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Suggested Listening: Demons by Rival x Max Hurrell (Feat. Veronica Bravo)

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Of Pride and Honor

Chapter Twenty: Man and Monster

Nagakura shook his head frantically, "Oh come on, there's no way a guy like that just got some innocent girl to agree to be his wife. He kidnapped her, right?" The burly man directed his attention towards Hijikata. Word of Okita's marriage had spread quickly amongst the ranks. As expected rumors had started to run rampant. Things such as he'd bridenapped her from a wealthy family, or that she was some sort of runaway began festering within their walls. The things the rank-and-file soldiers were saying were bound to be ten times as scandalous. He pinched the bridge of his nose. This was too damn much trouble already and she wasn't even here yet. He could only imagine the trouble her presence would cause once she arrived.

"Nah I think he swept the girl off her feet. Souji's a real charmer when he wants to be. Remember that ramen shop girl that had a thing for him some time back?" Harada laughed heartily. "He sure enjoyed the attention but it didn't last that long. I think he scared the shit out of her by accident."

Heisuke responded, "More like she just ran away screaming the first time she saw us arrest some Choshu guys. She was super skittish." His eyes tipped towards the ceiling. "He mentioned that this woman's family took him in, right? You think he got their permission to marry her first? I can't see them just running off if they're still stuck in Edo."

Hijikata's brow twitched. The only thing they knew about this girl was that she'd taken care of Okita and her name was Kagome. They had little else to go on besides that. He really needed to speak with her one-on-one once they arrived. It was his responsibility to see that his men hadn't done anything untowards to her. Alas, if the man had already married her then it was likely too late. He felt the pang of a stress-induced headache begin to form behind his eyes. Great. Just what he needed.

"What do you think Saito?" Harada turned towards their silent companion. "You think he did things the right way? Or you think he just grabbed some sweet girl off the street?" All eyes were on the dark-haired male.

Saito kept his gaze trained on the courtyard. He remained silent, partially oblivious to the conversation surrounding him. His feet dangled over the engawa. There was little use in making a fuss over the woman before she even arrived. His eyes drifted towards a little feathered creature strutting about in the inner courtyard. They'd bought some livestock to keep on the compound. Their purpose was to help keep their costs down and provide a bit of responsibility to the new recruits. However there was one little rooster they'd gotten that had taken quite the liking to him. It was nameless and only served the single purpose of protecting the hens that laid their eggs for consumption. It bobbed back and forth, its head moving at rapid speed as it clucked. No matter where he went, it followed him. Like now it didn't stray too far from his person, bobbling excitedly as the men behind him continued to bicker. He preferred such simplicities. They were a nice change of pace.

"Saito?" Harada tried again.

The ronin blinked. Ah, that was right. They were trying to ask him a question. He sucked a breath through his nose, "Okita is many things but he is not without his own sense of morality." Saito took a drink from his cup—enjoying the strong flavor of the tea. "I believe that he went about things the proper way. He was never the sort to take short cuts when it comes to family matters." His eyes darted towards Kondou. "He had a firm role model to instill that sense of honor within him."

The burly man laughed heartily. He rubbed the back of his neck as if embarrassed and waved his free hand in a placating manner.

"Now now, I'm sure there's a good explanation. Besides they spent several months together under the same roof. I'm sure that Souji had plenty of time to arrange for a proper marriage with her family's consent." The other men froze at his words. Harada, Nagakura and Heisuke shared a dubious look.

"You don't think?" They started at the same time.

Hijikata's brow twitched. Where were they going with this?

"Six months together but who's to say that they hadn't gotten along earlier than what he wrote about here." The red head contemplated, lifting the letter for closer inspection.

Nagakura nodded grimly, "If her family was so ready to get rid of her then there can only be one thing."

Heisuke joined in, "She's probably pregnant."

The commander slammed his palm against his forehead. Somehow, that theory made perfect sense. He didn't have the strength to argue against their logic. This day just got worse and worse. He only hoped for Okita's sake that nothing was suspicious about their marriage. He already had plenty to answer for when he got back to their compound.

Okita curved his katana in a downward arc. His eyes narrowed at Daichi's form. He'd gotten a little better. His defense had tightened somewhat but he was still unable to fully secure his weakest points. Kagome would have a field day with him when she got back. His lips turned downwards. It would've been best if he'd kept her with him but she was quite adept at buying supplies. He couldn't afford the time to go with her after these training sessions either as most of the shops closed up at dusk. Daichi and Michio were still too new to trust. Maeda was also new but there was something in the way the kid fought that he trusted.

The boy was earnest. He had a thirst for acceptance that was plain in the way he moved, the way he acted even in the way he fought. Okita couldn't pit him against Kagome as their fighting styles were entirely too similar to each other. They both relied on speed and advantageous surroundings to get their upper hand. His wife was powerful in many ways but in a battle against Maeda, she was likely to lose and that was not the goal in these sessions. He needed to pit her against someone that would have difficulty against her skills. He wanted these men to get stronger, not become satisfied in a state of stasis.

At the very least he felt he could trust Maeda just enough to see this small mission through. With Hayato and Hideyoshi wandering around and him not able to go with her, this would be their best bet. Hayato's and Hideyoshi's larger size would serve as an advantage to a fighter like Maeda. He'd be able to slip around them like he did Daichi. Putting Kagome with him would double their abilities as well. With their similar fighting styles, they would make better fighting companions rather than sparring partners.

He refocused on his fight as Michio called the match, his blade planted firmly against Daichi's side. The ronin sheathed his sword. He felt a sigh work its way out.

"Hey, instead of just getting pissed off how about you listen?" His tone grew sharp. "You're getting the hang of shit but you're still too damn stubborn to actually put Kagome's advice into action." He gestured towards the other man's stance. "How many times are you going to leave your heart open for me to cut up?"

Daichi glanced down. He tucked his arms closer to his chest and shifted his legs into an easier position. Okita nodded to himself once. Good, he was starting to grasp at what she was saying. He had no doubt that his wife would be able to pierce through the warrior's thick skull eventually, however they didn't quite have the amount of time necessary for her to train him in such a method. He needed these men in top form before he presented them to the Shinsengumi. With his delayed arrival he could only bring the best fighters with him. Having these few numbers of recruits made that task even more important. They desperately needed strong men. Not weak filth that couldn't take the advice of a single woman based on an innate sense of masculine stubbornness.

Hours passed. Michio proctored nearly all of their matches. He'd remained calm and generally reserved towards his brother's lack of progress. There was something about the man that Okita found rather interesting. He'd kept his eyes trained on his and Maeda's fights earlier in the day, watching their every movement. He was trying to learn in the way similar to Kagome: through keen observation. The ronin made a mental note to test his skills one-on-one later. It'd be a good idea to pit a two-on-two battle between the Tanaka brothers versus Kagome and Maeda as a team.

