#code of love

Ai sat up and yawned.

“I wouldn’t move too much if I were you. You should rest.”

The two men Ai didn’t know were watching over her when she opened her eyes. With another yawn she stretched her arms high above her head.

“Why is that?” she asked nonchalantly.

“You must be sore from last night.”

“Not really.” Ai gave the man in front of her a once-over. “How’s your back?” I asked.

The man’s eyes widened. “It’s not that bad. Don’t worry about it,” he replied.

“Okay. So, who are you?” I asked.

The men looked at each other. “Should we tell her?”

“She already knows about Takasugi. And she’s technically helping us. What difference would it make?”

“Yeah, what the hell? I’m Genzui Kusaka.”

“And I’m Toshimaro Yoshida. We’re Choshu retainers, just like Takasugi.” They introduced themselves and Ai nodded.

“I’m Ai. So, why exactly would three ronin be running a restaurant?”

“You think walking around swinging swords puts food on the table? Gotta make money somehow,” Yoshida explained.

“I guess.” Ai shrugged.

“Besides, it beats hanging around with nothing to do. Running a restaurant is fun, you know,” Kusaka added.

“Is it?” Ai eyed the two of them up and down, her head tilted to the side.

“You should quit staring like that. Your eyes’ll stay that way,” Yoshida stated. Ai hummed in reply.

“You know what we Choshu like to do…? And this includes your friend, Shinsaku Takasugi… We burn down embassies. We form militia when we need to further our cause,” Yoshida said.

“Most of us have done our time in various prisons,” Kusaka added.

“Ha, yeah… Gosh that brings back memories,” Yoshida stated.

“Most of us look like chumps compared to Takasugi, though… You could say he’s our boss.” The two of them took turns telling Ai about their ‘work’ or whatever.

Kusaka knelt down at the edge of her futon and took her hand in his.

“What?” Ai looked down.

“You had some scrapes on your hand last night, but…”

“I don’t see anything,” Ai said. Kusaka looked incredulously at her hand and she chuckled. “I have a pretty fast metabolism.”

“Kusaka used to be a doctor, see. He knows what he’s doing,” Yoshida stated.

Ai’s eyes widened. “You, too?”

“I heard that you were a doctor in training,” Kusaka said.

“My father was a doctor. I’m just following in his footsteps.” Ai smiled self-deprecatingly. Following in the footsteps of her human father who couldn’t hurt a fly. It was plain ironic.

“What’s the hold up? This one little lady giving you fools trouble?” The door slid open and Takasugi walked into the room.

“She and Gen were just having a fun conversation about being doctors,” Yoshida said with a wave of his hand.

“That so,” Takasugi said, taking a seat next to her. He grabbed her hand. “Your skin is so flawless and beautiful. It would be a shame if it scarred.” He inspected her hand.

“Hey, cut that out.” Ai shook his hand off. “Just because I’m helping you doesn’t mean you can touch me. Anyway, what are your plans, now?”

“Well, for now, we can let Hijikata think that you’re our hostage. So we’re just going to keep you right here.” Takasugi grinned as though he was enjoying every minute of this.

“That doesn’t really answer my question.” 

Takasugi’s smile only grew. “Like you said, just feed him false information.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what your goal is?”

“We have to see if you can be trusted first,” Yoshida said.

Ai shrugged casually. “Fair enough.”

 It was nightfall. A piece of paper and a writing brush sat in front of Ai. She’d been told to write a letter to Hijikata, telling him that she was ‘staying with a friend’ The false information would come later.

It was Ai’s job to send those imbeciles from the Shinsengumi on a wild goose chase. She had warned Takasugi not to take too long with whatever he had planned, as the Shinsengumi weren’t that stupid. Sooner or later, they would figure out she was playing them.

Ai finished writing the letter and gave it to Takasugi.

“That’ll do,” he replied.

“Does Hijikata already suspect that the three of you are members of the Choshu clan?” Ai asked curiously.

“Does he? I’ve often wondered that myself. I’d love to ask him. Whether he does or not, though, I’m getting sick and tired of the Shinsengumi sniffing around.” Takasugi leaned back with his elbows on the armrests of the chair, amused.  “I need to keep the Shinsengumi out of my hair somehow. At least until I’m able to carry out my plan.”

