WARNING: the following is an alternate ending about Kira's choice in chapter 18. For those of you who don't want the possibility of having their heart ripped out and put back, PLEASE DON'T READ THIS! ...unless if you're really curious.
Ahh! Hey guys! XD So yeah, the warning says it all. I had a hard time typing this chapter, on an emotional standpoint anyways. XD read at your own risk! This starts just after Okita had been slashed by a Rasetsu, protecting Kira.
"OKITA!" She screamed until she couldn't utter a word. Okita's knees buckled, bringing Kira down with him as his grip loosened around her. The Rasetsu cackled as he licked the blood off the sword, eyeing Okita with his beady red eyes.
Okita groaned as the burning pain raced through his back and then all over his body. "Go…"
What did he say? She blinked. "What-"
"You heard me! Go! What's the point in staying with me...if I can't protect you…" he murmured.
"But...what will happen to you?!"
He looked up at her with fading green eyes. "I don't know," he chuckled sadly. The Rasetsu behind them leered at them, wanting more of what was on his sword. "But at this rate...I won't be able to keep you away from these demons...you need to go back...where it's safe…"
"This is really cruel you know!" Tears raced down her cheeks, her voice cracking with every word. And then a choked scream came from behind. The Rasetsu stood with its back arched and a sword pierced right through where his heart was. The sword ripped away, splattering blood on both of them in arrays of abstract patterns.
The demon fell, sprawled on the floor with Kazama standing behind it, holding the bloodied sword. "Make your choice, girl. You're wasting time." He said curtly before turning to face the other demons. "I'm tired of hearing and looking at these fake demons, they're a disgrace to all the oni clan."
She hadn't been so grateful...and surprised. He was actually helping them...maybe he was just going to kill them because he felt like it, but either way, it was giving Kira more time. She was sure she wanted to stay, but now Okita was pushing her back. Her mind had never been so cloudy.
"Okita, c'mon stay with me…!" She pleaded as her tears fell.
"Kira...I need you to do this for me, I can't stand...thinking of you dying here...out of all places," he heaved in a breath and stood up shakily. Kira held onto his hands, which were on her shoulders.
"We...we can think of something!" If she didn't know any better, she would be digging her nails into his skin. "Please-it won't feel right leaving you like this!"
A sad look appeared on his face, teary eyes with a genuine smile. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her. "I wish I could've met you earlier," he murmured. She could hear his voice starting to crack. Okita didn't want to do this, but he had to; to protect her. He had become selfish with that request, forcing her to adapt a new lifestyle. He didn't want to make her go through this hell ever again. Moving a hand to her face, he stroked her cheek with his bloody thumb. "I love you," he said, leaning in. "Don't you ever forget it."
The moment was brief, as his warm lips were on hers for a moment before she felt herself being flung backwards. Kira widened her eyes as she realized what was happening. The world around her was now surrounded by the swirling stars and lights. Okita's image was fading away slowly. "Okita! NO!" She sobbed and cried out. "Don't do this!" Kira's arms reached out for his fading image, but as her fingers brushed over the fuzzy picture, it dissipated like dust in the air. Kira let out a whimper before letting out an anguished scream until she knew her throat went raw.
Her world was ripped away from her again as her body was being tugged along by an unknown force, back to her real world, the world she didn't want to be in anymore.
Shooting her eyes open, she sat up like lightning, letting out a scream that shook her eardrums. She curled up into a ball as she covered her eyes, crying pathetically as tears flooded down onto the sheets.
"She's awake!" Someone exclaimed. She could feel someone's hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away screaming, "GET AWAY FROM ME!"
"Kira! Kira, honey, it's us!" Even though she had been gone for a long time, she knew her mother's voice better than anyone. But she didn't want her mom here, she didn't want any of this back. She wanted to go back. All this time, she wanted to stay, and it was too late.
"He's gone...he's gone! Okita!" Kira murmured frantically. "Dear god…" she hiccuped. That sudden realization. He died. Either from the wounds or of old age. She could never meet him again.
A hole in her heart festered and grew. In the pit of her stomach, she felt sick. Angry, sad, frustrated, devastated...pained.
Kira wasn't dazed when she woke up, she was wide awake and instantly knew her surroundings. She was in a hospital room and her favorite blanket was covering her body. Wires were connected to her wrists, which were hooked up to machines that beeped rhythmically.
Nurses rushed in to see what was all the commotion. They started to instruct each other on how to get everything calm again. A nurse went up to Kira and cooed her with gentle words, but she didn't want any of it. She shook her head and covered her ears, burying her face in her knees. She needed to get away, and she started to recede into the deep corners of her mind. That was the only place that Okita and her Shinsengumi family existed now.
