Chapter 4: Blood Lust
A/N Hi everyone! =) Here's the next chapter! Ah, it's the new year, happy new year everyone! I can't believe Hakuouki has ended by the way. Argh… I don't know about the rest of you, but I think the ending was way too abrupt for my liking. Plus, they did not even explain the other characters' deaths (if they really died at all), like Saitou and Shinpachi. Grr. Ah, regardless, this story is just gonna be about our dear Sanosuke and Shiranui! Hahas! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Hakuouki and is characters belong to Idea Factory! Only this story's plot belongs to me.
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Recap: "Why am I here?" Sanosuke asked, breaking the awkward silence.
Shiranui pondered on the question, he never did ask him for his permission to change him or to be bonded to him. At this point in time, if Sanosuke were to break the bond, it was still possible, and Kazama would be the one to have the last laugh. He wasn't going to allow that, Shiranui was a competitive man, make that demon. He loved laughing and he was going to be the one to have the last laugh.
"Where ever the master is at, the pet should be too, no?" Shiranui laughed.
The civil war that was plaguing all of Japan was starting to take its toll, not only on the humans but even on the demon population as well. The respective elders of each region had gone up to the main castle – barricading themselves inside as they discussed about the newest intelligence from their subordinates out in the human world.
The New Government had taken over most of the areas that were once occupied by the Shogunal forces. Time and again, the Shogunal forces were forced to retreat, although they were headed by Hijikata Toshizo, in order to minimize the death toll, they were eventually forced into Aizu to protect the Aizu government.
Sanosuke paced the room in irritation. It had been weeks, maybe even months since he was shut in here. It was finally taking its toll; dread, fear, loneliness, apprehension, it was getting too overwhelming. Sano had started rattling the door for someone's attention, he needed to get out of the cell, he needed to get some fresh air and see the world – the colours he remembered were starting to fade into nothingness, just like his cell. It was terrible.
Shiranui would come and visit once every three or four days, it seemed that the situation outside in the human world was getting really bad. Even the demons seemed busy.
"Is nobody out there?" Sano yelled as he banged on the door repeatedly.
His voice was hoarse from yelling for the past few days, the plate of food that had been delivered a few hours ago remained untouched. He just could not bring himself to eat, he was in a situation where he could not escape, and returning to the Shinsengumi was an even more far-fetched idea. He growled in irritation as his plea for his freedom went unheard. A red haze of anger clouded his mind as he cursed the demons for locking him up in a cell that was beginning to suffocate him.
He slammed his fist against the steel door once again and winced at his stupidity. Not only was he stuck in this cell that smelled like the outhouse, he had a very sore fist. He cursed out loud at nobody in particular and shut his eyes; he tried to remember the colours he used to see, the people he used to have fun with, the fun he used to have, everything other than the place and situation he was in now.
"SHIRANUI!" Sano roared in frustration and was surprised at how little echo he got back in the small enclosed cell of his.
It occurred like a streak of light, one moment he was glaring into the nothingness of his cell and the next, he opened his eyes and had to blink a couple of times to prove to himself that he was not seeing things. Shop-houses he was used to seeing in the past stood right before him. He remembered the shop that sold very delicious mochi, the same one he would often sneak off to everyday after his patrols.
"Kyo..to?" Sanosuke muttered as he took in his surroundings.
Sure, this was the town he had gotten used to, but it was slightly different from the one he walked through all those days ago. The weather had grown warmer; the sun was bigger than he remembered – the entire sky was bathed in fire-orange, giving Sanosuke the impression of the aftermath of a Gods' war. The air was thick with the smell of manure and gun-powder; but it seemed as though the townsfolk were all used to this smell. To Sanosuke, he felt that the smells invading his suddenly heighten sense of smell was irritating and somewhat nauseating.
He took his time to take in each familiar sight that surrounded him. The nostalgia. He never knew he would miss this place this much until it was taken away from him. He took a stride forward in the only direction that called out to him. He didn't know how long he had been gone, and wondered if any of them bothered looking for him.
