Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Pairing: Okita/Kagome
Suggested Listening: King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Sixteen: Separate and Distinct
It hadn't taken them too long to traverse through the forest and back into the village nearest to the well. With night having already fallen, neither he nor Kagome drew much attention with their oddness. The few people still wandering the streets were the usual drunkards, casting an odd, quizzical glance in their direction but ultimately wandering off to search for more sake to consume. Okita rolled his shoulders as he settled into the futon next to Kagome. A small smile tugged at his lips as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest. By chance this Inn still had quite a few rooms available and they were able to use one for the night. Tomorrow though they would have to resume his mission and start a more thorough search for skilled warriors to recruit into the Shinsengumi.
The woman gave a quiet sigh and buried herself deeper in his embrace, the barest hint of a smile touching her lips. He felt his own growing wider. He didn't think she really knew how much of a pull she truly had on him. He nestled his face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath; enjoying the way her scent filled his senses. She'd followed him here with the intention of staying by his side. She'd chosen him for her future. To say that he was both grateful and guilty was an understatement. He'd felt grateful because she'd been so willing to stay by his side. Conversely, he also felt guilty because he knew how much she had been forced to give up just to make this future a reality. His arms tightened their hold around her subtly. He was now the only family she had in this era. He wouldn't fail her. His eyes slowly slid close as his consciousness fell away into the cradle of sleep. Starting tomorrow, he'd work his hardest to make sure she stayed happy. It'd take some time and adjusting, but he was certain he could do it. The ronin pressed a small kiss to her forehead as he slowly fell asleep. It was the one promise he would never break.
Hours passed and the light of dawn filtered into the sparsely decorated room. Okita was the first to wake to the sound of the streets bustling with energy and excited chatter. He cracked an eye open and draped his arm lazily over Kagome's waist. With a swift tug, he'd pulled her naked back into his chest once more. She hardly stirred at the movement, instead giving off a pleasant mewl and curling herself into a smaller figure beside him. He'd only have a short amount of time that he could enjoy being with her today, for as soon as he prepared himself he'd have to return to his life as a warrior. His gaze drifted to his lover's peaceful expression.
They hadn't had sex last night because they'd both been too exhausted by the time they'd reached the inn. As much as he wanted to take advantage of this situation, a part of him also wanted to wait until he'd proposed. It was different in her era. There hadn't been the same expectations heaped upon them. Sex was common place and it was expected, if not encouraged, for people their age to engage in at least once prior to settling down with a life partner. It had become less about the bond between a husband and wife and more likened to the sweet, temporary linking of two people—an ageless and pleasurable act to relieve stress and satisfy urges. To put it in terms that he was more familiar with, it'd become the equivalent of visiting a brothel, just a bit less stigma to those involved.
Still, he couldn't quite bring himself to believe that what they shared was simply physical only. Kagome had said it herself. She loved him. She chose him. She even left behind her home in favor of his own. By her own decisions, she had not so subtly informed him that she wished to remain beside him. That was reason enough for him to believe that she wanted more from him than just a simple relationship. Not to mention he'd already gotten far too possessive over her to allow another male to attempt to court her. By her own choices she'd become his. Now all that was left was to make it official. Unless Kagome truly wanted it, he'd hold off on sex until after she'd agree to become his wife. That was the only way it'd feel right to him.
Okita leaned over her shoulder and gently pressed his lips to the shell of her ear, "Morning." He greeted his loved one cheerfully. His woman moaned in protest before rolling her back towards him, indicating her less than enthusiastic response to being awakened so early in the day. "Come on," He teased further. He moved the palm of his hand to grasp at her shoulder and pull her back into his bared chest. "I have to get going. You wouldn't want to wake up without me, right?" It was a dirty move but it worked all the same. As much as he desperately wanted to stay in bed beside her, he had a job to do and he was already six months behind schedule. His brows furrowed. He'd have to hold some kind of gathering just to get enough fighters in time before they had to return to Kyoto.
Kagome sat up slowly. Her eyes blinked blearily against the morning light before she turned her head towards him ominously. The sheets of their futon fell around her waist sensually. Damn, too bad he really didn't have much time. Despite himself, he still wished to take her into his bed and have her crying out his name at the height of a shared climax. His eyes swept down her form. Already he was more than familiar with every curve and mark. He'd memorized nearly every inch of her body, so much so that he could still practically feel her wrapped around him. The man tightened his grip over his lover. Seriously, he was just torturing himself with this. It was time that he got his shit together and started preparing for the day. Otherwise he'd only end up making himself even further behind schedule than he was before.
"You're mean." She pouted, her upper lip jutting out cutely at him. A lough escaped his throat before he could stop it. Now there was one thing that he'd learned about Kagome over the course of the three months that they'd slept together and that was the fact that she was an incredibly grouchy riser in the mornings; at least until she'd had her breakfast and cup of hot tea. Until then she was always in a bit of a mood. He'd have to tread carefully lest he earn her ire. "Don't laugh at me, it's rude!" His lover complained loudly. Her arms tucked themselves over her chest, blocking his view of her breasts. Okita sat up and swiftly shifted his arm to loop around her hips. Without warning, he crossed his legs under himself and pulled her atop his lap. She gave a quiet yelp at the sudden action.
"I'm not." But he was. In spite of his own words, his laughter refused to stop. She was going to strangle him in his sleep one of these days. Not that he'd blame her either. He even managed to frustrate himself sometimes! To avoid an argument so early in the day, the ronin quickly chose to change the subject at hand. "Anyways, did you want to eat together first? I have to do recruiting today so I can't stay too long." He cocked his head over his shoulder as he took in their furoshiki. "Besides we don't have any food here."
It was true as well. Nearly all of the items they'd packed were labeled as 'safe' to bring to his era. Kagome had been adamant about not taking anything that could be linked to her time period as it'd only complicate things in the future. She'd said something about anthropologists discovering those items and then confusing the time lines. Truthfully he didn't understand much of it but he got the gist that taking shit from her time into his would lead to bad things. So they'd forgone the pre-cooked meals and only bought enough supplies to last until they could make it into the next village. Unfortunately he was seriously low on money. Realistically he only had enough to last about two weeks with only just himself. Between the two of them they could possibly blow through that before the end of this week.
Kagome tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Let's do that but first, about how long do you want to stay here?" She tilted her head up at him. "I can at least get us some ingredients to cook with while you work." Okita blinked. Honestly that suggestion took him by surprise. He'd expected her to want to stay at the inn for the first day or so—mostly he believed that she'd take some time to acclimate to his culture. Perhaps her previous travels had helped prepare her for this trip? He felt his brows knit together. Then again, she'd always been good about hiding any issues she'd have until she'd hit a breaking point. It wouldn't be good for him to push her just yet. He mulled over the options carefully. Surely a simple run into the town wouldn't be too much of a hassle, would it? She'd be armed too. Then again even that came with its own set of troubles. Ah damn it, none of this was any good!
"Let me think about it. There are still some things we need to get as well. Also," He tried to add up the amount of time he needed accurately. "We'll probably be in Edo at least two weeks. It'll just depend on whether we have enough men by then."
