Disclaimer: I do not own Hakuoki. This amazing anime was created by Asuka Yamazaki, Kazuhiko Hasegawa and Mitsutoshi Ogura. I only created my Asuna 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 14: Let Me In
Early dawn arrived as the warm days melted away the snow and ice in the city. Asuna breathed in the cool, yet gentle air of spring as she marched alongside the Shinsengumi Captains and soldiers down the street. Kondou and his Vice-Commander were leading an expedition to infiltrate the Imperial Palace and to circumvent their enemies.
Her eyes rested on the back of Hijikata's head, his luminous black hair combed straight back and tied up as usual. Asuna was recalling the conversation she'd had with him and the others two days ago. She had been given the option of traveling with them on their journey of supposed radical purposes. To their surprise, she had accepted without offering much of an explanation. Of course the Demon Vice-Commander wasn't the only one affected by her choice, but they knew better than to press for details. By now the mortals seemed to have a clearer understanding that some boundaries just weren't meant to be crossed. Certainly an explanation to any circumstances would be given only if she permitted it. Her mind and feelings were her own, and no one could invade her thoughts unless she allowed them access.
She remained adamant in her conviction that humans were ambitious and greedy beings. As a result, it went without saying that she still refused to render the Shinsengumi aid in their war against their political rivals. She only wanted to meet the blonde demon again.
Asuna was unable to control her curiosity as he knew things no one else did, and she was determined to cross paths with him again. The battlefield was one way to ensure their encounter, considering his involvement in military operations. She had questions that only he could answer.
In the meantime, she had no interest in complicating matters by trying to explain this in the context of her past.
Her eyes still fixated on Hijikata's back. Not that she didn't trust him enough to share her motive with him, but trust needed to go both ways. The trust between them was still too new, too fragile. Even if he would understand her reasons she wasn't ready to share her thoughts with him, and she may never be.
Soon Asuna's attention was called to the townspeople who moved swiftly, careful to stay out of the Shinsengumi's way as they stared bleakly at them. Fear and what she recognized as disgust were reflected in their eyes and faces. The way they were looking at them brought an all-too-familiar feeling of resentment towards mortals to the surface.
"Why are they looking at us in that manner?" Asuna asked, her eyes darting to the small crowd of onlookers.
Chizuru, who was strolling beside her whispered softly and said, "The citizens are afraid of the Shinsengumi so they're avoiding us."
"Why are they afraid of the Shinsengumi when they're supposedly the security of the capital?"
Asuna could hear the disappointment in the young demoness's voice when she clarified further. "Most people have the misconception that the Shinsengumi are dangerous and violent. They mistake their protection as an embodiment of violence. And as for those individuals who understand that the Shinsengumi are only engaged in war under military orders, most of them sympathize with the Choshu Clan so…"
Asuna watched a mother shield her child's face, as if to protect her from the menacing danger when they passed by. This crippled her apprehension in ways she couldn't begin to describe. The faint uneasiness lingered on the edge of her consciousness as she wondered how the men felt to be judged and condemned by their own kind; to be regarded as nothing but evil by the very same people that they wanted to protect.
"Harada-san told me that in the very beginning, the townspeople didn't expect the Shinsengumi to amount to much and always talked about what they could not do. But time and again, they continued to prove all their doubters wrong," Chizuru continued with unmistakable pride in her voice. "They are truly amazing men and this country's sadly neglected heroes."
Neglected heroes. A title that was fitting in many ways.
Unfortunately the ideas that bound the Shinsengumi together, the values they held, they would all fade after they drew their last breath. And all too soon the men would eventually be forgotten by the world completely, lost in the passage of time. In the end, no one would even remember those years of deadly duels, the constant battles of survival and bloodshed, nor the reasons why the Shinsengumi had fought so hard for so long.
Asuna turned her focus once again towards a certain Vice-Commander and pondered darkly if he really believed all this would be worth it in the end.
