Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Pairing: Okita/Kagome
Suggested Listening: Say My Name by ODESZA (feat. Zyra)
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Four: The Bonds We Weave
Okita woke to the sound of music playing softly from Kagome's room. It'd been nearly a week since his diagnosis. She'd gotten his medicine filled out on the way home and promptly directed him on how to take it. One pill in the morning and another in the evening. She'd also warned him that he needed to eat a particular dessert called 'yogurt' for some added probiotic. Kagome stated that taking antibiotics alone could cause him to feel nauseous among other symptoms. So eating yogurt helped circumvent these issues due to the probiotic in it. He didn't understand the complexities of it all, but he quickly discovered that he thoroughly enjoyed this new treat. He'd always had a sweet tooth and now he simply the excuse to indulge himself—well, more than normal anyways.
The man padded his way downstairs and pulled one of the delicious desserts from the fridge. His adjustment to this era was going particularly smoothly. Souta had spent quite a bit of time with him a few days ago showing him all the odd trinkets and electronics in the house. By now he'd developed a good grasp of how to navigate his way through the home… even if the boy's explanations of things was a bit lacking. Perhaps that had to do with his youthfulness? The kid was smart, just not all that skilled at communication.
By now all Okita needed was his own map of the city. He was getting bored of being stuck inside all day. Kagome had provided him with a pamphlet detailing all the different rail lines and where they'd led to in case there was ever an emergency and he'd need to leave the house for any reason. She had shown him on something called an 'app' on her phone where her school, the police station, hospital and the shrine were located. Most train departures were ten minutes apart from one another—providing ample opportunity for him to catch one should he ever need to travel between any of those places. Hopefully he'd be able to convince her to let him explore other areas soon. Despite Kagome's generally sweet disposition, Okita quickly learned that she could be as stubborn as a mule on a hot summer day. So he tried not to push his luck with her too much. The sooner he proved that he could handle his own in this era, the sooner she'd let him leave the shrine by himself. He was beginning to feel like a child with the amount of supervision the family had put him under. He gave a quick shrug, at least he wasn't confined solely to his bed.
The man made his way back upstairs. Her mother had left some time ago to gather groceries. Souta was at some sort of sport practice, which just left himself and Kagome home alone. Bored with the lack of things to entertain him, he trotted lightly into her room. The young woman barely looked up from her desk at his sudden entrance.
"Needed some company?" She teased, her head still bowed over the laptop on her desk.
Okita dropped himself on her bed, noting with satisfaction that he hadn't spilled any of his yogurt.
"I'm bored." The man stated simply. He peered over the crown of her hair to try to see what she was doing. "You working on something?" He'd gotten used to both Kagome and Souta holing themselves up in their rooms lately. Apparently this was the part of the 'school season' where they'd be tested on multiple different subjects. It was the end of this particular semester and they'd only have one more left before Kagome officially graduated. The ronin watched as she glanced from the screen of her computer to an open textbook beside her.
"Yeah, I've got my finals coming up. The first one is tomorrow. I'm comfortable with most of the subjects by now but I want to do a bit more studying on literature." She threw her head over her shoulder and shot him a wide grin, "Can't slack off just because I've got you to take care of now."
Okita took a bite of his yogurt, "You make me sound like some damn invalid." He pulled the spoon from his mouth and pointed it at her. "I can walk around on my own just fine. You're just being a broody hen."
Kagome gave a throaty laugh, "Yes, yes my dear child." She teased, "Now be a good little chick and return to the nest. I'll brood over you shortly." He was briefly tempted to fling his spoon at her in retribution. Instead he simply dug the object back into the plastic cup and scooped more of the gelatinous dessert into his awaiting mouth. Damn, why couldn't they have food like this back in his era? Life was so unfair.
Since their somber return after the doctor's visit, Kagome had taken great care not to push him in regards to inquiring about his health. She didn't question him or demand answers. Instead she'd try to redirect their conversations into something lighter and give him something to relieve the burden hovering over him. He hadn't told her yet what exactly he'd been diagnosed with but the man figured she'd probably already had a good idea. She was no fool.
Still, he appreciated the effort she'd made in giving him his space on this matter. He hated feeling useless as it was. Having someone constantly bothering him about his health would've only added to the frustration. Kagome was likely aware of that and was giving him what he needed—as always. It'd only been a little over a week since his arrival and she was already highly in-tuned to his desires. That girl really was something else. He never really thought of himself as someone easy to read, yet this girl could decipher his moods as if he were an open book. A wry smile tugged at his lips. This was a first.
Okita cocked his head to the side as her phone suddenly began to vibrate on the desk next to her hand. She reached over, slid her finger across the glass screen before pressing the object to her ear.
"Higurashi speaking," The young woman greeted the person on the other line. He watched intently as she worked the device. He hadn't really had the chance to use one, so he was curious as to how it actually functioned. "Ah, yeah. I'm studying now. No, I won't be done for a few more hours." Kagome suddenly glanced at a her clock. "Well I don't mind but don't forget my cousin is here too. Yeah, Takeshi can come. I don't see why he shouldn't." So now she was talking about him and someone else. Definitely another male. Out of curiosity, he strained his ears even more to try to hear the other side of the conversation. "Alright I'll see you guys later tonight. I'll let mom know before you get here." She nodded as if the other person were in front of her, "Cool, don't forget to bring your books too." The calm expression she wore soured slightly. "Of course not! I'm not your personal answer sheet. Learn the materials yourself, goofball." She sighed. Finished with the conversation, she pressed a button the screen before setting her phone face down on the desk once more.
"Company?" Okita inquired, a teasing grin on his lips. Well this would provide him with some ample entertainment. New people meant more things he could try out. Mostly he was eager to find a way to embarrass Kagome. There's no way he was going to let her get away with calling him a child without some kind of revenge. Now, what would he do? His host nodded nonchalantly at his previous inquiry.
"Yeah. A couple of my friends from school are coming over in a few hours." She began to type on the keyboard of her computer. "They want to do a study session before our exams tomorrow." Azure eyes narrowed as the tempo of her finger's speed increased drastically—drowning out the softly playing music from her radio. "Just try not cause any trouble with them though." She shot him a baleful glare, "They're pretty perceptive and it'd be hard to explain your presence here if you don't stick to the story. You can wear your jinbei when they come over. It won't cause too much of a fuss."
