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 17: Finding 'The One'
The next day came and Chizuru tried acting normal around everyone, though her thoughts were still muddled with the shock of last night's incident. It had been a difficult night with little sleep since peace eluded her, but her restlessness never completely subsided this morning. She became even more rattled now that she had been summoned by Hijikata. Her feet moved and she kept on walking absentmindedly until she came upon the meeting room.
"Hijikata-san," Chizuru called out from the door before opening it. "I apologize for having kept you waiting for so long. I had to clean up after lunch."
"Don't worry about it," Hijikata said, turning to face her. She was surprised to see Shinohara sitting next to him. Right away she had a strong clue as to what they wanted to discuss. "Come in and sit down, we need to talk."
She moved uncertainly into the room and sat down facing the two. She couldn't read their facial expressions but hoped she wasn't in trouble for the revelations of the previous evening.
"The things that Kazama mentioned last night, do you understand any of it?" Shinohara asked the question directly as soon as she settled herself across from them. Her voice was formal but cold. Chizuru turned her head to Hijikata before shaking it; the apprehension she'd felt last night returning. Shinohara remained poised when she continued, "What he told you is true, you're a demon."
Chizuru was stunned by the declaration. The fear of the unknown that she'd felt so often surged through her once more. "You mean I'm also a Rasetsu?"
"Demons are different, we are born with innate abilities and we don't need to live on human blood. But at times our craving for the taste of it will intensify and we'll need to satisfy that hunger."
She became disturbingly aware of something else that Shinohara had said. "When you say we…what do you mean by that?"
Shinohara kept her cool gaze on Chizuru, her expression intensely serious. "I'm also a demon."
"That's impossible."
But even her baffled mind knew that it was possible, because she'd seen the unexplainable phenomena. She'd always tried to discredit what she was experiencing throughout her childhood while also forcing herself to accept and acknowledge it. She'd resisted the urge to dig deeper and uncover the truth that may be too frightening to confront.
"Do your wounds heal instantly whenever you injure yourself?"
It was a secret that Chizuru had been hiding and was too afraid to find the answer to. But right now, she knew she didn't want to hear this.
"How did you know…?" She asked despite knowing the answer. To her astonishment, Shinohara partially unsheathed her sword without warning and slit her palm so fast that neither Chizuru or Hijikata had enough time to react. Blood was seeping from the open laceration. "Wait Shinohara-san, why are you-"
The wound vanished in an instant with no trace, not even a faint scar. Shinohara met her disbelieving look and said, "Do you understand now?"
Hijikata regarded Shinohara with a seemingly petulant stare before averting his attention back to Chizuru. "Hasn't your father mentioned anything to you? Even regarding your ability to heal instantly?"
"My father only told me it's a special gift and that I should keep it a secret from everyone. He never told me that I'm actually a…" She trailed off, was unable to bring herself to say it.
"Just because you're a demon doesn't take your humanity away from you. Through our strength and long lifespan, we can easily achieve so much more in our lifetime. You should be proud of what you are," Shinohara spoke, underscoring every word so that she wouldn't miss the meaning.
Chizuru felt incensed by the comment and shot back, "It's not a matter of pride, I just need more time to process all of this."
Shinohara surveyed her for a moment, but didn't say anything. Chizuru immediately realized her tone had been too sharp. She wasn't even sure where the anger was coming from, and why she was alienating the only two people who were here to help her when no one else had come forth with the truth of her identity.
"What about your hunger? Do you not have cravings?" asked Hijikata, his violet eyes not missing anything.
After taking a moment to ponder the question, Chizuru figured there was no harm in revealing more information at this point. Moreover, they already knew so much more than she did.
"Occasionally I do feel this intense, burning sensation in my throat, like a thirst that cannot be quenched. My father said it's an extremely rare medical condition and so he gave me this." Chizuru took out a small glass vial filled with a red liquid from her obi. "I drink this elixir whenever I experience a relapse. With just a small sip I feel better immediately. He called this medicine the Water of Life."
Shinohara took the vial from her hand, opened the bottle and took a whiff of the elixir. Her face was so expressionless that Chizuru hadn't the slightest clue what was on her mind.
Turning to Hijikata instead, she said, "I should have told you, Hijikata-san. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep secrets from everyone."
"You don't need to apologize. Your private life is none of our business and you've been a vital asset to the Shinsengumi since you've been with us. I don't know how we were able to live in such filthy conditions for so long before your arrival." There was an unexpected warmth in his smile that made Chizuru feel at ease.
