Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Suggested Listening: Eternal Youth by Rude.
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Twenty Four: Peace
Hijikata hadn't been lying when he stated that he wasn't going to go easy on her. He'd assigned a plethora of tasks ranging in difficulty. From laundry, tea brewing, cleaning and even cooking. Kagome had adjusted a new schedule that filled her days from start to finish. She didn't mind though. It gave her a purpose. It gave her a reason to keep trying her best everyday. Plus the last thing she wanted was to feel as if she were some sort of burden on the Shinsengumi. Okita was earning his way through his patrols, so she'd earn her way by aiding in everything else she could.
The weeks had passed by her fairly quickly. Much of the initial excitement about their marriage started to fade. Rumors still surrounded them but they became much tamer by comparison. Now the largest bet circling the Maekawa House was how long it'd take for her to get pregnant. She felt her face heat at that notion.
She'd for the most part kept to the Yagi House except on the days Okita took her out for a private dinner. A smile touched her lips. He was an exceptionally doting husband. The man always had a knack for surprising her, but since their arrival at the Shinsengumi he'd doubled down on that habit. It was in the simple things he did. From the occasional spontaneous dinner, to the small gifts he'd buy for her while on his patrols. The last time he was out he'd brought home another festive summer yukata for her. He'd claimed that he rather expand upon her collection and set it in the tansu with the others. He truly was something else. Her smile widened. She wouldn't have him any other way either.
The young woman folded her husband's freshly dried haori. She moved to the next set of clothes. Amongst the sea of fabric strung up upon the clothesline, she spotted a face she didn't recognize. They darted behind the white and blue linens; tucking away as if wishing to remain unseen. Kagome stiffened. Her palm instinctively came to rest at the hilt on her side. Was it an intruder?
Okita had warned her on several occasions that she couldn't let her guard down even in the compounds. There were always those who sought to infiltrate them and take advantage of the confusion. She walked silently through the maze of blue haori and white futon sheets.
The heavy thudding of footsteps against the grass alerted her to a second presence. It was definitely male. Judging by the way he walked, he seemed assured of himself. Cocky bastard. She slipped behind him.
Azure eyes narrowed at the looming frame of the unknown male. Was he a Shinsengumi soldier? She didn't recognize him. Long, red-hair fell down the length of his back as his eyes scanned around him. He was searching for something or someone. That couldn't be good. With measured movements, she sank into an offensive position.
She couldn't kill the man until she could decipher who he was. She knew enough about the code* that governed the Shinsengumi to know that the men weren't permitted to draw their swords against each other. If she were to attack him then Okita would be the one who'd suffer those consequences. She would have to play this carefully.
Kagome shot forward. She pressed the hilt of her wakizashi into the stranger's back. He stiffened at the contact. His eyes widened as he cocked his head to meet her gaze.
"State your purpose." The young woman ground out. A threat was all she needed at this moment. Something to knock him off his guard and obtain the answers she needed.
The male bowed his chest, "How dare you pull your sword against a Captain!" She quirked her brow at that. Captain? She'd never seen him before in her life. What was this Captain nonsense? Kagome kept her guard up. She nudged the hilt of her blade further into his back.
"Identify yourself." Her tone was kept low for added measure.
"I am Takeda Kanryusai, Captain of the Fifth Division!" His tone was bolstered with his rise in arrogance. "Now withdraw your sword!"
Kagome reluctantly obliged. She'd never met the Captain of the Fifth Division. Going by this man's assertiveness, she could only guess as to why that was.
Her expression hardened, "What is a Captain doing skulking around here like some tresspasser? If you have something you need then out with it." Her eyes hardened at him. "You're likely to get yourself killed on accident the more you sneak around like that." What the hell was he even trying to accomplish? Did he even think his actions through at all? Had it been Okita that he'd tried to sneak up on then he'd be dead by now. The man didn't play games. He was as vicious as he was protective. This didn't bode well. Her eyes narrowed sharply at the man.
Takeda tipped his nose to the air in a show of self-importance, "What do you know? You're just a woman." His gaze peered down at her with no small amount of loathing. "You shouldn't even be here."
Kagome might have bristled at the comment if she hadn't felt so secure in her marriage. Okita had done his best to help her feel welcomed in this house. She would not go crying to their futon at the first slight leveled against her. She had more respect for herself than that. She would not cave to idle threats.
The young woman straightened her stance, "Same to you." She threw back at him. "I won't be scared off easily so if that was your only goal then you might as well leave before you get caught." Her voice dropped into a threatening tone. "It wouldn't end well for you if Hijikata-san finds out that you snuck in here without permission."
Truthfully, she had no idea whether or not this man was permitted into this house. But after weeks of never seeing hide or hair of him, she could only assume that he wasn't allowed access to the Yagi House. The others were fiercely defensive of their living quarters. It didn't appear as if they trusted this man enough to allow him near where they slept.
