Elena POV

Elena stayed huddled up under a blanket in the corner the entire morning. Her emotions felt like a yoyo being wound and unwound over and over. They kidnapped her but took care of her wounds. They ruthlessly interrogated her but showed compassion and gave her a second chance when she lied. They spared her life but locked her away without so much as the privilege of opening a window. They let her off the hook for her drinking shenanigans but paraded Heisuke's beating in front of her the next morning. The Shinsengumi were cruel, manipulative monsters, and she hated them!

Elena was angry that she allowed herself to be played so easily. She thought Harada was kind, a childish brute at first glance, but she didn't peg him as heartless. She shivered at the memory of Heisuke's bruises. Her heart ached for him and for the trust she lost with Harada and Nagakura. They were the only people she had felt remotely comfortable around since arriving, and all three had turned on her within the first thirty-six hours. Another wave of anger struck her core that she directed towards herself. She was an idiot to have ever trusted anyone she had just met; she really only had herself to blame.

Elena's anger soon quelled to boredom and then to tiredness. She leaned her head against the wall and started to doze off from having literally nothing to do but stare at a her mostly empty room. She was on the verge of dreaming when she heard a soft knock at the door and the swish of it being slid open.

"You will find her in here," She recognized Kondou's voice speaking to whoever was opening her door.

A beautiful young woman about her age stepped into the room. At first, Elena didn't believe what she was seeing. She blinked three times and rubbed her eyes, but the girl standing in front of her didn't disappear or change into a boy. She was gorgeous. Dressed in a magnificent lavender colored kimono adorned with large flowers. She had a spring green obi synched around her trim waist, bringing out the garment's nature tones. Her jet-black hair was pulled up into a flattering updo and secured with golden chopsticks. She had the most unique lavender colored eyes that regarded her kindly and then narrowed and shifted to Kondou.

Kondou raised his hands in mock surrender. "We're feeding her and treating her as well as we can. Your mistress promised us your cooperation and discretion."

"My mistress spoke the truth," The woman said coldly. "You have paid extra for our discretion, so we will honor your wishes."

The young woman bent down in front of Elena and offered her hands. Elena hesitated, not knowing the girl's full intentions. She gave Elena another warm smile and nod that put her at ease enough to take her hands and stand up, shedding the blanket on the floor. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in Elena's full appearance. Like everyone else, she seemed distraught over her dress, but she was kind enough to keep her opinions to herself. She gave Elena a critical once-over, pulling her from the corner so she could walk around her and take her in full view. When she had completed her lap, she gave her orders.

"I need a large basin and hot water, lots of it."

"That may be difficult-" Kondou began.

"Figure it out and hurry," her voice was absolute and left no room to argue.

There was a mumbled agreement, and then the door slid closed. When it was just the two of them, the woman turned to her and regarded her kindly.

"Please, do not be afraid, my name is Kimigiku. I am a Seamstress under lady Takanaka's shop in town. I am here to fit you with a few kimonos and a new pair of shoes."

Elena nodded.

"What your name?" Kimigiku asked as she grabbed a small chest and a bag lying by the door and began pulling contents from them.

"Elena."

"Well, Elena, you're a little worse for wear than I'd like you to be, but I'll have you cleaned up in no time."

With that statement, she set about unpacking a basket of supplies she had set by the door. She pulled out glass jars of pastes, creams, scrubs, vials of oils and serums, fabric, a brush, measuring tape, pins, and other various items she didn't recognize. She began by taking her measuring tape and wrapping it around her body. She measured her height, arm span, proportions, and any other part of her body she could get her tape on.

"Your features are definitely foreign... But, I believe I can tailor something to fit you for now and make you a few more kimonos in the upcoming weeks."

Elena nodded, she didn't want to be rude, but clothes were one of the last things on her mind at the moment. The men returned with the basin and set about filling it with buckets of steaming water. Like every other task she had observed thus far, they were quick and efficient in maneuvering the large half-barrel into the room and filling it. Kimigiku drained some vials into the water and ordered Kondou to get her a screen and place it in front of what she assumed was supposed to be a bath. Elena wasn't sure how she felt about bathing in a room with nothing but a screen and sliding door to protect her modesty. She quickly resigned herself to this idea as she saw the shadows of dirt still ground into her skin. Elena was so engrossed in her own reservations that she wasn't listening to Kimigiku or anything she was saying. She only remembered the young woman's presence when she reached for the hem of her dress. 

