Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Pairing: Okita/Kagome
Suggested Listening: We Are the Hearts by EXGF
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Twelve: Cross Your Heart
Okita was frustrated. It wasn't the simplistic type of anger like he was annoyed at something that someone had done either. It was a fearsome and hotly burning fury that boiled just beneath his skin. His temper would flare as his frustration climbed with each day that passed. It wasn't that he was angry with Kagome but the situation they now found themselves in. No matter what time of night or how many times they tried, all attempts to engage in sexual activities would either fall flat or be interrupted by some outside force. Said woman rolled onto her side and threw an arm over his chest. She buried her face into the crook of his neck as a peaceful expression softened her features. The ronin ran his hand through the loose strands of her hair. It'd been three days since her confession. In that time they'd grow closer emotionally but found themselves barred physically. His heart warmed slightly as his mind brought the memory to the forefront of his mind. She loved him. She'd told him that she'd chosen to leave this era behind and follow him back to his own. She also said that she wanted to walk beside him no matter where their future led.
He combed his fingers through her hair as a soft smile touched his lips. He'd known for a while now how much he'd wanted her. He was familiar with the usual rush of desire and flash of sexual imagery in his mind. However the moment she verbalized her feelings to him, something within him shifted. He was in love with her. He knew how deep his own connection with her ran. Yet before her confession, he'd held himself back primarily because he feared what her own feelings for him were. He hadn't known if she truly wanted him as he did her, or if she was merely getting swept up in the rush of emotions that came with physical intimacy. A part of him feared that he'd been unfairly seducing her. So the moment she told him that she loved him, whatever remained of his resolve to keep himself in check crumbled away into nothing. That very night he'd rushed them back home and taken her into his bed. He'd managed to strip them of their clothes and go so far as they had during their shower earlier in that same day. However the moment he tried to take her as his own, Buyo had made his appearance. The cat had jumped up on the bed and meowed incessantly in their ears until the mood was broken and Kagome was forced to tend to the feline's needs.
The man paused as she hitched her leg further over his hip and leaned into him more deeply. Neither of them were wearing any clothes by this point either. He'd returned home from work and she was already waiting for him in his room. The promise of sex had been lit in her eyes and his body immediately responded to the silent beckoning. More than anything he had wanted to take her for his own the second he walked through the door. However due to an accident on shift; he'd found himself covered in someone's leftovers and was in dire need of a shower. So he kissed her, made his way into his bathroom and attempted to get clean as fast as he possibly could. By the time he emerged she was already stripped of her clothing with his bedroom door locked. The only problem was that she'd been sprawled across his bed with her limbs splayed in all different directions… and completely and utterly passed out. So Okita did the only natural thing that he could think of at that point. He rid himself of the rest of his clothing as well and joined her in bed.
The ronin leaned over as he pressed a soft kiss to her brow. She'd been cutting back at her hours at the café this week simply because her graduation was in two days. She didn't want to overstress herself before then. Still, she also confided to him that afterwards she'd not only increase her hours at the café but that she'd be looking for another job as well after graduation. Something about needing to pick up as much slack as she could. He fought the urge to sigh. She really just couldn't let him take care of her, could she?
Kagome mewled in her sleep as her hand fell down the planes of his chest and over his sensitive stomach. A muscle in his leg twitched as he fought to keep himself in check. Damn he was frustrated. He was halfway tempted to "bednap" her, as she'd called it, for the day just so that they could 'catch up' on all the time they'd lost by being interrupted constantly. He pulled her closer to him as he buried his nose in the crown of her hair.
"Souji…" Her sleepy voice mumbled from his neck. "… Are you mad?" The amount of self-doubt and concern in his lover's tone briefly caused him to pause.
"Why do you ask?" He tried to redirect her. It wasn't that he was avoiding the question itself per say, but he truly wanted to get to the bottom of her confidence issues. The more they'd engage in the sexual nature of their relationship, the easier it became for him to physically see just how frightened she was of this type of closeness. It was in the way she touched him, spoke to him and kissed him. She was afraid. Not necessarily that he'd harm her, but likely something much, much deeper than that. He wanted to reassure her of his own feelings but first he needed to fully understand hers.
"You seemed upset this week." Kagome pressed her face deeper into the crook of his neck; as if she were trying to make herself disappear. "I was worried that you might've been mad for some reason." He felt her tremble lightly within his arms. His heart twisted painfully. Had he really been that obvious?
Okita took a deep breath. Perhaps he'd allowed his temper to boil over too much. On the surface Kagome was a very strong willed and independent woman. However she had her issues and doubts like any other person. She'd managed to bury them deep within her until the moment she'd learned to trust him with the feelings he was certain she wasn't accustomed to experiencing in the first place. He was no stranger to sex or the effects it had on one's psyche. He knew what to expect and how to handle the stressors and emotions that came with it. She on the other hand did not. She was new to the pleasure he'd given her. She was shy and embarrassed where he was bold and confident. Not only that but she also seemed to have a very warped image of herself. Katsumi had been concerned which was why she'd even brought her to his work on Monday. The girl cared for her and could read her more easily than he could. Still, he should've known how his temper would've affected her. For that reason alone he should've been far more careful in the way that he'd handled his relationship with her. Every negative twist in his emotions he suspected she would likely blame unto herself.
"I'm not." The ronin pulled her closer to his heart as he used his hand to lift her chin and force her to meet his eyes. "I'm not mad. Sexually frustrated, sure." He gave a small laugh as her face began to redden. "But it's nothing to be worried about. Just get some rest. You'll need your strength for the morning." He brushed his thumb soothingly over the high bone of her cheek. Her lashes fluttered against the tip of his finger. She really was something else. So stubborn and strong willed one moment, then shy and nervous the next. Despite the doubts and fears he knew she had, he loved every moment of this bond they shared.
"But…" The young woman attempted to protest however he stopped her with a small, gentle kiss.