The dark haired woman gave a shrug. His spoon hit the bottom of the plastic cup. Mindlessly he pulled it back up and tried to devour the last of his treat. However as the metal met his mouth he realized something important—it was empty. Emerald eyes glanced down. He'd eaten it all without ever noticing. Okita's expression darkened as a pout threatened to spill over his features.
Kagome laughed, "You know if you're bored you can watch one of the movies I have in here." She pointed a slender finger towards the television on the far side of the room. It was a bit smaller than the one in his room and it was placed squarely upon the top surface of a cabinet. Below the first board was an array of shelves with packages of brightly colored backgrounds. Kagome had called them DVDs before—apparently these were how they watched their 'films'. "Go ahead and read the summaries on the back. When you find one that sounds interesting let me know. I'll show you how to set it up."
He stood and quietly made his way across the room. The titles on the side were odd ones at best. He had no idea how a toaster could possibly be brave or what purpose someone could have with a hundred and one dogs. His eyes roved further down the rows and found an array of titles that seemed far more interesting. One in particular caught his attention. The package was composed of a black and green background. On the front a creature he'd never seen before had drawn its teeth back in a fearsome snarl. He flipped it over and read the summary. It was supposed to take place in a futuristic world. Most of the description revolved around a crew of people discovering new life on an alien planet when things suddenly go wrong. Huh, how curious. It sounded decent enough.
"I'll watch this." Okita held up the DVD and pointed towards the front. She quirked her brows at him.
"You sure? It's a horror film." The woman's grin suddenly turned teasing, "You positive it won't give you nightmares?"
This time he did lightly fling his empty spoon at her. It purposely missed and struck the wood surface of her desk—simultaneously knocking her phone to the floor. She laughed at the surprising reaction, reaching down just to pluck the device from the ground.
"Alright, alright. I get it!" She took the spoon between the fingers of her other hand and approached him. "Sheesh, you really are a child, aren't you?"
The man shrugged, "Only because you treat me like one." Okay so maybe he was pouting. But damn it, he wanted some independence! He could probably ask her about going out on the town later. He didn't think she would be too opposed to the idea—at least not if he fussed at her relentlessly about it. Now what could he do to drive her insane enough to let him out of the house? Supposedly one of the friends coming over tonight was a male. Perhaps he could terrorize him a bit and embarrass Kagome all in one go? That might work. He just needed to drive her crazy enough to let him out of the shrine to wander on his own. That's all.
Kagome shut off her radio and stood. She rolled her neck around her shoulders and swiftly approached him.
"I don't think I'd be able to get much studying done with you hanging around anyways." The woman flashed him a playful wink, "What do you say we move this downstairs and watch it on the large TV? It's got better sound down there too."
Okita shrugged, "Whatever works." He quietly followed after her, the empty cup still clutched in his hand. As they entered the bottom floor, he splintered off from her momentarily to throw away his trash. By the time he'd returned to the couch in the living room, Kagome had already turned on the device and was putting the disk in the player. She gestured for him to follow after her. So he swiftly took his place by her side and watched as she explained how the system worked. From putting in the movie, how to start it, pause it and then ejecting it at the end of its use. The concept was fairly straightforward.
"Alright you go ahead and take a seat. I'll make us some food real quick." She disappeared into the kitchen. He sat at the edge of the couch and draped his arms comfortably over the back and armrest. The man crossed his ankle over his knee and waited patiently. The sound of the microwave echoed in the small house. For such a small contraption, it was quite noisy. Something popped loudly as the electronic device gave a sharp series of beeps to signify that it was finished.
Kagome retrieved the food and swiftly made her way over to him. The couch sunk heavily as she plopped herself in the cushion next to his own. Okita glanced over at her—emerald eyes narrowing at the bowl she was now trying to situate between their thighs.
"It's popcorn!" The young woman flashed him a bright grin. "It's the best movie food there is. Well," She paused momentarily to lift the remote and start the movie. "That and ice cream. Can't have a movie day without popcorn and ice cream." She winked at him once more, "But we'll dive into that stuff afterwards."
The man relaxed as they settled into the couch. The film started slowly enough. He marveled slightly at the odd contraptions and setting of the ship. The story was supposed to take place in space, as Kagome had given him a quick explanation. Okita rested his chin in the palm of his upturned hand. With his free hand, he reached into the bowl and grabbed a few kernels of this 'popcorn'. The man's mouth watered as the flavor hit his tongue. It was both salty and tasted of butter. It gave a crunching sensation when biting into it and still practically melted into his mouth. Now he understood why this treat was so favored. Kagome dug her own hand into the bowl and grabbed a few kernels for herself.
He was becoming intrigued by the movie as the intro progressed. There hadn't been anything overt that'd happened yet, so he was curious to see how everything would implode in upon itself. He felt his brows twitch as the crew members debated upon investigating a 'rogue transmission' of unknown origins. Now hadn't these people ever heard of an ambush? It was just a trap waiting to ensnare them.
Kagome shifted as she tucked her legs up on the cushion of the couch. Her shoulder leaned towards him as her eyes became focused on the screen. He held back a laugh. If she moved any closer to him then she'd practically be under his arm—which was still firmly planted over the backrest of the sofa. Not that he'd really complain. There were worse things in the world then having a woman lean on him. At least she was cute. A smirk tugged at his lips as he turned his attention back to the movie. He'd just tease her about it later.
A few of the crew members disembarked onto the alien planet. Okita felt the urge to roll his eyes. Of course they'd go walking right into the pit of danger. Aside from the protagonist it seemed as if most of the characters lacked the most basic of common sense. He grabbed another handful of popcorn. His host followed his lead and took a bit more for herself as well.
A sadistic smirk threatened to spill across his lips as they stumbled upon a nest of near darkly colored eggs. The quartered points of one opened ominously as the character peered over the top. Ah, now this was where things were going to get good! A pale, spindly creature dove out of the egg and latched itself onto the man's helmet. However before Okita could see what was going to happen, the shot changed to the protagonist on the ship. Well damn, what was that thing?
His hand dropped to the bowl. His brows furrowed as he realized something horrible—they were out of popcorn. He glanced to Kagome who'd noticed at the same time. She shrugged at him.