"Match point!" Michio called once more. Daichi laid sprawled upon his back. His chest heaved with each labored breath he took. Sweat covered his brow in a thick sheen. The brothers shared a glance of dismay at each other. No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn't beat him. Frustration bubbled beneath his skin. He'd wanted to join with the best. He just never anticipated that he'd be facing down his own weaknesses so brutally.

Okita sheathed his katana. His eyes tipped towards the sky. Summer had come in full swing for Edo. The sun blazed down upon them without mercy. Sweat collected at the back of his neck. The man pressed his palm to the flesh, partially lifting his hair to allow for a slight breeze to draft over it. A small chill went down his spine at the cool sensation. One thing he missed from his wife's era was the air conditioning. He'd gotten so spoiled off of it that it'd become difficult to adjust to these more extreme weather temperatures. His lips turned downwards. Speaking of, Kagome and Maeda should be back soon. He glanced towards the street. He was getting worried.

Kagome handed the peddler a small handful of cash.

"Thank you very much, sir." She smiled warmly at the middle aged man. He merely waved her off with a polite smile of his own and happy grin.

Maeda trailed along behind her. His eyes darted amongst the crowd that surrounded them suspiciously. He was an untrusting sort. The kind of boy that felt that the world was out to get him. Kagome pressed her lips into a thin line. Given his appearance and thin structure, it probably was. She was sure that rumors of his birth were bound to run amuck wherever he went. His feminine features would give way to negative opinions. Things such as him being the bastard child of some self-important lord would be the most common rumors to fly around. She had to wonder how he first decided to pick up his sword. However that was a discussion meant for another time.

"Maeda-kun," The young woman drew the teen's attention. His eyes snapped to hers quickly. Curiosity poured from his expression. "There was something you wanted to ask, wasn't there?" She chose to give him the chance to speak. Certainly he had more on his mind then just why she had chosen to fight beside Okita.

The teen grimaced. His shoulders grew stiff at the mentioning.

"I don't think it'd be an appropriate question."

Kagome quirked her brow, "Nonsense. There are things you need to know, right? There's no harm in asking about it." She clasped her hands together and flashed a warm smile at the boy. He was close to her age but there was something about him that seemed vulnerable in comparison to the Tanaka brothers. She knew if she divulged that information then he'd likely take offense. So Kagome kept silent, permitting the young man to formulate his thoughts.

Maeda took a breath, "I wanted to know how you dealt with it." At her confused glance he continued. "You're a woman but you still fight. How do you deal with the people who don't respect you? People like Tanaka Daichi." His voice grew sharp at the mention of his name.

Now she understood where this was going. She was fully aware of the fact that Daichi took issue with facing her in a sparring match. He did not belittle her in front of her husband but it was in every subtle glance and strike. The man had his issues with her that he couldn't say out loud. She was more than certain that, that was the true reason Okita had sent her out on this little errand. He'd wanted a chance to speak to him directly about the issue.

Kagome chewed the inside of her cheek. This was going to be a commonplace issue in this era. She'd chosen this time period as her home, so now she'd have to tackle the problems that came with that decision.

A smirk pulled at her lips, "You know the one good thing about being the underdog?" She held up her index finger. "It means you have the advantage of surprise on your side. I can't even begin to tell you how many opponents underestimated me in a fight. Each and every time I'd surprised them because they couldn't take me seriously."

Her smirk grew confident, "This is both a curse and a gift. I've simply taken their degradation of my skills as a chance to show them how quickly life can turn on its head." She came to a stop. "For all of his faults, Souji never once spoke down to me or treated me as if I was anything less than his equal." Her smile warmed at the thought. That was right. He could've easily changed the second that they returned to this era. He could've simply treated her as property like other men did during this time period, but he did not. He was taking great lengths to ensure her safety and comfort in this transition. She loved him all the more for it.

"Maeda-kun, Souji sees a lot of potential in you. The fact that you're the one he trusted to accompany me speaks volumes of that faith he has in your skills." She started walking towards the training area once more. Okita was wildly protective of her. He had been since the time with Takeshi. It'd been a surprise that he allowed another male to be the one to protect her but in her mind it only indicated the amount of faith he'd had for Maeda. "To give you a straight answer, the truth is that I just stopped caring. The only person I ever needed to acknowledge my strength was myself. People will either rebuke you for that ability or they'll accept you. At the end of the day what matters the most is the acknowledgement you give yourself."

She gestured towards the silhouettes of her husband and the other two recruits in the distance.

"Now come on, it's starting to get late and we still have our fights to finish!" The young woman took off at high speed. Maeda rushed behind her, trying desperately to keep up.

Acknowledge himself? It was such a simple concept, but maybe the person he was trying to prove himself most worthy to was himself. His expression softened. He could now see why a man as intense as Okita would fall for this woman. She was skilled in more things then just the sword.

The teen chased after her. This decision hadn't been a mistake after all.

Okita glared at the man sitting before him.

"You think this is a pain in the ass? Imagine fighting an enemy that can slip around all of your defenses." He ducked low, pushing forward on his thighs and jabbing the tip of his katana against the man's side. "You're dead."

His eyes grew cold. Daichi wasn't just having issues with Kagome's fighting style, he was having an issue with her. He'd expected as much when he'd asked her to aid in training but this was starting to grate on his damn nerves. He'd never been the chivalrous type but the blatant disrespect was tiring on him. It was one thing to underestimate her, it was another entirely to get angry over a defeat.

Daichi scowled. His brows furrowed together as he lowered his sword.

"Damn it, why can't I get through?" His voice came in harsh, his teeth grinding together almost painfully.

Michio crouched next to his brother, "These aren't people you can fight without a strategy." The man threw a cautious glance at their trainer. "They're both giving their all to these matches. They're strategizing, using their strengths to their advantage and exploiting your weaknesses." Michio met his brother's gaze. "Remember, when you fight them you can't hold back. You've fought them both enough to be able to predict their movements. Kagome-san is tough but she's not infallible." They both shot Okita a look. "Neither is he. Watch them for their weaknesses. That's what they want you to do."

The reserved male rose to his feet. Daichi thought for a long moment. Observe their weaknesses? How was he supposed to do that? Kagome was lightning fast and her husband was a verifiable wild card. Neither of whom moved in predictable ways. He rubbed his hair furiously with his frustration. How was he supposed to win like this?!

"Sorry we're late!" Kagome and Maeda rushed into the area. Spectators gathered behind them, their eyes glancing between each person with heightened interest. Their sparring matches had garnered quite a bit of attention. Thus far no one else had been brave enough to approach.

Okita smiled at his wife, "You get everything?" Relief filled him in a way he was unused to. His shoulders relaxed as he turned towards his loved one. Kagome came to a stop before him. She gestured towards the furoshiki upon Maeda's back.

"Yup! I think we got just about everything we need." Her hand slipped into his naturally. Their fingers intertwined together. He loved the feeling of her hands against his. There was something reassuring about it that always set him at ease. "It just took a while to haggle all the prices down but we got it done. Right Maeda-kun?"

