Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Pairing: Okita/Kagome
Suggested Listening: Chandelier (VILLAGE Remix) by Sia
Dedication: To LovelyPolkaDots, seriously you guys can thank her for this first scene. She was the one that gave me the idea lmfao. To Lovely, hope you enjoy! XD
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Eight: Don't Call this Love
Okita poured over the day's newspaper that he'd 'borrowed' from Kagome's mother earlier in the evening. Of course she likely knew the reason why he wanted it in the first place and therefore didn't ask any questions when he requested it from her. She was probably just glad that he was finding something, anything really, to get him from lazing around the shrine like some kind of bum all day. His eyes scanned perceptively through all the different job listings that'd been posted. So far most of them were well above what he was technically qualified for. Without any documented employment history he was shit out of luck in obtaining anything substantial. He already knew that he wouldn't be making a lot of cash in this era, but that didn't mean that he was going to continue to let Kagome take on the brunt of the responsibility. Even if it barely covered the cost of his medicine, Okita was determined to do something to help out. So the man focused his attention on the positions that required little to no previous experience. They'd be the easiest to obtain and hold down in comparison to the other options available. Currently he was left with only three choices: Convenience Store Clerk, Waiter or Customer Service Representative. He immediately crossed the last one off of his list.
Kagome and Souta did have a point the other day. He hardly had any patience for idiotic people. Having to deal with human stupidity on a day-to-day basis would drive him to righteous homicide. Just to prove her point about how amazingly, horrifically stupid some of these 'customers' were, Kagome had decided to show him several videos that'd gone 'viral' on the internet. By the time she was done showing him a long list of clips of people throwing trays, arguing with clerks and even getting aggressive with other employees, Okita was certain that whatever minimal amount of faith in humanity he'd had was zapped away. What in the hell ever happened to common courtesy? Oh right, he shouldn't ask that question. The answer might not be the one he wanted to hear.
Emerald eyes narrowed as he glanced between the Clerk and Waiter position. From what he understood the first one was essentially responsible for running the register and a few mild errands for the shop. It was fairly close to the shrine so he wouldn't really need to take a train out every day for it like his host had to for her position. It wasn't too bad of pay either in comparison. He turned his gaze towards the other listing. This one was further out. However he recognized the neighborhood as the same one as the maid café. A smirk pulled at his lips. So what were the responsibilities? Ah serving food, taking orders and other small errands. He could handle that.
It'd been two weeks since their little bet. While Kagome had slyly asked on a few occasions to have him drop the punishment altogether, she overall did as what was asked of her. Okita granted the young woman some measure of leniency by not requiring her to call him 'master' in front of her mother. The last thing he needed was that woman chasing him down for insulting her daughter. She was mighty terrifying when furious.
The man cocked his head to the side as the quiet sound of a hair dryer finally ceased from his bathroom. Oh, it looked like she was done already. Sometime earlier in the night a leak had sprung in Kagome's bathroom, pooling water all over the floor and into the carpet of her bedroom. Unfortunately for her, many of the clothes she was going to wear to bed were nestled neatly in a corner in the bathroom and had gotten drenched as well. The rest were already downstairs in the laundry room just waiting to be washed so she'd been left with nothing to wear other than her school uniform. To avoid sleeping in the same outfit she'd worn earlier, Kagome shyly requested to borrow one of his shirts and his bathroom until a plumber could come by in the morning to fix the issue. The man's eyes narrowed in anticipation as the knob to his bathroom turned. He'd agreed of course, but only because he wanted to see her in his clothing. That was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
The teen emerged with an exhausted expression drawn on her face. She took her towel between her hands and quietly rubbed the remaining damp ends of her hair between its fibers. Okita's gaze swept over her form while she was distracted. She had borrowed one of his white button down shirts that the family had bought for him. The fabric hung loosely over her hour-glass figure like an oversized tee and fell only a short ways past the swell of her hips. Just beneath the cotton cloth he could spy the dark-colored shorts she'd worn when she was sick. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. The image she made while dressed in his clothing was both intimate and endearing.
"Feel better?" The ronin commented as he folded his newspaper over and sat back in his chair. He'd taken to using the desk in his room while he'd been waiting for his host to emerge from her bath. The teen took a spot on the edge of his bed. She curled one leg over the other, providing him with an ample view of her thighs. He stood and followed after her, taking up the space directly beside her upon his mattress. His added weight caused the bed to dip and her to lean towards him ever so slightly.
"I feel clean at least. Thanks again for letting me use this, Souji." Kagome pulled the towel from her neck and shook her hair with her free hand.
"Ah!" The man teased, gently reminding her of their agreement.
Her expression quickly soured, "Seriously? You want me to say it now? I was just thanking you…" Her voice trailed off as she breathed a heavy sigh through her lips.
Okita's smirk widened, "The bet still stands. You have two more weeks. Besides, I let you drop most of it so all you have to say is 'master'. That's a fair trade."
She shot a fierce glare at him, "Hardly."
"A deal's a deal." He titled his chin upwards and glanced down his nose at her victoriously. The young woman switched her legs before throwing her towel at him. His hand swiftly caught the offending object before he slung it around the back of his own neck. "So what do you say?" The ronin pressed forward in his teasing.
Kagome rolled her eyes, "Thanks for your generosity, master." The word came out in a harsh whisper but Okita could detect the barest hint of a smile upon her lips. He crossed his arms and nodded his head twice in satisfaction. Ah yes, things were just as they should be. The two settled into a comfortable silence as the scarlet monochrome of sunset began to give way to the blues of twilight. The young woman turned her attention to the newspaper still resting upon his desk.