Takeda glared at her, "You wouldn't dare." It seemed that her hunch had been correct. The sudden paleness to his complexion told her that much.
Kagome crossed her arms over her chest, "I don't give a damn what you do." She leveled a fierce look on him. "State your business then leave."
A smirk spread across his lips, "Well listen to you. I would expect no less of a woman married to Okita-kun." It wasn't a compliment. She could tell by the sneer upon his face. That time she felt herself bristle.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Kagome wasn't a fool. She knew her husband had a rough exterior. He was harsh against the other men of the Shinsengumi and reserved his kindness only for those he loved. But that didn't make him a bad person. It simply made him stronger. Was this man insinuating that Okita's ferocity was something to be reviled? A sharp wave of protectiveness went through her. Like hell she'd just let that fly. Okita deserved more respect than that. For all of his faults, he was still an earnest man.
Takeda postured, "Only a woman with so little self-respect could ever marry a man such as him." His sneer turned cold. "Did you never realize just how depraved he is before allowing him into your body?" The Captain stepped close to her. His scent infiltrated her nose with a sharp sting. He reeked of blood. She held her place, not willing to give him so much as an inch. Memories she long wished to bury in her past threatened to spill out.
Don't forget.
Her hands trembled in silent fury. As if she could. Those nightmares still haunted her. They still plagued her dreams. The only reprieve came when she was wrapped in her husband's arms—when she was folded protectively in his embrace and shielded from the pain of her past.
Kagome tipped her chin to meet his eyes defiantly. Like hell she'd let this bastard speak of him in such a way.
"Allow me to enlighten you." His hand grabbed for the collar of her yukata. "The only reason you're safe is because people fear him." She stiffened in his grip. Her fingers curled into tight fists at her side. This wasn't new to her. She'd been grabbed like this before. Only back then all she could do was cower in fear. She was different now. She was stronger. The man continued, "As should you. Okita-kun is not a man that can be trusted."
She'd had enough. Kagome reactively swept her arm across his, knocking his hands away from her forcefully.
"Don't you ever put your hands on me." Her voice cut through the atmosphere. "For the record, I don't give a damn about how other people view Souji. I know the kind of man he is." She didn't back down at the sharp curl of his upper lip. "So don't you think I'll allow you to speak ill of him. He's ten times the warrior you'll ever be, you filthy coward!" For only a coward would feel the need to place his hands upon a woman in such a way. Only a coward would feel threatened by her presence under this roof.
Kagome heard the gnashing of his teeth. She'd seen his fist rear back as if to strike her. The memory of tearing pain, a scream that sounded so unreal even to her own ears and blackness returned. History would repeat if she did not react. In that moment she didn't think. Her hand shot out, grabbing the collar of his clothing and yanked him onto his knees in front of her.
"You really want to make that mistake?" All warmth left her expression. Her body trembled from unreleased rage. A long time ago she would've cowered. She would've thrown her arms over her face and fell into the fetal position. But not now. Not today. She was no longer that terrified girl. She was a fighter.
"I'm not afraid of you. I've seen the mouth of hell before and let me tell you; you're nothing compared to that." Her eyes remained impassive to the flash of fury that entered his expression. Inuyasha. Naraku. Both of them posed a greater threat to her than this man did. This fool did not inspire fear but a deeply rooted rage—a hotly burning wrath that would not subside until justice was met.
Takeda tried to regain his footing within her grasp, "Unhand me! You only are permitted residence in this home because you chose to open your body for a monster to take pleasure from." His eyes flicked to hers angrily. "You are nothing more than someone for him to use. You're just as expendable to him as the rest of us." Fire raged in her veins. Used? By Okita? Never. That man had already shown her just how far he was willing to go for her. He could never be so cruel. He was not Inuyasha. He was not a monster.
Kagome didn't feel her fist moving until it'd connected to Takeda's eye. The man fell to the ground heavily. He clapped a thick hand to his injury, using his one good eye to look up at her in a state of shock.
Her body shook violently with her fury, "I couldn't care less about what you say about me, but don't you ever insult my husband." Kagome tilted her chin up to glare down upon his shocked expression. "Souji is a good man. You don't even know the first thing about him so how could you possibly judge him fairly?"
The image of that boyish smile flashed in her mind. His kindness, his warmth, his very generosity towards her had been so overwhelmingly reassuring. He'd only ever sought to ensure her comfort and happiness. There was no doubt in her mind that Okita had his faults. He was human. He wasn't some godly image of a man without his issues. But that didn't make him a monster either. He was genuine and earnest in his feelings towards her. She could not possibly doubt him based solely on the words of a snake.