X X X
"The Shinsengumi are under official orders to be reinforcements for the Aizu Clan? We weren't notified of such orders," said a man who appeared to be the Aizu's head guard at the Ninth District by a riverbank.
"We just came from your Lord's visiting residence and they're the ones who sent us here!" Shinpachi exclaimed, raising his voice louder than necessary but Hijikata couldn't blame him. His frustration was understandable.
They had been given the constant runaround the entire day and were treated disrespectfully on earlier occasions. Even at the Office of the Fushimi Magistrate, the Commander refused to acknowledge the validity of the Shinsengumi's involvement, which was by the official orders of the Military Commissioner of Kyoto and sent them away. Much of their precious time was wasted on traveling back and forth to a designated site that the Shinsengumi could await for further instructions with the Aizu Clan.
"Shinpachi," Kondou's voice was soft, but his tone made it clear that he'd do what it took to keep the peace and he expected the same from his men.
Shinpachi yielded to their Commander's will and backed off quietly so that he could take charge of the negotiating situation. Even the most hotheaded Captain realized that recklessly creating a ruckus would only result in tarnishing their own reputation and disgracing the Lord of the Aizu Clan.
"I would like to speak with the superior of this encampment," Kondou requested politely but firmly. "I have the official written letter here, please bring this to your supervisor."
"There's no need to trouble him with this. I would've received direct orders for important matters." The guard's arrogance grew. "Besides, we don't need reinforcement from the Mibu wolves, we can take it from here."
"Calling the Shinsengumi Mibu wolves is just too much," Chizuru said with a notable hint of anger in her tone now.
Out of the corner of Hijikata's eye, he noticed Shinohara instinctively take a step forward, but was quickly stopped by Saito who was beside her. "Creating any commotion now would only make things worse. Any mistakes we make here would be held against us later."
"So you're just going to stand here and wait for them to decide your next move?" She asked but made no attempt to intercede further.
"We will just have to trust the process as Kondou-san and the Vice-Commanders will lead us where we need to go."
Saito was right, restraint was absolutely necessary as a method of both control and mitigation during delicate situations like this. However Hijikata was also well aware that his comrades were growing impatient, mainly after much of their day was lost already.
"What's your name?"
The guard was taken aback by Hijikata's unexpected question. "Why do you want to know?"
"We were instructed to come and aid the Aizu Clan. If this delay leads to more unnecessary casualties on your end then I'm sure your Lord would expect us to give him the name of the individual responsible."
The two gate guards appeared to be more shaken up by the threat than they were willing to admit. One of them cleared his throat as he looked around the group. "Did you say you have a letter for our leader?"
"Yes and we would appreciate it if you can bring this to your supervisor for validation if need be," Kondou retrieved the official letter from inside his haori and handed it to the guard.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he did what he was told as the rest of the Shinsengumi waited for the guard's return.
It took awhile before the guard reappeared, and then it took even longer for them to be led to the location used as Aizu soldiers' campsite. The sun was already setting towards the trees when the Captains and other Shinsengumi members scurried across the ground and situated themselves in position for the rest of the evening, awaiting for further directives to move out.
Kondou was soon brought forward by two attendants to pay respects to the Aizu Clan leaders in the house. Hijikata was privately relieved that their Chief was skilled at these sorts of formalities as he lacked the finesse and patience required to deal with nobles; he much preferred leading their men in battles. However, Hijikata was more than ready to provide any support required, as this was a sort of unspoken agreement between the two of them.
Hijikata looked up at the quickly darkening sky as he rejoined the other Captains around the fire. "We will stay put here for the night until we detect movements from the Choshu Clan."
"I thought they'd already located the Choshu members and that's why they needed our reinforcement so urgently," said Shinpachi, seemingly more exasperated by the minute.
"Whatever the situation may be, we should stay alert in case there are any changes tonight," Saito stated, reminding the others to stay focused and ready themselves for their task at hand.