"Did you find anything interesting?" She inquired lightly. The man gave a brief nod.
"There's two that I'm thinking about. I'll decide on which one tomorrow." He angled his head and threw a wayward smirk in his host's direction. "At least now you can't claim that I'm some useless bum that you picked up off the street." It was meant to serve as a joke. However Kagome's eyes narrowed as her lips pressed into a thin line. She sat up straight, tucked her legs under herself upon his bed then turned towards him fully.
Okita felt the softness of her hands upon his face before he saw them move. This woman was certainly quick. She had faster reflexes than a lot of their recruits. She really had been a warrior, hadn't she? Kagome splayed her fingers loosely across both sides of his cheeks and brushed her thumbs just beneath his eyes in a near soothing manner. There was something exceptionally kind about the way she was touching him. The ronin felt his expression thaw slightly at the action. Then again she'd always been like that with him.
"You are not useless." The ferocity in her tone took the man by surprise. He met her gaze and found only genuine concern staring back at him. "You were never useless." She brushed the high bone of his cheek once more. "So don't sell yourself short. I," Kagome shook her head as if to correct herself, "We don't value your presence here based on how much you help out around the house or how much money you make. From the moment I brought you into this home you became a member of this family, Souji. You could never be useless or a burden."
He closed his eyes as something warm sparked within his chest. Family, huh? The closest thing to family he'd ever had was Kondou and the Shinsengumi. His sister had abandoned him on the doorstep of Shiei Hall when he was just nine years old. He fought tooth and nail just to survive and eventually clawed his way up to the top. He'd spent his life fighting in the streets, eradicating the rats that plagued their nation. He wasn't a good person. He wasn't someone that an innocent girl should get tangled up with. Yet, he lifted his hands and gently grasped at her wrists, he wanted to pursue this relationship—wherever it may lead in the future.
"Keep this up and I might just steal you when I go back." It was a half-joke of course. Truthfully he had been contemplating his return a great deal more in these recent weeks. This relationship, if he wanted to call it that, was developing more than he'd ever anticipated. He enjoyed spending his time with her and while he couldn't say for certain that he loved her, he knew that she'd left her mark upon him. No matter whom he married in the future, Okita knew that he'd always remember these moments of simple intimacy fondly. Eventually these days of peace and tranquility would once again become mere memories. Still, even if that were the case, he wanted to keep these memories alive and fresh—not just buried in the recesses of his heart.
"I think you'll have to fight kaa-chan over that one." Kagome teased as she leaned her forehead against his own. A smile spread across his lips. That was true as well. Mrs. Higurashi had not so subtly warned him against taking her daughter away from them. Despite her usually kind disposition, there was a dark undercurrent of maternal violence each time the subject was brought up. The woman was fiercely protective of her child and he couldn't begrudge her of that. In many ways, he respected it.
"I'll take that chance." Okita mimicked her earlier actions by moving his hands upwards from her wrists and lightly brushed his own thumbs over the back of her hands. Admittedly, she was the first person so willing to touch him so tenderly. No one else had ever dared to. He was no stranger to the ways of physical intimacy. However those times had purely been based off of a temporary need. He'd never craved anything more than the quick fix to his issues. With this woman, she sparked something within him that burned with a passion that he was unaccustomed to. A part of him believed that it had to do with her own lack of experience—the draw of her innocence sparking the undercurrent of his lust and desire. Even now as he observed her softened expression, her hands cradling his face with all the kindness she held within herself and dressed only in his shirt, he felt those stirrings of desire and possessiveness. He wanted her. Not purely for the sake of sex either. He wanted more. These moments. The gentle and kind touches. All of it.
The ronin paused as he noticed something different. There was the usual light dusting of a blush across her face. However her eyes were drawn downwards. It was no longer his eyes she were looking at but his mouth. A fierce curiosity burned within her gaze as she bit into her bottom lip. He felt his own quirk into a wide smile. So that was it. She wanted to progress further. Okita silently shifted one of his hands from their place over hers. His fingers traced along the line of her arm, up her neck and stopped only to cradle the back of her head in their grasp. Just as he'd learned to do a few weeks ago, he began to work the flesh behind her ear in a soothing massage. If she wanted to take the next step then he'd let her make that jump. He wasn't about to force her. He sat up straighter and slowly lowered his other arm, circling it around the woman's waist and pulling her into his lap.
She gave a quiet gasp as her hands gripped tightly at his shoulders from the shock. The ronin dipped his head and paused at the barest hint of her lips brushing across his. Kagome dug her nails further into the skin of his shoulders—anticipating what might come next. He let loose a soft laugh.
"You can't make me do all the work, you know." Okita teased, with each word he spoke he could feel the slightest touch of her mouth against his. It wasn't quite a kiss but more intimate than simple friendship. His arm instinctively tightened around her waist as he continued. "What is it that you want?" The man practically whispered in a heated breath. It wasn't fair of him. He knew that. What they had right now couldn't last. Even if he did convince her to leave with him, what would that do to her brother and mother who loved her so dearly? Could he betray their trust by stealing their beloved daughter and sibling away from them? He wanted to close himself off—to end this before it got too far. Yet, as he glanced down at the young woman's azure gaze and blush-pinked cheeks, he couldn't hold himself back for much longer. To enjoy himself now would be to hurt her. To take her with him would be to hurt her family. To cut the relationship as it stood would be to hurt himself. He didn't want any of that. He just wanted her.
