Chapter One: Monday, Freshmeat Week
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Tetsu screamed a fearsome war cry as he lunged forward fully intending to spear his victim on the tip of his sword. Instead he tripped over his momentum. There was a swift retaliation and a stinging on his back where the dummy had lashed out at him. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes and he squeaked something along the lines of ouch.
Staring resentfully at the cat-boy as a perfect run was executed he rubbed his spiky head. Stupid dummy. Hijikata probably rigged it so that it would kick his ass no matter what he did. There was no other explanation!
"Tetsu, you're holding it too high. If you hold it that high then you won't get the right kind of leverage. Because you're so small you need every advantage you can get." Okita chided. He had his long hair in a high ponytail for practice.
Tetsu's pride was at war. He didn't want to admit that he didn't have a clue what he was doing; that wasn't his nature. Instead he was mulishly doing what he always did. B.S.ing it.
One the other hand, Okita was taking the time to explain things. The cheery senior had better things to do than teach an ignorant little runt with an attitude.
So he bit back the scathing response to the criticism and the implied diss on his size.
"Like this?" Tetsu asked correcting his grip.
"No, no. That's not quite right." Okita said shaking his head. He moved up behind Tetsu and leaned again his back pulling him in where he could place his longer arms over Tetsu's arms. His fingers curled gently correcting and readjusting. Then they were on hips, readjusting the balance and stance. They lingered slowly before trailing down his calves.
Tetsu shied away, breaking the contact with his face burning.
Okita gave him a curious look, "Do you understand now, or should I show you?" Seeing that Tetsu couldn't formulate a proper answer he invited, "Just attack me."
"But—you don't have any protection! I don't want to hurt you."
This seemed to amuse the senior, and he showed his amusement with a smile.
"Don't worry. Just make sure you're properly protected."
Tetsu didn't bother. There was no way he would lose. Not if he wanted to be on the school's kendo team. Getting Tatsu to agree to it was hard enough! This should be a piece of cake in comparison.
He glanced around to notice he had amassed a small audience. Sano and Shinpachi were staring wide-eyed in a strange mixture of horror and surprise while Suzu frowned. Not that it mattered. If he whooped their best competitor then even that evil demon couldn't keep him from the team.
With a whirlwind of energy he dashed forward swinging away. Okita dodged each swing lazily and laughed teasingly, "You couldn't hit a turtle like that."
"Grrr."
They danced on with Okita swirling out of reach or bending back or prancing the side at each attack. It was like he could anticipate every move. It was pissing Tetsu off.
He snarled and jumped forward feinting left. Okita blinked innocently as he avoided the ploy and skirted a wall. This wasn't a game of tag!
Okita darted forward and tapped him on the head just hard enough to hurt.
"Jerk!" Tetsu hissed and lunged again. This time he was scored on his right shoulder, then his left.
"Give it up kid; you can't win!" Sano urged while Shinpachi blurted at the same time, "Hey Okita go easy on the kid. Remember the last time…"
Tetsu wasn't the brightest crayon at times but even he knew when he was outmatched. Which just made him that much more determined to dish out some butt kicking. Okita couldn't possibly be untouchable.
Time to let blind luck and stupidity play a major role in the battle. Spin the dice and see what Fate has to say or some such rot like that.
It was more accident than design, but Tetsu kicked up the edge of the mat. It caused two reactions. He fell forward and instinctively, after years of playing in forbidden areas, tucked into a smooth roll. When the body performs without the mind the results can be amazing. In this case they were down right miracle-like. The second was that Okita's center of gravity was disrupted. It wasn't enough to throw it off that much. Just enough to blow things to the top of Mount Everest.
The result of those two mishaps was Tetsu doing the impossible: landing one solid hit on Okita with his weapon.
And according to the laws of Cause and Effect Tetsu figured he was going to get it.
What he didn't expect was for Okita to suddenly turn rabid on him.
The whole demeanor shifted to a darker, more violent side of Okita. This was the side that Tetsu had only glimpsed before when the senior was threatening Sano. Now he had it up his face and pissed as heck.
Tatsu must be right. He'd be better off as a hermit on some God forsaken mountain in the Himalayas. At least then he couldn't mess up so badly.
SLAM.