"We'll get some more in a bit. Let's keep watching." She picked up the bowl and placed it upon the coffee table in front of them. Now there wasn't anything between them. She settled back into her seat, taking care not to invade his personal space. Out of the corner of his eye he'd occasionally notice her head nod off once or twice before she'd snap to. Was she tired?
He leaned back and returned his attention to the movie. Ah, so that thing was now permanently attached to the guy's face. That was one hell of a parasite. Even if they managed to remove it, he doubted the character would still have his face. His interest peaked as they cut into one of the legs and acid spilled onto the ground—burning through several layers of the ship. Sweet. This was getting better and better.
As Okita lost himself to the movie, thoroughly enjoying the moment when the monster burst out of a man's chest. He was taken by surprise when Kagome suddenly slumped against him. He felt the warmth of her thigh press against his own as the weight of her head pillowed itself against his shoulder. The man cocked his head towards her. As tactile as she was, this was a bold move even for her. He quietly observed the fact that the woman's eyes were closed and her chested moved evenly with each breath she took. His expression softened. So that was it, she'd fallen asleep. He couldn't blame her for that. She'd either been locking herself away in her room to study or pushing for more hours at her job this week. A couple of days she'd even done both. It was no wonder that she'd conk out the first chance she got.
Okita partially dropped his arm over her much smaller shoulders to hold her still and allowed her to lie as she was. Moving her now would just awaken her. Judging from the dark bags under the young woman's eyes, she needed all the rest she could get. Besides, she'd been taking care of him for this past week and a half. He could let this one incident slide. But really, if he were honest with himself, it was mostly because she was warm. The AC unit had kicked on; creating a low hum and cool draft that chilled his skin. Kagome being where she was helped ease the effect the current had on him.
From the TV screams reverberated throughout the house. Ah, that thing had mutated now and was hunting the crew members. He smirked. The cat on screen hissed as the creature drew its lips back into a snarl. How the hell was that thing still alive? It should've been lunch food for it by now.
Without warning, a heavy weight leapt into his lap. The ronin looked down. What now? Staring back at him was an overweight calico. Its yellow eyes widened as it opened its mouth and let loose a low, long meow. The family had a cat? He hadn't even known they'd had a pet. The feline kneaded its claws over his leg and knee softly—as if trying to mark him with its scent. He looked back at the screen as the cat on the television went into hiding.
"Oh, you're jealous?" He asked the creature nonchalantly. He didn't expect an answer but the feline gave him one anyways.
It meowed at him again, as if it were upset that he was paying more attention to the TV cat than it. Then the creature curled up into a tiny ball and laid claim to his lap. Well, it looked like he was the popular one to sleep on today. Perhaps he simply made for a comfortable bed? The film drew to a close as the alien was blasted by the ship's thrusters. The only survivors were, of course, the protagonist and the herculean cat. Even if it were just a movie, the one on screen had some serious balls. Not many bared their fangs at the movie monster and lived to tell the tale.
He glanced down at the ball of fluff making its home across his legs. He doubted this one fair anywhere near as well if it had been in the same situation. For starters, he doubted that it could scurry quite as fast. The man gently reached over and grasped at the remote—being mindful of the two currently sleeping on him. He tightened his arm and held Kagome just a bit closer as he shifted; ensuring to move her as little as possible. Once he successfully retrieved the remote, he stopped the movie and switched the television over to a network station. He could channel surf for the time being. Souta had managed to teach him that much the other day as well. For now, he wanted to give Kagome some time to rest and still find something to entertain him. So he figured that this would be the best way to do both.
A loud vibration echoed in the living room. The young woman's phone went off again. This time she was far too tired to answer it on her own. The young woman's head lulled further into the crook of his neck as the heat of her breath warmed the flesh there. He was so going to tease her for this when she woke up. His eyes turned back towards the object. Out of his own sense of curiosity, he grasped the device and followed the actions she did earlier. He dragged his finger across the screen and held it to his ear.
"Higurashi speaking," The man mimed.
The person on the other end stuttered slightly, "Um…" It was a masculine voice that spoke. "Is Kagome available? I need to tell her something." Okita's brows furrowed. He looked towards her peaceful face and gave a soft snort.
"Sorry but she's asleep right now. I can pass a message to her when she wakes up if you like." The ronin played the part of perfect gentlemen. Really he was just hoping to dig up some dirt. The more he could taunt her with, the more entertaining his stay here would be. Besides, how could he not give her trouble? She always had a way of dishing his crap back at him. So getting the upper hand over her was as vital as breathing.
"Ah, right. She's been pulling double shifts. I forgot." Okita pressed his lips into a line at that. Double shifts? What exactly did this stranger mean by that? Did it have something to do with her job? "Anyways just let her know that I…" he cut himself off as if he realized something. "Sorry, I mean Takeshi, will be coming by later. I didn't want to take her by surprise or anything." The other man's voice trailed off. Okay now he was interested. What kind of sordid past did she have with this guy to make him so nervous? Oh the stories he could weave.
"Sure thing. Anything else?" He took a quick glance towards the clock. It was approaching the late afternoon so her mother would be returning with the groceries soon. When that happened he'd be forced to wake her. As if she thought of the same thing, Kagome burrowed herself further into his chest. Her hands curled inward towards her torso as she made herself comfortable on him. And just as suddenly as that, she made herself as adorable as a newborn kitten. This girl really was too much. He gave a small snort of laughter.
"Actually," The voice grew a bit sterner, snapping Okita to attention. "I've been meaning to ask. Might you be that cousin she talked about? The one from Nagoya?" He detected a hint of jealousy in the other male's voice. How intriguing. Although the ronin guessed that if the other boy could see them as they were now, he'd probably be seething.
"I might be." He couldn't help but to taunt. "Depends on why you're asking." There was a hitch in the speaker's breath.
"Higurashi Souji, correct?" Ah damn, he'd figured him out. Although his name really wasn't Higurashi. But he wouldn't correct the male just yet. It'd be too 'dangerous' according to Kagome. Plus she'd probably slaughter him in his sleep with a dull spoon if he didn't keep to the story.
