12.

You and Okita talked. You talked, sitting in your house, with a cup of untouched tea. He told you results of drinking the Water of life. It gave him strength and cured his body. In exchange he functioned only at night time. The sunlight hurt him and made him tired and weak. Now he was transferred to the other division called 'the Corps'.



"It's a horrible name," you said scrunching your nose. He laughed at you. He was called the Fury now. But, he said, he was happy about it. He could be useful again. No matter what he said, it didn't change a fact that guilt welled in you, couldn't be so simply gone.



Immersed in conversation you didn't notice when the down came. Sun beams peeked through the shoji doors. Both of you looked towards the sun as it slowly made way on the horizon.



"I should go," Okita said and stood up.





"Huh?" you blinked. He smirked at you confused face.



"Don't miss me too much, ______."




"You're unbelievable," you pursed your lips and shook you head in disapproval. In the end you smiled and stood up too. You took some sweets from the cabined and gave him. "From the yesterday, but should be still edible," you grinned. "Oh, and take the umbrella with you, it's in the corner."




He blinked at you and took the package. He ruffled you hair like he used to. It made the butterflies in your stomach flutter. Even this small form of affection from him made you immensely happy. Even if whole world crumbled, even if he was the Fury and your heart was breaking at any thought he might die, this simple smile from him made all your worries go away.



He tucked some of stray strands of hair behind your ear. Your heart beat faster when you stood captivated by his gaze. His hand stayed on your cheek and you let yourself to lean to his gentle touch. You didn't know how long the moment would last, but you silently hoped it would never end. You put your hand over his and closed your eyes for a second.





Okita suddenly broke off the contact and took your left hand. You peered at his frowning face. He examined your hand and traced his fingers along the scar. It was the one that Kaoru left when he stabbed you a month ago. The gash healed some time ago, with help of herbs and creams, though it still hurt. On both sides of your hand, extended now a pink, ugly scar.





"______..." he began and squeezed you hand. "I won't let that happen again."





Your eyes went wide and breath hatched in your throat. Was he worried about you? That's impossible isn't it? He made it clear back at the Shinsengumi headquarters. Maybe that part of you that thought that knew him was right. That part you dismissed. The part that told you to not believe a word he said back then, the part that saw right through his lies. The part that made you wait for him and hold onto hope.



"Souji-san..." you said with a small smile. "Just take care of yourself, that's all I need."




He blinked at you shook his head a little.




"You're crazy, you know that?" he concluded and stroked your hair. He turned around and you escorted him to the doors. He took the umbrella with him.




"Souji-san...?" you started looking at your feet. "You know, you can always visit me... Even if it's a night."




You blurted the last part. He threw his head back and laughed loudly. You huffed and covered your mouth with a kimono sleeve. You did knew how this statement sounded. He just had to pick it up this way.

"Sure thing, ______~," he said with a grin. "See you!"




You closed the doors with a blush on your face. You leaned on them and let yourself slide onto the floor.




***




Unbeknownst to anyone for the last month you trained with a sword. Minamoto-san let you keep the katanas for a while now, so if you had any spare time you swung in your garden. Being woman of samurai lineage you used to watch their trainings. Sometimes you even joined, till you came to age and started to learn how to be a lady. You also remembered how Okita taught you once his technique. Mostly for a laughs, but you still could recall the basics.



You trained to avenge Kimiko. She died innocent and only you were to blame. Even if her murderer probably already met his end, it was Kaoru who pulled the strings. It was Kaoru who decided to kill your best friend just to get closer to you. Now, you had even more reason to train. You learned the sad truth behind the Water of life and its effect. You couldn't forgive him. Never.



Days flew by and you got used to the new routine. Wake up, open the shop, close in the afternoon, train. Once or twice Okita actually visited you by night. Interesting experience, to say at least.



You came back from the market one peculiar evening. You got caught up in conversation and the time passed quickly. You walked into your house, put down the purchases.



"Good evening, ______," you heard voice inside. Shiver run down your spine as you cautiously walked further into the house.



"Kaoru," you said.



"So much venom," the boy sighed and took a sip of a tea. You glared at the boy. You searched for your sword only to see it at Kaoru's side. You were lucky that you hid the second one on the shelf.




"Why are you here?" you asked.



"I see you're still wearing that haori," he made a disgusted face. You gripped the material.



"Why are you here, Kaoru?" you repeated. You took a step to the shelf. The boy sent you twisted smile. Amusement flickered in his cold eyes. He was so close, you had to be patient. Just a few more steps; with a swift move you reached for the sword and unsheathed. "This is for Kimiko!"




You leaped and swung your katana. He dodged and stood up. Kaoru smiled and you repeated the move. Your blade pierced his arm. He stood still with twisted smile on his face. Your hands trembled as you looked at his face.




"That's all, ______?" he asked. "Did it soothe the pain? What I feel now is nothing compared to the pain you caused me years back."



You looked at him horrified. How could he stand still after such a stab? You remembered the pain you felt when he pierced your hand. So how was this possible?





"What are you...?"





"I'm a demon," he simply stated. He pulled out the blade from his arm and threw it onto the floor. "I just wanted to tell you that Okita's making ruckus in the city. Something along the lines that Kondou is dead and he has to find a guilty one."



"Why are you telling me this?"



"Because you care about him."