He watched with no small amount of pride as her cheeks darkened even further. Although this time it wasn't from embarrassment. It was excitement that colored her pallor so cutely. To end the gap between them, he needed her to do it. For the first time in his life, he required the reassurance that he wasn't pushing his boundaries too far. This was more than a simple infatuation. Yet he couldn't call it love either. It was something he couldn't put a name to. A smile pulled at his lips as he found himself liking her reaction all the more. "Don't say it, just do it." As if that were all the encouragement she needed, he felt her shift within his arms. Her eyes fluttered closed as she closed the distance between them.
Just as with everything else about her, she was soft. The woman hardly moved—as if too shy and inexperienced to know what to do. Sensing that she needed a bit of direction, he pressed his lips against hers more firmly and led her into the kiss. It was experimental at best. Their movements were slow and, for her at least, slightly hesitant. Whatever they were before was now gone. In its place was a bond that was deeper than simple friendship but not quite as intimate as lovers. They were something in between—stuck at the parting crossroads of companionship and passion. Okita knew what he wanted but he held himself back. This was no longer just about him. He'd seen the way she'd reacted to others' selfishness and possessive desires. If he pushed too hard then she'd likely shut him out just as she'd done with Takeshi. He couldn't let himself become that person to her—not after everything she'd done for him.
The young woman gave the lightest hint of a moan as his hands continued to work circles into the flesh behind her ear. He pulled her in closer as she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck—casually pushing the towel that'd been resting there onto his bed. Already he was tempted to turn them around, lie her back upon his mattress and trace his hands up the length of her thighs. The ronin held himself in check. He couldn't do that. Not here, not now. Kagome was far from ready for such intimacy.
Her mouth opened slightly as he angled her head to the side for better access. Caught up in the moment, he pushed his tongue past her lips. Her body stiffened at the sudden intrusion. She hardly moved let alone made a sound. Still, he didn't yield to the lack of response. Instead he held her head more firmly between his fingers and gently coaxed her to join with him. Shyly, ever so shyly, he felt her follow after his bold lead. Her tongue hesitantly moved over his before he took over and explored the entirety of her mouth with a furious curiosity. Kagome relaxed somewhat in his grip. Her arms tightened around his neck as she gave herself over to his passion. She did her best to keep up with him but it was clear that she was unaccustomed to such acts of affection. She mimicked him to the best of her abilities and melded further into his grasp. It wasn't so much a battle of dominance as it was the eager exploration of what the other had to offer—a unique mixture of inquisitiveness and excitement. As quickly as it started, she pulled away.
A small smile tugged at his lips, "Too much?" Okita inquired. His eyes roved over her now swollen lips, heaving chest and pinked cheeks. The image alone caused thoughts of her lying beneath him upon the mattress, their clothes splayed across the floor in a forgotten heap and the repeated sound of his name falling from her lips in pleasured, breathy moans to cross his mind.
Kagome sucked a breath between her teeth, "A little?" Her voice was timid as her hands tangled themselves sensually within his untied hair. So she was unsure of whether or not she'd been ready for that? He closed his eyes and simply basked in the feeling, a smile stretched across his lips. "I couldn't breathe though." she gave a small laugh before burying her face in the crook of his neck. "You're certainly bold, aren't you Souji?"
The ronin snorted as he lowered his other arm to wrap securely around her waist. "As if I'd ever been any other way. Besides, it's still master to you." He turned his head and gently took the lobe of her ear between his teeth in a teasing manner. "You loved it though. Just admit it." The ghost of a shiver ran across the skin he could see. Even if she denied it to her grave, he could tell when a woman was interested. And Kagome was certainly interested in him. She was just too shy to admit it. That aspect of her personality never bothered him though. In fact, he found it to be the most endearing thing about her. There was something in the way she'd blush and sputter that always managed to get his attention. It made him want to do more. The image from before returned to the forefront of his mind.
"I need to get to bed." Her tone was light and teasing. Despite her words she still pressed her face further into his neck; taking some measure of comfort in his presence.
"Then sleep with me." It was meant to be suggestive. Realistically he just didn't want her to leave him yet. He wanted to enjoy this time with her. To emphasize his point, he took her ear between his teeth once more and gave a gentle nibble. Kagome laughed and softly shook her head.
"I don't think I'm ready to go that far… master." As if remembering how he corrected her earlier, she referred to the title she was forced to call him by for the next two weeks. He smirked against the lobe of her ear. He rather liked the sound of it. Particularly given their recent activities. All the ideas he could come up with…
"We've slept together like this once already." Okita reminded his host as he laid his back upon his bed and locked his arms around her waist—taking her along with him for the fall. He lifted one of his knees and used it to brace her body against his chest, trapping her against him in case she thought to leave his bed for any reason. This time she wasn't sick and therefore he hadn't any reason not to let her go. The only excuse he had going for himself was the fact that he just wanted her there in his arms for the duration of the night. The man moved one of his arms up and splayed his fingers between her shoulder blades. Now, more than ever, he'd make sure she wouldn't be able to roll off of him.
"That was different." Kagome sighed but unlike last time she made no attempt to remove herself from him. The young woman gently took the palms of her hands and held them over his chest. She leaned her head against the line of his collarbone and pressed her ear over the space where he knew she'd hear his heartbeat the loudest. The ronin titled his head and buried his nose into her hair.