"That'd be me. Was there something you needed from me?" He dropped a bit of ice in his tone. With mouthy kids that wanted to rear up at him back in the Shinsengumi, all he had to do was drop the ice in his voice and point a sword at their throat. That always succeeded in putting the snot-nosed recruits in their place. While he couldn't directly threaten this person with his katana, he could at least put a bit of warning against challenging him.
"N-no. That'd be all. Thanks," He stuttered somewhat, as if taken by surprise by the sudden change in his demeanor. "For letting her know. We'll be over in a couple of hours." With that the line went dead. He set the phone back down. A feeling of foreboding settled in the man's gut. He didn't much give a damn about a kid being jealous. What he did care about was being questioned endlessly by someone who had no business sticking their nose where it didn't belong. This Takeshi person was going to be a problem. He just knew it.
Another hour of surfing through channels and one idiotic game show after another, Kagome finally woke in slow, peeling layers. The woman's eyes fluttered open as she groggily took in her surroundings. The teen barely lifted her head as she blinked blearily. Her shoulder pressed closer to his ribcage. The man allowed a small, teasing smile to spread across his lips.
"Was I that comfortable?" He titled his head to glance down at her sleepy face. "You were asleep for a while." She shifted under his arm and he loosened his grip, allowing her the space to slowly sit up.
A dawning realization spread across Kagome's face along with a deep flush. She quickly tried to stand up, only to fall back down into her seat afterwards from the dizzying speed.
"I'm so sorry!" The young woman gave him an apologetic bow, her face still as red as an apple. He gave a snort at the unusually shy behavior from her. Kagome was flustered. Now this was a change of pace. Perhaps he could tease her more?
"Well, how was it?" His grin grew even wider at the horror slowly creeping across her face. "Was I warm?"
She opened her mouth before closing it again, clearly unable to formulate a proper response to his inquiry. The cat on his lap cocked its head at her. It opened its mouth before giving another low meow in protest at her sudden movements.
"Buyo! I'm surprised you came out of hiding." Kagome swiftly turned the conversation around. It was clear that she was avoiding his questions now. The woman stretched a hand across the top of the calico's fur and gently brushed her fingers over its forehead. "He dislikes strangers so he tends to hide when new people are around. I'm just shocked he made himself at home on you like that."
"You mean like you did?" Okita refused to drop the subject. "Apparently I'm just a comfortable guy to sleep on." He gave her a playful wink, "You know if you ever need, you could just ask. I'd let you sleep with me any time." So maybe he pushed the joke a little too far there. He hadn't meant to insinuate something so sexual. However it was too late now and he wasn't going to go back on it. He was too damn stubborn for that.
Azure eyes narrowed at him, "You're horrible! You know I always thought you'd be a troublemaker. I just didn't want to believe that you'd be a pervert as well." She sighed heavily through her nose. "Guess that shouldn't be surprising though." The woman quickly steered the subject in a new direction. "Anyways, I should probably message kaa-chan about tonight and start getting ready. I still have to shower." Since she had called him a pervert, Okita chose to run with the insult.
"Want me to join you?" He didn't really mean it. He just wanted to tease her, that's all. Still, the sharp line of red across her face made the barb worth the damage to his sense of honor. Score two for him, zero for Kagome. He was getting better at this.
She rolled her eyes but didn't bother with a response.
"Oh yeah," He suddenly remembered, "Some guy called for you a minute ago. Said his name was Takeshi and that he'd be coming to the shrine later." A smirk pulled across his lips. "Don't worry though. I stuck to the story." He slowly stood as the cat leapt off of his lap—taking off in a random direction and disappearing altogether in a flash of fur and legs. Huh, so that thing could be pretty spry on its feet.
The dark haired woman sighed, "Yeah Yuka-chan told me earlier." She rubbed the back of her head as a stormy look clouded her expression. "They're certainly making a big fuss over nothing. They don't have to be so nervous about it." Now his interest was peaked. First the guy acted jealous over the phone now Kagome was seemingly distraught over the way these people were dancing around her. His eyes narrowed in curious delight.
"So? Is he a past lover or something?" His grin grew darker at her horrified reaction. "Come on, you can't drop this on me and not expect me to question it." Her mouth snapped shut as she shook her head vigorously.
"No! Nothing like that. At least…" Her voice trailed off as she twisted her hands in embarrassment. She curled her fingers into the cloth of her sleeve. "… not really. No. He asked me but I sort of shot him down a couple of months ago." The flush on her face darkened somewhat.
"Heh?" The man drew a curious breath. "You rejected him? What's the matter? He wasn't your type?" He chose to extend her torment. "Or do you simply prefer time-travelling death dealers like me?"
"It… It wasn't like that!" Kagome's voice grew a pitch higher. She pointedly ignored the second half of his inquiry. "I just wasn't really interested in dating for a while. It wasn't a good time for me. Besides," Her azure eyes narrowed at him as she planted her hands firmly on her hips. Ooh, he recognized that stance. She was about to start fussing at him. He leaned his head back into the cradle of his arms and waited for the lecture to start. "I hardly think you ought to be the one to interrogate me about this. Besides, that's none of your business anyways. Now go ahead and change into your jinbei before they get here." She shook her head in exasperation. "The last thing either of us need is one of them questioning why you're dressed like a cosplayer."
"A what now?" He couldn't help himself.
She took her hands and gently pushed at his shoulders, encouraging him to walk upstairs ahead of her. "Never mind that! Just ask Souta. Now shoo!" He gave a deep-throated laugh as she ushered him back to his room. He followed her instructions, having decided that he'd given her enough trouble for the moment. He was still determined to terrorize the guy a bit when he came over—if only to see Kagome's horrified expression. An hour passed quickly, with his host scurrying about upstairs trying to clean everything until it was nearly spotless. He sat upon her bed and watched in mild amusement as the girl shot from one side of the room to the other. She'd just gotten out of the shower so her hair was still wet, dripping and flinging water every which way she went.
"You're going to trip." He commented lightly. If there was one thing Okita had learned about Kagome, then it was the fact that she was a massive klutz outside of the dojo. Sure she had all the grace of a bird when fighting but in her normal life? Nope! It was as if the woman had been born with two left feet and everything in her path was just begging to get toppled.