"Hijikata-san…"
He continued, "I understand all this came as a shock to you and you'll need time to figure out how to handle it. If you need to talk to someone about it, you know that my door is always open for you as it always has been."
Hijikata was a man who could solve any problem that came his way and expected people to do what he told them. Some mistook his projected nonchalance as borderline arrogance, but beneath the hardened countenance lay a caring man.
"Thank you so much, Hijikata-san. And yes it was a shock, especially when I had no idea, but it wouldn't have made a difference anyway. I just don't understand why my father never said a word to me about it when he must've known the truth all along." Chizuru hung her head low in dismay. She had so many questions, so much she needed to know, and with her father's disappearance she wouldn't be able to know everything.
"Whatever his reasons were for keeping this from you, it's pointless to speculate now when the possibilities are endless." Shinohara's voice was gentle but the words were straightforward, as if to help Chizuru refocus her purpose.
"You're right. I should concentrate on the issues at hand instead, though I'm not sure what I should do from here on."
Feeling that she couldn't impose on anyone else anymore; she knew she had to commit herself to a course of action in order to change her current situation. But how? What could she possibly do? And where would she start?
Shinohara's unblinking blue-green eyes seemed to reach right into her soul and read her thoughts when she said, "I can teach you the ways of the demon world and train you."
"You will?" Chizuru's eyes widened; taken aback by the generous offer she couldn't turn down.
"If you're prepared then you will start your training tomorrow morning."
Looking back and forth between Hijikata and Shinohara, Chizuru bowed and thanked them both again before excusing herself from the room. It wasn't going to be easy, she knew that much. But if learning about the demon world meant she would be able to find her true self and who she was meant to be, then yes, she was ready.
With that thought circling her mind, she wasn't quite mentally prepared to see Sanosuke walk into the garden. His dark amber eyes spotted her at once and he approached her right away. Her stomach churned in anxiety as she didn't know what to say to him or how to treat him. No matter how close she felt towards Sanosuke; how much she longed to be in his arms and be comforted by his reassurances, she wasn't sure she was ready to tell him the truth yet.
X X X
"That could have gone a lot worse than it did," Hijikata said with relief as they stepped out of the room and straight towards the backyard garden.
Shinohara cast him a questioning look. "How so?"
"Yukimura could've continued to deny her problems or even shut herself out."
"Then it would've been no one's fault but her own. She needs to come to terms with the reality of her situation."
Her words were cold and unfeeling, yet he knew there was a depth of compassion underlying her detached tone. If she truly didn't care then she wouldn't have gotten herself involved in the first place and volunteer to be Chizuru's mentor.
"It's easier said than done. Sometimes acceptance can be a very painful process, and some people would rather deny the facts than to face the truth just to protect themselves."
Hijikata had seen his fair share of people using denial as coping mechanism to carry themselves through their most difficult and sometimes tragic situations, even if it had a dark side with no lasting value. It wouldn't be fair to judge how others chose to face their inner demons.
Shinohara kept her eyes straight ahead, their walking pace slow and easy. "That serves no purpose other than complicating the problem further."
"It does and it's counterintuitive, but it's not wrong. Everyone deals with their own problems differently."
Although he said that, truthfully he couldn't agree with her more. They were only humans after all. They may be flawed in many ways, but they were very skilled at survival. Chizuru was different from most individuals he'd met. She believed people could rise above their condition if they devoted themselves to hard work and had faith. Even though she may be hurting inside right now, she didn't strike him as someone who would lose her will to fight.
"I really don't understand you mortals."
Something about the way Shinohara said it made him steal a glance her way. He wondered if she really felt that way, or if she was just trying to convince herself it was true.
"By the way, what made you decide to tell me about Yukimura?"
"You may be a Vice-Commander, but even Kondou comes to you for advice. So shouldn't you be made aware of matters like this where the Shinsengumi are involved? And the fact that you already know of our existence would also make you the ideal person to speak with Chizuru, if she's seeking acceptance from those whom she has spent significant time with."
Her answer was so matter-of-fact that he was stung.
Logically, everything she said made sense. But deep down Hijikata had held onto a small ray of hope that she had chosen to confide in him for a much different reason. Despite the battle that was still raging inside of him against what he was feeling for her, he wanted her to trust him.
"How astute of you to make that connection," Hijikata stated dryly after he decided he didn't like her answer at all.
She shot him a glare of suspicion. "Is that sarcasm?"
