Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Suggested Listening: Champion by Barns Courtney
*This chapter has been censored. To view the full version, please visit AO3.
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Eighteen: Looks that Deceive
Okita woke early the following morning. His eyes blinked once, then twice before the light of the dawn's early light filtered through the paper door of their shoji screen. He was tempted to stretch his limbs but a weight upon his chest stopped him. A smile touched his lips. His hand moved to thread into the untamed strands of his wife's hair. Wife. It was a whole new prospect for him. He'd never envisioned himself as the marrying type. Let alone the fact that any woman would want to tie herself down to him permanently. He closed his eyes and basked in the moment a little longer. He had a long day ahead of him. He likely wouldn't get the chance to rest until well after dinner.
The ronin held Kagome firmly to his chest. Her legs rested over his own. Subconsciously her feet rubbed against his calves. The toes curled against the muscles there before releasing; a pleasant sigh escaping her lips. His smile warmed. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't exhausted. In fact, his back ached in places it hadn't in a long time. Not to mention that his legs were on the verge of a very serious cramp. He stretched himself as much as he could while his wife still aid atop of him.
"Ready to wake up?" He combed his hands through the thick strands of her hair affectionately. "As much as I'd like to, I can't stay in bed for too much longer." The young woman stirred. She gave a tired moan then turned to her side; pressing her back firmly in the warmth of his side. He laughed heartily.
"Too tired. You get up." With that his loved one buried herself beneath the sheets of the futon. She rolled in the covers until she'd almost completely cocooned herself in its warmth. Well, that answered his question. His laughter grew louder.
"I get it, I get it!" The man teased. He leaned over her form and pulled back the sheets just far enough to see her face. Okita lowered his mouth and pressed his lips to her cheek softly. "I'll let you sleep for now, but don't complain at me later when you miss me." Kagome grumbled before tugging the covers back over her face. Had he mentioned that she was a seriously grouchy riser? He wasn't about to risk her ire so soon after marrying her. They had the rest of their lives to annoy each other.
He sat up and stretched his stiffened limbs. Right, he had a job to do. His eyes narrowed as he rose from their bed. As quickly as his body would allow, he ran about the room collecting the articles of clothing that they had dropped haphazardly across the floor. He dressed himself before retrieving some parchment, ink and a pen. Okita scratched at his chin. How best would he be able to describe his absences? Should he mention the illness that struck him, or just keep to the basics? His lips pressed into a thin line. Surely Hijikata would be furious if he didn't provide an adequate enough excuse. He glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping woman behind him.
Of course the Captains were permitted to bring their wives onto the compound, but in practice it'd never been done before. No one except Kondou was married and his wife absolutely refused to have anything to do with them. She'd always been rather harsh towards their unruly antics. He took a moment to clearly put together his letter. Once he formed an idea, he wrote it down and addressed it directly to their Chief. Hijikata was going to be pissed but it served the man right. He was the one who'd pushed for him to go on this mission, so he'd have to suffer the consequences.
Once finished he folded it and slipped in into a nondescript envelop. The less interference in their messages, the less likely the information would be used against them. Okita stood. He gathered up his daishou and slipped them into their proper place upon his hip. Emerald eyes roved towards his wife's sleeping form. Kagome, still curled into a tiny ball and wrapped tightly in their futon covers, sighed heavily. She hardly stirred as he approached her once more. The man brought his index finger to a strand of hair that'd fallen in her face. A warm smile spread across his lips as he tucked it neatly behind her ear.
"See you tonight, Souji." His loved one mumbled in a half daze. Azure eyes hardly cracked open to glance up at him. "I'm gonna sleep." As soon as the words left her mouth, her eyes had already shut and her breathing had evened out. She was already out cold. Okita fought back a laugh at the image.
"See you tonight." He responded in kind, placing one last kiss upon her brow. He slipped out of the room and into the streets of Edo. His first stop was to a delivery service that would carry his letter to the Shinsengumi. After giving specific instructions, and no small amount of threats, to the carrier he'd continued onward with his mission. He travelled southward towards the furthest exit of the city. It wasn't all that far from where he'd been but it still was a bit of distance.
All the same, Okita made it to the gathering area fairly quickly. It was still close to an hour before noon and thus far he was the first to arrive. The place was small for the amount of men set to show later in the day, but it was far enough away from the city center to avoid any accidents with the villagers. Honestly it was just an open clearing between Edo and the forest that surrounded it. Only half-sized fencing blocked the space off from the nature just outside of the walls. He cocked his head from one side to the other, enjoying the series of cracks that came with it.
His eyes narrowed as a slender-framed man entered the area with him. The stranger had a cherub face; soft and round yet in possession of all the qualities that a female should. He would've presumed it to be a woman had it not been for the slight bulge of an Adam's apple at the point of his throat. Everything about the boy was feminine. From the contours of his face, to the soft lines of his shoulders and even the thin fingers of his hands. If he had to guess, he would've assumed him to be the bastard offspring of a daimyo. He was too damn soft to be a simple farmhand.