"Oh shut it!" She snapped, before something caught beneath her foot as if on cue. Her arms flailed about wildly as her torso began to teeter forward. Quicker than the eye could blink, he was off the bed and had an arm wrapped around her waist—quickly righting her form before she fell face first on the floor.
"What were you saying?" The man smirked as he released her. He purposely made his way bad to her bed as slowly as possible—enjoying the blush that was permanently darkening her face.
"I was right. You are such a troublemaker." The woman suddenly squatted until they were face to face. Her azure eyes narrowed at his emerald ones perceptively. "Is this some sort of tactic you're using to drive me crazy?"
He tilted his chin upwards victoriously, "It could be. Depends on what you mean though." Ah, so she was onto him. Now to drive the nail home.
A sour look crossed her countenance, "You really want out of the shrine that badly huh?" His smirk widened as she continued to guess correctly. Just a bit more and then she'd cave. He just knew it. Freedom was just a breath away. "Sorry, but I can't do that just yet." His expression dropped. He furrowed his brows and shot her a quick glare. Well that was not the answer he'd been expecting. "Oh don't give me that. We still need to get you more clothes. That jinbei is really only good for the doctor's office and the house. Once we get you more then I'll start showing you around town." The woman stepped back as she fished around in the pocket of her jeans. "Here," She slipped him a device that he now recognized as a cell phone. He cocked a brow at her curiously.
"I bought it earlier this week. It doesn't have a lot of data on it so be careful how much you use it." She padded her way to her closet and opened the sliding doors, revealing a vast array of clothes and colors. "I've already added all of our contacts in there in case you need to reach us when we're out. I was hoping to have you be able to wander about on your own by now but given these circumstances," Those being his disease and history with the abandoned well, he was sure. "I figured it'd be best to wait until this weekend to finish that. I've got a map of the district in my desk if you want to use it. You should probably go ahead and start memorizing some of the streets so you can make your way back once we get you some more clothes. I've got to work all weekend, so Souta said he'd show you around later this week too. So fret not," She shot him a kind smile over her shoulder, "You won't be stuffed in the shrine for much longer."
"About time." He couldn't help but comment. She laughed at him as she pulled a couple of shirts from her closet.
"Hey," She turned and held one of them up to her front. It was a soft, pearl colored long sleeve with a cutout over the shoulders and a collar that covered half of her neck. "What do you think of this? Too much?"
The man blinked. Aw hell, did he just get dragged into a futuristic episode of 'does this kimono make me look big?'. He should've left the moment she went for her closet. Nothing good ever came from a woman's questions about her clothing. He chose to keep his answers as short as possible.
"Looks okay to me." He turned his head and looked out the window of her bedroom. He didn't know whether she was displeased with his response or not. Instead he simply heard the soft clicking of her closet door being shut and the ruffling of fabric.
"Thanks Okita-kun!" He raised a brow, when did he become Okita-kun to her? Ah well, it was still better than being called 'Higurashi-san'. "But um…" He heard her fidget nervously. He turned his attention back towards the woman as she looked away from him—a mighty fierce blush on her cheeks. He rather enjoyed seeing this new side to her. Being flustered was a good look on her. "When my friends get here they might find it odd if I, um," She paused, tugging at her sleeves once more as if unsure of how to broach this next subject. "Well, it'd be weird if I called you by your 'surname' in front of them. They'll think that we're family and with the same surname…" Her voice trailed off.
Oh. Oh! She was asking permission to use his first name. A slow grin spread across his lips.
"Heh? Are you trying to flirt with me, Kagome-chan?" He playfully tapped his chin as if in deep thought. "After all you did use me as your personal pillow earlier this afternoon." Okita crossed his arms in front of his chest as he leaned forward on the bed. "Was I just that warm? Or am I so damn handsome that you couldn't help yourself and decided to play your cards for me?" He noted with satisfaction as the normally composed woman floundered for a response. "I don't mind of course. You are pretty cute yourself."
"You're terrible!" She shook an accusatory finger at him. "I wasn't flirting! I was tired! Someone had to pay for that phone, thank you very much!" She crossed her arms petulantly in front of her chest. "See if I ever do anything nice for you again!"
Okita laughed and waved his hands in front of him in a placating manner, "Alright! I was just teasing. Don't get so flustered."
"I'm not flustered!" Her voice rose a couple of octaves as she turned her back to him. "Geez, I should've known not to give you an inch. You take ten miles where you can." The young woman heaved a sigh through her teeth. "Anyways back to the topic at hand. Would it be alright if I called you by your first name while they're around? It'd cut down on questions that way." Kagome's face slipped into one of concern. She was worried about offending him. He could tell. That notion warmed his heart a little. Despite the awkwardness of their situation, she was always working on his side—ensuring that he was comfortable regardless of how strange the things around him seemed. He was certainly lucky that he'd gotten dropped here and not somewhere else. He didn't think any other family could've given him the care that the Higurashi's had provided.
The ronin nodded, "Yeah but only if I get to call you Kagome-chan." He stood and paced closer to her. "It's only fair."
Her shoulders dropped in defeat, "Well you've got a point there." Kagome's expression sharpened as she struck out her hand. "Alright then, we've got a deal Souji-kun."
He took the proffered limb and shook it within his own, "Duly accepted."
There was a soft knock at the door as Souta peered into the room. Ah, he must've gotten back from his practice. The boy was still dressed in what looked to be a uniform. It was an electric colored shirt and black shorts, both of which were still caked with mud and dirt from his activities. The boy glanced between the two as his voice became a low whine, "Hey, lovebirds, your friends are here."
Okita laughed as he made his way into the hallway, "I'll go greet them while you get dressed." He flashed her a quick wink. "Besides I've got something I want to take care of downstairs as well." That something being the Takeshi guy. He was curious to know what kind of person he was, and if he was going to continue to stick his nose where it didn't belong. A vicious grin spread across his lips. A familiar rush of heat ran through his veins. He was itching for a good fight.
Kagome nodded, having missed the grin entirely, as she moved to shut the door. Souta cocked his head up at him and tugged on his sleeve.
"Hey, are you dating my sister now?" He stopped as he took note of his expression, "You've got a creepy smirk on your face like you're gonna kill somebody. You ought to do something about that."