"No buts. Now get to bed, kid. Unless you want me to ravage you just so you'd be too tired to do anything other than sleep." A thoughtful look crossed the man's expression as he mulled over that possibility. "Actually that wouldn't be too bad of an idea." Thoughts of rolling her onto her back, spreading her legs with his knees and burying himself as deeply within her as he could manage came to the forefront of his mind. He wanted her pinned beneath him, breathless and crying out his name with each forward thrust of his hips. He wanted to find his release within the warmth of her body. He wanted to share the experience of achieving the height of pleasure simultaneously within each other's arms.
The feeling of her naked flesh pulled flush against his own sparked his desire. The knowledge of her feelings towards him flamed the fires of his possessiveness. The thought of ever allowing another male to so much as touch her summoned a sharply familiar feeling of violence. The idea of him taking his leave at the end of this journey and abandoning her became unbearable. The notion of allowing another man to take her as his wife created a fierce rage to well within his chest. He wanted her for himself. Not just as his companion but something more. He wanted to give her his bed, his name and whatever was left of the future waiting for them beyond the river of time. The ronin wanted to take more than just her innocence. He wanted to take everything.
Kagome laughed somewhat as she pressed herself closer to him and rubbed the pad of her foot over the top of his own. "I'm not opposed to it." She relaxed into him as a small, warm smile spread across her lips. "I want to stay with you. So if there's anything that's bothering you, please tell me." With that her breath began to even out as she fell asleep completely on top of him. Okita shifted his hand to massage the skin behind her ear. He wanted to live like this every night. To have her here with him and not in the arms of some other man. His grip on her tightened inadvertently. He really had to stop this. This possessiveness could easily get out of hand and become dangerous if he didn't watch his steps carefully. The very last thing he desired was to become the same as Takeshi. The whirlwind of rage and jealousy reared its head once more. The male had definitely taken a step back and hadn't so much as uttered a word to Kagome. Still, that didn't mean that he'd forgive the fool anytime soon for sending his lover into such a state of mental anguish with his selfishness.
His eyes softened as he held her as close to him as he could without suffocating her. He was so damn tired of fighting with himself. He was so damn tired of having to hold himself back on the account of his own doubts and fears. The ronin tucked the woman's head under his chin as his vision began to slip away with his growing exhaustion. Starting tomorrow, there would be only a few things he'd know to be the truth. The first, Kagome would return with him at the end of this journey. That was a given since her declaration and recent confession. She wasn't going to leave him any time soon and he wasn't willing to let her go either. The second was that he'd cease holding himself back entirely. Well, not necessarily completely as he wished for Kagome to be comfortable in the sexual nature of their relationship, however he wasn't going to keep pushing himself back when she was clearly comfortable. There wasn't any point to it. Lastly, and most importantly, once he returned to his era with her by his side, he'd take her as his wife. He knew that she was somewhat reluctant to the idea, so he determined to himself that he'd use this time remaining to convince her of his worth. Not as a simple partner in bed, but as a man capable of taking care of her.
Ever since his heart to heart with her mother, he'd been mulling over the prospect. Kagome wouldn't be able to follow him back to Kyoto and into the Shinsengumi's compound for something as simple as his charge. She'd be immediately shipped to the Aizu domain and forced to live there while he spent the rest of his life separated from her and on the battlefield. That left two options remaining. The first, which he hated with a fiery passion, would be to disguise her as a male and slip her into the fold. Hijikata and the other captains would likely pick up on her gender quickly but he was certain that if he could convince Kondou, then the others would allow her to stay. Still, the thought of forcing her to dress as a man and fill that sort of role for the rest of her life left a sour taste in his mouth. Which just left the final and most viable option: To bring her back as his wife. Only the captains and upper leadership were permitted to bring their wives onto the estate. Mistresses and other distantly related family members were often sent to live in a separate house a few blocks away from the compound.
Currently the only man married in their ranks that possibly could bring his wife was Kondou. However the woman was viciously against the Shinsengumi and had chosen to remain in Edo with their daughter. Which meant that Kagome would be the sole female occupant of an entirely male household. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Well at least it was better than trying to make her disguise herself as a man. At least then the others wouldn't bother her quite as much. Especially since it would mean getting on his bad side. He gave a quick nod to himself in affirmation. Okita knew what he wanted. He knew that he was in love with her. Now that she'd told him much the same, he was comfortable in pressing forward with this option. It'd just take a bit of time to work her into the idea of it.
Starting tomorrow he'd do what he could to show her that he would be more than just a burden to her. He wanted her to see him as someone she could open herself up to; that she could rely on even in the time she'd be most vulnerable. He wanted to be that person to her. Now he had to fight for it the only way he knew how—through the use of his actions. The ronin fully closed his eyes as his mind fell into the cradle of sleep. A single thought went through his head. No matter where this path would lead in the future or how many obstacles they'd have to face; he wouldn't give up on this relationship. Before they returned to the Shinsengumi, he would make Kagome his wife. Of that he was determined to see through to the end. Now, if only he could convince her. With that last thought, he quickly fell asleep and slipped away into darkness.
The next morning went by in a blur. Kagome had slept in and jumped out of his arms with a frightening speed. The moment he felt her leave his arms, he shot up out of bed and glanced around for an intruder—partially convinced that the only reason she'd run away from him so quickly was because of an impending danger. However as his eyes adjusted to the darkness he witnessed her rushing around the room, collecting her garments and swiftly pulling them over her body as fast as her limbs could move. Oh, right she had school again today. The man yawned into his palm as he slowly calmed from the start she'd given him. It was then that he realized something, Kagome wasn't exactly a morning person, was she? She had the habit of sleeping in frequently. Said young woman yanked her socks on as she gave herself a once over.
"I'll see you after school today!" Kagome leaned partially over the bed as she used her hands to brace against the frame. She pressed her lips against his in a quick, parting kiss. Alas that was her fatal mistake as he slipped an arm around her waist and quickly pulled her back into the bed with him.
"I thought you were staying home with me?" He teased as he wrapped his legs around hers—preventing her from leaving the vice of his hold. "That's what you said last night anyways." Okita nuzzled the side of her head as he held her close to him. Unlike before she didn't struggle this time. Instead she merely placed her hands upon his forearms and cocked her head towards him.