"I imagine it will be a long night so you should get some rest now while you still can, Yukimura-kun," Inoue suggested. The man was always looking out for everyone's well-being.
Before Chizuru had a chance to respond, Sanosuke's voice cut in. "You can't sleep sitting up. So why don't you rest your head in my lap for a pillow?"
The poor girl panicked, seemingly embarrassed by the suggestion. She turned her head and fidgeted, then looked helplessly at others.
"He has a good point," Shinpachi agreed with a sly grin of mischief. "You can use my lap too if you like."
She shook her head a bit too emphatically. "No, no. I'm not tired at all so please don't worry about me."
Inoue chuckled. "You Captains should be more merciful towards Yukimura-kun."
"Well, if you change your mind, I'm definitely available," Sanosuke said, giving her one of his most persuasive smiles.
As the teasing continued, Hijikata asked, "Has anyone seen Shinohara?"
He couldn't help but notice that she wasn't around. In fact, she'd disappeared shortly after the group had made their way to the camping ground. Much to his dismay, these days more than occasionally he would actually feel her absence and miss her presence, yet he'd still somehow managed to maintain a careful distance between them.
While Hijikata was unable to explain his reaction to Shinohara at times, he was desperately trying to avoid it. Even if the feeling hadn't waned completely, it would at least keep his attraction to her at bay. It hadn't been easy, but he'd continued forcing himself to take that step back, especially when nothing could come out of it. He couldn't risk attraction turning to desire the way it had during their moment at the festival. Some distant part of him silently admitted that he had wanted to kiss her that night; had wanted to give in to the temptation of tasting those sensual, enchanting lips.
"I saw Shinohara-san walked over to the riverside earlier. Would you like me to go find her for you, Hijikata-san?" Chizuru offered quickly, eager for a diversion.
"No, I'll go myself," he replied before turning to Sanosuke and Shinpachi. "And maybe you two should cut her some slack. At this point she'll probably force herself to stay awake all night."
Sanosuke grinned. "We'll think about it."
With a resigned sigh, Hijikata turned and started strolling towards the river, along the path that gradually sloped downward until he reached the water's edge. A gentle downstream of small waves rippled across the surface of the water. As he continued by the shoreline, the sound of the water stream was creating this soothing rhythm, almost like a river's song.
But the sedative serenity was soon forgotten the moment he caught a glimpse of Shinohara with a tall man. Even from afar Hijikata could see the man had a strong, solid built and distinctive red hair that was tied in a ponytail. They appeared to be rather involved in their private conversation until he approached closer, and they turned to look his way. Hijikata locked eyes with the man and could almost feel the unmistakable strength emanating from him.
The man's attention returned to Shinohara once more when he said, "There are no exceptions so please keep that in mind, if you would."
With that last comment, he didn't wait to survey her reaction and took his leave.
Hijikata was already speculating who the man was, and what their relationship was as they seemed to be closely connected. He hadn't asked Shinohara why she had chosen to join them on their mission, but now he wanted to know. He was even convinced that this was more than just a coincidental meeting. What were they talking about before he showed up?
"Did you need me for something?" She asked as soon as the man was out of sight. Her voice was calm as the deepest cold.
"You weren't with the others at the campsite."
"I prefer to be out here by myself." As if to prove her point, she went to a close-by tree behind her and sat down with her back leaning against the thick trunk, her knees bent slightly as she stared out at the river.
Hijikata sat beside her without invitation, while keeping a wary distance. The last thing he needed was to be near the woman who physically stirred him half-mindless.
"At least you chose a great spot to camp out for the night."
As nightfall came the moon began to rise. It was a prosperous night with bands of stars spread across the dark, cloudless sky like dust. On occasions like this, the world always seemed to be full of possibilities.
For a moment he could feel her eyes on him, studying the side of his face as if to assess him. "You're not going to ask me anything?"