"No it wasn't. Anyways do you really want to go back to your room? Your flooded room?" He continued onwards. "I mean you could also sleep on the couch but I don't think your mother would appreciate you wearing this nice little outfit down there…" His hand around her waist purposely shifted and casually moved beneath the fabric of his shirt that covered her—pausing only at the barest hint of her skin against his touch. His hand twitched as he fought to hold himself back.
Okita heard her give a sharp intake of breath. Her fingers curled over his chest as her legs shifted from the sudden movement. He quickly adjusted his other hand to bring her head up to face him. As soon as they were eye-to-eye, he pressed his lips against hers once more. She wasn't quite as shocked this time. Kagome returned it far more swiftly than she had in their first kiss. The ronin observed with no small amount of masculine pride as her eyes fluttered close and her body relaxed once more within his arms. This time he didn't dare press her further. He pulled back within seconds and shot her a sly smirk.
"It'll be fine. I'll only go as far as you want me to." He winked at her as the beginning of a laugh fell from her mouth.
"Alright fine, but don't think I won't get payback. I still have to get you for making me call you master all the damn time." The young woman moved back momentarily so he could shut off the light to the bedroom. Once darkness filled their quarters, he made his way to the mattress and pulled the covers back. She climbed in first and took up the spot furthest from the door. He followed after her. Kagome had her back turned towards him with her arms and legs curled into herself, making the woman as small as possible. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled the covers back over them. As the sheets settled into place, he wrapped an arm around her waist and gently tugged her to his chest.
"Souji?" She questioned but he merely shook his head against the skin of her neck.
"I told you before didn't I? I'm not letting go." His grip on her tightened as he pressed his knees against the back of her legs—curling himself protectively around her far smaller form. "Now get some sleep, kid. It's already late." And indeed it was. The clock had tolled past ten and if he didn't wish for her to get ill again, then he'd need to ensure that she rested before it was time for her to wake in the morning.
Kagome sighed and nodded. She pillowed her head against his other arm and leaned against him, "Hey Souji," Her voice was softer than what he was used to hearing as an edge of exhaustion quieted her tone. "… you're warm." With that she'd fallen into a peaceful slumber. Her breaths became deep and even, signifying that she was no longer conscious enough to respond to him.
The man smiled and gave a small laugh. For several minutes he simply watched as she slept in his arms—contemplating where their relationship was now heading. Okita was aware of only a few things in this world that he now found himself in. The first being that this woman and her family had done more for him then anyone, outside of Kondou, had ever before. The second was that despite all the problems his very presence likely caused her, Kagome had never given up on him or abandoned him out in the streets to fend for himself. She'd taken him to the doctor, worked herself to illness to pay for his medical expenses and opened up the path to survival that would not have existed in his era. Because of her efforts his disease would not kill him. But his heart just might.
What he felt wasn't something he could put words to. It wasn't as deep as the unadulterated love between a couple. Yet it wasn't as shallow as the skin-deep lust that pervaded both of their time periods. It was something in between—a bond that was simultaneously strong and fragile. A fleeting emotion mixed between desperation and determination. This path had only a few possible endings and none of which were all that positive. One of them would be hurt regardless of which ending they'd find themselves on. The man held her a little bit tighter at that thought.
Even if she did come back with him the only thing that'd be waiting for them on the other side would be violence. He'd return to the Shinsengumi and go back to the ways of killing street rats for the sake of their country. War was on the horizon and if he took her, she'd be dragged into the chaos that he had bound himself to. The peace this time experienced would only be gained by his fighting in the past. That much he knew. Could he really pull her from such a prosperous era and into one that would only cause her more pain and suffering? His brows furrowed into a deep line. He didn't want that. Not for her.
For now Okita only knew one thing for certain: He wanted her. Not just as a companion but as something more. The man leaned over her body and pressed a gentle kiss to her brow. If they were to become something beyond the currently fragmented image of friendship, then he wanted her to be the one to break that last barrier—to destroy the final, single most important limitation that held him in check. That was why he pushed her past her comfort zone earlier with that first kiss. It had to be Kagome to decide what she needed from him, not the other way around. He wouldn't be selfish. He couldn't let himself become another man who'd failed her by allowing his possessiveness to take over. So for the moment he'd let things go as they are. When the time came they'd decide upon their path for the future. He only hoped that it'd be the ending that she'd want.
With that he closed his eyes and pressed his face within the warmth of her neck. His mind slowly drifted away as the scent of cherry blossoms and rain water filled his nose. She'd mentioned earlier that he was warm, yet for him, her scent was what provided the greatest amount of comfort. A smile pulled at his lips. He supposed that he could just tell her in the morning.
Okita woke to the feeling of something soft and furry pawing at his nose. He blinked as the world slowly came into view. The first thing he noticed was that Kagome was still wrapped securely in his arms. In fact she'd managed to turn in the middle of the night and was now facing towards him fully. Her arms had curled in to her chest as she held her hands close to her heart. However that wasn't the only thing that'd changed. The man eyed the creature that laid itself between them with a blank expression. Usually he was a fan of cats but this seemed a bit invasive to him. Beneath his arm and nestled happily between himself and his host was Buyo. The calico flicked its tail as it purred loudly by his face. The creature, having noticed that he'd awakened from his slumber, began to butt its forehead and cheek against the bridge of his nose—as if begging for attention.
Kagome's brows knitted together as the cat's tail brushed across her own nose. Slowly, her eyes opened as she blinked sleepily at the furry monster that'd chosen to lay between them. He couldn't say that he was too happy about the unexpected interference. After all, he still had a few plans he'd wanted to put into action this morning but now no longer could. Damn cat.