He barely managed to raise a decent block. His wrists vibrated from the shock of the blow and his wooden sword had a crack running down it. When the next swing came he wasn't any better prepared. This one sent him stumbling back with a numb shoulder. The third hit was true charmer. The point slammed into his protective armor over his chest and propelled him backwards… into a warm body.
Dazed and not just a little confused Tetsu tried to shoo the little puppies that were frisking around his head. They growled at him. Insolent things. Geez, even his dizzy fabrications disrespected him. What did a guy have to do to not get taunted at every turn?
Okita didn't seem to even notice that he was down. The senior stalked forward with all the careful precision of a wolf on the hunt. His eyes were hidden behind a veil of bangs and his mouth was set in a deep frown. He raised the sword to execute a downward stroke and finish Tetsu off.
Tetsu was terrified to the point where he wanted to tear out his eyes so he wouldn't have to watch himself be mutilated. He hoped his death would be swift.
Another bokken interposed between the hapless freshman and his doom. There was a loud crack as the wood smacked together.
"Okita, I believe you are not allowed to spar without approval from Yoshida." The voice said and Okita blinked losing his scary edge almost immediately. He looked around and stared at Tetsu.
"Thank you Saito." The senior remarked walking towards the prone freshman.
Tetsu wanted to scramble back or yell or something. Instead he felt like a rabbit watching a hawk swoop down. The flight part of his nervous system wasn't responding and the fight had the daylights beaten out of it.
The hand descended and Tetsu flinched.
"Here. You should let me help you to the nurse's room. I believe I caused some damage to your shoulder." Okita said softly with apology seeping out with the words.
Tetsu stared up to see regret mingling with a stiffness and sorrow.
He firmly grabbed the hand, all thoughts of being hurt being shoved aside until his shoulder was jolted. With a hiss of pain coupled with a few choice words he staggered to his feet.
Once he was up he'd be damn if he let someone help him. He wasn't a baby after all! Okita tried to help making Tetsu bat the other boy's hand away. Instant guilt trip when he made the mistake of looking at the senior.
Maybe leaning on his shoulder wouldn't be such a bad idea. For Okita's sake anyway. He was trying to make it up and Tetsu decided he should stop being a selfish brat. Well, he didn't really think of it that way. It was more like he couldn't stand to see Okita look at him that way and subconsciously decided his new friend's happiness was more important than his pride. Only by a little bit though.
The trip down to the nurse's office was uneventful.
Unfortunately that was the only thing that was uneventful.
Hijikata was standing outside the door waiting for them. He stared down at Tetsu coldly, but moved aside to let him pass. When Okita tried to follow he blocked the way and demanded, "Souji, talk with me for a moment."
"Yes Hijikata." Okita replied and stood off to the side giving Tetsu an encouraging smile, "Go ahead, I'll be fine, honest! And Ayunee is quite nice."
Tetsu reluctantly shuffled through the door and cracked it.
"—Souji, that was irresponsible, I thought you have more sense than that." Hijikata growled.
There was a long pause.
"I know, I guess I got carried away!" Okita replied, "He doesn't know what he's doing yet but I can change that."
Hijikata grunted, "I'm sure you could. You have a bad habit of changing people to the way you want them."
"Yes, and you fell for it, admit it! You'd do anything if I asked the right way…"
"Souji, get your hands off there. That is not appropriate for a public hallway. Especially between a student and an administrator. Besides, that's a private area for me."
The freshman leaned closer. He couldn't have possibly heard that right.
"Can I help you?" A distinctly feminine voice asked from behind him.
He whirled, slammed the door shut, and smashed his head all in three seconds. A new record.
"I…uh, um, I… Okita told me to, uh, come in here. Are you Ayunee?" Tetsu stuttered.
The woman smiled and nodded, "I am. Oh dear, Souji did it again, didn't he? I told Toshi to keep things out of reach."
Tetsu nodded dumbly. What was this 'again' stuff?
"The last freshman he took a liking to, last year when he was a junior, ended up transferring. I'm rather surprised he picked you up." Ayunee chatted as she gathered up stuff from various drawers.
"You're a girl." Tetsu observed.
"So I am."
"I thought girls weren't allowed on campus unless they were like someone's mother or something." His face screwed up at that thought.
She smiled warmly and rolled up his uniform sleeve. The skin was turning black. She rotated the blade slowly and he gritted his teeth. A little pain wasn't going to get to him. She then handed him some aspirin and water.
He gratefully gulped down the pills.