"No." His expression turned solemn after a small pause. He may not have liked her response for a selfish reason, but he was genuinely astounded by her perception and her ability to see things more closely than others. She understood a lot more than he had given her credit for. "I'm just impressed, that's all."
"Don't worry. You will get used to it."
Her cutting reply caught Hijikata so off guard that he had to ask, "Are you mocking me?"
She was obviously doing it to spite him, but he couldn't tell whether she was being playful or ornery.
"Another thing you're not used to, evidently." One more witty remark as she walked ahead of him down the corridor. Judging from her frigid tone, he concluded it was the latter.
Frowning, he caught up with her and stepped directly in her path. "You sound upset. Was it something I did?"
With shoulders squared, Shinohara lifted her face to look at him. "Am I not allowed to be upset? Or perhaps you believe that you're the only one with any right to feel that way? It seems you've mistaken my previous leniency with a lack of emotion."
"Fair enough. But you haven't answered me. Did I do something to upset you?" Hijikata stared at her, waiting for some kind of reaction. There was nothing.
It was surprising to see her more stoic and closed off than usual. What surprised him even more was his frustration by her sudden withdrawal, though he somehow had an idea of what might be going on.
Ignoring him, Shinohara moved to one side to go around him, but he blocked her way again. Taking a step closer rather than backing down, she asked, "Why are you always in my way?"
"Because you're always walking away from our conversations." Hijikata blew out a breath. He couldn't even begin to explain how this demoness could effortlessly set his pulse racing and his blood on fire at the same time. "Look, if this was about last night then I'm sorry for losing my head. It was uncalled for, especially when we're on the same side."
Hijikata was fully aware that his emotions had gotten the better of him yesterday and he'd planned to apologize for his behavior as soon as they had privacy. The mere fact that other men had tried to claim her so blatantly had simply driven him mad with jealousy. Not only had he been out of control, he had also taken his anger out on Shinohara when she didn't deserve it. He'd always prided himself on his ability to contain his emotions and keep his composure, but he appeared to lose his ability to think straight when it came to her.
"You assume what you do bears any significance to me," she said, tilting her chin up in a defiant gesture as she always did. But he saw a hint of softness entering those exquisitely unique eyes of hers. He could lose himself in them easily.
"You could have fooled me." Hijikata didn't bother to hide his grin and continued holding her gaze to seek the truth behind her transparent lie.
He couldn't help feeling he'd just won the skirmish of their very private battle for the first time. As a matter of fact, he found himself taking a surprising pleasure in it. He enjoyed the rare occurrence of seeing Shinohara flustered as he coaxed her out of her shell little by little.
Distantly, Sanosuke's voice cut into his thoughts. "Was everything alright? I waited for you at the entrance but you never came. I was getting worried."
Chizuru gave an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Harada-san. I forgot about our arrangement."
"That's fine. But you don't look so good, are you sure you're alright? Did you not have enough rest last night?" Concerned, he reached out to touch her forehead.
She avoided his hand and took a step back. "I'm fine."
There was a deafening silence. As observant as Sanosuke was, he instantly had a feeling there was more to the story, though he didn't push her for answers. "Then why don't we go out later this evening?"
"I have a lot of chores to do today."
His brows drew together; frustration hardening his jaw. "What about tomorrow?"
"I don't think it's a good idea since I have a lot to do. In fact, I should go and prepare for dinner now."
Chizuru scurried away so fast that Sanosuke didn't even have time to respond. He could only stand there and watch her leave before he too walked away in confusion.
"Looks like Sano will be having a tough time with Yukimura for the next little while," Hijikata commented with his arms crossed over his chest.
He felt bad for Sanosuke since he knew exactly what the man was going through, but he wasn't going to comfort him. For one thing, Chizuru would probably want to put space between herself and Sanosuke after what had transpired last night. Knowing her, she needed time alone to get her thoughts together before she could face him again.
"She did the right thing, especially since nothing can come of their relationship anyway."
Hijikata couldn't stop the frown tightening his face at the unexpectedly blunt affirmation. "Why do you say that?"
He wanted to get inside her mind. Her world. He wanted to know everything about this demoness. No matter how hard he fought and how determined he was to keep his distance, he was still inexplicably drawn to her whether he liked it or not. Each time he was with her, the pull just became stronger.
At first, he'd thought his response to her was merely physical attraction. If only it had ever been that simple. Yesterday's incidents with Souji and Kazama made him realize his response to her was much more powerful; he felt protective of her and was willing to fight for her. Hijikata had never been this confused about a woman before. How did she suddenly turn everything upside down for him?
