Hakuouki in its entirety belongs to IDEA Factory/ Yone Kazuki-sensei; Kawa belongs to me.
** edit: title of fic translates to "Flower of Bloodshed" in Engl .. fitting name, neh?
He looked over the letter a second time, violet eyes narrowed in the furrowed-brow expression he wore on his handsome face.
'My dearest son, I am writing to you as your humble father. As you read this, you will know already that I have left this world for a place in Paradise. And even so, as I am now gone, I ask that you fulfill one last wish for a dying old man. I never wanted you to know what I am about to entail in this last letter, the one stain on my life that should have remained hidden even after I am in the grave. Many years ago, several years after you were born, a woman I had met prior gave birth to a child, a daughter. Her name is Yasakawa, and she is your half-sister. I know this must come as a shock to you, my son, but please listen: Yasakawa, even though she is born of another woman, she is still your sister… she carries Hijikata blood in her veins. As your father and hers as well, I implore and plead with you to take her in. It is my last wish and she is family regardless. Please, Toshizou, do this last thing for your dying father...'
A slow sigh escaped him as he put the letter down on the desk, lifting a hand to rub the bridge of his nose between his closed eyes with two fingers. For the love of god, why me? He wondered, grumbling under his breath.
"Toshi?" Someone knocked on his door, perking his ears.
He opened one eye at the voice, exhaling. "Come in," he replied.
The door slid open to reveal the sight of his half-sister; his father hadn't been telling lies when he said she had Hijikata blood in her veins. The fact that she looked just like him was sort of eerie, he would admit that (never openly, but still).
"What is it, Yasakawa?" He asked patiently, looking up at her gray eyes.
The twenty-year-old girl glanced at the letter on his desk before meeting her brother's violet eyes. "Kondou-san said he and Serizawa-san were going to go over getting funding again; wanted me to let you know." She informed with a shrug.
He nodded and shuffled to his feet with a slight grunt uttered under his breath. "Fine, I'm coming." He briefly paused at seeing she kept her slightly tousled black hair in a high ponytail like he did his own hair, smirking thoughtfully. "I imagine the others are treating you well." He guessed as she followed him out of the room.
She nodded and shrugged again, smiling a little. "Most of them are nice to me, but, well…" She trailed off, looking at his violet eyes with a sheepish expression on her pretty face.
Toshi furrowed his brow briefly before exhaling. "What happened?" He asked cautiously, inwardly slapping his forehead; his father failed to mention that this girl had a hell of a temper.
Kawa's cheeks flared pink before she rubbed the back of her neck. "He started it, talking down to me like I was beneath his sorry feet… You're not mad, are you, nii-san?" She wondered in a hesitant tone, looking away from her brother's eyes.
He made a face and looked her over briefly, noting that there were no scratches or smudges of blood/ dirt on her clothes or her face and arms, quieting. "Not today. Just…" He glanced up as he noticed they were getting closer to that man's room and his lip curled briefly. "Don't get into any trouble around here. Understand?" He looked at her, setting her with a stern scowl he was well-known for amongst the men of their ranks.
Shoulders slumping in relief, she nodded vigorously. "Right! I'll remember that." She promised.
He smiled slightly and lifted a hand to tousle her hair, seeing her blush a little and purse her lips at his gesture. "Good," he nodded, dropping his hand to continue to the room and leave his sister behind in his wake.
Kawa smiled as well before turning tail to retreat to the training hall.
So far it had only been a few months since she had been taken in by her brother; in that amount of time she had made friends among the captains and subordinates of the group her brother was a part of, the Roshigumi. Most of the men she had made friends with were rag-tag samurai, and even though society often despised samurai because they did what they pleased no matter who they hurt, these guys were the opposite. They were nice and friendly and they were the reason she could smile and laugh again.
Being raised an only child for twenty years, she never had siblings or very many friends she could consider family; it was just her mother and herself.
But being among a rag-tag group of men like these ones made her feel as if they were her brothers rather than just her friends.
::::::x|x:::::::
So far she was getting better at using her sword than she had been when she'd first been taken in by her brother; her speed wasn't top-notch just yet, but her endurance, defense and stamina were pretty damn good if she said so herself.
Running a hand through her hair, she sighed quietly as she glanced up at the dying sun in the horizon, the sky colored pink and orange as it was making way for the oncoming moon and her legions upon legions of stars...
"…I was washing my face!" Her ears perked at hearing the exasperation in the stranger's voice, said voice deterring her from her reverie; she lifted a brow and paused in returning to her room.
"I don't see a reason why I gotta be polite to someone like you, runt." The offender of the stranger replied coolly in a cocky voice she knew too well at this point in time; she exhaled and turned to head to the small well their 'landlord' owned, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose.
For the love of…
"Excuse me!?" The stranger seemed to blanch.