"What's the name, kid?" A vicious smirk spread across his lips. "I'd like to know which family I have to contact when you get killed." Was it crude? Of course. But if Okita was anything when it came to recruiting, it was thorough. He wouldn't bring back men unwilling to sacrifice themselves for the Shinsengumi. His specialty lied not in the quantity of men he brought back, but the far higher quality of their skill sets. They would have to be as tough as iron and as fierce as fire to serve under his division. This was nothing more than a test to determine if the kid had the balls necessary to fight under his leadership.
"Maeda Toru!" The man-child responded fiercely. The younger male offered him a customary bow of introduction. Strangely, he did not recall seeing this face among the crowd of men he'd spoken to yesterday. Surely one such as him would have stuck out like a sore thumb. Had he merely showed after word of his scouting gone around?
Okita tapped his chin thoughtfully, "Not much meat on you, is there?" He circled the boy predatorily. "Just how old are you, anyways? I can't bring children to a man's battle." He was purposefully pressing all the buttons. He was egging the kid on as much as he could. He wanted to see him snap, if for nothing else than to measure his true strength.
"Seventeen, sir!" Much to his interest, the kid barely blinked at his goading. Instead the boy's eyes darted to a burly pair of brothers that'd made their way noisily into the space with them. The other men laughed raucously at something before they started pushing at one another in a playful test of strength.
Okita thought it over. The kid was only two years younger than himself, yet he looked closer to ten years his junior. He hoped that the boy had some fight in him. He was definitely going to need it.
"Good luck, brat." With that he walked away. Toru's hands fisted tightly at his sides. Obviously he was none too pleased by the insults he'd thrown his way. Regardless he'd kept a secure cap over his frustrations. It looked like he was saving his anger for the fight later. Okita's grin grew sharper. Now this was going to be rather fun to watch.
His eyes darted over to the newcomers. The pair of brothers that showed up jostled with each other. One had the other in a headlock as they wrestled around, both laughing as if they hadn't a single care in the world. What were these idiots made out of? Sunshine and rainbows? Hadn't they any sense of self-preservation? The ronin glanced back at Toru. The boy had settled a fierce glare onto their oblivious forms. The kid was itching to draw blood and it looked like the brothers had caught his eye.
Okita waited patiently as the rest of the men he spoke to yesterday filtered in. There were close to twenty in total. Out of that number it was likely that less than seven would meet his standards. A sharp grin spread across his lips. He stood to his full height before taking the center of attention.
"Alright idiots, listen up!" He addressed the group. His gaze wandered over the faces that were before him. Thus far most appeared to be simple farmhands that were trying to escape their financial standing. Either spurred on by the realization that their once fertile lands would no longer support them like they'd used to, or the drive to be something more than a nameless man in the sands of time; they were all here for one reason or another. Not like it'd make much difference in the end though. They'd either have the skill he was seeking, or they didn't. He would only take the very strongest with him to present to Kondou. That was how this world worked.
"I'm only going to explain this shit once. So open up your ears and make sure you don't fuck off." He was crass. He was cruel. He was downright brutal. This was the side of himself that he had wanted to unleash last night on the ones who'd harmed the person he loved the most. This was the utterly visceral nature that lied beneath the gentleness he'd used to treat her with. This was the monster that existed under his skin—just waiting for the moment to strike out. "We're going to make this as quick and easy as possible. There will only be a handful of rules. The first," His gaze purposely scanned the crowd. He titled his chin towards the crystal colored sky and stared down his nose at the men that were all clamoring just for the chance to fight for something other than their lives. Among them he would find his warriors. "We'll determine who goes by a test of strength. You'll pair off into groups of three. Two will battle and one will proctor the match."
An excited buzz filled the air. However he didn't give them the chance to prattle on. "The winners of the match will move on to face other opponents. Only the last standing will be given a direct test of strength by me to determine if they're up to par. You idiots get it?" There was a chorus of understanding. Immediately they started grouping together—larger men seeking smaller framed males for the chance of getting through faster. Amongst the chaos Toru raised his hand.
"Sir!" The feminine boy called out to him. "May I ask one question?"
Okita shifted to stare at him intently. Hadn't he already explained the rules? There were a few snickers. A few of the fighters elbowed each other in the ribs mockingly, insinuating the lack of presence the kid had over them.
"Be quick about it. I've got shit to do." The ronin snapped back.
He nodded, "Is killing permitted?" Steely eyes subtly glanced towards the brothers from before. They stiffened at the undertone of his threat. The ronin fought to keep the vicious grin from his lips. Now that would make things infinitely more interesting. However he had to play buffer to any negative remarks the villagers could say against the Shinsengumi. Their reputation was tarnished enough. Starting a blood bath for the sake of picking out the strongest recruits likely wouldn't hold well in that regard.
"Sorry kid, you'll just have to use the back of your sword. You can stop just short of killing your opponent. Now get going!" He turned his on his heel and ended the conversation. This first portion he'd walk around and observe the strength of the current prospects. Already men engaged in battle. As expected many couldn't even hold their own swords properly. The blades trembled and waivered as if they were being held by newborns. The clang of steel meeting resounded through the area. Okita tucked his hands into the sleeves of his haori. Now where to start?
