was making excuses for her in the hopes of finding a fraction of humanity in her.
Sanosuke let out a resigned sigh and angled a grin. He compromised by saying, "I suppose you can come if you wish, but you'd better be good and stay out of trouble."
"I promise I won't get in your way," she beamed at them.
"That's enough time wasted. We should get a move on and catch up to Saito and the others now," Hijikata suggested before they got left behind even further.
They hurried down the same path that Saito took towards the Ikeda Inn, with Sanosuke and Chizuru running ahead.
Hijikata ventured a look at Shinohara beside him and said, "Whatever your reason is for agreeing to come along and protect Yukimura, thank you."
She looked back at him for a moment as if she was trying to gauge his expression. "Are you not upset about me leaving the house?"
He wondered why she even asked that question, especially when he hadn't said or done anything to elicit that assumption.
"Weren't you the one who once told me that nothing could've stopped you if you really wanted to leave? Besides, I'm not the ungrateful ass that you've made me out to be. I know when to show my gratitude."
"I wasn't aware you had the capacity for gratitude based on my previous observations."
Hijikata narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling that she was teasing him, but of course an unemotional demoness would never tease. Yet he was gradually becoming more and more unconvinced about her impenetrable icy demeanor, and was beginning to suspect that it was a façade.
While he was struggling to read through her mind, she continued, "Just to be clear, I didn't come to fight alongside the Shinsengumi."
"And I'm not expecting you to burden yourself with the matters of the Shinsengumi. But at the very least, agreeing to watch over Yukimura helps take one thing off our plate," he explained while watching her reaction. "Unless you were somehow forced to do so."
"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to."
"I didn't think that would even be possible either." This time, Hijikata was the one mocking.
By now, he knew her well enough to know that no one could ever force her to do anything against her will. Just as no one could convince her to be dragged into danger unwillingly if she did not want to.
She glanced his way briefly, then at the footpath before them again. "As long as we're clear."
"You have nothing to worry about, we're clear."
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By the time they finally arrived at the Ikeda Inn, Asuna noticed that the wooden doors were knocked down from when the Shinsengumi had barreled into the building by force. Two corpses were lying on the ground on top of some shattered debris, splayed half out of the entrance. Based on their lack of uniforms, she assumed that they were Choshu men and spared them no mind.
"Soldiers, encircle the area and don't let a single one of the Choshu spies escape," Hijikata commanded at once.
His men immediately branched into groups and began an orderly and efficient defense of their tenuous positions.
"I will go through the back door and barricade the other exit," Sanosuke proposed with his spear in hand, quickly directing some of his men to the side of the building to find the back entrance.
"The rest of you, follow me," with those orders given, Hijikata was about to guide others into the inn, when there was an unanticipated interference.
"Hijikata-san, the Aizu soldiers are here," Saito pointed out and heads were turned to the band of men marching towards them.
"I see they finally decided to show up," he seemingly sounded more irate than bemused. "Saito, lead the men into the building and lockdown the place. I will handle them myself."
Saito gestured to his men, and they broke into the building. "Show no mercy to those who fight back and kill them."
In the meantime, Hijikata stepped into the space between the Aizu guards and the Ikeda Inn, blocking them from advancing forward. All eyes were upon him.
"Shinsengumi, you all did well. We're from the Aizu Domain and we are here to take over and relieve you of your duties," the Commander stated as he attempted to move past him.
Hijikata moved forth and towered over the shorter man, staggering him back a step. "The Shinsengumi already have this place surrounded and our men are currently suppressing the enemies inside. Aizu's reinforcements are no longer needed at this point."
The man knitted his eyebrows in frustration. "What is the meaning of this madness?! We are here to suppress the Choshu soldiers too!"
"Who are you and what gives you the right to block our path?" A random Aizu soldier shouted.
"I'm Hijikata Toshizou, the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi."
Asuna noticed a handful of Aizu men were sharing looks as they overheard the leaders' conversation, and like lightning his name spread. Hijikata allowed them to stare, letting them see the true face of the monster they'd made him into, the rumored Demon Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi.
"If you value your lives, then stay out here until our men completely overcome the enemies inside."
"What did you say? You think the Aizu Domain are too afraid to fight?!"
"You're right to be," Hijikata's violet eyes hardened. He spoke slowly as if to emphasize the importance of his words. His forceful tone made it explicitly clear that he expected to be listened to. "If you insist to break in heedlessly, things will turn violent for your men as we might mistake you for our enemies in the midst of battle. Do you really want to throw your men away to a meaningless death?"