Your blood ran cold. Only way Okita could make a ruckus was by spilling the blood. If Kaoru was telling the truth and Kondou died, Okita right now was at his worst. He meant so much to him, you knew how it was to lose somebody important. You had to do something.



When you looked up Kaoru was gone and your sword laid untouched on the floor. Only the shoji door to the outside were wide open. You looked outside and saw only darkness. You snatched the katana from the floor and ran outside. You didn't have time to think. You had to find Kaoru.





You heard explosion and gust of wind pushed you forwards. You turned around only to see your bakery in flames. Red and yellow lights danced on the evening sky. You felt hot air touching your face. You grinded your teeth.



"KAORUUUU!" you cried into the night. Neighbors began to walk out of their homes.




He took everything from you. Your friend Kimiko, your home, the bakery. If there was something left, you were sure he would break it into pieces.



"Souji-san..." you realized. Last thing, last piece that held special place in your heart. You won't let him. You said you won't ever give up on Okita, you were going to keep that promise.





You wiped tears from your face and rushed in unknown direction. You didn't know where to go, you just knew, you had to run. Soon you were panting, but didn't dare to stop. Shouts from the neighbors died down as you proceeded forwards.



In the distance you saw a familiar blue haori. He was surrounded by dead bodies, only a few warriors still stood. By the time you were close enough he stood alone. You sighed in relief that he was alright and Kaoru didn't get him yet. You had to stop him, you knew what he was doing right now was wrong.




"Souji-san!" you called in ragged breath. He turned around and looked at you surprised. He treated you with a cold look in his green eyes. You flinched.



"What do you want?" he asked.



"I came to stop you."




"What do you even know, ______?" he sneered at you. You held his gaze.



"I know that it won't help at all!" you took a step towards him.



"You and your damn preaching. Stop bothering me, or I'll kill you!" he said. You looked at him and frowned.




"What good would it bring?! It's not right thing to do!"

"Right thing to do...?" he frowned at you. You looked into his cold eyes. You nodded. You understood something in this moment. When you stabbed Kaoru you didn't feel relief. You felt nothing. Not even accomplishment. You smiled sadly at him.




"Revenge won't bring dead back," his eyes went wide. "Kimiko won't be back if I kill Kaoru... nor Kondou-san," you couldn't hesitate now. "Souji-san I know wouldn't swing a sword he swore to use only for Kondou-san. Not for a revenge."




"I do it, because I am made for killing..." he looked away from you. "I'm a sword. I'm a weapon, nothing more."




"No! You're much more than this," you walked closer. The pain was evident on his face. He must've felt terrible after Kondou-san's death. Just like you when you saw Kimiko. "Because you do it for Kondou-san... It shows that you have feelings. Only humans have feelings."



"______, that's more complicated."



"Of course it is. You let the emotions get better of you... But aren't you a skilled warrior? I saw it a few times. You were always calm. Don't you remember?"



"I..."



"You are a great warrior! You saved me many times and probably will in the future. But please... No, I beg you, don't forget who you are! I don't want to lose you..."



"You make it sound so easy. Why should I even listen to you?"



"Because I am a woman, who would rather hit a man with a pot than stay quiet. And if you want to go further you'll have to kill me first. I don't want to watch the massacre."




You stood like this, gazing into each other eyes. You were afraid. You'd be fool if you didn't, but now, after Kaoru took everything from you, none of this mattered. Minutes later his stare softened.



"You're really crazy, you know that?" he sent you a crooked smile. You smiled back.



"I think we established that when we first met, Souji-san," you laughed weakly. He sheathed his katana. He walked closer to you, his eyes focused only on you.




You felt sharp pain in your side. The impact of unknown force made you stumble forwards. You touched your obi and saw red liquid. You looked at Okita's horrified face. He looked at something over your shoulder. You couldn't hear anything, all you heard was a ringing sound in your ears. Pain in your side intensified and you felt that you couldn't stand straight. It happend in a second.



Okita caught you in midway and screamed something, what you couldn't hear. You heard horrible noise and Okita's scream of agony. The ringing stopped and you were able to hear.





Gunshots. But who was shooting? Both of you fell on a dirty street. Okita turned his head to face you.



"Don't fall asleep, ______," he said in hoarse voice and squeezed your hand.




"You're the one to say..." you coughed and smiled at him. You felt blood dropping from the corners of your mouth. You vision began to blur. You saw him struggling to keep eyes open. Tears flew through your eyes as you tried to reciprocate the squeeze. "Souji-san... I'm so sorry... The haori you gave me is ruined now."




His eyes finally closed. You felt that your kimono was soaked in the blood. You weren't sure whose blood was it now. It was harder to keep your eyes open, you felt cold, you were shivering.



"I'm sorry... It's all my fault," you smiled bitterly. "At least... I want to tell you... I love you..."





All you saw later, was darkness.





~~***~~


Q: Did you kill Kondou-san way earlier than he died in the game? =.=
A: Hoho~~ the timeline is not stated, right?

But really, I forgot about this little detail, that he was alive at this time. But I said that my story gotta have twists! So here it is!
http://31.media.tumblr.com/939b4d92966c05dcaba54a5917a2fc8c/tumblr_inline_nr8l400sAz1qkbqqt_500.gif

I hope you enjoyed!



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