"I promised my friends I'd see them today. It's the last day we'll get to see each other together like this." A soft smile spread across her lips as she leaned further into him. "We can have all the time we want to ourselves after graduation anyways. We'll still have a day or two off together."
The ronin snorted through his nose. Well she did have a point but he just wanted to give her a bit of trouble. Alas before the man so much as had the chance to tease her, the knob on his door rattled. It was a good thing they'd left it locked the night before otherwise they would've been busted.
"Souji-dear, have you seen Kagome?" Her mother inquired from the other side. Both of their eyes went wide as a look of panic went across his lover's face. "I haven't seen her come down yet."
The man cleared his throat. Fuck, what was he supposed to say? Oh sure, yeah he'd seen her. She was still in bed with him. At least she was clothed now but what was he supposed to do? Shit. He was going to be skinned alive. He just knew it.
"I think I heard her leave a bit earlier. You sure you didn't just miss her?" It was the only excuse he could come up with and it was a weak one at best. Fuck, she really was stuck in here with him now wasn't she? If she tried to leave before her mom left to run errands for the day then she'd get caught. It'd be another hour before that would happen anyways. Well, at the very least he could think of one way they could pass the time.
Kagome waved her arms frantically as she shook her head negatively. The man silently shrugged. It was too late now. He'd already said it.
"Perhaps you're right. Thanks, dear. I'll be leaving within the hour. If you need anything just let me know." With that he heard the woman's feet pad away softly down the stairs and towards the kitchen below. The ronin gave a small sigh of relief.
"I'm so totally screwed." The teen moaned to herself.
Unable to stop himself, he decided to make a crudely timed joke. "Not yet but if you want to be then I can help with that." A wide grin spread across his lips as he gave her a lustful once over. She rolled her eyes at his behavior and playfully slapped his shoulder.
"Down, boy!" She commanded quietly as to keep her mother from hearing. "Kaa-chan's still home. Can't be too noisy while she's here."
He wiggled his brows at her suggestively, "So you're saying that if we were completely alone that you'd be willing?"
As predicted, she turned a rather interesting shade of red. His grin widened. Bullseye. Damn, so close yet so far! Now if only he could get Mrs. Higurashi to leave just a bit faster. He had certain things he wanted to do with her daughter. Namely ravaging her until the only thing she could think was his name.
"Well since I'm stuck here for a little while, let's at least put on the TV." Her face grew even darker as the next part came out in a whisper. "It'll provide some cover noise just in case." He quirked a brow at her inquisitively. Oh? Just what did she have in mind? He'd overheard her talking with Katsumi about a 'third' something or other. It seemed particularly sexual in nature and now he was rather curious to know what it was. The man leaned over and grabbed his remote, flipping on his television and ramping up the volume to be safe. He'd made her moan quite loudly the last few days in a row. If he wanted to keep making her cry so noisily for him, then he'd have to turn up the television to be able to drown out their lovemaking.
Kagome twisted her head from one side to the next, listening as carefully as she could for her mother's approach. Once certain that she wouldn't be returning soon, the young woman reached for the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head. Slowly, she undressed herself before him and casually tossed her clothes back onto the carpet of his floor once more. He hadn't gotten dressed so he remained lying upon his bed, naked, and allowed his body to slowly respond to the sensual image she was creating for him. By the time she was done, his lover was completely bared before him. Her eyes became sultry as she crawled on the bed and hovered over his thighs.
"I want to try something." Those were the only words she spoke before he nodded. Hell she could try whatever she wanted at this rate. So long as she remained nude and didn't stop. Emerald eyes observed intently as he spied the dark mass of her hair slowly lowering towards his groin. Was she…? His mind went blank as she pleasured him in ways he hadn't know was possible. He gnashed his teeth and held to her tightly, only pausing to give her a word of warning. Ignoring him, the woman continued to work upon his body until he fell over the edge of pleasure.
"I warned you." He teased lightly. Images of her beneath him, supine and flushed came to mind. He wanted her. More than he ever had before.
Kagome shook her head but smiled. However she didn't speak. Instead she gave his thigh a reassuring pat before trotting into his bathroom. He heard his sink run and presumed that she was currently brushing the taste from her mouth. It was in that moment that he realized something important. He only had his toothbrush in that bathroom. Hers was still back in her room. Which mean that she was now cleaning the remainder of his release from her teeth with it. The man pinched the bridge of his nose. Well he supposed that he'd have to 'borrow' hers until he could get a new one later today. Because he damn sure wasn't going to be putting his back in his mouth anytime soon.
Kagome remained in the bathroom for several minutes—the sound of water and scrubbing ever present. Well at least he did warn her that it wouldn't be all that pleasant of an experience. She couldn't blame him this time. When she'd emerged, the hour had passed and her mother had left to run errands for the day. The young woman smiled warmly at him as she moved to gather her clothing once more.
"You do realize that I'll be stealing your toothbrush, right?" The ronin teased as she managed to pull her skirt up and slip her blouse over her body before he'd mustered the strength to move. Damn, he really was tired. He'd have to get her back later tonight. After all one good deed couldn't go unreciprocated. A smirk threated to split across his lips. He knew the perfect thing too.
She laughed somewhat, "I had that feeling once I remembered that I was using yours. That's okay though, I'd probably have bought a new one after that anyways." She finished dressing herself for the day and gathered up her book bag into her arms. "I'll see you after school. This time I really am leaving. No more bednapping." She winked at that last part.
Okita shifted into a more comfortable position on his bed and cradled the back of his head in the palms of his hands, "I make no promises." With that she gave him one last smile before her back disappeared through the threshold of his door. Something within him twisted but he chose to ignore it. Truth be told they would need their space away from each other once in a while. They'd have all the time in the world to spend together when they reached the other side. He'd take her as his wife and he'd have her in his bed every night afterwards. So a few hours of separation a day wasn't going to kill them. In fact, it might be just what they'd need to keep from irritating each other too much. It was as they say, too much togetherness breeds contempt. Which was the very last thing he wanted.
