S a k u r a

July 8th 1864

Prologue:

The wind was warm on his face, caressing closed eyelids that blocked the dawn of yet another new day. That's right… it was tonight. Okita Souji, (his birth name being Okita Sojiro Fujiwara no Harumasa later changed to Okita Souji Fujiwara no Kaneyoshi), pulled himself from the tangle of sheets and stood up. He swayed a little as a soft smile played upon his lips. The children that usually came to play wouldn't be coming today… He told them to stay at home; it would be dangerous tonight if they were to wander the streets. If the Shinsengumi failed in finding the Choshu's hideout…Kyoto would be only ashes by morning. He sighed, sitting down on the veranda outside his room, and closing his eyes to the abnormally bright sunlight. Okita was up too early yet again, his head swimming dizzily in the summer heat. He rested his forehead on his knees, the tips of his toes barely touching the rough surface of dirt where he struggled to keep from sliding off the wooden surface. He didn't hear the footsteps; he only felt the calloused hand suddenly on his shoulder. He lifted his head quickly, black hair parting from surprised, brown eyes.

"Souji," Came the soft voice of the demon vice-commander.

"Aaa! Hijikata-san… good morning," Okita replied with a nervous, but at the same time, pleasant smile.

"You're up early."

"Well, I wanted to watch the sunrise," Okita played, knowing all along that Hijikata's eyes saw straight through him and beyond. The excuse only seemed to work when other people were with them. He let out a soft sigh and looked down pitifully.

"You couldn't sleep again?" He asked the anticipated question.

"It's too hot...and I'm worried about tonight."

"That's right, that's why you especially should be sleeping," Hijikata stated seriously. Okita looked away, embarrassed. "You've been tiring faster as of recent."

Again, Hijikata found no answer in the silence and sat down calmly beside his captain of the first squad. His hand moved from the younger man's shoulder and fell, instead, right on top of his head. Okita flushed suddenly and spun around where he stopped only to stare deep into the vice captain's eyes.

"This may be the last time…" Okita began, slowly articulating each word with meaning, but he was silenced by fingers that lifted gently to his lips. He looked down as Hijikata looked up, out into the clearing blue sky.

"Tonight we may even be able to see the stars."

To be continued...

After going through and reading just about every Okita story out there, I was so annoyed and very surprised to not find one fanfic that bends history enough to allow him to live through TB. That's the reason why I decided to make my own. Taking constructive criticism...Please review!

(recently edited)

-aki