Kagome nodded, "Alright. Let's get ready then. The sooner you get started, the sooner we can go to Kyoto." The ronin unwrapped his arms from her waist reluctantly. It was too bad. He really did want to take some time this morning to talk to her in depth about what they were going to do from here on out as a couple. He was determined to marry her. He wouldn't be able to take her back to the compound otherwise. His eyes narrowed imperceptibly at that thought. Their future together was riding on his ability to convince her that he was a man worth tying herself down to for the rest of their lives. Admittedly, the prospect was quite daunting. It was a permanent decision that had to be made swiftly. Sure he could just pose her as his wife and continue living in the compound as they were, but that thought simply didn't sit right with him. What purpose would there be in her only acting as his wife? It was cruel to not give her the life she truly wanted. Plus he was an incredibly selfish man by nature. He wouldn't want to give room for doubt in her heart at any point in time. If he was going to show her as his wife, then he'd make sure she really was his wife. That was merely the end of it.
"Yes milady," he teased her, reaching over and pulling out a fresh set of clothes for himself from his furoshiki. Just as he managed to tie his pants, his eyes shifted towards her exposed form. He gazed longingly as the pale flesh of her shoulder and back was slowly shielded from view by a dark, black colored nagajuban*. He paused as she grabbed a soft lavender kimono decorated delicately with pale and white flowers. She gently pulled the fabric over the other garment, barely leaving the collar visible. She took a matching black obi and quickly tied everything together; creating a new look entirely that he was unaccustomed to seeing. It contrasted the soft hues of the kimono with the dark shadows of the nagajuban and obi.
Realistically, it was a color match that not many would so much as attempt in this time. It was more normal to match reds with yellows and purples with other shades of similar color such as green. Black was often chosen to be worn with silver or gold and was usually used for formal occasions. However this outfit had both class and an edge that he couldn't quite place his finger on. A smile spread across his lips. Even in this era's clothes, it would seem that she'd stick out like a sore thumb. Somehow he had a feeling that something like this would happen. After all, it always did when it came to her. He supposed that his only option to avoid any issues at this point would be to make himself known to any would-be trouble makers. Surely his name alone would be enough to scare off most of the start-ups. The more aggressive ones he could have a little fun with. The muscle in his sword arm twitched eagerly. It'd been some time since he'd been involved in a good fight.
"What? Is this weird?" Kagome questioned, looking over her shoulder at her own work. His grin turned playful.
"Weird and attractive. I always have to ask how you manage to do it." Okita had forgone dressing himself for the moment. He opted to remain shirtless as he brought his arms around his companion's waist sensually. "Say, you want to have a late start today?" Already he was breaking the vow he'd made to himself not to touch her in this time until after marriage. Yet his hands found themselves working at the collar of her kimono and trying to undo the work she'd just completed. Kagome's hands grasped at his own lightly, tugging them away from his goal. Subconsciously, his lips turned downwards in a frustrated pout.
"Nuh uh, you're the one who woke me up. So no take backs." She tipped her head towards him and smiled warmly. "You're just going to have to wait until tonight." Instinctively his mind summoned images of the different ways he wanted to take her. The most prevalent was the thought of her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as he'd push her back roughly against the wall. That was rather fun the last time they'd done it. His smirk returned in full force. Ah, to hell with it. He wouldn't be able to wait. Not with her giving him that look.
Reluctantly, the ronin dropped his hands away from her body. Instead he focused his attention on dressing himself properly for the day. If he couldn't have his fun just yet, then he'd make her beg and writhe for him later in the night—ensuring that he'd bring her just to the edge before withdrawing. After all, turnabout was fair play… his mind trailed off.
"You're doing it again." Kagome prodded at his cheek playfully. He blinked once before slanting a curious stare in her direction.
"Doing what?" He honestly didn't know. What had he been doing that time?
"Your resting serial killer face. It's made a come back." A teasing smirk pulled across her lips. The young woman lowered her hand and gently pressed her palm against his exposed chest; pushing him back a step playfully. "You ought to do something about that."
Okita snorted. Right, that 'killing face' she and Souta had always gone on about in her time. He gave himself a moment before allowing his expression to become a bit sharper than before. "Nah, don't think I want to. After all," His tone dropped suddenly. He stepped forward, causing her to unintentionally take a few steps away; backing into the wall behind her. He braced both of his hands on either side of her face and dipped his head until their lips were just a breath away from each other. "The rules are different here, don't you know?" To emphasize his point, he leaned down and gently took her bottom lip between his teeth. "I have to make use of this 'killer face' if I want to chase off the competition." It'd only been meant to tease her, but the woman before him blushed prettily as her eyes lowered to the floor in embarrassment. A short, prideful laugh escaped him. He'd never stop loving that aspect of her personality. No matter how intimate they were, there was always a slight edge of innocence that would tinge her reactions to his bold proclamations. She really was something else.
The man casually dropped his arms away. He stepped away, leaving his woman reeling behind him. The rest of the time they'd spent in the inn that morning was passed in a somewhat awkward silence. Kagome kept her gaze pinned the floor as her face remained a stark shade of red. It was rather cute if he did say so himself. As Okita slipped his daishou back into their proper spot upon his hip, he threw a wayward glance her way. They needed to talk sometime today but he hadn't the first clue of how to broach any of the subjects at hand. Would it be best to simply just leave them be until later that night?
"Ready?" He smiled at her warmly. She peeled her eyes from the floor and nodded once.
"Yes."
It was such a simple answer. Yet the steel in her tone reminded him that it wasn't just the question of breakfast that she was answering—it was his question of whether she was prepared for this life, their life together. His expression thawed significantly. She was always so damn good at reading him. Perhaps it was time he learned her body language a bit more as well. She was counting on him and he wasn't about to fail her now.
The ronin slid the shoji screen close behind him. The inn was a short maze of tightly packed corridors and engawas*. People threaded by them quickly; their eyes drifted between his swords and the wakizashi slipped neatly at Kagome's waist. To outsiders she would appear as an onna-bugeisha. Much of their duties were now merely in title only however a few still existed that carried the weight of her husband's honor into the ways of the old. His lover was now stepping into that role. Whether or not she realized what obstacles she'd face wearing her sword at her side, he knew she would be able to handle it. After all, he was with her now and that was all that mattered.
The light of the sun blared down upon them as they entered the busy Edo streets. People lined the roads thickly as irrelevant chatter from other conversations threatened to drown out all other sounds. Kagome shifted close to him, her fingers instinctively intertwining with his own. Briefly his mind summoned the image of the first day he'd gone to the doctor's office. The train ride had been, admittedly, quite disturbing. He hadn't been used to the chaos and speed in which the train moved. He hadn't been used to the way the people of her time crushed in upon each other. He also hadn't been used to how quickly the feeling of helplessness had overwhelmed him. His fingers curled more securely over hers. He wouldn't let that happen to her. Not here, not now. She'd given him the comfort and support he so desperately needed then. It was time he offered the same to her.
Okita's gaze observed the shops that dotted the long, interconnected lines of the roads that they found themselves travelling. Most were streaming with crowds. It was still a month out before the Sumidagawa Festival*. So to see this many people was strange. Perhaps the winter that had frozen this land had only recently given way? It was the only plausible explanation he could come up with. Keeping that much in mind, he pushed onward, gently leading his loved one along as they made their way to the outskirts of the town.
"Here should be good." His feet stopped at an outcropping of two buildings. A small dango shop had been settled between them, its decorations were modest and only a small amount of the crowd had discovered its less desirable location. He cocked his head over his shoulder and smiled down at the woman beside him. "Let's go eat."