An hour passed without much change. Okita strolled through the long stream of people and analyzed their movements carefully. Much were too unused to the amount of strength required to simply hold their weapons. They wobbled, their knees shook and more often than not they were thrown to the ground in the first strike. Only two stood out amongst the crowd. The brothers. Instinctively, Okita's feet carried him towards the burly-framed men.
"Damn it!" A hopeful candidate cursed as his body was flung harshly to the ground just at his feet. The ronin quirked a brow. Looked like he found them. He lifted his gaze to see one of the men poised for another strike. He'd crossed his katana over his shoulder with the tip of his elbow set in front of his torso.
"Next." The tone was full of arrogance. A fire burned in his hazel gaze. The other male lifted his arm and waved up the next opponent. Unsurprisingly, Toru approached. It was such a strange sight to bear witness to. Indeed, strange enough that many of the onlookers stopped their matches to watch curiously.
"Maeda Toru." The smaller male made a quick introduction by offering a small bow. Both brothers glanced at each other. The slight splaying of an arrogant smirk reflected across their features like mirror images.
"Shouldn't you be back home? I'm sure your mama misses you." One lowered his blade as a raucous laugh tumbled from his mouth. "You're, what? Twelve? I'd say thirteen max." He slapped the man next to him on the shoulder. "Kid probably doesn't even know how to wield that thing!" Neither picked up on the intense bloodlust that sparked behind crystal colored eyes. Nor did they see the lowering of chestnut hair with the slight half step the boy made towards them.
Toru's stance shifted. He moved his body into a squatting type position. His hand went to the hilt of his katana, "Why don't you find out?" Okita had to admit that he admired the kid's grit. When faced with adversaries nearly triple his size he not only didn't back down, but pushed himself even further. The ronin kept a short distance away to observe the match fairly. He was curious to see how this would play out. Up to this point the brothers had reigned supreme over the other candidates. No one else had been as skilled or powerful as them. He was tempted to recruit them and be done with the whole mess for today, but there was one last person he needed to judge. Emerald eyes settled upon Toru's tense form. He wanted to see what the boy could do.
"Heh, gotta give you credit for having some balls. The name's Tanaka Daichi. Although I doubt it'll do you a lot of good. You'll probably won't even remember this tomorrow morning by the time I'm done." He cocked his head over his shoulder, "Alright, Michio proctor for me. It won't take but a minute." He addressed his sibling. They were both identical in both stature and image—near exact copies of one another. The only difference between them was the scar that stretched from Michio's brow that drew vertically down the contours the side of his face before stopping at the underside of his jaw. Michio spoke nothing but raised his arm in the air.
Hazel eyes shifted from his brother to Toru. It was clear that he was starting to pick up on the change in the smaller boy but remained silent on the matter. "Begin!" He dropped his hand and watched along with the others at the battle that was sure to be more entertaining than any other that'd taken place thus far.
Before the male had a chance to get into stance, Toru had darted forward. Silver streamed across his opponent's chest in a thin line. Daichi dropped his blade in time for the dull clang of their swords to meet. His large shoulders shook at the impact of the strike. For a moment, both were locked in a battle of brute strength. Toru's eyes narrowed. It was obvious the boy would lose if he allowed it to continue this way. The smaller boy's feet skidded in the dirt as Daichi pushed him back a few steps.
Okita moved in closer as a few of the losing candidates crowded in front of him. Fucking idiots, the whole damn lot of them! He pushed a handful out of the way roughly until the area cleared enough for him to see. A handful had tried to keep their spots until he not so gently slammed his heel in their backs. He purposely stepped on their spines as he pressed forward. Served them right. His eyes refocused on the battle.
The frail-figured male ducked down. With movements quicker than he'd seen for some time, he dove under Daichi's striking arm and maneuvered himself to his back. The burly man paused mid swing and tried to shift on his heel but his body was not as swift as his opponents. Toru struck forward. The back of his blade slit the air as it roughly hit Daichi's side.
"Match point!" Michio called out. A stillness filled the atmosphere. Shock permeated the air as Daichi stood frozen; his sword still poised for the strike.
"What… the hell?" The man's brain couldn't comprehend what'd happened. His gaze drifted from his sword to the blade planted firmly at his side.
The ronin chose that moment to address the rest of the crowd, "Judgment's over! You idiots can head back to whatever rock you crawled out of!" He pointed a single index finger at the trio still frozen to their spots. "You three follow me. I've got one last test for you." They slowly slackened their stances.
Toru slid his katana back into its scabbard. Daichi took a moment longer but followed suit. The two met each other's gazes, a fierce glare burning in their eyes. It appeared that a rivalry had just been born.
Okita fought back a smirk. This day just got a whole lot more interesting.
Kagome wandered through the streets. She tugged at the sleeves of her yukata nervously. She'd decided on her own to venture out once more. Despite yesterday's incident she didn't want to keep holding herself back. She'd come here with a purpose and she wasn't about to give up on it now. Azure eyes narrowed. It was time that she started to impart Okita with more trust than she'd had. It wasn't fair to him and now that they were married, she felt her cheeks heat at the thought, they had to start acting like it.