“And what plan is that?”

“You…You’re like…” Takasugi looked at Ai in disbelief for a moment before he burst out laughing. “Hear me out… Next time Hijikata stops by, I’ll just slip a little poison in his soba! Simple!”

“Please tell me you’re joking,” Ai said, her eyes wide.

“Why? I thought you wanted to get back at him?”

“Well, yeah, but I fail to see how someone capable of that level of stupidity would be able to evade them for long.”

Takasugi laughed. “You’re pretty sharp. You’re right. If I were to do something as brainless as that, I’d be found out as a criminal in no time.” Ai glared at him suspiciously and crossed her arms. “Whoa, don’t look at me like that. We’re going to be sleeping in the same room for the next little while. We should try to get along.”

“You’re the one who keeps picking fights.”

“Listen, I’m nice enough to let you stay here, in my room. Unfortunately there’s only one futon, so it’s going to get a bit cuddly at night.”

“I’ll sleep on the floor.”

He firmly took hold of Ai’s chin. “Forget it.”

Ai calmly slapped his hand away. “I’m done playing games. I’m sleeping on the floor.”

The room rang with laughter more loudly than before. Apparently Ai was a source of endless amusement for the ronin, while he, in turn, was a source of endless annoyance for her.

“You’re fun. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.”

Part of Ai contemplated eating him, if only to shut him up.

As the soldiers marched off to their latest engagement, Ai stood with Dr Yamazaki and watched them go. As darkness fell, Ai made a stop at Saito’s room. She didn’t catch his scent as she passed his room, and a sense of dread settled over her. She was right. His futon was empty. He was gone, and so was his sword. “Doctor Yamazaki!” she yelled as she stormed down the corridor. “Ai? What’s wrong?” he asked. “Where is he?” she demanded. “What you mean?” “Saito is gone, and so is his sword. You know something, don't you? Please. Tell me where he is!" Yamazaki sighed. “Why are you willing to go so far for him?” "Because he makes Emi happy. She’s changed. I don’t want her to go back to the Emi who’s cold and never lets anyone in. I don’t want her to lose her smile ever again. Please." “Ai... He said he was going to Shikoku-ya. For goodness’ sake, be careful out there. Don’t you go rushing to your death, you hear me?” Ai inhaled the crisp air. "I don't need to go. Emi is back." Yamazaki's eyes widened. "How can you tell?" Ai smiled cryptically, not volunteering an answer.

 The front door of Shikoku-ya had been brutally busted in. Dead bodies lined the floor. “You never cease to amaze me, Hajime. You look more dead than alive, but you’ve still got it where it counts!” Okada’s amused voice came from up the stairs. “Yeah, well… I’ve still got work to do.” Their bodies came tearing through paper doors.   Blood seeped through his clothes, from the place on his back where Okada had cut him. Both Saito and Okada’s shoulders heaved with laboured breath as their blades clashed. Saito's eyes shone with the same intensity as that night, when he made Emi that promise, surrounded by fireless. Okada laughed. “You’re that bent on revenge, Hajime? Don’t make me laugh. Since when do you care about honour? Yesterday’s friend is tomorrow’s enemy, right? Isn’t that the rule, where you and I come from?” “You want to laugh? Go ahead and laugh,” Saito retorted. “Oh, but I can’t laugh at you. You’re the first worthy rival I’ve ever had! You mean so much to me. I’m not going to pull any punches, either. Because if I stop to think about how pathetic you are, I might start to cry.” “You never shut up…” Saito muttered. Okada barked a laugh. “Guilty as charged. And since I love to chat, let me tell you something. You know this already, but emotions? A sense of honour? All that stuff is horseshit! I know you’re not stupid enough to go around waving your sword in the name of feelings!” “Stupid, is it…? Hell, maybe it is.” “Well then…?!” “Back when I couldn’t remember anything, I used to think that I may as well be dead. Without a past, what difference did it make whether I was alive or not? That’s what it feels like, when you’ve lost yourself. Everything that makes you who you are.” “And now that you remember everything, this is how you choose to act?!” Okada spit his words like he had a bad taste in his mouth. “Yes. See, I realised something. Back when I made my living as an assassin, it felt the same as when I had no memories…” For a brief moment, a smile of self-loathing flashed across Saito’s face. “Back then, I thought my sword was the only good reason to go on living. No, more than that. My sword, and the blood on it, was the only proof I had that I even existed… So I had to go on killing, to keep proving it to myself. I had no will of my own. My only will was that of my next client.” The more Saito said, the more irritated Okada got. “So? What’s wrong with that?! That’s life! Without people like that, the world we’ve helped build around us would collapse!” “Maybe so. I always used to think so too. But now I’m not so sure…” In the midst of a heated battle with Okada, Saito continued to speak calmly, as though he was explaining something important to a dear friend. “I’ve seen what it’s like to live each day enjoying the simple pleasures life offers. To face difficulties head-on, knowing you’ve got the support of loved ones to rely on. I know now, for certain, that these things are possible. And you know how I know? Because Dr Yukimura showed me. And so did Emi. That’s why I’m going to kill you. Not for anyone else. Not because anyone ordered me to. But for me and to make the world a better place.” Okada’s face was twisted with rage. "If you two lovebirds are so hot for one another, maybe it isn’t you I need to kill, huh, Hajime?! Maybe I should just go kill her instead!" The ceiling crashed down and a small figure spiraled down headfirst with unseeable speed. A wave of black hair and the next instant, a cry of pain from Okada. Okada gripped his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers as he glared at the figure. She stood unfaltering, sword in hand.

