Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Pairing: Okita/Kagome
Suggested Listening: Shelter by Porter Robinson and Madeon
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Three: Stubborn is as Stubborn Does
The following morning Okita woke to a familiar burning sensation in his face. Well shit, his fever hadn't let up during the night even with the cold medicine Kagome had given him. The man sat up and blinked wearily at the light of dawn spilling through the small spaces between the blinds. He stretched his arms high above his head and noted the series of cracks in his joints with satisfaction. Doors began to open as the family muttered sleepy greetings to one another from outside of his room. Ah, so they were beginning to rouse as well.
"Okita-san," came Kagome's all too familiar voice. "May I come in?"
He gave a noncommittal sound of agreement. Sleep bleared his vision as exhaustion dulled his senses. He was just so damn tired. The young woman entered his room quietly as to not disturb him in case he was still sleeping. He shrugged; it wasn't like he'd be able to sleep with the commotion this family made in the morning. Okita vaguely heard the pads of her feet treading carefully across the space between them. She was being particularly cautious this morning.
"Got more of that medicine?" The man inquired groggily as he slipped his feet to the floor's soft carpet. He twisted his torso and clenched his hands around the edge of the 'mattress', as he was later informed it was called.
She nodded once and produced the bottle before him, "Yes. Once you take it I'll have you change your clothes." He gratefully took two of the pills from her and used the bottle of water she'd offered to wash down the rather painless medication. It was far easier to take in this time than his era, as most of the mixtures were bitter tasting powders that not even a good brew of tea could wash away. He glanced up to find azure eyes narrowed at him in concern, taking in the flushed look of his face. He knew this wasn't good. His body was already becoming weaker by the day. Yesterday he could walk around and move normally. Today his body hurt all over, he could barely open his eyes, a thin layer of sweat clung to him and his clothes and trying to breathe was even more difficult than it had been before. He was sick. He knew it. Kagome knew it. Now she was going to force him to see a doctor.
"I've already set up an appointment for this morning. They're just going to check you over to see what's causing your issues." She went to work on cleaning his hands. Okita didn't resist and merely dipped them into the familiar bowl one at a time. He hardly noticed the stinging in his cuts. Perhaps he'd simply gotten accustomed to the pain? "They might have to take a blood test, so don't fret when you see the needle."
He quirked a brow at her. Needle? Blood? What kind of place were they going that would require those? Kagome, as quick in her work as ever, finished bandaging his hands and nodded in satisfaction.
"Good news at least is that you'll be able to use your hands. Most of the wounds have healed on them. They just need time to regrow the nails you lost." She stood and gathered up the supplies she'd brought in. "I'll bring you a pair of jinbei* shortly. Your clothes might draw a bit too much attention so I figured we could get you something comfortable that won't attract too many questions." She smiled up at him. "Thankfully it's not too cold out today. So you should just be able to get away with a jacket on top."
He nodded at her briefly. Well there was that, but he still didn't want to go. The man laid back upon the mattress and glanced up at the ceiling.
"You go ahead. I'll stay here." He muttered, dropping his arm over his face and hiding his eyes from the light of dawn. Kagome's feet paused as he heard her turn towards him.
"Absolutely not." The woman's voice was sharp. Before he knew what'd happened, he felt the bed dip with an added weight. Hands brushed across his forehead as he felt her breath ghost across his cheek. He moved his arm but didn't look her directly in the eyes. He was being petulant. He knew that. Still, he didn't want to go. Being ordered bed rest when he should be leaving was frustrating. He wasn't about to be bound by some doctor to wait even longer to go home than he had to. "Look at me, Okita-san." Those hands moved to cup both sides of his face. The familiar scent of cherry blossoms and fresh rainwater filled his nose. Perhaps this was her natural smell? He glanced in Kagome's direction.
Her brows were furrowed as the lines of her lips pulled into a deep frown, "I get it. You want to go home, but what can you do when your body is still so frail? Even if you were able to cross the well today, do you really think you'd be able to make the trip from Edo to Kyoto like this so easily?"
His eyes widened as shock hit him. How did she know?
A knowing smile spread across her lips, "You're more famous than you know. You've made your mark in the pages of history." Her expression suddenly turned serious as her fingers curled slightly tighter over him. "However, for that reason alone you have to do what you can to take care of yourself. If you slack off now than the wait time to get back will be even longer. You still have things you need to do. If you screw around now that won't happen." Azure eyes narrowed at him in determination. "Is that what you want? To be so stubborn that you'd cause yourself more harm and extend your healing process?"
His teeth clamped shut. She was right. He was being stubborn but damn it, he did not want to have to deal with this anymore! His body was weakening with each day. He needed to get back. Time was running short.
"That's not…" He tried to come up with a feeble argument but Kagome cut him off before he could try.
"Not what? Not what you wanted to hear?" She sighed as she released his face in favor of leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm sorry but I'm not here to give you some pretty little lie about your situation. I'm here to help you get better. We'll get you back. Don't forget that I promised you that." He felt his chest clench. He never asked her to promise as such. "But only after you're healed. Have I made myself clear?"
Okita did something that he hadn't since he was a child. He pouted. A victorious grin spread across the young woman's lips at the look he knew he was giving her.
"Good, now that I've made my point, you're going to have to leave your daishou. You'll be arrested otherwise." The edge of a mother's scolding tone still held out in her voice. It honestly made him feel like a misbehaving child again. To be fair, that was probably how his host viewed him at this moment given this miniature temper tantrum. He grunted his dissatisfaction. "Growl all you like, it won't change your situation. Now get up. Lest I drag you from the bed by your feet." Okita quirked an eyebrow at that particular remark. It sounded like something her mother would threaten—albeit a bit tamer than the threats he'd heard the older woman dish out yesterday.
