WILL WE MEET AGAIN?

***DISCLAIMER: As much as I wish I did, I own neither Kaze Hikaru nor the characters Soji and Sei.

NOTE: Please comment. This is only my second story and I would love feedback! Thanks in advance! Please enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

15 years after Commodore Perry's arrival, the Battle of Toba-Fushimi occurred. After four days of fighting, the battle ended in a decisive defeat for the Tokugawa shogunate. The shogunate forces, including Shinsengumi, retreated to the Tohoku region. Meanwhile, left in Edo…

'I can't believe I'm losing this battle,' thought Okita Soji, age 25. He erupted into another fit of bloody coughs as Tominaga Sei, formally known as Kamiya Seizaburo of the Shisengumi, looked on with a worried look.

"Soji, is there anything I can do for you?" she asked.

"Sei." He looked at her with a feeble smile. Since that night ten months ago, they have started calling each other by their given names. "You are doing exactly what I need you to do."

Sei remained quiet for some moments. It was so hard to just sit there and watch him suffer, however, she did not have another choice. Five years ago, Sei decided to stay at Soji's side in order to be near him and protect him. Never did she imagine that their relationship would take this turn.

"You know, I never did tell you about my conversation with Kondo-sensei before that last battle." Sei knew she was rambling on. Although he needed her to sit there, Sei needed to a break in the silence. "As you said several times, Kondo-sensei refused to sentence me to Seppuku after hearing my reasons for staying and especially, after hearing about the baby."

Soji made a lovey-dovey face despite his pain, "Kondo-sensei is soooooooo wonderful. That is why I love him."

Sei smiled for a quick moment, then frowned and jokingly replied, "I knew it! I'm in second place compared to him."

"Actually, you're in third place. I loooove Hijikata-san toooooo!" He used that cooing voice which annoyed her so much.

"WHY YOU!" Sei yelled as Soji laughed. "God! You can be such a jerk!" Even though she knew he loved her, Okita Soji still knew exactly how to get on her nerves.

Her features soften as he erupted into another coughing fit. "Soji, take an easy."

"Don't worry, I'm fine," he responded between pants. He immediately turned serious. "I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry it took so long to realize how much you meant to me. I am also sorry for not telling you how I felt and ignoring your feelings."

"Soji?" Her voice was filled with concern. Sei knew Soji was lying about how he felt.

However, she just realized how serious his illness was.

"What do you think about reincarnation? Do you believe that a person will find those important to him in his future lives?" Soji asked.

'Why won't he look at me?' Sei thought, aloud she said, "why are you asking about this?"

Soji closed his eyes. He wondered if he should pursue this. "Please just answer my question." He said in a stained voice.

Sei thought for a minute. It felt like an eternity passed when she finally answered, "Yes, I do believe that you will meet your loved ones and close friends in future lives. At least I hope so… I don't know what I would do if I could not see father, ani-ue, Saito-sensi, and all the other guys in the troop again."

Soji turned to look at her. He gave her his best pout, "What about me?"

Sei smiled. "I thought that was obvious when I said loved one!"

"Oh sure, you're just saying I'm not special enough to get named!"

"FINE! BE THAT WAY YOU JERK!" She grabbed the bowl of water and cloths they kept beside the bed and marched off to the bathroom. 'Man, he can be a jerk!' she thought. Sei emptied the basin and refilled it with nice cold water. Then he grabbed clean cloths and walked back to the bedroom.

"Sei?"

"Yes?" All the anger left her at the sound of his seriousness voice.

"Promise me two things. First, promise me that when Kondo-sensei dies, you will not commit Seppuku."

"When I said I would follow the man in front of me into death, I wasn't talking about Kondo-sensei.

He looked at her puzzled for a moment. His eyes widened as the truth hit him. "No you can't. Not for me! The baby needs one parent to take care of it!"

"Soji" she said, trying to hold back the tears which threaten to come forth. "It is only for the baby's sake that I will not."

"Thank God!" Soji let out his breathe. He struggled to remain awake to ask this, "promise me that you will wait for me in the next life."

Sei smiled as she replaced a new damp cloth on his head. "Oh course I will. I love you."

"I love you too," Soji groggily said as he drifted off to sleep.