Okita glanced towards the teen. The boy had a little less fierce glint in his eyes. He nodded at her respectfully before passing the pack of supplies to him. The ronin had to admit that he liked the change in the kid thus far. Perhaps sending him with Kagome had been a good idea after all.

The group stopped as the sky darkened above them. Night was starting to fall.

"We'll stop here for the day. We'll train one more time tomorrow before we move out to Kyoto." He gave Daichi a pointed glare. "Get your shit together before that happens. We clear?"

The burly man nodded once; not bothering to speak back to him. Okita wound his arm around his wife's waist. She leaned into his side. A tiny smile spread across her lips.

"You're mad."

He didn't deny her assumption. Partially because it was true and partially because he didn't want to acknowledge it. He'd known that she'd get a bit of ribbing for fighting. He just didn't think it'd happen so damn quickly and with his own recruits. It frustrated him.

Kagome pressed her lips against his cheek softly. When she pulled back she continued, "It's cute."

Okita couldn't stop the smile even if he'd wanted to. He pulled her closer to his body. Pressing his face against her head he gave a small laugh.

"Do you just enjoy seeing me riled up?" He felt her hand trailing reassuring lines across the small of his back. It was in these moments he felt at peace. The Shinsengumi had given him a purpose when he'd desperately needed one. Kagome had given him peace when he hadn't even known how much he'd craved it. Now, he would have both.

The young woman shot him a coy glance, "It makes the sex more interesting." He couldn't stop himself. He laughed. The shock of her brazen attitude towards sex in such a public setting made him laugh uncontrollably.

"Hey!" She jabbed his cheek with her index finger indignantly. "No laughing. It's true! You're more…" She struggled with the right word to describe his particular habits.

Sensing that she couldn't come up with one on her own, he decided to help.

"Devious?"

She shook her head, "No, but you were a few nights ago. It's different than that." Kagome shot him a withering glare. Okita didn't pay it much mind. What? It'd been their wedding night. What was he supposed to do? Just fuck her senseless against the wall and let the memory rot in the sands of time? No thanks. Besides she was bound to remember that pleasurable sort of torture he'd inflicted on her for some time yet. His lips quirked into a malicious smirk. That was exactly how he'd wanted it.

"Evil." His wife poked his cheek again. "You're the epitome of evil when you get like this." She pushed the tip of her finger against him once more. "I will have my revenge. Mark my words."

The two returned to the Inn in record timing. The playful banter that they'd struck up had yet to cease. In that moment he knew that she'd fit right in with the other captains back at the compounds.

Okita pulled the furoshiki from his back. It was heavy but not excessively so.

"Souji, what do you want to eat? I can't make anything too extravagant but you've never told me what you like here." She peered at their remaining ingredients. Most meats couldn't be kept for long so she had a little left over from the previous day coupled with a generous amount of vegetables. Among which were green onions, daikon radish and leeks. His lip instinctively curled at the sight of his old dinner-time enemy.

"How about just some of that meat we've still got and the daikon." His eyes narrowed at the disgusting vegetable. "Just leave those onions out of my food."

Kagome peered at him. Her soft features were pulled into a look of concentration.

"What? You falling for me again?" The ronin grinned playfully at his companion. "If so then we could have a repeat of last night." His gaze dropped down to the partially expose flesh of her collarbone. The urge to mark it with his touch briefly flitted through his mind before he pushed it away. She'd absolutely die of embarrassment if he tried.

Kagome threw a knowing look at him, "Like we weren't going to anyways." Okita didn't deny the flush of adrenaline in his system at the thought. "But I was just curious, do you hate green onions? I've never seen you eat one. Actually," She tapped her finger onto her chin thoughtfully. "You'd usually pick them out if you had any."

Busted. That was just one more weakness she could exploit if she so wanted. He crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

"And?"

His wife grinned, "Silly, you should've said so sooner! I could've skipped over the onions entirely." Kagome moved to brush the ingredient aside. "Looks like I'll have to experiment with other flavorings." She cocked her head over her shoulder to smile brightly at him. "Next time just tell me what you do and don't want." She emphasized the word playfully. "There's no pride in making food for someone if they'll hate it." There was a brief flicker in her eyes. Like the flashing of an unwanted memory before it dissipated.

Okita closed his eyes. That was right. She still had her issues that she was working through. He made a mental note on the matter. Never could he let her feel the way she did back then again. He wouldn't allow it. Not by his actions or anyone else's.

He came to stand behind his wife. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his chest. The ronin dipped his head towards her neck. He trailed his lips along the length of her skin, stopping only as he reached her jawline. He heard the slight hitch of her breath.

"If it's you then it'll be fine." He pressed his mouth to hers softly. Her hands grasped at his forearms as she leaned into him. She always felt so small like this—so fragile and frail in comparison to him. Yet he knew that to be a fallacy. Kagome had shown strength in more ways than just with her sword. She'd fought through a hell he couldn't comprehend and came out smiling. That was enough for him to try.

Okita nudged her with a sharp turn of his head. She acquiesced, allowing him to trail his lips towards the shell of her ear. He'd learned that it was the most sensitive part of her body. The one place that could either excite or calm her depending on how he approached. The man released a low breath against her.

"Tell me what you want as well." His lips pulled into a small smile. "In this house we'll share the chores."

A brief flash of shock registered on her face. Then just as quickly it melted away into a smile he hadn't seen for some time. So bright and full of life, he wanted to keep it there.

"Sounds good!"

Okita drew away. His eyes shot towards the pack. Right, they'd run out of sake recently. He briefly wondered if she'd picked any up while she'd been out.

"Did you get the alcohol too?" He wasn't seeing it. Perhaps she'd forgotten.

Kagome shook her head, "Actually about that. I forgot to ask you earlier what kind you preferred. I know you like the strong stuff but I don't really know the first thing about buying sake." She gave a short nervous laugh. "I thought we'd get some tonight."

The ronin shrugged his shoulders. Well he couldn't blame her. He had mentioned how picky he could be. He'd just have to show her later.

"Sure, while you get started on the food I'll run out for it. Shouldn't take me more than thirty minutes." He smiled at her. "Just do what you need to here. I'll be back."

Okita moved to the genkan. He slipped on his geta* and collected the remainder of their cash. It'd be just enough to buy some food on the way to Kyoto but they were going to have to sleep out in the open for a little while. Thankfully the trip could be done in a short amount of time if they made haste. So it wouldn't be a permanent issue.

"I love you, Souji." Kagome called to him from the hearth. "Be safe out there and make sure you get back in one piece." Her tone turned chiding. "Or else you won't be able to eat anything at all."

The ronin laughed, "Is this how we say goodbye now?" His eyes softened at the pursed lips and furrowed brow of his wife's expression. "Don't get me wrong, it's cute." He didn't miss the flush that shot across her cheeks. She looked better that way. "Anyways, love you too kid. I'll be back soon. Just don't go missing me in the mean time."