She traversed through the thickened streets. Much went on as usual—hardly a person glanced her way save to shoot a curious look at the blade upon her hip. Her husband had been right when he said that others would take more notice of her with it tied to her. However even he was uncomfortable with the thought of her traveling without a weapon. The young woman found herself meandering. If she could help it she'd keep it on her at all times. Still that didn't mean that she shouldn't find something smaller that she could keep hidden. Tanto blades* were exceptionally easy to keep concealed in times of travel.
"Miss!" A woman ran up to her eagerly. She waved one hand high above her head as she used the other to hold the cloth of her yukata to catch up to her. Kagome paused mid-step. She turned to glance at the person who'd called to her. "I'm so glad!" She was middle aged, the lines of stress starting to bear down upon her otherwise softened features. Immediately Kagome recognized her.
"Ah, you're the woman from the other day! How are your husband's injuries? Not too severe I hope." She greeted the female kindly. The other woman sent a warm smile her way.
"The injuries were minor in comparison to what they could have been, but he'll take some time to heal." She offered a low bow of appreciation. "My name is Kobayashi Ichika. My husband and I wanted to offer our sincere gratitude for your assistance the other day." The woman righted herself. "Please, allow us to treat you as a show of our appreciation." Immediately Kagome felt flustered. She wasn't used to this sort of attention. Her face flamed as she quickly held her hands in front of herself and waved them frantically.
"Oh, there's no need! I just couldn't stand by and watch. That's all." She tried to placate the other woman but Kobayashi wouldn't have it. The middle-aged wife swiftly grasped at her hands.
"Come dear, no need to be so shy. One meal would not be such a burden to us." Kobayashi led her down the crowded streets. Kagome wasn't used to such treatment. Very few attempted to touch her so familiarly. Ever since her travels she'd put up a fierce guard against physical touch. A rough pull at her wrist was often met with a swift swing of her fist. It'd been a self-defense mechanism she'd developed from her time with Inuyasha. Only Okita, her family and Katsumi had ever been comfortable enough to try it. It wasn't so much that she put out ill vibes as it was that she was always on guard. Having spent so many years fighting for her life in the feudal era, she'd taken to keeping her guard up at all times. There wasn't hardly a spare moment she wasn't watching for possible attacks. The young woman allowed the other female to lead her off towards the shop where the incident occurred yesterday. Perhaps it was time that she started to set aside that part of her life? A small yet warm smile spread across her lips.
After all, even if Okita was working right now, he was still with her. She wasn't alone. Not like she had been before. Her expression grew softer at the notion. Husband; now that was a new concept for her to wrap her mind around.
"The other men who helped are with us as well. Shall I take you to them, too?" The woman's fingers loosened as she stiffened beneath her touch. Ah, that was right. She virtually fled from them the other day, even after one had torn his own kosode* for her. A flush of shame went across her cheeks. She owed them both a deep apology and many thanks for their interference the previous day.
"If you wouldn't mind," Kagome smiled as they rounded the final corner. Amid the bustle of energy stood the small shop. She could make out the form of the husband's bandage-wrapped body and two other men standing before him. People crowded around the trio and spoke eagerly amongst themselves. It was fairly clear that they were rehashing yesterday's events to the onlookers. The young woman's lips pressed into a thin line. Ah, she'd rather not be involved in such matters.
The taller of the two men glanced her way. The lines etched in his weathered face lifted with his wide grin, "Little lady! You've returned?" Instinctively her feet carried her towards the conversation that had already been in progress before her abrupt intrusion.
"Yes. I felt the need to check in on the family one more time." Azure eyes darted to Kobayashi. The woman had released her hand in favor of checking over her husband's injured shoulder. It appeared to have been sewn by a doctor quite well and he didn't look as pained as he did the day prior. Her lips twitched. Although that hardly meant anything from a medical standpoint. It'd likely be best for him to rest for the next week or so.
Hideyoshi, she remembered his name, threw a knowing smile at his younger companion. "We were offered a meal as compensation and we'd like for you to join us. What do you say?"
Kagome blinked once. In her era she surely would've taken the offer without much hesitation, but given this time's circumstances would it be a good idea? She was a married woman now, but without her husband at her side at the moment she was a bit lost on the customs. Her fingers curled into the cloth of her sleeve. Perhaps so long as she kept the conversation light it would be fine? She'd have to ask Okita about it later to avoid any further problems in the future. She couldn't just walk around and pretend that this world was the same as hers. The rules were different. Since she'd chosen this place as her home, she'd have to adjust her lifestyle to it as well. Although she didn't doubt that Okita would still treat her with the same amount of respect no matter where they were. A light smile returned to her lips. Hayato glanced at her before a faint line of red went across his nose.
Kagome ignored it for the moment, "I appreciate the offer." She gave a short bow of appreciation. "But allow us to find a more suitable location for our discussion?" Hideyoshi's eyes glimmered in the bright light of the sun. If she didn't know any better she would've thought that he were planning something devious. Beside him Hayato's expression dropped into a displeased scowl.
"Sensei," The younger man's voice came out as a deep growl. "Don't push it." As quickly as she'd made her decision, Kagome started to get the inkling that perhaps she'd made the wrong choice. Her gaze drifted from one man to the other; observing their interactions carefully. Despite her own cautiousness, she knew that they were incredibly strong. Perhaps these were the type of warriors her husband had been in search for?