"Well, you're quite the tough guy. Nothing is fractured or even sprained. I bet Souji hit you with a full attack too. You'll be quite a contender on the team if you keep this up."
He ducked his head shyly.
"Would you like some brownies while I call your caretaker? I'm afraid I can't give you anything stronger until I get approval and those little bitty Tylenol aren't going to do much."
He was reaching for one of the chocolate sugar bombs when Okita and Hijikata entered. Okita looked properly chastened, except for the fact that he kept slipping small smiles when the other man wasn't looking, in Tetsu's direction.
"Ooo, brownies!" He said suddenly. Tetsu thought he was moving before, but that was nothing in comparison to the human bullet surging towards him. In the time it took him to blink Okita had broke the sound barrier and downed half a brownie.
"Company." Ayunee remarked, "Your brother is on his way."
"You should not leave those out." Hijikata accused with a dark glower. It made Tetsu want to leap to her defense. "Souji does not need another sugar boost."
Ayunee glanced over and shook her head.
"It won't hurt him."
"I was not worried about him. It is the rest of us who have to deal with him on a sugar high and somehow manage to live through it." Hijikata rumbled darkly.
Okita gave a chocolate-covered smile and licked his fingers one by one.
By then the ration of Tetsu's consumption to Okita's was 1:5.
"But don't you like me when I'm sweet?" Okita asked saucily.
"No."
"Yet you insist on teasing me." Okita purred sliding closer. Hijikata stood his ground with a disapproving frown. When the senior drew closer he defensively moved into a protected position.
"Do not."
"Don't what?"
"Touch my hair again like you did out in the hall just now. I am warning you."
"Or what will happen?" Okita asked silkily inching closer.
Tetsu watched with avid fascination. How was he doing it? Getting the better of such an evil devil. Okita was a rare person, very rare. Tetsu bet he could make a pack of hyenas nervous and stand down a raging buffalo.
Then he pounced.
Hijikata reeled back from the sudden weight attached to him. Okita's hands were anywhere and everywhere, frisking and patting available body parts.
"Ah ha!" Okita crowed and jumped off the violated man. He twirled a Sees Candy chocolate pop between his fingers before giving a victory sign, "I win again!"
"Now who's encouraging him Toshi?" Ayunee asked with a shake of her head. "One might think you do it just to get felt up."
"How did you know I had that. I forgot I put it there when I bought my tobacco this morning." Hijikata glared as the purple haired boy peeled off the wrapper and popped the sucker in his mouth. It bulged out of his cheek as he mumbled, "Joos smeels like choocoolott."
Tetsu was now really confused, but before he could process and categorize the door bust open.
"Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetssssssssssssssssssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
Then the embarrassing part. The sobbing and the shaking and the wailing and the crying and the moaning…
How did Tatsu get there so far anyhow? The apartment was a good twenty minutes away in the poorer side of the city. A slum really.
"I told you, told you, that it was dangerous and life threatening! Yet you had to go and try it despite my advice. See where that got you? You're maimed for life. You'll never do another math problem again! Your career as an accountant is ruined. You'll have to switch majors and all that money will be wasted!"
"Ow, that hurts. And I don't want to be an accountant."
"What about father's dreams?" Tatsu wailed in misery.
Tetsu scratched his head, "Dad wanted me to be a politician. You want to be an accountant, remember?"
"He's a tough guy." Ayunee soothed, "But he'll have to not use that arm for about a week or two to let it rest. Mostly it's just bruised. He'll be up and going like new soon enough."
"Oh thank Heaven!" Tatsu keened.
"I apologize. I was a bit too enthusiastic. Please don't make him quit because I made a mistake." Okita piped up with a serious, and surprisingly sincere, look. "He could be really good if you let him. I promise to watch out for him from now on."
"Really?"
Tatsu's eyes practically shone with the possibility that he didn't have to be his brother's keeper twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year, year after year. It was a thrilling prospect. Then maybe his ulcer could heal up properly…
His eyes narrowed slightly. There had to be a catch. No one WANTED to watch Tetsu. That was like WANTING to bring a killer albino hamster to your chest and let it slowly gnaw through you.
"I don't think you realize what you are saying." Tatsu said carefully.
"I think I do." Okita replied without sounding the slightest bit insulted or insulting. "At least give it a chance. Tetsu will be in the senior dorm anyway because he's Hijikata's aid."
