Disclaimer: I do not own Hakuouki, only my OC.

(June, first year of the Genji Era, 1864)

"By the orders of the Aizu Clan, the Shinsengumi. With this proclamation, we shall restore order here!" Kondou barked, multiple enemies gather at the top of the stairs with weapons in hand. "If you resist, you'll be killed without mercy!" With that, the men at the top of the steps let out war cries and ran down to engage them in battle. "Die!" Kondou yelled, unsheathing his blade and making the others charge as well. Yuki sighed as she slowly unsheathed her own blade after the others had started slashing through the enemies. She casually lifted her blade and with an easy downward swing dispatched a man that had charged at her shouting.

"Nothing but garbage to sully my blade with," Yuki muttered in disgust after slaying another two men and slashing her sword down to clean off the blood.

"Now, now, that's a rather mean thing to say, isn't it Yuki-san?" Shinpachi said with a smile as he dodged the swipes of an enemy and easily swung his own blade down one handed, cutting the enemies sword in half and killing him with a slice to his head. Yuki only scoffed as she ducked under another attempt at her life and sliced the man's stomach open, twirling around a second enemy and stabbing him clean through, jerking her blade out of him as she came back to back with both Shinpachi and Okita.

"Announcing our entrance so loudly on purpose...that seems typical of Kondou-san doesn't it?" Okita said in amusement, a strained smile on his face as he kept his eyes on the enemies surrounding them.

"That's fine isn't it?" Shinpachi replied with a grin. "Openly announcing ourselves is an established tactic for a raid!" Yuki scoffed again as Shinpachi charged.

"Barging into a disadvantageous situation is a tactic, huh?" Heisuke questioned as he pushed back against an enemy sword, using the momentum to slash downward and end his adversary's life.

"It makes you wonder at the intelligence of the ones who created them, doesn't it?" Yuki asked calmly as she slipped between three men and sliced their throats open before they even knew what happened.

"You're pretty vicious, aren't you, Yuki-kun?" Okita questioned as he saw her mercilessly dispatch another two that were foolish enough to attack her.

"I don't like expending my valuable time and effort on those that are below me," Yuki replied, sidestepping a jab and slicing open the man's side.

"Harsh," Heisuke called as he ended another man.

"Korya!" Shinpachi shouted as he threw a man back with his sword, making the man fly and land in the other room, taking the sliding doors down with him. He ran off to engage more, a grin on his face and his clothes splattered with blood. Kondou's clothes soon joined in the same conditions when he took out four men that had surrounded him, shouting as he split open the last man fiercely. Yuki continued looking around her impassively at the massive loss of life happening around her, doing her fair share of contribution as she walked around unimpeded, cutting aside anyone who stood in her way.

Yuki moved to follow Okita and Heisuke up the stairs when she saw them attempting to work their way up, knowing her presence would be needed to keep her fellow oni from doing any serious damage.

"There are just three enemies! Don't back down!" A foolish man called from the top of the stairs. "Kill them! Kill them!"

"The battle was in our favor for a moment, but it's gone now," Okita commented.

"We could probably clean up this mess before Hijikata-san arrives," Heisuke replied with a confident smirk. He cried out as he charged and sliced down the first enemy in his past, laughing a little until Okita ran past him.

"I'm going ahead," he said happily.

"That's dirty!" Heisuke cried as he ran to follow. Yuki followed at a slower pace, strolling up the steps as if it were her own home and knocking aside anyone in her way, making them fall over the railings, not even bothering to kill some of them. She wasn't looking forward to her confrontation with her first oni besides Chizuru. She never told her charge of what they were and didn't plan to, letting the discovery come out on its own, but that would not stop Kazama from discovering her identity as both an oni and a woman when she came to Okita and Heisuke's rescue. It was a talent, she believed, that some oni possessed to be able to recognize one of their own. Chizuru had obviously not developed the skill or perhaps did not recognize it. That wasn't important right now, however.

