Your shriek resounded through the quiet forest. You looked horrified at Okita's still closed eyes. It was like a nightmare coming back. You felt helpless, just like you were when he was bedridden. When all you could do was to change wet cloth, now you didn't even had it. Your nightmare ended when you have him your blood.

Your blood.

Clinging to this idea you laid Okita on the ground. You were careful to not make his injuries worse than they were now. You took out your kaiken and slid the blade through your hand. You winced a little and waited till the red liquid gathered on your palm. You lifted Okita's head a little and let the blood drop into his mouthed. You made him swallow and repeated the action a few times. He groaned just as the wound started to skin over. A few minutes later, his breath was almost back to normal.

You put him on your laps and cradled his head in your arms. Tears blurred your vision as you shivered.

"Please... Wake up...," you whispered. Your voice was hoarse. "Don't leave me alone. Please. I can't lose you," your body shook with uncontrolled sob. "Please...! I love you too much to let you go!"

You trembled and prayed that your blood would help him. Were his injuries so extensive? You run your hands through his hair. You didn't have strength to say or do anything more. You squeezed your eyes shut. If he died here, you didn't know what you'd do. It would be too much for you to bare.

"_-_____...?" you heard a faint whisper, you though you imagined. You felt fingerprints on you cheeks. "It's you..."

You opened your eyes. Your lip quivered when you looked into a familiar green eyes. His hand gently wiped your tears that rolled down your face.

"Souji-saaaan...!" you cried, tears of happiness flew out of your eyes. You hugged his head even harder and you felt his hands caressing your hair. You opened your eyes as you put your forehead on his. "Thank goodness..."

"You saved me once again," he smiled.

"Stupid Souji-san. You made me so worried."

"I know. I'm sorry, I always make you worry, don't I?" Okita chuckled and once again wiped your tears. "______... I ..."

"Huh?" you watched as he sat up and leaned on his elbows. "Please don't move!"

He caressed your cheek. You opened your mouth to scold him again.

"I love you too..."

Breath hatched in your throat and all protests you had been making died. All you were focused was his bright green eyes, everything else faded into background. You opened your mouth numerous times, but no words came out. You felt as if you misheard. His honest gaze captivated you making you believe these words. Your lip quivered and you smiled.

"I love you so much, ______," he repeated.

"I love you!" you finally uttered. You were so afraid that it was just too good to be true, that any moment, this bliss would fade.

Okita brought you closer and clasped his lips on yours. His hand was gently cupping your cheek as he stole another kiss from you. You felt as if you were melting when you finally closed your eyes and gave into pleasant sensation. Warmth spread all over your body when you reached and put your hands around his neck, as if telling him to come closer. You opened your mouth with soft moan, letting him in, and Okita took the opportunity. His other hand ran through your hair and then onto the back of your neck leaving on your skin leaving tingling marks. Butterflies in your stomach were fluttering madly. When you finally moved away you were breathing heavily.

You were gazing at each other with a smiles on your faces. You let out a hearty laugh. Okita embraced you, you could hear his heart racing just as fast as yours.

"I'm so glad," you spoke looking up at him.

"I can imagine," he chuckled, caressing side of your face with his knuckles. "Don't leave my side, ever."

"I won't. I want to be with you forever, Souji-san."

His smile widened and he leaned down to peck you on your lips. He rubbed his nose against yours causing you to giggle. You never imagined Okita to be so loving and gentle. You considered yourself the luckiest woman on the Earth. You never thought you'd be loved back, not even in your wildest dreams. It was like a dream coming true.

"What now?" Okita asked interrupting your thoughts. "The battle is probably over by now."

You hummed in response.

"Do you still want to talk to Hijikata-san?" you asked. His lips turned into a thin line.

"Talk, huh?" he paused. "I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if I were to meet him, I would be able to stop myself from killing him," Okita spoke grimly. His eyes were cast to the side, but you still could feel pain in his words.

He and Hijikata were friends for such a long time, you believed that the matter concerning Kondou-san's death made Okita so angry at him. You
could relate, you felt just the same about Kimiko's death. But killing Hijikata wasn't the answer, to you at least.

You didn't want Okita to hurt anymore. He lost so many people in his life, so many precious things. If he killed his friend, you doubted he would ever forgive himself.

"Please, don't," you whispered, hugging Okita. He made a confused sound and you felt his gaze on you. You raised your head to meet his eyes.

"Don't kill Hijikata-san."

"Why?" he asked and frowned. "Why do you care?"

"In the end you'll be the one who'd be hurt. I don't want to see you suffer, so please, do not kill him," you said. Okita didn't answer and only grunted in response. "You'll talk about whatever you want to talk, and then we'll go back."