Her expression told him that both were clearly stupid questions, both his verbal and unsaid questions. "It was one thing if she was confused about her identity before, but now that she knows the truth, they shouldn't be together for obvious reasons."
"Demons don't choose humans as partners?" The question had been weighing on his mind for quite some time now and he couldn't hold back any longer.
"Demons and humans can mate, and there have been demons who were mated to humans in the past."
Hijikata could sense there was more to tell so he pressed further, "Then what's the problem?"
To his surprise, she answered without reservation. "We have our obligation to fulfill and that is to ensure the continuation of the demon race. Choosing a human as a mate would only taint the future bloodline."
There was something about the response that disturbed him, setting off a forceful reaction that reverberated within him. "But what about affection, devotion and desire?"
He wondered what she'd make of those since it appeared that she'd been created out of a dutiful responsibility, not passion. There was obviously a fundamental expectation born from her conditioned upbringing on how she perceived marriage. But did love and marriage have absolutely nothing to do with each other in their demon realm?
"What about them?" Confusion clouded her gaze as she studied him.
"Don't you have a choice in choosing your mate based on those feelings instead of just race?"
"Feelings are a mortal sentiment that have no place in my world. My parents had a successful union that was arranged for political reasons and to strengthen both families. It is the way of my people," Shinohara conveyed with absolute conviction.
"Does that mean you will be choosing that demon named Kazama as your mate, then?" Hijikata heard himself asking before he could curb the impulse. Just the mention of that name nearly pushed his rising anger over the edge.
What had happened to his self-control? Ever since he'd realized his feelings for her, he'd been lost to one unthinking impulse after another. Even worse, as much as he should've regretted his impulsive actions, he never did. Not even once.
She stopped abruptly and turned towards him; her eyes guarded. "Why are you asking all these questions?"
Hijikata noticed she dodged the question, and asked one of her own instead. Choosing his words carefully, he replied, "I'm just curious. Doesn't it bother you that you're destined to wed without love or choice?"
"I already mentioned there is no need for mortal sentiment and I do have a choice."
"Do you really, though? Or are you just going through the motions?"
"What are you saying?" Her voice quickly turned ice-cold.
"I'm saying you should make sure you're making the right choice. Not for your people out of obligation, but for yourself," he answered while searching her face for something. A sign of something, anything - though he didn't know what he was hoping for.
If only he could show her how it felt to be loved and desired so she could experience the greatest feelings in the world. Hijikata suddenly came to recognize that he wanted this more than anything. He wanted her to know what she had been missing and he wanted her to smile, even if it was the merest curve of her lips. It took all his willpower to stop himself from reaching out and cupping her face.
He could understand Souji's constant need of an excuse for physical contact with Shinohara. It was so difficult not to touch her when she was standing right before him, looking determined and self-assured and all the more alluring and irresistible for it. His gaze fell to her mouth, the one he wanted to taste badly and feel open under his kiss. Now he wondered how she would've reacted if he had kissed her that night at the festival.
Shinohara stared at him; her eyes filled with some emotion that defied description. "Then how do you mortals find your mates?"
After recollecting himself from the images in his mind, Hijikata said, "Just like your world, there are individuals who marry for money, power and other political reasons. But there are also others who marry for love when they found the right person to spend the rest of their lives with."
"And how would you know if he or she is the one?"
Although her question held an undertone of inquisitiveness, Hijikata wasn't fooled; he knew the ice hadn't melted. It had simply been shadowed momentarily by the demoness's curious nature.
He scowled at her in annoyance. "Do I look like the type of man to have the answers to all these questions?"
"I assumed you knew what you were talking about, given the sudden inquisition." Her gaze was filled with such curiosity that it took a supreme effort not to respond.
How do you even define love and passion, feelings that were intangible, to a demoness who clearly didn't believe in affection? Hijikata sorted in his mind how best to tell it in a way that she could understand.
"I guess sometimes you don't even have a choice in the matter and no one really knows until it happens," he started explaining, and she looked so intrigued that he couldn't help smiling inwardly. "Then it all just becomes clear one day and you begin to realize you can't live without this person."
After hearing Hijikata's interpretation, Asuna wasn't sure if she fully understood him. Demons were born to be more pragmatic and less driven by elusive concepts. The notion of love seemed so far-fetched and obscure, it seemed impossible outside one's imagination. It was as if mortals had built their entire lives around this illusion, and then wasted their own time searching for something that didn't exist.
"Come over here." Hijikata beckoned her to follow him towards the well. He drew water with a wooden bucket, then soaked a handkerchief that he retrieved from inside his kimono. "Give me your hand."