Okita didn't answer him. Instead the ronin made his way down the single flight of stairs towards the kitchen. Kagome's mother was flitting about from one side of the room to the other; the lines of her face were pulled into ones of deep concentration. The scent of mochi* and onigiri* filled began his nose the closer he got to her. Ah, so she was preparing food for the group study. Before moving forward, he approached the older woman. It looked like she was having a bit of trouble given the expression she wore.
"Did you need any help?" The man cocked his head to the side as he surveyed the tray filled to the brim with the little delights. The matriarch swiftly turned towards him—as if taken by surprise. The lines on her face softened somewhat.
"If you wouldn't mind dear. I still have a few more to make. Would you be able to get some water boiling for me? I still have the tea to prepare." Her hands worked deftly over the remaining rice to form them into their proper shapes.
He walked behind her and grasped the cast-iron kettle for tea. He filled it before setting it on the range—taking only a moment to remember how the object was suppose to work before lighting the fire.
"Thank you dear," She shuffled behind him as she pulled a packet of green powder from one of the cabinets. "It's matcha." She answered his unasked question. He nodded and waited patiently for the water to boil over.
"How've you been settling so far?" The woman questioned as she kept her eyes glued to the work of food art she was masterfully crafting. "Souta said that you seem to be more comfortable than before." She threw a kind smile in his direction. "I do hope you aren't overstressing yourself."
Okita relaxed in the matriarch's presence. Like Kagome, she just seemed to have an air about her that was hard to stay on guard around. It seemed as if the young woman had taken more from her mother than just her appearance and fiery temper. He shrugged his shoulders and came up with a quick response.
"It's not that bad. Still adjusting to everything but," He gave her a grateful smile, "Nothing I can't handle."
She nodded again, "Of course. I've got more yogurt for you as well. You really do like that stuff, don't you?" The lines around her eyes wrinkled as she smiled. "My husband also had a major sweet tooth before he passed. Just let me know if you ever want anything specific and I'll make it for you."
The man continued to prep the tea as the water boiled over.
"Thanks, but it's not necessary. This is more than enough." He held the kettle up to her, "You're already feeding me some of the best so I can't complain." Kagome's mother laughed as she finished preparing the other dishes.
"No wonder my daughter has taken to you so quickly. You're quite the charmer." She passed the trays over to him. "If you don't mind, I need to check in with her. Would you be so kind as to give this to her friends? They're still in the foyer."
He agreed and set off towards a bustle of activity near the front of the house. Souta had already rushed over to the group—he was casually leaning his head against his hands as he tried to chat up some of the girls hanging around the foyer. He had to hand it to the boy, he definitely was a quick one when it came to flirting with the women.
"So," Souta puffed out his chest a bit as he shot one of the females a heated glance, "What do you think about goalies? Pretty neat, huh?" The women laughed as they found his antics 'adorable'. Pushing through the crowd, Okita made his appearance.
"I think you've still got a few years left of growing to do, kid." The ronin teased as he offered up the plates of mochi, onigiri and tea. "This one is on the house but if you want seconds then I'll have to charge you double." The man joked as he offered the treats to the group. It was a crowd of three women—all of which were dressed in semi revealing outfits. To the side a young man, likely a year or so younger than himself, stood awkwardly. He was tall and well built. Onyx eyes narrowed at him as Okita sized up the male he presumed to be Takeshi. This guy could be problematic.
"So you're the guy I talked to earlier. Nice to finally meet you in person." Without the proper use of his hands, he offered a polite inclination of his head. "Takeshi, right? Kagome-chan mentioned you a bit."
The other's eyes widened then sharpened into near cat-like slits, "Yeah. I'm the captain of the Kyudo club. She's our second in command." The other male crossed his arms over his chest as he shot him a suspicious glare. "Higurashi-san has only mentioned you in passing. I didn't get the chance to ask her anything more."
Thus as it should be. This person had little need for that information. He didn't need to know that both he and Kagome had, at one point, traveled through the well and across time itself. He also didn't need to know that they weren't even remotely related. Well, at least he didn't think so. Now that train of thought just got awkward. He shook it from his mind. Despite the other guy's blatant hostility, Okita chose to continue playing the part of the perfect gentleman. It'd work all the better at gaining the information he desired from this guy.
"Sorry I'm late!" Kagome rushed down the stairs not a second too soon. "I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long." The ronin and other male glanced up at the same time. She was wearing the shirt she'd shown him from before. It exposed her shoulders but covered everything else of importance. Instead of the jeans though, she swapped the form-fitting fabric out for a long, white skirt that ended just below her knees and fluttered with each step she took. He momentarily lamented the fact that such outfits were not possible back in his era.
"Of course not!" One of the girls piped up, "Now come on. I need some help with my math." The group filed into the living room one by one. Okita and Souta followed after them. The two flanked Kagome on each side as she took a spot at the center of the sofa that they'd been on earlier in the evening. Takeshi's expression soured but he quickly took up a spot in one of the other available chairs. The teen's eyes would dart between himself and his host settled comfortably next to him; a textbook cracked open on her lap.
"So how did you come to live here? It's not often that we hear about Higurashi-san's family in Nagoya." The male was pressing for answers. Sensing the rising tension, Kagome was quick to create a situation that would fit.
"Once a year our family gathers at this shrine to celebrate a reunion. Last year oji-san mentioned that Souji-kun occasionally got sick." She flipped the page of her textbook, azure eyes scanning the problems written on the page. "Their shrine is pretty remote and there aren't many hospitals in the district that they live in. So they decided that it'd be best if he stayed here for the remainder of the school year to catch up on his health." She lifted her head and flashed her friends a bright grin. "Don't let him fool you though. He's a real troublemaker."
Okita snorted, "You just bring out the worst in me." He leaned over and gave her a heated glance. "You just bring out my stubborn side." The man noted with delight as the other male positively seethed at the closeness between them. Takeshi's lips were pursed as he fisted his hands tightly in his lap. Yup, this guy was completely into Kagome. Even if she shot him down, he was still displaying signs of possessiveness. The ronin decided to egg the other man on a bit more. He dropped his hand on the top of Kagome's head and gave it an affectionate pat, "This one here is quite the problem child herself. She likes to pick fights that she can't win."
The dark haired woman casually brushed his hand from her head, "Funny, aren't you?"
