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Lost in the Light

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Sheathing her katana as a soft 'clink' sounded when steel met wood, Kawa grumped and frowned at the dead monster.

"What's the point of bein' awake at this ungodly hour if Saitou-kun beat us to the punch…?" She muttered before bristling when feeling eyes on her. She glanced back and met the beady dark eyes of Niimi; narrowing her gaze, she turned slightly and drawled at him, "Oi, shouldn't ya put these beasts out of their misery before setting them loose, ass-wipe, or do you not have the balls to swing your sword?"

Niimi bristled at her insult and snapped in that snide tone she detested, "You cheap insolent…" He trailed off at regarding the promise of a swift death from Souji's hardened glare, quieting and giving a 'humph'.

Souji, who had shuffled a bit to stand closer to her, crossed his arms complacently and huffed. "Well that was a huge waste of time, wasn't it? Wouldn't be surprised if Ibuki-kun pissed himself at seein' that thing jump him." He wondered.

Saitou rolled his eyes and flicked the blood from his blade, sheathing the katana. He blinked once at the offered handkerchief from his fellow lefty, noting her calm smile, taking it with a nod to wipe his face clean.

"As much as I love ya, you're strange sometimes, babe…" Souji muttered as he elbowed her.

Kawa lightly slugged him between gesturing Saitou keep the handkerchief, yawning and turning about to return to a warm bed, "Shut up and walk me to my room, kitty." She beckoned.

Toshi quelled an amused snort at the named brunette whose brow twitched, settling for a smirk, "It's got a decent ring to it…" He offered.

"Bite me," Souji sniffed before extending a rude hand gesture, striding after her leave.

"'Kitty'?" Heisuke echoed as he, Shinpachi, and Sano blinked once in confusion.

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"Your stubbornness knows no bounds…" Saitou mused.

Kawa smirked and sighed lightly, "I'd like to refer to it as my 'ways of persuasion'."

Toshi had at first decided against letting her patrol with the captains, namely because she was a woman, but she had countered with the point that she would provide back-up should the situation call for it. He had agreed with it, albeit reluctantly, allowing her to only patrol with Saitou and Souji's squads.

Saitou rolled his eyes at her lie, "And you wonder why others believe you and Hijikata-san are siblings…" He knew that they weren't, as far as either of them knew, but she did act just like the man when in a mood, and the resemblance only deepened when she would wear her hair in a high ponytail.

"Oi, I thought that was top-secret… Ow, Kawa-chan!" Heisuke's yelp of pain drew the other captain from his thoughts and to the former's fresh bump on his head.

"Was that necessary?" The raven-haired captain deadpanned at her.

His fellow lefty crossed her arms at her chest and calmly replied, "if Heisuke didn't have the habit of spilling the beans, no."

Saitou pinched the bridge of his nose and walked ahead of them, "I'm starting to see why Hijikata-san ordered you to patrol with my squad…"

Heisuke snickered and ducked when the lone woman swatted at him, scampering after his age-mate.

"Both of you shut it!" Kawa barked as she stomped after them.

As the combined squads proceeded to patrol the main street that was part of their usual route, the air around the odd trio at the helm quieted and scattered whispers of rumors slowly filled the quiet.

Kawa raised a brow when one woman that passed by them hurriedly looked away when catching her gaze and scurried off as if talking with her would bring bad luck upon the other woman. She looked ahead and folded her arms at her chest, tuning out the gossip clogging the air as she had trained herself to do back in Edo.

"…Heard they went and put a ronin's severed head on display."

"Wasn't it in Osaka?"

"How frightening!"

"Those damned Mibu wolves…"

Saitou looked at Heisuke whose crestfallen expression seemed an effect of listening to the gossip, inwardly sighing at their bad publicity.

Kawa was of like mind, gently patting Heisuke on the back, "Come on, Heisuke, y'know it's nothing." She assured.

Heisuke minded the sisterly look on her face and smiled for her, "Yep, you're right, Kawa-chan."

What she didn't tell either of her friends was that the phrase 'wolves of Mibu' had a catchy ring to it.

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"This was supposed to be a dinner, wasn't it; there's no need to get so livid, Serizawa-san!" Kondou declared.