"Kill me? I'd love to see you try," she said. “Not you again!” Okada yelled. “What are you doing here?!” Saito asked. She ignored him. Emi dropped something heavy on the floor. The thud of it alerted the men and only then did Okada glance down. "Oh, don't mind him. I just haven't finished torturing him yet. Something much more important was brought to my attention, you see." Emi kicked the man and he rolled several feet away, his back hitting the wall hard. Okada barked a laugh. "You're nowhere as innocent as you pretend to be." "I don't quite recall claiming to be." Okada looked to Saito. "She doesn't seem too different than us after all." "Don't put yourself in the same league as me. I'm nothing like you. Stop trying to drag him back into your world. He doesn’t belong there. Not anymore.” “What did you say?”   “Emi?” Saito asked. “Shut up," she said without looking at him. "The way you build the world? The world needs people like you? Don’t make me laugh. You will never know anything but killing, and I feel sorry for you.” Emi continued to antagonise Okada. “What the hell do you know?!” He pointed his blade at her, an ironic grin on his face. "You always seem to turn up just when things are getting interesting, girl. That’s about the only good thing I can say about you… I know Hajime thinks you’re so wonderful, but I’m really starting to hate you, myself!” Okada swung his sword. At the same time, Saito sprung into action, covering her. “Emi!” "For Christ's sake." Emi flipped their positions, pushing Saito down and meeting Okada's sword with her own. "Oh, that's right. I owe you a rematch, don't you. My sister's idiotic mentor got in the way last time. But now it's time to end this." She pushed against his sword with incredible might. “Why are you doing this?” Emi asked, her question directed at Saito. "Why must you insist on acting as a human shield?" “Dr Yukimura taught me a lot of things. But the one thing I remember most of all… He told me that the sadness and the misery that comes with loss are just a test… If I wasn’t strong enough to overcome them, I didn’t deserve to get my memories back. Well I got them back, and I went through hell to do it. Once is enough. Never again.” Emi’s eyes were wide as she listened to him, all the while holding her ground against Okada. “I won’t let it happen this time. I’ve lost enough already. I’m not going to lose you, too.” “You're such an idiot," she said. She jumped back, then sheathed her sword. Okada's eyes widened. "Ho? Giving up?" "I'm not using this sword anymore on the likes of you. This sword is reserved for worthy opponents only. And you are in no way a worthy opponent." Emi stretched her arm in Saito's direction. The sword flew from his hand into hers as she took on her demon form. Okada’s eyes widened. “You…” “Surprised? Don’t worry, that won’t last long.” Emi casually dodged her head to the side as Okada attempted to take her head. "Please, as if I'd ever be killed by a human as weak as you."   “Whoa…!” a familiar voice called out. “Okita… How nice of you to join us,” she retorted. “Emi, you’re a—” “Demon? Pretty sure I already told you about that. Anyway, shouldn’t you be more concerned about the man against the corner over there?” “Saito… You should know better than to take someone like him on by yourself,” Harada reprimanded him. “Like I always tell you, Hajime. You’ve got to learn your limits one of these days,” Kondo added. “Damn it! Can’t I ever have a bit of fun without you people interrupting?!” Okada yelled. "Pay attention!" Emi lunged. She sliced through the air, and Okada's left hand fell to the floor along with his sword. Fire shone in Emi’s blood red eyes. “Your days of playing with lives are over, Okada.” She moved with lightning speed, swinging her sword. She was already behind him when his head fell to the floor, followed by his limp body. Emi stood motionlessly, her back turned. It didn’t matter that this was her father’s killer. To her, it was just another human, killed by her hand. She felt nothing.  