"Oh…" She started, a yawn spilling from her lips, "Are you hungry?" She reached a hand across and gently brushed her fingers over the space above the oblivious feline's forehead. It purred loudly before letting loose a low meow. "Alright I'll feed you." The young woman sat up before taking a second to glance down at herself.
Okita followed after her, "Forget something?" He teased as he pressed his lips against the skin of her neck. She shivered slightly at the contact and nodded at him.
"I can't go downstairs like this." She pointed towards his shirt as a flush spread across her cheeks. "Would it be too much to ask for you to bring me some clothes from the laundry room? The first set should be done by now…" Kagome's voice trailed off as his arms instinctively wrapped themselves around her waist once more. He smirked as the realization of what exactly transpired the previous night began to sink in for her.
"Fine by me, but I would like some payment first." The ronin didn't give her a chance to argue with him. The moment she turned her head to cast a curious glance his way, he pressed his mouth against hers in a bold kiss. This was the third one by now and he swiftly found himself interested in stealing more from her. He pulled away before she had a chance to respond. "That'll work for now though." He extricated himself from her with great difficulty. As he made his way across the room he threw one last heated look in her direction, enjoying the way she sat upon his bed, dressed in his clothing and her hair tousled from tossing and turning during the night. He had to admit that he appreciated this look on her. It was an such and intimate side of her that he was certain no other person aside from her family had seen before. His smirk widened at that thought. The man closed the door behind him as he made his way downstairs. Somehow, he had a good feeling about today.
The rest of the morning went for the most part as normal. The plumber had arrived in the middle of their meal and set to work on correcting the leak that'd wreaked havoc in Kagome's room. By the time they finished preparing for the day the leak itself was fixed but several commercial-grade fans had to be placed in multiple different spots in her room in an attempt to dry out her floors by tomorrow morning. It looked like she'd be using his bed for a second night in a row. Okita was tempted to smirk at his good luck but quickly held himself back. From across the table Kagome's mother had been side-eyeing him for the duration of breakfast.
It started the moment his host emerged from his room, flushed and acting more than a little shy towards him. The man tried his best to play down her daughter's reactions but the Higurashi matriarch was sharp. She could spot the swollen lips and reddened cheeks a mile away. To avoid any unnecessary interrogations, Okita swiftly decided to round both Kagome and Souta up for the day and demanded that they show him around the town. The boy was more than eager to show his 'big brother' all the neat sights and attractions. However Kagome was particularly quiet. She'd bit her lip but nodded at him in agreement.
She remained as such for several hours. By the time she'd emerged from her silent stupor, they'd already managed to visit no less than three music stores, two clothing stores and a single eccentric 'gift shop' that housed hilariously tag-lined objects and some rather odd looking sexual outfits. She hardly blinked as he pulled a maid costume down from rack and presented it to her.
"I think this would suit you." He teased, holding the plastic bag up to her form and glancing purposely between the picture on the front and her dazed expression.
"Sorry, what? I was a little distracted." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly before her eyes took in the object he'd presented to her. The teen's expression immediately soured. "Really? Do you have a kink for that kind of thing or something?" It was a joke of course and he couldn't help himself from laughing.
"You were the one who put the idea in my head." Okita continued with the jest, making a show of looking between the maid uniform and her. She simply crossed her arms and shook her head.
"Only because you decided to stalk me." She prodded at his chest with her index finger meaningfully. "What am I supposed to do with you?"
He moved to put the outfit back on the rack, "Have your way with me." The man shot her a playful wink. "I'm open to almost anything." She opened her mouth to respond when a resounding cry echoed in the small shop.
"Gome-chan!" Pale arms wrapped themselves around his host's neck as her eyes widened drastically from the surprise 'attack'. "I haven't seen you in forever! Hey, hey is that your not-a-cousin?" It was a young woman about a year or so younger than Kagome herself. She had long dark hair and matching colored eyes. For some reason, something about this girl's appearance reminded him of Takeshi. Okita crossed his arms over his chest and observed their interaction suspiciously.
"Katsumi-chan," The teen sighed as she gingerly attempted to pry the other's arms from her neck. Unfortunately the girl had locked them around her so tightly that they could not be removed easily. "This is Higurashi Souji and he is my cousin." Or so she claimed. Really he would have preferred if she simply told everyone that he was her husband that she picked up one drunken night and decided to keep him. Alas, he was forced to concede that, in this time at least, neither himself nor Kagome were legally allowed to partake in alcohol. How unfortunate. He was certain a drunk Kagome would be an entertaining one.
Katsumi nodded in a placating manner, "Yes I know. He's your cousin only through your uncle's adoption and therefore not a blood relation. Takeshi whined to me about that much, you know. I swear he's such a baby sometimes." As if sensing his growing ire, she turned her attention towards him. "Don't mind my brother so much. He's just an ass."
The ronin quirked a brow. So that was it. Takeshi was her sibling. That explained the resemblance they shared however this one seemed far more bubbly than her male relative. A smirk pulled at his lips. This was getting interesting. "I assume he's been complaining a lot, then?"
Katsumi nodded vigorously, "Like you wouldn't believe! The guy just can't take a hint sometimes, you know?" She eagerly shook Kagome from within her arms. "Hey since I've got you now, let's hang out! I never get to see you outside of kyudo anymore!" The younger girl pressed her cheek against his host's in a show of affection. "It'd be fun!" Suddenly she turned her attention towards him, "You don't mind if I kidnap her, right? I'll return her to you in perfect condition!"