Toshi glanced between the seething Serizawa and Kawa as she moved out from behind him and Souji to help Ibuki to his feet.

"Come on, Ibuki-kun…" Kawa urged gently at seeing the few scratches and bruises on the boy's face.

Serizawa huffed coldly and looked on him, "You do it then, cur; consider that your punishment for disobeying your master." He ordered.

Having snatched the comb that had fallen out of his shirt's confines to tuck it back, Ibuki scowled up at him, "t-there's no way I'm ever gonna do that!" He protested, stiffening as she extended an arm to defend him.

"Ibuki didn't do anything to these women, Serizawa-san, it was your fault!" Kawa cut in defensively, standing between the boy and the apparent bully.

"Watch your mouth, you barking stray!" Serizawa snarled as he swung out at her.

Kawa blocked his larger hand with ease and roughly shoved him back with a glare that matched her look-a-like's on her pretty face. "Don't make him atone for your bullshit!" She growled out, seeming to throw him off at the similarity.

"Yasakawa." Toshi snapped her name, having stepped forward to clamp a hand on her shoulder, watching her wince slightly at his sharp tone, urging quietly to her, "that's enough."

He was glad someone told that man the truth, but why the hell did it have to be her?

"Alright, if ya really see it that way, worthless dog, then I'll do the job. But considerin' I'm rather tipsy, I might miss and lop off their heads instead…" Serizawa drawled, causing both Hijikata 'siblings' to perk up, turning on the two geisha and their master as he started to draw his katana.

"No!" Ibuki exclaimed.

"You'll be satisfied if we just cut off their hairpieces, right, Serizawa-san?" Toshi asked suddenly, violet eyes hard as he locked stares with the named man's beady grey eyes.

Kawa looked at him in disbelief, "Toshi, don't!" She protested when he gently pushed her back.

Serizawa minded the revulsion the named man did his damnedest to hide away, huffing as he reluctantly let go of his sword's hilt. "If you insist… this should make for a good show." He mused smugly.

"Asshole!" Kawa shouted as she lunged at him, grimacing when being reprimanded by her wrists by Souji, tears burning at her eyes as she glowered up at that man before she turned away and closed her eyes tight to keep from seeing the fear in the women's eyes.

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"So that's the maiko you met. She's cute."

Ibuki jumped slightly, jarred out of his frustration, only to see Kawa had found him and sported a couple of bags of groceries. "Kawa-chan…" He looked at where the girl had been before trotting over to help her with the bags, carrying the heavier one. "H-how'd you find out about Kosuzu?" He asked as they started back to the manor.

Kawa smiled at his naiveté, shrugging, "A big birdy told me. Thanks for helping with the bags, that one's a bitch because of the vegetables." She explained.

"Geez, Harada…" Ibuki grumbled at that, cheeks red, kicking a stray pebble out of his way.

"I think you could make it work with her, with Kosuzu-chan." Kawa offered, catching his incredulous glance, and she smiled empathetically, "she looks like she's worth it. I saw how she looked at you, too… Love's not supposed to be confusing, but it can be a pain in the ass when life gets in the way."

Cheeks reddening at her sagely advice, Ibuki mustered a scoff and looked away, "Who said I liked her in that way? She's just a friend…"

Kawa rolled her eyes and gently slapped him on the back, "the fact that you bought her a comb in Osaka speaks volumes." She stated, her empathetic smile present much to his chagrin, adding quietly, "Sorry if I made it complicated between you and Serizawa-san."

Ibuki quieted and wondered as he had been wondering since that night, "what about Hijikata-san? I asked Saitou about him but he just said he was busy."

"Toshi, he… I think he's still disgusted with what happened there. He and Kondou-san are trying to make peace with the officials in Osaka by planning some important sumo match." Kawa explained, shrugging the bag onto her shoulder.

Ibuki glanced at her as the empathy lingered in her eyes when she looked away, nodding a little. She was kind to worry over everyone, the men especially, and it didn't take a psychic to see she hated Serizawa even more for what happened in Osaka.

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an: nothing much to add except drama here, there, and everywhere. it's based off an Otome game what do you expect?
* "Staring at the Sun" - Post Malone ft. SZA