His smirk widened, "Why yes, yes indeed I am."
The small crowed watched in amazement at their interaction. Their eyes were as wide as saucers while a mixed reaction of excitement and surprise took over them. The first girl to speak was of a frail frame and complexion.
"You two are really close, huh? I didn't think it'd be possible…" Her voice trailed off as if she were in deep thought.
Another nodded her head, "Yeah. You don't really get along with guys that well, do you Kagome-chan?" A chorus of agreement rose up from the group.
"That's not true." His host attempted to argue but was met with five pairs of disbelieving gazes—Souta being among one of them.
"First there was Kazue-senpai." The first girl began.
"He was an ass. You of all people know that, Yuka-chan." Kagome pinched the bridge of her nose. Okita sat back and listened in to the conversation. It seemed like he was about to get a first row seat to his companion's past. This was too good to pass up.
"So you broke his nose?" Yuka, he now knew her name, interrogated. "Sure he was a jerk but that was a little extreme."
Kagome shrugged nonchalantly, "Hey, I warned him to get out of my face. It's his fault for not moving in time." The warrior gave a snort of laughter. He could see that. With the way she swung her wakizashi around the other day, it wasn't too hard to imaging her flinging her fists at someone and causing some major damage. "Besides, the new look is an improvement." He actively tried not to laugh at that. He covered his mouth and turned his head. Souta on the other hand made no such attempt. Instead he gave a full-throated laugh and patted his sister on the back in a congratulatory manner.
"There was also Kobayashi-san. He was a second year, wasn't he?" A curly haired girl inquired. "I thought he was rather sweet." She tapped her index finger on her lips.
Kagome shook her head, "No Eri-chan, he wasn't sweet. He was a two-timing idiot that couldn't tell the sky from the floor." She waved her hand in front of her face dismissively. "You really shouldn't get caught up with fools like that. You could do so much better."
Eri glanced in her direction, "So that's why you told him he was dirt bag and needed to fall off the face of the earth?"
His host suddenly seemed more interested in the ceiling than the people in front of her, "Well, something like that."
Yuka raised her hand, "She actually told him that if he went after Eri-chan than she'd cut him into pieces and bury him in a matchbox."
The curly-haired girl tilted her head, "Oh. Okay." Okita felt sweat bead across his brow. Did that female not have a constructive thought in her head? No wonder Kagome seemed so overprotective.
"And then there was…" All eyes turned towards Takeshi, still settled quietly in his corner of the living room. Onyx eyes snapped up and pinned the girls with a sharp glare.
"What?" His voice was clipped and defensive.
"She did shoot him down a couple of months ago." They whispered conspiratorially to one another. One of the girls nodded vigorously. "Yeah, that and she doesn't really fuss at him like she does the other guys." Then all eyes turned owlishly in his direction. "You gotta admit, they look kind of cute."
Okay, perhaps it was time he jumped ship before things got even weirder. Takeshi's brow twitched as he slammed his textbook shut. The group barely registered the other male's rising anger.
"They're cousins right? Wouldn't that be strange?"
Another shook her head, "Nah. They're only distantly related. Remember? That particular uncle was adopted in the Higurashi family so it's just in name only. There's no direct blood relation." A look of understanding flashed across their faces all at once. Takeshi's expression turned murderous. Aw shit, they were in trouble weren't they?
"Higurashi-san…" The male's tone was sharp with a warning.
Kagome quickly jumped from her seat, "Ah, Souji-kun would you mind helping Souta with some of his studies? I think I just heard kaa-chan calling me." No she hadn't but he didn't dare argue with her at this point. He was just as ready as she was to leave this conversation. He took the boy and swiftly hauled him up the stairs from under his arm—adamantly protesting against being removed from the 'hot girls'. Okita merely shook his head and took the kid back to his room. The two waited as they heard another set of feet make their way towards Kagome who'd retreated to her room when they'd fled.
"I thought you said he's your cousin?" It was Takeshi and his voice was low and sharp. The male was furious.
"He is." His host became just as clipped about the topic. "I told you he'd be staying here. Whether he's related by blood or not isn't the issue." They heard something shift as the conversation turned. "I get that you're upset but you have no right to be jealous or to treat Souji-kun so shabbily."
Both he and Souta peered into the hallway, attempting to get a better angle.
"I didn't treat him in any such way." Takeshi snarled. He begged to differ but who was he to interfere in this nice little 'talk'? A heavy thud resounded as if an object had been thrown against the wall. Alarmed, Okita stepped out and slowly made his way towards her room. If there was one thing he despised the most, then it was someone who felt the need to harm those they perceived as weaker than themselves.
"Really? Very mature Takeshi." The pages of a book were flipped back into place. "You seriously need to get a handle on that temper of yours." Kagome sighed as he heard her pace around the room. "That's why I shot you down, remember? Besides you can't say that you weren't an ass to Souji-kun. I saw you glaring at him the whole time. Way to make yourself obvious." Her voice held a slight amount of contempt to it. Okita crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall in the corridor that separated their rooms. Souta tugged on his sleeve and leaned into him. He gave the kid a quick, reassuring pat on his head before returning his attention back to the conversation at hand.
"I asked you about them before, Higurashi-san. You never mentioned the fact that they had a son, or that you had a cousin." The male took a breath. "You can say he's your family as much as you like but I know when you're lying. You're not very good at it."
"I beg your pardon? Souji-kun is a member of this family." He was briefly taken by surprise at the amount of ferocity in her tone. It was as sharp as a blade and cut through his heart just as fiercely. "I won't have you or anyone else saying otherwise." Her feet stomped towards the door. "I get it, you're jealous. I won't begrudge you of that but," Her tone deepened into something more vicious than he'd ever heard from her before. "Don't you dare think that you have the right to barge into this home and claim who is and is not apart of this family. That's not your place." There was a short pause. "Have I made myself clear?"
A silence overwhelmed the upper floor. Then just as suddenly as the conversation stalled, it came to its rightful closure.
"I understand." The sound of fabric ruffling signified that the male had offered her a low bow. "I apologize for my behavior. It was…" Takeshi stopped as shame slowly seeped into his tone. "… I was out of line. It won't happen again."