Yes. It was proven time and time again that there truly were crazies in the world. Wait, did he want to leave Tetsu with a crazy?
Duty and selfishness battled. Duty died a bloody, cruel death.
"If you think you can handle him."
Tetsu looked between them thinking this was far too good to be true. He would bet Okita was much less constraining that his stuffy brother.
The purple haired boy popped the sucker out of his mouth with a loud smack and gave a joyful smile, "Tetsu and I will get along great!"
Tatsu was still reluctant. Then again, his new job in the office ensured that he would be on campus...
"Okay, we'll give it a try."
"Yes!" Tetsu whooped and jumped in the air, which aggravated his arm, "Shi- I mean ouch!"
Tatsu groaned and Okita giggled. Hijikata remained frowning. His eyes flickered between Okita and Tetsu. Even if everyone else seemed sold on such a "wonderful" idea he wasn't so sure.
Souji was somewhat of the baby of the group. He, Hijikata, Harada, Heisuke, Yamanami, and Kondo lived in the same neighborhood. Even though Hijikata and the other two were ten years his senior the nine year old had quickly won them over at the local dojo when he showed up wanting to learn. Now look what a brat he was. Did they really need another one?
Souji was going to graduate and leave the school in peace from his happy-go-lucky reign of terror. The boy was incorrigible.
Then again, there were worse things that could happen to Ichimura. Like Toudou Heisuke, Okita's alter ego on the social scene. The boy loved to torment anyone and everyone, just short of hazing. He also had a knack for dragging people down with him.
"Souji."
"Yes Hijikata?"
What to say? He loved the young man, but really. Another one?!! Plus Ichimura was already obnoxious and unmanageably loud.
"I hope you keep a better eye on him then you do Heisuke." Hijikata said dryly.
"Heisuke is a very wily fox. I'm afraid he out flanked me with Shinpachi and Sano." Okita replied earnestly.
"Hn."
"Toshi, you expect too much."
"No, it's okay! I'll do better next time." Okita reassured bolting down another half dozen brownies with the sucker stashed in his cheek. He peered at Hijikata expectantly.
"You better. Heisuke should never be allowed near such a situation again." Hijikata growled then added under his breath, "Thank God he's graduating this year. I pity the college he goes to."
Tetsu flinched when Ayunee administered a shot, but rather than look the baby in front of Okita he didn't complain.
"You should take this guy home for today. Okita can get someone to put his stuff in his dorm."
"I'll do it personally Tetsu!" Okita promised.
Tatsu must have said something overly stuffy and polite because Okita was nodding, but Tetsu was in the bliss of painkillers. It was all just noise. He didn't resist when Tatsu steered him out the door and into the piece of junk they called a car.
Reviews:
MissBehavin: *starts laughing* You have no idea. I have most of the year planned out and new ideas keep coming. Yes, poor Hijikata falls in the same catagory as Aoshi: Respectfully tormented. Tranqs, must be. Well, I'm pretty mellow most of the time, so *maybe* it is natural... but that's no fun! Saitoh (RK) would... *snorts with laughter* he'd probably have the same reaction as my brother: What?!! He got sissier! Not in those words of course. This is how this is affecting me, but I was offered some starburst jellybeans the other day and Okita automatically popped up in my brain. Piggy piggy piggy, what sort of critter did you have to dissect in biology? I guess this will be once a week too for as long as I can (the chapters keep getting longer *whimper* the last one was 20 pages).
Fyyrrose: I think I scared everyone, what do you think? Chickens! Besides, it's not a "normal" hs ficcy. It might be because it's rated R, or because PMK is a small catagory still. If you turn into a Heisuke-fangirl I will disown and shoot you. I love Sano, what are you talking about? Yes, Shin is cute =3 The Turtle ref. was a stroke of genius and I still don't know where the heck it came from X__X Of course I'm making fun of the Teletubbies... really, I make fun of so many things in here, you just have to find them. Tie-dye? I thought that was 60s (hippies). Acid ^__^ Yes, glue, more sl. SL-original hasn't been talking to me. We both have a job now, too busy to talk much.
Eris: I did win! And I told you, I'd play dirty to keep little Souji alive. I have plans for him. You can have him when I'm done during the summer. Worm food? Nope, cremation. I refuse to be buried in the ground.
J: start editing *starts laughing* I've added another, what, 20 pages since I sent the last draft?