That night, Emi took to her new routine, visiting the room next to hers and bringing Saito some incense. She knocked once.

“Hey, it’s me. Can I come in?” she asked. Almost immediately the door slid open. Saito eyed her dubiously. “What?” She cocked her head to the side as she held up the incense stick.

“Incense, huh…? You never give up, do you?” Muttering with exasperation, Saito allowed the oni to come inside.

“Harada’s stepped out?” Emi asked as she looked around the room.

“No…” Saito hesitated. “He’s moved into Heisuke’s room…”

“He has?” Emi furrowed her brows.

“I’m surprised at you, you know. Isn’t it awfully bold of a young woman like yourself, to force her way into a man’s room, night after night?”

Emi smirked playfully, but her eyes were distant. “Perhaps, but the human customs of women being timid and staying in their place all day doesn’t exactly apply to my kind. I’ll just light this incense and be gone.” As she said it, she touched the one end of the stick until a flame transferred evenly to the incense.

“Does your doctor friend know about this? About your nightly visits to my room?”

Emi smiled sweetly. “I don't give a damn what he knows or thinks. I can't stand him. He's annoying. Why do you ask?”

“Why…? Because he doesn’t seem to know when to shut his mouth. That’s why.” Emi had never heard Saito talk this way, and she chuckled. It soon turned into fit of laughter. “What’s funny?” He looked at Emi, flustered.

“Nothing, sorry. It’s just, I’ve never heard you say something like that before.” She chuckled again. “Dr Yamazaki fancies himself as Ai’s second father. And sometimes, mine too. It’s a source of endless headaches for me. It was like this every time I saw him for as long as I can remember, and so I started acting hostile towards him because it annoyed me so much. It’s only gotten worse since my father died. So whenever I was in the capital and Ai said ‘Let’s go visit Dr Yamazaki’ I’d always tell her to go by herself.” Emi sighed. “Honestly, I’m not the kind of woman who can stand being protected by someone else. To be taken care of like I’m some helpless little girl. Neither is Ai. She snapped at him for treating her like one earlier today.”

“I see…”

“He’s overprotective and overbearing… It’s not like I hate him or anything. I know he means well, but he’s too much for me to handle so I prefer to avoid him altogether.”

“Overprotective and overbearing, huh? Then we’d better be especially careful that he doesn’t find out about this.”

“So these visits can be our little secret, then?” A teasing smile played upon Emi’s lips.

“Well, I don’t think we have any other choice.” Emi extended her hand and wrapped her pinkie around his. “What are you doing?”

“You’ve never heard of a pinkie promise before? How is it that I know more about human customs than an actual human? It’s a type of promise, one you can’t break.”

Saito wrapped his pinkie around Emi’s and stared at their entwined fingers with wonder. “People are such funny things, aren’t they? If we all just minded our own business, we’d have no need to keep secrets from each other…”

Emi’s smile immediately fell, replaced by a sarcastic expression tinged with annoyance. “Hilarious. Tell me something, Saito.”

“What is it?”

“Do you ever get lonely?”

“Lonely?”

“I keep to myself most of the time, minding my business as you said. It gets lonely.” Emi looked up at the ceiling. But... I’m glad I met you, Saito.” A natural smile spread across her face when she looked back at him, and found him staring deep into her eyes. She stared back, her cheeks tinged pink. But a moment later, he looked away.