She flashed him a brief smile. Her fingers gripped at his a bit more tightly in a silent affirmation. The pair entered the small shop. Immediately they were greeted by an elderly couple. The husband bustled about the tiny kitchen, visible through an opening of shoji screens near the back of the building. The wife went to them quickly and offered a small area for them to take their seats. Okita led Kagome to hers first before taking his rightful spot beside her.
Her eyes glanced around wildly, as if trying to take in all the details without garnering too much attention to herself. He stifled a small laugh. Sure she was likely used to some aspects of his era considering her previous travels, but it seemed as if she was easily overwhelmed as well. He tightened his grip over her fingers. Just as she'd been his rock for the past six months, he'd make himself into the stable foundation she'd desperately need for the rest of their lives together. He'd make damn sure of it.
"Enjoying yourself?" Okita leaned down, smiling against the side of her face warmly. It was a rhetoric question but she answered him anyways, her eyes lighting with a type of excitement he had yet to see before.
"Of course! I'm just trying to figure out what to go check out today while you work." Kagome tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We don't have a lot of money just yet so shopping is out of the question. Still I do want to visit some of the shrines and see how different things are now. Oh!" She stopped midway through her mental checklist to turn towards him slightly. "About what I asked earlier, what kind of food do you like? Kaa-chan was the one to make dinner most of the time and I didn't quite get the chance to ask you before now. If there's something you'd want for tonight, let me know so I can get enough to make that for us later."
The ronin released her fingers to slip his arm around her shoulders. With a quick tug, he pulled her body closer to his own. He dipped his lips next to her ear and quietly gave her his answer, "What I want? Well, that'd be you. In my bed." He was sorely tempted to give her ear a gentle nip but they were in public, so he quickly withdrew, watching with a sinful amount of satisfaction as her face turned several shades darker with her rising embarrassment.
"Souji!" The reprimand fell on deaf ears. More than anything he wanted to do right by her and hold off on sexual activity until she'd gotten a bit more adjusted to the cultural differences between their eras. He'd prefer for their next time spent sharing pleasure to be with her as his wife, but he knew himself too well. That would be a difficult if not impossible task to fulfill. He loved her. Therefore he wouldn't hold himself back from her. Not if she truly desired it. Plus, she'd likely grow upset if he were to suddenly disengage from those sorts of activities altogether. Despite Kagome's innocent appearance, she had quite the sex drive. He'd lost count of the times he'd returned home to find her already lying nude in his bed. It'd often became a game of seeing who could get his clothes off the fastest. Those nights were always interesting. A slight smirk threatened to spill across his lips. It was sometimes a bit hard to keep up with her. Not that he'd admit that fact out loud….
"What shall I get for you two?" The elderly woman wandered back to them. A warm, grandmotherly smile stretched across her aging face. It was a relaxing atmosphere with only the sounds of idle chatter from the other customers and the scent of wood fire and food cooking in the kitchen filling the shop.
They quickly put in their orders and watched as she hobbled off to deliver them to her husband in the back. Kagome gave the pair an odd, quizzical look before she turned back to face him.
"Also, about my other request. Would it be that strange for me to work while you continued your mission? It'd help us make ends meet in the short run." She leaned into him heavily. The ronin tightened his hold over her shoulders just a bit more.
"It would be." Okita closed his eyes and thought of how to best put his response into words that wouldn't offend her sensibilities. Things were vastly different in her time. Sex was seen as a casual encounter between two people. Marriage was done out of love regardless of what socioeconomic background a person came from. Both partners of a marriage were fully expected to share equal financial burden. It was highly looked down upon for a woman to seek out a husband solely for the sake of him providing her with financial stability. Ah, Gold Diggers were what Souta had called them. So it would stand to reason that Kagome wanting to work to support him would be her natural course of action. However in his time things were a bit different. His mouth pulled downwards at that thought. How should he go about explaining it without coming off as offensive?
"It's not exactly normal for wives to work." His brows knitted together briefly. "I'm Samurai, you know that right?" She nodded once in agreement. "A lot of the guys from the Shinshengumi were just farmhands; peasants really. They picked up a sword and dedicated themselves to fighting. Hijikata-san was the same way. I'm one of the few that was actually born into the Samurai caste." Okita lowered his voice as a small group of people began to file into the shop. "Women from our caste tend to run the household. They take care of all the housework, do the chores and make sure the staff do as they're supposed to." He could feel her curious gaze upon him and so he pressed forward in his explanation.
"If a wife of a Samurai were to work as a common peddler then it'd be seen as an insult to her husband and the family she married into. I can only think of a handful of times where it wasn't." He tilted his chin towards the ceiling thoughtfully. "You'll be posing as my wife here. Even if I'm a Captain in the Shinsengumi, I'm still Samurai and thus you'll have those public expectations." He felt more than heard the warmth of her cheeks upon his neck where she'd rested her face. Ah, that'd made her blush? How curious. "So for now it'd be best if you just relaxed and took some time to get acclimated to everything. I'll figure something out money wise, so don't you worry." The warrior flashed his woman a bright, confident grin. "Worse case scenario I can just hunt some food down before going home. No need to worry!"
Kagome's expression suddenly deadpanned. Her eyes narrowed as her lips pressed into a thin line. Oh she was not pleased by that last remark. However she hadn't the chance to voice her complains as their food was suddenly placed before them by the elderly wife.
"Please enjoy." The old woman smiled pleasantly at them. She turned on her heel and made her way to the other tables, taking their orders just as she'd done for them.
The rest of their meal passed in silence. It was clear his loved one was thinking carefully on his stance about her working. Somehow he had the inkling that she was probably going to try to find a job before the day was out. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Now why did he always find himself in these types of situations? Perhaps he was just attracted to trouble.
As they finished with their food, Okita quickly paid and lead Kagome back outside of the shop. He wanted to say something but what? Would could he possible do to reassure her fears about this decision?
"I'll walk you back to the Inn. Just take today off. We'll have the big discussion tonight when I get back. Sound good?" She fell into step beside him, a fretful expression crossing her features as those words left his lips.
"Fine, but I'm still buying us ingredients for food. If you don't tell me what you want, I'll probably make something you hate." She stated it so matter-of-factly that he nearly had to ask her to repeat what she'd said. "If you want something good then you better ask now. No take backs after I start cooking, mister!" The dark haired woman prodded her index finger into his chest pointedly.
He couldn't help it. He laughed, "Yes milady!" At the frown she cast in his direction, he chose to give a more direct answer. "Porridge. No green onions. I'm not a huge fan of the bitter stuff. Outside of that I don't really care." Okita placed his hand at the small of her back. "Better?"
She nodded once, "Yup! You could've just said that from the beginning you know." The worry from before lifted from her features. In its place was the thoughtful countenance he'd grown so used to. His smile warmed at the sight. Good, now she wasn't brooding over things she really didn't need to be. Money was his responsibility and he'd make damn sure that he didn't fail her now. It'd be his job as her husband after all.
They made their way back to the Inn. It was small and close to the center of the town. When they'd arrived the previous night much of the other places had been closed. They'd only managed to this find one at the heart of the town due to the high volume of people that often passed through those streets. They'd gotten in luck that a single room had even been available for them to use. Apparently since the winter had passed many more were forced to travel into the city center than normal to try to gather the supplies. Even if the snow had melted from the streets, the remnants of that storm still billowed and left its mark upon the people that lived here. He was only relieved that Kagome did not have to bear witness to the horrific sight of people lying starved in the streets on those cold, winter nights.
