[ It all happens in a moment. He can feel her footsteps stopping and immediately - practically instinctively - turns to look at her, to make sure she's alright and that some enemy soldier didn't get her..
.. and that's when he spots the blade. And since he's so alert thanks to the whole battle going on, it hardly takes him more than a second to realise just who's holding it, but just that second is enough for the demon to already move and grab Chizuru. He hardly hear the words that rub in the fact that he's running (although he hardly needs Kazama of all people to tell him that it's stupid and cowardly since he's been perfectly good at beating that in his head with every single step he's taken away from the pile of bodies) because he's too busy staring at the way he holds Chizuru just in a place that hurts, the way the girl winches, and he's pretty sure that for a moment he can feel his heart sink all the way to his feet.
Just what he needed today of all days. Fighting a losing battle, having to run, losing practically all his men, and now he has to face Kazama since like hell he's going to let the other run off with Chizuru. There's no way he can abandon her to that kind of fate. Because of who she is - smiling, brave Chizuru - but also since she took so many bullets for him today. There's not even a choice in his mind, The only choice is to face Kazama and beat his ass down for even daring to touch her like that when she doesn't want him to. For a moment he imagines arriving back at the headquarters and having to tell everyone that not only did he get his entire division killed, he also let Kazama escape with Chizuru, and he immediately decides it's unacceptable even just to himself.
Despite the way his body already aches from the earlier fights, Shinpachi swings his sword in less than a moment after Chizuru pipes up again into Kazama's direction, hoping it might at least force him to let go of Chizuru. Maybe he can tell her to run while he distracts Kazama or-- well, do whatever as long as it'll get her out of this creep's hands.
Of course it's not that easy though since Kazama's swordsmanship - if it can even be called that, considering there's no actual technique behind it unlike Shinpachi's own kind polished from years of training - is based on using only one hand, so he's already blocking the strike as he still holds onto Chizuru with the other hand. ]
Tough luck, you caught me in a bad mood! [ To put it lightly. Today isn't quite his day. It probably explains that despite his words having the usual bravado, there's nothing about in his expression - no glint, no smile, just frowned concentration. ] Although I wouldn't let you get your hands all over her anyway!
[ Even as he pushes against Kazama's sword, the other hardly seems to break a sweat. ]
Are the men of the Shinsengumi truly that eager to die? I hope you realise you aren't going to do anything but waste my time, human.
[ Shinpachi just grunts in response, pulling his sword back only to clash it against Kazama's once more. ]
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.. and that's when he spots the blade. And since he's so alert thanks to the whole battle going on, it hardly takes him more than a second to realise just who's holding it, but just that second is enough for the demon to already move and grab Chizuru. He hardly hear the words that rub in the fact that he's running (although he hardly needs Kazama of all people to tell him that it's stupid and cowardly since he's been perfectly good at beating that in his head with every single step he's taken away from the pile of bodies) because he's too busy staring at the way he holds Chizuru just in a place that hurts, the way the girl winches, and he's pretty sure that for a moment he can feel his heart sink all the way to his feet.
Just what he needed today of all days. Fighting a losing battle, having to run, losing practically all his men, and now he has to face Kazama since like hell he's going to let the other run off with Chizuru. There's no way he can abandon her to that kind of fate. Because of who she is - smiling, brave Chizuru - but also since she took so many bullets for him today. There's not even a choice in his mind, The only choice is to face Kazama and beat his ass down for even daring to touch her like that when she doesn't want him to. For a moment he imagines arriving back at the headquarters and having to tell everyone that not only did he get his entire division killed, he also let Kazama escape with Chizuru, and he immediately decides it's unacceptable even just to himself.
Despite the way his body already aches from the earlier fights, Shinpachi swings his sword in less than a moment after Chizuru pipes up again into Kazama's direction, hoping it might at least force him to let go of Chizuru. Maybe he can tell her to run while he distracts Kazama or-- well, do whatever as long as it'll get her out of this creep's hands.
Of course it's not that easy though since Kazama's swordsmanship - if it can even be called that, considering there's no actual technique behind it unlike Shinpachi's own kind polished from years of training - is based on using only one hand, so he's already blocking the strike as he still holds onto Chizuru with the other hand. ]
Tough luck, you caught me in a bad mood! [ To put it lightly. Today isn't quite his day. It probably explains that despite his words having the usual bravado, there's nothing about in his expression - no glint, no smile, just frowned concentration. ] Although I wouldn't let you get your hands all over her anyway!
[ Even as he pushes against Kazama's sword, the other hardly seems to break a sweat. ]
Are the men of the Shinsengumi truly that eager to die? I hope you realise you aren't going to do anything but waste my time, human.
[ Shinpachi just grunts in response, pulling his sword back only to clash it against Kazama's once more. ]