Hi guys! Thanks for your lovely reviews. If you also write fanfics you know how happy we always are when we see someone reviewed our work. If you don't write... Know that it always matters, it always makes your day. Really. Thanks a lot.
This night's dream is weird. I see my sister walking away. I try to run after her, but no matter how far I run, they are still out of my reach. I trip and fall. A hand helps me up. It's Kondo-san's. He gives me a comprehensive smile and looks behind me, so I do too.
Everyone is here. The Shinsengumi, the cabaret girls, the transvestite, the Hyakka, the hobo, the Yorozuya boss with his dead fish eyes, the glasses holder with his shiny glasses, China.
Everyone is looking straight at me. Their eyes do not show any anger or sadness. They gleam with pureness and honesty.
Kondo-san speaks, but when I look at him, it's not Kondo anymore. It's Lag. His tears are roaming freely on his cheeks. He gives me a sad smile while talking.
"Survive, and make your way back home, because they are waiting for you!"
I wake up. On my way to the breakfast, I meet Hijikata-san. He's leaning against a wall, smoking, his arms crossed. He barely looks at me, but when I'm about to walk in front of him, he talks.
"So? Are you going against my orders and spilling your life recklessly?"
"No. Someone... I realized that I did not want to die, anyway. The only person who can kill China is me, and the only one who can kill me is her. This is a kind of twisted promise I can't risk to break."
He blows out his smoke and smile.
"So a kid got you to listen to reason, uh? I don't know who that Lag boy is, but I should thank him properly, I guess. And so do you."
I start walking again, on my way to the breakfast.
When I enter the room, there is a heavy silence. Of course, those chatterboxes gossiped about it all night long, I bet. I look without really meaning to for Lag. Things are going to be awkward. I'm pretty bad with awkwardness.
"Captain! Captain Okita!"
That midget is the one calling me, his mouth stuffed with rice. He waves at me and speaks up, spitting food everywhere.
"Since you don't care about living anyway, I thought I might eat your rice as well! You said you did not want me to starve because you'd be held accountable but I'm sure I won't if you starve! Hope you don't mind!"
He indeeds have two bowl of rice in front of him. One empty. One soon empty. I come closer and grabs his face, squishing his hamster cheeks.
"You sure got some nerve, don't you? I don't mind receiving a blame for your death if I actually cut your throat, though... So now put these chopsticks down and go get me a new bowl of rice... Are we clear?"
The threat in my voice is pretty clear, and yet the whole room burst in laughters. Even the midget gives me a moronic smile.
"Now that's a man I'd follow to hell if I had to. A new bowl of rice, coming right away!"
And somehow, I ended up laughing as well.
Zaki and a few other spies are checking on the enemy's campsite. They will be telling us when the reinforcement are coming back. It's been a week now, so I guess they do not care much about us for now.
Lag is learning fast, and I soon enough start training more intensively with him. We fight one-on-one and every time I beat him, I tell him what was wrong. I must confess he sometimes beats me too. I might have the upped hand but if he keeps learning that much, he might become one of our strongest warrior. And it's only been a week since his training started. He told me he has been taught how to fight with a gun but never with a sword, and that seems hard to believe.
The only thing about him is his stamina – he gets tired way faster than anyone. If a fight lasts more than three or four hours, he will be done.
He tells me a bit about his family, about his moronic brothers, his scary sister, his pitiless grandmother. I try to talk about his parents once, but he looks away, and I never speak of it again. He asks me about my life as well, so I tell him about everyone I know back in Oedo. When I drink a bit too much, I talk about my sister. He never asks, but I tell him anyway. I tell him about the battles the Shinsengumi fought, about who we fought against, about who we fought alongside.
I hate to admit it, but I enjoy his company, and I suspect Hijikata-san and Kondo-san make sure we are not bothered. They probably think I've never had a friend of my age and that it's a good thing I've got someone to open up to.
Well, I can't say they're wrong, however.
I was quietly enjoying a drink with Lag (who as always took water rather than sake) when Zaki came back with bad news.
Peace and resting time were gone. The Rakutos were back, and among them was their General.
Dun dun duuuuun! So Okita did not go on his suicide mission, but it looks like the suicide mission is coming to him?! On the next chapter, the ultimate battle! There will be swords, people hurt, and even... PEOPLE STABBED? My my, if I were you I'd start to worry about the characters I love!
Who should die? Who should live? Let me know in the comments!
(sorry the story's already complete on my computer though, so it's just curiosity, you won't be able to change what's going to happen hahaha)