There were so many questions he wished to ask her, but he decided to hold his tongue for tonight.
"Would you tell me even if I ask you?" Stony silence met his question. "That's what I figured."
In truth, Hijikata didn't know what to think. He had expected her to keep things from him to protect herself, and she never failed in letting him know that she was excluding him on purpose either. Just as she'd felt the need to put up an impenetrable wall around herself that no man could possibly scale, it would take a fool to not recognize that as a warning to keep his distance. The sensible part of him already knew that he couldn't let himself grow close, couldn't let this connection, attraction or whatever it was between them go any further.
So why was he still disappointed about a demoness who seemed unwilling to let him into her world? As a matter of fact, disappointment didn't even cover what he was feeling.
To unburden his mind of those deep thoughts, he decided to change topics. "I actually came to let you know that Souji may have ran into the person you've been searching for."
"Where?" Even though her expression didn't change or flicker, Hijikata knew his words piqued her interest.
Funny, how he knew. How he'd somehow become attuned to this icy demoness without even half trying anymore.
"It happened a few weeks ago when he raided the Choshu's hideout within the city. We've been sending out men to look for her around that area since then," Hijikata began explaining. "And right before we left the headquarters, we received news that a store owner had seen a girl matching her description. So we stationed two members in a lookout post around the store for now in case she shows up again."
Again Shinohara kept quiet and simply continued looking out at the night view before them, appearing to be deep in thought.
"What's your plan after you reunite with her?"
Finally she broke the silence. "I plan to go back to where I came from, away from mortals."
"Not all humans are bad, just as not all demons are evil."
And Hijikata genuinely believed that. He hadn't trusted her since their first meeting, and he'd even gone so far as to question her every move. Yet he always knew she wasn't evil on some deep level he couldn't explain.
If he could only convince her of the same with humans, perhaps she would trust him enough to discard her protective armor and open up to him?
She glanced at him, there was a trace of skepticism in her eyes. "Are you trying to convince me that the Shinsengumi are different? That you're not fighting for power and fame like the others?"
Every nerve he had went taut. How had she come to this conclusion when titles and status had never meant anything to him?
"The Shinsengumi were never built based on those desires. But we do have our own beliefs and ideals that we stand for."
She stared at him for a second before asking, "If it's not power and fame, then what exactly are you fighting for?"
Whatever it was that had gotten her to be curious about him and the Shinsengumi tonight, Hijikata thought that if he shared a part of his life with her and gave her the chance to satisfy her curiosity about him, then he might win her confidence.
"This may sound strange to you, but we risk our lives everyday just to fulfill a dream," he began, wording his answer delicately to make it easier for her to understand the situation. "We fight for our dream of serving the country and giving the people a better and fuller life. Of course to protect life means that we will also be taking life too. But we can only hope to find a middle ground."
"Even if no one appreciates your sacrifice for their peace and security? You'd still fight to protect those people?" Her tone was neutral, but her question held evident confusion. He wondered if she'd always been this inquisitive in all aspects of life.
"It comes with the territory. We don't need other people's understanding or approval to fight for our cause. It's important that we hold onto our dream, because a man without dream is a man without purpose in life."
And he knew that life was too short to waste it being afraid to follow his heart's desire, and to be what he wanted to be. So regardless of the pain and suffering, he would keep doing the things that mattered to him the most.
It had been quite a rough journey for a group of men like themselves to achieve what they had today. Their success hadn't come easily or with great reward. Given their undistinguished family backgrounds, they had been looked down upon by other nobles. Just like today, their words were often discounted. Though bad roads never deterred the Shinsengumi from moving forward to pursue their goal.
But would she understand his ambitions? Especially when earning her trust wouldn't happen overnight, and it also wasn't the reason that brought him out here tonight.
"You know, you don't have to leave the Shinsengumi after you find your comrade." Hijikata watched her reaction closely. "You can stay with us for as long as you want."