"I'm not some toy, Mi-chan!" Kagome fussed, finally breaking free of Katsumi's vice-like hold. Her brows furrowed as she pressed her lips into a disapproving line.
"You finally said it!" The other girl cheered and bounced from the back of her heel to the front of her foot. "That's the first time I got you to call me Mi-chan!" She nodded her head up and down rapidly in satisfaction. Just as swiftly as she started, the teen turned towards him once more. "So what do you say? Feel like loaning me out your girlfriend for a little while? I'll be nice to her, I promise!"
His host slapped a hand over her forehead and heaved a heavy sigh through her lips. Okita smirked as he glanced between the two. He suddenly had an idea of how to make this day even more interesting. Without a word he slipped one arm around Kagome's waist and the other across her front, pulling her back into his chest once more. He felt her hands instinctively come up to grasp at his sleeves.
"No can do. I kidnapped her first." To make his words seem even more scandalous, he dipped his head and nipped at the lobe of her ear.
"Souji!" Kagome's voice came out in a harsh whisper; reprimanding him for the public display of affection. Souta, who'd been busying himself by pouring over the array of sarcastically imprinted trinkets, glanced in their direction.
"Oh so you are finally dating!" He wrapped his hands behind his head and laughed. "I was wondering how long it was going to take."
Her face darkened as she pinned her brother with a dark glare, "You stay out of this!" The child merely grinned widely at her reaction.
Katsumi tapped her chin as she looked between them.
"I don't like that look Mi-chan…" The woman in his arms sighed as her shoulders sagged slightly within his grip. They both knew that it'd be fruitless of her to try to escape him now. He'd made it abundantly clear that once he grabbed onto her then he wasn't going to let go. This wouldn't be any different.
"What are you two anyways? I mean you're not blood related but there's definitely something going on…" Katsumi stepped a bit closer to them and peered up at Kagome's reddened expression. "I don't think I've ever seen you get so flustered around a guy before. It's kind of cute. Now I wanna steal you even more."
Okita's arms tightened ever so slightly as a grin spread across his face, "You can't tell anyone else but," He swiveled he his head from one side to the other—making a show of looking around to ensure no one was listening. During that process he flashed Souta a mischievous grin. The boy returned it with one of his own and eagerly waited to see what excuse his 'big brother' was about to pull. "We're eloping after graduation. You see; my tou-san and her mother never really got along all that well. So when his adoption was finalized by her grandfather and he'd had me, there were strict rules that we couldn't see one another except at family functions." The ronin allowed his expression to darken with longing as he pressed his face into the space behind Kagome's ear. Her body warmed against his touch from the fierce blush that he knew was spreading across her face. "Still we couldn't deny what we felt. So we've been keeping our relationship a secret for a while now. Only Souta knows that we plan on eloping once she graduates. However if her mom ever found out she'd skin me alive before shipping me back to tou-san's." He placed a gentle kiss over her brow. "I don't think I could live with that."
A smile suddenly stretched across the other girl's lips, "Oh I see. No wonder she got so mean with Takeshi." She enthusiastically clapped her hands over her cheeks. Her onyx eyes roved over the image that the two of them made and smiled brightly, "Yup. You two would make some cute babies." She nodded her head twice as a sly look crossed her expression. "Maybe you should start working on that after graduation. Even if she'd be pissed at first, I'm sure your mom would probably love being a grandma. Especially with how cute you guys' babies would be!"
"Mi-chan! It's too early to think about something like that!" The young woman flustered from beneath his arms.
Okita released Kagome of his own accord and allowed her to settle the issue he'd just created with her friend. Souta, who'd been silent throughout the duration of the joke, was quietly laughing into his hand.
"Oh but you didn't deny that you're in a relationship."
His ears perked up at that. It was true though. Kagome didn't correct her friend on exact nature of their relationship. She could've just as easily shut him down and informed her of the fact that he was simply some bum living off their dime until his sick ass could get fully healed. But she didn't do that. She only corrected her on the issue that it was too soon to have children. The man rubbed his chin thoughtfully as his smirk widened. This just got a lot more interesting.
"I'm going to be borrowing her for a bit, Higurashi-san!" Katsumi grabbed at his host's wrists and began dragging her off to an unknown location. "I'll bring her back to you, don't worry! First we have to have a heart-to-heart. You can smother her in affection after I'm done! Let's go Gome-chan!" Before he had a chance to argue, both of the girls were gone—leaving only a trail of figurative dust where they once were.
Souta quickly piped up, "Nee-chan's gonna murder you in your sleep with a rusted spoon." Somehow he could picture that. Especially given the fact that she actually would be sleeping in his bed for a second night in a row. The child grasped onto his sleeve as he grinned up at him, "Come on, let's go check out some of the other stores. Mi-chan will probably drag nee-chan around the whole city before they come back home tonight." A thought came to the boy's mind as he began pulling them out of the shop. "Just as a warning though, Mi-chan can be a bit of a bad influence. You'll have to watch your back carefully tonight. Especially after that stunt you pulled."
Okita smirked, "I think I can handle that." He was confident in his abilities to handle a furious Kagome. After all, even when she was angry with him she rarely did anything more than give him a verbal lashing. She was much too kind and sweet to follow through with too many of her threatened punishments. Her mother on the other hand…. He shivered slightly. He just hoped that woman would never find out what transpired today. She'd tear his hide from his body, turn it inside out and then put it proudly on display on the shrine's doorstep. That woman was mighty scary…
The rest of the day had gone off without a hitch. Katsumi had, as expected, taken Kagome for the length of time they'd spent wandering around town. She didn't even arrive home until a few hours past dark—a little worse for wear and a glint of determination in her azure eyes. The ronin felt himself become on edge. Somehow he disliked the look in her gaze. It were as if she were planning something quite vicious to get back at him.