"You act as if I'm some villain plotting against you." Hideyoshi's palm landed on her shoulder—gently pushing both herself and his student towards the throng of people filtering inside the peddler's shop. "Relax. I just want to talk with the little lady. Nothing suspicious."
Hayato appeared as if to argue. In fact he'd even opened his mouth and sucked a breath between his lips. However before he could get a word out edgewise, they were rushed to their seats furthest from the doorway as to be provided more privacy. The young woman shifted nervously. She really was starting to get a bit nervous about this. Talking with Okita had always been easy. So had talking to Katsumi. But outside of that? Her lips twitched. Ever since her travels she'd become less outgoing and more introverted. Meeting new people seemed to make her more nervous than it had been before. She took a calming breath. Nothing would happen. If these men had ill intentions then she'd handle that when the time came. She wasn't a pushover anymore. Besides, her fingers curled around the cloth of her sleeves, it wasn't as if she were alone.
If Hideyoshi took note of her discomfort then he didn't pay it any heed. Instead he encouraged her to take a spot at the proffered table. Hayato quickly sat across from her and roughly pulled his teacher in the seat directly beside his own. The silence did not last long between them. Kagome hardly had a chance to get settled before the older male began to speak to her directly.
"It's good to see you again, little lady." She noted that this was the third time he'd used the rather odd nickname for her. However she chose not to protest about it. Instead she focused in on his jovial disposition and relaxed posture. It was fairly clear that he had no interest in causing her harm. In fact, her eyes drifted towards Hayato's furrowed brows, it appeared he had more to gain in causing his student as much annoyance as possible. "Forgive us but we didn't quite get your name yesterday. Although a bit belated, may I ask what it is now?" The smile was stretched widely across his age-weathered face. Kagome couldn't help the warm one that suddenly reflected upon her own lips. That's right, she now had another name to use; another person with whom she was going to share her life with.
"It's Okita Kagome, it's a pleasure to meet you officially." The trio paused in their conversation as the woman brought them their tea and a few sides to hold them over. Her hands wrapped around the ceramic cup delicately. The surface was warm against her palms. A swirl of white steam drifted into the space between them. The scent of chamomile and honey followed along with it; creating a peaceful atmosphere and putting her more at ease than she had been in some time. "I apologize that I hadn't had the chance to thank you two properly the other day. I had a few other tasks that needed tending to." The lie was swift but not altogether untrue.
Hayato broke in before his teacher could interrupt him, "As expected." The man's posture was for the most part relaxed. There was an air of cool rigidity to him that reminded Kagome vaguely of Sesshoumar's stoicism. However the man wasn't quite as unfeeling as the silver inu. "Although I do have one question I'd like to ask." The man paused momentarily to take a sip from his brew of tea. "You said that your name was Okita, correct?" She nodded once at his inquiry. His brows furrowed slightly as he leaned forward on his elbows. "Then might you be related to Okita Souji?"
She couldn't help her smile, "Ah, so you've met my husband?" The men exchanged wary glances. A silent message that she couldn't quite comprehend passed between them. Perhaps he'd done something to offend them in his quest to search for warriors yesterday? It was entirely possible. The man certainly had a way with words and it didn't always leave people with a good impression of him. She took another drink of her tea—the sweetness of the honey soothing her worries.
"Now I understand. As for your question, we actually ran into him shortly before you the other day." Hayato paused. He scratched his index finger along a small scar over the line of his cheek nervously. Onyx eyes darkened as he tried to piece together his words in a way that wouldn't offend her sensibilities.
Hideyoshi on the other hand had no such qualms, "Hate to break it to you little lady, but your husband is an asshole." His student roughly slammed his elbow into the older man's ribs. The male jokingly fell over clutching at his side, feigning injury. "My own student! Such betrayal!" He teased the younger man relentlessly. Hayato's brow twitched, thoroughly ignoring his playful antics.
"Mind yourself. She's his wife." Hayato used a chiding tone on his companion. They both jostled with each other, taking quick jabs at their sides before settling on slinging their arms around their necks jovially. In that moment Kagome sensed a bond deeper than that of teacher and student—a friendship that had weathered many years, trials and tribulations. Her expression softened. It'd been a long time since she'd last seen something like this. It was quite refreshing.
"I'm not too bothered by it," She waved her hand in a placating manner. "Souji does tend to have certain flair about him." The young woman nearly laughed at their incredulous looks. "I'm sure he was a bit demeaning, wasn't he?" Her eyes glittered mischievously. During the times she'd trained with him, he'd had a habit of being a bit caustic. Although he made a habit of shifting his pointed comments into overt flirts and sexual innuendos, especially after they concreted their relationship. A slight blush went across her nose. Hayato glanced away from her as if nervous. He scratched the back of his head with a thick hand.
"You could say that…" The man's voice trailed off, his eyes focusing on anything but her.
Hideyoshi answered for him, "More like conniving little shit." She didn't have to ask him to clarify that statement. Hayato roughly kicked the man beneath the table. The young woman almost cringed at the sound the impact made. Before he had the chance to fully react, she shifted topics.