It had been a solid hour by the time things settled down. Kira sat upright in her bed, staring blankly at her unappetizing hospital food with a nurse checking the monitors to make sure things were stable. Her parents sat next to her bed, her mom was texting and calling probably everyone out of her contacts to say that Kira was awake.
Apparently, she had been in a coma for nearly half a year since the accident was so intense. Her dad was going through an intersection when a large truck ran a red light and plowed into theirs. Her dad walked away with a broken leg, a concussion and stitches, the driver was sent to the hospital, discharged a week later and she...her injuries caused her to retreat into a coma with a broken arm and two broken legs...and other broken stuff. She only missed the first few months of school, so she didn't have to worry about repeating a grade―not that she cared.
"Kira, you haven't eaten yet," her dad said. Kira wasn't allowed to eat solid foods as the doctors weren't sure if she could take in solid foods just yet, so everything was liquid. Gross.
"Not hungry." She replied, not even looking at him.
"Could...could you just eat a little, please?" He asked, he almost sounded like he was begging.
She sighed and continued to look at her tray. The spark in her eyes had faded and her cheery face was replaced with an apathetic stare. Her mom put down the phone and walked up to her bed, holding her hand with a familiar gentleness. "What's wrong? Did...did you have a nightmare all this time?"
Kira shook her head in the slightest. It wasn't a nightmare, more like a dream come true. Love, adventure, friendship. It sounded just like a movie, and she was at the climax, arriving to a happy ending, but the script was rewritten and it turned into a tragedy like the Shakespeare plays.
This was the nightmare.
Ever since, Kira dropped dance. Her friends were shocked and tried to understand, questioned, and attempted to recruit her back in, but it all ended the same.
"I don't feel like it."
Her grades were below her usual straight A's. She only did what she felt like and spent most of her time on the couch or on her laptop, looking up ancient Japanese history, looking up 'Okita Souji' a couple times.
He was the Shinsengumi's captain of the first division, one of the most skilled samurai's in the Shinsengumi. Died of tuberculosis.
She knew that thinking about him was unhealthy, let alone look him up. But then she got her fill on the rest of the members from Google. She smiled to herself, something that was rare now, thinking of how she was involved in some of these events. She was right there all alone. It was like they combed out her tracks and left holes in some things.
By now, it was November, and she hadn't exactly gotten over the experience. Now sitting in her government class, she listened to the drone about the seats in the Senate...or whatever. She tuned out of the lecture and just stared at her phone, not even amused with all the apps.
Now she wished she took a picture of the guys when her phone still had battery left. She knew for a fact that that was all real...and waking up in a hospital seemed staged. It seemed like there was a hole in her life, and there was no way in filling it back up.
Time went on by slowly, and the bell finally rang. Students scrambled to get their things after her teacher handed out the homework last minute, but Kira took her time. When she slung her bag over her shoulder, her teacher stopped her.
Setting a stack of papers on the desk, Mrs. Lane looked at her, "Kira."
She looked up.
"It's still hard to think that Kim told me you quit dance. It's a shame, you were a great dancer." She sighed with a sad smile. "I'm not trying to make you do something you don't want to do, but getting back into what you love will help you get back on your feet."
Kim was Mrs. Lane's sister; Kira's dance teacher, Ms. Ray.
Kira gave her a tight smile. "Maybe."
"If you need anyone to talk to, I'm here, you know that. Don't worry," she assured. "It'll get better." She had no idea what she was talking about. Kira appreciated her kind words...but that wasn't why she shut down. No one had any idea. She had this conversation with Mrs. Lane occasionally, so being stopped by her wasn't anything new.
"Dad's waiting for me," she said after a while. "I'll see you next class."
She nodded. "Have a nice weekend."
"You too." And then she left. The majority of the crowds had disappeared and small groups lingered in the halls, waiting for their rides. She was alone again. She never thought that this would happen to her, shutting down so suddenly. She thought her life would be the same-old same-old; comfortable, but it took a turn.
She stopped though, glancing at the hall where the dance studio was in. She could hear girls chatter as they put their school things away and got ready for practice. Her feet went off on their own, and she shuffled to the door, peering into the small window.
She saw those mirrors that lined up the walls, the bars and the set of speakers that were hung in the corners of the room. Girls went to the floor, stretching. She saw Casy and Bryn, and they saw her in return.
They looked surprised, happy surprised. Bryn smiled and gestured for her to come inside, as if Kira was standing out on the doorstep of a house filled with family, beckoning for her to come back home. But she didn't. She just smiled and waved at them once before turning on her heels. The hole in her heart hurt, she really missed dancing, just as much as she missed Okita, and it was him who held her back. The thought of any dancing would make her remember...dancing with him. Waltzing, out of all things.
And then she bumped into someone's chest. She murmured a little apology and looked up at who she ran into.
