Author's notes: Hi guys! Unfortunately, It may be possible that I won't be able to post anything for a week. I hope you enjoy this chapter and can be patient with my next update. Plus: thank you Tsukio Moon and teddybunny99 for your reviews, I truly appreciate your kind words : )
Chapter 7
"China! Stop running! China!" Sougo called after Kagura. Right outside the Shinsengumi compound ,she stopped. Sougo rushed to Kagura and pulled her close to him. "Heh, that was awkward, I might have to kill Hijikata for real this time," Sougo chuckled. Kagura was silent and enjoyed his warmth in the cold night.
"What are we going to do now? I can sneak you back in or I can walk you home," Sougo murmured while he nuzzled her hair. "Um, well not home, I'm staying at Anego's place tonight so it's easier to get ready for my...oh no. Oh shit! What have I done?!" Kagura yelled and pulled herself away from Sougo.
Sougo was looking at the trembling Kagura. "I'm...you are...he is...this is...oh no," Kagura rambled. "What's wrong China? Sougo asked as he tried to hug her again. "No, don't come any closer. We shouldn't be doing this," Kagura said with a hysteric voice. Sougo was speechless and kept his distance.
Kagura glanced at the confused Sougo. "Don't you understand what we have done? I am engaged to another man!" Kagura yelled. That felt like a full roundhouse kick in the gut for Sougo. "You mean that old dude in the park? Sougo huffed. "Yes! So what if he's older, like I could do anything about that," Kagura said.
Sougo stepped closer to Kagura and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'll tell you what you can do about it. Dumb his ass, he isn't the right guy for you," Sougo said. "You can't just say that you don't even know him. Ugh, you just don't understand!" Kagura yelled. "Well explain dammit!" Sougo demanded.
Kagura looked into Sougo's serious eyes and inhaled deeply to calm her voice. "Papi had to make a deal with Orochi about 15 years ago. It was a trade between an Altanian crystal and my hand in marriage. If papi's end of the bargain would be broken, Orochi would destroy his career, family, and everything. And that's everything there is to know," Kagura concluded.
Sougo took a step back from Kagura and clenched his fist. "What a fucking asshole, I'm going to kill him!" Sougo growled and punched the compound's outer wall. "No Sadist! Orochi has very strong subordinates. You would get your ass beaten real bad, or even worse!" Kagura said and smacked Sougo's fist off the wall.
Sougo turned to Kagura and said: "No, I'm talking about your father. What kind of a heartless man uses his daughter as a trade item? After I'm done with him I'll kill that other one too." Kagura slapped him. "Don't talk like that, papi did this for a reason...I have to marry Orochi," Kagura said.
Moonlight was illuminating the streets. Sougo was looking at Kagura's eyes, he seriously could do that for hours. Neither said anything for a while. Lucky for Sougo, who didn't want to hear what Kagura was going to say next. "I have to go...," She said quietly and slowly turned her back on Sougo. Raindrops began to fall from the night sky. "Great..." Kagura mumbled.
"What about us?" Kagura stiffened at Sougo's unexpected words. The seriousness of his voice made her heart flutter. "Kagura, what about us? Sougo asked again. Kagura took a deep breath and turned around. She had an emotionless face and it made him feel uneasy.
"There is no us, Sougo. I belong to someone else...This was a mistake," Kagura said firmly. "A mistake, really?" Sougo huffed and walked closer to Kagura. He stopped when their faces were few inches apart. The rain was pouring down heavy. Kagura's long hair was dripping wet and she was shivering with the coldness. "Answer me Kagura. Was this really a big mistake for you?" Sougo asked.
Kagura swallowed and said: "Yes, a major one." He couldn't believe her words. Kagura saw her opportunity with a stunned Sougo and she tried to leave. Kagura silently let her tears come out after couple of steps. She pretended her tears were just rain pouring over her face. Sougo was looking at Kagura's back and thought: She is lying.