His eyes narrowed as he spied a few men glance in his woman's direction. The ronin pulled her to his side more tightly. That was yet another thing. He needed to establish himself as her husband quickly, lest an eager male try his hand at seducing her away from him before they'd even breach the Kyoto. Okita threw a fierce glare back at the competition. It wouldn't do if he spent much of his time worrying about his lover being harassed by other men while he was supposed to be recruiting soldiers for the Shinsengumi. That thought alone was enough to drive him to violent tendencies towards the possible perpetrators.
The man shook those thoughts from his mind. He couldn't afford to lose sight of his mission. He needed to focus. Kagome would be safe for the time being. Even if she were to just wander around the market and local shrines for the day, she had her wakizashi and knew how to wield it well enough to protect herself. Plus he'd be nearby if something were to happen. He could always check on her at some point during the day to ensure that she was fine as well.
"Good luck," Kagome turned in his grip, offering him a welcoming smile and warm arms around his middle. His smile widened just a bit more.
"Luck? Who needs that when I've got skill and charm." He brought her close to his heart. A small laugh escaping his lips. "I managed to snag you, didn't I? Swaying a few soldiers to our side will be easy in comparison to that. Now don't stress yourself out while I'm gone. Just relax for today and take your time getting adjusted to everything." She withdrew from him only momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, the ronin slid the screen back to their room for the evening. He led her inside and shut it behind them once more. Kagome stepped into the genkan* and slipped her sandals off easily. He would have followed suit but they both knew that he would not be staying long.
He had expected her to grasp at his sleeve, lift half-lidded eyes at him and given him a tiny plea to stay by her side for the day. A part of him had expected her to be somewhat nervous at the sudden change of scenery. His brows furrowed at that thought. It couldn't be easy. Being taken to yet another time she was familiar with, unaware of their customs or culture that defined their relationships. Yet, his eyes drifted to the small smile still dancing upon her lips and flickering in her azure gaze, she seemed so completely unaffected. Somewhere in his heart, he worried that she was simply hiding herself from him again. In a second, he saw the flash of fear in her expression. It was brief but it was there. His chest constricted painfully. He didn't want that. Not here. Not now. Not after everything that they'd been through together.
"Kagome." His tone stopped her. He dropped the cheer from his expression and leveled a worried look in her direction. "Don't force yourself, you understand?" Maybe it was the seriousness in his voice or perhaps the stern look he'd shot her way, but the young woman did not uphold the happy smile she plastered on her face just mere moments ago.
"I'll be fine." She reiterated. Most men would've been happy with that statement. Most men would've shrugged off the nagging insecurities that he'd felt in that second. But he couldn't do that. The phrasing felt entirely wrong.
I'll be fine.
And that was entirely what worried him. Her posture was off. He hadn't seen at it first, but now that he was observing her closely, he saw the slight twitch of her brow and subtle downturn of her lips. Her back hunched slightly as her arms tucked close to her chest; as if protecting herself. She was scared. The realization hit him heavily.
Sighing, he slipped his own sandals off into the lowered lip of the genkan. He was already late as it was, so what would ten more minutes do? Kagome blinked curiously. Instead of giving her a verbal response, he simply wrapped his arms tightly around her frame and pulled her into the warmth of his embrace. Okita slipped one of his hands into the mass of black hair. It'd always been so wild and untamed, much like the woman it belonged to. She'd had such spirit. Such fire. Even imagining for an instant the fear she'd feel as soon as he'd walk out of that door left him sick with concern. His woman braced her palms intimately across the space of his bared chest. She rested her head easily over his heart.
Beneath his fingers he could feel the rapid fluttering of her own heart. She was scared. She wouldn't ever say it, but it was there. That aspect of Kagome's personality frustrated him to no end. He wanted her to trust him. He wanted her to show him her vulnerability. In this moment, he wanted her to bare herself to him in a way that she had only done once before, in the school courtyard after her altercation with Takeshi. She'd been so open, so honest with him then. He didn't want anything less from her.
"Hey," The man nudged his mouth next to her ear. "Don't go shutting me out. I'm here to stay. You chose me and I'll be sticking right here no matter what. We're in this together." His fingers gently messaged at the space behind her ear, offering the physical comfort he knew she would appreciate the most. "You did everything you could to help me when I got stuck in your era, now let me return the favor." The female in his arms sucked in a breath as if to argue his point but he didn't give her the chance. "You don't have to hide. Even if you did travel in the past before, this time is still different from then." A small smile touched his lips. "This time you're with me." He said it more possessively than he'd intended. Still, he carried on. "I'm not that great at giving comfort but I can tell when you're upset at least. So don't go thinking you can pull one over on me and get away with it." He tucked her head under his chin at the slightest sound of a sniff. Ah, so he was finally getting through to her. "Put your faith in me. Here, you are my family. There isn't a single person who can say otherwise." Besides, if he had his way she would be his wife. So it was all moot point in the end.
The man felt more than saw the slight heating of her cheeks upon his chest. She flustered so easily. So easy to rile and placate. She was like the water that flowed in the Sumida River*. One minute calm and placid, the next like a raging storm with currents hidden beneath the glassy surface. It was always so damn amusing to see which way her tides would turn at the slightest hint of his teasing.
"So for me," He practically pleaded, "Don't overstress yourself. Take your time. Learn your surroundings and know that I'll be with you every step of the way." A wry smile slanted across his lips. "Hey kid," Wordlessly she tipped her head to meet his gaze. "I love you." With that he lowered his mouth and pressed his lips against hers. It was more that just a platitude. It was the earnest truth. Through the tightening grip of her fingers over his skin, he felt that she understood his intention entirely. He pulled back from her for the briefest of moments. "So do me this favor. Put your faith in me and give yourself a break for once. It is my job to play the role as breadwinner, you know. You can't hog that glory all to yourself." He lowered his mouth to hers once more. "I won't let you." It was a near petulant remark but Kagome didn't hold it against him. Instead a small laugh fell from her lips as he continued to lavish her with his affection.
"You're too good at that." If it was a protest, he didn't see her point.
"Too good at what?" Okita grinned suggestively, "Sweet talking you, or getting you into my bed?" Ah, he wasn't supposed to be doing that. He had to withhold himself for some measure of time if only for her sake. Kagome merely laughed even harder.
"That!" She playfully prodded his shoulder with the point of her index finger. "You just make me forget, well, everything! I have to keep my focus every now and then!" He couldn't take the complaint seriously. Not with her cheeks flushed, hair in a sensual disarray and smile upon her lips. His grin grew more playful.
"What would be the fun in that? I have to knock you off your feet. You can't be the only one doing the charming." Her eyes went wide at his statement.
"Ah, charming? Me? When? How!" The last part was practically an embarrassed screech. The ronin dropped his arms much to his woman's dismay.
"Hm? You haven't noticed?" It was a tease and she saw right through it. "When was it that you first started charming me?" He tapped his chin thoughtfully. It was a cleverly planned action meant to drive her into a frenzied state and he wasn't disappointed.
"Tell me!" She leapt at him, her arms circling around his middle once more. It was the tell tale sign that she had no intention of letting him leave until she'd received a satisfying answer.
