Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan: Find Love in War (Hajime Saito)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Beliefs

After the Battle of the Ikeda Inn, the Shinsengumi return back to HQ.

Chizuru and the captains have a discussion in the common, but Haruka was no among them.

Hijikata look around and notice Haruka is not present. "Where's Mishima?" he asked.

"She's on patrol," Saito replied.

Kondou tense up with a worry expression on his face. "Wait, on her own?"

A look of disappointment appears on Okita's face. "Damn it; she could've told me."

Heisuke add, "But with your injuries, you probably get in the way."

"I guess," Okita said with a look of defeat.

Haruka went to a forest outside of town. Once she reaches the forest, she makes her way to a cliff where she buried Hikaru Shiba's ashes. There, standing in front of a grave that have the name Hikaru Shiba on it.

'Am I fighting on the right side? Am I fighting for the right reason? What am I supposed to prove? What am I fighting for exactly? Everything I've done... Take-chan, am I doing the right thing? Is this how you see my future?' Haruka thought, having second thought about her actions.

"Was it a mistake to leave his side?" Haruka asked Hikaru, but clearly, she was asking herself.

Haruka wanted someone to talk to about what to do. Should she stay with the humans? Should she return to her brother? She believes in the humans more than her own brother, but she wonder if it's the right choice since she might have to fight her own blood.

Haruka make her way back to town through the forest. In front of her view, she notices a person leaning on a tree. It was Chikage. Haruka stop on her track, leaving a few couple ft. of space between them.

"Chikage..." Haruka put up her guard. "What do you want?"

Chikage lean off the tree and walk up to Haruka. "Haruka, I do not wish to fight you."

Haruka relax. "I feel the same."

"Then why fight alongside the humans? They are weak and frail. They do not deserve your strength and your kindness."

"I fight alongside them because they're human."

"Are you still upset about 'that'?" Chikage asked about what he did to her friend. "He was a pest, a thorn in my side."

"He wasn't!" Haruka argued.

"Why do you still defend him even after his death?"

"I believe in him."

"Why? Do you not believe in me? I am your brother. We share the same blood. You are my comrade, my friend," Chikage said truthfully with no hint of lying.

"And I am supposed to abandon my beliefs and fight by your side?" Haruka said with disbelief.

"Exactly."

"You know nothing about humans. You're just an arrogant monster."

In a flash, Chikage grab Haruka's throat and slam her to a tree.

"Is that how you see me? An arrogant monster?"

Chikage notice the look in Haruka's eyes. She stands strong and shows no sign of fear, only pure confidence and flare.

"That look in your eyes, I like it."

Chikage's grip loosens; he let go of Haruka's throat and back away. Haruka lean on the tree for support and place a hand on her throat as she let out a few coughs, trying to catch her breath.

"I really want you by my side. To think you are another thorn in my side, my own sister." Chikage's eyes sadden. "It's a shame. He really has changed you."

Once Haruka catch her breath, she asked, "What are you going do now?"

Chikage smirked. "Nothing. I'll just wait it out." He walks away.

"What?" Haruka said as she stands up.

Once Chikage's presence disappears, Haruka returns to town. As Haruka walk around town, she was welcome by an angry Okita.

"Where were you?!" Okita asked angrily.

Haruka wasn't fazed by Okita's voice, but she did show confusion. "Why are you angry?"

"I look everywhere for you!"

"Oh, I went outside of town." Haruka place a hand on the back of her head and let out a nervous laugh.

Okita let out a long sigh, forgetting about his anger. "Seriously..." He was pretty worry.

Soon, night time comes. Everybody was already asleep, except for Haruka. Haruka sit outside her room, just staring into space. She couldn't sleep with so many things going on in her head. She let out a long sigh.

Kondou came around the corner and saw Haruka. He walks up to her, saying, "That's a long sigh."

Haruka look to the side and notice Kondou. "Kondou?"

"You look trouble," Kondou said, noticing the long look on Haruka's face.

"I do?" Haruka said like she didn't notice.

"Am I wrong?"

Haruka shake her head in reply.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"No."

Kondou sit down next to Haruka. After a few minutes of silence later, Haruka break the silence.

"Kondou, what should I do?" Haruka asked.

"About what?"

"My brother. He wants me by his side, but he's fighting for a different cause that might create chaos. I don't want to fight him."

"Haruka, if you're worrying about the future, don't."

Haruka look at Kondou with a surprise expression. "Kondou..."

Kondou smile softy. "Right now, we are doing what we can to keep the peace. If someone is trying to create chaos, we have to bring justice, even if someone we know is on the opposite side. We fight for what we believe."

Haruka look at Kondou with awe. Kondou really is an amazing leader of the Shinsengumi. "Thank you, Kondou," she said with a smile.

Haruka's smile made Kondou blush. 'Why am I blushing?' Kondou thought.

Haruka tilt her head in confusion. 'Did he just blush?' she thought.

A bead of sweat appears on Kondou's cheek. 'Oh no, she's cute!' he thought. At first, he thought Haruka was just a pretty boy, but since he found out that Haruka is a girl, his thought about her changes from a pretty boy to pretty girl. He clears his throat. "Well, that's all for tonight. We have important things to do in the morning." Kondou stand up from his seat.

"G'night, Kondou."

"G'night, Haruka."

With that said, Kondou head back to his room as Haruka head back to hers.