"If you don't mind me asking, what brings you to Edo?" Kagome gestured towards their style of clothing. "You don't appear to be from around here." Hideyoshi threw a wilting glare over at his companion who returned it with a nonchalant tilt of his head. It would seem that these two were quite a handful themselves.
Once the moment passed, the men shared an odd glance between each other before shrugging, "It was simple really. Heard some news about a tough group looking for recruitments just before the storm hit." By that she assumed he meant the winter storm that Okita had also got tangled up in. "We were a bit interested in learning more about them group but the guy they sent turned out to be a total ass." The older man waved his hand in front of his face; completely dismissing the notion. "No point in following a man whose ego is so easily bruised." Kagome paused at that. Okita? Bruised ego? Sure, he was cocky and bold, but he wasn't so spiteful as to not take defeat with some measure of class. He'd always been a difficult trainer. But he was also respectful once his trust was earned. Her lips pressed into a thin line. It was her husband's job to recruit members. It wasn't necessarily her business to be swaying these men to Okita's side. However, she simply couldn't just allow them to walk away. At least not without correcting their view of her husband.
"Might I offer a suggestion?" She treaded carefully in her next assertion. "I understand that Souji can be rather fierce in his methods." Hideyoshi gave a quiet grunt at that. His student roughly shoved an elbow into his side, his eyes never leaving her face as the other man gave a pained grunt. "So why don't I reintroduce you? This time one on one so that you can judge his character for yourselves." A small smile graced her lips. She tucked her chin on the back of her hands and allowed her head to tilt ever so slightly to the side. "He gets pretty excited over a fight. He'll likely be more reasonable to deal with if you speak with him on your own. I can take you to him once we're finished here if you'd so choose. He's still finishing some recruitment this week anyways."
They exchanged another set of odd glances. The question in their eyes was clear. Was it worth it? Doubling down, Kagome hammered the final nail to the proverbial coffin. "He'll probably want to challenge you, so you'd get the chance to fight him one-on-one. That's just how he prefers to test any prospective student." Okita had confided that much to her. In the time she'd known him, he'd confessed that the real reason Hijikata had sent him to Edo was because he was the most trusted to bring back qualified fighters. He took pride in how difficult his recruiting process was. Conversely part of that process was settled on a match of skills. He never looked twice at a candidate that he felt couldn't hold their own against him. It was a high bar to overcome but due to that the Shinsengumi had raised their overall military prowess.
"I take it he trained you as well?" Hayato correctly inferred. The dark-haired man paused as their food was brought to them. The trio offered their gratitude to the hostess before they turned their attention to the conversation once more. "You did not fight like an amateur." There was a genuine compliment reflecting in his tone and slight quirk of his lips. She felt her own smile widen.
"I learned the basics on my own before we married. He simply took over the rest afterwards." Not exactly a lie but it wasn't completely true either. Okita had been teaching her since before their marriage but who was to call her out on such a detail? Her husband wasn't about to give way to the notion that they'd been sleeping together prior to their union. At least not in this era. A faint blush went across her cheeks. She gave a slight cough and willed the heat to dissipate. Now wasn't the time. The rest of their meal was spent pleasantly. Kagome had taken to asking them questions about their background and goals while they did much the same to her. The young woman keenly sensed that it wasn't necessarily herself that they were interested in. They were more intrigued by Okita's own successes and his possibility as a worthy match for them.
As expected, by the end of the meal they were more than eager to meet with Okita first hand and test their mettle against him. Kagome hadn't wasted any time in bidding goodbye to the hostess who'd so graciously tended to them. She also briefly visited with the woman's husband to ensure that his wounds were healing properly. Once settled, the small group made their way through the thick crowd of people. Oddly, the young woman noticed that either man flanked her on both sides—shielding her from pedestrians and providing a barrier against would be attackers. She was grateful of course but she did wonder about the insinuation of a warrior allowing someone, even a woman, to walk beside their swords.
Her eyes immediately went to Hayato's hip where his daishou rested. He'd taken to her left side, leaving his blades exposed to her. Okita hadn't minded since he fully trusted her. Not to mention he preferred to keep himself on the outside and place her in the most secure location during the time they walked together. It was a habit he'd done since he'd first was able to walk freely around Tokyo on the other side of the well. Kagome shut her memories down before they had a chance to overflow. She'd have a chance to mourn her severed connection with her family later. For now they had more pressing matters to deal with.
"If it's not too much trouble," Hayato broke the silence first, "How long have you known your husband?" Kagome didn't find much harm in his inquiry so she'd chosen to be honest. At least to an extent.
"Only for a little over half a year." She tapped her chin with her index finger thoughtfully. "Our family took him in during the winter storm. After that everything else is pretty much history." She threw a bright smile up at him. "We've only been married a short time, so we're finishing up the recruitment now and returning to his home later this month since the roads are finally clear."
If Hideyoshi thought to tease his student then he hadn't been given the chance. The trio glanced up at the sound of masculine cries of pain and the tell tale signifier of a fight taking place.