Asuna remained unmoved while trying to figure out what he intended to do. When he seemed to pick up on her hesitation, he heaved a sigh and took her hand, turning it palm upwards. She froze the instant Hijikata touched her. After a quick inspection, he started wiping away the blood from her palm; his long, thick eyelashes lowered as he focused on her hand. She could feel his melting warmth against her skin.
The gentleness of his gesture, the kindness of his action, had shaken her to her core more than she would've imagined possible. Not that Asuna hadn't been touched in such a soft and tender manner, but Hijikata's touch was comforting on a deeper level she didn't quite understand. Every time he touched her, he made her feel emotions and sensations that were new and unknown to her, threatening to crack the shield of coldness she wore to survive. He made her feel powerless, flustered and petrified; he made her feel. Almost as if he could chip away her wall of defenses with nothing but his mere presence and touch.
"What about you? Have you found the right person yet?" The unanticipated question had him glancing at her, an unsettled expression crossing his face.
"I don't know," he drawled, his intense gaze pierced into her, almost setting her off balance. "That's something I'm still trying to decide for myself."
The human girl's face came to Asuna's mind unexpectedly. Yesterday had been the first time she'd seen Hijikata speaking with such tenderness, and his face had held a smile of welcome. He was a different man when he was with her. A patient, less intimidating man. The girl also seemed to enjoy his company. Perhaps she was the reason for his confusion.
"I thought I told you to stop hurting yourself," Hijikata's quiet statement interrupted her thoughts. Although his tone was calm, his personality felt like a physical push.
"It gets the point across more effectively."
"There are other ways to do it. So stop doing stupid things and taking your healing ability for granted. You need to take better care of yourself," he said, as if he had every right to demand her obedience.
Still feeling uneasy with his closeness, Asuna pulled her hand away as soon as he loosened his grip and retorted, "I'm not yours to command."
She felt Hijikata's entire body go motionless at her words. "Of course you're not."
Evidently as someone who was accustomed to giving orders, to being in charge, the Vice-Commander wasn't used to being told no.
"You should keep watch on your new ally instead of concerning yourself over irrelevant matters," she remarked in an abrupt change of subject. It was something she had been meaning to bring up to him since yesterday.
Hijikata appeared to consider her comment for a moment. "Who are you referring to?"
"That man named Kashitarou Itou, he's a Rasetsu and he's your other problem."
Even though his expression remained the same, he gazed at her with the same intense look, his jaw set. Asuna could feel his confusion, his disbelief. "But he seems to be different than the Rasetsu that we normally hunt down."
"He didn't turn rogue and his consciousness is still intact. Those with a stronger mental capacity will be able to overcome their bloodlust and continue living a normal life on the surface," she conceded.
"But you think he will pose a threat." It was a question phrased as a statement.
"He may not have turned rogue but he's still a Rasetsu regardless. He will be craving for blood."
Claiming that the man was a threat was an understatement. Unlike demons, Rasetsu would go berserk if they didn't get blood to sedate their hunger. They would be consumed by frantic, destructive violence and destroy anything or anyone in plain sight. Some would even lose their sanity and when that happened, only death would release them.
Hijikata's eyebrows furrowed as he evaluated his options. "He was personally recruited by Kondou-san and unless he crosses the line, there's not much we can do about him at the moment. We will keep a close eye on him and step in if anything goes wrong."
Asuna wasn't interested in the political relationship between the men. She also knew there was no reason for her interception either. Particularly not when the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander, who had more at stake, was willing to take the risk.
"Then for your sake, you should hope it won't be too late when you do."
X X X
The morning was bright and clear; a gentle spring breeze drifted across the courtyard. Asuna stood and watched the clouds that were veiling the sun as they gradually floated across the horizon. She enjoyed the play of silence and the natural sound, drawn by the memory of the man who had taught her so much. She was reminded of the old days when she'd risen before the crack of dawn to partake in training with her father; a daily routine that had brought them close. Her father had said that the twilight before dawn was the best time to practice swordplay. The peace and quietness would allow their minds to remain active and focused simultaneously.
At a young age, her father had started training Asuna in hand-to-hand combat, sword fighting and horse riding to protect their village from outside threats. She'd been told that although she was a female-born demon, she could still learn to fight against the enemies of their race, if she chose that route. Her father had been her mentor and her protector ever since, and he had done all that he could to protect her, no matter the cost. The thought generated a gnawing ache deep inside her, where her memory had been most cherished. She tamped down the sharp pain. That part of her life was gone.