Yuki walked past the corpses left in Okita and Heisuke's wake, gliding along, not a drop of blood anywhere on her person. She would never allow such filth to touch her. She stopped behind the partially opened sliding doors, her back to them as she silently listened in on the confrontation between Okita, Heisuke, Kazama, and Kyuujyu. She casually sidestepped when Heisuke was thrown out of the room and into the hall, the sliding door that Yuki had just been behind beneath him. Heisuke glared at Kyuujyu harshly before he spotted Yuki's feet and progressively looked up until he was looking at her bored expression.

"Yuki-san!" Heisuke called in surprise. Yuki nodded minutely in acknowledgement and blatantly showed that she wasn't going to intervene by continuing to stand there casually. Heisuke grit his teeth and stood, brandishing his sword in front of him and addressing the man that had thrown him aside so easily. "Are you a monster?" Yuki smiled at how close to the truth he was.

"Stop it," Kyuujyu called in that extremely deep voice, raising a hand. "I don't have any reason to fight with you," he stated seriously.

"What did you say?" Heisuke asked.

"If you back down, I won't take your life unnecessarily," Kyuujyu continued. Heisuke only smirked.

"Unfortunately, we do have a reason. We can't let the Choushu people escape!" Heisuke shouted, charging swiftly, only for Kyuujyu to grab his blade and stop it with no effort. Kyuujyu only closed his eyes.

"You are making a mistake if you think I'm with Choushu," he replied. Yuki's eyes sharpened when Kyuujyu smacked Heisuke back and prepared to punch him. She disappeared from where she was standing, materializing in front of Heisuke protectively and blocking the oni's punch to her face with both her hands, grunting a little at the effort it took as she slid back slightly before stopping completely, Heisuke falling to the ground behind her, all in the same moment. Yuki shortly lamented revealing herself as an oni so obviously, but she hoped that Heisuke was distracted enough that they didn't notice the supernatural skill.

"I apologize, but I cannot allow you to harm my companion too harshly," Yuki stated in a cool, calm voice. Kyuujyu's eyes widened at her appearance, obviously surprised to see an oni on their side.

"I did not realize that they had an-"

"Hey! Yuki-san! Why'd you interfere?!" Heisuke shouted as he stood up, both Yuki and Kyuujyu straightening and looking at each other impassively. Yuki sighed and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Please excuse me," Yuki murmured, making the man in front of her nod as she turned and swiftly knocked Heisuke out with a quick, harmless, jab to his neck. She caught him as he fell and placed him gently on the floor. She turned back to Kyuujyu, completely composed.

"I thank you for your assistance," Kyuujyu said, bowing slightly. Yuki's eyes sharpened at them.

"Do not mistake my actions for assistance. My only aim to coming here today was to make sure that none in Shinsengumi were severely wounded," Yuki stated sharply. "Should you have shown more hostility, I would not have stopped at simply blocking your attack," she finished in a cold voice. Kyuujyu only nodded in compliance.

"Still I thank you," he replied easily before turning to leave out the open window. Yuki only frowned in consternation at the honest oni and went to check up on Okita next, though she loathed having to show herself to Kazama. She didn't want to know how he would act to finding another pure-blooded oni woman. Hopefully her lack of being in a prestigious clan will stop him from becoming interested in her. Yuki quickly walked tot he next room and slid the door open harshly when she heard Okita coughing violently, knowing that Kazama must have already kicked him in the abdomen.

"Arrogance," Yuki commented in disgust, sneering at Kazama. The oni frowned at her appearance, his brows furrowing as he stared, obviously having gotten the first sense that she wasn't another human.

"What?" He questioned rudely.

"Lording over your power on a weaker opponent. What else can it be called but arrogance?" Yuki replied, hearing the renewed fighting downstairs that announced the rest of Shinsengumi had arrived. She wished she was outside watching Hijikata chew out the Akita clan rather than in here revealing herself to Kazama. Kazama only scoffed and smirked at her as Okita slowly got up again.

"Who are you to insult me so?" Kazama questioned smirk still in place as he turned to face her. Yuki's jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists as she knew that Chizuru had or was soon going to barge into the battlefield and endanger herself.