Her face revealed nothing as she answered with a question of her own. "Do you truly believe humans and demons can coexist in harmony? If that's so, then you wouldn't feel the need to hide my identity from everyone."
The loneliness in her luminous eyes punched him in the gut, and the urge to go to her overwhelmed him.
"I suppose you're right and I can't speak for the rest of the guys. But I've accepted you for who you are, haven't I?" The words came out before Hijikata could even stop them. Although he didn't regret it, he knew he needed to be much more mindful. "And I know Souji and Saito also feel the same way, so you should give us more credit."
X X X
For the longest time, Asuna sat silently and watched the sun as it slowly rose above the mountains. Light was pushing through the darkness until the whole sky lit up with a glowing tranquility. Even with such breathtaking scenery her mind was anything but quiet, as her thoughts were centering on Hijikata Toshizou.
"You can stay with us for as long as you want."
"But I've accepted you for who you are, haven't I?"
His quiet statements had been circling her mind, trapped in an endless spiral. Those words had once again brought out a great tangle of complicated feelings that Asuna was even unable to understand herself.
He was such a complex man. Much more complex than she'd first realized. In the earlier days, she'd only seen the fortitude, the leashed violence and barely contained anger that seethed just beneath the surface. But the longer she was near him, the more she realized there was a wellspring of kindness and compassion inside him which he was willing to extend even to demons like herself despite their differences.
Hijikata was clearly aware of her abilities and yet he had never once made an attempt to twist what she knew and believed in to his own advantage. If for a moment Asuna had a feeling she was being exploited and used as a pawn in their mortal game then she would've left long ago, regardless of their agreement. The same could be said about the rest of the Shinsengumi. The men never took advantage of her skills nor requested her to do anything. For everything she had done in their presence up to this moment, it was done with her own free will.
So wasn't it enough for her to trust the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander? Even a little? Or was there something more at play here?
Asuna closed her eyes as the sudden realization dawned on her, the weight settling on her shoulders.
Being with others constantly, not just mortals, had been a rather large shift in her personal dynamics. One by one, her family and allies were taken from her. She had long ago learned to navigate life alone, as she'd had to endure relentless hardship and grief through her countless years of existence. Fortunately due to her nature and her upbringing, she had always been self-reliant. But there had been far too much loss in her life and she didn't need anyone to get close to her again.
It was much easier to be alone and to cope on her own, it just felt…safer.
She'd had too much pain in one lifetime and she never intended to put herself in the position to feel that same kind of pain again.
"Shinohara-san," Chizuru's voice brought Asuna back to the present. She opened her eyes to see the young demoness hurrying towards her. "Hijikata-san and Nagakura-san are moving out. They're heading to Mount Ten'nou so we need to join up with them now."
As they made their way to rejoin with the others, Chizuru tried to update her on the Choshu's movements. Apparently some of them were still battling at the Kuge Gate while the rest of them had escaped to Mount Ten'nou. Sanosuke was instructed to apprehend the Choshu men at Kuge Gate, Saito was to hold the fort at Hamaguri Gate, while Hijikata and Shinpachi hunted down the rest of them.
It was quite obvious that whatever those Choshu men's plan was, it had gone awry. Asuna wasn't the slightest bit surprised to know that the other two demons whom she'd encountered at the Ikeda Inn also played a role in this sequence of events. Running into the demon named Amagiri here last night was enough to confirm her suspicion of their involvement in this war, though she didn't care about their standing on this conflict nor why they chose to aid the humans in their plight.
Almost immediately Asuna sensed a familiar aura the moment they caught up to Hijikata and his men at an old bridge. In front of them stood the same blonde demon from the other night. With one hand, he swiftly removed his sword from the scabbard and slashed at one of the Shinsengumi's members who charged ahead carelessly, oblivious to Hijikata's command to halt. The man toppled to the ground, blood seeping from his chest wound.