Kagura kept on walking without looking back. Suddenly she was stopped by Sougo's steady hand on her shoulder. Kagura froze at the spot. He pressed himself softly against her and slid his other hand on Kagura's waist right under her breasts. "Kagura..." Sougo began his words and felt her tense up.
"You are lying to me...and to yourself." He said. Kagura didn't let out a sound, but her heart was beating like crazy. Sougo pressed his face on the crook of Kagura's neck and gave it a tender kiss. Why does this have to feel so good..? Why are you making this harder than it has to be..? Kagura thought and dried her eyes.
Kagura took Sougo's hands off her and turned to face him. She raised her hand up and kept looking into his gentle crimson eyes. Kagura ran her hand trough Sougo's damp hair, she slowly traced her fingers along his left cheek and jawline. Then she pulled her hand back and smiled.
"Sougo," Kagura began softly and continued: "Why...why you always have to be so fucking stubborn?!" Kagura yelled and punched Sougo to his stomach as hard as she could. Sougo flew like a bag of potatoes. He grunted in pain and tried to get up. Kagura was huffing and clenching her fists. "For the last fucking time, this was the dumbest thing I've ever done!" The biggest mistake of my life!" Kagura shouted.
Sougo couldn't talk back or move from the ground. Kagura walked to Sougo and said with a cold voice: "I am in love with Orochi and this was just a...a stupid meaningless experiment." Sougo was looking at her and felt sick to his stomach. Kagura had said what she needed to say. She turned around quickly and her mind felt numb.
Kagura walked away from Sougo. She fastened her pace and in few seconds she was running at full speed. No...it can't be...Sougo thought. "Kagura!" Stubborn idiot. Just stop. Kagura thought as she heard him call after her. Kagura kept running in the rain with tearless eyes.
Sougo got up from the muddy ground. In love with him...and I was just a mistake...a meaningless experiment. Sougo thought and glanced into the rainy sky. He let the rain wash over his face. China...you were right. This was a mistake. I hope I'll never have to see you again... Sougo thought with pain twisting his heart.
Something familiar on the ground caught his eye. Sougo picked up the fallen item and took a closer look at it. He most definitely recognized it. Sougo placed it in his pocket where it was safe from the rain. As Sougo walked back to the compound he heard a snap from the shadows.
"Who's there?" Sougo inquired. No sounds, no answers. Maybe it was my imagination. He thought and returned inside the compound. Unfortunately, Sougo was wrong. Indeed there was someone lurking in the shadows and that person saw and heard everything...
Kagura ran all the way to the Shimura dojo. She sneaked inside the house and saw someone sitting in the living-room. It was Tsukuyo, smoking her kiseru in the middle of the night.
"Hey," Kagura said with a quiet voice. Tsukuyo turned her head and she had a worried look on her face. "Are everyone else sleeping? Anego? Sa-chan? Kagura inquired and sat next to Tsukuyo. Tsukuyo nodded silently as she observed Kagura closer. Hooks on her dress were misbuttoned and her eyes were swollen and red.
"Kagura-chan, are you all right?" Tsukuyo asked. Kagura felt like shit for all the things she said to Sougo. She finally let her tears come out. Kafura placed her head on Tsukuyo's lap and let her pent-up tears come out. "Tsukki...I-I did a horrible thing..." she cried. Tsukuyo stroked Kagura's hair to calm her down.
Kagura stopped crying for a moment and sobbed: "I hurt him..." Tsukuyo took a closer look at her neck and it was full of red love bites. "Kagura-chan, what happened? Who did you hurt?" Tsukuyo asked. Kagura shooked her head and trembled: "...the stupid man I love..."
"I thought it would be easier for him to hate me than to miss me. So I hurt him..." Kagura cried. Tsukuyo listened to her every word carefully. "Who is the stupid man you love?" Tsukuyo asked quietly. Kagura's answer was a loud snore, she had cried herself to sleep. Oh Kagura, what have you done? Tsukuyo thought. Then she moved Kagura into a guestroom.