"Stay out of this, Yuki!" Okita yelled, regaining Kazama's interest and making him grin at the man. She watched the battle with a frown, not wanting to be there, but feeling obligated to make sure Okita didn't get himself killed or that Kazama would do something stupid. The two clashed together again for a few more minutes before separating and pointing their swords at each other, the blade tips only inches apart, though while Okita was crouching and panting heavily, Kazama was standing perfectly straight, not a hair out of place and smirking at his opponent in a superior fashion.

This was the scene that Chizuru walked into, urgently sliding the doors open and staring at the confrontation in shock. Okita charged again not a second later, Kazama side stepping the attack with ease and swinging down his blade at the man with both hands, his smirk never leaving his face as he managed to slice Okita a bit even when the man dodged most of the fatal blow.

"Okita-san!" Chizuru cried out. Kazama's smirking expression turned to a distracted one as his eyes moved to the new person in the room. Okita used the opportunity to charge, but Kazama only raised his blade, hilt up and blocked the tip of Okita's blade with the center of his own, not even budging as he straightened, smirk firmly back in place.

"Is that all you have?" He questioned softly, shifting and shoving him away in the blink of an eye, making Okita fall to his knee and grab his chest in pain. Chizuru rushed to his side.

"Okita-san!" She cried again in worry. "You're bleeding," she breathed in concern.

"Are you two his comrades?" Kazama questioned both Chizuru and Yuki. Yuki leapt in front of Chizuru and Okita protectively, her blade drawn in less than a second as she slapped away the other oni's blade before it could point threateningly at her charge. His eyes widened at the action before he smirked in amusement. "Ho~, if you two plan to interfere, I'll kill you too." Yuki scoffed at Kazama, making him frown at her.

"Killing a defenseless child and an injured man. You're certainly overflowing with honor, aren't you?" Yuki drawled sarcastically, Kazama glaring and frowning at her more prominently as he raised his blade to point at her throat.

"Who are you, woman?" Kazama questioned harshly.

"Woman?" Okita repeated roughly in confusion.

"Stay out of this Okita!" Yuki barked at him, repeating what he had shouted at her before. "He is not an opponent you can hope to defeat," Yuki finished more calmly as she let her glacier gaze rest back on Kazama.

"And you believe that you can? How foolish," the other oni replied. Yuki's only response was to glare fiercely at him.

"I will do whatever it takes to end your life before you can lay harm upon Chizuru-sama or those she cares about," Yuki answered with a cold, steely determination. Kazama's lips quirked into an amused smile as he closed his eyes and put away his sword.

"What are you planning?" Okita questioned as he stood shakily, Chizuru assisting him, though he seemed to take a more defensive position in front of her, as if to protect her.

"My task ended when you broke in here," Kazama replied blandly before he turned to leave through the window like his companion.

"Wait!" Okita shouted, lurching forward to try and stop him before Yuki sighed and knocked him out like she did Heisuke.

"Okita-san!" Chizuru cried in surprise as Yuki caught him and lay him on the floor. Yuki looked to Kazama impassively as he watched the scene, his amused smirk growing before he leapt out the window to leave. Yuki frowned as she sheathed her blade, Chizuru on her knees, fussing over the unconscious Okita.

The expulsion of radical ronins that were at Ikeda's house resulted in about twenty four of them dead. The Shinsengumi arrested three more and injured four. Considering how they barged into the middle of enemy forces, outnumbered, it's easy to say that the Shinsengumi achieved remarkable results, especially since the Shinsengumi's loss was minimal. None of their warriors died and only one was heavily wounded. However, Yuki was unable to prevent Okita from being battered around by Kazama, mostly because of his own stubborn pride, so Yuki didn't feel bad for failing, especially as she had saved Heisuke from the same pain by knocking him out and doing the same to Okita when he was about to make his wounds worse by moving around so much.

