A/N: A very inspiring, beautiful picture popped up into my mind out of seemingly nowhere just a while ago. I saw Souji's beautiful green eyes staring at me, glimmering, and behind him lay a vast dry desert and scorching Sun ruled the land. Another image I love is the forging of blades. My crazy imagination decided to combine the two in a form of a new story. So, there you go. This is a story set in an completely Alternate Universe, which I initially never wanted to try in Hakuoki -because I like the era too much to 'abolish' it-, but inspiration cannot be held down by any rules or intentions, right? I felt the intense need to give it a try, no matter what. And, if I am lucky enough, people may respond to this positively.

The Theme Song of this story is Army-Go from the Attack on Titan/ Shingeki no Kyojin OST. I'd really advice you to listen to it, just to get a vague feeling of what I want to portray in this strange story of mine. There is a chance I'll use it later on in the story for atmosphere building purposes, as well. Please enjoy!

Rated T for suggestive themes and language.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hakuoki.

Fiery Green

~Prologue~

How firm or possible can co-existence be,

When her suave fire tangles with his pleading verdant need,

Forms so definitely un-matching, beyond compare,

Unyielding in their give, breathe out despair

And yet he speaks of warmth, and, sick, in love he kneels

With eyes that can be described as nothing but

Fiery Green

Clank.

Clank.

A sound more familiar to her than her very breath.

Clank.

Ugh.

The pain induced by fingers calloused, tired and stiff was nothing more than a distant begging melody. A song long-lost shoved in the farthest, most secure chambers of her troubled mind.

Slishhh.

The accidental cuts were by now only a forgotten cacophony upon her otherwise perfect ivory skin, fragments of past memories entangled with the unparalleled sense of a blade grazing your body, your very being; a constant reminder of her hard work and diligence, of her struggle. Of her life.

Clank.

Iron clashed with iron as the anvil and hammer battled each other against the merciless steel; flames dancing their own sacred cotillion, embracing the metal, stifling the atmosphere.

Glimmering droplets of sweat flew away as she quickly wiped her tense with concentration forehead.

Clank.

Clank.

Phooo.

And as the blazing scorching blade was thrust, plunged into the crystal pale waters, it breathed out a smoke of relief; white soot, which ghosted over her face and figure, providing a thick shelter, concealing her from invisible clutches that threatened to impose their own steel grip on her meek and coy existence.

Sweet almond hues were effectively protected as eyelids blinked once, cleared the dust and pushed the stagnant air away.

"Yukimura-kun! Is it finished? A customer is asking for you!"

She wiped her red from heat hands on her apron and heaved a sigh of honest weariness. She promptly spun on her heel and decisively headed towards the front."I'll be right there!"

He breathed slowly, sensually, savoring each particle of air that entered his tortured pained lungs and shut his eyes close in contained mild delight. Soon, his robe was forced wide open, exposing more of his delicate but diligently chiseled upper body, as it came into moderate view. Delicate hands masterfully caressed his toned chest and ripped abdomen, licking the rose buds on his sternum with their touch; a whisper of lust, as it ghosted over his pale skin and nibbled at his ear and strong neck.

Pink puffy lips gently came to meet his own. He responded hungrily at first, lifting his hands in order to wrap them around a thin waist. He touched and touched and claimed everything as he felt a daring tongue wetting his lips, begging for his optimal response, pleading with him to reciprocate.

And he complied with the silent plea. Why? Because he had, as a matter of fact, paid for it. And generously at that.

He growled passionately. And then heaved a sigh, that was soon abruptly paused midway, as if he was suddenly smothered by an invisible mighty chain. The strong surge, the unyielding wave emanating from deep within him, forcefully surfaced and soon disappeared as swiftly as it came. Gone. Just like that. But it left its impact loud and clear in his mind.

When they finally fluttered open again, green eyes stood unforgivably lackadaisical. Maybe it was because. . . He was rather used to this intimacy. He expected nothing more from it. It was just . . . business. He paid, he received. And he always received what he paid for. No other stronger attachment was to meddle and trouble this simple exchange. None.

Suddenly, the breath that threatened to overwhelm his own inside his mouth, felt so strangely arid, even putrid, stagnant.

A rational part of his mind, that one miniscule part of his reason that was still left intact, only silently sovereign and strong, urgently muttered that this was not possible. That he was just imagining things.

He could not help or inhibit the words that were released from his mouth only a heartbeat afterwards.

"Stop," he murmured against feverish lips and brought his two hands in front of his chest, pushing the other body away from his own. He ought to have felt rather uncomfortable losing the female's warmth. He ought to have. Surely. But, strangely, he did not.