"Ah, we must be here already!" Her steps quickened, carrying her closer to where she knew Okita would be. A cry of pain carried over the air. It certainly looked like she was waltzing straight into a cage match, but the specifics aside this was the best opportunity they'd have. She slowed her steps the closer they got to the assigned meeting area. Hayato positioned himself protectively in front of her. He posed his body as a physical barrier between the four-way match taking place and herself; guarding her against any wayward attacks that could occur accidentally. Hideyoshi threw a knowing smirk at him before they turned to observe the fight.
"Is that all you idiots got? Come on now, this isn't even a warm up!" Ah, that must be Okita. There was a thrill in his tone of voice she wasn't used to. He must have been enjoying himself! He wasn't the type of man who could hold back easily. During their time sparring he never allowed her a chance to slack. Still, it was likely that these recruits were providing him with an opportunity to let loose some steam.
"Then how about us? Think we'd be enough of a challenge?" Hideyoshi's voice boomed over the small, open-air space.
Okita paused mid-strike. Toru, Daichi and Michio had done a good job keeping up with him. The kid was fast where the brothers were powerful. Truthfully if they combined their abilities then they'd have a good shot at actually defeating him. As it stood they were still too focused on fighting each other to take him on seriously. The young man stopped as his eyes roved over the area, looking for the one who'd just called out.
His heart stopped the second he laid his sight on them. The men themselves weren't all that imposing. It wasn't their swords, their scars or even their structure that worried him. Behind one of the men he spotted an all too familiar face. The stranger stood between them in a protective manner. His instincts went into overdrive. His recruitment process forgotten, Okita turned towards the men and flipped his blade back into its proper position.
"Kagome," His voice became low and even. She easily made her way past the other male towards him. A small wave of relief rushed through his system the second she made it to his side. He wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to his side.
"Souji," His wife soothed. Her palm cane to rest reassuringly upon his chest, "These were the two I told you about yesterday. They were the ones who helped me out." Immediately he lowered his sword a fraction. These were the ones? He supposed that he owed them a offer of appreciation for protecting his loved one. Emerald eyes narrowed sharply at the younger of the two men. Kagome has been correct when she described him as being similar to Takeshi in appearance. It was so striking that he took a dislike to him quickly. Although the slightly awkward expression he wore didn't help the ronin's opinion improve either.
"I'm Ono Hayato and this idiot," He slapped a hand on the back of the older male's shoulders. "Is Fujiwara Hideyoshi."
"Okita Souji," The ronin introduced himself curtly. Gently he pushed Kagome behind him. Her fingers trailed along the small of his back in a small sign of reassurance. "I should thank you for helping my wife out the other day." His gaze remained sharp and his body taut for a battle. The other three he'd been fighting before stood silently. Their eyes were wide as they watched the drama unfold.
"They were curious about the Shinsengumi, so I brought them here." He heard Kagome's faint explanation. "They said that they met you yesterday too?" His mind went blank. Had he? There were so damn many people he'd talked to. They were probably just a couple faces in the crowd. His brows furrowed. Well at least he might be able to add two more onto their roster. They didn't look like complete pushovers.
"Really? Then that just means that I can't hold back." A smirk spread across his lips. Lifting his eyes he met the men's intense stares. "So, you two were looking to join? Or were you just curious?" He didn't miss the slight shift in Hayato's gaze, landing on Kagome's form posed partially behind his.
"We wanted to test your skills." Hideyoshi announced confidently. The older man drew his katana with a slight hiss from his scabbard. "What do you think? A man-to-man battle to see who's the best?"
Okita's confidence spiked, "I think you have a death wish but go ahead. I won't hold back just because you helped her though." Kagome took a handful of steps back, away from the fight about to take place. He shifted his stance into an offensive position, balancing the tip of his blade over his wrist.
"Thanks, kid. I'll take over from here." He addressed his wife directly. She wasn't the type to get involved in his business without good reason. She must've seen their ability first hand and thought that they were worth their salt in battle. He wouldn't take her opinion lightly. She'd brought them to him as a way to support him in his task. He appreciated the gesture more than words could ever convey. Perhaps he'd show her tonight? The young man shook the thought away.
"Before we start, mind telling me why you're interested the Shinsengumi?" His grin grew sharper. "Not that I'm not grateful but I'm curious."
Hideyoshi stepped forward, "Defeat us and find out. If you meet our standards then we might tell you." A thick tension filled the air between them. Hayato moved to proctor this fight but Okita stopped him.
"You join in too, Takeshi." He purposely used the wrong name to goad the man a bit. Hayato's expression soured into a small scowl. "We only do this one way. Hey baby-face!" He didn't spare a glance at Toru who he knew was keenly observing them. "You proctor this fight. Let those idiots watch and see how a real battle is fought."
He was being both demeaning and crass to the people whom he should've shown his gratitude to. Still, he couldn't shake the hum of excitement that boiled within his veins. Egging opponents on was merely part of his end game. The more upset his enemy, the more mistakes they made. Okita kept his cool composure. Besides, his eyes slid to Kagome's trusting expression, this would be the first time she'd see him in action. He threw her a confident smirk, causing her to flush lightly. He had his woman to impress.
"Ready," Toru raised his hand. Okita lowered his stance for a more secure center of balance. "Begin!"
With that the tiny arena became a flurry of movement and silver.
