The sound of guns echoed. Shouts can be heard. The running of feet. Then everything goes black and that is when Chizuru wakes up with a start sitting straight up. Flashes of the battle from a few days ago whirl through her mind. Toshizo telling her to run. The red eyes that followed her. The guns. The screams. She didn't know where she was going, all she knew was that she ran. To keep her promise to stay alive to him.

"You're awake I see."

Turning her head with a jerk at the sudden voice she found herself looking into the soft eyes of a Sekihoutai! They fought against the Shogunate in favor of the new government! 'How did I end up with him? I wonder, does he know that I stay with the Shinsengumi?' "Where am I?"

Souzou smiled at her as he walked further into the room and knelt beside her. "You are with the Sekihoutai army in Iga. You have been with us for a week now. We were starting to get worried about you."

"Why?"

"You have been going in and out of consciousness for the last week."

Turning to look down at her lap she sighed. "Really? What happened to me?"

"As best as we can tell you hit your head falling somehow. Why were you out there? Surely you knew what was going on? It isn't safe for a woman to be out in the middle of a battle field."

By that one question Chizuru knew that he must not have known that she was out there because she intended to fight against him with the Shinsengumi. And figured that would be best not to tell him that. If he knew that she had ties to them Lord knew what would happen to her. She let tears fall as she thought of them all. Toshizo, Isami, Heisuke, Sanosuke and everyone else.

She hugged herself as she sighed. "I guess it didn't work. My father had me dress like a boy in hopes it would fool some. We were making our to Osaka. We didn't know what was going on really until we were in the middle of it. I don't know what happened to him." Tears rolling down her face.

Souzou felt for her. "If you would like, we are not that far from the battle field. If you would like I will take you back so you can see if he is there looking for you."

Her eyes went wide as she looked up at him. He seemed nice, but right now he didn't know she was connected to his enemy. "You would?"

"Of course." Then Souzou stood up and held his hand out to her. "Come. What is your name by the way?"

Taking his hand she half smiled. "I am Chizuru. Chizuru Yukimura." Then her eyes went wide when she realized that she said her real last name. 'Please don't connect it.'

"Well Miss Yukimura. Come, lets see if we can reunite you with your father." Then he pulled her to his feet and headed out the door. Just as he closed it behind them he turned a smile as Sanosuke and Katsu came running up to him. "Hello boys."

Both boys had bright smiles for him as the looked up at him. It was Sanosuke who spoke. "Is she alright then Captain?"

"Yes. She was separated from her father as they tried to get out of the way. We are going back to see if her father is there looking for her."

Making small fists Katsu looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Can we go and help find him with you two? Please?"

"Yeah Captain please?" Sanosuke looking just as eager as Katsu.

Laughing Souzou nodded his head and watched as they both raced toward the door. Looking down at Chizuru as they headed for the door at a much slower pace he smiled. "They were traveling together and half starved when we came across them. Sanosuke and Katsu. For some reason they have idolized me."

Smiling as she saw the children waiting eagerly for them she looked back up at him. "They called you Captain?"

"I am Captain of the 1st division of the Sekihoutai, Souzou Sagara. But you can just call me Souzou. You don't have to call me anything else deal?"

"But…"

"You can repay me for helping you find your father but not being so formal with me. How does that sound?"

With a nervous smile she gave him a nod. "Alright Souzou." Then they headed back out of Iga and toward the battle field. She knew that she was not going to find her father there. But she wanted to see if any of the fallen Shinsengumi were those that she cared most about. 'I hope not.'

X

Pacing just inside the gate of the headquarters Toshizo and Isami waited for all the units to come back. After the battle was over, several members went back to try and find Chizuru but nothing was found. Not even a body. That alone was what gave them hope that she was still alive. But now it was worry about where she was and with who.

Toshizo was worried that Chikage had gotten her. Isami was worried that the Sekihoutai figured out who she was and they had her as a hostage. Either way it went they needed to know the truth about where she was and if she was alright.

"Toshi."

Turning along with Isami, Toshizo turned to see Keisuke standing there. "Any luck?"

Sighing as he shook his head. "Sorry Toshi. Nothing in my district."

"Or mine." Shinpachi glared at nothing as he came to a stop next to the others. "I don't know it is like she just vanished into thin air."

Stomping his feet as he turned and stormed away from them all Toshizo glared at nothing. "I don't care what it takes we have to find her. We gave her our word that we would protect her until we found her father. And the Shinsengumi doesn't go back on it's word!"