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Tetsu screamed a fearsome war cry as he lunged forward fully intending to spear his victim on the tip of his sword. Instead he tripped over his momentum. There was a swift retaliation and a stinging on his back where the dummy had lashed out at him. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes and he squeaked something along the lines of ouch.
Staring resentfully at the cat-boy as a perfect run was executed he rubbed his spiky head. Stupid dummy. Hijikata probably rigged it so that it would kick his ass no matter what he did. There was no other explanation!
"Tetsu, you're holding it too high. If you hold it that high then you won't get the right kind of leverage. Because you're so small you need every advantage you can get." Okita chided. He had his long hair in a high ponytail for practice.
Tetsu's pride was at war. He didn't want to admit that he didn't have a clue what he was doing; that wasn't his nature. Instead he was mulishly doing what he always did. B.S.ing it.
One the other hand, Okita was taking the time to explain things. The cheery senior had better things to do than teach an ignorant little runt with an attitude.
So he bit back the scathing response to the criticism and the implied diss on his size.
"Like this?" Tetsu asked correcting his grip.
"No, no. That's not quite right." Okita said shaking his head. He moved up behind Tetsu and leaned again his back pulling him in where he could place his longer arms over Tetsu's arms. His fingers curled gently correcting and readjusting. Then they were on hips, readjusting the balance and stance. They lingered slowly before trailing down his calves.
Tetsu shied away, breaking the contact with his face burning.
Okita gave him a curious look, "Do you understand now, or should I show you?" Seeing that Tetsu couldn't formulate a proper answer he invited, "Just attack me."
"But—you don't have any protection! I don't want to hurt you."
This seemed to amuse the senior, and he showed his amusement with a smile.
"Don't worry. Just make sure you're properly protected."
Tetsu didn't bother. There was no way he would lose. Not if he wanted to be on the school's kendo team. Getting Tatsu to agree to it was hard enough! This should be a piece of cake in comparison.
He glanced around to notice he had amassed a small audience. Sano and Shinpachi were staring wide-eyed in a strange mixture of horror and surprise while Suzu frowned. Not that it mattered. If he whooped their best competitor then even that evil demon couldn't keep him from the team.
With a whirlwind of energy he dashed forward swinging away. Okita dodged each swing lazily and laughed teasingly, "You couldn't hit a turtle like that."
"Grrr."
They danced on with Okita swirling out of reach or bending back or prancing the side at each attack. It was like he could anticipate every move. It was pissing Tetsu off.
He snarled and jumped forward feinting left. Okita blinked innocently as he avoided the ploy and skirted a wall. This wasn't a game of tag!
Okita darted forward and tapped him on the head just hard enough to hurt.
"Jerk!" Tetsu hissed and lunged again. This time he was scored on his right shoulder, then his left.
"Give it up kid; you can't win!" Sano urged while Shinpachi blurted at the same time, "Hey Okita go easy on the kid. Remember the last time…"
Tetsu wasn't the brightest crayon at times but even he knew when he was outmatched. Which just made him that much more determined to dish out some butt kicking. Okita couldn't possibly be untouchable.
Time to let blind luck and stupidity play a major role in the battle. Spin the dice and see what Fate has to say or some such rot like that.
It was more accident than design, but Tetsu kicked up the edge of the mat. It caused two reactions. He fell forward and instinctively, after years of playing in forbidden areas, tucked into a smooth roll. When the body performs without the mind the results can be amazing. In this case they were down right miracle-like. The second was that Okita's center of gravity was disrupted. It wasn't enough to throw it off that much. Just enough to blow things to the top of Mount Everest.
The result of those two mishaps was Tetsu doing the impossible: landing one solid hit on Okita with his weapon.
And according to the laws of Cause and Effect Tetsu figured he was going to get it.
What he didn't expect was for Okita to suddenly turn rabid on him.
The whole demeanor shifted to a darker, more violent side of Okita. This was the side that Tetsu had only glimpsed before when the senior was threatening Sano. Now he had it up his face and pissed as heck.
Tatsu must be right. He'd be better off as a hermit on some God forsaken mountain in the Himalayas. At least then he couldn't mess up so badly.
SLAM.
He barely managed to raise a decent block. His wrists vibrated from the shock of the blow and his wooden sword had a crack running down it. When the next swing came he wasn't any better prepared. This one sent him stumbling back with a numb shoulder. The third hit was true charmer. The point slammed into his protective armor over his chest and propelled him backwards… into a warm body.
