Chapter 10

When the sun shone through the window signaling the morning I woke. Saito was still sitting next to me with his arm around my shoulders. My wound continued to ache, but it wasn't as bad as it was before. My father always taught me that pain was only a weakness, nothing more. I attempted to get up without alerting Saito, but it was apparent that he was already awake when he squeezed my arm lightly. I looked at him and met his eyes.

"Where are you planning on going?" he asked calmly.

"To walk around," I replied simply. He nodded and stood up. He offered his hand to me and although I didn't need the help, I allowed him to pull me up. He wrapped his arm around my waist to help support me and I tried to hide my annoyance. He was trying to be kind, but it was irritating to be helped when I didn't need it. We walked out of the room and Chizuru looked over, blinking and staring like an idiot. Even though I was no longer with Okita, I still held a slight disdain for her.

"Where do you wish to go?" Saito asked, looking at me. I merely shrugged. He would insist I stayed if I told him I wished to leave to confront my father. That's what smart people would do. He led me to the room everyone dined in. He helped me sit before sitting next to me. Sano, Nagakura, and Heisuke were already in the room and just stared as we walked in.

"You two…?" Heisuke began in confusion. Saito only nodded as Okita, Hijikata, and Kondou entered and took their seats and Chizuru walked in last. I ate staring off into space, but Saito ate silently anyway so it didn't matter. My father was most likely waiting for me outside. I wasn't sure what his main goal was, but I had a strong feeling I wasn't going to like the end result. When I finished my meal I got up before Saito could attempt to assist me. I walked back to my room and grabbed my katana. I wasn't sure how this battle was going to turn out, but someone would not be getting up afterwards.

As I headed out Okita was standing at my doorway. "You're going to go out there again so soon after being wounded?" he asked with his arms crossed.

"What I do with my life is none of your concern. If you really want to help me you'll keep Saito occupied while I clean up my own mess," I replied.

"I can do that, but you have to promise me one thing," he said stepping toward me.

"And what is that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. He put his hands on my shoulders and smiled at me.

"Come back alive." I was shocked momentarily, but I couldn't help but smile. I nodded and shook his hand, feeling a hug would be too weird right now. He walked away, assumingly toward where Saito was and I walked off the grounds. My father was in the crowd grinning at me. He began to walk away and I followed. I could feel my body shake with ever step, but I couldn't afford to break down again. This needed to end and I needed to be the one to end it. He led me to a small grassy area behind a building and drew his katana.

"It's time to come home Akita," he said. I drew my own katana, wishing I didn't have the wound in my stomach. It would do nothing but slow me down.

"Leave now and we won't have to do this," I shot back. He may have viewed it as taunting, but I was attempting to show my sincerity through my words. I didn't want to kill him. He was still my father and even after all the horrible things he did to me, he still trained me to be who I am today.

"I can't do that Akita. You're all I have left. I'm not letting you go," he replied. I stood, shocked, as he charged at me. I blocked his blade with my own, forcing him back.

"You can't honestly believe that. All the horrid things you did to me. That can't be your version of showing you care, I saw how you tended to Mother," I shouted.

"Foolish girl," he replied. He charged again and I dodged, but just barely. He was still as fast as I remember. A quick jab of his blade caught me off guard and slashed open my left side. After all the years I spent with him, I never wondered what I was to him. Was I his daughter, or was I Mother's daughter? Did he honestly care for me? I attempted to keep my head clear in order to watch his movements. He always attacked in a pattern, but he possessed several patterns. I needed to figure out which pattern he was using or I would have to remain on the defensive.

He slashed upward and I jumped back before he cut off my arm. I dropped to a crouching position and slashed at his ankles. His timing was better than mine as he stepped on my katana and stabbed downward. I moved out of the way, but he did cut the side of my neck where it met my shoulder. I slid my katana out from under his foot and rolled backwards, getting to my feet as soon as I could. A few people had heard the commotion and were watching us.

He slashed sideways and I flipped my katana in my hand in order to block his blow. His fist connected with my wound and I coughed, doubling back. I spit blood out and ducked when he swung at my head. I stabbed forward and caught the side of his leg, giving my katana the blood it has been craving. Father stumbled back, obviously not expecting to get hit. I realized then what I had to do. I stood up and charged at him. He chuckled and thrust his katana forward, catching me in my shoulder. I didn't waver and allowed myself to bring the katana deeper into my body while pushing my own into his belly. He looked shocked and coughed up blood, falling backward. I pulled my katana out of him and aimed it down directly over his heart.

"I knew one day you would bring me down," he said with a smile.

"Was all of this worth it?" I asked. "Was this worth all the pain you caused me?"

"You're stronger than I had ever imagined. For this I can't help but be proud of you. I couldn't protect your older brother from his death and I was too soft with him. He never learned to protect himself." I pushed my sword into his skin slightly, feeling tears well in my eyes.

"I never had a brother," I said. He simply shook his head.

"His name was Keikou. He was ten when he died and you were only two. We didn't expect you to remember him. I couldn't let you suffer the same fate he did," Father explained. I felt the tears fall from my eyes and roll down my face. "Did you honestly think that a father would be able to not love his child?"

"You're lying!" I screamed. My hand holding my katana trembled so much that he could probably feel it. His eyes changed to an expression of malice and he laughed.

"You're absolutely right. I am." In all the talking I never noticed him raise his katana. It entered my body through the side and traveled diagonally upwards. "Keikou did exist, true, but you are not my daughter. You are merely the result of a spell of poor judgment my darling wife had." My tears of pity turned to tears of rage and pain as I pushed my sword through his chest. His hand fell from his katana but his katana did not fall from my body. I stumbled away, dropping my katana and dropping to my knees. It was over. The man I called my father was dead. My vision was beginning to blur and I could faintly hear footsteps coming toward me. A gentle hand touched my back, supporting my weight and then I felt the katana being pulled out of my side.

"You promised me you'd come back alive," Okita said with an urgent voice. I heard various other voices murmuring. Glancing around I saw the entire Shinsengumi unit surrounding me, Okita crouched next to me and Saito holding me.

"So I did," I replied with a smile before I closed my eyes and heard nothing else.

A/N: Final chapter completed! Now, I have a few options. I've been debating whether to re-write the story is Saito's POV, make an after story one shot, or just start a new story all together. All the feedback has been much appreciated and I'm sorry the fight scene was lame. I'm not very good at writing them.