Kagura woke up the next morning with a burning hunger and thought: Ouch, my tummy is empty. She sat up on her bed and glanced at her surroundings. Huh? What happened last night? I remember I was going to dye my hair and after that I...right...shit, Kagura thought as she was remembering parts of the previous night.
What have I done? Should I tell Orochi about this? That's the right thing to do, yes? Kagura thought. There was a small knock on her door. "Oh, I'm up, come in," Kagura said and hopped up from her bed. Tsukuyo entered the room and closed the door behind her. "Kagura-chan, your fianceƩ is here to see you." She said. "Oh, good. I need to talk to him about something," Kagura said and hurried to the door.
Tsukuyo blocked Kagura's way with her body. "Kagura-chan, we have to talk," Tsukuyo said with a serious voice. Kagura backed away and sat back on her bed. Tsukuyo followed and sat beside her. "Kagura-chan, you have to tell me the truth. Were you seeing Captain Okita last night?" Kagura blushed with embarrassment and that was good enough answer for Tsukuyo.
"I see. Well, do you still want to marry Orochi?" Tskuyo inquired. "What? Of course I do. Why would you even ask that?" Kagura huffed. Tsukuyo sighed and said: "Last night you came here, you were very sad about something. You told me that you hurt the man you love." Kagura hopped up and gasped in shock. "What do you mean by the man I love? I've never said anything like that!" Kagura snapped. Her memory of last night was still a little bit hazy.
So she doesn't remember. Tsukuyo thought. "Listen Tsukki, I went to see sadist last night and it was all just a stupid mistake. It was very u-unpleasant all together," Kagura rambled. Tsukuyo huffed and got up. She grabbed Kagura by her collar and yanked her hooks open. "Yeah, very unpleasant it seems," Tsukuyo said and pointed out Kagura's very loved neck.
Kagura covered herself up and blushed again. "I didn't plan anything to happen Tsukki..." She mumbled, feeling guilty as hell. "What are you going to do? Are you going to tell Orochi about this?" Tsukuyo asked. Kagura fixed her cheongsam and said: "I'm going to tell him the truth, he deserves to know." "That sounds like the right thing to do," Tsukuyo said and nodded in approval. I'll hope he can forgive me... Kagura wondered.
"Can you help me fix my hair?" Kagura asked. "Of course," Tsukuyo said and grabbed a hairbrush from Kagura's dresser. After Kagura's ponytails were up, she was looking for her hair ornaments. "Tsukki, where are my ornaments?" Kagura asked. "After you came back last night and fell asleep I only found one from your hand," Tsukuyo explained. I must have dropped it somewhere. Uh, I'll find it later. Kagura thought.
Kagura stepped out of her room with Tsukuyo. Orochi was waiting in the living-room as handsome as ever. "Good morning Kagura-chan!" Orochi said sporting his amazing smile. Kagura smiled for him, but she felt horrible inside: How could I be such a dumbass. I really reeeeally hope Orochi can forgive me...
"Orochi, can we talk for a bit, in private?" Kagura asked nervously fiddling her fingers. Orochi walked to Kagura and put his arm over her. "Of course dear, let's go to your room." Kagura nodded and lead him in, heart pounding with nervousness.
Orochi closed the door behind them. Kagura was very anxious and she was twisting her fingers. "What is it Kagura-chan?" Orochi asked with a gentle voice. Kagura looked deep into his eyes. "So, Orochi. I wanted to tell you that last night I..." Kagura began and she closed her eyes to calm down. Then, every kiss, every touch, his words. It all came back to her. Kagura's mouth felt dry as she gasped for air. She saw a vision of him hovering over her. Sougo... Kagura thought, forgetting everything else.
Orochi scratched the back of his head with confusion. Kagura looked like she was feeling dizzy. "Are you okay?" Orochi asked and lifted his eyebrow. Kagura popped her eyes wide open. "Huh? Uh, yeah!" She said and shook the images off her mind. "Um...right, I was about to tell you that last night I..." Kagura began, but the same thing happened. Visions of him came back to make her skin tingle. Kagura's guilt was overwhelmed by how good everything felt with Sougo.