"Go back where?"

You sighed and bit your lip.

"There is a place I want us to go to. If...," you hesitated. You took deep breath and with a slight blush on your cheeks continued, "if you'd want to go with me."

"Secretive, aren't you?"

He held amused expression. You decided to tell him everything. He deserved to know. You kept it hidden for such a long time, right now it seemed like a stupidest thing you've ever did.

"This place is-"

"It's alright, I'll go wherever you want. I trust you on this."

Your heart fluttered at his words. He trusted you, he was willing to go with you.

You nodded at loss of words, and you two walked again through the forest. Reaching the Shinsengumi camp took you longer than you thought, maybe because you weren't actually rushing and you had to move only at night. When you arrived at site you saw busy soldiers. They were all clad in western clothing, they looked tired and disappointed. You guessed the battle ended with a defeat. Frown crossed Okita's forehead and you squeezed his hand in reassurance. You smiled a little.

"I believe in you," you said when you noticed Hijikata-san and Chizuru-chan approaching you with a surprised faces. You smiled at the girl and waved your hand.

"_____-san, you're here too?" she asked. You nodded and bowed in greeting to Hijikata-san. You took a deep breath.

"Come on, Chizuru-chan~! Let the man talk!" you said lively though you knew the conversation won't be neither pleasant or just a talk. But you wanted to give Okita a space and decided to back off for a while. You tugged younger girl and walked away.

"I really can't believe you actually here," she said when you stopped behind a tent. "I was so worried about you, when you just disappeared."

You smiled at her. Warm feeling flooded your body and you couldn't help but to hug her. You thanked her squeezing her.

"What now? What are you going to do?"

"The battle is lost, but I still have to find my father."

"I see," you patted her shoulder reassuringly. "I wish you best luck and when all of this is over, I'd love to have a nice chat over a tea and some sweets."

"That would be great, _____-san," she smiled brightly. You smiled back at her. You both giggled. You couldn't help but glance at the direction where Okita and Hijikata-san were. Chizuru must have noticed your distress as she squeezed your hand. "Don't worry. They'll be fine."

That's right, you reminded yourself, Chizuru-chan surely knows much more about this situation than I. You nodded and squeezed her hand back. Whatever the situation is, you decided not to pry. To you relief minutes later Okita came into sight with Hijikata-san. He looked unscratched, at least to you. You smiled, sighing to yourself.

"We'll be going, right, _____?" Okita addressed you. You nodded.

"__________-san?" Hijikata spoke with booming voice.

"Yes?" you blinked. His stern face turned into gentler one as he turned to you.

"Take care of Souji for me, he can be quite rowdy" he spoke. You blushed a little and hid your mouth behind kimono sleeve.

"Hey! I don't need babysitting," Okita interjected. You were glad that he was able to joke with Hijikata. Whatever they spoke about has been resolved.

"I will," you addressed Hijikata with a bow, he nodded.

After you shared goodbye's, you and Okita left the campsite.

***

Through your walk Okita had time to heal his wounds and scratches fully. The forest at night was beautiful. Leaves danced on the wind, fluttering and rustling. The moon looked like a silver plate on pitch black space. The light illuminated the forest, while shadows created thousands of shapes. Atmosphere was serene and calm, leaving the owls, leaves and crickets play their own melody.

Though you had to be careful, since the Shinsengumi and allies were chased, you couldn't help but admire night scenery. It filled your heart with tranquility.

Hours later, undressing yourself to bath in a stream, you put kaiken and the katana on the grass. With a slight surprise you took out the notebook from you kimono. It was the same one you stole from Yukimura's house. You rustled through the pages once again, reading about the place, that would cure you and Okita. Just to be sure, you told yourself. After that, you put the notebook on your kimono and dived into cold water.

After quick bath you looked for Okita. You found him under the tree, with his katana in his hands. You approached him, clutching the notebook in your hands. You kneeled bwfore him and showed him the notebook.

"What's that?"

"Read please. I took it from Yukimura Kado's house," he glanced at you and opened the notebook. "It contains information about the Furies and
how to cure them."

"Cure them? Is it possible?"

You nodded and let him read through the journal. Leaning on a tree you put your head on his arm. You felt his stiff muscles and focused gaze as he read. Without taking his eyes off the text he swung his arm over your shoulder and embraced you. You felt his quick heartbeat. He stopped at the information about the cure. To be honest it couldn't fully cure you. But you'd be able to see the sun and you won't feel the bloodlust.

Nonetheless it was great.

"_____... This is the place you wanted us to go?" he said after processing the information. You nodded into his uniform. He smiled as kissed your forehead. "Then we will go there."