A slight chuckle came from the offender. "What? If it's buggin' you that badly…" He seemed to grin snidely.
THWACK.
"Didn't your mother teach you not to offend strangers?" She dusted her hands off as said offender now sported a large pink bump on the top of his head that was covered by his hands, turned away from the annoyed and sore curses uttered by the object of her annoyance. "Good grief…"
"Oi, that hurt, Kawa-chan! Shit," the offender, a lanky brunette with jade green eyes, griped as he looked at her sorely.
She huffed and crossed her arms over her ample bust, making a face. "Apparently even Kondou-san didn't teach ya any manners, Souji." She deadpanned.
The said stranger, a boy with berserker blue hair and orange eyes, blinked once or twice as he looked at the girl that apparently had a hell of a sucker-punch; this girl didn't look to be much older than twenty, twenty-one at best. She was only a few years older than him.
Okita Souji pouted at her blank expression, sniffing and rubbing the bump on his head gingerly, leaning against the handy lip of the well. "Well excuse me fer livin'! I didn't mean any harm to the kid, ya know that, Kawa-chan…" He wheedled.
Kawa rolled her eyes patiently, keeping her arms folded. "Sure you didn't, and Serizawa-san is my grandfather…" She remarked sardonically, unconvinced with his defense.
"Sorry, but it's kinda odd to see a girl around here. Do you work in the kitchen or something?" The blue-haired boy asked, quieting their argument, his orange eyes on the black-haired girl.
She blinked once before she chuckled, smiling dryly. "I get that sometimes. But no, I don't work here, not figuratively, anywho. My name's Kawa; Hijikata Yasakawa, but I like being called 'Kawa'. Less stress," she flashed a light smile before the smile fell and she jabbed a thumb over her shoulder at the brunette that was sending a death glare at the blue berserker. "That's Souji, Okita Souji. Please forgive his rash threat; normally he wouldn't try anything, at least not around here." She laughed sheepishly.
The boy nodded and returned the sheepish laugh. "It's alright. My name's Ibuki, Ibuki Ryunosuke." He replied.
"'Ibuki-kun', then," she mused calmly, seeing him nod.
"It's good to see the pacifying trait in the Hijikata family has not skipped your generation, Yasakawa-kun," a calm voice mused aloud, making the trio look to see a bespectacled brunette coming forward, a kind smile on his face.
"Oi, Sannan-san, what's that mean?" Souji pouted, earning a giggle from the only woman present.
Sannan-san smiled patiently at the brunette, "let it drop, Okita-kun. Besides, Hijikata-kun will yell up a storm if you get too rowdy, and in the presence of a lady to top it off." He scolded.
Kawa elbowed her friend with a smirk. "He does have a point," she mused, cheeky about the 'presence of a lady' bit.
"Aww, neither one of ya are any fun, Sannan-san," Souji sniffed, elbowing back before slinging an arm around her shoulders affectionately, to which she blushed slightly and then smiled.
He rolled his eyes at the younger brunette's childish rebuttal, looking to the newcomer. "Regardless, you're the one that Serizawa-san rescued, aren't you; have you recovered from your injuries?" He asked politely.
The bluenette blinked before he nodded slightly. "Yeah, but where's that Serizawa guy anyway?" He returned.
"Serizawa-san is currently out; I believe he'll be returning tonight."
"He's out, huh?"
"What is it you need of Serizawa-san?"
"… I was told to thank him for savin' me before I go."
Both of the boy's age-mates shared a brief look at his explanation before the lankier of the two piped up, "oi, hang on, aren't you gonna thank Kondou-san? He is the one who saved your neck, after all."
He blinked again in confusion. "Who's 'Kondou-san'?" He wondered.
The younger Hijikata shrugged her friend's arm from her shoulders, crossing her own over her ample chest. "Kondou-san is the highest-ranking member of the Roshigumi." And between him and Serizawa, he's the kinder of the two, she inwardly added.
"Well put as always, Yasakawa-kun. Come on, I'll introduce you to him." Sannan-san smiled lightly, nodding to the bluenette.
Ibuki returned the nod, seeing the aforementioned girl smile a little at him before he followed the bespectacled man back into the further recesses of the compound.
Souji elbowed the girl. "Oi, oi, what's with that smile? Yer not goin' sweet on the runt, are you?" He wondered, smirking at her.
Even though Kawa was the only woman allowed in the Roshigumi headquarters because she was Hijikata's baby sister as well as said man's charge, that never stopped her from being as much of a thick-skinned tomboy as much as he'd ever met. She was beautiful and he couldn't help but find it highly amusing to make her blush or laugh.
"Don't be so delusional." She huffed, blushing prettily as she rammed her elbow into his left side reproachfully, jarring him from his thoughts, making him blink his green eyes a couple of times.