"Perhaps when I woke up to find some angel hovering over me?" He observed as her face went beet red. Kagome sputtered as if unsure of how to answer his revelation. Pressing forward he continued, "Or was it when you fell asleep on me? Definitely during New Year's though. Ah, I think that was our first date too." His grin widened. "You do still have that kimono, don't you? It fit you quite nicely."
"Souji!"
He didn't heed her complaint. Instead he untangled her arms from himself and rested his forehead against her own.
Deciding that he'd teased her enough, he finally gave her his answer, "When you claimed me." That moment alone had always stuck out to him. The moment when she had professed to Takeshi that he was one of her own; that his place among her family was secure and not to be questioned by anyone. The ferocity she'd displayed then had taken him back. It'd enchanted him and drew him to her. In that single moment, his world had changed forever.
She stopped, eyes wide and mouth agape, "When…?" His grin became teasing. Ah, she didn't realize yet? Perhaps it was best to let his little spitfire twist and turn over it for a little while.
Okita pressed one last kiss to her brow, "The rest you'll have to figure out on your own. Anyways," He slipped his sandals back onto his feet easily. "I have to get going. Important business to tend to."
For the first time since they arrived in his era when he looked back he saw the slightest hint of doubt; the shadow of her fear etched so deeply in those softly carved features. If he were a lesser man than he would've worried. He would've stayed behind for the day and allowed her to wallow in that fear within the protective circle of his arms. But he knew that she was strong. He knew that she'd always been strong. In many ways, she was even stronger than himself. It wasn't because she was afraid that she showed him this side of herself. It wasn't because she wanted him to coddle her that she allowed him to see that darkest part of her nature. No, it was much simpler than that. It was because she was trusting him. He'd asked her to place her faith in him, now she was doing so. She wasn't hiding herself. She wasn't pretending. She was just being the person he knew her to be.
In that small look, he saw that Kagome didn't want him to stay. It was written so plainly on her face. She wanted him to do his duties to the Shinsengumi. She wanted to support him much the way a wife would. Therefore, he would not shame her by treating her as if she would break without his presence in her life at all times. In that one glance, he knew that she would be fine.
"Don't miss me too much." The smile playing upon his lips lifted the shadows from her expression ever so slightly.
"Don't go getting yourself killed and make me miss you." Kagome shot back. The concern, the worry, the very real fear still hovered over them. But now they knew. She wouldn't break and he wouldn't falter. Thus was the way of husband and wife. They were distinct yet separate parts of the whole. She would support him and in turn he would provide for her the happiness she deserved. Those were their duties and nothing would come between that. Their sense of honor to each other dictated that much.
"Heh," He gave a small laugh of masculine pride, "I'll be home by dinner. I'm looking forward to trying out your cooking for once." It was true as well. In all the times that they'd been together it had always been her mother that cooked for them. Kagome usually only helped with smaller tasks in the kitchen when her parent was present. Perhaps that was her mother's way of regaining some control. He ceased his train of thought before he travelled too far down that road.
The young woman grinned brightly, "You won't be disappointed. Porridge with no green onions coming right up!" In that look he found his solace. Okita stepped forward and slanted his lips against hers in one last, long kiss. His eyes closed as he caught the scent of fresh rain water and cherry blossoms. This, he knew, would never change about her. The man drew back. He turned and grasped the paper-thin shoji screen that separated them from the rest of this terrible, violent, cruel yet beautiful world. She'd chosen this path with him. She'd given herself to him. Now as he paused at the threshold between his previous life with her at the shrine and his current duties to the Shinsengumi, he knew that something was irrevocably changing with them. With a flick of the wrist, he opened the screen and sunlight blared brightly into the tiny room.
His smile warmed. As his back faced towards the woman he loved, everything fell into place within his heart. He took the first step outside. She would be fine. She wouldn't be lonely in his absence. She wouldn't shed any tears the second she could not ear his foot falls. She was not made of glass. She was a woman tempered with iron and fire. Tongue as sharp as a blade and even quicker with her wit, she was impossibly strong on a level he could hardly comprehend. Kagome would not fall to despair. She would be fine.
Secure in this thought, he would resume his post as Captain and the rest, as they liked to say, would all be history. He shut the door behind him and pushed forward in the crowd of people that thickened the streets of Edo. No more floundering. No more doubting. No more fearing. The foundation that held them together was solid. Now all he needed to do was secure their future. It was a prospect that still terrified him, but left him eager all the same. His eyes settled upon the mass of strangers that passed by him, his smile shifting quickly into a sharp grin. Now all he had to do was sort the soldiers from the farm boys in this mess. And he knew just the way to do it too.
The idle chatter of people was hardly a noise in his ear. His heart lighter than it'd been in a long time. Here, he would succeed.
Kagome had waited an hour or two before collecting the small stash of money Okita had left for her to use. A light blush went across her cheeks at the remembrance of his words. When she claimed him? Her mind worked into overdrive. When had that been? How had she done it? She couldn't remember. The only memory coming to mind was the first night they had shared together as lovers. Blushing heavily, she shook the thoughts from her mind. Kagome swiftly strapped her wakizashi to her side. It might cause a bit of attention but she always believed that it was better to be safe rather than sorry. With her significant other off recruiting men for his mission, she wouldn't be able to rely on his presence to ward away possible dangers.
Her eyes narrowed. She only remembered a few things about the culture that surrounded the Bakumatsu Period of Japan. The majority of it revolving around how women were treated. They were not allowed to travel on their own without letters of permission. Even so they were also subject to harassment if they were to travel with a weapon or without a male relative. She bit into her lip. That was already two strikes against her. Okita was working and she had her sword at her side. Would it really be okay to wander off without him so soon? She clapped her hands to her cheeks. Nonsense! She was tough enough to handle it. After all, she'd made a living hunting demons before. Humans wouldn't be that much harder to handle.
The young woman shut off the influx of memories that threatened to surface. Her palm tightened over the handle of the wakizashi. She'd made an oath the day she'd received this blade. It'd be a dishonor to its previous mistress if she went back on that now.
Gathering up her courage, Kagome slipped back into her sandals before returning to the world outside. The bright light of the sun forced her to guard her eyes against it brilliant rays. She'd taken in quite a bit of the sights during their outing earlier in the morning. Eyes narrowing, she followed the crowds into the center of the market. Stores lined the streets, each nearly stacked on top of each other. In her time buildings could move upwards in height, but here they did not quite have that luxury. Instead buildings were built side by side with hardly an alley to separate them. People moved about the street, unperturbed by the overwhelming crowdedness of the others pressing upon them. She strolled confidently towards a stall dotted colorfully with healthy produce. She hadn't wasted any time in procuring the proper ingredients for the evening's meal. Given the lack of refrigeration she did not wish to buy anything that could rot in the heat of the summer. Food such as salmon and other types of fish would have to be prepared immediate so as to avoid spoilage.
The peddler, a middle aged man with a kindly smile, was polite enough towards her requests. She swiftly picked out the best vegetables among his display and offered him the stack of coins in return. Without a word, she easily packed the food into her furoshiki that she'd brought with her. Emptied of other necessities, it was becoming a handy traveling tool.
"Now where to next?" Kagome mused to herself, reentering the string of people, wandering aimlessly among the crowds. She wouldn't be able to travel too far. In her previous walk with Okita she'd taken notice of several checkpoints stationed at every pivotal entrance and exist into the town. She didn't think it'd cause her too many issues so long as she kept her distance from them and remained within the borders of Edo. Her pace quickened subconsciously.