Kagome crossed her arms over her chest, "Then don't make me miss you and get back here soon."

He gave a playful salute, "Yes ma'am!" He threw one last glance at her before he left. This was what he'd needed for so long. With that he exited the Inn and slid the screen closed behind him. There was only one place he could go for this task. His expression grew firm. He just had to make it quick.

Hayato sighed heavily. He should've know that this would've happened. The man shook his teacher's shoulders roughly. Hideyoshi laid sprawled out upon his back. An uneven smile spread across the older man's lips as a drunken flush reddened his cheeks.

"Come on, we need to go. It's getting late." He shook him again.

Hideyoshi hiccuped, "We're good. Look at all the ladies!" He pointed his finger towards the ceiling and waved it wildly. This was why he absolutely hated going drinking with him. He never knew when to stop. As of now his teacher was three sheets to the wind—making him impossible to deal with.

Hayato didn't reason with him. He grabbed at the collar of his kosode and hauled him onto his feet. Much like how Hideyoshi had done to him earlier, he began dragging his teacher back towards their simple quarters. They'd obtained a small supply closet for a room at one of the brothels in the red light district. It wasn't much but it would make do for their needs at the moment.

The young man ignored the odd glances being shot his way. Hideyoshi howled in delight a the sudden sense of weightlessness.

"Hey, I feel weird!" He hiccuped again. The stench of booze clung to him. Hayato fought the urge to sigh. Just great. "Yato, you gotta try this!" His speech was slurred from his alcohol induced stupor. This was Hideyoshi's greatest weakness. He indulged far too much in sake and never knew when to stop. His control with the sword was top notch, but the control he asserted in his personal life was far less disciplined.

"Stop wiggling around. I'm taking you home." He addressed his companion with mild irritation. Hideyoshi writhed against his grip and whined.

"No! I dun wanna!"

Hayato didn't bother acknowledging him. The man stopped as a few familiar faces came into view. They were from the day he'd met Okita Kagome. He'd be the first to admit that part of his interest in the woman stemmed from her skills with the blade. How she handled those thugs on her own before the final turn that could've easily ended her life had he not been there was what made him curious. After meeting her husband he could clearly see where some of those abilities stemmed from. His eyes narrowed at the group. Neither himself or Hideyoshi had killed the men. They'd merely knocked them unconscious and left them for the furious crowd to deal with. Perhaps that had been a bad idea.

"Well look who it is." The leader of the group curled his lips back in a sideways sneer. "Hey boys, I think we just got lucky tonight."

Hayato stopped in his tracks. His eyes narrowed at the men. There were five this time. Hideyoshi was far too drunk to assist him in this fight. The young man set his teacher down. His hand drifted towards the sword as he settled into a defensive position. For all of his strength there was only so much he could do on his own. His brows furrowed. This wasn't good.

Okita pinched the bridge of his nose. The Tanaka brothers, Daichi in particular, were grating on his last nerves. Man was as powerful as an ox but he lacked the basic ability to cope with a faster opponent. He'd gotten too used to tearing his way through fights. It was going to take a while for him to grasp what he was attempting to teach him.

The man weaved his way through the streets of the red light district. He kept his eyes trained on the road ahead of him. He was married now. This trip was not for the cheap brothels or elegantly dressed women. In fact it had more to do with the empty bottle of sake tied to his hip. His fingers flexed with his frustration. The shops around their Inn had shit for alcohol. The only place he could go for a strong drink was in the red light district. He felt odd about visiting such a place while Kagome was at the Inn waiting for him, but alas if they wanted to enjoy a good drink with their food then he had to make the trip.

Okita paused mid-step at the sound of masculine bellowing. His eyes drifted towards a large group huddled in a circle just in front of him. They had their backs turned to him and he cocked his head to the side in curiosity. Was there a fight brewing? The muscle in his sword arm twitched. It'd been a while since he was able to partake in such things. A wide, sharp grin spread across his lips. Maybe he could have a little fun before he went back home.

"You're from the other day." He heard Hayato's voice come in clearly.

The ronin's expression hardened with caution. Was he staying out in this area? His hand dropped to his katana.

"Yeah and we owe you and your little pal some payback. What do you think boys?" The group's leader jeered. A mighty bruise was visible from the side of his face. The stench of rubbing alcohol and dried blood poured off of the stranger. He'd apparently only just recovered from a previous injury. His eyes shifted towards the group around him.

Okita hated that sort. They could never fight one-on-one. They were so weak and cowardly that they'd only challenge someone if they held a clear advantage. Emerald eyes narrowed suspiciously at the men. It wasn't his damn job to rescue the guy. As much as he wanted to get involved, out of principle alone he'd avoid the issue. He turned on the ball of his heel, fully intent on taking one of the smaller back alleys to where he needed.

"Strong words from a man that had to use force on a woman the other day." The sharpness in Hayato's voice cut through him.

The other day. Force on a woman. Were these the bastards that'd attacked his wife? His features hardened into a state of barely contained fury. His palm fully grasped at the hilt of his blade.

"Yeah? Bitch started it. If she'd kept her nose down then she wouldn't have had an issue." A raucous laugh filled the air.

Okita stepped behind him maliciously.

"Is that so?" His voice was sharp. A threatening smile spread across his lips. "Mind telling me who this woman was?" He needed confirmation before he dispatched these vile pieces of shit into their next life prematurely. The group whirled onto him. A flicker of surprise flashed across their expressions. In a blink it was gone, replaced with a haughty demeanor.

The leader tapped the length of his sword across his shoulders, "Just some broad who thought she could fight. Why, you interested? Wouldn't take much to find a bitch like that."

Fury rushed through his veins like a hot poison. It stung every nerve within his hands and left him struggling to maintain his control. These were the fuckers. He just knew it. They were the ones who'd attacked Kagome. Okita flicked his thumb at the hilt of his sword. He pushed it out a few centimeters. Just one thing left.

"So tell me," He directed his attention towards Hayato. "You gonna need some help with this?" His eyes fell onto his drunken companion. There was no way he could fight while protecting his friend. Hideyoshi was too damn gone to be of much use.

The other male shot him a wary glance. He still didn't trust him fully. However that didn't make their goals any different from the other. This was no longer just about pride. This was personal.

"Hey, you ignoring me?" Their leader growled. The burly male lowered his sword from his shoulders into an offensive stance. "You're going to regret that. Just like how I made that bitch regret it too."

Okita's blood boiled. These men were going to die tonight. He wasn't going to be convinced otherwise. The ronin drew his katana.

Hayato shifted to stand beside him, "Interesting. Last I checked she was the one to give you several of those injuries."

Okita couldn't stop the smirk even if he wanted to. There was something about Kagome's spitfire nature that caused a thrill to rush through him. Seeing the damage she'd caused them firsthand filled him with pride.