He rubbed his side gingerly, pouting down at her. "Geez, your elbow-jabs are almost as hellish as your friggin' sucker-punches, Kawa-chan." He grated.
She huffed again and crossed her arms, turning on her heel to retreat inside. "Don't be such a big baby; nii-san told me how legit you were with a sword, so I know somethin' like that wouldn't hurt a big strong idiot like you, Souji." She replied casually over her shoulder.
He clicked his tongue and smirked, trotting after her lead. "Well, I didn't figure Hijikata-san would be such a blabber-mouth…" He mumbled under his breath.
"You bastard; don't you realize who yer talkin' to!? How dare you talk to me that way!?" The low growl of that man rang out in the dark night.
Every nerve inside her cringed when she heard that tone, the evident slur in his growling voice a sure-enough sign that he had come back as drunk as an alcoholic; her hand gripped the hilt of the sword at her right hip.
"Care to repeat what you just said, Hijikata…? You bastard! What'd you say!?" Serizawa Kamo snarled.
Her knuckles were white when she glanced down at the hard grip she had on the hilt; her gray eyes narrowed before she exhaled sharply and decided to step out.
Hearing that man goad her comrades into annoyance was one thing, but to hear him speak so disrespectfully against her own brother… She clicked her tongue.
"I'll say it as many times as I have to: we're new in Kyoto, so keep your 'playing around' in the Red-Light District within reason. You're not the only ones who have to live here." Hijikata Toshizou repeated patiently, said patience wearing thin with the overgrown prick he stood against.
One of the trio standing behind said man, an ass-kisser named Niimi, bristled. "Hijikata-kun! How dare you speak to Serizawa-sensei like that!?" He barked indignantly.
"Pretty damn sure he has a right to speak that way; old drunken dogs need to be reminded of their place in a pack, y'know." Hijikata Yasakawa answered calmly before her older brother could rebut snappishly, surprising the trio of men at her bold outburst as she came to stand faithfully at her brother's right; the young woman crossed her arms over her chest, gray eyes steely, as they met his beady black eyes.
"You're disturbing the tranquility of night, if I might add." She added dryly, smirking.
"You insolent…" Niimi began to snarl.
"Stay out of this," her brother hissed at her side, his warning falling on deaf ears (as it usually did, half the time).
"Better an old dog than a weak whore." Serizawa thundered, his own beady gray eyes flashing angrily at the sight of such an ungrateful woman. "Keep your mouth shut and learn your place around here, girl." He paused briefly and then laughed blackly. "But then again, what can I expect from a bitch who's the youngest sibling of this bastard Hijikata?" He sneered.
Kawa bristled and spat at his face, her fists shaking slightly at her sides as the spittle landed on the front of his stern face. "You will not speak of my brother like that in my presence, you damned old drunk!" She snarled coldly, her left hand flying to the hilt of her katana.
He lifted a hand to wipe the spit from his face, his teeth clenched as his eyes blazed anger. "Know your place!" He raised his fan-wielding hand to slap her across the face.
Damn it…! He shoved her behind him, right arm extending to block any harm from befalling the younger Hijikata, as the fan descended.
A light 'thwack' sounded when it hit the front of his forehead, slightly baffling the men behind the offender as well as the girl he was protecting.
"Nii-san," she murmured softly.
Toshi glared stonily up at Serizawa, violet eyes cold and just-plain-pissed, his glare locked with that of Serizawa Kamo's. "I don't care if you're from the Mito Tenguto; if you're going to throw your status as a samurai in our faces as well as insult my sister in my presence, don't do anything to give us too much reason to complain." He growled.
"Bastard!" He bristled, grinding his teeth together. "Why didn't you dodge? Did you assume that I was gonna stop? Or that I would slap the teeth out of that whorish brat you're so valiantly protecting?" He snapped.
"I wasn't going to dodge, regardless; I will deal out the punishment to her regarding her words on my own terms, as well. Besides, I didn't say anything wrong." He rebutted sharply.
Serizawa closed his eyes calmly and huffed, removing the fan from his forehead and walking past the siblings, pausing short of a few feet. "It wouldn't really inconvenience us if we were to stop workin' together; if you don't like my methods, you're free to return to Edo whenever y'want… and take your bitch sister with you. Let's go, Niimi." He beckoned coolly, continuing on his way.
Toshi glared ahead as the quartet of men followed him until they left; his shoulders slumped a little and he exhaled.
Kawa blinked when he turned to look at her, meeting his violet eyes. "Nii-san," she began quietly, lowering her gaze; she flinched when he raised a hand, looking away out of shame.
"I'm surprised you didn't slap him for 'speaking like that of your brother in your presence'…" His hand landed on the top of her head, ruffling her hair gently; she opened her eyes and looked up at him in surprise, slightly confused as to why he was being kind instead of scolding her like she knew he would. "I'm glad that you're alright. Though the insults were a little over the top." He mused, perking her ears.