"I thought you were the nice one in this family?" He couldn't help commenting out loud. He watched as her grin widened into an almost predatory smirk.
"Oh? Is that what you believed?" Black hair fluttered elegantly behind her as Kagome turned to leave. "You still have much to learn, my friend. Much to learn. Besides, if you're still so hung up on leaving then I can offer you a solution." She emphasized that point with a tiny, devious laugh. His brow rose even higher.
"What's that?" The man was genuinely curious. He cocked his head to the side as she made to leave.
"Go ahead and get dressed. I'll show you when we get there." With that she padded out into the bustling corridor. Souta, having noticed him from outside, gave him a short wave before following after his door closed behind the mysterious woman as a feeling of foreboding sank into his gut. Just what had he gotten himself into? He had no doubt that Kagome would charge back in his room and drag him out of bed and to the doctor by his ankles if she felt she needed to. That thought made him cringe. He wasn't a sack of potatoes. He'd walk on his own!
The man stood and began preparing for the day. Souta had shown him how to use the sink and an object called a 'toothbrush' to clean his mouth. So he set to work on practicing the new skills the boy had bestowed upon him. Not a moment after he'd finished scrubbing his teeth, his host returned with the promised pair of jinbei and a light, tight fitting jacket.
"It's not much but it should be more comfortable than our usual attire." Kagome commented as she passed the clothing into his awaiting arms. He gave her a brief nod of acknowledgement. There was one question that bothered him though. Well, two things really but he'd ask about this one first.
"What did you mean earlier? About me being famous?" He pinned her with a curious stare. Kagome's shoulders sagged as she sucked a deep breath between her lips.
"Truthfully nearly all of the captains of the Shinsengumi are famous from your era. Each and every one of you has left quite the impact on our history." She shot him a wry smile; "You guys accomplished a lot in your time. So when you showed up in the well, I knew that you were likely travelling in the Edo area." The woman leaned against the wall directly across from him as she looked towards the rising dawn through the blinds of his window—a faraway look in her eyes. "In 1862 the Shinsengumi was still stationed in Kyoto. So I surmised that you'd gone to Edo for something related to them. That's when, for one reason or another, you fell into the well and got stuck here."
Kagome gave a quick shrug, "It wouldn't take much of a guess to figure that once you got back, you'd probably return to Kyoto as quickly as you could. Still, the temperatures there would be freezing this time of year. Your illness would strike you down before you'd make it back." Azure eyes turned to him and narrowed into thin slits. "Now isn't the time to be rash. You screw up and the path of history will be permanently altered. This is about more than just your wants and desires. It's about ensuring the timelines don't get even more screwed up." She roughly rubbed the back of her head in frustration. "Although whose to say they haven't already gotten screwed? Gah, damn paradoxes!"
Well this was certainly a new side to his host that he hadn't seen before. The way her eyes were narrowed and lips pulled into a line—it was rather cute. Although he wouldn't say it out loud. She'd probably throw something at him again if he did. Instead the ronin just gave a small bark of laughter.
"Alright, I'll try not to be so hasty." His grin widened as she shot him a dark glare, "But don't think I'll be leaving my daishou so soon. I'm still a warrior. They go where I do."
She gave an exasperated sigh, "I knew you'd say that. Come on let's get going. There's something I need to show you first." With the jinbei still tucked under his arm, he followed after her. He had a feeling that this thing she wanted to show him had something to do with what she mentioned earlier. They pushed past both her mother and brother at the morning table, offering quick greetings before making their way outside. As Kagome had said it was a fairly warm day for winter. Only a mild breeze and slight chill cooled the air. Kagome walked further into the quartered off section of the shrine and towards a decent sized shack near the back of the compound. It was located next to the well house where his mode of return was located. His eyes remained fixed on the well house. How much longer would he be stuck here? He felt the familiar itch of impatience clawing at his heart.
Thin, slender fingers suddenly curled around his own. The man blinked as he glanced at their joined hands. His gaze followed the link of their fingers up the pale figure of her arm and towards her face. Kagome's expression was set in a collection of serious lines, but it wasn't frustration or scorn he found. Despite the woman's earlier outburst, Okita merely found concern and a deep empathy for his growing impatience on the matter.
"The time will come." She spoke softly. "You just have to have faith in that." She gave his healing hands a gentle squeeze. "I know I'm asking a lot of you. It's not exactly fair but the last thing either of us need is you throwing yourself at death's door." Her eyes narrowed with determination. "Keep fighting on. We'll get you back home. No matter what it takes." Kagome's voice dropped as he found himself struck by the severity of the change in her personality. She'd mentioned the previous night that she'd been sent back five hundred years from her time period to a place full of youkai. Perhaps she'd picked up her ferocity from facing down such fearsome adversaries?
She didn't let go of his hand this time. Instead she wrapped her fingers more securely around his own before pulling him into the small shack by the well house. It was dimly lit given the fact that it was still cloudy outside. However with a quick flip of the wrist, Kagome had managed to flood the tiny building with a wave of light.
"I normally use this place to practice for my kyudo championships." She released his hand as she moved towards the far corner of the room. For the most part it was empty and lined with wood panels that were dark with age. However along the furthest wall was a line of targets that stretched from one corner to the other. Adjacent to that wall was a small wooden rack with three blades hanging from its hooks. "I took the liberty of storing your daishou here last night. I had a feeling you wouldn't want to part with them. Given the nature of where we'd need to go today though, I didn't think it'd be wise to leave them out in the open." She grabbed the swords and handed them over to him. His eyes narrowed as the information sank in.
"That's a death sentence back in my era." He commented lightly as he slipped both swords back into their proper places.