"Funny I heard something similar." The two shot each other a wary glance. Hayato couldn't be trusted just yet, but he'd help him out this once. Namely for the sake of avenging the mental anguish that battle had put his wife through. His grip tightened over the hilt of his sword. He wouldn't let this slide.

They rounded on them, circling like a pack of rabid animals. Okita kept his eyes trained on their leader. Cut off the head and the rest of the body would die.

"What, you know the broad or something?" His voice turned scathing. "Gotta admit she's a nice piece of ass. Think you can bring her around more often?" He shot him a perverse grin. "If you ain't fuckin' her then I'll take that up." Okita allowed his confident smirk to drop into a snarl. "She needs a good roll to get her ass into shape. Gotta pay her back for this too." The man gestured towards his injuries.

The ronin didn't hide his seething rage. His eyes narrowed into slits at his opponent. This man would die by his hands tonight. The insult to his wife was reason enough.

Hayato shifted beside him cautiously. Frankly he didn't give a damn how the man felt about killing. He wasn't going to hold back. Not after what they said and did. Okita sank into an offensive position. He lifted his katana, laying the side of his sword over his wrist. This was his style; a form of fighting he'd developed on his own. Its sole purpose was to kill. Just as dealing death had been his only purpose with the Shinsengumi, so to had he sharpened his blade in such a way. There would be no survivors tonight.

The air shifted around them. The leader of the group glared down his nose at him.

"One thing before you die," Okita inched closer. "What's your name? That way I'll know who to send your head to." A vicious smirk pulled across his lips. "Because you're not getting out of this with it still attached*."

A woman in the crowd screamed. Bloodlust permeated the atmosphere. The small crowd that'd gathered around them wisely moved away. This was his sole job. To kill the filth that roamed the streets of his country. He served his life as a sword to be used for death. This was all that he strived for.

"Get him sonny!" A man yelled out from the crowd furiously. "Teach those punks a lesson!" More yells followed suit. The group glanced around cautiously at the rising tensions. Clearly that hadn't bought themselves any favors with the locals.

"Like hell you will." The leader charged, ignoring the jeers that echoed like white noise in the background. The idiot left himself wide open to attack. He could easily take one swing towards his side and bring about the man's death quickly but that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted this bastard to suffer before he died.

Okita hardly registered Hayato's presence beside him. The only thing he focused on was his opponent's legs. In a single flick of his wrist he'd brought his sword across both appendages; slicing them clean off. A sickening scream of pain rose out from his target. The leader scrambled to sit up. He was only partially able to, his eyes wide and filled with terror at the legs now separated from his body.

Another woman screamed in horror as a warmth splashed across his clothing. Blood. It was so familiar yet it felt so long since he'd last slain someone. It was a strange conflict that warred within him. The scent of rust carried heavily through the air. The ground beneath his feet became slick.

The crowd cheered maliciously from a distance. Okita kept his eyes trained on the one man before him. Murderous intent poured off of him ominously. This death would still be too quick. He gave a sharp, forward thrust of his arm—plunging the tip of his katana into his enemy's chest. He made sure to avoid vital organs. This was meant to cause as much pain as possible. He wouldn't kill him just yet.

"Please!" The man held up his hands. Fear etched into his hardened features as tears flowed in thick streams down his face. Now came the bargaining. The desperate pleas to be spared of such a death. But he would not heed them. He would not listen.

Okita crouched low to stare his enemy in the face. He didn't blink. His grip tightened as he twisted the sword in the wound. The man cried out again.

"My name is Okita Souji. I'm the captain of the Shinsengumi's First Division." He decided to reveal the depth of the man's mistake. Recognition lit up in his eyes, coinciding with the terror in his expression. "The woman you'd fought was my wife." The ronin cast his target a withering glare. "If you've got any last words then now would be the time to say them, because you aren't gonna be living past the hour."

"Please don't…" He tried once more.

All traces of malicious humor fell from Okita's expression.

"Time's up." He withdrew his sword. He moved back into a standing position, posing his katana over his wrist once more. "See you in hell."

With that he sliced one last time. He cut a line across where his neck met his torso. Okita watched stoically as the head collapsed to the ground, the decapitated body slumping with it.

There was silence. After the moment passed a loud roar of applause rang out. It was evident that the shopkeeper Kagome describes hadn't been the only victim to this man's violence.

Okita shifted his eyes to the battle still going on around him. Several of the men had already been killed. Large gashes were torn across their chests where Hayato had struck them. The final opponent froze amidst the sea of death. Blood soaked his clothes as terror rang clearly in his eyes. Okita turned towards him.

There would be no mercy tonight.

He and Hayato struck forward at the same time. The man hadn't the chance to move before his life left him. The people around them screamed in terror. Okita flicked his wrist, tossing as much blood from his blade as he could. It'd rust the metal if he let it sit for too long.

Hayato drew up beside him.

"You're very skilled." Dark eyes shot towards the dismembered body, "But ruthless." His voice remained calm as he addressed him directly. "I must express my gratitude for aiding in this fight." He gave him a meaningful look. "Even if you had your own reasons, I can respect the fact that you still chose to do so."

Hayato lifted Hideyoshi over his back once more.

"Are you still recruiting?"

The ronin crossed his arms over his chest, "Thought you weren't interested?" Why the sudden change? He was still somewhat suspicious.

The male gestured towards his daisho, "Perhaps because I realized that there might be more to you than I gave you credit for." He began to walk away. Hideyoshi sang in a drunken stupor along the way, completely oblivious to the fight that'd just occurred. "You still using that same training area?"

Okita threw a sharp smirk at him, "Be there at the asscrack of dawn. We're shipping out to Kyoto the morning after." His grin grew vicious. "I ain't gonna be going easy on ya either. Do you better think this through."

Hayato shot a confident one of his own at him, "I think we'll manage."

With that the two parted. He slipped past the gathering of people, sneaking by as they tried to offer congratulations for his victory over the street rat. Okita looked down at his haori. Scarlet splashed across the front, nearly drenching him in its stench. Right, he'd forgotten how damn messy killing was. He gripped at the collar and stripped down to his black kosode. Kagome hadn't been hurt physically but the sight of blood had triggered something within her that night. He couldn't let her see him in such a state.

The ronin marched over to one of the chimney fires meant for a local shop. He bundled the hoari into a tight ball and tossed it into the flames. He had a spare he could use in the meantime. Right now he needed only to focus on two things. Getting himself cleaned up and buying that damn sake. Kagome was going to be pissed at him if he was late.

His brows furrowed. He wouldn't be able to hide this from her forever, but for now he needed her to feel safe. Even if it meant becoming a monster to make that happen.

Okita made his way through the crowd. He meandered to a shop a little distance away. His business with the owner was quick as he bought what he needed and strapped it to his sash. The bottle lugged heavily with each step he took.

An odd thought crossed his mind. Kagome was fully aware of his history. She'd known him to be a man with a sordid background. His life had been built on violence and bloodshed. Yet she'd opened herself to him. She'd trusted herself to him. She'd left everything behind so that she could be with him. He was a man in her eyes. Not a beast.