The man eventually prepared himself for the day as well. He didn't have work until next week and thusly found himself with more free time on his own than he cared to admit to. So he did what any normal ronin trapped in the future would do—he slipped off to the shack at the far corner of the shrine and used the rest of the morning and early afternoon to work out. Admittedly he'd gone a bit slack in his training regiment. To avoid gathering any more 'fluff' around his stomach, he decided to increase the amount of time he'd spend each morning practicing with his blade and chose to cut down on some of the particularly delicious sweets available in this era. Namely yogurt. He'd gotten far too addicted to it. He would have to admit, if only to himself, that he'd greatly miss those once they went back. Even pocky had become a staple in his nightly routine by now.
The rest of the day went by as quickly as the morning had. Kagome and Souta returned home on time however their mother was running a tad bit late. His lover set to work on preparing dinner as she texted her parent on and off about preparations for her graduation tomorrow. Apparently this ceremony was a fairly big deal in their culture. While there was a large emphasis on each individual student moving on from their High School to an University or College of their choice, there was a still a great deal of celebration surrounding the graduation. He supposed that it was akin to a coming of age ceremony.
"No way! Are you serious!?" The woman suddenly piped up. Her azure eyes were wide however a bright smile painted her expression. "That's awesome!"
Okita blinked. What? What happened? He quirked a curious brow at her but Kagome merely waved her phone towards her little brother and yelled out to him.
"Hey brat, guess who's staying over tonight!"
Said child scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "Don't call me brat! You're the one making all kinds of weird noises in the middle of the night!"
He quickly raised his hand and hid his laughter behind it. He knew exactly what kind of noises the kid was referring to and he couldn't quite bring himself to feel bad about it either. In fact, the ronin felt particularly proud of the sounds he'd made her make. She shot him a brief, pointed glare before returning to the issue at hand.
"Idiot. Masahiko-ojisan and Freya-obasan will be coming into town! Kaa-chan said that she's picking them up from the train station now."
Souta cocked his head to the side, "Oh you mean the aunt and uncle that I've never met? What are they like anyways?" He listened intently as the conversation went onwards.
"They're not bad at all." This time his lover glanced in his direction, "They're the couple we said you were the only child of that lived out in Nagoya. So you'll actually be able to meet them tonight." Her brows shot upwards as she glanced around the house. "Oh crap, Souta, you set to work on cleaning! Souji," He met her frantic expression with a laconic one of his own. "I need you to straighten up anything amiss in your room. They'll likely be using it tonight." The young woman gave a heavy sigh, "As much as I like the surprise, I kind of wished they gave us more time to prepare. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to make do."
Wait, what? They were going to use his room? Well shit, there went his plans for the night. The man crossed his own arms over his chest as he slipped behind his lover.
"Fine but I get to sleep with you regardless." He whispered into the shell of her ear heatedly. A dark blush spread across the teen's cheeks before she gently pushed at his shoulder—silently encouraging him to 'get a move on' his newly elected chores. His mood soured almost immediately. Kagome did have a point. Despite how big of a ceremony her graduation might be, he too wished that they'd been given an earlier warning of the guests set to stay with them for the night. The trio busied themselves for the rest of the evening. His loved one cooked dinner, Souta bustled about the main living spaces and tidied up as he saw fit while he, himself, ensured that all of his secret stashes and any embarrassing items he owned were locked away and everything was cleaned. Without a moment to spare, the front door opened as he made his way towards the newcomers.
Three figures were immediately visible. A man and two women—just as expected. However they all seemed oddly mismatched with Mrs. Higurashi trailing in the back. Okita stood in the threshold of the shrine's doorway. His eyes roved over the pair still waiting to be allowed inside. His lips thinned as he glanced between the unknown man and woman—warily analyzing them for any sign of danger that they could present to his host's family.
"Is Kagome around?" The male inquired politely. His tone was clipped but not from any sort of animosity—rather it seemed to have a bit of a nervous edge to it. Who were these people exactly? Sure he knew they were distantly related, but who were they in relation to Kagome? How close were they? Could they be trusted? Mrs. Higurashi pushed past her brother-in-law and into the house. The older woman gently patted the back of Okita's shoulder and she led the other family members inside the home as well. He silently stepped aside and observed their interactions carefully.
"It's good to see you, Masahiko," She hugged the man first. "Freya." She then switched to envelop the woman with him still in her arms. The ronin quirked a brow. Foreigners were becoming a common sight back in his era but still he wasn't quite used to this stranger's appearance. She had pale skin that was almost paler than snow, light colored hair similar to the sun and hazel eyes. She was also of a tall frame and thin build. A stark contrast to her still tall and much stockier husband. The pair took turns returning the offered hug. As the woman entered the threshold of the shrine, she pulled a small container from the pack that she wore upon her back and handed it to Kagome's mother.
"They're crumpets. I would've made Rhubarb Pie but we weren't sure if it'd survive the trip." The blonde's tone held an odd accent to it. He couldn't quite place where she was from nor did he recognize any of the treats she'd mentioned. He knew that they were the mysterious aunt and uncle that Kagome spoke of, but he still felt quite lost about this whole situation. Why was it so last minute? Why would they only choose to interact with this side of the family now? Was his lover's graduation tomorrow truly so important that they'd shed whatever morals they'd had against this shrine to visit them? He cast them a wary glance—taking in their odd appearance at the same time. While it was true that Masahiko didn't look anything like the Higurashi's, the ronin also had to admit that he looked nothing like them either. If anyone had ever met these particular members of the family while they were using them as his cover story, then they'd be able to figure out quite quickly that they'd been lying.
Okita leaned against the wall as he gave them a small, customary inclination of his head.
"Ah so you must be Okita-san." Masahiko greeted first. His brows shot into his bangs as he threw a pointed stare in Mrs. Higurashi's direction.
"Don't fret. I'll explain more later but for now let's just enjoy the night." The older woman answered politely as she gave his arm a reassuring pat. There was a shared awkwardness as he continued to observe the strangers in the home. Kagome and Souta quickly rushed to greet the visitors as well. While his loved one was quite warm and affectionate, her brother was somewhat aloof and distant. It was fairly clear the boy hadn't met these family members in person before.