Standing behind Hijikata from a small distance, Asuna and Chizuru continued to watch in silence. The Aizu guards looked at one another and then all turned their eyes to their Commander, who stayed quiet for a long moment. The man finally turned away without looking at them and simply ordered, "We stay put until further notice."
"If the Aizu Domain break in now then all the credit for suppressing the Choshu men will be taken from the Shinsengumi, even if they didn't lift a finger to help us," Yamazaki, who was likely witnessing the event as well, suddenly appeared next to Chizuru and explained. "Our brave soldiers' lives would have been lost in vain. That's why our Vice-Commander is standing alone to defend the honor and glory of the Shinsengumi."
Mortals were truly a disappointment. They fought and competed amongst each other, even though they supposedly shared a common goal, and stabbed each other in the back. They cared only for themselves and the particular side that they belonged to. Yet they cared almost nothing for each other. The evidence of their selfishness was right before her.
Asuna stared at Hijikata's wide shoulders and straight back, her thoughts of the mortals remaining unchanged. But she wondered if the man's faith was still unwavering even after what had happened between the Shinsengumi and their alleged ally.
A sudden scream was heard as a few men fought against one another near the entrance. Anxious, Chizuru turned and dashed into the building hastily, and Asuna immediately chased after her.
The second they set foot into the inn, the heavy metallic tang in the air hit Asuna square in the face like a physical punch. She felt a pang of hunger, a definite yearning for blood, as it had been a while since she'd last fed on human blood. Determined to push her craving aside, she entered deeper into the compound. More lifeless bodies were scattered inside, lying dead in pools of their own life essence. Chizuru looked terrified at the ghastly bloodbath in front of her eyes.
"What are you two doing here?" Shinpachi was stupefied to see them.
"Nagakura-san! Your hand…!" Chizuru gasped in horror.
"This isn't a big deal, I don't even feel the pain," he said with a feigned smile.
His wound was deep and he was bleeding profusely. There was so much blood that Asuna had to force herself to look away. But in the thick of temptation, her senses managed to pick up something distinct in the air. She could feel the wavelengths of auras emanating from other demons with strong spiritual energy in here.
"Stay here," she commanded Chizuru before proceeding to the second floor to investigate the unfamiliar presences.
As she was ascending the stairs, two men from above saw her approaching. She unsheathed her sword while she walking past them, ready for whomever wanted to test her. Another man was at the base of the staircase and they were now gathered on both sides of Asuna, running towards her with their weapons in the air. Without turning around, she rotated her blade with its sharp tip facing backward and drove it deep into the assailant's chest, cracking through his ribcage and into his heart.
Asuna quickly dislodged her weapon from the now lifeless body behind her and brought it up, as the man in front of her swung in a downward arc towards her. She blocked the attack and pushed him back effortlessly, before slashing across his chest and down his abdomen. Blood spilled from the fatal wounds and she sidestepped just as he swayed and toppled down the stairs.
The last man's fleeting hesitation was more than enough time for Asuna to close the distance in an instant and slit his throat open. Arterial blood exploded from the gash as he teetered, his body bending backwards and falling over the railing. She looked down and saw Saito looking up at her.
"I didn't think you'd be fighting for us," said Saito, the man of few words.
"I'm not. They were in my way," she replied nonchalantly and continued up the stairs quietly, until she was on the landing and scanned the first room to her left.
When she looked into the room, Heisuke was engaged in combat with someone almost twice his size. He tried to attack the man with his sword, but his attempt was quickly neutralized when the man grabbed the blade with his gloved hand. He headbutted Heisuke, causing him to wince in pain and stumble backwards a few steps.
"What's with your strength?" Heisuke gritted his teeth in frustration, wiping the blood trickling from his forehead. "Are you even a human being?"
"I already told you. If you give up now, then your life will be spared," the man said in a deep voice that was stern but strangely not unkind.
"Don't underestimate me, I'm a Captain of the Shinsengumi after all." Heisuke wobbled a bit when he got up on his feet again.
But before he could make his move, his opponent was already looming over him with his fist pulled back, ready to strike Heisuke in the head again. Asuna charged forward as she swung her sword, forcing the tall demon to hop backwards out of her range. The moment she drew closer she recognized the face, though she couldn't attach a name to it.