“Emi…” Saito rose to his feet, as though he needed to clear his head. “Isn’t it time you went back to your own room.”

“I guess so.” Emi got up too and walked to the door. She touched the side of the door before looking over her shoulder with a sad smile. “Goodnight, Saito.” Just as she turned back to open the door, Saito’s hand fell on top of hers. She looked back over her shoulder. “Saito?”

“Leave your schedule free tomorrow night.” Emi didn’t respond, too baffled to even try. Emi retreated into her room and sighed. This was bad.

The following evening, as the time they agreed upon approached, Emi waited for Saito by the base’s front gate. Her heart hammering in her chest, she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it when Saito approached.

“Sorry to keep you waiting…” he said.

Emi shook her head. “You didn’t.”

“Shall we go?”

Unlike any time they’d walked together before, Saito slowed down to match Emi’s pace. She looked up at his face.

“What?” he asked.

“Where are we going?” Emi asked curiously.

“Where do you think?” Saito answered her with a question.

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be asking.”

“You’ll see.” The corner of his mouth curled up. She wanted to see it more. See him smile. The pair passed by a vendor selling glass beads.

“Hey, let’s look at that.” Emi grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the vendor for a closer look. Emi’s eyes sparkled. These beads were so pretty.

“Look at you. You’re like a little kid.” He tried to sound exhausted with her, but there was a playful kindness in his eyes.

“Why don’t we take a break here?” The two of them passed by an elegant tea shop, where Saito took a seat on a red velvet-covered bench. “Tea and dango, please.”

“Coming right up,” the shop girl said.

“Do you visit this place often?” Emi asked.

“Best tea in the capital, from what I’ve found,” he answered.

“Tea, huh…” Emi leaned back and looked up at the blue sky. As soon as their tea and snacks arrived, Emi took a curious sip of what was apparently Saito’s favourite tea. As an oni, she never had much opportunity to drink tea. “This is good.”

“See what I mean?” Saito asked.

“Yeah… It has a kind of rich, full-bodied flavour to it.”

“They pick only the finest tea leaves, and brew it at the exact right temperature. Plus the water they use is taken from the purest springs, so you can really taste the tea,” Saito spoke with passion and evident expertise as he watched Emi while she sipped.

“You really know a lot about tea, don’t you?” With her index finger, Emi brushed a hair out of her face.

“Huh?” He seemed stunned, and fell silent.

“Do you enjoy tea as much as it sounds like you do?”

“Oh, I don’t know… I guess I just feel like… there’s a reason why people perform tea ceremonies, you know?”

Emi chuckled. “I wouldn’t know. We don’t have that where I’m from.”

“Next time, let’s go, and experience the real thing.”

“I’d like that.” But somehow, Emi felt, there wouldn’t be a next time. Along with the butterflies swirling in her stomach, a deep sense of foreboding settled there. And her instincts were never wrong.

Previous Chapter

After the tea shop, Saito led Emi along the side of the river. The further they walked, the darker it got, as the trees grew denser.

“I think it was around here…” Saito muttered. Emi looked over at Saito with curiosity. His face was obscured by the darkness, but she could see it. “A little further this way…” He took her hand and pulled her along with him. It felt so natural, and Emi squeezed his hand back.

“There. Look near the bank.”

Emi did as Saito asked and gasped. A small cluster of fireflies, lighting up their small portion of the night sky. Emi’s eyes widened as she realised where they were.

“This place…” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I’ve… been here before. With my father. To see the fireflies.” Emi lifted her hands, watching as the fireflies danced all around her. She wasn't expecting him to bring her here of all places. Fireflies... Of all the places he could have picked, it just had to be fireflies. “When I was little, I wanted to take the fireflies home. My father wouldn’t let me.”

“You didn’t bring them home?”

“No… My father told me that the fireflies only live for a very short time… They work hard for that time, and—”

“That’s why the glow, so bright and beautiful.”

Emi gasped as she looked back at him, eyes wide. Those were her father’s words. She swallowed. “Where did you hear that?”

Saito smiled, sweetly and somewhat sadly. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. His eyes looked deep into hers, and she could see herself reflected there, along with the fireflies.

