XI
"I figured he would try and pull something one day soon, but then he ran off with the Ochimizu…" Toshi shook his head.
Heisuke was the first to ask, "Got any ideas, Hijikata-san? We need to figure out where he went, don't we?"
"Considerin' things, I'd happily send out everyone to look for Niimi-san. But, since this involves that medicine, we can only send out those of us that're aware of it." Toshi lamented flatly.
"True enough. Luckily he didn't take the men he used the medicine and experimented on." San'nan-san chimed.
Sano reasoned, "So that means that if he don't continue with the experiments, we won't hear of any more trouble from him, right?"
"But wouldn't that man take whatever's necessary to sell the Ochimizu?" Souji asked of the room at large.
Kawa huffed, "Knowing the spineless wuss he is, it shouldn't take long to find his slimy trail."
Clearing his throat, Kondou earned the attention of the room to himself, "So in short, finding Niimi-san is our top priority. Be more vigilant in your patrols!"
"Sir!"
"I guess we were right, ne?"
She looked back at the crowd, namely the white-haired corpse the two men were inspecting. She nodded. "Yeah, spot on. Good eye, Saitou-kun." She smiled lightly at her friend.
"Thank Souji. Come on, we need to report this to Hijikata-san." He nodded back, turning to lead the way back to the compound with the couple shortly following.
"You're sure he was a Rasetsu?" Toshi asked the trio once they returned, violet stare focused namely on the blue-eyed captain.
Saitou nodded, "Positive. I believe the experiment backfired and given the Rasetsu most likely got loose, Niimi-san cut him down."
"So what's the plan, Hijikata-san?" Souji wondered as he and Kawa sat to the side, looking at their vice-commander.
"Fukuchou!" All four perked up, and when said man beckoned the investigator enter, Yamazaki sat present. "The inspectors just informed me that they saw a man who looked like Niimi-san going by the alias Tanaka Iori enter a high-end restaurant called Yamao in Gion-Shinchi."
Toshi looked at the trio, "are you three up for this?"
"Hai."
"'Course."
"You know it."
"It would get too cramped if all of us were to apprehend him inside, so it'll just be us five." Toshi reasoned.
"Right," Saitou nodded.
Kawa smirked at her 'brother', "I like those odds much better."
"Let's just get this over with, ne? C'mon, princess." Souji said as he straightened, helping her up by the hand.
::::::::lDl::::::::
She had half a right mind to slap her forehead at his actions, deadpanning when he stormed into the restaurant and demanded the host tell him which room Tanaka Iori was in. Geez, Toshi…
"This'll take forever, y'know~," he sang as he slipped past him; she shook her head and followed quickly.
At least a dozen or so complaints came from the other customers in the restaurant as the couple threw open doors to the rooms at random, continuing until they reached a room in particular that was darkened.
Bingo.
"H-Hijikata!" Nearly jumping a foot in the air, Niimi blanched at the sight of the quartet.
"Found ya," Souji hummed with a cold smirk on his face.
Toshi glowered at the surprised traitor, "Just what're you doin' in a place like this, Niimi-san?"
"W-what're you doing here! I-if something happened to me, you know S-Serizawa-sensei will let you have it!" Niimi warned as he scrambled back and away from the quartet, backing himself into the far wall.
"'Serizawa-sensei will', will he?" Toshi drawled sardonically, fighting a grim smirk.
Souji bit out, "Don't tell me Serizawa-san ordered ya to sell that medicine to national loyalists."
"Who're these dogs?" One of the two ronin he'd been negotiating with demanded, jumping to his feet.
"Shinsengumi." Niimi spat.
"Mibu Wolves!?" The second ronin exclaimed as he also hopped up, preparing to draw his sword.
Without giving the man time to blink, Souji's katana punctured his throat, surprising him; Souji's smirk broadened. "Ne, why rush to your death?" He drawled.
"Bastard…" The first ronin lunged, seeking to avenge his comrade that had fallen to the floor.
Lashing out swiftly, Kawa watched the first ronin drop to the floor, blood pooling from the deep gash she'd given to his chest. "Pathetic."