"Where are you from?" Souta asked curiously as he peered up at Freya. He took in her features and looked to be attempting to figure out which country she might have originated from. Being unused to the features of outside travellers, Okita was at a loss of her origin as well. So he listened intently to her answer.
"I was born in Great Britain. I came here after I married your uncle overseas." She smiled at the boy kindly as she continued to explain their history. "We only saw you once shortly after you were born." The blonde's expression lightened with something akin to maternal pride. "You've grown into quite the handsome young man!" Souta scratched the back of his head and gave a word of thanks. The group settled into an odd silence as Kagome bustled about, directing her aunt and uncle to their seats at the table while her mother and brother fetched the food. Okita shrugged as he made his way into the dinning room. Well, it could always be worse he supposed.
The evening was still quite young as the family settled around the table comfortably. Okita took up his usual spot beside Kagome. Souta chattered away as their mother saw to their guests' comfort. Being suspicious of strangers had always been a staple of his personality. Even so, the ronin was at odds with himself of how to handle this current situation. He didn't trust these people however by the same token he was in no position to make any comments. Despite the length of time that they were apart, it was clear that Kagome still saw them as family.
"How long do you intend to stay oji-san?" His loved one inquired politely as she passed Freya the dish that's been served to them.
Masahiko gave a short inclination of his head, "Probably just until tomorrow night. We can't stay for too long."
His wife glanced between them cautiously, as if nervous that Kagome would be upset by the news. Instead the young woman immediately perked up and flashed them a bright grin.
"That's great! I'm glad you were able to make the trip though. It's such a long train ride from Nagoya." She continued, clearly attempting to make her aunt and uncle feel comfortable in the home. "Did you guys need anything while you're here though? Souji and I could help out if that's the case."
He quirked a single brow at her. Since when did he volunteer to be a packhorse for these people? He'd have to talk to her about that enthusiasm. He didn't particularly like being voluntold to do something. Even if it was her asking.
Masahiko shook his head again but a small smile spread across his lips. "That's very thoughtful of you but we'll be fine. There's no need to fret over our sake."
His lover nodded again, "That's good. Well if you need anything at all, don't be shy. Just let us know and we'll do what we can."
She was definitely excited to see these members of her family again. It would seem that she'd missed them a great deal in their separation. The question remained though, how did they become so estranged from the main branch?
Despite Kagome's and even Souta's best efforts, dinner was an awkward affair at best. Her mother hardly spoke but she didn't seem upset. Rather it was as if a nervous undercurrent ran beneath the surface of the other adults' behaviors and interactions. They wanted to talk, that was clear, but over what he didn't quite know.
Okita helped Kagome and her mother gather dishes at the end of the meal and set to work on separating them in the sink. Just as he turned his back he heard Masahiko direct his attention to Kagome.
"Would you mind coming with me? It won't take long."
He could practically hear the smile spreading across her face, "But of course."
Okita strained his ears and watched from his peripherals as the two made their way outside. Damn, now he couldn't eavesdrop. It wasn't so much that he wanted to be a snoop, but the man couldn't shake the odd feeling of discomfort. How could he protect her if he couldn't see or hear her? The ronin paused as he contemplated his next course of action.
"She seems to be doing well." The blonde commented softly to Mrs. Higurashi from behind him. "Masahiko still worries about her though. When we got your call he practically tore the phone away from me." Freya gave a small laugh. "I'm glad though. She doesn't seem as shy or withdrawn as she'd been."
The older woman nodded in agreement, "These past few years had been tough on her but Kagome seems to have bounced back pretty quickly." She gave her sister-in-law a warm yet proud smile. "Her grades just came back and she managed the secure the top spot. She just chose not to do a commencement speech. She doesn't like the attention all that much."
"Wow! She's really come a long way, hasn't she? You must be so happy!" They chatted politely to one another about the pride they'd had in Kagome for her successes. Yet something bothered him. Bounced back? Withdrawn? Just how far off track had her travels to the past put her? That sickening feeling in his gut returned a thousand fold. It was then that he realized something important, he didn't even know her comrades' names. He'd need them before they returned home to his era. If he was going to protect her then he'd have to know the enemy to keep an eye and ear out for.
Souta roughly tugged on his sleeve, "Come on, they'll be a while. You can talk to nee-chan when she gets back in." Okita gave him a blank stare before shrugging and following the child into the living room. The boy turned on a movie he had yet to see—something about extinct prehistoric creatures being brought to life and the hell that ensues afterwards. The man settled into the couch with his arm thrown over the backrest. Souta took up the spot next to him and leaned into his side comfortably. For just a moment, he briefly wondered if this behavior was merely an inherited trait.
The two lost themselves in the film as the others continued to chat. Occasionally he'd cock his head to the side and attempt to listen in, if only to glean a few tidbits of information to store away for later. Words like 'therapy' and 'anxiety' had been thrown around. He craned his neck further to try to hear more.
"You're going to hurt yourself, nii-san." Souta warned helpfully. The boy threw a wayward glance towards the women's backs. Then turned his attention back to the television. "About two years ago, when nee-chan was still traveling in the past, it was decided that she should spend some time away from the well. She was pretty stressed out at back then because she was failing most of her classes and fighting youkai on the side."
Okita remained silent as the boy explained further. "Kaa-chan put a call to Masahiko-ojisan and asked if he'd be willing to take her in for a few weeks. Just until she could get her bearings straightened and her grades up." His lips turned downwards in a deep frown. "Of course that got screwed to hell. Not even a full week after going over there, Inuyasha came charging through the well and demanded that she return with him immediately."
The ronin listened intently. So this Inuyasha person was capable of traveling through the well too? His teeth began to grind against each other. Somehow he had a feeling that, that would be the name he'd have to watch out for.
"Of course we told him that she was sent away for her own good. But did that matter? No! Of course not." Souta's voice grew bitter as the inkling of a violent intent pour out from his tiny frame. "It never mattered to him anyways. It wasn't like he gave a damn about anyone but himself. That's why she had to leave in the first place. His bullcrap was always dragging her down." The conversation had devolved into a rant and Okita still needed more answers. So he chose to redirect the child back on track as best as he could.