Dazed and not just a little confused Tetsu tried to shoo the little puppies that were frisking around his head. They growled at him. Insolent things. Geez, even his dizzy fabrications disrespected him. What did a guy have to do to not get taunted at every turn?
Okita didn't seem to even notice that he was down. The senior stalked forward with all the careful precision of a wolf on the hunt. His eyes were hidden behind a veil of bangs and his mouth was set in a deep frown. He raised the sword to execute a downward stroke and finish Tetsu off.
Tetsu was terrified to the point where he wanted to tear out his eyes so he wouldn't have to watch himself be mutilated. He hoped his death would be swift.
Another bokken interposed between the hapless freshman and his doom. There was a loud crack as the wood smacked together.
"Okita, I believe you are not allowed to spar without approval from Yoshida." The voice said and Okita blinked losing his scary edge almost immediately. He looked around and stared at Tetsu.
"Thank you Saito." The senior remarked walking towards the prone freshman.
Tetsu wanted to scramble back or yell or something. Instead he felt like a rabbit watching a hawk swoop down. The flight part of his nervous system wasn't responding and the fight had the daylights beaten out of it.
The hand descended and Tetsu flinched.
"Here. You should let me help you to the nurse's room. I believe I caused some damage to your shoulder." Okita said softly with apology seeping out with the words.
Tetsu stared up to see regret mingling with a stiffness and sorrow.
He firmly grabbed the hand, all thoughts of being hurt being shoved aside until his shoulder was jolted. With a hiss of pain coupled with a few choice words he staggered to his feet.
Once he was up he'd be damn if he let someone help him. He wasn't a baby after all! Okita tried to help making Tetsu bat the other boy's hand away. Instant guilt trip when he made the mistake of looking at the senior.
Maybe leaning on his shoulder wouldn't be such a bad idea. For Okita's sake anyway. He was trying to make it up and Tetsu decided he should stop being a selfish brat. Well, he didn't really think of it that way. It was more like he couldn't stand to see Okita look at him that way and subconsciously decided his new friend's happiness was more important than his pride. Only by a little bit though.
The trip down to the nurse's office was uneventful.
Unfortunately that was the only thing that was uneventful.
Hijikata was standing outside the door waiting for them. He stared down at Tetsu coldly, but moved aside to let him pass. When Okita tried to follow he blocked the way and demanded, "Souji, talk with me for a moment."
"Yes Hijikata." Okita replied and stood off to the side giving Tetsu an encouraging smile, "Go ahead, I'll be fine, honest! And Ayunee is quite nice."
Tetsu reluctantly shuffled through the door and cracked it.
"—Souji, that was irresponsible, I thought you have more sense than that." Hijikata growled.
There was a long pause.
"I know, I guess I got carried away!" Okita replied, "He doesn't know what he's doing yet but I can change that."
Hijikata grunted, "I'm sure you could. You have a bad habit of changing people to the way you want them."
"Yes, and you fell for it, admit it! You'd do anything if I asked the right way…"
"Souji, get your hands off there. That is not appropriate for a public hallway. Especially between a student and an administrator. Besides, that's a private area for me."
The freshman leaned closer. He couldn't have possibly heard that right.
"Can I help you?" A distinctly feminine voice asked from behind him.
He whirled, slammed the door shut, and smashed his head all in three seconds. A new record.
"I…uh, um, I… Okita told me to, uh, come in here. Are you Ayunee?" Tetsu stuttered.
The woman smiled and nodded, "I am. Oh dear, Souji did it again, didn't he? I told Toshi to keep things out of reach."
Tetsu nodded dumbly. What was this 'again' stuff?
"The last freshman he took a liking to, last year when he was a junior, ended up transferring. I'm rather surprised he picked you up." Ayunee chatted as she gathered up stuff from various drawers.
"You're a girl." Tetsu observed.
"So I am."
"I thought girls weren't allowed on campus unless they were like someone's mother or something." His face screwed up at that thought.
She smiled warmly and rolled up his uniform sleeve. The skin was turning black. She rotated the blade slowly and he gritted his teeth. A little pain wasn't going to get to him. She then handed him some aspirin and water.
He gratefully gulped down the pills.