Sadist, get out of my head, I have to concentrate. Dammit, I have to do something about this, Kagura thought. Orochi was still looking at the flustered Kagura. She decided to take a different route to solve her problem. She kissed Orochi.
Orochi was an experienced man. He was slightly surprised by her initiative but swiftly adapted to the situation. At first, the kiss was a sweet smooch from Kagura, but Orochi was eager for more. He deepened their kiss and Kagura tried to answer his passion. After a while, Kagura broke their kiss to breath. Orochi had a lustful look on his face, still wanting more.
"So, Kagura. This is what you were doing last night?" Orochi asked. Kagura held her breath and thought: How could he know...shit. "Last night, you had a change of heart. You changed your mind about kissing me before our official union," Orochi said. Kagura began to laugh nervously and said: "Ahah, that's right."
Orochi smirked for Kagura and leaned to whisper into her ear: "Just wait till our wedding night." Kagura swallowed and Orochi backed away. "Have you noticed that your other hairpiece is missing?" Orochi asked. "What? Uh...yeah, I lost it somewhere last night, I'll find it later," Kagura said with a (fake) smile. "I'll buy you new ones, better ones," Orochi said as he stroked Kagura's cheek.
Kagura gave him another (fake) smile. "Well, you have to get ready for our party. Umibouzu-san, Sakata-kun and I are going to request security for our party." Orochi said as he approached the door. "Security? Why?" Kagura asked. "I just want everything to go perfectly tonight. Umibouzu-san has told me about Edo's police force, the Shinsengumi. I believe they are perfect for the job," Orochi said.
Kagura was shocked to her core. Shinsengumi...Shinsengumi will be there? That means, Sadist, he'll be there too... Kagura thought. "Kagura-chan, one more thing. Remember what we talked about? Your hair?" Orochi said and Kagura gave him a quick nod. "Good," he said and left the room.
Kagura was standing inside her room and thought about kissing Orochi. It felt so...so...absolutely nothing. His touch, his kiss, his words, nothing. She had to force herself to kiss him, there was no want, no need. This is bad. I can only think about that dumb sadist...Is that...love? Kagura thought with a warm feeling circling her heart.
Sougo was pretending to sleep in his room, he had his red sleeping mask on. "Sougo! Wake up dammit!" Hijikata commanded and ripped the mask off him. "Go away Hijibaka! Or rather, just go and die," Sougo mumbled. Hijikata grabbed Sougo from his jacket collar and lifted the captain up to his level. "We have visitors needing our services and they want to see our best officers, so get a move on," Hijikata hissed and let go of Sougo's jacket.
I hope that they want us to find and arrest some kind of a super criminal. I could use a good hunt. It would really take my mind of...other things. Sougo thought as he followed Hijikata. In the Shinsengumi's meeting hall Sougo saw Kondo and three other men, he didn't pay them any attention. He walked to his spot, sat down next to Kondo and took a casual look at the three men.
Oh, it's Danna and the alien hunter Umibouzu, but who is the one in the middle..? Sougo though as he glanced at Orochi. "Let us begin. You needed our services for something. What is our mission?" Kondo inquired. "We need security for my engagement party tonight," Orochi stated with his firm voice. No fucking way. Is that guy China's..? Sougo thought as connected the pieces together.
"That can be arranged. So if you don't mind me asking, who is your beautiful bride?" Kondo asked with a chirpy voice. "It's our Kagura-chan," Gintoki answered. Hijikata's eyes popped wide open and he almost choked on his cigarette. "What is it Hijikata-kun? Is there something wrong with our sweet Kagura-chan?" Gintoki asked and gave him a "madtoki" look.
