7.

"Why me?"

Kamui's eyes widened as he stared down at the woman pinned under him. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight and there was a tint of pink blushing across her cheeks and chest. Oiwa's lips were bruised and red, raw from his own which had been ravishing them only minutes prior. At the innocent question asked his elbows bowed a little, weak under her insistent stare. Those damn dull, lifeless eyes.

"Because." He tried to lean down to capture her lips with his but she put a finger to his lips, stopping him.

"Because, why?" She pressed, pinching his cheek gently.

"Because…" he let his voice drag on, thinking quickly for a response. "You're my best friend, why would I want to give up my first to some floozy?"

Unhappy with his response, the purple haired Yato raised her leg and promptly kicked him off the bed.

X

There were a few times that Oiwa sensed his Yato blood was about to take control and she was able to quell the rage before it happened. This, however, was one of those times that she had failed to stop it. She was too far away to speak to him. Too far out of his reach to do anything.

His anger was directed at Gintoki, which was a breath of relief to her. At least he wasn't trying to kill Umibouzu or Kagura. Yet. Still, she watched his wide eyes, pupils dilated, and waited until she could try to reach him and stop the madness. Even if he could kill her with just one hit in the right spot.

When Kagura stepped in to fight her brother, Oiwa raced forward to catch the younger girl before she hit the ground. The vermillion haired teenager was reminded of that time all those years ago when Oiwa had caught her from flying into a brick wall. Releasing her, Oiwa raced forward and stood before Gintoki, shielding him with her body, her arms outstretched.

Gin opened his mouth to tell her not to be stupid, but she didn't listen.

"Kamui, stop i-"

His fist connected with her abdomen with a crunch. The wind was expelled from her lungs alongside blood and bile. It was a stupid thing to do, she knew that, but she was hoping that she could get through to him just enough that he'd stop. But he didn't.

Kamui was horrified at what he had done but his manic side wasn't letting him slow down, no matter how many bones he broke or how much blood he lost. His damn Yato blood was going to be the death of her. He pulled his shaking fist back and watched as she sank to her knees.

Then he turned and tried to go after his father who was being carried away. Abuto called her name, and damn, did he feel like an ass. He was supposed to be the one to protect her, and yet, there he was lost in his own madness unable to tell friend from foe, family from lover.

Abuto crouched by Oiwa's side, throwing an arm around her waist and putting her own arm around his shoulders. She coughed up more blood to his dismay, but she merely wiped off the residue with the back of her hand like it was nothing.

Stop hiding your pain, he thought to himself, pulling her body up when it started to slump.

Oiwa couldn't help but feel like a failure when it was Kagura that had helped still his Yato blood in the end. What she didn't know was that it was the thoughts of him hurting her that had helped push his manic rage back down. The image of his fist connecting with her stomach replayed in his mind over and over again. It made him sick. And while he laid his head on his sisters lap, he couldn't help but think that he was unworthy of both girls affections. He was the lowest of the low.

Sometime later when he had awoken, Oiwa pushed herself away from Abuto and stood strong, but he noticed how her arm was draped across her ribs and how her legs trembled. His old friend carried him on his back but stopped when he noticed that Oiwa had failed to follow them towards their ship.

The purple haired Yato stood still between the two retreating groups. She turned her head towards Gin and Kagura, silently asking if it was okay for her to go with them- if only for a few days. When they nodded she turned back to the pair of Yato men.

Kamui held out his hand to her, his trademark grin lighting up his face- hiding his own pain and unease.

Oiwa took his hand, and smiled back. "Fine. You have me for three days."

X

Kamui didn't understand what she meant until sometime later. They spoke until Oiwa had fallen asleep and he carried her back to his bed. He sat by her side for some time, just watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. It was still a lot for him to take in; the reason why she had left and then returned, why Utsuro kept mentioning a son- his son.

Oiwa shifted in her sleep, the simple cotton slip she had on riding up slightly to show the forming bruise on her abdomen. If he rolled his hand into a fist it would match up perfectly with the ugly purple and blue marks blossoming on her white skin. He reached out and touched the marred flesh with just his fingertips, pulling away quickly when her face contorted into a grimace.

If he had done that months earlier then-

He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about being the cause of the miscarriage of his own child. He wasn't Teke, he'd never be Teke. But strangely he was going to be just as absent as his own father. Oiwa had refused to bring their son- his name was Kabuki, he'd learned- aboard the ship, saying that a pirate ship was no place to raise a toddler. So, in two days time he would take her back to earth where he would finally meet his son- it was a strange new set of words he still had a hard time chewing on- then leave his small family while he went off into space.

"Quit it." Oiwa pinched his cheek, pulling his solemn face towards her.

There they were, those dull green eyes staring right back at him. Where his thoughts loud enough to wake her from her slumber? Kamui took her hand from his cheek and kissed her knuckles, then her wrist.

"Quit what?" He questioned, leaning down to peer into her eyes; his own drifting down to her lips, set into a frown.

"Quit thinking about whatever is bothering you." She said, raising her hand to cup his cheek, brushing it with he pad of her thumb. "Just think about having me all to yourself for the next two days, okay?"

Kamui nodded dumbly and sank into her embrace, pressing his lips to the hollow of her throat. "Why didn't you tell me? About our son, I mean."

There were those words again. Our son.

Oiwa blinked. "I was scared. All I could think about was protecting the both of you and pretending to be dead seemed like the best choice."

Kamui tightened his grip on her, just remembering her still, lifeless body sent shivers up his spine. "Don't leave me like that again. I won't forgive you if you do."

Oiwa blew in his ear, causing him to shudder awkwardly. "Yes, commander."

X

The first thing Kamui noticed about his son was his smile. It was like showing him a mirror. The second was how his child already seemed to be so protective of his mother. The toddler pressed his small hands on his mothers chest, an attempt to keep her away from the two strange men she was walking towards. Kabuki realized that his attempts were a failure and instead threw his pacifier at the men, hitting Abuto square in the forehead, drawing blood. Yes, the child was definitely his, no doubt about that.

"Kabuki, say papa." Oiwa prompted, pointing to the shorter of the two men.

Kamui's son glared at him for a moment, before turning his head. Oiwa bounced him a little and stepped closer to Kamui. "Kabuki…"

Instead, Kamui took the toddler into his arms and held him up towards the sky and looked up at his child. It was only then that the pair grinned at each other and the toddler squealed, grabbing for his father. There was an odd feeling in his chest when he brought his child down into his arms and found Oiwa smiling- actually smiling- at them. It had been so long since her smile had reached her eyes. So long since he had seen life twinkle back into the forest green of her irises.

Abuto laughed and clapped his commander on the shoulder. His laugh was short lived as the toddler promptly grabbed his mechanic arm and ripped it clear off.

A/N: So I'm not sure if I should complete this as this seems to be a good stopping point. Unless y'all want more, then I'll gladly continue. Though it maybe not be as quickly.