Kimigiku POV

The bath was drawn, and Kimigiku set about mixing the bathwater. She put in rose water for scent, lavender to calm Elena's nerves, chamomile for her injuries, and aloe for rejuvenation. One of the soldiers, a young brunet in a red haori and green hakama, leaned in the doorway watching her. His posture was lazy, but she wasn't fooled by his body language; as a worrier herself, she knew the look of a keen eye when she saw one. His took in everything. She shooed him out and bit back the vinegar that wanted to spill from her lips for trying to spy on her. Kimigiku turned back to Elena, who was still in the same corner. Her eyes were cast to the side and glazed over in thought.

"Alright, Elena, let's get your clothes off and into the bath."

Elena didn't respond; she seemed to be too deep in her own head to hear her. Unperturbed, Kimigiku reached for the hem of her dress and started to take it off. Elena's eyes flew open wide and snapped their focus back to her. She threw her arms up in defense, which Kimigiku avoided with ease.

"What are you doing?!" Elena demanded shrilly.

"Helping you undress," Kimigiku said carefully, eyes sliding to the door where she knew the soldier was listening.

"Wh-Why?-No, I can undress myself-"

The door slid open as she predicted, and the soldier eyed her harshly.

"What's going on in here?" he demanded.

Elena didn't answer. Her attention bounced from her to the soldier in frantic, jerking motions as she tried to decide who she feared more at the moment.

Unafraid of the soldier, Kimigiku responded for her. "I was helping Elena prepare for her bath. I believe I startled her."

Green eyes looked to Elena for confirmation. Elena nodded.

"She tried to take off my dress..." Elena started but trailed off. Her expression equal parts scared and perturbed. The soldier stared back at her, only perturbed.

"Well, yeah, that's one of the things she's here for," he explained, not even trying to mask his condescending tone. "Just let her help you."

"No!"

The soldier's eyes shined with mischief and amusement. "Alright, if you don't want her help, I can always strip you down and bathe you." He took a casual step into the room, sending Elena stumbling back into the corner.

"You wouldn't dare!" She hissed venomously, even though she was cowering in the corner.

"That is enough of your cruel games!" Kimigiku chastised. "If you continue to treat her with such disrespect, I will leave this place and insist that my mistress return the money and take much less discreet measures to ensure this girl's safety and comfort."

"That won't be necessary, Kimigiku," Kondou appeared behind the soldier and put a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Souji here will be coming with me, and Saito will take his place. I assure you that there will be no more disturbances from here on out." Kondou bowed low. "And, Elena," His voice was firm bordering on harsh. "I assure you the behavior Souji was alluding to is strictly forbidden. None of my men will ever suggest such a lewd act with you ever again."

Kimigiku fixed the commander with a steely gaze that promised she would make good on her threat, then nodded. He closed the door on his way out and left the two girls alone once more. She turned to Elena and held up her palms in a non-threatening gesture.

"I apologize for alarming you earlier; it was not my intention to scare you. It didn't occur to me that you may have a different bathing culture where you came from."

"Bathing culture? There is no culture!" The girl hissed on the edge of hysterics. "You get in, do your business, and get out...alone!"

"Please calm yourself. If you are uncomfortable with my help, I will be on the other side of the screen. I will leave all of the supplies by the bath here and wait for you to be done."

Her promise seemed to calm her. Elena let out a long exhale, extinguishing her fight. Kimigiku sat on the other side of the screen and altered a kimono for her based on her measurements. Elena eventually composed herself enough to undress behind the screen and get into the bathwater. She heard another cleansing sigh expel from Elena's lungs, making Kimigiku smile with satisfaction. She hoped she could bring the girl some peace while she was there, though that wasn't the primary goal of her visit.