Kagome gave him another quick shrug, "Well it's a good thing we're here." A smile tugged at her lips as she pulled out another blade—a wakizashi to be exact. He cocked his head to the side. Now that was strange. He hadn't heard anything from Souta or her mother about her being skilled with the sword.
"I can't let you bring them outside when the shrine is open or into town, but that doesn't mean they have to be banned altogether." Her grin widened as she slowly withdrew her blade and slipped into a defensive stance. "I'll admit that I'm still pretty much a novice when it comes to these kinds of things. But any time you want to spar I'm game. It's the least I can do considering we'll have to keep your swords in here from now on."
He shifted his own stance as he drew his katana, "Beat me and then I might agree to those terms." Okita gave a vicious grin as the excitement of battle rushed his veins. He wasn't one to hold back—female opponent or no. The pain in his hands had subsided by now. Only the dull ache of his nails bothered him when he curled his fingers too far inward. It'd be a pain in the ass but nothing that'd keep him from fighting. Despite his illness this morning he was determined to go through with this match. He'd be willing to put himself through that much. Besides, being cramped up in the house was starting to affect his mental state. He was getting irritated and he needed a good release. This was the perfect way to work off his frustrations and Kagome knew that. She was more perceptive to his needs than he'd given her credit for.
"Looks like I just have to win then, now don't I?" He watched as her own grin grew into something predatory. He was right, she'd definitely seen the battlefield a few times before. This was going to be interesting. The heat in his cheeks receded as his fever began to die away. Or perhaps he simply no longer noticed its effects on him? Either way he was in the clear to start this fight.
The two shifted into their preferred stances. Okita held his blade over the back of his wrist—poising his katana for the defeating strike. The dull ache near his nails returned but it hardly affected him. He'd often been labeled as a prodigy back home—both for inventing and mastering the Mumyou-ken* technique. It held a high point of striking range so using his arm to balance his blade helped his accuracy.
His eyes narrowed as he took in his opponent's stance. Unlike him, Kagome's footwork was definitely somewhat amateur. Her feet were a little too far apart while her wakizashi was held directly in front of her torso—as if to shield it from one of his oncoming attacks. Still, her eyes were narrowed with determination as that grin of hers grew even wider. She was enjoying herself before they'd even started.
Without a word, the two charged each other at once. He struck out at her first—thrusting the tip of his katana towards the exposed flesh of her shoulder and neck. He had no intentions of killing her but he wanted to end the match quickly as to assert his strength and prove that her demands to leave his swords in this shack were unreasonable at best. However before his blade reached its mark, she ducked low and spun on the ball of her heel. A flash of silver glimmered in the edge of his peripheral. Sensing the impeding danger, Okita swung his blade in a downward arc towards the line that threatened to cut him into two.
Metal clanged heavily as their swords met violently. As swiftly as they'd met, the two sprung apart from one another. He felt his own smirk widen. She was tough opponent.
"A little spry on your feet?" The man teased, shifting back into his starting position.
Kagome changed her defensive tactics as she held her wakizashi parallel with the ground beneath her feet—one hand holding the side of the hilt firmly and the other at the base of the handle.
"When you've made a living running from demons, you get pretty fast." She rushed him this time. Her eyes were trained on the tip of his katana as she thrust her wakizashi towards his exposed chest. The ronin countered as quickly as he saw the flash of the strike. Their blades met once more—this time the weapons practically sang in delight at the contact.
"Seems like you did more than just run." He purposely trailed his gaze along the length of her arm to where their blades were connected. "You sure you're just a novice?" He taunted lightly.
Kagome gave a small snort of laughter, "Novice? Expert? What does it matter? I'm still going to defeat you." She pushed forward a bit, unexpectedly forcing him backwards two steps. Damn, he was losing ground. He needed to turn the situation around.
"I'd like to see you try!" He grunted the last word, throwing his weight into the full force of his katana. She flipped backwards, gracefully landing on her feet a short distance away. His hands were beginning to sting but nothing too unbearable. He'd need to put an end to this match soon lest he reopen the wounds. Kagome appeared to pick up on his concern.
"Alright then. How about we finish this in one strike?" She poised her sword at an angle—clearly aiming for his heart. "Whoever gets the kill strike wins the spar."
His grin widened, "Let's not forget that whoever wins dictates the rules of blades. I win then I get to carry them with no complaints. You win then I might just consider leaving them here." She shook her head at him in disbelief.
"I knew you'd be stubborn but this," She gave a small laugh. It was a light sound and he found it to be rather cute. "You really are a handful." She lifted her blade, "Well, I guess I'll just have to show you the hard way."
"You can try." He grinned, waiting for her to charge.
She sprung at him. He had to admit that the woman was quick—quicker than most opponents he'd faced in his time. Still Saito was even faster than her and he'd challenged the man enough times to be able to counter his Iai* technique. He wouldn't lose. He launched his own attack. Their swords carved in elegant arcs towards one another. They'd only stopped the second they met the barest hint of flesh.
Okita paused as he glanced down. She'd gotten his side. The wakizashi was planted firmly against his ribcage—pressingly lightly against the fabric of his shirt to signal the strike. However he hadn't lost completely. Before him he held his own katana at the exposed flesh of her neck—threatening to cut a horizontal line against the fragile skin there. It was a draw. How interesting. The two withdrew from one another, offering a polite bow as customary after a sparring match.
"Novice my ass." He slipped his katana back into its scabbard. He flexed his hands as the pain began to ebb away. "I thought you were only skilled with the bow." He turned his gaze towards the set of red-marked targets lined up against the wall in the farthest area of the room.
Kagome gave a short nod, "Well I started with the bow. I've had three years to perfect the skill which is why I joined the kyudo club in the first place." She grinned and offered a quick shrug. "I figured I had the skills so might as well put them to use." She slid her wakizashi into its own sheath as she came to stand by his side.