Hijikata sighed to himself. It'd been six months since they'd last seen Okita. The man was due back soon but word of a dangerous storm had spread down to Kyoto. Given the proposed conditions, he presumed that it could be yet another month or so before he'd be able to return.
"For you sir," Yamazaki dropped a letter into his waiting hands. Hijikata glanced at it. Could it be? His brows furrowed. It was about damn time. The storm aside, they hadn't received a single letter from him since his departure other than the one he'd sent from Magome* on his journey to Edo. The Shinsengumi Commander quickly opened the parchment. It better well be good news otherwise the kid was about to face a severe punishment the moment he came back. Blizzard or not, they hadn't sent him off to fuck around. They needed men and quickly.
Hijikata-san,
Sorry it's taken so long for me to get this out. The winter we went through here was the worst we've seen in ages. Got snowed in for several months and had to recoup that time these last few days. I'll be recruiting as much as I can. Whenever I find guys that can get through five minutes of a skirmish without getting themselves killed, we'll then be departing for Magome. It shouldn't take longer than two weeks. I'll send another letter once we arrive to the post town. Oh, almost forgot. I found a wife. Her name is Kagome and her family had been kind enough to take me in during the winter. I expect that you'll be welcoming her properly when we return to Kyoto. See you in about a month.
Okita Souji
Hijikata glared. That impertinent son of a bitch. He was bringing a woman into their compound? Sure wives of the captains and fellow leadership were permitted but this would be the first time it'd be put into action. The man was supposed to find himself warriors not a wife. Frankly he sincerely doubted that he married her the proper way in the first place. The only way that man had managed to finagle a woman into marrying him was if he bridenapped her. Besides, Okita settling down? Not on his life. A frightening look crossed his features. He'd have to investigate this further when they returned. Worse case scenario he'd send the woman back to her family with a guard. They couldn't really spare the men at the moment, but losing one man to ensure this mystery woman's safety was far more important than losing what was left of their reputation.
"Glare any more and you'll terrify the pages*." Sanan intoned suddenly. The man appeared in the doorway of his room. His full moon spectacles reflected in the afternoon's harsh sun—a sure sign that the Colonel was intending on teasing him. "Has Okita-kun sent word of his progress?" He could sense the man's eyes upon the letter. Instead of explaining it, he simply passed it over.
A playful smile crossed Sanan's pale lips, "She must be quite the woman to tame a man as wild as him. I'm rather curious." He held up the letter as if to examine it further. "Perhaps we should inform the others? I'm certain they'll be far more interested in this than his success with the recruitment mission."
Hijikata felt like sighing. Wasn't that the damn truth. Nagakura and Heisuke weren't going to believe it. Harada would probably just feed into their suspicions while Saito… well, Saito probably wouldn't care in the least. The dark haired male pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Great, just one more thing for him to deal with. He'd scold Okita when the idiot came back. There was a proper way to go about marriage and this was not it. Now he'd have to do damage control and make sure he hadn't just stolen her from her family. A small vein pulsated over his temple. Somehow, he wouldn't put it past the man to bridenap a woman he'd be interested in. If he had to go through the trouble of returning the woman to her family he'd gut the man himself.
"I shall gather the others. Perhaps you should break the news to the Chief." He swore he saw Sanan's eyes glinting darkly behind his glasses. "I'm certain that he'll be quite thrilled. He had been pushing for Okita-kun to settle down recently." A mischievous smirk played across his lips. "It seems that the lesson stuck."
With that his friend left him to his thoughts. Okita married, huh? That was going to be a hell of a problem. Similar to Sanan, he was rather curious about what kind of woman the idiot managed to tie down to him. Okita was wild, temperamental and on the childish side. It'd take a similarly ferocious woman to tame his spirit. Or perhaps she was simply a shy and meek type that was easily overwhelmed by his boldness?
Hijikata glanced down at that letter. In that moment he realized the most crucial part to this puzzle. Kagome, as Okita had mentioned in his letter, had taken him in during the winter storm. Which mean that she was a local to that area. She was an Edo woman. Suddenly all the pieces fell into place. If his previous experience with women from that particular city was anything to go by, then they were suddenly about to have a very strong-willed female in their midst. That time Hijikata tipped his head back and sighed. Just his fucking luck.
"Toshi! What's this about Souji getting married?" Kondou bellowed happily from down the hall. "Sanan just mentioned it." With that he knew that they were all doomed.
A/n: Did I mention that this chapter gave me sooo much trouble? TT^TT I've had it written for a good portion but Kagome's POV tends to give me difficulty recently lol. In any case I don't want to spend too much time on the in between period here but I want to lay out some background and foundation for these new characters. I've still have to finish out the lemon so when that's complete I'll add the chapter onto AO3. Anyways, thanks for being so patient guys. I've just been caught up in a lot of things recently so I'm alternating between writing this and smaller stories to keep the muse going. As always, you are all so amazing! Thanks for sticking around this long. XD
**Kosode—An undergarment worn by both men and women. It's name references the short sleeve it bears.
**Magome—A post town in the Kiso valley that was often frequented by those travelling between Kyoto and Edo during the Edo period.
**Page—Traditionally a young male attendant or servant. They were often used to send messages.
**Tanto blade—A small Japanese dagger that averaged between 15-30cm.