"Yuki-kun," Okita called, making Yuki pause as she was walking down the hall. "Or should I say Yuki-chan?" He questioned as he walked up. Yuki's expression turned from impassive to a sub zero mask of anger, her blade suddenly finding itself at Okita's throat.

"Repeat that again and I'll make sure that others start calling you Okita-chan," Yuki whispered darkly, indirectly threatening to cut off his manhood. Okita only gave a nervous laugh, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Oya, oya, you really need to learn how to take a joke, Yuki-kun. I only came to confirm if what that man said was true," he stated, though Yuki had yet to lower or even remove her sword from his throat.

"And what would you do if it was true?" Yuki questioned, confirming it and making Okita's eyes glimmer with shock, though he didn't let it show.

"Nothing. I would only be curious as to your reasons for keeping it a secret and if anyone else knows," Okita replied easily, a smirk on his face. Yuki retracted her blade and sheathed it easily as she turned away from him in the same motion.

"My reasons are none of your concern," Yuki answered, not wanting to confess her worse fears to anyone but Hijikata, and even then it was mostly involuntary, "but it should be obvious that Chizuru-sama knows. Hijikata as well discovered my secret early. The same day as Chizuru I believe, but kept it a secret for my sake," Yuki replied as she walked away, not bothering to excuse herself or say goodbye.

"Hmm, so Hijikata knew the whole time. How interesting," Okita murmured with an amused smirk.

"Yuki," the woman looked up from watching the scenery to Hijikata in mild surprise.

"Hijikata, was there something you wanted?" She asked as she stood from her resting place gracefully to face him properly. He nodded, his eyes softening as he addressed her, much to her surprise.

"I wanted to thank you for your help during our raid. You did not have to volunteer yourself as you did and I heard that you were a large part of why the Shinsengumi suffered little casualties. It seems the number of enemies you and the three men you managed to move to Kondou-san's group made the difference," Hijikata stated gratefully. Yuki flushed at the unexpected thanks and praise, shuffling slightly in place.

"A-ah, you don't need to thank me for that. It was my choice to help... I'm sure Chizuru-sama did more by delivering the message. It was thanks to her that the Shinsengumi were able to take full credit, right?" Yuki asked, trying to divert the attention away from her own accomplishments. Hijikata nodded once.

"That's true. It seems both of you have become rather helpful to us in this situation," Hijikata replied, smiling slightly and making Yuki's cheeks flush ever so slightly.

"Well, this is certainly a change in attitude," Yuki murmured as she looked away shyly.

"What do you mean?" Hijikata questioned curiously. Yuki peaked up at him from under her eyelashes.

"Before you seemed against me going with Kondou-san at all, even though I could only be an asset to his team," Yuki reminded. Hijikata's eyes widened and he looked away, clearing his throat in embarrassment.

"That's because...you and Chizuru are my responsibility. It's only obvious that I wouldn't want to put either of you on the path of danger," he answered gruffly, his brows furrowing and his posture stiff. Yuki's eyes widened as she realized what Hijikata wasn't saying, stepping closer and making him stiffen further.

"Were you...worried about me, Hijikata?" Yuki asked, partially teasing and partially in disbelief, secretly hopeful. Hijikata's eyes widened almost imperceptibly before he closed them, his cheeks flushing just the tiniest bit and a stern expression on his face.

"Yes, well, that's all I wanted to say," Hijikata avoided answering as he turned on his heel and swiftly walked away. Yuki grinned and trotted after him.

"Wait, Hijikata! You still haven't answered my question!" Yuki called after him teasingly as she rushed to join his side, feeling lighter than she had in a very long time.

"Here is your medicine," Chizuru said as she placed the small packet and cup of water in front of San'nan.

"Oya, do I have to drink it too?" He asked her curiously. "The wound on my left arm has closed."

"But Hijikata-san said to send it to you, San'nan-san," Chizuru replied. San'nan turned to look at the aforementioned man, noting his steel gaze and moving to Okita when he spoke.

"San'nan-san give it up," Okita recommended as he downed his own medicine. San'nan only observed for a moment before closing his eyes with a smile and reaching to his own medicine.