"However when I was still in the heart of my travelling days, one of my companions was quite skilled with the blade and other manner of demon slaying. They were the one to actually give me this sword, you know." She turned her eyes towards the ceiling. A distant look clouded her gaze as she wrapped her hands behind her head. "While shooting a target is great, it doesn't protect against everything. So my companion and I thought it'd be safer if I picked up a few other skills as well. They taught me much of the basics but a few things happened and I ended up having to learn the rest on my own." The cheer in her tone died out as something akin to melancholy took over. His brows furrowed slightly at the change. "Anyways, I call myself a novice but that's only because I never really got a lot of direct training outside the starting forms. Just had to pick up the rest on the fly."
He cocked his head to the side curiously, "You learned all of that from watching?" Admittedly, he was impressed. Not many people could pick up fighting techniques like hers from visuals alone. It usually took a great deal of practice and dedication. If she'd been a male and he'd discovered her back in Edo during his mission, he likely would've tried to recruit her for the Shinsengumi. The man briefly shook the thought from his head.
Kagome nodded vigorously, "Yeah. One of our enemies had a pretty peculiar style and we ended up going against him a lot. So I just spent a lot of time observing his fighting style and tried to copy it as best as I could." Her shoulders drooped as an exasperated sigh left her lips. "I don't think I've gotten the movements down quite right though. He was pretty fast—it was hard to catch all of it."
Okita gave a short laugh, "Well better than just screwing around on it." He titled his chin upwards as he glanced down at her. "If you want to learn more then I wouldn't mind helping you out. My previous statement still stands though. My daishou stay right where they are."
Kagome shook her head once more, "You don't give up do you?"
He grinned, "Not at all."
The woman rolled her shoulders as she tilted her chin up at him in determination, "You do realize that I'm not asking to be jerk right? Having these out in public really is illegal. Walking around with them would just get you arrested." Her eyes narrowed as she leaned towards him, hands firmly planted on her hips. "How would you explain who you are and why you're hands are so injured?" He wanted to argue that point given the fact that they'd just had a sparring session. "Could you tell them how you got your swords without being questioned for hours on end? Just because torture is illegal, that doesn't mean that they won't lock you up for years with no end in sight. What would happen then?" The scolding tone she'd used on him came back in full force. The feeling of a child being put on the spot by their parent came to the forefront of his mind.
The ronin shifted his feet as he crossed his arms behind his head petulantly, "I'll cross that bridge when I get there."
"So you'd rather be thrown into an all white room with padded walls, strapped into a jacket that'd make it impossible to move your arms in and given medicine that'd dull your senses until the end of time?" Azure eyes narrowed as she glared at him fiercely. Neither of them were willing to drop the subject at hand. For the short time that he'd known her, Okita was aware that Kagome had been quite lenient with him. She'd trusted him with her family. She'd trusted him with the Shikon. She'd even trusted him with part of her past. If she was pushing this hard to get him to leave his blades, then a part of him knew that it was for good reason. That didn't stop him from feeling reluctant about it though.
He heaved a sigh through his teeth, "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"Nope." She responded in kind, holding out her hands for him to drop his daishou in. Reluctantly, oh so reluctantly, he pulled the swords from his belt.
"Not a scratch. Otherwise you'll be replacing them." He gave a quick warning. She grinned up at him.
"That's more like it!" The woman gave his arm a reassuring pat, "Besides if I scratched your sword I'd just fix it myself. There's no need to waste the money on a new one if it's not necessary." He watched carefully as she placed all three blades back onto the rack in the far corner of the room. "You can come here anytime to practice or spar. It's far enough away from the main part of the shrine and it'd help keep you out of the house every now and then. It's probably frustrating being stuck in there all the time, right?" Her grin widened at his exasperated expression. She was right and both of them knew it.
"Yeah," The man nodded. Suddenly a smile spread across his own lips, "But don't think I'll go easy on you next time we spar." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Once we take care of this damn illness, I'll show you just how vast the difference in our skills are." His smile turned predatory. Kagome didn't shy away though. Instead she met that look with a similar one of her own.
"I look forward to it. Now come on," She shoved him towards the door, "Go get dressed in that jinbei. We'll be late if this keeps up!"
He laughed and did as she told him. It didn't take Okita long to head back to his room and change into the new set of clothes. They definitely fit comfortably in comparison to what he'd seen the others wear. Still, there was the small matter of travelling in this new era. He hadn't heard much from either Souta or Kagome about how people got around so quickly here. The man emerged from his room to his host waiting patiently for him.
She gently took his hand and led them out the familiar path towards the torii gates. He followed after her quietly—his eyes taking in the vast scenery that they were about to descend into. With no small amount of curiosity, he peered down the long stairway into the world below. He'd be lying if he said that he wasn't just a little nervous but the man quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Going into town couldn't be that bad, could it?
Kagome pulled him with her as she made the first couple of steps. An understanding smile spread across her lips as she waited patiently for him to follow her lead. Okita glanced between their hands and the flurry of motion and colors below. She had trusted him to this point. Perhaps it was time for him to put some measure of trust in her? He took the first step down. The trip was a long but comfortably quiet one. Neither felt the need to break the peace that had settled between them. They passed many people ascending the stairway to visit the shrine yet very few glanced his direction—a stark difference from the wary stares he'd received yesterday. Perhaps his daishou had been attracting too much negative attention. Still, he'd rather not admit such things aloud.