"So what, did he chase her down or something?" It was a subtle joke but clearly it was closer to the truth than he'd imagined. Souta gave a visible flinch as his arms crossed more firmly over his chest.
"Yeah. He did." The boy shut down afterwards. He shook his head and stopped speaking for several minutes despite the ronin's encouragements. Their discussion ground to a halt as Kagome and Masahiko returned inside. She offered him a warm hug and smile before padding quietly into the living room with them.
Souta watched her as keenly as he was now. The teen merely smiled more widely as she took up the spot on the other side of him. Just as her brother had done, Kagome leaned into his side and quickly tucked her legs under herself. Okita dropped his arm around her shoulders as she rested her cheek by his neck comfortably. By now the three of them had overtaken the couch entirely. They watched in silence as an oversized demonic lizard creature roared mightily at the screen. He had to hand it to the creator. These effects were quite impressive.
Freya, Mrs. Higurashi and Masahiko filed in steadily. The trio sat in a matching set of a separate love seat and recliner that circled the room. The family slowly relaxed as Masahiko began to comment on some of the plot points of the film—inquiring how the scientists couldn't have predicted the creatures spontaneous sex change if the amphibian DNA they used was fully capable of it.
"Probably because they're idiots." The ronin jabbed playfully. "After all, who purposefully makes something that could kill them? What was that phrase again? Ah yes, looks like they were shooting for a Darwin Award." His lover lightly elbowed his side for his lack of tact. However he merely smiled at her and held her a bit more firmly—preventing her from being able to do it a second time.
Masahiko gave him a quick, odd glance before bursting into throaty laughter. "I like your sense of humor!" The remaining Higurashi heir proclaimed as he stretched his own arm over the backrest of the love seat and pulled his wife closer to him. "At least someone gets it."
It was his turned to get elbowed now as the blonde shot him a reproachful glare. The older man shrugged and fell into a comfortable silence.
At the end of the film it was decided that it'd be best for everyone to retire for the night. Kagome of course meandered to her room. Mrs. Higurashi led her in-laws upstairs to what used to be his quarters. Which just left him and Souta, still standing awkwardly in the living room and saying nothing to the other.
The boy's hand latched into his sleeve as he began to pull him upstairs towards his room.
"Kaa-chan would have a fit if you tried to sleep in the same bed as nee-chan tonight. You'll have to take the upper bunk until they leave." Souta immediately informed him. Okita felt his lip curl in frustration. Great, just what he needed. A random couple getting it on in his bed while he was ousted to the kid's room. Why couldn't he sleep with Kagome again?
Right, this era and their odd sense of morals. Sex was plastered all over their advertisements, televisions and other media sources. Yet the thought of anyone under the age of eighteen partaking in the act was looked down upon. What was this weird world? Did they just expect people their age not to experience those feelings at all or were they merely guilted for having them in the first place? Oh well, it wasn't like it mattered to him all that much anyways. He'd just slip into her room undetected via the shared bathroom later in the night. He doubted that she'd mind too much. He was aware that they wouldn't be able to go quite as far as he'd like tonight, but that didn't mean that they couldn't share the same bed for an evening.
The males made their way past the bathroom and into Souta's tiny bedroom. It was a decent size but definitely cramped for the both of them to be there. Unlike before, the boy immediately plopped himself on the lower bunk and offered him a controller.
"Let play something. It'd be boring just to go right to bed anyways." He offered. The ronin shrugged and grasped at the oddly shaped object. He'd seen Souta play before but hadn't yet had the chance to try it for himself. He was curious about it.
The pair sat on the boy's bed comfortably as the game started up. It took several minutes to adjust to the controls but Okita eventually got the hang of it. He observed the cut scenes in slight awe at how realistic they were. Just how far had their society progressed in the gap between their eras?
This particular game, while not outright saying the word, was centered around the pop culture idea of a 'zombie'. He of course had to ask Souta what that meant a few weeks back and child treated him to a marathon of cheesy horror films about people who'd die, miraculously come back to life only to then cannibalize every living human in the vicinity. It honestly reminded him of the ochimizu but at least the rasetsu had some measure of control. These "zombie" things were utterly barbaric... and he loved it.
The pair bickered back and forth about the proper 'techniques' to win against the enemies. Mostly, Okita preferred to run into the field and create as much chaos as possible—instilling the most fear into his opponents before he brutally crushed their skulls against the pavement or shived them with a make-shift knife. This game was surprisingly accurate with its violence. However Souta pointed out on more than a few occasions that certain scenarios required a bit of precision and stealth—two things that he believed himself incapable of when playing this character.
"You've got a runner over there! Use your listening to check for it!" The boy piped up helpfully as he did as requested. The kid was right. One of the bastards had managed to sneak up on him. Oh well, at least it wasn't one of those 'clickers' or, even worse, 'bloaters'. He took a brick and used it as a melee weapon. They spent a good hour switching turns and playing as they saw fit. Eventually Souta decided that it'd be best if they turned in for the night.
Okita settled himself atop the upper bunk and listened carefully to the child's breathing. As soon as he was asleep, he'd slip over to Kagome's room. It simply didn't feel right to not have her in his arms at this point. A muscle in his sword arm twitched at the thought.
"About earlier," The boy began as he heard him pull the covers up to his neck. "I didn't mean to shut you out but," He hesitated slightly. "That night that Inuyasha came through the well, everything sort of changed for us."
The ronin perked up as he honed in on the boy's tone. So he was actually going to tell him a bit about what happened? The man gave a small noise to encourage Souta to continue.
"We sort of knew that things were bad over there. Nee-chan hadn't really been herself. She didn't want to spend time with her friends, she used nearly all of her time studying and completely locked herself away in her room most days that she was home." Souta explained in a strained tone. He remained silent. Her mother also mentioned she'd found several bloodied bandages in her trash when she went to clean as well. Could her withdrawal have something to do with her hiding her injuries from her family as well? Was she truly so worried that she felt that she had to hide her pain from them? His fingers clenched into a tight fist. Like hell he'd let that happen a second time.