"If you say it's the vice-captain's orders," San'nan said simply.

"Is this medicine specially prepared?" Chizuru asked as she stared at the small packets.

"Ishida's powdered medicine?" Sanosuke questioned before downing his drink. "Well, it is indeed special," he replied after finishing, San'nan finishing his own water around the same time.

"Ishida's powdered medicine?" Chizuru parroted. Hijikata closed his eyes as Okita glanced at him from the corner of his eyes.

"They make it at Hijikata-san's house," Okita stated with a smile.

"Yes!" Heisuke stated with a smirk as he raised his hands behind his head. "No matter what cuts, bruises, or pain you have, Ishida's powdered medicine will fix you up right away!" he announced with exaggerated motions. "Drink and you'll believe!" He exclaimed, raising the packet to his lips. "I don't know whether it's true, though..." he muttered as he downed it, stopping midway as he cringed in disgust. "Guah! It's awful." Hijikata's eyes snapped open as he glared fiercely at Heisuke, raising a strong, glowing fist.

"Should we try it out?" Hijikata questioned menacingly. Heisuke immediately recoiled.

"NO! G-give me a break!" He turned away, rubbing a hand in his hair. "It's not funny if I get anymore wounds," he muttered. Yuki laughed silently into her scarf as a few laughed more openly.

"Nevertheless it's unbelievable that Okita-san could be given such wounds. It seems that Toudou-kun would be in the same situation if Hibari-san did not intervene," Inoue stated seriously. Yuki remained silent and calm at the sudden scrutiny she was gaining from the others, her eyes closed and expression passive.

"The next time we meet, I shall be the one to win," Okita stated stubbornly. Yuki decided not to burst his bubble.

"They said they weren't from Choushu," Saitou added.

"Yeah," Heisuke confirmed.

"But, that day they should have been fleeing some people from Ikeda," Saitou finished.

"Which means," Shinpachi said thoughtfully, raising a hand to his chin.

"They could be spies from another group who had infiltrated for some purpose," Saitou concluded for the man.

"What purpose could that be?" Sanosuke questioned. Saitou only shook his head in response.

Yuki waited at the corner for Hijikata to pass by, having heard his short interaction with Chizuru. "Rewarding her by letting her attend the festival?" Yuki questioned, making his brows furrow in frustration as he slid past her, his eyes tightly shut.

"Must you always attempt to decipher my actions?" Hijikata retorted bitingly as Yuki fell into step next to him.

"No, but I admit to finding it enjoyable," Yuki teased. Hijikata just gave a long suffering sigh and relaxed a little, stopping to face her a little.

"I'm sorry you can't go with her," Hijikata suddenly apologized, startling her. Yuki laughed in amusement, though it sounded almost forced.

"Oh come on, Hijikata. You don't need to apologize. I know that Chizuru-sama is safe with Sano-san and Shinpachi-san. Besides, I've never been a fan of large crowds," Yuki replied easily with a false smile. "Well, I should probably go back to my room for a nap, especially if Chizuru won't come back until late," Yuki excused herself, giving Hijikata a small wave before departing, not noticing the prominent frown on the man's face.

Yuki sat up quickly, startled awake by a sharp rapping on the door. She got up blearily, her hair cascading over her shoulders and down her back like water as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, going to slide open the door.

"What is it?" She questioned softly, too distracted to realize that she was in her sleepwear and had not used her male voice.

"Come with me," the sudden, serious statement snapped Yuki immediately out of her daze as she stared wide eyed into Hijikata's sharp eyes.

"W-what?" Yuki asked, completely confused by Hijikata's sudden appearance and statement. Hijikata's brows furrowed as he didn't repeat himself, simply taking one of her hands in his and taking her with him, wherever he was going. "H-Hijikata?!" Yuki stammered, a flush painting her cheeks as Hijikata swiftly walked through the halls until he finally arrived at whatever destination he was heading for. Yuki was confused as they were still outside, but hadn't left the halls, instead simply looking out to the area by the well. Yuki's breath caught, however, when she spotted the group of fireflies gliding around the air, their lights flickering and glowing like small yellow stars in the night.