"So where is this doctor, anyways?" Okita inquired as they reached the bottom of the stairs. The streets were crowded, as he'd come to expect from the view he'd gotten at the shrine. The people in the crowd were all clothed in the formfitting outfits he'd somewhat gotten used to seeing on Kagome. There were subtle differences in sleeve styles, colors and even collar lengths on each individual. However he didn't find himself as overwhelmed by it as he had been before. Rather it was the array of lights, moving vehicles and buzzing of conversations that caused his head to spin.
His host gestured towards a hub of activity a few blocks away, "We'll have to take a train into town. It's about a half hour ride and then another twenty minute walk." She withdrew a small object from her pocket. It was small—in the shape of a rectangle that fit the size of his palm. The material was solid, cool against his touch and still had enough flexibility to bend without breaking. How curious. "This is your train pass. Don't lose it. It's how you'll be able to board."
The man cocked his head to the side, "What exactly is a train?" The two trailed after a long line of people feeding through metal corridors and magazine stands. Her grip tightened slightly over his hand as the crush of the crowd moved in on them. He instinctively pressed closer to her to avoid getting separated.
"It's a mode of transportation that can carry hundreds of passengers a long distance within a short frame of time." The pair fed through a winding line and were briefly forced to stand behind one another as it came to a single-file point. Kagome brought her pass up and scanned it over a metal object to her side. Without a word, he copied her movements and passed through the metal barrier—ensuring to keep no more than half a step behind her. "It's a system of cabs and rails in which the cabs are where the passengers board. The rails are how the tracks move across the ground so quickly. It can be a bit disorienting at first, but you'll get the hang of it."
The man quirked his brow but didn't question her further. Instead they approached a bay with a steep drop off. He peered into the dark abyss below the platform to spy some of the 'rails' Kagome had been talking about. It seemed strange but not all that discomforting. Perhaps he was getting more used to this time than he realized. A high-pitched squealing sound erupted from the blackness of the tunnel at the far end of the platform.
"Ah, there it is. You should step back a bit. People will disembark first and then we'll board on. Just be careful though," her fingers gripped his more firmly, "It gets really crowded."
Okita tried not to give her a sarcastic comment. He'd noticed that much since the moment they entered the 'station'. His eyes suddenly turned as a 'train' pulled into the platform. It was large—larger than anything he'd ever seen before. Windows and multiple doors big enough to fit several people through were dotted all along the sides. This contraption also appeared to be made of some sort of sturdy metal. His gaze narrowed as people attempted to shift in front of them, pushing the pair back a few steps.
Kagome gave a soft sigh, then narrowed her own eyes at the door that stopped before them. There was the sound of a light rush of air before they slid open. The crowds crushed together once more—people filed out while others pushed their way in. Okita gripped Kagome's hand tightly as they forced their way through. All the seats had been taken but his host didn't seem too bothered by the notion. Instead she took her free hand and gripped a handle hanging from the ceiling. She directed his attention to one above his head as well.
"Try holding onto that, it'll keep you from falling over during the departure." Reluctantly, he followed her instructions. Truthfully, he was starting to get a bit overwhelmed with these surroundings. He hadn't minded the streets of Tokyo so much when they were still walking, but being pushed together and jostled was getting mildly annoying. To help distract himself, the man lifted his pass and looked it over.
It had his name and, somehow, a picture of him that seemed to have been taken when he'd been unaware. That sly little devil, when had she managed to do that? However that wasn't the only thing that he noticed. Along the top his name was, quite incorrectly, spelled out.
Higurashi Souji
He quirked a brow, "What's this?"
Kagome gave another sigh. In a lowered tone she answered his question solemnly, "I told you before. You're famous. Think of it this way, say you were patrolling the streets of Kyoto in your time when suddenly someone jumps up and says that they're Oda Nobunaga. Would you believe them? Or would you think they're some sort of crazed hack?"
He blinked, "I'd think they'd spent too much time in Shimabara*."
Kagome nodded, "Exactly. However in this time when someone is suspected of being mentally unstable they're usually put under psychiatric care. Normally this isn't directly an issue but psychiatrists prescribe drugs that can alter the state of a person's mind. If you're perfectly healthy then those kinds of drugs would only cause you harm." She turned her gaze towards the stream of mixing colors and scenery. "Not to mention the hours of therapy to try to make you understand that you're 'memories' are just fantasies. No one believes in time travel. You barely did."
Okita gave her that much. He was in a complicated situation and it appeared that Kagome had already taken steps to integrate him as swiftly into this society as she could. What else had she done for him that he hadn't known about?
"So you gave me your surname? That's an odd turnabout." He couldn't help himself from turning the situation into a humorous one. The young woman laughed lightly.
"I've got a background set up for you too, so fret not Higurashi-san." She gave him a playful wink. "You're in good hands."
He didn't doubt those words. Instead he chose to inquire more about his particular backstory, if he could call it that.
"So, am I some amazing husband you picked up off the street? Or the long lost brother you searched for all your life?" Okita tilted his chin upwards as he peered down at her. "It's gotta be something cool, you know. Like you said, I am famous."
She laughed harder, drawing the attention of a few of the people around them. "Not even close! You're just a cousin from our branch family in Nagoya. Your health had taken a turn for the worse so our uncle sent you here for the better healthcare." She smirked at him, "That's all. Nothing out of the ordinary. So if anyone asks, you're just my cousin on a temporary health stay at our shrine."
He pressed his lips into a line, "That sucks. I vote for a different backstory."
Kagome shook her head, "Overruled! Now hush, our stop is approaching." He looked out the window and took note of the darkness they now found themselves in. It was apparently the tunnel that led to the secondary station they needed to depart at. The practice would still be a bit of a distance from here but it wasn't anything he was worried about. According to the young woman, they still had close to an hour before they were due to appear at the doctor's office.