Okita glanced down at his palms. The small splatters of blood had been picked off. There wasn't hardly a spot left on him. Even if Kagome saw him as a man worthy to call himself her husband, he didn't want to give her any reason to doubt him. He wanted her to keep trusting him; to keep treating him as she did now.

He stepped onto the engawa of their Inn. With measured steps he made his way through the open air corridors. He came to a stop in front of their door. Even through the shoji screen he could catch the scent of seasoned meat and daikon radish. His expression softened at the thought. This was his life now. He needed to pull himself together before he faced her.

"Souji?" He heard her voice call out to him tentatively through the flimsy screen. That was another thing he missed about her time. Their homes were built much more securely. They had more than paper separating them from the horrors of the outside world.

He snapped the door back with the flick of his wrist. His eyes went to her slender figure hovering by the genkan.

"I'm home." Okita smiled at Kagome. Her brows furrowed at his appearance. Concern flitted over her features. He needed a good excuse as to why he was missing his haori. He hadn't been able to think of a reasonable one just yet. The man clenched his jaw tightly.

"Welcome home, Souji." His wife stepped of the raised ledge. Before he could register what was happening, he felt the soft touch of her fingertips upon his face. They were warm and reassuring; a gentling of the turmoil that was likely written across his face. "You look a little pale." She trailed her fingers softly down the contours of his cheek, stopping only as she reached the clenched muscles of his jawline.

Okita gave a tight smile, "I'm fine, just hungry." His free hand shifted to take her own within its grasp. The young woman threaded her fingers with his. A light of determination flashed in her eyes. She wasn't going to let it go was she?

"Liar." Kagome peered up at him with a critical look. "You're white as a ghost. Something's bothering you." She froze as the smell of blood hit her nose. His eyes darkened. This was exactly what he'd wanted to avoid. "Were you injured?" She immediately set to work on trying to search him for any wounds he might have obtained.

The ronin took both of her hands in his. He forced her to look at him, a soft expression written across his features.

"It was just a fight. I'm fine." Okita leaned forward to press his lips affectionately to her brow.

Kagome leaned into his kiss. The second he pulled back, he found that her hands had slipped from his grip and grasped the sides of his face forcefully. His mind summoned the memory when they'd been like this before—a time when she'd proclaimed his worth to him even against his own doubts.

"Now that's funny." A playful smile rugged at her lips. "I didn't think you were the type to lie. Now come on, I'm your wife. You can't hide these things from me."

His heart warmed at the declaration. He leaned into her touch. It was nice. A soft, comforting feeling in contrast to the white hot hatred that had flowed through him earlier.

"That's not very nice of you calling me out like that." He turned his head to trail his lips against the inside of her palm. His hand took hold of her wrists gently. The man pressed her hand against his mouth a little more firmly. He felt the slight curl of her fingers. Her thumb brushed beneath his eye affectionately.

"It's my job now." Her voice grew firmer. "Now spill it. Tell me everything that happened."

The sharp look in her eye weakened his resolve. In that moment he realized something vitally important: He could never deny her. She'd see right through him even if he'd tried. So he reluctantly explained what'd occurred—leaving out minor details such as his visit to the red light district and the exact method of how he'd killed those men. She didn't need to hear that. She didn't need that image of him in her head.

Kagome listened intently. When he'd finished, she nodded once to herself.

"That settles it." His wife announced with confidence.

His brow quirked, "Settles what?" Had she not listened to a thing he'd said? He'd killed someone in cold blood. Did that not register with her?

"It settles the fact that you worry way too much for your own good." Kagome shifted her hands to take one of his into her grip. Her fingers played with the tips of his own, brushing along the flesh and coming to stop at the tip of his nail. "Nope, these aren't claws." She let go in favor of pressing her lips to his. In a bold move she forced her tongue past his lips. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. He was lost; drifting along a sea of warmth and pleasure. Just as quickly as it started her tongue drew away to trail along his teeth. She pulled back and smiled at him brightly.

"Nope, those aren't fangs either." His woman stated simply. She leaned up to his mouth once more. He felt the heat of her breath as her lips brushed softly against his own. There was enough pressure to feel her against him, but not so much to completely drown in the feeling.

She was teasing him.

"No matter how I look at you, you're just a man Souji." Her smile grew wider. "Just a man that I love." His eyes snapped open at that. She didn't give him the chance to speak. "You're not a demon. You're not some kind of suspicious character." She kissed him again. This time much more gently. "You're just you. I knew this era wasn't peaceful when we left. I know that you'll have to fight and even kill if the situation calls for it." Kagome met his eyes. "But that doesn't change who you are, Souji. You're just a stubborn, dedicated man who I love. Nothing will ever change that. Not now, not ever."

Her eyes darkened suddenly, "Unless you cheat. Then I'll have to tear out your hide and make myself a fashionable kimono from your leather and wear it around everywhere."

Okita laughed at that, "I don't think you have to worry about that." He backed her against the wall. He shifted his arms around her to pull her as close to him as possible. "Besides, I think you're taking after your mother too much. That sounds like something she'd threaten."

"Like mother, like daughter." Her hands slipped beneath his kosode. Her palms splayed across the planes of his chest. She pushed at the fabric; letting out a quiet moan as it pooled around his waist. Desire flooded his system. He needed her. He needed this moment with her. Okita slanted his mouth over hers roughly. He pushed his tongue past the seam of her lips.

Dinner forgotten, his hands tugged at the sash that held her hakamas. To hell with it. The ronin bit at her bottom lip the second her hand reached for his sash. Both knew what came next. As the clothes crumpled to the floor, he roughly pushed her against the wall—bracing his palms under her thighs and pulling them over his hips. His body sank into hers. He didn't bother with the kosode she wore. He merely loosened it enough to feel the heat of her flesh pressed tightly against his own.

This woman accepted him as he was. She acknowledged the demons that lurked in the recesses of his personality. She welcomed him within herself—taking everything he had to give. A fierce wave of possessiveness flushed through him at the sound of his name upon her lips in breathy pants.

Kagome loved him. He wouldn't sully the devotion she'd shown him. His mouth abandoned hers to seek out the junction of her neck. He scraped his teeth against the skin, suckling and biting—leaving large, blood colored marks in his wake. He wanted to do more than just burden her. He wanted to be more than just a monster to her. He wanted to be a man that she could depend on.

Okita felt her body snap beneath the pleasure of his touch. She arched back in his grip. Her hands dove into his hair as her thighs tightened around his waist. He kept going. He pushed her a bit further up the wall, completely losing himself within her warmth. No matter how things played out from here, there was one thing he knew for certain.

Their relationship had irrevocably changed for the better.

Okita woke to the sound of birds chirping. In the end neither he nor Kagome ate last night. All they'd had was each other. His smile quirked up at the thought. She laid sprawled beside him. Their clothes had long since been tossed in a messy heap. Tendrils of her hair fanned across their sheets sensually. A bright flush darkened her cheeks.