"Eventually kaa-chan talked to Masahiko-ojisan. From what I understand she just told him that nee-chan was in a bad spot and would do better if she were away from Tokyo for a bit." The child shifted as he heard him roll onto his side. "It lasted about a week. Then one night Inuyasha charged through the well and demanded that nee-chan come back with him. He'd always been a bit of an ass, but I don't think we realized just how far he'd go." His jaw clenched into a tight line. Had his assumptions been right? Had another man laid his hands upon her with the intent to harm her? A righteous fury welled within his chest.
"When he realized that she wasn't there, he actually tracked her down to Masahiko-ojisan's shrine that night. It's a three hour train ride and he'd managed to leave and make it back within the hour." The boy sucked a breath between his teeth. "That and he'd brought Kagome with him too. We didn't get the chance to stop him before they were already on the other side of the well. Nee-chan, wasn't the same afterwards."
It was the confirmation he didn't need or want. Whoever this Inuyasha was had likely harmed his loved one in ways that she'd probably never speak about. Broken bones, a concussion and unexplained lacerations. Those were just a few of the things her mother had confided to him that she'd suffered from. The ronin felt his nails dig painful semi-circles into the palm of his hand.
"Masahiko-ojisan saw Inuyasha first hand that night." Souta pressed forward, oblivious to the other man's rising fury. "I don't know all of the details but apparently he tried to stop him from taking her back. It didn't work out of course. So later that night kaa-chan had to explain to him about the well, nee-chan's travels and that she was worried that Kagome needed some time away from all of that trouble. Guess it dragged her right back into it though." The boy turned over once more. "What I'm saying is that I know eventually nee-chan's going to leave again. It's written all over her face."
Okita spoke nothing to refute the child. It was the truth after all.
"But before she goes with you, promise me one thing." The boy's voice dropped into something vicious. It seemed so odd hearing it come from one so young and childlike. "If you see Inuyasha when you go back, kill him. Don't hesitate." The sheets ruffled as Souta settled into his bed for the final time that night. "Nee-chan won't say it but we know he tried to kill her at least once. If he finds out about her, he'll probably try to finish what he started. You can't let him do that. Even if it means taking his life. Can you promise me that, nii-san? Can you promise me that you'll protect nee-chan no matter what? That you'd slay Inuyasha if he so much as looks in her direction? I can't…" His voice trembled slightly. "I can't allow it otherwise!"
Emerald eyes closed briefly. So that's what this was about. He feared for his sibling. He wasn't afraid that she'd be taken from him as he originally worried. The boy was scared that if she went back with him, that her past would come back to hurt her—kill her even. His eyes snapped open as he sucked a breath between his clenched teeth. Like hell he'd let some two-bit piece of shit near his soon-to-be wife. He'd gut the pig long before he'd have the chance to so much as lay his eyes upon her.
"I won't just promise it, kid. I'll do it." His own tone was deep and steady with the threat of violence.
"Good." With that Souta's breathing began to even out as he fell asleep. Okita waited several minutes, until he was certain that his movement wouldn't wake the boy. The muscle in his sword arm twitched again. He wanted to kill the bastard who'd harmed her. He wanted to track him down, cut open his stomach and watch as he'd bleed out in a slow and agonizing death. No other kind of death would be appropriate for the hell he'd put this family through. None.
Slipping the covers from his shoulders, Okita silently crawled out of the tiny bed and made his way across the room. He snuck a glance towards the boy's form. Souta sighed deeply in his sleep before turning the other direction. Good, they wouldn't be disturbed. The man slipped into the shared bathroom and closed the door behind him. He padded swiftly into his lover's bedroom. It was already dark as she'd shut her lights off and gone to bed as well. Her sheets had managed to pool around her waist but that wasn't necessarily the first thing he noticed. It was the pale flesh of her shoulder and back exposed to his gaze. She'd gone to bed without her clothes—an obvious sign that she had likely expected him to join her that night. She only ever undressed when he was around. Otherwise she simply chose night shorts and tanks as they were comfortable to wear.
His eyes narrowed as he spied the light pink scar marring the soft skin of his lover's back. The first time he saw it, he'd honestly thought she'd survived a bear attack. Now that he knew the truth, it became all too clear that this was the scar that Inuyasha had left upon her. It was the strike the bastard had used to try to cut her down. Judging from it's position, he could only surmise that Kagome had been fleeing from him. She'd been running with her back turned when the fucker had struck. It was the action of a coward.
Okita locked the door to her bathroom and divested himself of his clothes. Kagome gave a soft sigh and turned her head towards him as he sat upon her mattress.
"Souji?" Sleep fogged and exhausted, she called to him.
"I'm here." The man responded quietly as to not wake their guests in the other room. He laid next to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He tried to rid himself of those thoughts. He would protect her. Right now, she was here with him and safe in his arms. He wouldn't allow anything to happen so long as she remained by his side. "Did you wait for me?" A small smile pulled at his lips as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. He pressed a small kiss on the point of her shoulder as his arms tightened around her frame more securely. He loved her therefore he would do what was necessary to keep her safe—even kill the creature that had marred her flesh with its violence.
"I figured Souta was keeping you up with a game." The young woman turned in his grasp. He felt the palm of her hand warm his cheek. Her fingers tangled in the hair behind his ear as she wrapped one of her legs around his waist. "Although I had a feeling you'd be sneaking in here soon enough. I'm a bit too tired to do much though." And so she was. He could feel it in the barest hint of her touch. Her limbs were heavy in his grasp as he felt her palm begin to slip from his face. He raised his own hand and held it firmly against him.
"This is fine. We made up for it this morning." A sly smirk spread across his lips as he felt her face heat. "Just so you know, I really appreciated it. Think we could do it again some time?" He was partially teasing on that. Mostly he just wanted to take his mind off of the horrors that were plaguing his thoughts. Besides he doubted that she'd be willing to go for a second round given how it ended the first time. At least he'd given her a warning though.
"Tomorrow it is then. After Masahiko-ojisan and Freya-obasan leave that is." Kagome surprised him once more. He quirked a curious brow at her as he pressed his hips closer to hers.