The train came to a gradual stop. Okita dropped his hand and took Kagome's fingers within his own. She barely blinked at the bold move. The man normally didn't care much for initiating contact like this, but given the way the crowd would condense upon them, he wasn't willing to risk losing her in this sea of strangers. It'd be next to impossible to find his way back. As much as the ronin hated to admit it, he was completely reliant on Kagome's guidance right now. At the very least she wasn't teasing him for it. Perhaps she had enough respect for this situation to avoid causing him any added distress. It was then that he realized just how kind she'd been. Ever since his arrival a few days ago, the Higurashi family had taken great strides to see to his comfort. They were continually going above and beyond to help him adjust to these new surroundings. The fact that she thought so much as to give him a quiet background, a train pass and escort him to the doctor herself spoke of that much.
So just what had Kagome gone through during her travels to have elicited such a deep level of empathy? She'd said that word enough times to draw unpleasant worries to his mind. He felt his concern grow at the developing mystery. The fifteen hundreds weren't a time of peace. There was more violence in that era than a drunken night in Kyoto. She'd mentioned companions, so perhaps she had been given some measure of guidance as well? He could imagine the difficulties she would've had to endured when going from an era of such convenience to one with little to no such luxuries. Okita felt a twinge of pity.
The doors slid open and the two quietly pushed their way out of the train and onto the platform. They passed through the threads of people and up a long stairway. The dull opalescent sky of winter came into view as the two found themselves on a crowded street. Small shops and magazine stands lined the road on both sides. Shop keeps shouted from their positions, attempting to draw in customers to buy their wares. He glanced around. Without all the noise, cars (as Kagome had called them when he asked), and bright lights of the screens above, things really hadn't changed all that much from his era. People still moved about their day. Workers still tried to sell their services. Everything was always just a blur of motion and noises. He slipped into step beside his companion. He'd just have to get adjusted to the new 'luxuries' of this era—that was all.
Given how much time they had before the appointment, Kagome made sure to stop frequently along the way. She'd point to different objects, explain what they where and how they were meant to be used. On this trip he learned about televisions, cell phones, radios, film, games and all other manner of electronics. He also was vaguely told about the internet. However time was starting to draw to a close and she then informed him that she'd show him the rest later. It honestly sounded like some mystical existence that could answer any question he had. He was eager to try it out. Particularly something called a 'search engine'.
The crowds of the streets thinned the further out they went. Eventually they came to an area flanked on all sides with small, squatty buildings. A great deal of elderly people walked about—aided by metal cage-like objects that they used to push themselves forward. The youthful people he did see wore white masks over their mouths. He subtly gestured towards one.
"What's that?" Okita questioned.
Kagome nodded thoughtfully, "Most of the people who come here are ill with one disease or another. Sometimes those diseases can be contagious." She pulled him along as they approached a four-story building. "To avoid getting others sick, they wear those masks when out in public. It's an act of courtesy."
Before she reached the door, he quickly pulled on the handle and held it open for her. Kagome shot him a quick, grateful smile before tugging him inside with her. The entrance was fairly large with a hard floor made of something he couldn't quite name. It glimmered in the harsh lighting as the smell of harsh chemicals hit his nose. She approached a sign—glancing over the numbers written next to a list of names.
"Here we go, Doctor Ikki. He's room 304 so that means he's on the third level." She pointed towards the three, "In most buildings the first number like this three indicate which floor. The rest show which room in particular it is. So when put together it's floor three and room four." The man nodded at her. That was easy enough to understand. Not too far away a group of twenty plus people stood before a metallic door. A number flashed on the black screen above the doors as Kagome pressed her lips into a thin line. She pointed towards a door near the far edge of a splintered corridor.
"We'll go this way."
He followed after her silently. They made their way to the stairs. It was cramped and dimly lit in comparison to the entrance outside but it was explained that given the large crowd by the elevator, this way would be much faster and expedite the wait time they still have left once they entered the office. They climbed three flights until they hit a door with a large 'three' painted on the wall.
"This it?" Okita questioned. She nodded as he pulled the door open for her once more.
"Right, now we need to find room 304." The woman pointed towards a small sign posted on the wall in front of them. "Looks like it'll be a bit further down this way."
It'd only taken a minute to find the office. Okita opened that final door and waited as she entered. The man followed after his companion as his eyes darted around the waiting room. It wasn't all that odd. Mutely-colored chairs lined the walls and created a space for people to sit comfortably. A table sat in the center with an array of magazines displayed on its surface—each one geared to a person's different interest. Plants that looked too green to be real rested in the corners.
"We have an appointment at 10:30 under Higurashi." Kagome announced from beside him. He snapped to attention. A small window separated the pair from a woman on the other side. She was dressed in plain colored clothes that fit loosely over her body. It was in similar style to his jinbei but not quite the same. The woman redirected his companion's attention to a clipboard.
"Just sign in. The doctor will see you soon."
Kagome took a pen and wrote down his name and arrival time. Once finished, she pulled him towards a couple of seats farthest from the door.
"I should probably ask this now, but you want to go in by yourself, right?" She questioned lightly. The woman crossed one of her legs over the other as he sunk into the cushion to get more comfortable.
"Yeah. I don't particularly feel like having my hand held like a child all the time." He gave her a quick wink, "Even if you are trying to flirt."
Kagome snorted with laughter, "Yeah, right. Anyways they'll ask you to do a few different things. Just follow their instructions and you'll be fine. You haven't eaten anything yet so you'll be good to take a blood test if they ask for one."
Okita cocked a brow at her, "Speaking of which, what is a blood test?" It sounded somewhat terrifying.