"Well, you're quite the tough guy. Nothing is fractured or even sprained. I bet Souji hit you with a full attack too. You'll be quite a contender on the team if you keep this up."
He ducked his head shyly.
"Would you like some brownies while I call your caretaker? I'm afraid I can't give you anything stronger until I get approval and those little bitty Tylenol aren't going to do much."
He was reaching for one of the chocolate sugar bombs when Okita and Hijikata entered. Okita looked properly chastened, except for the fact that he kept slipping small smiles when the other man wasn't looking, in Tetsu's direction.
"Ooo, brownies!" He said suddenly. Tetsu thought he was moving before, but that was nothing in comparison to the human bullet surging towards him. In the time it took him to blink Okita had broke the sound barrier and downed half a brownie.
"Company." Ayunee remarked, "Your brother is on his way."
"You should not leave those out." Hijikata accused with a dark glower. It made Tetsu want to leap to her defense. "Souji does not need another sugar boost."
Ayunee glanced over and shook her head.
"It won't hurt him."
"I was not worried about him. It is the rest of us who have to deal with him on a sugar high and somehow manage to live through it." Hijikata rumbled darkly.
Okita gave a chocolate-covered smile and licked his fingers one by one.
By then the ration of Tetsu's consumption to Okita's was 1:5.
"But don't you like me when I'm sweet?" Okita asked saucily.
"No."
"Yet you insist on teasing me." Okita purred sliding closer. Hijikata stood his ground with a disapproving frown. When the senior drew closer he defensively moved into a protected position.
"Do not."
"Don't what?"
"Touch my hair again like you did out in the hall just now. I am warning you."
"Or what will happen?" Okita asked silkily inching closer.
Tetsu watched with avid fascination. How was he doing it? Getting the better of such an evil devil. Okita was a rare person, very rare. Tetsu bet he could make a pack of hyenas nervous and stand down a raging buffalo.
Then he pounced.
Hijikata reeled back from the sudden weight attached to him. Okita's hands were anywhere and everywhere, frisking and patting available body parts.
"Ah ha!" Okita crowed and jumped off the violated man. He twirled a Sees Candy chocolate pop between his fingers before giving a victory sign, "I win again!"
"Now who's encouraging him Toshi?" Ayunee asked with a shake of her head. "One might think you do it just to get felt up."
"How did you know I had that. I forgot I put it there when I bought my tobacco this morning." Hijikata glared as the purple haired boy peeled off the wrapper and popped the sucker in his mouth. It bulged out of his cheek as he mumbled, "Joos smeels like choocoolott."
Tetsu was now really confused, but before he could process and categorize the door bust open.
"Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetssssssssssssssssssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
Then the embarrassing part. The sobbing and the shaking and the wailing and the crying and the moaning…
How did Tatsu get there so far anyhow? The apartment was a good twenty minutes away in the poorer side of the city. A slum really.
"I told you, told you, that it was dangerous and life threatening! Yet you had to go and try it despite my advice. See where that got you? You're maimed for life. You'll never do another math problem again! Your career as an accountant is ruined. You'll have to switch majors and all that money will be wasted!"
"Ow, that hurts. And I don't want to be an accountant."
"What about father's dreams?" Tatsu wailed in misery.
Tetsu scratched his head, "Dad wanted me to be a politician. You want to be an accountant, remember?"
"He's a tough guy." Ayunee soothed, "But he'll have to not use that arm for about a week or two to let it rest. Mostly it's just bruised. He'll be up and going like new soon enough."
"Oh thank Heaven!" Tatsu keened.
"I apologize. I was a bit too enthusiastic. Please don't make him quit because I made a mistake." Okita piped up with a serious, and surprisingly sincere, look. "He could be really good if you let him. I promise to watch out for him from now on."
"Really?"
Tatsu's eyes practically shone with the possibility that he didn't have to be his brother's keeper twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year, year after year. It was a thrilling prospect. Then maybe his ulcer could heal up properly…
His eyes narrowed slightly. There had to be a catch. No one WANTED to watch Tetsu. That was like WANTING to bring a killer albino hamster to your chest and let it slowly gnaw through you.
"I don't think you realize what you are saying." Tatsu said carefully.
"I think I do." Okita replied without sounding the slightest bit insulted or insulting. "At least give it a chance. Tetsu will be in the senior dorm anyway because he's Hijikata's aid."