You could say her heart stopped, you could say that the entire world stopped. She hadn't stopped in a while. And then her heart rose to her throat, and she couldn't utter a word. Her eyes seemed entranced with those same emerald eyes. Those eyes that glinted with smiles inside, those eyes that were so bright they stood out from the rest.
Did you see what she saw?
His topknot was gone and his hair was cut shorter. He wore a hoodie and jeans with a backpack over his shoulder! And her eyes flickered to the parchment in his hand.
"Sorry about that," he said with a smile. "I'm kinda lost."
She finally kicked herself to do something. "Oh! No, no, you're fine. I'm pretty dazed today." Kira fought the tears threatening her.
"Ahh, do you think you can help me? I'm supposed to head to the gym...but," he peered into the window. "This isn't it."
"You have an extra class?"
He nodded. "I transferred here from Japan. I used to live here and moved to Japan a few years ago, now I'm back. I have to make up some credits."
"Yeah...uhm, the gym is all the way on the other side of the school." She pointed down in the general direction. "I can show you-if you want." She couldn't believe it. Either fate was playing a sick joke, or this was for real. "I'm Kira, by the way." Her heart fluttered a bit.
"I'm Souji," he grinned. The two walked down the hall. She was trying her hardest from asking him so many questions or just hugging him to death and cry all over his hoodie. Her heart was beating hard against her chest and if you looked closely, you could see it beat under her shirt.
"So...Japan huh?"
"Yeah, pretty crazy. Parents wanted to suddenly move there and…" he paused, "now I'm here with my sister." She knew. His parents died and his sister...is still alive? Didn't she die―don't focus on the past. Okita is right here!
"Feels good to be back?"
"I guess," he shrugged. "It's better now that I have you here to help me," he grinned. Oh, how she missed that flirty smirk. "You know, 'Kira' means sparkle in Japanese."
"Really…" she smiled. "I would've never guessed; you've enlightened me." She replied haughtily, as if she was back.
"That's good."
It all went too fast. They were at the gym now, and she could hear the sound of basketballs dribbling on the other side of the doors. She looked at the doors and then at him. "Well, we're here. Have fun surviving gym."
"It won't be surviving, it'll be living. I love gym―and kendo, it's―"
"I know, it's basically Japanese fencing, originally for samurai training." She widened her eyes. Oops.
Good job, Kira. Now you're passing yourself off as some nerd.
Though he looked impressed. He arched a brow. "You've heard of it? Are you in it too?"
She shook her head. "I used real swords."
"Ehhh, no kidding." Okay, he looked really surprised. It was weird to see him less flirty. "Maybe you can teach me a thing or two~" He mused. He grabbed the handle and looked at her. "We should spar sometime then. See you later, Kira-chan."
Kira smiled dorkily and shook her head, chuckling lightly at the nickname. Don't worry, she was beyond excited after hearing that. "Yeah, yeah, I guess. Maybe if you get lost again."
"Count on it," he winked and headed inside.
She was alone again...but the hole in her heart was mending. Putting a hand over her mouth, tears streamed down her face. She fanned her face, murmuring, "Oh my God" repeatedly as she hiccuped. All of her bottled emotions flooded once again and her old self was resurfacing. Her reflection was blurry, but it was there. She could start to see who she was before.
She had a second chance.
And so this was it. A girl who went back in time, got her heart stolen away, stealing his as well and brought it back home. A love that was strong enough to turn that heart into that man, strong enough to transcend through time.
This was their story.
And that ladies and gentlemen, was Dance of Swords. I'm not sure which ending was better-though this was the most feely. AAAGH I CAN'T BELIEVE IT YOU GUYS! WE'RE DONE!
Thank you guys so much for your overflowing support! I managed to finish this story in a year, and I honestly thought I would never finish it. ; A ; ahhh, it sucks since I don't know what to say!
Big shout out to: Puppylove7, Jinxes, Anime hotty lover.18, xXAnimeLoverpotterhead4lifeXx, gurdianofearth and OuttaGalaxy for reviewing my chapters ever since I came back! You stuck out to me the most, and you are the bomb diggety.
I've read some reviews, and would you guys want a sequel? I feel like there's unfinished business with the alternate ending...maybe I could make a sequel out of this chapter since the true ending tied up all the loose knots.
I don't know, it's up to you guys! Please let me know in the reviews and we'll see what happens!
***IMPORTANT: I have just started a new story, I'm not sure if you've guys seen it on my profile, but it's a new Hakuouki fanfiction with an OC in it once again, the pairing is still kinda iffy, I would love it if you guys go check that out and give me some feedback! The story is called Illusions. I kinda need to get an idea who I should pair her with :'D Thank you!***
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed Dance of Swords and hopefully I'll get back with you guys with another story, real soon.
-Jen