"Souji," Her brows furrowed at him. "You didn't actually leave any marks did you?"

He smirked at her confidently. His eyes dropped to the slight mouth-shaped bruising at the base of her neck. There'd be no hiding it. It'd serve as clear evidence to their active sex life. Not that he was complaining.

"Souji! We have to train today! How am I supposed to go out there with these on my neck!" Her voice grew panicked. It was cute. He enjoyed the wide arrange of emotions that she displayed so easily.

Okita shrugged, "Let them see." He braced his palms on either side of her head. He hovered over her body, tipping his head towards her neck. "It'll save us the hassle of explaining why we'll want some personal time together later."

Her face grew even darker, "You're horrible! Besides I'm sore! You have no idea how to hold back, do you?" She tried to sit up. Her legs curled under herself. The ronin took his place beside her, looping his arms around her waist and tugging her onto his lap. He buried his face into the crook of her neck.

"Never." His tone was sultry. He grazed his teeth along the marks he'd left upon her flesh. "Now we can either stay like this today and play hooky." Azure eyes whirled onto him darkly at the suggestion. "Or we can eat and get around for the day." His lips pulled into a vicious grin. "I'm sure Daichi's missing having you kick his ass into gear."

Kagome huffed, "As if, but we've got work to do." His wife leaned into his embrace. "So let's finish out today. That way we can get to Kyoto that much sooner."

He smiled, "Sounds good to me."

They hadn't spent much time getting around. She prepped a quick meal and dressed herself shortly afterwards. She'd donned the same hakamas and kosode as the previous day. As expected, the hickies contrasted against her pale skin—visible to everyone around. Her face was enflamed but she kept her head held high. Her stubbornness was a sight to behold.

The pair came to a stop at the training area. Her eyes darted to the two newcomers. She looked back at him in surprise.

"You never said anything about this."

He smiled at her widely, "I figured a good surprise would be nice. Besides, they're here to join us. Right?" The ronin directed his attention towards their newest recruits.

Hayato nodded firmly, "Of course." From beside him Hideyoshi scowled at the sun blazing down upon them. He clapped one hand over his eyes and waved the other nonchalantly.

"Yeah whatever you say. Just keep it down, would ya?" The older man rubbed his temples. "My head is killing me."

They refocused on the others. Okita grinned down at Maeda. The boy was in good spirits today. His shoulders were squared and a light of determination was evident in his eyes.

"I'm not going to be the one sparring with you today." His grin grew wide. "Michio will."

The reserved male blinked. Confusion mottled his face before it dissipated into stoic understanding.

"Understood!" The two paired off.

Okita cocked his head towards them, "Mind proctoring their fight? I'll have my hands full watching these two."

Hayato nodded, "Got it." Dark eyes briefly flashed to Kagome. Just as quickly as it happened, he'd turned his head and followed after their comrades. That was a good sign. He didn't linger nor interject with baseless objections. Perhaps the hickies had served a purpose after all?

Daichi had yet to remove his eyes from her neck. A mixture of awe and disgust crossed his features. Now how would he handle this? Okita settled into a comfortable distance away.

"I'll be proctoring this fight." He narrowed his eyes onto his recruit. "Now cut the bullshit and start taking this seriously." His voice was sharp.

Daichi grimaced. He slid into a defensive stance. A straight offensive attack would be easily thwarted by Kagome. She was more than adept as slipping around people's guards faster than they could respond. Putting her on the offense would be a good start as it'd give him the advantage. Not too bad of a strategy.

Okita raised his hand, "Begin!"

His wife sank low to the ground. He heard the faint sound of her blade unsheathing. His eyes followed the line of her swing. It was a low sweep, meant to knock an opponent off balance before they knew what hit them.

Okita watched closely. Daichi lowered his katana in a perpendicular line to the ground, almost stabbing the tip into the earth. A heavy clang of metal rang out. He quirked his brow. Well this was new. Had he finally pulled his head out of his ass?

Kagome blinked at their connected swords. Then a smile crept across her face. He knew that look well. She was excited. The young woman pushed back on her feet—jumping away before Daichi could retaliate.

"Not bad." She shifted her position, holding the end of the hilt squarely in her palm. "Keep it up, Daichi-san. The more you can predict my movements the easier it will be to get in a good hit." Ah there it was, that wisdom he'd grown accustomed to her using. He'd learned that she was an amazing teacher from the way she'd interacted with the other members of the Kyudo Club. Where Takeshi was harsh in his teaching methods, Kagome was accommodating. Perhaps a bit too much so.

She skirted behind Daichi. Her eyes focused on the spot between his shoulders. That was also her weakness. She'd use similar attack patterns when taken by surprise. The real question was if Daichi could take advantage of that knowledge.

The burly man twisted out of the way. His bulk would prevent him from moving as fast as her, but if he could at least dodge then he could wait for her stamina to tire out. Kagome's blade cut across air. The tip hardly grazed against the back of his shirt, opening a small tear in the fabric. He was improving.

"Alright, a little faster on the next one!" She shot forward again. Kagome had a habit of keeping her center of balance low. It allowed her to move more gracefully without losing any of her speed. The only issue was her force. Her attacks were naturally weaker against a male opponent. In a battle of strength she'd be at the disadvantage.

Daichi curved his katana towards her. The two came to a standstill as their blades met fiercely. His wife held her ground, pushing against him with all of her weight.

Okita didn't interrupt. He knew how this would end.

The recruit gave a hard push with his sword arm. His wife became unbalanced. He seized the opportunity to dash forward and place the tip of his sword at the point of her throat.

"Match point!" Okita callee out. Daichi had taken the victory. It was his first against her.

Kagome stood. She dusted her hakamas and grinned brightly at the man, "That's some good improvement! Once you get the hang of how your enemy fights then you can predict their patterns of attack." She cocked her head towards him. "Except Souji. He's a bit crazy when he fights."

Okita laughed heartily, "I'll take that as a compliment."

Daichi bowed before the young woman. His expression tight, "Thank you." The man's face was strained, as if he were forcing himself to say the words. He stared at him blankly. It was better than the scowls he'd been shooting her when he thought no one was looking, but still not quite the respect he wanted to see him give her.

Kagome shook her head, "Not at all." She folded her arms over her chest. A gentle smile played upon her lips, "It's frustrating, right?"

Daichi's eyes snapped to hers.

Her smile grew softer, "I can empathize with you. It took a long time before I learned how to win in a fight against someone stronger than me." She held up a couple of fingers. "There's two key points that determine how a fight will go. The first is your ability to adapt." She curled her finger back to leave only one remaining. "The second is how you respond to surprises. Let yourself slip for an instant and it could be over."

She offered him an understand look, "You don't be a mind reader. Just be willing to change how you fight as a battle progresses. Sometimes letting your enemy think they have the upper hand could be the key to defeating them."