The crowd parted quickly and willingly in front of him created a clear path in front of him and his destination – Sanosuke wondered why this was so, he self-consciously looked down to see if his clothing was the cause of this strange phenomenon; "Ahh, so this is why. But why the hell-" Sanosuke wondered to himself as he fingered the hem of the white robe that adorned his muscular frame. There were flecks of copper-stains around the v-neck line of the robe; Sanosuke felt a pang of guilt as he remembered dimly that he was the cause of those spots, but he was unable to remember how.
Frowning slightly, Sanosuke decided to put off thinking of the cause and started towards his destination once again, this time through the back roads and alleys. Having patrolled the alleys and back streets countless of times, Sanosuke could direct himself comfortably without the risk of being seen, he knew the shortcuts, the tunnels, the exact spots where he could enter and leave a building unseen. However, it has indeed been quite some time since the last time he walked through these paths; and boy had they changed.
Sanosuke had to take twice the time needed to get to the Headquarters of the Shinsengumi than what he used to take back before he was 'kidnapped'.
"What the fuck?" Sanosuke exclaimed loudly.
He ran to the main door to read the numerous notices plastered against the aged and battered wood.
Kondou Isami has been deemed traitor of the state. The Shinsengumi is now officially the enemy of the Emperor, the state and her people, anyone known to be affiliated to the traitors will be beheaded, and his/her head will be placed on stakes in the town center as Kondou Isami was.
Hijikata Toshizo, Sanan Keisuke, Souji Okita, Saitou Hajime, Harada Sanosuke, Nakagura Shinpachi, Todou Heisuke; Vice-commander, Colonel and Captains of the Shinsengumi are all wanted criminals. Anyone who is affiliated to these traitors of the state will be trialed and executed with the same charges; his/her head will be displaced on stakes in the town center as Kondou Isami, Commander of the Shinsengumi was. Anyone with any news or information on these enemies and traitors of the state, please inform the government officials or any patrolling soldiers.
This estate has now been revoked by the government. The previous tenants of this estate have been charged with the crime of high treason, and are traitors and the enemies of the state and her people.
"Kondou-san…" Sanosuke muttered in disbelief as he ran his fingers over the vandalized portrait of Kondou beheaded head.
He did not believe it. He did not want to believe it. He re-read the notices over and over again, trying to absorb the information. He felt his gut twist and bile rise in his throat. He could taste the bile on his tongue and he could feel the searing heat in the back of his eyes. What was this shit? What the fuck did they mean by the Shinsengumi were now traitors and enemies of the state? How could they have beheaded the kindest man - the one man whose only intent was towards the better of the country and to the Emperor? Next to the portrait of Kondou was the picture of Hijikata. It was vandalized all over with scrawls full of hatred, vulgarities and curses.
TRAITOR! Die faggot! Just like that faggot commander of yours, just die! Behead this scum! KILL ALL THE WOLVES! Wolves? More like leeches! KILL ALL THE TRAITORS! BEHEAD THEM! GUT THEM! Seppuku is too good for these traitorous scums.
Fury soared in him, and a cloud of red haze fell over his consciousness. He felt his heart pick up its pace; beating ever so loudly in his ears. He could feel his face heat up as blood rushed to his face and head. His hands curled up into tight fists, all his veins jutting out against his skin.
"ARGHHHHHH!" Sanosuke screamed.
His throat seared with pain as the intensity behind his scream burned his vocal cords. His right fist slammed itself into the wooden door without any hesitation; bones and wood shattered under the impact and specks of blood covered the white robe once again.
"KYOKUCHOU!" Sanosuke roared in pain as tears seeped out through his closed eye lids.
It was as though there was a boulder on his heart right now. It squished his heart right down into his gut, it was difficult to breathe, difficult to move, difficult to even think. All Sanosuke wanted to do now was to find the bastards who murdered his Commander and kill the bloody mother fucker.
It might have been imagination, but Sanosuke thought he saw parts of his hair turn white, but he was too preoccupied with the revenge he wanted to take to take any notice of his appearance. Another scream tore through his vocal cords as his warrior's instinct surged forward, his broken knuckles colliding with flesh and bone; his left hand grabbing the sword from the hip and swung it hard onto the shoulders. Blood danced and flew in sick imitation of rain. The red haze refused to go away as he tore through skin and muscle with his bare hands. The tears didn't seem to be stopping either.