She casually grasped a magazine from the table's surface and spoke as if it were a simple matter, "Basically they use a small needle to draw a bit of blood from your arm. There's a lot of things in our system that can be detected through our blood. So these tests provide a more clear answer to what kind of disease we have and what strain." She glanced up at him as if she remembered something. "We've learned in our time that there's more than just diseases. For example two people could have a something called the flu. It's similar to a cold but a bit more severe. However there are different strands of flu so one set of medicine could work on the first person, but not the second." She flipped to the next page, "That's why the blood tests are important. It tells us the specific strands that you'll need to be treated for. Think of it as a thorough diagnostic. We'll look more of that up later though."
His brain was swimming. This was something he hadn't counted on. The door adjacent to the woman who'd greeted them swung open.
"Higurashi Souji?" A new person questioned calmly. She was dressed in a matching uniform as the girl in the window. However her hair was pulled up in a loose ponytail and a calming smile on her face. He stood and gave Kagome a quick glance. She nodded at him.
"I'll be here. You go ahead."
So he did. He trotted after the stranger as she called him into the back. The all too familiar scent of alcohol and something rubber burned at his nose. He found that he disliked this place already. The woman opened her arm to gesture towards an object set against the wall.
"Would you mind stepping on here? We need to take your weight."
He complied and stepped up onto the raised platform. Unlike the town square that they'd walked through, there were no electronics or screens on this device. Instead the woman moved a series of scales to determine the exact weight. She waited until the bar balanced out and the scales leveled on a number. The woman nodded.
"Alright sir, if you'd follow me this way. The doctor will see you now." He stepped off and walked after her. She didn't do much in the way of small talk—instead just showing him to a room in the far back of the maze of hallways they'd walked through. "Go ahead and have a seat. It won't be much longer." She shut the door behind her, leaving him alone in the foreign settings.
A chair was set in the center of the room. The back was set back, as if made so the user could lie comfortably. The seat itself was made of some sort of hard leather and a line of paper was drawn from the headrest to the bottom of the seat. He quickly took a seat upon it. It wasn't comfortable, that was for certain but at least it wasn't equipped with any odd trinkets, nor did it squirt water at him. Okita shuddered—he still disliked using that thing they called a toilet. Alas, Kagome had given him a more thorough breakdown on its use and made him more comfortable with it.
The door suddenly opened once more. An aging man with a crown of thinning white hair entered. He wore full-moon spectacles and a coat made of pristine white color that stopped halfway down his calves. Ah, this must be the doctor.
"Good morning Higurashi-san," The man greeted him jovially as his eyes were drawn to some paperwork grasped in his hands. "I hear you've been having a few issues."
Okita pinned the man with a sharp stare. Just what did Kagome tell these people? He crossed his arms in front of his chest defensively.
"Mostly coughing." He started off simply.
The man nodded once, "Yes, yes. Your relative stated that you'd had quite the fit yesterday. Tell me has that happened often?" Damn, so she found out about that too. Souta had probably told her and therein she informed the people here somehow when she'd set up the appointment. He fought back a sigh. There wasn't much he could do about this now. Might as well go full in.
The ronin nodded, "Yeah. It's gotten more frequent over the past few weeks."
The doctor pulled the first layer of paperwork back to view the page lying beneath it. A tic appeared above the man's brow. Was a doctor not supposed to examine him rather than those papers? He worried that this would be a waste of time.
"Yes. What about fevers? Congestion in your chest? Have you have any of those symptoms as well?" He dropped the papers and set the clipboard aside. Through the glare in his spectacles, Okita could feel the man watching him intently—as if searching him out for any false answers.
Reluctantly he decided to be honest in his response, "Yes. Usually fevers at night and only recently with chest congestion." The man looked away. Well there was one other symptom but should he tell him? He glanced back to find the doctor's gaze had sharpened even further. Okita quietly resigned himself to this situation. Might as well go all in. "Also," He hesitated slightly, "There was blood."
The air grew a few degrees colder as the older man nodded gravely, "I understand. I'll need you to take a blood test and let's do a few radiographs as well." He stood and opened the door. The woman from before reentered the room. "It'll take about a week before the blood test's results will come in. But at the very least we can use the radiograph to get a general idea of what's going on. Go ahead and follow Yamada-san here to get your exams done. She'll show you what to do."
Okita stood and did as he was instructed. He trailed after the woman as she directed him towards another odd-looking chair. This time it was seated in a normal position but had an exaggerated armrest. He took a seat as she withdrew a vial, packaged needle and a blue band. Reaching around, she tied the band tightly over his arm and flicked at the veins above his elbow.
"Is this your first blood test?" She questioned, making small talk with him for the first time.
He gave a nonchalant shrug, "You could say so." More like he'd cut the blood of his enemies and therefore lost any queasiness to the sight of it.
She nodded, "It's alright. It'll be over quickly." The woman opened the package and swiftly assembled the needle to the vial. With practiced movements, she pressed the tip into the exposed flesh of his arm. Scarlet slowly filled the vial. Once satisfied, she grabbed a ball of cotton and pressed it firmly against the tiny wound.
"Hold this here for a second." She commanded lightly. He did so without complain. Seconds passed before she moved his hands in favor of pressing a bandage against the small injury. "Alright, that's done. Let's go ahead and finish the radiographs. Okazaki-san will help you from there." She pointed towards a male peering around the corner. He gestured for him to follow. The man was of slight stature and he had an odd accent. He pushed up his glasses as the ronin trotted after him into yet another room.
This time the space did not have a chair. Instead it had odd colored boards with the diagram of a human body on each side—making a rough outline of how a person would stand beside it. Near the far side was a space that a curtain could be drawn and a small table. The short man quietly pulled the fabric until Okita was hidden behind it.
"I've left a smock for you on the table. Go ahead and undress. Just knock when you're finished."