She quieted and then smiled wryly, punting his hand off her head aimlessly with a smirk. "I thought they were pretty well-needed, actually. Besides, forget my slapping him, y'shoulda sliced his head off with your sword, nii-san. It woulda been fun to see," she remarked playfully.
Toshi shook his head softly and exhaled, deadpanning. "It's a wonder you're able to keep up with the rest of us with that attitude." He rebutted.
Kawa pouted and sniffed, feigning hurt. "Yer so mean, nii-san!" She whined.
He chuckled quietly and smirked at her over-dramatics, poking her forehead with a finger. "Piss off; you're acting like a brat again." He chided.
She huffed.
"Are you two all right, Hijikata-kun?" Both siblings blinked when they heard that voice, looking to see Sannan-san, Souji, Kondou-san, the trio of monkeys –that is, Shinpachi, Sano, and Heisuke—and Ibuki standing there on the sidelines, looking at them expectantly.
"Y-you all were listening in?" Kawa stammered, blushing slightly out of embarrassment as Toshi shared in her surprise, cocking a brow.
Souji huffed. "'Course we did, we all heard that old fuck yellin' at you two. If y'want, I'd happily kill him for ya, love." He piped up, looking at her and winking; she blushed again and huffed, pursing her lips.
"What Souji meant to say is that we heard the commotion and came to see if there was any trouble." Kondou-san elaborated calmly, ignoring the pout from his favored prodigy and looking at the Hijikata siblings.
Toshi huffed. "Whether there's trouble or not, that man will clash with others simply by being alive." He offered calmly, slightly irritable about the whole matter, walking towards their friends.
Kawa followed at his heels, elbowing the lanky brunette that slung his arm around her shoulders again. "I might just join you in killing that old dog. Dunno how much longer I can take hearin' his barking voice." She muttered.
Souji chuckled and squeezed her shoulders. "I'd imagine ya'd look beautiful even with blood on your hands, Kawa-chan." He mused quietly.
She blushed prettily and snorted out of habit, looking away. "Piss off." She grated even when he chuckled softly in amusement.
"Although I'm sure that's true, you're going to have to work at ignoring what he says, Hijikata-kun." Sannan-san chided calmly, bringing them back to the main topic at hand.
Toshi snorted. "He'd have to die and be reborn for such a ludicrous thing to happen."
Everyone laughed.
His violet eyes registered on the bluenette present and narrowed slightly at him. "Who're you; you're not a guest of Yagi-san's, are you?" He wondered.
"Eh?" Ibuki blinked in confusion before looking away. "I'm, um…"
Kondou-san piped up, "he's the guy who collapsed on his way here; said he wanted to thank Serizawa-san for helping him."
Toshi nodded. "Makes sense."
"Oi, Ryunosuke, it looks like Serizawa-san's had a lot to drink; it'd be best if you waited 'til tomorrow to thank him, wouldn't it?" Shinpachi mused, looking at the bluenette.
"Yep, yep; Serizawa-san can't hold his liquor worth shit." Heisuke echoed.
Kawa huffed, "not as well as me, least ways. And I'm a woman." She chirped.
Sano smirked and planted a hand on her head, ruffling her hair. "Still haven't put that to the test, Kawa-chan." He teased.
"Oi, hands off my woman, Sano-san!" Souji elbowed his friend, making him drop his hand from her head.
THWACK.
"I am not 'your woman', Okita Souji." Kawa cracked her knuckles as the aforementioned brunette held his broken nose gingerly in both hands, blood seeping between his fingers.
"Nah, but ya still pack a hell of a sucker-punch, Kawa-chan." Shinpachi snickered at the slightly teary-eyed scowl his fellow brunette steered in his direction.
She smiled lightly. "Aww, such a sweetie, Shinpatsu!" She teased, punching his arm.
Toshi rolled his eyes patiently at the playful demeanor his sister had with the boys, patting Souji on the shoulder. "Coulda warned you about that sucker-punch," he mused.
Souji snorted and rubbed his nose gingerly with a finger. "Piss off, Hijikata-san." He grated, shrugging past him.
"Alright, for now let's go back inside and have dinner; Yasakawa-kun helped and it looks great!" Kondou-san piped up, leading the group back inside.
"Hopefully Kawa-chan didn't burn anything, knowin' her," Souji mused teasingly.
Kawa huffed indignantly and stomped to walk next to Ibuki. "C'mon, Ryu-kun, don't listen to that jerk!" She declared loudly only to irritate said brunette.
A vein twitched on his temple as his green eyes narrowed in annoyance. You take things too literal sometimes, y'know that? He wondered, stomping after her.
review please; thanks~