It was all he could do. If only he hadn't been taken by that Shiranui bastard. He would have been able to protect his Taichou. He would have been able to protect the name and reputation of the Wolves of Mibu. All this happened because he was weak. He had been unable to defeat all those Rasetsu; he could not defeat that bastard Shiranui. He had not been there for Kondou when he was needed the most. He had failed his brothers, he had failed his commanders, he had failed himself.
The tears kept falling. The pain was melting away – "maybe it was all just a dream" thought Sanosuke, until searing pain tore him out of the red haze.
Shiranui?
The demon fired the pistol once more; the silver ball embedded itself into Sanosuke's shoulder. Sanosuke cried out in pain and collapsed onto the muddy ground. But it was not mud. Sanosuke gasped out loud as he smelled the copper scent, touched the sticky texture and saw the bodies.
Soldiers?
Sanosuke felt the bile rise up his throat and was out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He vomited whatever he had for dinner the previous night, and it was not much. Among the somewhat digested food was blood. And it was not his blood. Seeing that, Sanosuke felt his stomach retched once again, but it could not force anything out from the empty stomach. His throat burned from the acid and from all the screaming. He raised his eyes to the demon that was standing before him.
"Wh-what did I do?" Sanosuke choked.
He was used to seeing dead people, but he had never seen bodies this mutilated before. It looked as though some had their limps torn right out of its socket while they were still alive and kicking. Some looked like they had been hacked over and over again with a sword that had been dulled. Sanosuke looked back down to his hands; they were drenched in blood; skin, flesh and muscle still trailed off some fingers. His eyes widened in shock as his stomach retched once again.
"What? This is enough evidence for you?"Shiranui spat bitterly. "These bodies are practically screaming you!"
"I may be a killer, but I have never killed a squad this quick or this viciously before."
Squad?
Viciously?
"I-I killed," Sanosuke muttered in disbelief. "I-I mur-murdered all these men?"
Shiranui chuckled without humor. Using the tip of his boot, he kicked something towards Sanosuke. Looking up, Sanosuke saw the decapitated head of a soldier; he moaned and shut his eyes – that soldier, no that boy, he looked like he was only a year or two older than Chizuru. And he had been the monster to take the future away from such a kid.
"Kondou-san…"Sanosuke cried as he collapsed faced-first into the blood soaked dirt road. "I am so sorry I was not there to protect you. I am so sorry…"
He had not shed any tears after his mother's funeral - today was the first day he cried after ten years. He tried to stop the tears, but each time he tried, the image of his beheaded Commander's face would appear in his head, and the tears would just keep flowing. Kondou's dream for his country and his Emperor, his Shinsegumi – everything was taken away from him. And it was because of Sanosuke.
"Kill me please…" Sanosuke begged.
Shiranui was the only hope he had now.
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A/N
Hello everyone! As you can see, haha I started this chapter at the beginning of the year! Alas, I only had the motivation to finish this chapter now! Hahas, don't kill me. I hope you liked this chapter, when I was writing this, I was really down.
I had a discussion with my Japanese colleague and she mentioned that she hated the Shinsengumi. I am an avid fan of the Shinsengumi, I admire the Shinsengumi to the heavens! Hahas, and to think Kondou-san had to be beheaded for being loyal to his country and Emperor? I get so pissed.. :( Hahas okays enough with my preaching!
I am not too sure when the next chapter will be out, but just add this story on the New Chapter Alert thingy, and if and when I do post a new chapter, you'll be informed of it right away! Hahas :D
Cheerios!
-Edit 2-
I sincerely apologize for the mistakes from the first updated chapter! Ahh, I was on a rampage after getting new ideas, and I totally messed up. Sorry! I really need to thank the reviewers for pointing out my mistakes! So to cassowary and to The Plot Thief, thank you guys for pointing out the errors in my writing! I will be more careful in the future chapters! :D Please continue to support this story and do not hesitate to tell me anymore of my mistakes!
Thank you guys once again!