The ronin leaned back upon his mattress as he flipped through a handful of the stations on his television. Kagome had already dressed down into a simple pair of loose night pants and thin-strapped tank. She sat next to him upon his bed and crossed her legs over one another. Emerald eyes glanced over at the subtle movement. It was a shame he couldn't convince her to wear his shirt again. She became bound and determined not to let him ruffle her like he had been for the past few weeks. Thus she turned down his suggestion and immediately set to work on reading one of her textbooks. The object was splayed across her lap as she read over the text with furrowed brows and a sharp look upon her face.
"Did that book piss you off or something?" The ronin teased as he shut the television off in favor of hovering over his companion's shoulder. The man sat up and rested his face next to her neck. He lazily dropped one of his arms around her other shoulder and peered down at the book in her lap. They were pretty advanced mathematic concepts that he hadn't seen before. The only person from the Shinsengumi who might have had a chance at understanding these equations would probably have to be Sanan. The man was a genius in the worst possible way.
Okita trailed the tips of his fingers from the edge of her shoulder up her neck and to the familiar spot behind her ear. Instead of the usual blush that he was expecting, Kagome merely closed her book and turned to face him fully. Without a word the woman leaned her face down until he felt the heat of her breath run across the skin of his own neck. This was new. Could this perhaps be a result of whatever 'talk' Katsumi had given his host earlier? Somehow he was both curious and suspicious of this turnabout in behavior.
"Hey Souji," Kagome's voice was soft as she moved her hands to splay them across his chest in what could only be described as a sensual manner.
"Master, remember?" He corrected her once more. It seemed that she'd made a habit of 'forgetting' about their little bet. She was always calling him by his name rather than the title. A slight smirk pulled at his lips. He would just have to do something about that, now wouldn't he?
"…Master," The tone she used was not one that he was used to. It was deep and almost sultry. A wave of foreboding flushed through his system. As much as he loved where this was going a small part of him, the part that was born from his instincts as a warrior, warned him that his typically shy host was planning something devious. "I've been thinking a lot lately and I've decided something. Something really important." He felt her eyes close as she buried herself deeper within the warmth of his embrace. This was wrong. Everything about this was wrong. He needed to stop this before she pounced. He could just sense the predatory intent pouring off of his companion's tiny shoulders. What exactly could she be planning?
"I want to learn more about you, master." The sensation of teeth gently grazing his skin brought the man to a standstill. Did she just…? Oh hell, he was in trouble. "…Perhaps," Her lips trailed a heated line from his collarbone up his neck. "… like this…" It was then that she struck. Her hands moved faster than his own. Like the flash of lightening, they were at his sides, his neck and back down to his ribs—pointedly chasing after every single part of his body that was sensitive. How did she know?!
"Gah!" Okita writhed and attempted to grab hold of her hands to stop the onset of tickling that she'd started. There was one thing that the ronin had kept secret from all of the other captains. Despite his bravado and strong words about violence and death, he possessed an exceptionally sensitive body. All it took was a simple touch to set him on edge. It was merely his own self control that often kept him from being exposed. However in this situation her bold antics combined with the surprise attack had left him unable to properly guard against her. She'd somehow acquired the secret to his weakness and was now exploiting it to her heart's content.
Sensing that he was about to get the upper-hand, Kagome locked her legs around his own and purposely tangled them together—making it nearly impossible for him to slip away from her deft fingers. Shit, he was doomed! The man twisted and turned, taking care not to harm her in his struggles. After what seemed like hours (though it was probably only a matter of seconds), the young woman slipped up. She brought her hands a little too close to his and he went on the counter attack. His palms wrapped around her wrists as he rolled them over; using his own body weight to pin her to his bed.
"You…" He panted between heavy breaths, "are evil. I swear you take after your mother that way." Okita refused to let go as her legs began to kick and squirm from under him. He rested his head against her collarbone as he released a sigh through his lips, "Souta was right. Katsumi is a bad influence on you." The man brought his head up just high enough to flash the woman beneath him with a half-hearted glare. "That was devious and you know it."
Kagome shook her head and laughed, "You're just upset because I finally got one over on you." A light blush went across her cheeks as she turned her head the other direction. "Besides, she was the one that told me to do that… that… thing. She said that it'd distract you enough to get a hit in and she was right." The teen looked back at him with a glint of victory shining in her eyes. "I think I'll have to use it next time you want to try to force me to call you 'master'."
Okita's expression soured, "That was dirty."
"So is what you did earlier, so I'd say we're even." There was a brief second where their rather compromising position seemed to dawn on the both of them. He still had her wrists held firmly in his hands as her legs brushed sensually against his own. With them like this, he could feel the hourglass of her figure push against his body. If this kept up then he knew that he'd do something that the both of them would regret. The man shifted to move off of her when her legs locked themselves around the back of his calves—preventing him from moving.
It was in that moment that her head snapped up and a strange emotion flickered across her expression. He observed a mixture of curiosity, embarrassment and something heated flash in a rapid sequence. Eventually her eyes settled upon his lips once more. The ronin smiled down at her. So that was it. Even if this position was a bit too much for her to handle, she still wanted to experience more. Either in part of her eagerness or a result of the rush of adrenaline from their skirmish, she didn't hesitate. Her mouth quickly moved upwards to meet his in an experimental kiss. He pressed against her more firmly as he pushed his tongue past the seam of her lips for the second time. She didn't flounder or remain still as she'd done earlier. Instead the young woman took an active role in this small act of passion and joined him in discovering each other on such an intimate level.