"It's beautiful," Yuki murmured in awe, unable to take her eyes off of it.

"To make up for being unable to see the Yamaboko, though I know this is insufficient," Hijikata murmured softly. Yuki looked up at him in surprise, looking away when she saw he was pointedly keeping his gaze forward, unable to look at her. She smiled warmly at the beautiful sight before her.

"This is more than enough to make up for it," Yuki answered, surprising Hijikata with her sincerity and making him look at her. She turned to direct her warm, joyful smile at him now that she knew he was looking. "Thank you, Hijikata," Yuki whispered gratefully, making Hijikata's eyes widen before his eyes softened and he allowed himself to smile in return.

(July, First Year of the Genji Era, 1864)

"We got a formal claim from the Aizu clan," Kondou announced. "In order to gain total control of the Choushu, we will be heading to the front." There were murmurs of amazement among those gathered.

"That's great!" Sanosuke said happily. Kondou shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in joy.

"The Aizu clan is acknowledging our work," he said gruffly.

"Alright!" Heisuke exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. "This'll be the Shinsengumi's gala!" Shinpachi grinned and pointed at him.

"What are you saying, Heisuke?" He questioned. "You may have recovered from your wounds, but you still need to rest so you're staying behind," Shinpachi taunted.

"Eh?!" Heisuke responded in an exaggerated fashion. "It can't be!"

"Yes, the injured ones have to stay home," Okita mocked, his arms crossed and one eye open to look down at Heisuke.

"That includes you too, Okita-kun," San'nan drawled. "And although I am not happy about it, I too am included." Heisuke and Okita both gave disappointed sighs in unison, making Yuki and Chizuru smile, though Yuki's was hidden behind her scarf.

"Yukimura-kun, Hibari-kun," Kondou addressed them, "could you go with them?" He requested, surprising Chizuru.

"Chizuru? Yuki I get, but Chizuru?" Heisuke repeated in surprise.

"I'm not saying that you should fight," Kondou said, addressing solely Chizuru. "We need all the personnel we have, for messages and to care for the injured." He explained before turning to Yuki next. "And it'd be a great help if you could again help us by fighting by our side, Hibari-kun, especially with Souji, Toudou, and the captain unable to join them."

"I won't force you," Hijikata added suddenly. "Decide on your own if you will go." Yuki nodded sharply.

"I understand. I will help however I can," Yuki replied without hesitation, making the assembled group all smile happily before they turned to look at the uncertain Chizuru.

"I..." she turned to look at the group, all giving her small, encouraging smiles. Chizuru seemed to decide and smile at them in determination. "If I can be of service, I will go," she answered in a strong voice. Kondou nodded in approval, Hijikata giving a small smile to the two.

"Chizuru! Yuki-san! Work hard on our behalf!" Heisuke encouraged.

"Of course," Yuki replied casually, her eyes closed.

"Un! I'll work hard!" Chizuru replied enthusiastically, mimicking Heisuke's action.

"You are not going to play," San'nan cut in sharply. "Do try to refrain from being a hindrance to anyone." Her enthusiasm killed, Chizuru looked uncertainly at her lap.

"Y-yes," she replied more timidly.

"Yosha!" Shinpachi got to his feet eagerly. "Let's go for them!" He exclaimed, raising a fist.

"Yeah!" The other men rallied and chorused.

(July, first year of the Genji Era, 1864)

"We, the Shinsengumi, will depart with the orders of protecting Kyoto!" Kondou barked, raising a fist. Men did that a lot didn't they? The crowd roared, spurred by the words. The flag was raised as they began their march out of their base.

This was the beginning of what was later known as 'The Forbidden Gates Incident,' a fierce fight that would involve the center of the capital.

AN: Another chapter done. Some nice little scenes between Yuki and Hijikata to replace the Chizuru-centric ones. Thanks for reading, hope you liked it. Reviews are very much appreciated.