Kimigiku needed to find a way to look for any signs that the girl was an oni or related to the Veil clan. She had seen a bandage on the girl's leg earlier, indicating that she had been hurt. If she could see if the wound was already healed, that would be a possible sign of her oni status. She also wanted to speak with the girl privately, but that would appear unlikely to happen with Kondou's soldier outside her door.

Elena finished bathing and took the towel Kimigiku had hung over the screen for her. Kimigiku had just finished stitching the nagajuban and had a kimono hemmed and ready to sew if her measurements were correct.

"Elena, I am going to come behind the screen now if you are covered," Kimigiku warned her.

"A-alright..." She stammered.

Kimigiku stepped around the screen and found Elena standing on the floor, hair and body dripping, wrapped in a towel. Her back was to Kimigiku, showing only her exposed shoulders and calves. Elena's body was rigid, leaving no room to wonder how uncomfortable she was. Kimigiku found it somewhat strange that this particular state of undress bothered her so much. The towel wrapped under her arms and fell to her knees, exposing the exact same amount of skin as her dress had.

"You didn't take your bandages off," Kimigiku observed, looking down at her dry bandaged leg.

Elena nodded. "Where I come from, we find it best not to expose large open wounds to water. If you have a rag or cloth and some medical supplies, we can clean the skin around the cut and change the bandage."

"When did you get hurt?" She asked as she stepped around the screen and made her way to the door. She pulled it open slightly to reveal an indigo haired man dressed in all black standing watch on the other side. He fixed her with a detached stare and turned to face her in full. Kimigiku had to resist the urge to take up a defensive stance; this soldier was lethal. His movements were as smooth as a shadow, and the fact that he was dressed in a black nagagi only made the imagery that much more real.

"You're going to request new bandages for Elena?" he asked, having clearly heard their conversation.

Kimigiku nodded and shut the door.

"Last night," Elena replied to her question.

"Let me see the cut, please," She said as she stepped behind the screen once more and began unwrapping the dressing. The gash was cut clean down her calf and still very fresh. Kimigiku's brows knitted together. It would appear she had common human healing properties. She grabbed a scrap of clean fabric from her supply stash, dipped it into the bathwater, and cleaned around Elena's injury. The shadow soldier had fresh bandages delivered, and she rewrapped Elena's leg.

"Do you have a surname, Elena?"

"Callahan"

Kimigiku nodded, there was no way this girl could be an oni, and she definitely wasn't a relative of the Veil clan. With her main work done, she set about fitting the girl with her kimono. The nagajuban fit her almost perfectly though it still needed to be taken in some in the shoulders. Next, she tailored a lovely periwinkle kimono to her measurements. The color was soft against her skin and brought out the dazzling blue in her eyes. She fit her with a mauve obi that coordinated well with the garment and finished by twisting her curls into a sweeping updo. It was then that Kimigiku saw it. A few inches below the nape of her neck were delicate swirling lines of a darker flesh tone trailing down her back. Her kimono didn't fit perfectly yet either, so Kimigiku could look down the gap between her shoulders. She recognized the marks on her upper back to be the makings of a seal, the kind that locked away one's abilities as an oni.

"This mark..." Kimigiku gasped.

"Mark?... Oh, my birthmark," Elena surmised. "I've had it as long as I can remember. It's strange, isn't it? I don't know another soul who has one like it."

Kimigiku couldn't tell if the girl was lying about the seal on her back or if she genuinely thought it to be a birthmark. She didn't push, however. She was only there to gather information. Sen-Heim, her lady and mistress, would determine what to do with the findings. When Elena was fully dressed in her new kimono, and it fit as well as she could make it, Kimigiku began cleaning up. She disposed of the used bandages and picked up Elena's old clothes from the floor. A necklace fell from the pile and landed with a delicate clink on the floor. Kimigiku picked up the chain and pendant, and her eyes widened. In her hand was the unmistakable crest of the Veil clan

"Where did you get this?" Kimigiku demanded.

Elena popped her head around the screen to see what she was asking about. "The necklace? It was left to me by my birth mother. I was adopted about thirteen years ago."

"Do you know your birth name?"

