Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 34

~~3rd POV~~

She had left, disappeared that night with her fans and sword. She was dressed and ready. She left behind a note saying she had left to train but really, she wanted to talk to Amagiri.

"You've died many times but you were able to come back. Why are you worried now if you'll come back?" He asks as she sat at the window blankly. They were looking out to the city. He had made tea but she didn't touch it. She just kept looking out.

"I will be under his full control, nothing but a shell of my former self. I don't want to hurt anyone but... I'll have no choice. Death is the only way and I already know he knows how to kill me. It is unavoidable." There was no sadness or pain, just acceptance which confused him. He saw many obvious solutions yet all she saw was death.

"You could run, with your clan you can-"

"I can't leave the Shinsengumi. When I leave Takeo will kill them or worse, break them."

"Your clan could protect you. You doubt the Tatsumaru blood."

"Takeo has been drinking it for years. He is faster and stronger. He can sneak past everyone and even myself. He was able to shove salt in my mouth without waking me, able to make me lose control with a few words. No, no one can protect me."

"Stop him before he can control you. You lack the mental control that is necessary for demons, making you vulnerable. Mental mindset is key to our strengths. Which is why Tatsumaru eyes can vary in color."

"My mental mindset vanished in my early years. Stopping him is harder than you'd think. I know my outlooks are pessimistic but you have to recognize them. I am not giving up, just preparing. I will fight, do not doubt it. I will try my hardest to kill, I have every reason to. I will not give in, I have to protect them. Just because I see death in my future does not mean I'll slow them to get hurt, or let myself be taken away. I am preparing them for the worse because whatever he decides to do when the time comes, I will still have to protect them. I will still have a job to do, and I'll finish it at whatever cost. Even my life."

He's quiet, until he decides to ask. "Why is it that you desire to protect those humans over the obligation of making sure your clan survives? You always want to protect them but don't you think you've protected them for long enough? You have distorted their views and expectations of life and battles with your constant help. You protect them yet leave them vulnerable." The corner of her mouth twitches.

"I protect what deserves to be protected. The furies was what started it all and with time they have become family. I will protect them to my vary last minuets and seconds, I will and don't doubt it. You say I've distorted their outlooks but you don't realize that I don't interfere as much as it seems. I let them get into fights, I let them lose. They still do missions and I just keep them alive. Besides that all I do is watch and watch and let them save each other. I can say honestly that they've improved greatly. It's been fun to watch. After all I am still an informant, observing is my specialty." And for the first time in days, she grins. It was an odd yet warming sight to him, letting him know she was not truly lost.

"And if you die?" He asks but her grin does not falter, it doesn't sadden. Instead it gets wider.

"Than I will die. I do not fear it anymore. But... for you and, if you want, Kazama, here's a map to where my old manor is. You deserve to retrieve Ryou's things. Any information you might want that I have as an informant, I have documented and stored in his room. It's organized although extensive. You can have it weather I live or die."

"I do not believe I deserve it." He says, he didn't expect anything from her.

"You don't. You've done nothing for me, and all attempts to have failed. But out of respect for Ryou I will give it to you. I just ask you of one thing."