"Arata! Are you alright?" Shinpachi rushed over to the fallen man, who was still alive.
The left corner of the demon's lips curved upward. "Judging from your uniforms, I assume you're the Shinsengumi. You brutes really like to keep getting in my way and just don't know when to stop, do you?"
"Let me stop the bleeding first," Chizuru said while tearing a long strip of cloth from her shirttail to bandage his wound.
The demon's eyes were fixed on Chizuru for a fleeting moment, evidently picking up on her demonic aura as well. But his attention was short-lived when he noticed Asuna's presence. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"I was actually hoping for us to meet again since I have some questions for you."
"You know him?" Hijikata asked, in a tone full of inquisitiveness.
"Hijikata-san, he's the same man who injured Okita-san at the Ikeda Inn," Chizuru exclaimed before Asuna had an opportunity to answer.
The demon's concentration on her never wavered for an instant. Though his smirk disappeared and he looked somewhat disconcerted. "Then I must have left quite an impression on you. But it's disappointing to see you fighting alongside with these weak imbeciles. It seems like you have forgotten your pride."
"You think you're in a position to pass judgement on me when you're acting as the mortals' puppet and serving them in their war?" Asuna managed to keep the rising anger out of her voice, but just barely, resenting his attitude.
The irritation was like a hook in her chest, snagging several other darker emotions. He didn't even know her and yet he spoke to her as if he knew the intimate details of her life, as if he had a right to them. He had no right to interfere with her.
"I'm no one's puppet." The demon's voice was raw, his fist clenched onto the grip of his sword so tight that his knuckles were turning white.
Shinpachi rose to his feet, already drawing his sword. "Who the hell are you and why did you hurt our man?!"
"Why are you chasing after the Choshu men knowing that they've already lost the battle and have fled to Mount Ten'nou only to commit honorable suicide?" The demon's expression remained indifferent, but Asuna could see the flash of fury in his eyes.
"They're a bunch of traitors who started a fight over stupid reasons," Hijikata stated in a commanding tone that demanded respect and obedience. "Now that they've lost, they don't even have the courage to face their punishment. Cowards like that don't deserve an honorable death."
The arrogant smirk returned to his face. "Hmph. You speak as if you understand the meaning of honor, but the truth is you're only pursuing them so the Shinsengumi can earn a commendation."
"They're criminals and they should be arrested to withstand their execution." It was a testament to both men's pride and stubbornness that neither could be dissuaded.
"I don't know who you are and what you have against us, but I'm sick of standing here, listening to you sputtering insults at the Shinsengumi!" Shinpachi snapped, which seemed to have pleased the demon.
"Then let's see if you're capable of proving me wrong."
As Shinpachi attempted to make his first move, the blonde demon was already sprinting towards him and swinging his weapon with lightning speed. The Shinsengumi Captain was undoubtedly startled by the man's astonishing swordplay skills and swiftness. The impact knocked Shinpachi backward, and before he was able to regain his composure, the demon was charging at him again.
Asuna drew her own sword and struck at the approaching demon. His weapon crashed into hers as she blocked his oncoming attack. "Why don't you fight someone who is more on your level?"
The demon's eyes gleamed with humor. "Sounds like you wanted to continue where we left off the other night."
Their blades separated, and he took the fleeting chance to smash his sword down at her from above. Asuna parried his blow firmly and leapt back to regain her balance. Just when she was ready to lunge at him again, Hijikata suddenly stood in front of her, keeping his body between her and the blonde demon.
"You should deal with me first since I'm your opponent," Hijikata stated matter-of-factly. Asuna wanted to question his intent to meddle when he suddenly said, "You can't possibly expect me to stand by idly when he's wounded two of our men."
Even though he kept his back to her the entire time, she knew his last comment was directed at her. Understanding Hijikata's need for involvement in his position as the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander, she decided to overlook his interference.