With that Kagome moved to observe Michio and Maeda's ongoing fight. Daichi stares after her. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. Be willing to adapt? It was a new concept but perhaps she was right. He needed to change if he wanted to get stronger.

A small smirk pulled at his lips. This had been the opportunity he'd waited so long for. The chance to make himself stronger.

Okita observer the shift in his demeanor. His shoulders relaxed. That was more like it. Kagome wouldn't always be able to win over positive opinions with just her skills alone. There would even be a few who'd criticize the 'strangeness' of their relationship. It was going to be a long and difficult road but he had full confidence. They had each other and that was enough.

The group trained diligently until well after sundown. Kagome spent much of her time observing Maeda, critiquing the flaws in his stances. Whereas Hayato focused on Michio, guiding him into more secure defensive positions. Okita couldn't deny that the two made good sparring partners. They brought out the best in each other.

The ronin called the final match.

"Alright, we're moving out in the morning." His voice became sharp. "Meet us at the check point* at dawn. We'll be taking the Nakasendou* route to Kyoto. So rest up, we're gonna try to make it in a week."

All eyes inexplicably shot to Kagome. She didn't bother with the odd glances. This was part of the new normal for them. Soon, the would learn just how able bodied his wife truly was. A wide grin spread across his lips.

"We're off!" He slung his arm around her shoulders. They wandered off from the group. This would be their final night together in such an intimate setting. The next week would be filled with strenuous travel. From check points to rationing supplies, they'd likely not have a chance at any significant bonding time together like this. More than that though was the fact that at the compounds they'd be in a shared living space with the other captains. Dinner was held every night with the anticipation of fostering stronger bonds between the leadership. This would likely be the one of the last nights they'd get to spend without prying eyes and unexpected interruptions.

Okita pulled her close to him, "What do you say we have a little fun tonight?"

She pressed into him. A coy smile spread across her lips, "You just read my mind." Okita grinned back at her. This night was going to be an interesting one.

It's passed as quickly as he'd expected it. Their dinner had been peaceful. They'd shared in sake, exchanging simple stories of their time back at her home and finished the evening in their shared futon.

By morning Okita felt both refreshed and sore. His muscles cramped in place he hadn't known he'd had and a heavy feeling weighed down his legs. Had he ever felt so reluctant to return before? The man pushed the thought aside. That was neither here nor there. This decision had already been made. Besides, Kondou was waiting for them. His smile softened at the thought. It'd be nice to see him and Kagome meet for the first time.

"Souji, I can at least help with that." Kagome gestured to the overpacked furoshiki slung over his back. "You don't have to take that on your own." Her brows furrowed with concern. She'd been right in her assumption that he'd brought too damn many clothes for her, but he couldn't stand the thought of letting go with only one or two pairs. She needed a good amount to settle into their culture, but perhaps he'd gone overboard?

Okita threw a sideways smile at her, "You're in charge of the important stuff so there's no need. Besides it's going to be a long journey and wearing that is going to be hard enough on you." He tipped his chin towards her summer yukata. It was a soft yellow in color, decorated in patterns of white chrysanthemum flowers. To finish the look she'd used a pale pink obi. It was a gentle appearance—one that emphasized all the softness of her feminine physique.

"That's true. I just didn't think it'd be a good idea wearing the other stuff since it could cause a few issues at the check points." Kagome wrapped a strand of hair around her index finger nervously.

He splayed his palm across her cheek. She leaned into his touch, her eyes meeting his directly. The ronin brushed his thumb over the petal of her bottom lip. He realized that he'd forgotten one thing. He never bought her a hairpin.

They were considered a point of great pride for women in this era. They'd used them to tie up their hair in elegant styles and display their beauty with the item's accentuating nature.

Kagome had left her hair down. She had only a single tie she used when training. Outside of that she left it in its natural state. He loved it of course but he felt the need to spoil her a little. The man made a mental note to offer her one once they reached Kyoto. It'd be a nice welcoming gift.

The pair shifted at the sound of a cough. They turned to face the men of their tiny group. Each one dressed lightly but heavy packs slung over their shoulders.

Okita smirked, "Let's get going."

He took his wife's hand between his fingers. Starting today things would be different for them. His grip tightened ever so slightly. It'd be the first true start to their life beyond the well. A life in which they returned home to Kyoto. His smile widened.

This was nice.

A/n: So I think that's the first time we really get to see Okita's Yandere side in action. I wanted to take advantage of that characterization of him and emphasize the kind of duality between how he acts around Kagome and how he acts with everyone else. One thing that's clear about him is that he will fiercely guard those that he loves—even going so far as to do things that are questionable and maybe even "evil" given the context of who's recounting it.

That was one of the things that I love the most about Okita's route. That there seemed to be this inner battle going on with him that you don't get to see often except in certain scenes. Like the times he calls himself "The Sword of the Shinsengumi" but later must face the idea of a future without being that "Sword". He's a complex character that I absolutely adore writing. In this case I wanted to contrast that protective nature against the violence he often brought up in the previous arc of the story. He has many insecurities regarding how Kagome night see him if she's confronted face to face with the exact nature of his violent tendencies. So he'll be doubling down on his protectiveness of her for a while.

As of now he's going to start settling into a new life where these two "separate and distinct" aspects of his personality will play out. It's going to be rather fun to be honest.

As for Kagome, I really don't want her to be too Angst ridden or mopey. She's got a past and history to her but her greatest strength is her ability to keep moving forward in her life. She's a positive influence on Okita and in many ways he's helping her pull out of her shell little by little.

Frankly as of this moment I'm not sure how much of the actual travel time I want to get into. There are some possible scenes for development that would be good to include but overall I don't think the story will suffer much if it's skipped and reincorporated after they reach Kyoto.

Anyways thanks so much guys! You have no idea how happy your reviews made me! I actually do try to respond as much as I can to reviews that I get. So I apologize if I wasn't able to message you. I always feel it best to open lines of communication between author and readers. Your feedback helps inspire new ideas that wouldn't have come to life beforehand.

Anyways I'll stop rambling here. Just know that I appreciate you all so much. You have no idea how much your support helps. With all the love, LM.

**Geta—A traditional Japanese style of footwear that has a wooden base.

**Beheading—In Bushidou, it is believed that the spirit resides in the stomach. When committing ritual suicide they're releasing their soul so that it may continue onto its next life. When a Samurai or warrior is beheaded the soul is considered unable to leave the body. They believed that the process of reincarnation would be halted and their soul permanently trapped in the body. This form of death was considered a great dishonor.

**Staging posts—Travel in Japan was strictly monitored. Women were forbidden from traveling on their own. The Nakasendō route in particular had sixty-nine of these stations between Edo and Kyoto.

**Nakasendō—One of the five routes during Edo Japan that connected Edo and Kyoto. It was a landlocked route that passed through the Kiso Valley and post town Magome. This route was a preferred way of traveling due to the significantly less amount of river crossings.