Emerald eyes widened as he looked between the retreating back of the man and the paper-like fabric in front of him. Undress? Now things had just gotten weird. Still, Kagome's words from earlier rang in his mind. He needed to cooperate. That was his only duty. So the man stripped himself of his jinbei and jacket—donning the smock awkwardly. The back had a large opening that was difficult to tie tightly. As much as Okita attempted, with each turn a draft would brush past him, making him concerned that he was 'falling out' of the back of it.
He stepped out from behind the curtain. Well, if anything was exposed then it'd simply be the attendant's fault for not showing him how to properly wear this thing. At the very least nothing of importance was showing. He figured the other man could live with the view. He approached the door and gave it a quick rap. It swiftly opened as the man came back in.
"Alright, could you stand against here please." He gestured towards the board with the diagram. "Hold your arms behind your head and push against the side." He did as directed. The slightly built man moved off towards the computer, as Kagome had shown him earlier on the trip there, and pressed several keys on the board. He held still and waited impatiently for the process to finish. "Alright you could move to the other side and do the same thing." He stepped over and repeated the cycle. It didn't take long but the situation was getting repetitive. "Okay last one. Just press firmly against this one right here." This time he pushed the front of his chest to the board behind him. Once finished he was directed back behind the curtain and ordered to redress. The man left him as he swiftly returned to the more comfortable jinbei.
Okita was led back to the first room he'd been deposited in. He'd already been here for close to half an hour yet he felt as if he'd hardly accomplished a thing. The door shut behind him as he waited for the doctor's return. The man sat uncomfortably on the awkward chair and looked from one diagram of the human body to another. Each one displayed information about which organs were located within the body and what their functions were. There were also large posters discussing diseases that he hadn't heard of before. One recurring one was syphilis and the acronym STD. He glanced towards the ceiling. Somehow, that sounded horrible.
Minutes ticked away as impatience clawed at his chest. How much longer was this going to take? Finally, after what felt like an hour, the doctor returned with a drawn expression. He glanced over more paperwork before pushing the clipboard onto the counter.
"Higurashi-san," He pinned him with a serious glance, "I can't confirm with one hundred percent certainty but there's evidence of damaged tissue in your lungs. We'll have to wait on the blood test to verify the specifics but," He paused and took a breath, "You likely have tuberculosis."
The wind was knocked from him. Tuberculosis? That tuberculosis? Okita swallowed thickly. It was a deadly disease—spreading like wildfire and killing in less than a year from the time symptoms showed themselves. Just how much damage had been done? What could even be done to stop it at this point? Now, more than ever, he wanted to return home. If he was just going to die then he wanted to die fighting for the Shinsengumi—not wasting away in some foreign time period.
The man pinched the bridge of his nose, "I can prescribe the first round of antibiotics. This will be a long process but your prognosis is good." His brows shot up. Good? Had they discovered a cure in the time that bridged their eras? "I'll give you a call once your tests come back. We can adjust your dosages as we need from there as well." He scribbled upon a small slip of paper. "Just deliver this to your preferred pharmacy. We'll keep you on the antibiotics until the infection is eradicated from your lungs. Thankfully diseases like this can be cured easily. That didn't use to be the case though." He handed him the paper. "Your relative is paying as we speak. Just go ahead and walk out the door you were brought in."
He nodded numbly, his mind still reeling from the diagnosis. Tuberculosis. A cure. Maybe his presence here signified something more was at play. He partially began to believe that perhaps the gods really did have some sort of hand in his arrival here. It'd be the only way a death sentence like his disease could ever be reversed.
The man entered the lobby where Kagome was waiting. She took note of his drawn expression and silently slipped her fingers between the spaces of his own. The ride back was a quiet, if not somber one. Yet despite the questions dancing in her eyes, she didn't pester him. She didn't push him. As if sensing his need, she merely held his hand firmly in her own and gave his fingers a gentle, reassuring squeeze. Regardless of what happened in the future, Okita was grateful. At least he'd been given this chance. He would live. That was more than he could've asked for.
A/n: My main comment when writing this chapter out is that Okita turned out to be much more flirtatious than intended. xD It'll be some time yet before their relationship develops into anything substantial but that doesn't mean he won't notice things or make a few comments here and there. I've already gotten a few scenarios written out that I'm dying to include—particularly his reaction to discovering Kagome's main job. So hopefully I can amp that up within the next chapter or so. What'd you guys think though? I ended up doing a bit of research into TB's treatment in modern society. It's roughly six months of treatments with antibiotics and it has to be monitored closely as the disease can 'mutate' so to speak. It can be some scary stuff tbh. At the very least the mortality rate is much lower given our access to antibiotics. So the next part of this arc will focus on his healing process. ;) I do promise though, this entire arc actually serves a higher function than just curing Okita's TB. There's some intense emotions I want to cover and backstory with Kagome that I need to address. So just sit tight and hang on. This ride still has a while yet to go XD
**Jinbei—A top and matching shorts made of cotton or hemp. They're traditionally used only as house wear or for sleeping. However they can also substitute a yukata during festivals. They're usually worn during the warmer months as the seams are loosely woven to allow better ventilation.
**Mumyou-ken—A specific technique developed by Okita Souji. It was also sometimes known as the Sandanzuki. This particular technique focused its attack on the three points of the neck, left shoulder or right shoulder with a single strike.
**Iai—A specific type of quick draw that's meant to counter sudden attacks. Its major emphasis is upon the user's awareness of their surroundings. Saito Hajime in particular was known for the use of this technique.
**Shimabara—A courtesan's district in Kyoto during the 1800's. It was but one of many places in the Edo Period where geisha and prostitutes worked to entertain customers. During the 1970's when prostitution became outlawed in Japan, the district lost its functionality. It is no longer considered a pleasure district.