Azure eyes took in building after building, scanning each with a small amount of amazement. It'd been such a long time since she'd last been able to appreciate beauty as simple as this. Her only regret was that she had no one with her to share this with. The young woman felt a slight twinge in her heart. It wasn't so much that she wanted Okita with her every second of the day, but a part of her was beginning to miss the friendships she'd held with the girls from her time. The playful outings of clothes shopping, the eager get togethers at the local café and even the fun overnights they'd shared at each others homes.
She tipped her head towards the sky above. For a moment, she wondered if Katsumi was looking at a heaven so blue and cloudless as she was right now. A small smile touched her lips. Well even if it wasn't the girl had enough shine in her heart to make it bright no matter where she went.
Kagome's attention was suddenly drawn away at the sound of tables crashing and the harsh screeching of a panicked woman. From a distance away she found a large group of men surrounding a modest peddler's shop. The husband had raised his arms against a defensive strike; blocking his face from the series of kicks as he squirmed painfully upon the ground. His wife screamed out her fears. She fought and pushed against the arms of the crowd holding her back from the chaos breaking out in front of her.
"Please!" She pleaded desperately, "Take what you want just leave my husband be!" The men laughed raucously. Spurred on by her cries, the beating only grew worse. The man on the ground gave a throaty gasp at the heel that suddenly pressed upon his rib. Kagome winced at the cracking sound it made. Three, possibly four ribs had just been shattered from the impact. Her hand twitched as memories of blinding pain came to the forefront of her mind. In another life she would've jumped in. She would've placed herself in the fray and fought with every ounce of her being to protect the man that was surely going to die if this kept up much longer.
What could she do here? Her skills were good but not good enough to take on a group of six powerful men such as these. Her aid was likely to cause the victim more shame than help him. Not only that but the risk of receiving a grievous injury was quite high as well. She bit into her lip. She didn't want to fight. She'd done so much of it in the past that she was no longer keen on it. If a peaceful solution could be found, she would seek it out.
"Oh shut it!" What appeared to be the leader of the rambunctious group slammed his foot back down into the already broken ribs of his victim. "If you'd just given us the money in the first place then this wouldn't have had to happen!" Kagome's feet carried her towards the chaos before her mind had a chance to stop them. She pushed her way through the crowd gently. Only pausing as she breached the inner circle lining around the people involved.
"We have no money!" The wife bent downward, screaming with all of her worth. She clasped her hands to her chest as tears fell freely from her eyes. "We own nothing of value. Please, let my husband free!" For all of her cries, nothing changed in the bloodlust of the beasts that held her loved one hostage to their violent whims. Kagome's palm settled on the hilt of her wakizashi.
"Are you so incapable of earning money through respectable means?" Her tone was sharp and cut through the tension abruptly. All eyes swiftly turned to her in surprise. She allowed her gaze to fall over their forms, analyzing their statures coolly. "Your arms are strong. Your legs can still walk. Yet here you stand, imposing pain upon others for something that you should be able to accomplish on your own." Defiance flickered to life in her heart. How long had it been since she'd last done something so bold? Confidence at its highest since her return from her first set of travels, Kagome pushed forward and stepped into the fray. Her doubts laid forgotten in the path behind her. "Where is your honor?"
The group rounded on her. Okita was going to be upset at her. Or would he be proud? A small smile pulled at her lips. Either way he was definitely going to be surprised.
"What was that?" The leader ceased his beating of the man beneath him. His shoulders squared and chest bowed in a show of intimidation. Kagome did not buckle under the weight of the stranger's sharp glare. Instead she returned it with a fiercer one of her own. "I don't think I heard your right, girlie." She hated that nickname. The grip she had on her blade tightened imperceptibly.
"Why don't you say that again?" The stench of sake overwhelmed her senses the moment the man stood to his full height in front of her. Without wasting a breath, she clarified her stance.
"I said that you're a coward and a fool for believing that doing this will net you anything worthwhile." Her sword gave a quiet hiss as she unsheathed it from its scabbard. "Perhaps it is time someone punished you for your arrogance?"
The crowd grew silent. All eyes drawn to the thin blade held so securely before her form. Okita had taught her all manner of defensive and offensive stances. He was a tough trainer, never holding back and ensuring that she'd always pushed herself to her limit. He'd brought out the best in her. Now she would put those techniques he'd so kindly bequeathed to her to good use. The wife broke free of the hands that held her. She ran to the center of their little circle and wrapped her arms protectively around the broken and bloodied man. Swollen eyes lifted to meet hers in concern.
The air around them thickened with the tension before a fight. Her eyes scanned each man carefully. They were all armed with a set of daishou strapped to their hips. Fighting one would be easy enough but if they all chose to attack simultaneously then there would be trouble. She shifted her legs into a pose her significant other had taught her. She tipped her blade over the back of her wrist and held her center of gravity towards her middle. Even in a kimono she still had just enough space to maneuver as necessary. It would be tricky, but she could still fight like this.
The leader watched her for a second. Then he threw his head back and let loose a deep, throaty laugh, "What is this? You think you can defeat me? Look at you!" He pointed a meaty finger in her direction. "Your arms are thin and spindly. You have no muscle mass and most of all, you're a woman! How do you expect to win against all of us?" The other men shot each other wary glances. In spite of their intentions towards the shop keep, it was clear they had their reservations about raising their blades against a female. She held her stance. All the better. Their surprise would be her advantage to take.
She didn't wait for them to counter. Instead she jutted the tip of her blade forward towards the exposed neck of her opponent. Screams exploded into the air as the people around them scrambled to back away to a safe distance. Kagome didn't pause in her attack as her enemy ducked away. Slashing downward, the edge of her wakizashi grazed against the thick muscle of his shoulder.
"Perhaps instead of analyzing only your enemy's stature, you would be best served to take note of their intention." Kagome drew back just long enough to fall into her stance once more. A thick trail of blood splattered onto the dirt between them. Her eyes narrowed as the others shifted closer together, their blades all coming out of their sheaths at once. This would be difficult. For just a brief second, she wondered if maybe she'd gotten in over her head.
"Filthy bitch!" The man stood once more. A heavy hand clapped at the injury to his shoulder; attempting to stem the flow of blood. "I'll make you pay for that." He dropped his hand to withdraw his own blade. Sweat beaded above her brow. How to go about this? She could easily duck and dive, slashing at only one at a time. But what would be the risk to that? Tightening her grip into a white-knuckle fist, she shot forward before he had the chance to strike. As with before she brought her blade upon his body. With a quick downward arc, she cut across the front of his chest. It was shallow but enough to cause him to stumble. Quickly shifting on her heel, she slashed horizontally at the man approaching her from behind. The sword in his hand flew through the air. It spiraled and twirled through the atmosphere until it embedded itself deeply into the handcrafted wood frame of the shop.
Petrified, he fled into the crowds the moment he was disarmed. The remaining four closed in on her at the same time. Kagome tucked and spun, burying her hilt into the soft belly of one before lifting it upward and hitting the same opponent a second time at the bottom of his jaw. The male collapsed in pain. He clutched at his stomach and tucked his chin nearly into his neck. A flash of silver entered Kagome's line of sight. Using her momentum, she kicked off the ground and swiftly put some space between herself and the sword aiming for her jugular.