"You really want me to do that again? I figured that you hated it." The ronin lowered his head as he captured her mouth in a light, teasing kiss. "It can't exactly taste all that great." He grazed his teeth against her bottom lip.
With reflexes faster than he could account for, she'd locked both of her legs around his waist and turned them so that she'd be sitting upon his lap with him splayed out on his back. His hands immediately went to her hips and held her firmly to him. He pushed his own hips upwards until he could feel her. His eyes grew heated as he pressed forward. He wanted to take her. He wanted to make her his in every sense of the word. He wanted to be the only man to ever touch her in such a way.
Kagome moaned softly as her hands roved down the planes of his chest sensually, "Truthfully it didn't taste all that great but I'd make that sacrifice for you." There was something in the way she spoke that caused him to pause. It wasn't just about the oral she'd given him either. Right now, he knew that she was offering him something else. Something much, much more. He watched as she lowered herself on him a bit more.
She was offering him herself. She was willingly giving every bit of her innocence over to him. So Okita did what came most natural to him. He snapped forward and collected the gift she'd so openly offered him. After the pain had subsided he set to work on showing her exactly how he felt about her. Not through his words. Not through some meaningless or empty promise. But with his kiss, with his touch and with every fiber of his being. He took her more than once as he made love to her. As they fell over the edge of pleasure together, he began to relax and hold her more firmly to him.
"Souji…" Kagome started but he quietly silenced her with another heated kiss.
"Hush, just relax." Okita whispered softly. She went limp beneath him as the exhaustion started to take her consciousness. He nuzzled the side of her head as he wrapped his arms around her waist. It wouldn't do if he accidentally suffocated her in the middle of the night by falling asleep on top of her. So the man shifted and rolled their positions so she was lying on top of his chest once more. He tangled one of his hands into the mass of her black hair and used the other to hold her to him securely for the night. "Time to sleep. You have to be up early tomorrow, don't you?"
His lover laughed into the skin of his chest. "Too late for that now. I'm too tired. You go to graduation for me."
A wolfish grin began to spread across his lips, "Really? If you're just going to skip it then we could just…" He trailed off as he made his intentions known. Of course he knew that he'd need a small bit of rest before he'd be ready to go for another round but that didn't mean that he couldn't tease her.
"You're incorrigible!" Kagome admonished, sinking herself against him and going lax in his arms. "I'm going to sleep." With that her breathing began to even out as her hands splayed across his chest and shoulders. Despite his own exhaustion, he stayed up and observed the peaceful expression upon her face. The man trailed the tips of his fingers through the thick strands of her hair affectionately. She'd given every part of herself to him this night. In not so many words, she'd promised her very future to him. She would walk beside him from this point forward and eventually follow him back to his home—their home. He brushed his thumb beneath her eye and smiled softly. He couldn't have asked for more.
What Souta had said still lingered in the back of his mind. Inuyasha had never fully been dealt with. He also wasn't human and the likelihood that they'd run into him in his era was quite high. If that day ever came he swore to himself that he wouldn't hesitate. He'd do whatever was necessary to protect Kagome. He'd promised her brother as such. His eyes slowly slipped closed as he burned the image of her peaceful expression into his mind. He wanted her to stay like this. He never wanted her to experience the horrors she had before. Even in war he would keep her safe. So long as she was in his arms, he'd protect her. With that his consciousness also fell away into the cool embrace of sleep.
A/n: o.O; Would you guys believe me if I told you that I never intended for the lemon to occur in this chapter? I was hoping to let it happen around the Summer Break. Lol, well this time it looks like Kagome ran away from me and decided her own course. The fully explicit version is available on AO3 so head over there if you want to read that version. XD Anyways, onto other topics! -Raises hand- I will fully admit to being a MASSIVE fan of "The Last of Us" and had shamelessly plugged it into this chapter. That game may or may not be my way of getting my stress out on some bad days. Well that and GTA V but that's probably the obvious though (anyone else have a blast playing as Trevor because he's so crazy? Lmfao). ;P
Anyways to the topic at hand! Sorry it took me so long to get this one chapter out. I'd honestly struggled with it for a while there. However I wanted to get a bit more backstory of Kagome's family, particularly the aunt and uncle that have been mentioned but never introduced before now. Even if I don't get to everything, I wanted to have a fully fleshed out family history for them so that it could be incorporated in a few later ideas for this story as well. I didn't want them to be shadowed figures that never appeared because if they're estranged then I felt that you, as my audience, ought to know the reason for that estrangement. It's part of developing characters as a whole and giving them more natural backgrounds. This I find to be the most important aspect of any storytelling.
Anyways I'd originally planned to finish this chapter at the end of her graduation but it didn't quite work out that way. That's partially why it took me so long because I was having a hard time piecing together exactly how things should progress from this specific point to the Summer Break, which I have a fairly solid idea for. At the very least we're almost to the end here guys. The graduation will take up these two chapters with a bit more family background in Chapter Thirteen and then no more than two chapters for the Summer Break before what I like to call "The Return". So hopefully between chapters Fifteen and Sixteen we'll hit the main arc of the story. This part thus far has just been the preface and what I like to call the "honeymoon phase". ;) So fret not, I'm not trying to push their relationship too fast here. I'm just developing it as I feel that he'd honestly see things as a man from his time period. I want to remain as true to that kind of love story as possible.
Stormy times are just on the horizon but we'll have a bit before we hit those rocky waves. So go ahead and just sit back, relax and enjoy the fluff for the time being. We're almost over the dive. ^_^
PS: In case I haven't said this enough already, it's YOU guys that are amazing! All the favorites, follows and, of course, reviews are feeding my soul and muse right now. I feel that each and every one of you should know just how grateful I am for your support. I just ask that you hang in there a bit longer with me. I want to take this as patiently as possible so we don't have a relationship that's too rushed. I've got an array of funny, dramatic, sad and overly adorable things planned for the main arc of the story. Much of which can be credited to LovelyPolkaDots since she's been putting up with my rambling so much and feeding me hilariously awesome ideas these past several weeks. So if you're enjoying this now, then I'm sure you'll love it even more when we get there. Your patience will be rewarded in full, I promise. :)