"Y-you damn fools can't ever hope to understand the current political situation! You won't get off easy if you try to hurt me!" Niimi cried desperately, visibly shrinking away as the head of the quartet approached him, kicking aside his untouched tray of food.
Toshi scoffed, "Is that all you have to say?" He could swear time froze for a millisecond when Niimi swiftly pulled a familiar red vial from his robes and downed it; he bit out an oath and quickly drew his sword, bringing it up to strike.
Niimi grinned maniacally as his countenance changed to snow-white hair and gleaming red eyes as he blocked him, knocking him back.
"Crap." Kawa hissed, perking up as Saitou bolted past her to attack, sending a round of fury-swipes at the Rasetsu who dodged each with ease until one seemed to catch him right between the eyes.
Souji swore under his breath when the caught Niimi faded from sight, looking up when seeing a hint of movement. "Hajime-kun, move!" He barked as his friend bounced back to land expertly and draw his short sword, rushing forward to slash at the monster only to be blocked effortlessly.
Niimi grinned again and forcefully yanked the brunette down by his right arm, preparing to deal a blow.
Kawa snarled as she slashed sharply at where his head was, twisting on her heel when their foe disappeared, lifting her katana defensively as he reappeared in the middle of the room.
"You're all too slow! Your movements are as clumsy as a child's!" Niimi sneered at them.
"So you kept your sanity even after transforming." Toshi growled as he extended his arm infront of her while Souji stood at her back.
"Remember that I said 'you wouldn't get off easy' if you tried to hurt me." The Rasetsu hummed.
Souji grumbled, "This bites; it's like he's stronger even though there's four of us against just him. This's so not cool."
Niimi scoffed, "This's the power of the Rasetsu! The new era will belong to whoever owns this medicine! Choshu, Satsuma, and Tosa too… everyone desperately wanted it!"
"Then who the hell did you sell it to?" Toshi demanded coldly.
"Those two men had a highly-interesting proposal, but thanks to you pack of wolves, that's a thing of the past!" Niimi answered.
Souji patted her shoulder lightly just as he and Toshi shared a curt nod, both of them plus Saitou converging on Niimi at once.
Reacting at the drop of a hat, Niimi plowed a fist into Saitou's left cheek and delivered a sharp kick to both Souji and Toshi, sending all three men flying.
Wincing slightly as all three men were knocked out of the fight, Kawa looked from Saitou to Souji and Toshi who had both hit the wall behind her, then at Niimi as he laughed.
"So what'll you do, girl? I doubt even you could kill me, the worthless stray you are!" Niimi jeered, grinning dauntingly at the woman.
Tightening her fingers' grip on the hilt of her katana, Kawa huffed. "You're not the one I want to kill, but even so…" She lunged, katana clashing sharply with his short sword and she pressed her weight onto the blades, sparks flying. "I never liked ya." She headbutted his forehead sharply, bouncing back when he shoved her away, her head slightly spinning.
"You insolent bitch!" Niimi snarled, bolting forward, swinging at her and sending her on the defense as she blocked his swipes, catching him on one particular swing meant for her torso.
Kawa shoved him off, grunting as she lashed out and cut into his jugular, surprising him; blood flew as she panted slightly and exclaimed, "Now!"
A katana's blade rammed into the Rasetsu's chest from behind, making more blood fly.
Toshi yanked the blade out and let the monster hit the floor, panting slightly as he glared at the dead Niimi.
"Toshi," she touched his shoulder gently, making him scowl fiercely at her for a moment that seemed to last forever.
He noted the blood on her cheek and some on her yukata as his mind reeled from having cut down the monster, her placating gray eyes… He closed his eyes and lowered his gaze as his eyes opened, staring at the crimson staining the floor. "You're not hurt." He mused, his words more of a statement than a question.
Kawa nodded, looking at the blood and sighing. "No, I'm fine." She replied.
Toshi exhaled steadily and looked at her again, a slight smile forming. "Good. D'you have any idea how reckless you were? I've never seen anyone headbutt a monster before… But you did well… She-Wolf." He smirked a little at the new nickname.