"Are you prepared for your first training session, Chizuru-chan?" Souji's question interrupted Asuna's nostalgia as he walked in with Chizuru and Saito by his side.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Chizuru-chan told me you're training her in swordsmanship so we're here for moral support," Souji answered with enthusiasm.
Saito was displeased, though his expression remained unreadable. He was almost as cold as a demon. "This is why you dragged me here?"
"Of course. It's a rare sight to get to witness two girls engaged in sword fighting. But I doubt there will be much of a fight happening," Souji mocked mischievously with a crooked grin. "No pressure though, Chizuru-chan!"
"Too late for that, Okita-san…" Chizuru commented dejectedly, a frown creasing her brow.
"Ignore them and draw your sword at me," Asuna told her, not wanting to waste time.
"Eh? My sword? But aren't we using wooden swords to practice?"
"I'm using a wooden sword. You're using your shortsword."
Chizuru's frown grew deeper. "How come both you and Saito-san are training me with a wooden sword while I have to use my own weapon?"
"I don't know his reason, but I want you to grow accustomed to your own sword's weight so you can increase your speed in real combat." A frank answer that left no room for complex discussions.
"In addition to what Shinohara just said, it's also because I know you can't hurt me," Saito declared voluntarily without a flicker of a smile.
Placing a hand on the man's shoulder, Souji erupted into laughter as he found the blunt remark amusing. "You can always count on Hajime-kun for his honesty."
"Not you too, Saito-san…Thanks for the vote of confidence." Demoralized further, the young demoness was feeling defeated before they even started.
"Enough distraction," Asuna began with an even tone, taking charge of the situation. "Draw your sword and attack me. Your goal is to defend three strikes from me."
Chizuru gave a nod of understanding. She quickly unsheathed her sword, and with both hands gripping the hilt she slashed the blade downward. Asuna sidestepped out of harm's way effortlessly. With a quick twist of her wrist, she struck Chizuru in the shoulder with the wooden sword hard enough to leave a bruise, but not breaking the bone. Chizuru yelped in pain while holding her shoulder.
"Too slow. Again," Asuna ordered.
With a quick, sharp intake of breath, Chizuru rushed forward and swung the sword in an arc across Asuna's midsection. Her swing was expertly blocked by Asuna and in an instant, Chizuru was disarmed and helpless. Asuna showed no mercy and hit Chizuru in the lower abdomen with the dull end of the wooden sword, causing the young demoness to double over.
"Don't blindly charge at your opponent," Asuna pointed out. "Coordinate your next move in your mind and look for an opening. Again."
"Looks like Chizuru-chan won't even be able to stand by the end of this training," Souji interjected with barely concealed delight just as Chizuru received another blow.
"She will live," Asuna replied impassively. Especially when their healing power would help her get back on her feet again.
It was subtle, but the determination that grew in Chizuru's eyes each time she was knocked down hadn't gone unnoticed by Asuna. Determined. Courageous. These words described the young demoness well. The sooner she could break past her own mental barriers and embrace her true identity, the faster she could unleash remarkable abilities that had long lain dormant within her.
"Shinohara-kun, please excuse my interruption," Inoue began after making his appearance behind them. "Kondou-san and the Vice-Commanders would like to speak with you in the meeting room. It's for an urgent matter."
Asuna turned to Chizuru, who already seemed grateful for the intermission. "We will continue this training when I return."
As she followed Inoue towards the house, Souji asked, "Do you want to learn a trick to help you win next time, Chizuru-chan?"
"I don't think she should be taking advice from you," Saito chided the other Captain with a glance.
Souji's lips curved down when he murmured under his breath, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Once Asuna got inside, Inoue dismissed himself shortly to return to his own duties. She continued down the hallway until she reached the last room. Without announcing her arrival, she slid the door to the room open. Across the room sat Kondou, Hijikata and Sannan. What she didn't expect was the presence of two other individuals who were in the room with them, and when one of them turned to face her, Asuna froze.
Senhime…
X X X
AUTHOR NOTE:
Guys, you have to admit - I've been doing pretty good and behaved well so far. How so, you asked? Well, I've uploaded four chapters since December, which is record breaking for me lol! Of course it's all thanks to you amazing people out there supporting me and helping me keep the momentum going. Thank you for your reviews/favorites/follows! And to show my appreciation, I will get back to writing chapter 18!
Now that Senhime appears, what will happen with Asuna and will she be leaving the Shinsengumi? Stay tuned to find out in the next chapter! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!