"It's you," he sounded surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here. Are you with the Shinsengumi?"
Asuna's mind worked furiously, sifting through the shadows of her memories as she tried to figure out who this demon was. And then it hit her. She remembered him from two years back, on a bleak winter's night when she'd taken the life of a man whom she'd turned into a Rasetsu.
"I'm not with them, but you can't kill this man," she said resolutely as she stood in front of the mortal.
"I don't intend to take his life unless he insists on fighting me."
"You're damn right about that," Heisuke challenged. "I'm not going to let any Choshu men just walk away."
The demon raised his hand to stop him. "If you think I'm with the Choshu Clan, then you've made a mistake."
Heisuke snorted. "Of course you're going to deny your relationship with them now, seeing as how we've restrained all your men."
When Heisuke tried to move passed Asuna, she blocked him with her arm and instructed stoically, "Stand down."
The young Captain appeared startled. "Whose side are you on?!"
Meanwhile the demon was already turning around and leaping off the balcony, into the night beyond the walls of the inn. At the same time, Asuna could still detect another demonic aura, the traces more prominent in the air now that the other demon had left.
"Why did you let him get away?" The sight of his opponent escaping apparently chafed Heisuke even more.
Asuna chose to ignore his contempt, understanding that the mortal didn't have the slightest clue of the danger he placed himself in by antagonizing a demon. Which was exactly what he was doing right now when he decided to obstruct her path as she headed for the door.
"Get out of my way." Her own temper spiked. "I won't repeat myself again."
He held his ground grudgingly. "Not until you explain yourself."
Without warning, she grabbed his arm and flipped him onto his back, hard. "You're foolish for wanting to flex your strength without knowing what you're up against."
He groaned as he tried to move from his position. Asuna just left him on the floor, following the sound of clashing metal in a room nearby.
"I can squash you like a bug," a blonde-haired demon said, pointing his sword at Souji and Chizuru.
Not wasting any time Asuna sprang into the room, taking multiple swings at the demon. He managed to evade all her strikes with efficient movement. This demon appeared to be more than proficient as he radiated confidence and massive strength. She charged towards him at top speed. She knew how fast he could be and she wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating her opponent. As she neared him, she leapt into an attack, her sword colliding with such a force that he slid back several feet.
"Not bad, you're stronger than I thought," his lips curved as he looked her up and down, then his vision came to rest on her face. "Do I know you? You look familiar."
His countenance was not familiar to her at all. She replied calmly, "No, I do not think so."
Yet his features were marginally twisted in an effort to remember her, until his stare finally settled on the sword she held in her hand. A strange glint appeared in his eyes for a brief unguarded moment. Then he unexpectedly sheathed his sword and started to walk away.
"What's the meaning of this?" Souji asked, puzzled by his behavior.
"My task ended here the moment you barged into the inn." The demon's eyes landed on Asuna once more and he smirked. "I'm sure we will meet again soon, Shinohara Asuna."
She stiffened ever so slightly at the mention of her name. Who was he? How did he know her name? Why was he deliberately revealing the fact that he knew her? With that he jumped over the balcony and on to the ground floor, and raced away.
X X X
AUTHOR NOTE:
Whew! That was one hell of a chapter but damn, I had so much fun writing it! And Asuna…stop acting so cool! Even I'm falling in love with you and I am your creator lol.
I honestly didn't plan for Asuna and Kazama's meeting at the Ikeda Inn, as my original idea was to have them finally meet at Mount Ten'nou. But I guess the way I had this chapter set up, I got you guys all hyped up about them meeting (and fighting), so I decided to change the plot a bit and have them meet earlier – the things that I do for my dear readers.
In case you guys didn't know, Kazama is actually my second favorite character and I really love him. I don't think he was all evil as he's shown some kindness throughout the anime. Some of you may even wonder, but I do have quite a bit planned for Asuna and Kazama. And who knows, I might even turn this fic into Asuna x Kazama if I get too into it.
*Avoids multiple frying pans thrown my way*
Just jokinggggg…!
Or am I? Heh!
Last but not least…thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the amazing reviews! I get all giggly inside when you guys tell me how you're in love with this story and my Asuna. It makes me so happy and proud, and I look forward to your continuous support!
Time for me to sleep now as I have work tomorrow. I will see you all next time!
P.S. Things will be getting a bit steamy in the next chapter, so look forward to it!