His tongue brushed across hers as the barest hint of a moan escaped her lips. A heat went through him at the reaction. Despite his best efforts he couldn't deny the sense of possessiveness that washed through his system. He'd done that. Not Takeshi. Not anyone else. He was the only person she'd ever shown this side of herself to. She trusted him and that meant more to him than any words could ever explain. The man released her hands as they moved up the line of his arms and began to gently work their way through the strands of his untied hair. Okita pressed into her further, pushing his tongue deeper within her mouth. He wanted this. He wanted all that this moment could give. He didn't desire for this relationship to simply become a memory in the past. But could he call it love? It didn't seem quite right. Perhaps it was because he had little to no experience with the emotion prior to this. The only thing closest to it was the familial bond he'd had with Kondou and that certainly wasn't the same thing.
Kagome relaxed beneath his weight as he continued to inflict upon her the brunt of his passion. Could do this to her? Could he really push so far and give so little in return? He'd have to go back to his era. He couldn't remain here. That was a given. The two briefly parted as her chest began to heave from the lack of oxygen. Emerald eyes bored into azure. He was selfish. He wanted her with him. He wanted to take her to the other side—to keep her beside him. Then the memories of scarlet, the scent of death and the resounding echo of gunfire came to the front of his mind. He couldn't do that to her. He couldn't let himself be that person.
Okita braced himself on his forearms, providing the young woman just enough space to sit up on hers. Kagome shifted on the bed as her hands moved his shoulders.
"Hey Souji," Her voice was timid, as he'd expected it to be. She really needed to work on that shyness of hers. Then again he supposed that, that was part of the charm that drew him to her in the first place. A small smile pulled at his lips. He really was selfish, wasn't he? The man rolled to his side and quietly pulled her to him. She pillowed her head against his shoulder as she curled into his side. "What are we?"
The man froze. He honestly didn't have an answer to that. In fact he didn't even know himself. He lifted his hand and began to rub soothing circles into the space behind her ear once more.
"I don't know." Okita was not the type to lie. Tease and bully, sure. But not lie. She nodded against him once.
"Then," Her fingers curled into the cloth of his shirt, "What do you want this to be?"
He gave a small snort of laughter, "Interrogating me? That's not very nice you know." She pressed her lips into a thin line as her brows knitted together in frustration. He'd avoided the topic and she knew it. Kagome wasn't so naïve to not realize when he was trying to divert a conversation. Just like her mother, she was as sharp as a tack.
"The well," She buried herself deeper into his arms, "I've been trying to work with it for a while now. Usually when you're asleep." He felt his own brows furrow as he shot a disapproving glance down at her. However before he could voice his concerns she continued. "There were a few fluctuations but nothing significant. The only time it responds is when the jewel is present. I…" She stopped for a second before sucking a breath between her lips. "I don't think it'll let you through on your own. It'll probably require you to use the jewel and only a priestess like myself or youkai can access its power."
His eyes shot open. Did that mean…? In order to return to his home would he have to take her from here? A mixed range of concern and, shamefully, possessiveness went through him again. He couldn't do that. He couldn't steal her from this home, this family. This place was where she belonged. She didn't need to bear witness to the violence and brutality of his time period. He couldn't allow that.
"No." His voice was firm. He shook his head as she snapped up to pin him with a shocked stare. "It's not time yet anyways. We can't say anything for certain until I'm healed, right?" It was merely words to reassure her. Both he and Kagome knew that much. Still, he didn't want her to think that she had to sacrifice herself, her future, to send him back home. His sense of honor wouldn't allow it. "Let's just focus on that for now. We'll deal with that pain in the ass well when the time comes." A smirk tugged at his lips. "Worse case scenario I'll just jump into it until it decides to open up. Think using my daishou would work?"
This time she laughed, "It's a well not an enemy!"
"I beg to differ." The man countered lightly.
The two curled into one another as he wrapped his arms around her waist. This wouldn't last forever. Even Kagome was aware of that much. Whatever this relationship had become he didn't want it to end in pain or suffering. It was a selfish wish, but he only wanted to keep her by his side. It was her kindness that made him want to stay. It was her determination that sparked his respect. It was also the warmth of her touch that stilled him from walking away. Okita closed his eyes as he buried his nose into her hair. He couldn't call this love. If he did, then he knew that the path they'd find themselves on would only result in her pain. He wouldn't allow that. Not ever. Thoughts slowly ceased as his mind slipped into the cradle of slumber. No matter what happened, he'd stand firm on this one line. Neither of them could afford the price they'd pay otherwise.
A/n: Sooo yeahh, I may or may not have been a bit tipsy when writing the first section of this chapter. XD Plus you guys have the awesome LovelyPolkaDots to thank for giving me the idea as well. Bahahah yeah so what'd you think? I initially wanted this chapter to focus more on his relationship with Souta and Kagome's mother buutttt that didn't quite happen. XD I swear I need a "Do not feed wild characters! They'll run away!" sign taped to my computer or something. At the very least we've got some groundwork on their relationship covered and if all goes well we'll be able to see more of the tension building between the family members as the time to leave draws near. Hope you guys are ready for it. It's gonna be a heck of a ride. ;)