"Why don't you just fucking die already!" A spindly male swung wildly at her. Fear penetrated deeply in his eyes as he tried to continuously strike her down. He was too far gone to be able to do anything. With practiced motions she cut at his arm and leg, dropping him to the ground in a heap of shivering flesh. The final two glanced between each other before narrowing their eyes at her. They shot forward. The tips of their katana pointed towards her heart as they rushed to close the gap of distance between them.
Kagome pulled her scabbard from her hip. She crossed her arms before herself and used both blade and sheath to block the dual attack. Her arms trembled with the weight of their force being pressed upon her. The young woman grit her teeth. She couldn't hold both of them back like this. Using the strength in her legs, she pushed forward and used her leverage to knock both males backward a few steps. They fell into their stances a second time and Kagome knew in that instant that she wouldn't have the strength to hold them off for a second attack. It'd been too long since her last battle. She'd been so adjusted to fighting youkai that using her own abilities without the added benefit of her reiki was taxing on her body. She took only a second to catch her breath. She needed to think.
Unfortunately her opponents did not give her that luxury. With a mighty battle cry they charged after her. She raised her wakizashi and sheath once more but was stopped as two shadows fell in front with her along the glimmer of dual, silvery blades. Scarlet soaked the ground beneath their feet as her attackers fell into an unconscious heap. In that moment, she'd realized that she'd been saved. Two unknown men stood in front of her protectively. Only their backs and silhouette of their figures visible against the afternoon's sun.
"That was mighty brave of you, young one." Spoke a middle aged man by her era's standards but likely considered an elderly in this time. His hair was a solid grey and his face a map of his life's stories. "I haven't seen someone with that much courage in quite a long time. Wouldn't you agree Hayato?"
The other male slipped his sword back into its proper place, "Of course." The tone was placid, as if unperturbed by the violence they'd just partaken in. The dark haired woman eased her stance and returned her own sheath and wakizashi to her hip.
"Thank you," She stood to her full height before offering a grateful bow. "I got in a little over my head there." It was the truth as well. Okita was likely to get upset at her. She briefly glanced at her sleeves and noted the scarlet stains of blood upon the fabric with distaste. The beginnings of bile rose to the back of her throat as more memories started to flow forward. She shook her head and cleared her thoughts of the troublesome past. Her attention drifted back to the situation at hand. It wasn't like she could hide the mess now. Besides, the villager's talk about what happened would get out long before her loved one would make it back to the Inn. Her lips turned downward at that thought. She didn't want to worry him. Not when he needed to remain focused on his duties.
"I'm surprised. You handled yourself quite well." The older man's hazel colored gaze twinkled with amusement. "Even in a kimono you were able to last against opponents more than double your size. Quite the fighter if I do say so myself." Her cheeks flushed at the compliment. Okita had credited her with a unique ability to seize her smaller physique and faster speed to her advantage. Not many were capable of overcoming the vast differences in body structure—relying solely on the brute strength of their more developed muscles to force their way to victory in battle. She was the odd one, indeed.
"You're too kind," She lifted her gaze to throw a curious glance their way; a subtle inquiry to their names.
"Ah, I'm Fujiwara Hideyoshi and this is my star pupil," He cocked his head to the younger man standing stock still beside him. The other male piped up quickly so as to introduce himself properly.
"Ono Hayato."
Kagome took note of his appearance. Then just for a second, she forgot how to breathe. Standing before her was a man she'd thought she'd left behind in her time. His large frame, dark hair and onyx gaze. He was so familiar yet there was an edge to him that he'd lacked in her era.
"Takeshi?" The name slipped out before she could stop. A bright flush went across her face as she realized what she'd done. "I'm so sorry." She apologized, bowing deeply once more. "You just reminded me of someone." Standing to her full height, she gave him a quizzical once over. The face was right and so was the physical build, but there was something different about him. Something sharper; keener than the teen she'd come to know as her comrade in the Kyudo club.
"It's fine, he gets that all the time." Hideyoshi clapped the younger male's shoulder playfully. "He's a quiet fellow so it'd be best to just leave him to his thoughts most of the time."
Hayato, she remembered his name, shot his teacher a baleful glare. "Nonsense. I just dislike hearing your useless prattle. Listening to you moan about your horrible gambling habits and lost money does not make for good company."
The older man laughed. He didn't even bother denying the charge so easily levied against him. "Ah, but then you'd be lonely. Come now, pupil, you can admit it to your most cherished teacher!"
Hayato looked to argue but a sharp cry of terror interrupted their banter. All eyes redirected towards the wife as she held her husband's near lifeless form to her breast.
She suddenly shifted on her heel and started to turn back towards the crowd. "I appreciate the help but I'll see to the couple now. You two were quite the help." And such, she marched her way over to the still petrified woman. Her arms held her husband tightly as tears coursed down her cheeks. So easily Kagome fell back into a role she'd long since tried to forget. Memories of herbs, alcohol and blood invaded her mind. She scratched away at the thoughts to focus solely on the people who still needed her help.
"I can't do much like this but I'll clean your wounds as best as I can. Do you think you can show me the worst of them?" Her voice was level with a professionalism she'd retained from her travels. The man nodded limply. He pulled haori down to expose a deep gash from the back of his shoulder blade to the point of his shoulder. Her lips pressed together in a thin line. This would be difficult. "I need water!" She called out to the crowd. They stuttered and stumbled. Raising her voice she repeated herself, "Water! Does anyone have water!"
Hayato stepped forward. In his hand a flask that smelled suspiciously of sake. "It's not much but it will help to disinfect it." She nodded and gently grasped the object from his hands. Carefully, Kagome dispersed the alcohol over the open gash. It would need stitches and a thorough cleaning but for now this was all that she could do. The man hissed in pain. His jaw clenched as he fought to hold back a cry. His wife held him closer. Her arms went around his head, pulling him to her breast. Words of support passed from her lips to his ear. It was a heartbreaking sight. She'd seen such things before. They hadn't been uncommon but it still tugged at her all the same. Such cruelty. The bile rose once more before she forced it back.
Once the alcohol had covered most of the cut, she glanced at her sleeve. She needed bandages. A lot of them. Without hesitation, she brought the cloth to her teeth and began to tear at it. The sleeve started to rip. A twinge of guilt stung at her. Okita had worked so heart to give her these clothes. Still, she was sure even he would understand given this situation. Without warning a heavy hand fell on her shoulder.
"I'll do it." Hayato offered. He quickly pulled his own haori from his body. With deft hands he tore the fabric into several long strips, each one falling into a small pile of white cloth at their feet. The dark haired woman set to work on tying together what she could. The man hissed and groaned, his body convulsing with each shot of pain the tightly tied fabric caused him.
"Just a little longer." She offered the small measure of comfort without even thinking. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth. Soon, all of the fabric had been used. The wound was sealed as tightly as she could manage. There was no needles or thread nearby so she was not capable of stitching up his wound as necessary.
"Get him to a doctor immediately. It'll need to be cleaned thoroughly and taken care of before infection sets in." Kagome leveled the warning to his wife; though still teary eyed, relief quickly washed over her features.