Blinking once, Kawa looked away with a humble smile, scoffing. "Shaddup."
Toshi winced slightly, scowling at her, "My ribs don't hurt as much as earlier…"
"Well it's better to be patched up than to die because of your pride." Kawa scolded, finished with tying his bandaged ribs and pulling back, crossing her arms.
Given out of the five of them, she and Yamazaki were unscathed, so they had set to patching up the trio once returning to the compound. Yamazaki had already helped Saitou nurse his cracked jaw, whereas Kawa was tending to both Toshi and Souji, having told Yamazaki to get some rest and shooed Saitou back to his room.
Souji hummed from his spot seated on her futon, "Ne, ya might wanna listen to her, or the princess will brain ya good, Hijikata-san." He said with a smirk, green eyes amused.
Toshi shot him a glare which he ignored, exhaling and looking away. "Put you two together and you're both so annoying…" He groused, shrugging his yukata back on, straightening to leave her room.
Kawa followed him, handing him his swords. "You're welcome." She smiled lightly when he took his belongings back.
"Don't patronize me…" Toshi grumbled, pouting as she giggled, and quieting as he smiled slightly at her. "You really do act like a brat sister, y'know." He mused, perking her ears.
Feeling her cheeks burn a little, Kawa smiled wryly, glancing away. "You think?" She asked.
"You've come this far so I'm pretty sure noone would think to consider you less than what you are." Toshi tousled her hair reflexively, letting her shake him off, before he turned to head back to his room. "Sleep well, She-Wolf." He added.
Closing her door, Kawa shook her head, smiling thoughtfully at his leave. "Just as much as he acts like a dummy big brother." She murmured, exhaling and looking at the last man present in her room. "He's always such a friggin' enigma." She declared.
"Ain't he always?" Souji rolled his eyes, earning a chuckle from her, as he sighed and lounged on her futon, arms folding behind his head. "Might be too dangerous fer me to head back to my room, y'know…" He mused.
Placing her fists at her sides, Kawa made a face. "You're a strong swordsman, you can handle it." She reasoned.
"Ya just bandaged my ribs and mended my arm; I'd be walkin' around half-dead!" Souji protested knowingly.
"Then sleep on the floor like a good cat." Kawa deadpanned, shuffling to extend her hand to him as she stood at his left. "Come on, I need sleep."
"But Kawa…!" Souji whined, looking up at her and giving his cutest pout.
Valiantly keeping a straight face, Kawa exhaled. "You're being ridiculous." She took his hand, making to pull him up when instead he tugged and pulled her down, making her yelp. "S-Souji!" She barked.
Souji smiled triumphantly at pulling her onto him, snickering at her flustered expression, her pink cheeks. "Did I mention how badass ya looked earlier?" He hummed, green eyes glittering, as he smiled at her.
"Not in so many words…" Kawa began to answer when he kissed her, gasping slightly; her face heated up at not only being kissed by the handsome samurai but also that she was technically in his lap, and she tried to pull away to berate him for being so forward when instead of pulling out of his hold, she flopped back onto the mattress with an 'oof'.
Souji sweatdropped, smirking playfully at her out-of-sorts position, leaning over her to kiss her forehead, making her blink in surprise. He chuckled at her expression that distinctly reminded him of a surprised cat, green eyes soft. "I won't take it from ya unless y'want me to. Should know by now that I'm not one of those guys." He assured calmly.
Recognizing that he was indeed being honest, Kawa's shoulders slumped and she sighed, nodding. She sat up slightly to stroke his cheek, smiling when he took her hand, kissing him chastely. "You're a lunkhead sometimes… But I love that about you." She smiled at him, gray eyes meeting his green warmly from beneath her brow.
Souji smiled what one could believe was a true smile, and he brushed her bangs back. "Love you too." He kissed her deeply, making her blush, before her arms slid around his neck as she reciprocated warmly.
A/N: now whether Souji and Kawa DID IT, i'll leave that up for you to decide~ ;P elsewise, the fic's winding down, kiddies. major thanks to hineko and Captaintsukiko34 for reviewing, i'm very grateful for that. you two made my day, so thanks! (: