I don't own Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan or any material related to it.
Prologue
The bloody corpse lay crumpled on the ground before him, Okita Souji gave his attacker a last hard kick before an evil grin crossed his face.
"Seen better days, have we?" he chortled before uncontrollable coughs started wracking his chest and abdomen. The coughs grew more severe and soon Okita was on his knees, blood flowing freely from his mouth, chest burning like it was on fire, his eyes turning watery with strain.
It is getting worse, everyday this disease is taking me bit by bit, I don't want to die like this.
His coughs had drowned out the sound of the approaching foot falls, when Okita finally noticed them, they were already close enough to unsheathe their katanas, the silent hiss of steel against leather accompanied by a chuckle.
"Shit" was all he could utter before the coughs came again. I might die sooner than I thought.
Very willing to take advantage of Okita's compromised position they were treading closer, no effort to be silent, eagerness gleamed in their eyes, they wanted the blood of a Shinsengumi. Okita could only watch through blurry eyes as his death came closer in the guise of two mediocre swordsmen waving their swords in the air like platoon standards.
This isn't the glorious death I had hoped for. He smirked inwardly as he thought of the irony in all of this. He could hear their breaths now, they were close, panting like hungry street muts.
"Today is our lucky day Hoshi." the one man sneered, a bloodthirsty look in his eyes.
"Seems so, my blade is thirsty for some wolf blood" the other said.
"Look at you, pathetic! On your knees ready to die!" both men laughed out loud, a badly aimed kick grazing Okita's ribs.
Suddenly the man on the left fell to the ground with a loud thud, dead. Okita saw no blood, but the man was dead for certain, his glassy eyes staring into nothingness. His partner whirled around scanning the area for the attacker, Okita imagined he looked quite comical with his panicked expression, aimlessly waving his sword at nothing. Not seeing any attacker, the man turned to his fallen comrade, tentatively checking for a pulse.
Okita, still coughing and on his knees, stared at the two men until he noticed a black shape coming from behind, it was fast, blurring as it seemed to nearly fly through the air, it connected with the still kneeling man's head, slamming his face and chest into the ground. Something glinted in the late afternoon sun, a tantō, with lightning speed it came down. Stab. Blood. Shriek. Stab. The man was dead.
Silence followed the the attack, Okita was stunned by the speed of the assault, the swiftness of the man's death, he looked up, the setting sun and his watery eyes making it difficult to see his rescuer, or was it his attacker?
At least I will be killed by a skilled warrior.
A silvery laugh echoed through the empty street, a woman's laugh. "Don't worry yourself Shinsengumi-dono." the voice was rich and vibrant. "I am not a foe...I would be more worried about my illness if I was you." her voice dropped an octave or two, taking on a somber tone. "Tuberculosis does not go well with your lifestyle, you should take care of yourself."
The woman took a step back from Okita, stepping right into the setting sun, a bright halo forming around her shoulders. Her silhouette showed a shapely figure, perfect curves with long legs, he realised then that she did not wear a kimono but a tight fitting version of katabira. What is this woman. Why does she wear armour? Okita found himself wondering.
"Okita-san!" the shout came from afar, it was Heisuke's voice.
"Well that would be my cue to leave. Wipe your mouth before they get too close" she chuckled as she turned from him, a long ponytail and errant wisps of hair twirling with her. "...and take care." her voice trailed off.
"Wait" Okita croaked, but she had already headed off, he stared at her form for a while, Okita found himself mesmerised with her walk, her hips swaying as her silhouette sauntered away.
"Okita-san! Are you alright?" Heisuke's voice broke his trance.
Slightly disoriented Okita rose with the help of his friend, discreetly wiping the blood from his mouth and chin as he rose. "This imbecile just caught me by surprise" he said grumpily as he nudged one of the men's bodies.
"Surprise? You getting old or something?" Heisuke teased him as he gave him a wide grin. "I have heard it happens to the best of us, getting old that is...I once heard this story from the old man at the baths..." Heisuke's chattering faded to a hum in Okita's mind as his thoughts returned to the mystery woman with the swaying hips.
He bent to carefully pick up a clearly poisoned shuriken from the ground. So this is how you did it, but from that far? He looked at where she possibly would have been when throwing the deadly star, scanning the empty street, he could not see any good hiding spots close enough for himself to release an accurate throw. She must be a good thrower. He smiled to himself.
But..who and what was she? Why did she help him? Would he see her again? What did she know about his disease? Questions tumbled into his thoughts, just to end without answers.
Brushing off Heisuke's teasing offer of a walking stick, Okita made his way back to their base, his mind reeling with questions.