"As far as I know, I've always been Elena. My adoptive mother thought it was pretty and kept it. My original last name was Veil, though."

Chizuru POV 

Kazama lead Chizuru into one of the private rooms at the Shimabara. There, waiting for them, were two women. One Chizuru made out to be Kimigiku, though she was nearly unrecognizable in geisha clothing and makeup. It was only her gorgeous amethyst eyes that gave her away. She sat next to a substantially younger girl who looked to be about her age. She had brown hair and pinkish-purple eyes that burned with the fire of wisdom and power. She was more plainly dressed than Kimigiku, in a simple gold kimono and wearing her hair down, but she looked beautiful none the less. Chizuru suddenly felt self-conscious dress up as a man in her hakama and hakamashita kimono.

Kazama took his seat across from the two women and pushed a cushion behind him for Chizuru to kneel on. She took her seat and observed the exchange. The gold kimono girl offered Kazama a bottle of sake, which he took and poured for himself. As he fixed his drink, her eyes bored into him under knitted brows.

"Do you intend to watch me drink all night, or do you have information you want to share?" Kazama asked lazily.

"There is no information I want to share with you, Kazama. The only reason I am even entertaining this discussion is on account of what you shared with Kimigiku first."

"Noted," he said flatly. "Now, what did she find."

The girl nodded to her companion, and Kimigiku gave her report. "Yesterday, I went to the Shinsengumi headquarters under the guise of a seamstress. I made contact with the girl who fell from the portal; she goes by the name Elena. She is clearly a foreigner from somewhere in the west, like Kazama, but I did not get a definitive home country from her. The girl wears the Veil clan's crest around her neck and carries the surname Veil, but she claims to have been adopted into a family with the surname Callahan. While fitting her with a kimono, I saw that she bears the mark of suppression, hiding her oni powers from everyone, maybe even her as well. There was a large open wound on her leg that she claims to have acquired the night before. It was still fresh and just starting to scab over; the mark is active and has blocked off all of her abilities."

"Kazama, what do you make of this information?" the brunette asked. "If the girl's abilities are sealed off, then how did she open the portal to get here? Do you think someone opened it for her?"

"Unlikely, you and I both know that the Bakufu wiped out both the Yukimura and Veil clans when they refused to aide them in the war against the other human clans. It would appear both families had the same idea to save their children and hope they grow up to carry on the clans one day. I guess that the Veil clan used their abilities to send Elena and her mother into the future in hopes that they could carry on the clan name from there. If what you say about her being adopted is true, then that means something must have happened to her mother when they got there. It would make sense that she would seal her powers away so she could live with humans peacefully.

"It is my guess that something happened recently to upset the girl to a point in which her instincts took over, and she temporarily broke the seal. This is especially dangerous, seeing as she is activating powers she doesn't know how to use. Depending on how old she was when she was given that seal, I'd say the magic on it is wearing thin. Oni abilities aren't meant to be concealed for decades at a time. That child is as fragile as a bomb; one wrong move and she could unleash chaos."

The girl's eyes widened. "We have to get Elena back from the Shinsengumi!"

"We don't have to do anything. I told Kimigiku after we confirm her lineage and oni status, all is fair sport."

The girl jumped to her feet in outrage, but Kimigiku stopped her.

"If the man wants to work against us, princess, let him. But, I am curious, earlier you mentioned the Veil clan and the Yukimura clan. What do you know of their offspring?"

Kazama didn't speak for a long while; Chizuru silently willed him to tell them what he knew. It was her hope that whatever information he had would help her find her father. He had gone missing a few months ago while on a trip to Kyoto. She had disguised herself as a man and made the journey to the capital in search of him, hence how she ended up in this mess in the first place.

"The Yukimura clan had a daughter as well. When the massacre of their estate took place, they gave her over to Kodo Yukimura, a distant uncle of hers, for safe keeping. He took her and fled to Edo it would appear. He has raised her as his own, keeping her in the dark about her heritage as an oni."

Chizuru hadn't spoken much to Kazama in the past twenty-four hours. He had taken her to a manor in a neighboring town and left her in a room. A companion of his, a red-haired giant with apathetic eyes and polite demeanor, had brought her food a few times. Though, he didn't speak to her other than the necessary exchanges. Everything coming out of Kazama's mouth was new information to her and cracked her foundations.