The girl, obviously startled, looked up to his eyes and blinked twice in puzzlement. "Is there something wrong, Okita-san?" she honestly wondered and bit her lips nervously upon watching him arranging his clothes in order to look proper again. "Did I not satisfy your needs? Or I-"

Was there something wrong, really? Perhaps. Maybe there wasn't. Maybe he was just-

"I am not in the mood tonight, after all, Yamraiha," he finally decided to offer and sighed out as he pulled himself to stand on his two steady feet.

A pair of exotic eyes stared at him in pure confusion. He gave his temporary paramour a last measuring glance and brought out his pouch to present her with her deserved coins. The manner in which he finally tossed them at her lap was anything but gentle and kind.

"But. I have not yet finished my~"

"You won't need to. I am done with your companionship for the night."

"But, Okita-san-"

"See ya." He waved leisurely, stopping her mid-sentence and soon bolted out of the dim-light room, only to meet the dark blue starry sky.

As if he was cowardly running away from something, he inwardly noted.

His steps were rhythmical and steady as he paced down the stairs of the infamous building. He nodded a hurried goodbye to the Brothel's security men upon meeting them in his way out and soon had fled the red-light district.

Anyone who happened to pass along his way would have known that he was advancing ahead with a great sense of brisk haste. A haste probably matching the one with which he carried out his formal duties during patrol. This one haste, though, was still quite unfathomable for him to properly place a purpose on.

An unbidden, simple and yet so intricate, question lingered in his thoughts.

Why?

Why he was not satisfied? This girl he just rudely abandoned was rumored to be one of the best concubines of the red-light district. He of all people should have known. He had already taken more than a generous sip of this particular drink; and not only once. And yet this night he was left so unforgivably un-sated. Why?

He had money. After all, he received a rather considerable amount from his job, which was more than enough to satiate his daily needs and capricious whims most of the times. He had fame. O' he had. . . He had friends, a steady –but nonetheless very dangerous, but that was the way he liked it- job, a devoted and kind Commander, a demonic –but still immensely capable- Vice Commander, brave troops to command, women swooning before his very feet, drinks. . .

What was left that his psyche wanted to acquire but couldn't? He was no King, of course. He was far from it, really. But the life he led now never made him miserable before; as far he was openly aware at least.

Then, why, pray tell, was he left un-satiated, thirsty, incomplete and so ridiculously indignant recently? The previous event stood as stentorian proof that he was losing his touch. Could that have been even possible?

Sano-san often claimed lately that those turbulent thoughts of his only occurred because he needed . . . a change of sorts. A change of scenery, of life, or job Souji could not yet know for sure.

But deep down he felt the smoldering need of it. The need to change, to abolish and relinquish the dullness of his present life and fly towards~

Towards where exactly?

After all, he was nothing but a blade, a sword for his Commander to wield. A simple member of the Royal Guard. Simple? Many would disagree. For he was none other than the Captain of the Royal Guard's First Division, Okita Souji.

Author's note

Ehm ... This is just the prologue, so it reveals next to nothing about the real plot. I am very enthusiastic, though. I hope you can somewhat share this enthusiasm as well. Don't ask why I gave Chizuru such a role, please. Maybe your questions will be answered later on. Okay, I am kidding. Ask if you wish. Souji's role is somewhat clearer to understand. He is, after all, a member of The Guard.

I was always enthralled by the art of forging swords. And the whole setting -which is yet to be properly revealed in this Prologue by the way- feels so mysterious and adventurous to me. I was watching Magi and the ending song of an anime called Free!Iwatobi Swim Club and was very excited about an Oriental environment to place the characters into. And, just before surrendering to sleep one night, I decided to listen to my playlist. And the first random song that started playing was Army-Go, which always reminded me of desert/Arabian -Aladdin style- lands in a peculiar way. To be honest, the anime from where this song is taken reminds nothing of what I picture in my head, but that didn't stop me obviously.

Please keep in mind that most of the -especially geographic and historical- parts of this story are parts of my own imagination. The traditions, towns, the way of dressing etc. Of course, they are all based on things I have seen or watched in anime and several other series, so they are not completely mine, per se. So, please bear with them, even ignore them if they trouble you, and enjoy the story.

If anyone is interested to help me by beta-reading the next chapters of this story, please do not hesitate to contact me. I cannot promise I'll have the continuation ready for publication very soon, though, because I have set myself into writing a considerable amount of chapters before starting updating like crazy. I wanted the prologue out to test its "power." *Sigh* The truth is that this prologue barely reveals anything, but anyway.

Please leave a review. And pretty pretty please do not flame me. I am not a very confident person, so I am not sure I'll be able to take it.