Orochi and Umibouzu were both looking at the coughing Hijikata with piercing eyes. "Uh, no no. There is nothing wrong with her, she's a good kid. Congrats to you two," Hijikata managed to say. As Kondo asked more details about their role, Hijikata gave Sougo a WTF look. Sougo gave him a deadpan face as his answer. In reality, Sougo was feeling jealousy.
Out of nowhere Sougo stood up and said: "Well I'm not interested in some meaningless guard duty of a lame party." Orochi stood up as well. "Do you mean that you are too weak to protect anyone?" Orochi inquired with a serious face. Sougo stared at Orochi flaming anger in his heart. With one swift movement, Sougo readied his katana and prepared for an attack. "Heh, It's not that. I could cut you down right here, right now," Sougo said with a sadistic glow in his eyes.
Orochi yielded his umbrella and said to Sougo: "Bring it on, boy." Both men were oozing with love for a good bloodshed. The tension could be felt on one's skin. All the other men stood up to calm down the situation. Hijikata whispered to Sougo: "Stop it right now Sougo, don't anger a bigshot Yato. Also, we have to talk about last night, but later." "There is nothing to talk about," Sougo hissed.
"Ne, ne, everyone calm down," Kondo soothed. Orochi put down his umbrella and relaxed in an instant like he was never serious about fighting Sougo. "You know Orochi-sama, Sougo is our 1st Division Captain and our best swordsman," Kondo said. "Oh, well you seem like a handful to me, but if you are the best, I have a special position for you," Orochi said as he sat back down.
Sougo stared Orochi without a word. "You are going to be Kagura's personal bodyguard, you are responsible for her safety," Orochi said. Sougo was still staring in silence. "Oh, that is a wonderful idea. Kagura-chan and Sougo have known each other for years now," Kondo cheered. Gintoki noticed Hijikata acting weird like he had something to say on the matter.
"So you are friends?" Orochi asked Sougo. "I wouldn't call it that...more like archenemies," He answered bluntly. "Well, I order you, 1st Division Captain to protect my Kagura-chan with your own life. Now, If you'll excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom," Orochi said and left the room. Hijikata grabbed Sougo's arm and dragged him out of the hall.
Hijikata slammed Sougo against a wall. "What the hell have you done? Did you know about this engagement?" Hijikata grunted. "Yeah I knew, and about what you saw, pretend it never happened," Sougo said neutrally. Hijikata had a confused look on his face. "Are you telling me to lie for you?" Hijikata asked.
"Well do whatever you want Hijibaka-san. I just want to forget it," Sougo snapped. Hijikata thought he heard a hint of emotion in his voice. Hijikata patted Sougo's shoulder and said: "Alright Sougo, I'll forget it as well. Just...be careful, Orochi doesn't seem like a guy who would take it lightly if he ever found out about last night."
"What about last night?" Orochi asked as he appeared behind a corner. Hijikata and Sougo both jumped a bit. "Uhm, last night was our...big training competition and uhm, Sougo here won it, ne Sougo?" Hijikata stuttered. "Yup," Sougo said. "Good job Okita-kun!" Orochi smiled.
"Where did you get my last name?" Sougo inquired. "I saw it somewhere in here. Well, maybe I should just call you boy, it suits you better," Orochi said and walked past the two officers. Orochi looked straight into Sougo's eyes as he was passing them. Orochi had a weird look on his face, a look that was all too familiar to Sougo. He looks like...he wants to kill me, did he overhear me and Hijikata? No that can't be right. Weird old man... Sougo though.
Orochi walked back to the hall and Hijikata and Sougo were alone again. Hijikata lit a cigarette and sighed deeply. Sougo was still wondering about Orochi's face. "Sougo, when all this is over, I'll have you commit seppuku as a punishment for taking something that isn't yours," Hijikata huffed and went after Orochi.
Maybe I'll do just that to get out of this situation. How the hell am I supposed to behave as China's bodyguard, she hates me...and I...I hate that I think I love her. Sougo thought with a heavy heart.