“Knowing what I know about your father, I can guess what he would have said. There’s nothing mysterious about it. Watching you, I can see it.”

Emi arched an eyebrow. “See what, exactly?”

“The way you live, always looking out for the people you care about. Always taking care of others. To me, you put your all into every moment.”

Emi stared at him, unsure of how to respond. 

"Starting tonight, this will be your room." Saito showed Ai to her room. "Okay, thanks," Ai mumbled, looking around the small room. "Harada-san and I share the room next door. And on the other side, there's Okita-san. If you ever need anything, just shout." "Thanks..." Once Saito was gone, Ai heaved a heavy sigh. She couldn't get the image of the Shinsengumi's blood-splattered uniforms out of her head. Ai hated that sight, and yet the smell was so intoxicating. Ai fell down onto her futon, but her thoughts continued to swirl around in her mind, showing no sign of quieting down. Ai turned on her side. "I wish Emi was here..." she muttered to herself before closing her eyes. She remembered what her father used to say, with such a big smile on his face: "Life is the most important thing there is. As long as you're alive, even the most terrible situations will work themselves out somehow." Ai smiled wryly. Her sister would often talk down on his views. Her father looked hurt and disappointed when she did, but Emi never minced words. Emi always had this coldness about her. Maybe that was how she was able to lead an army of oni into a war and win when the enemy greatly outnumbered them. Emi's favourite words to describe their father's views were naïve and unrealistic. "The world is made up of both good and evil. When evil comes knocking, it doesn't matter anymore. You do what you must to survive, even if that means taking another's life." She was right, of course. As much as Ai hated it, it was a fact that as an oni, she couldn't live if she didn't kill. It never seemed to bother Emi, and sometimes, Ai wished she could be more like that. To not be at constant war with yourself must be bliss. Ai opened her eyes and sat up. She sighed and looked around the room. Where was the water she'd gotten earlier? She left it next to the well.

At the well, Ai had barely picked up the bucket of water she'd left before a number of soldiers appeared before her. Sensing danger, Ai's hand moved to the hilt of her sword. She clutched air. "Shit," she cursed. Her sword was in her room. "It's you!" one of the soldiers exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing out here?" Ai shrugged. "Getting some water." Her eyes moved behind the soldiers, where the ronin that had been captured stood. Her eyes snapped back to the Shinsengumi soldiers. "If you value your life, you won't tell a soul what you've seen here." "In other words, we had nothing to do with their escape. You hear me?" "Shinsengumi traitors!" Ai hissed. One of the soldiers grabbed Ai by the arm. She grimaced. "It'll hurt a lot more if you can't keep this a secret." "So? We got a deal, or what?" "Hmm... Pass," Ai replied. "We gave her a chance. Kill her."

Emi ran through the halls barefoot, following her nose to the familiar scent like hers. Like a flash lighting, she whizzed past the man gripping onto her little sister's arm, leaving a dismembered arm in her wake. The man screamed and clutched his arm where it had been ripped off. All Ai saw was a flash of white hair, and there she was. "Onee-chan!" she exclaimed. Emi stood up from where she was crouched down on the ground, her back turned as wind blew through her snow-white hair. "Sorry I'm late, Ai," Emi said, her voice somewhat detached. Hearing it made Ai tear up, and Emi could smell it. The soldiers and ronin stood around Emi, having forgotten all about Ai and training their drawn swords on her instead. Emi slid one foot behind the other, and she was gone. Nobody's eyes could follow her movements, not even her own sister. Emi relied heavily on her speed as she fought, and ronin fell dead at her feet, one by one. Emi heard the clanging of swords and smelled the fresh scent of blood being shed by someone other than her. Crouched down in the middle of a bloody battlefield, she stopped fighting. This scent... Emi slowly stood up and turned around as the moon illuminated her; her white hair, the two short horns protruding from her forehead, her red eyes, widening at the sight in front of her. Not the ronin who lay, unmoving, as blood gushed from their wounds. No. The man who slayed them. With clear eyes and long black hair tied in a side ponytail. His eyes, too, were wide as he beheld her. Emi's eyes fell on his sword for a split second, a phantom wind blowing her hair back, before she turned her back on him. She moved, gracefully eliminating the rest of the detestable scumbags.