"Thank you," Her voice was soft but hoarse from her screaming. The woman lifted her eyes to the men still standing beside them. "Thank you all." In her husband's stead, she placed her hands to a point on the ground and bowed—her forehead touching the earth. Kagome stood, her eyes surveying the collapsed and injured men still groaning their pain.
"What should we do about them?" They couldn't just leave them there to take their revenge on the couple once they were gone. Hideyoshi appeared beside her, a warm grin lighting his age-withered features.
"Don't you worry about that young one. I'll see to it that they won't cause any more issues." His smile grew even brighter. "Hayato, why don't you escort the lady home. I'm sure it's been quite the trying day for her." His student stiffened suddenly. Dark eyes widening and a clear expression of shock flitting across his features.
"That won't be necessary." The young woman waved her hands in a placating manner. She'd rather not have a virtual strange know where she was staying. Granted Okita would be with her but that didn't lesson the concern. If they didn't have to worry about enemies attacking them in the middle of the night, then she'd like to ensure that things remained that way. She glanced down at her hands, finally taking note at the sheer amount of scarlet that stained the sleeves. Her hands started to tremble. "I'm not that far from here. There's no need." She took one step back, then another. A mighty quiver threatened to over take her body. Not here. Not now! Before either could protest, she turned and pushed her way through the crowd once more. As she turned she caught only the last part of their conversation.
"She's pretty cute, ain't she?" If Hideyoshi received a reply, she did not hear it. Instead her feet carried her as swiftly as they could back to the Inn. Kagome rushed inside, sloppily kicking her sandals off in the genkan. Her heart raced as she looked down to the sleeves of her kimono. She'd almost forgotten. The anger. The adrenaline. The absolute fear. All the emotions that ran wild with battle. Her hands trembled as she pulled her kimono and nagajuban from her body. In its place she reached for a simple white, sleeping yukata. Her hands worked efficiently to tie the cloth to her body. Free from the stain of scarlet on her person, she stood still at the hearth of the room. Her breath came in uneasy pants. The memories she'd tried to hold back for so long rushed forward, breaking apart the damn that had held them at bay.
Scarlet. Pain. Screaming. Flesh being torn. The scent of freshly spilt blood. It all coalesced in her mind—summoning forth the image of a monster. Silver hair dyed crimson. Claws wet with the evidence of revenge. Fangs snapping together in their fury. So many times she'd had that nightmare. So many times she'd relived that single, horrifying moment of her life in the valley of her dreamscape. It always started with pain and ended in suffering.
She knew what this was. She knew what she had to do to seal it away once more. Closing her eyes, she gripped at the fabric of her yukata. Kagome evened her breath. Her mind focused solely on the course cotton beneath her fingers. She counted threads. She memorized the edges and rifts between each stitch. She focused only on the absolute feeling of the object still clutched in her hands. Slowly, ever so slowly, the memories faded back into the box she'd kept closed for so long. The scarlet of blood dimmed into the blackness of night. As the tightness in her chest ebbed away, calmness regained control of her heart. She always hated this part. She'd been doing so well, but the sight of blood on her form and the adrenaline still coursing through her veins left little in the way of defense against the panic that settled in her.
Kagome had never told Okita just how much help she truly needed prior to his arrival. For days and even weeks she attended regular sessions with a therapist—all in the vain hope that one day her past would not longer haunt her present. She fought. She clawed. She pulled herself out of the darkest hole she'd ever found herself in. She discovered her reason to do more than just exist—she found her reason to live. Even as her hands still shook violently, she steeled herself. It would pass and with it, she would be herself once more. The young woman stared down at the pale hands that'd struck out of their own accord.
Against her own desires, she found herself placed back in the field of battle. Even if it had just been a squabble. Even if her interference had been meaningless in the end. She'd thrown herself back into the fray so thoughtlessly. Could it be that something within her yearned for the thrill of violence? Kagome shook her head.
"That's not right." And it wasn't. She hated the terror that came with fighting. She hated the trembling that'd shake her body in the aftermath of an adrenaline crash. So what then could it be that drove her onward? Lifting her eyes, she spied her significant other's furoshiki. Sprawled in a messy heap on the floor, she saw his personal items, her kimonos and a few traveling supplies that they'd brought along. She paused. Was that it, then? Was he bringing forth from her the desire to do her best? A small smile warmed her lips. He'd changed her so drastically in the short time that they'd known each other. His ferocity, tenacity and unabashed nature roused within her the boldness she'd long forgotten.
No more was she the shy, quivering wallflower of her youth. In that seedling's stead stood a woman—hardened by the edge of violence, shaped but the point of a sword and tempered with iron. She was no longer an innocent girl fleeing from the terrifying demons of her past. No, she was a woman built on ferocity and bravery—charging headlong into the dangers, fighting with all of her worth.
Kagome closed her fingers into her palm. She'd have to explain the damage to her kimono to Okita once he returned. However she felt something now that she hadn't before. She wasn't scared. She wasn't afraid. She was strong. She wouldn't cave or cry. The urge to do so had left the moment he'd taken her into his arms that morning. Opening her eyes, she grabbed the cloth of her furoshiki she'd so carelessly tossed to the ground in her panic. The sun was going to be setting soon and she still had food to prepare.
Setting a pot in the hearth, she lit the fire that would warm their room. Come wind, rain or fire, Kagome settled into this new home with tentative ease. She stared into the glassy surface of the slowly boiling water. Even if he were off working. Even if she were to get into another fight tomorrow, she felt comforted at this new realization. She would not break. She would not crumble beneath the weight she now carried upon her shoulders. Her mind briefly drifted to the man who'd promised her so much. A smile crossed her lips. She would be fine.
A/n: For those wondering, what Kagome just went through was a trauma related panic attack. For her, it's a type of PTSD triggered by the sight of blood on her specifically. The technique she used is a type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in which it addresses how the mind reacts to certain situations and seeks to adjust those responses. In this case shifting the focus of her influx of memories onto something as simple as the feeling of her sleeve helps redirect her mind's immediate response to fall into panic.
I had a few things that I wanted to cover in this chapter that I didn't really get into but that's alright. I can't say exactly how many chapters this next part will take as I want to introduce the main cast that will eventually become Okita's division of men. I want them to be more than just faceless beings that are mentioned but never seen. If Kagome is going to be Okita's wife, then it stands to reason that she's going to support him and his men as she sees fit. She won't sit idly by and watch them get injured. This was only just the first part of her acceptance into a world that is not as peaceful as her own. Due to her past she's got her issues that, while better at the time she and Okita were dating, weren't quite solved. She tries her best but she's going to fall and fail every now and then. This was just the trigger to remind her of what exactly she's jumping into. An acceptance of the things that are rather than the things that were, if you will. So just hang tight guys. You'll get to see Okita's reaction next chapter along with hopefully a few subtle changes in their relationship as well. ;P
**Nagajuban—A cotton or silk robe that is worn under the kimono. Used as a form of underwear, usually only the collar of the robe is visible from under the main kimono.
**Engawa—An edging strip of non-tatami flooring that runs around the outside of rooms and along the exterior of buildings. Typically made out of bamboo or another type of wood.
**Sumidagawa Festival—Occurs on the last Saturday of July. It celebrates a rival competition with fireworks. It's earliest known traces can be tracked back to 1732.
**Genkan—A lowered step at the entrance of a traditional Japanese home. The function of this step is to provide a place for people to remove their shoes.
**Sumida River—One of the main rivers that flow through Tokyo.