"You know, Souji-san," you mumbled. "I'd like to re-open my bakery someday. It will be possible once we reach this place."

You felt his hands caressing your hair.

"It's a sweet shop, not a bakery" he teased. "But sure, I can't wait for your takoyaki."

You giggled.

"And this time you wouldn't have to pay," you pointed. You felt his chest shaking with chuckle.

"Yeah, and I can always teach swordsmanship," he said. "We'd live peacefully, without bloodshed or people who could kill us."

You hummed in content. It was beautiful vision that filled your heart with warmth. Live in peace, with nothing but nature around, with normal people. Just being with each other.

"Kaoru," you said suddenly. You wondered what about young boy. Last time he left you upset after defeating Okita. He usually showed up suddenly, just to meddle with things. You could never forgive him, things he did were inexcusable.

"If he gets into our way, I'll destroy him."

Okita's grip on you shoulder tightened as he spoke. He looked determined.

In the next second he bended down, choking.

"Souji-san!" you shouted. He grasped his chest as he breathed heavily. His hair turned white, eyes shined with crimson light. He groaned. Without any more thought you took out the kaiken and sliced through you hand. Blood dropped from your hand, dirtying your kimono. You showed him your hand. "Take it."

With a slight whimper, he grasped your hand and drank the blood. You breathed heavily, as you watched his trembling form. With a hand, running through his brown locks, you let him rest his head on your shoulder.

With a prayer of hope for the future and you let yourself close your eyes. As the morning was coming you fell asleep in each other's arms.

A few days later, true to your thoughts, Kaoru appeared out of nowhere. He looked at you and Okita coldly. Okita answered with the same look and prepared himself to unsheathe his sword. You stood right beside him, hand on your kaiken hidden in the obi. Your lips turned into tight line as you seized the boy.

"I'm disgusted with you," he said reaching for katana at his side. "_____, you're most cruel person in whole world. But I'm here just to resolve thing at last."

You felt pang of pain in your heart. His words hurt, but the overwhelming sensation shook your body. You knew that pain; the bloodlust. You fell on your knees, clutching your heart. You heard somebody calling your name, but ignored it. Through squirmed eyes you saw Okita and Kaoru with their swords clashed.

"Souji....san...," you croaked through sore throat. Few stray tears flew from your eyes. You whimpered and grinded your teeth. The pain was never this strong. Did it meant your condition worsened? You groaned as another wave of pain shook your body. You were crying and prayed to every god possible, to make it stop. To shut you away from this lust, that you couldn't ever satisfy. You didn't care about the fight or how to make peace with Kaoru. You just wanted the pain to go away. "Make it stop!"

You closed your eyes and waited. Night air filled your lungs with fresh air as you tried to calm yourself down. Trembling didn't stop as you still hurt like a millions of tiny needles stabbing every inch of your body. Your fingers were grasping the dirt in search for a refuge.

"_____!" you heard Okita's voice from far away. You opened your eyes just to see Kaoru hovering over you. From his katana dripped blood. The tip of the sword was pointed at your throat, you could feel you own blood dripping. It was small puncture, you gulped and didn't dare to move. Even if you wanted, you didn't have enough strength. You trembled in fear.

After slow blink you saw blade sticking out of Kaoru's chest. The boy looked behind him and you followed his gaze. Okita, with white hair and blood dropping from his mouth, stood with a sword in his hand. He grimaced. Drops of blood fell on your kimono as Kaoru turned back, to look at you.

"Aaah.., so this is over?_____, I really liked you," he smiled bitterly. "I hope... cough... you'll live to the fullest..."

Kaoru fell on the ground, his eyes slowly closing as the last breath left his body. You felt new tear pricking on your eyes. Okita picked you up from the grass and embraced tightly. Your world spin. With shiver you hugged him back.

"I'm sorry," Okita whispered. "I almost lost you."

"Souj-san..." you choked, still sore. You let your feelings flow. "I-I was so afraid!"

"It's okay, I'm here with you," his fingers run through you hair. You sobbed into his chest. "We're going to be alright. It's over, you hear me?"

"O-over?"

"Yes, and we will go to that place, we will open the bakery. No one will ever bother us."

"Y-you promise?"

"Yeah, I promise you," he took your face in his hands and looked into your eyes. He sealed your mouth with his lips. His kiss was forceful and carried every feeling he had.

"I-I want to be with you forever!" you said when you broke off. He smiled and caressed your cheeks.

"We'll stay together, I promise."

~~***~~

Guuuuyyyysss! It's over! This is the last chapter of this story! Epilogue will soon follow, but this is where the story ends. I hope you enjoyed!