Chapter two: Congregation of crows

White silky hair, cold silver eyes. His smile, his breath, his lips on her neck, the taste of her own blood, the taste of betrayal...

She sat up abruptly with her eyes wide open, clearly disorientated as to where she was. Instantly she could feel the pain so she learned the hard way that she wasn't dead. Yet. She looked around her. It was a spacious room lit by some oil lamps standing in the corners. She was in the middle of it, sitting in the futon but she wasn't there alone. Oh no, she was far from being alone. In front of her was sitting the man called Hijikata-san. On his left was a big fellow with blue eyes and green bandanna tied around his head, on the right there was sitting a man with red hair and amber eyes. Then closer to her was the one who seemed to be the youngest of them all with his brown long hair put up in a ponytail. And then on her left was a guy who had dark hair tied together low on his back. His dark navy blue eyes were looking at someone behind her so she, curious as she was, followed his gaze just to met the playful green eyes she knew from before. In those eyes she clearly saw some sparkles but she just didn't know what they meant. The owner of those beautiful eyes had her pinned just with his stare alone and she could swear he caught a glimpse of her very soul. In the light of the oil lamps his mahogany hair with ginger tones looked as if they were made of fire. She closed her eyes for a moment desperately trying to understand why she was still among the living and not six feet under the ground. She opened her mouth trying to articulate all the questions that were running through her head, but she couldn't. Her throat was sore and perched, her lips were dry so she just looked around to see if she could find something to drink.

- Saitou, give her some water - Hijikata's voice reached her. The man on the left poured water into a cup and held it for her so that she could gulped it down. She took the cup from him hesitating only for a second and then she drank all its content. 'He said give 'her 'some water so I guess my disguise didn't work as well as I'd hoped.' She coughed slightly and looked straight at Hijikata-san who by all means was the man in charge of this group.

- Why am I still alive? - she asked in a coarse voice - I did loose my fight against that boy... What was his name again? Ah, yeah, Raynouske... Surely I shouldn't be alive after that.

- Well, Serikazawa might be a jerk, but he never said that if you loose against Raynouske you will be killed. He merely stated that Raynouske will get to be his dog a bit longer - she tilted her head to look at the green-eyed guy who was now much closer to her than when she last looked at him. His tone was teasing and somehow she felt that it was his idea that saved her.

- The one next to you who came up with the plan to save you is Okita Souji - Okita simply gave her a lopsided smile and she couldn't help herself and smiled back at him.

- On your left is Saitou Hajime - slight nod and a quick glance were all the signs that he acknowledged her presence.

- The kiddo here is Todou Heiskue - wide and bright smile and she instantly felt that she would be able to get along with him.

- And on my left with the bandanna is Shinpachi Nagakura and next to me Harada Sanouske - they both were grinning at her.

- My name is Hijikata Toshizou and I'm the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi.

'Shinsengumi? But they were supposedly killed when the coup d'etat took place...'

- I guess the rumours about Shinsengumi's demise were greatly exaggerated - she replied allowing herself for a smirk. All eyes were fixed on her and that made her feel more self-aware than usual.

- My name is Tachibana Hotaru. You can call me however you like but I would appreciate if you didn't tell anybody about my secret. I mean it'd be a pain in the ass if people here realised that I'm not a young boy.

- Yeah, it must be tough for a little girl like you. I mean, you're just a kid by the look of it - Heiskue looked concerned but his comment only made Harada and Shinpachi burst with laughter - And what is so fucking funny?

- Well Heiskue, how can you call Hotaru-chan a kid when you yourself are twelve years old - Shinpachi declared mockingly.

- You old bastards should just go and die - Heiskue was clearly short-tempered.

Suddenly she felt as if she was with her comrades again. All this cheerful banter, these men's antics and for a moment it felt like home. 'Yeah, what was that again? Guys must be worried sick... Or maybe they actually think I died long ago'. Her heart sunk a bit and she lowered her head for a moment so that neither of them could see her saddened eyes, but when she looked up again she knew they could tell.

- So what is going to happen with me? I mean you did go through the trouble of patching me up so I hope that you didn't do it just to kill me afterwards...

- That would be too much of a hassle - whispered Okita-san and then he immediately added - But that doesn't mean we won't kill you later on.

- Fair enough - Hotaru shrugged her arms - so why not kill me on the spot?

- You did spare Raynouske-kun - replied Saitou-san in his low calm voice.

- Did I? Perhaps he is just better with his sword than I am with mine - Hajime-kun stared at her for a couple of seconds.

- No, he's not - he simply stated - Where did you learn to fight like this? I'm not familiar with your style.

- Hajime-kun is always keen when it comes to handling swords and fighting styles - Souji clarified - But I'm curious as well.

- So am I - added Hijikata-san. It was clear that he was a strict person but she could sense that he was fair as well.

- My fighting style? I didn't know I had one. It's just what it is a self-defence but it's true that I went through pretty harsh training and that I had many teachers so to speak.

She wasn't lying. That much was true and as to how she became proficient at it... Well, she could only hope that they wouldn't ask. She still wasn't feeling well and it dawned on her that she was tired but before she could say anything else she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. It was Okita-san who with almost no effort at all pushed her so that she lied down. He casually stroke her cheek and said:

- You should get some rest, Ho-ta-ru-chan.

She wanted to say something but the moment her head hit the pillow she fell asleep.

- What do you think? - Hijikata asked in a serious tone.

- About the girl? Well, she's kinda cute, isn't she? I don't dislike that - Okita stated.

- That's not what I meant.

- It seems like she took some serious beating before she was grabbed by Serikazawa's men. The wound on her left arm looks as if she was attacked by some animals - said Saitou.