Yes. It was proven time and time again that there truly were crazies in the world. Wait, did he want to leave Tetsu with a crazy?
Duty and selfishness battled. Duty died a bloody, cruel death.
"If you think you can handle him."
Tetsu looked between them thinking this was far too good to be true. He would bet Okita was much less constraining that his stuffy brother.
The purple haired boy popped the sucker out of his mouth with a loud smack and gave a joyful smile, "Tetsu and I will get along great!"
Tatsu was still reluctant. Then again, his new job in the office ensured that he would be on campus...
"Okay, we'll give it a try."
"Yes!" Tetsu whooped and jumped in the air, which aggravated his arm, "Shi- I mean ouch!"
Tatsu groaned and Okita giggled. Hijikata remained frowning. His eyes flickered between Okita and Tetsu. Even if everyone else seemed sold on such a "wonderful" idea he wasn't so sure.
Souji was somewhat of the baby of the group. He, Hijikata, Harada, Heisuke, Yamanami, and Kondo lived in the same neighborhood. Even though Hijikata and the other two were ten years his senior the nine year old had quickly won them over at the local dojo when he showed up wanting to learn. Now look what a brat he was. Did they really need another one?
Souji was going to graduate and leave the school in peace from his happy-go-lucky reign of terror. The boy was incorrigible.
Then again, there were worse things that could happen to Ichimura. Like Toudou Heisuke, Okita's alter ego on the social scene. The boy loved to torment anyone and everyone, just short of hazing. He also had a knack for dragging people down with him.
"Souji."
"Yes Hijikata?"
What to say? He loved the young man, but really. Another one?!! Plus Ichimura was already obnoxious and unmanageably loud.
"I hope you keep a better eye on him then you do Heisuke." Hijikata said dryly.
"Heisuke is a very wily fox. I'm afraid he out flanked me with Shinpachi and Sano." Okita replied earnestly.
"Hn."
"Toshi, you expect too much."
"No, it's okay! I'll do better next time." Okita reassured bolting down another half dozen brownies with the sucker stashed in his cheek. He peered at Hijikata expectantly.
"You better. Heisuke should never be allowed near such a situation again." Hijikata growled then added under his breath, "Thank God he's graduating this year. I pity the college he goes to."
Tetsu flinched when Ayunee administered a shot, but rather than look the baby in front of Okita he didn't complain.
"You should take this guy home for today. Okita can get someone to put his stuff in his dorm."
"I'll do it personally Tetsu!" Okita promised.
Tatsu must have said something overly stuffy and polite because Okita was nodding, but Tetsu was in the bliss of painkillers. It was all just noise. He didn't resist when Tatsu steered him out the door and into the piece of junk they called a car.
Reviews:
MissBehavin: *starts laughing* You have no idea. I have most of the year planned out and new ideas keep coming. Yes, poor Hijikata falls in the same catagory as Aoshi: Respectfully tormented. Tranqs, must be. Well, I'm pretty mellow most of the time, so *maybe* it is natural... but that's no fun! Saitoh (RK) would... *snorts with laughter* he'd probably have the same reaction as my brother: What?!! He got sissier! Not in those words of course. This is how this is affecting me, but I was offered some starburst jellybeans the other day and Okita automatically popped up in my brain. Piggy piggy piggy, what sort of critter did you have to dissect in biology? I guess this will be once a week too for as long as I can (the chapters keep getting longer *whimper* the last one was 20 pages).
Fyyrrose: I think I scared everyone, what do you think? Chickens! Besides, it's not a "normal" hs ficcy. It might be because it's rated R, or because PMK is a small catagory still. If you turn into a Heisuke-fangirl I will disown and shoot you. I love Sano, what are you talking about? Yes, Shin is cute =3 The Turtle ref. was a stroke of genius and I still don't know where the heck it came from X__X Of course I'm making fun of the Teletubbies... really, I make fun of so many things in here, you just have to find them. Tie-dye? I thought that was 60s (hippies). Acid ^__^ Yes, glue, more sl. SL-original hasn't been talking to me. We both have a job now, too busy to talk much.
Eris: I did win! And I told you, I'd play dirty to keep little Souji alive. I have plans for him. You can have him when I'm done during the summer. Worm food? Nope, cremation. I refuse to be buried in the ground.
J: start editing *starts laughing* I've added another, what, 20 pages since I sent the last draft?