"Then you may want to consider using the demon-slaying sword," Asuna spoke in an undertone that no one else could hear.
Her abrupt suggestion made him turn his head and focus on her, those violet eyes shifting from surprise to a rush of comprehension. He nodded his head once in response, as he understood more than what was said between them.
"Shinpachi, go on ahead with the others first. Don't forget about your mission," Hijikata instructed without taking his eyes off of the demon.
Knowing better than to disobey an order, Shinpachi did as he was told and turned to the other members. "Shinsengumi, you heard the Vice-Commander! Follow me!"
Shinpachi led his men past the blonde demon as they rushed through the bridge and towards the heart of Mount Ten'nou. Without warning, Hijikata sprinted towards the demon and smashed the demon-slaying sword down at him, diverting his thoughts away from chasing after the others. But the demon deflected the attack and swung his blade sideways at Hijikata, who managed to barely dodge it.
Unable to stop the group from proceeding forward, the demon turned his undivided attention to Hijikata once again. He was clearly feeling indignant. "You all talk big, but in the end you'll just end up laying on the ground like the others."
"I'm through with talking. So why don't you let your damn sword do the talking instead?" Hijikata lifted his sword in midair and slashed at the demon, but he blocked it effortlessly, their blades crossing in a flurry of sparks.
"Where did you get that shortsword?" The demon asked unexpectedly with a notable frown after a closer inspection of Hijikata's weapon.
Hijikata stared at him for a quick second before breaking their blades' contact and thrusted his sword directly in front of the demon's chest. "Since you recognize the sword that must mean it's the perfect weapon to be used against you."
In one fluid motion, the demon swatted the weapon away from his chest and instantly slashing consecutively at Hijikata. His sword moves were airtight with precision. "It doesn't matter what sword you're wielding, especially if you lack the strength to do anything with it."
Asuna watched as both men were locked in a seemingly even duel. Although the two of them seemed to be on par with each other, the demon had greater speed and agility, making it hard to guard if Hijikata wasn't careful. Asuna wasn't at all surprised at how highly skilled he was, his strikes and footwork in battle were truly marvelous.
As for Hijikata, this was the first time for her to witness the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander in action, and she didn't expect his swordplay to be this precise and stable. Every strike of his was pointed at the other's blade. This level of accuracy was impossible to achieve without years of sword practice.
"Kazama, stop," Amagiri's unanticipated appearance brought the men to a standstill. "Aizu and Satsuma are allies now so we have no reasons to fight the Shinsengumi."
Asuna furrowed her brows slightly as she instantly recognized the name. She wasn't sure why the name sounded familiar. She had heard it before, but not recently enough to come up with an immediate answer. If anything, she assumed she had heard the name back in the past. And if that was the case, then she had a feeling there was much more to this blonde demon named Kazama than met the eye.
Kazama was the first to put away his sword in its sheath. As he was about to make his exit without another word, full realization hit her in a wave.
"What is your relationship with the Kazama Clan?" Asuna asked, when he walked past her.
"Looks like you've gone and spoiled the surprise, Amagiri." He didn't turn to her but Asuna could hear the humor in his voice.
"You haven't answered my question."
This time he glanced her way with a grin. His gaze was so intense that she could feel the fierce heat of that focus. "Guess you will have to wait until our next meeting, it won't be long."
It was a promise of things to come.
X X X
AUTHOR NOTE:
Hi everyone, yes I'm back! Sorry, life's been busy, crazy…you know the drill so I'm not going to justify myself.
Waffle: *Hit Swanna at the back of her head* Is that how you apologize to your loyal readers who have been waiting for this update for over a year?!
Swanna: Ow! Well…I'm sorry! I thought that opening will make me look cool?
Waffle: I have nothing more to say to you…
Well guys, I hope this chapter will be enough as an apology and I will try to update more chapters soon…unless I disappear again! Haha!
Waffle: Also not funny!
Swanna: *Sweatdrops*