"Good. Now go ahead and go back down with the others. I'll be with you guys in a minute." Kagome's tone remained clipped. She hadn't quite forgiven the transgression and it didn't seem as if she was willing to place herself in the midst of the interrogation room, as he now dubbed it, again. Takeshi stepped out of the room. His eyes briefly widened as he caught sight of him—obviously surprised by his presence. The ronin gave him a quick nod of acknowledgement but nothing more. Emerald eyes remained narrowed at the other male's slouched form.
The stranger offered him a bow, "I apologize for offending you. It wasn't my place." With that he straightened his back and disappeared down the stairway. The muscle in Okita's sword arm twitched. It felt half-assed, as if it were something he simply had to do—like a child that'd been scolded by their mother.
"What a douchebag." Souta piped up from beside him. His fingers were still clenched tightly over the fabric of his jinbei. He had no idea what a douchebag was but it certainly sounded insulting.
The two made their way into Kagome's room. She was seated on her bed. Her head was turned towards the darkening skies outside. Her hair blocked his view of her expression but the way her fingers clutched at her mattress, he knew that she was upset.
"So, I take it he was a past lover." Okita attempted to lighten the mood with a simple joke. "Can't say you had good taste though." She let out a small bark of laughter.
"Well that's sort of always been the case with me." She turned towards him and gave a small, sad smile. His chest clenched. What was that phrased they used here? Something about stepping on a land mine? Somehow he had a notion he just learned what such a thing felt like. "Anyways, I don't want you to be too bothered by him. He's just a jealous idiot." She stood and took his hands into her own reassuringly. He'd long since forgone the wrappings as his wounds had healed. The nails were already making headway in their regrowth so he felt no need to keep them covered.
Because of this newly uncovered hand, he could feel just how soft and fragile those fingers felt against his own. Beforehand they were deft and meticulous. Now they were delicate and small within his grasp. His own fingers tightened over hers protectively.
"No matter what happens, you will always have a place here." She shot him a wide smile full of kindness and warmth. "You are not a burden nor are you a stranger. We will get you home to your time period but until then, don't worry. You're not alone. So long as you live under this roof, you will be apart of this family." She gave his fingers a final squeeze. "You can count on us." She looked towards her brother who also wore a bright grin. "All of us." Souta nodded energetically and wrapped his own hands around theirs.
"That's right! I'll show you all the cool things and nee-chan will teach you the rest." The kid tilted his chin in the air arrogantly as he puffed his chest outward. "Just count on me, nii-san!"
Okita closed his eyes and allowed a smile to grace his lips, "If I have to count on you kid, then I might end up in trouble." The trio shared a laugh together at the small barb. It was miniscule, but for the first time since Kondou had taken him in, the feeling of belonging began to bloom in his chest. He felt grateful for this family. He didn't think he'd have taken so well to this adjustment period had it been any other one.
"Now together!" Souta shouted as he dipped their hands to do a mock cheer. They lifted their hands in the air at once and yelled out nonsensical chants. The rest of the night went by in a blur. Her friends hadn't stayed long and Takeshi left shortly after she returned to them. He and Souta had chosen to spend the rest of the night in his room, watching different action films that the child had claimed were 'classics'. The last one they finished off with was one about tornadoes and a crumbling marriage.
Once night fell, the boy had curled into a small ball next to him on the floor. A soft snore escaped the kid's lips as his expression grew peaceful. It looked like sleeping during films was something that was inherited in this family. Shutting off the movie, Okita lifted Souta into his arms and quietly put him in his bed. Once satisfied that he was securely tucked away, he left the room and shut the door behind him. The man made his way down the corridor to his own room.
He stopped momentarily as he caught sight of a light spilling beneath the space of Kagome's door and the floorboards beneath. She was awake and likely studying. If it'd been earlier in the day than he probably would've knocked and charged in—interrupting her studying in the process. However, a small smile tugged at his lips, he'd let her do what she needed to for now. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jinbei as he entered his own room. It was dark and he didn't bother to turn on his lights. He'd be going to sleep right almost immediately anyways. The man swiftly undressed himself. As he crawled into bed, he took just a moment to take his final pill for the day. The thought of tuberculosis still hadn't quite stuck with him yet. That visit honestly felt like a dream that occurred several months ago, rather than being a reality he experienced just a week beforehand. Yet, his eyes narrowed at the bottle in his grasp, he knew it to be real.
Since taking the medicine his cough had subsided somewhat. There was still occasional fevers and congestion in his chest, but the doctor mentioned that it'd take several weeks for his symptoms to start to fully subside. He twisted his wrist and eyed the pills from the bottom of the plastic bottle. These things were going to be path to his cure. It all still felt so far away. Tuberculosis. Death. Cure. The only thing that kept his mind at ease were the moments he spent with the Higurashi family. He gently placed the bottle back onto his nightstand as he rolled over on his shoulder. Regardless of what happened, Okita knew that he'd be grateful for the kindness they'd shown him. Even if he died tomorrow or was shipped back to the Edo era and wasted away from his illness. He knew that whatever came his way, he wouldn't regret this time he spent here. With that his eyes closed as his consciousness succumbed to the siren call of sleep.
A/n: And suddenly there are more sparks flying than a midsummer's night in July. Plus family bonding! Can you tell I love these scenes between Souta, Okita and Kagome? XD Trivia time! Anybody want to guess what film Okita watched? XD I'm trying to avoid writing specific titles but that doesn't mean that I can't have fun with mini descriptions and his reactions to these films. I know, I'm such a nerd. XD I gotta say that this chapter was incredibly fun to write. They had a bit of a mini date here and some minor flirting. Mostly Okita just loves teasing Kagome. She's not normally such an easy target so he when he had the opportunity he just ran with it. That's okay though, she'll find a way to get him back later. Oh for anyone who was curious, all Takeshi did was throw his textbook against the wall like a kid. He's got a bit of a temper on him but he hasn't raised his hands to Kagome. He just likes to throw things though. =/
**Mochi—A Japanese rice cake made of short-grain japonica glutinous rice. It can be filled with different flavors like red-bean paste and strawberries.
**Onigiri—A rice ball, usually shaped into a triangle and filled with food items like pickled plumbs. They can also be seasoned with soy sauce. A nori (seaweed) wrap is used close to the base of the rice ball.