- And there's the matter of those old scares all over her tiny body... Whoever left those knew how to cause a great pain - Okita was looking at the girl sleeping in the room next door. He could see her through the door they left ajar just so they could keep tabs on her. She was laying down on her stomach her entire body buried under the sheets. He could see her burning up cheeks and drops of sweat on her forehead. Suddenly she moved and pulled out one of her thin legs from under the cover. Her white skin looked as if it was made from porcelain and he felt the urge to touch her. Being himself he stood up and went over to her. He touched her forehead and then caressed her leg.

- She's so hot, we need to do something to cool her down... - he looked back at the two men.

- I will leave it to the two of you. I still have to attend the meeting with that bastard - Hijikata was irritated - Souji, please do try to refrain yourself from killing anyone while I'm not here.

- Yes, sir! - the innocent smile didn't convince the vice-commander so he added:

- Saitou, make sure that he behaves.

- Will do.

After Hijikata had left the room the two men sat in a comfortable silence for a while. Okita was playing with Hotaru's hair letting each golden strand sip through his fingers.

- Souji, she's not a pet.

-Hmm?

- The girl. She's not a pet. You've been patting her for a while now - Okita froze for a moment and looked down at his hand almost as if he didn't recognised it as his own.

- Sorry, Hajime-kun. I just can't help myself... I mean she's like a kitten - Souji just smiled apologetically but Hajime knew him too well to believe that he really was sorry.

- I will bring some cold water and towels so that we can try to bring her fever down. Please take into consideration that she's unconscious - with that said Hajime left the room. Okita thought for a moment about his words but he decided to ignore his friend's remarks. 'She really does look like a small kitten. It's only natural to nestle her'. It looked as if she was dreaming about something. She was moaning quietly and she even uttered someone's name but he couldn't make out what it was. He bent a little so now he was hovering over her and then he noticed a single tear running down her cheek. He rubbed it delicately with his thumb and murmured her name:

- Ho-ta-ru-chan.

- Ho-ta-ru-chan.

She heard someone's voice right next to her ear. She could hear a playful note to it and when she opened up her eyes she saw emerald sea right in front of her. It took her some time to understand that it was Okita-san. He was leaning towards her his face only inches away from hers but funny enough she didn't find him annoying.

- Ho-ta-ru-chan - he whispered again - Did you have a bad dream? You were crying - and he showed her a single drop on his thumb. She touched her cheek and she felt something wet. 'So I was crying, huh?! I'm getting softer and softer these days'.

- I'm sorry, Okita-san. It seems that I'm still not well.

She tried to sit up and he helped her out so that she could rest her back against the wall behind her. He then sat next to her and casually checked her forehead.

- It seems that you still have a fever. Hajime-kun went for some wet towels so that we can wrap you up in them - she just nodded slightly. For a couple of minutes neither one of them spoke but it was a comfortable silence.

- Thank you for not asking about the scars - she whispered so quietly that he rather saw her lips moving than actually heard her speak.

- I mean, you took care of my wounds so you must have seen the scars... So thank you for not asking about them.

- No problem at all. Everyone has a past that they wish to forget about.

- I brought towels, how do you feel Tachibana? - Saitou was looking straight at her. He was amazed to find Okita sitting next to the girl and chatting idly. Since Kondou-san was imprisoned by Serikazawa, Souji ceased to smile and seemed to only be waiting for a right moment to strike. However, months went by and the moment was yet to present itself. They were all frustrated but Hajime knew that this situation was taking the biggest toll on Souji for whom Kondou was more like a father than a commander. Okita being stubborn as he was never talked about his feelings or frustrations, yet they all were waiting for him to explode. But now Saitou had the feeling that with the girl around things may be different.

-Oh, Saitou-san, thank you for bringing towels and sorry for the trouble. It will take some time for me to be back to my top form but I'm a lot tougher than I look - brimming smile. Both guys exchanged gazes. Yep, when she smiled the room seemed brighter. They all heard some noises outside and then the door opened wide and Heiskue stormed in.

- So you are awake, Hotaru! That's great, how are you feeling? Are you in much pain? I mean that was something! The way you took Okinawa out! We need to practice together some time! - Todou jumped all around beaming with excitement. Right behind him were Sano and Shinpachi and they were trying to stop him, to no avail. Hotaru couldn't help herself and burst with laughter. It surprised her, because she couldn't remember when was the last time she laughed like this. 'A couple of weeks ago? Or months?' Souji couldn't take his eyes off of her when she was laughing like that. The view was just mesmerising. Her golden hair were dishevelled, her green eyes were glazed because of the fever and her cheeks had this pinkish shade which resembled roses. He shook his head amazed at how she made him feel.

- Todou-san, you are much too much for me - she said still smiling - Do you know that when you bounce around like that you look like a puppy?

- Oi Hotaru! Who's side are you on? - Todou faked annoyance but nobody was buying it - And call me Heiskue. I'm not that much older than you, and well, everyone calls me that.

- Then Heiskue-kun it is.

- Nice to see your smiling face - Harada interrupted - You should smile more often because fortune comes to those who smile.

- And cute girls should smile all the time! World would be a better place if they did!

- Shinpachi, you big ol' softie!

- What did you say? Who's old you brat!

Their banter went on and on like this. Hotaru felt that her eyelids were getting heavier and heavier. 'I will close them just for a couple of minutes... Just to rest a bit...'

- You really are too innocent for your own good - Okita whispered into her ear but she didn't hear that. She was leaning on him and simply fell asleep. They all noticed that but didn't stop chatting as they figured that it wasn't much of a problem for her.