𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐢 [ON HOLD]

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟏𝟐

it had been around two days since keiko left with kazama, leaving behind the shinsegumi and her friends. she didn't know if she'd ever see them again and while it pained her, she knew it meant that chizuru would be safe.

the demons had taken over a house deep in the forests, still in kyoto but far from the shinsengumi. it was hidden so if they ever went looking for her she wouldn't be found.

she doubted they'd look for her. the shinsegumi understood pride and the strength of fulfilling a promise or deal. they would undoubtedly want to get her back but knew that in doing so, they'd put chizuru in harm and go against keiko's decision.

the shoji to keiko's room slid open and kazama entered with a neutral face.

"keiko, food has been made."

he left as soon as saying that and keiko joined him at the table full of food. it was all of her favourite food and was like he was attempting to impress or bribe her.

"where's shiranui and amagiri?" she asked, noticing they weren't joining them for dinner.

"doing some errands for me." he replied, a smirk on his face that he didn't even try to hide. 

keiko stood up, abruptly, and slammed her hands on the table. "they're going after chizuru, aren't they?!"

"maybe."

"i made a deal that she'll be safe if i go with you!"

"sit down." he said, a hand on his forehead.

"you scum!" she yelled and he stood up towering over her.

"that was my only way of bringing you back. i still need chizuru. it is too late for you to turn back now besides i've set a date for us to marry."

"you..." she trailed off, sitting down.

"in a month we will marry." he sat back down and continued eating.

"can i go to my room?" he nodded and she left to go to her room down the corridor, but instead took a wrong turn down another corridor towards kazama's room. she had been in there before and knew that there was a window in there.

she tried climbing out, but a hand tightened around her neck making her freeze.

"you're joking." kazama spoke, letting go so she could turn around and face his pissed off face. she glared at him then left the room and went back to hers where she'd drown in the fact that for once, she failed to escape.

❀

a month had passed quicker than expected. back at the shinsegumi, heisuke and saito had returned, not unharmed. heisuke had been hurt fatally and when he woke after realising he had been on the brink of death, he drank the water of life, healing himself.

after healing he went to look for keiko first, only to be told what had happened a month ago. he was furious that no one stopped her and had tried sneaking away to go find her. however, he was always stopped.

for keiko, she was dreading each day. tomorrow would be the day she'd get married and a plan was in motion to escape. she doubted herself and thought she'd fail. her mind was also stuck on heisuke and if he was doing okay since that night when he was hurt.

"suzuki." amagiri knocked on her shoji and used her surname.

"what is it, amagiri?" she didn't let him enter and replied harshly. he had been the one to harm heisuke and she was pissed at him. furious.

since she had joined the oni's all she felt was rage, grief and stress. three things that tested her ability to stay looking as a human and not change into her kitsune form. it felt as though at times they were doing it on purpose.