"You're lying!" Chizuru snapped, in an uncharacteristic outburst. "My father is Kodo Yukimura, and he would never lie to me!"

Kazama turned his head to send her a glare that promised she would pay for her interruption.

"Kazama," the brunette spoke up, drawing his ire away from her. "Do you mean to tell me that the girl behind you is Chizuru Yukimura, rightful heir to the eastern throne?"

"Why do you ask? Are you afraid you will have to abdicate the throne, princess Sen?"

"Not at all!" Sen cried in outrage. "I just want to know what an oni of such status is doing crossdressing in peasant clothing."

"She's looking for Kodo; I was going to be nice and take her to him."

Chizuru's head snapped up. She had mentioned to Kazama that she was looking for her father, but he hadn't told her he knew of his whereabouts.

"Do you take me for a fool, Kazama?" Sen snapped, her eyes going as cold as his. "I've never known you to do something out of the kindness of your heart."

"That's hurtful, princess."

Sen continued to stare him down until he sighed.

"Fine, I am considering making Yukimura my bride."

"HUH?" Chizuru squeaked.

"Judging by the surprise on Yukimura's face, I'd guess you haven't even asked the girl what she thinks of this arrangement," Sen accused coldly.

"Her opinions on the matter are irrelevant. She needs to be with and marry her own kind."

"Your opinion may hold validation, but your tactics for achieving your goal are barbaric! I swear you have no idea how to properly treat a woman! You're as bad as the Shinsengumi!"

"Do you intend to lecture me on how it's done, princess?"

"I'd bet as the future head of the Kazama family, you have been coddled your entire life. On top of that, I will admit that you are reasonably good looking. I'm sure you operate under the assumption that 'women will come flocking to me.' As such, you have never stopped to take a lady's heart into consideration! You are self-absorbed and egotistical! A woman is not a trophy to be won or seized. Do you even care for her?"

"My feelings on the matter are irrelevant; I see no reason to burden myself with them. Chizuru and Elena, for that matter, are rare female oni from the main bloodlines. It is only natural for them to be wed into powerful devil families. They're valuable."

"Don't tell me you're considering dragging Elena into this insanity as well! You can't kidnap every oni female you find and then pick from them like you're in the market!"

"Both of those girls are the last of their families; they have to marry powerful purebloods to restore their clans and protect our bloodlines. Personal feelings are irrelevant."

"So, this is all about bloodlines and preserving their purity?"

"What other reason would there be?"

"The princess is also a pureblood from the main bloodline as well," Kimigiku pointed out.

Sen looked to her shinobi in outrage and betrayal.

"Do you want me to steal you away too?" Kazama teased.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Kazama made a noise that almost sounded like a laugh and poured himself another cup of sake.

"Honestly, Kazama, try acting like a civilized man and conducting yourself in a way that will steal a woman's heart instead of physically stealing women."

Kazama downed his glass of sake and rose to his feet. "I do not have time to put up with more of your antics. Thank you for the sake, princess. I am sure our paths will cross again soon as we both pursue the time walker."

"That's it? You're just going to walk away!"

"I have listened to you and heard your opinions. You can ask no more of me...Perhaps I may even try some of your civility on Chizuru." He said the last statement with humor and made his way to the door.

Kazama turned back to Chizuru, who was still kneeling on the cushion, shocked by all that she had heard that night. She looked between Sen and Kazama, unsure of what she wanted to do next. Kazama cocked his head to the side and raised a questioning brow to her.

"Are you intending to stay here, Chizuru?"

"You don't have to go with him!" Sen added quickly. "I would be happy to welcome you to my home and host you."

"M-my father-"

"Kodoisn't going anywhere, and his current whereabouts are no place for a girl likeyou," Kazama told her. "If you wish to stay with the princess, for the timebeing, I'll allow it. I have business to attend to the next few months inplaces where it is unfit to bring a lady. Just remember one thing. If the timecomes where I decide to take you, you will come."