Her lips turned downwards. Was this what he'd had to deal with? Were these the things that people filled his mind with? If so then it was no small wonder as to why he was so cautious in the way he regarded her vulnerability. At his core, Kagome knew that he only wanted to protect her. Even if it meant protecting her from himself. She'd have to speak with him later. Both in regards to what happened and to offer him the reassurance he desperately needed. It was only fair.
"You will regret this." Takeda scrambled to his feet. At the sound of Hijikata's thunderous footsteps, he quickly scurried off to the Maekawa House. Kagome held her ground. Like hell she would.
"Kagome!" The Commander called out to her.
The young woman straightened her yukata. It wouldn't do to give the wrong impression. She made her way back to the engawa where the man was already waiting for her. His face was pinched into a deep scowl as his eyes darted between her and the Maekawa House.
"Is there an issue?" Kagome cocked her head to the side. Had he sensed Takeda's presence? If so then she had to give the man credit. His instincts were quite sharp to be able to pick up on that. She hadn't even noticed him until he was skulking around the laundry.
"Try not to go wanderin' around without one of the guys." His eyes shifted back to hers intently. "I know some of the soldiers have been getting too close to here." He didn't have to say it for her to understand his warning.
It was dangerous.
She just learned that firsthand. Bearing Okita's name would only serve as a minor deterrent. For men like Takeda who took issue with her very presence and had a higher station of power, it would only be a small obstacle to overcome. People like him would be able to invent any sort of lie to paint her in negative light. The last thing she needed was to put Okita in a position to choose between her and his brethren.
Kagome offered the Commander a polite smile, "I appreciate the concern Hijikata-san." She continued onwards before he could misunderstand her words. "Souji's mentioned it a bit before. So I've been keeping close to here for now." Her smile turned wry. "I do apologize if I caused any unnecessary concern though. The clothes are finished here. Once I'm done folding them I'll return inside to help with lunch." She would not defy this order. She simply needed to finish what she started.
A thought quickly entered her mind, "Oh that's right. I meant to ask before but what do you and the other Captains prefer to eat? Souji's already given me his list of preferences." In spite of their rocky introduction, Kagome had learned that Hijikata wasn't a bad person per say. He was stern and had no patience for Okita's more carefree nature. However he expressed his concern in unique ways. Just as his sudden appearance now was likely due in part of his worry that she'd be harassed if left alone for too long. Avoiding unnecessary conflict with him was vital.
Hijikata sighed. He shook his head, "I bet he did. He has the taste of a child." She waited patiently for his response. "Don't worry about the details. Just make whatever's available. Yamazaki has to buy more supplies soon too so we're running low."
Kagome nodded once more, "Understood." The Commander looked between her and the still unfolded laundry. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. She made a small noise of confusion. Was there something else he needed from her?
Hijikata's shoulders slumped. He stepped off the engawa towards the freshly dried linens.
"I'll help for now." His eyes were trained on the Maekawa House as he spoke. "Can't have you standing out here too long."
The young woman smiled. She trailed after him and resumed her duties.
"I appreciate your help." Kagome pulled another haori down, folding it neatly before setting it in the basket. The Commander waved her comment off. A comfortable silence settled between them. She kept focused on the task at hand. It was nice having small moments like these. It served as a reminder to the sort of tranquility she appreciated most about being with Okita. Even if he wasn't beside her at the moment, she still felt the lingering sense of peace living with him brought her.
She continued down the line. The young woman paused as Hijikata eyed her hand oddly.
"What happened?" His eyes narrowed at her knuckles. She looked down. The skin was scuffed and raw. Had she really hit Takeda that hard? She'd hardly noticed what she'd done to herself.
Kagome flashed him a confident smirk, "I just hit it on something stupid. No need to worry."
Black brows pinched together. Hijikata was many things but a fool wasn't one of them. He'd piece together what happened fairly quickly. It would be easier to simply tell him outright. Her lips dipped downwards at the thought. Somehow that left a sour taste in the back of her mouth. She'd spent so much of her youth cowering to Inuyasha's threats. She didn't want to return to that state ever again. Besides, she had a feeling that Okita would want to be the first to know. He was quite vicious when it came to her safety. A small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. It was one thing she loved the most about him. No matter what, she knew exactly where she stood with him. There were no questions; no doubts. She was just as important to him as the Shinsengumi itself. As such, he'd defend her in the same way.
Hijikata didn't push the matter. He may have already had a suspicion. It was fine by her. She'd already given Takeda a piece of her mind. The man would either have to lie or own up to the fact that he'd been struck so forcefully by a woman. That and he'd have to admit to sneaking into the Yagi House. Given those choices she had a feeling which one he'd pick.
The laundry went by quickly with the Commander's help. She offered him a grateful smile as she collected the basket full of fresh linens. Now all that was left was to put these away and start on lunch.
"Harada is currently on kitchen duty. Once you're finished, go see if he needs any help." Hijikata turned on the ball of his heel. He padded down the engawa before stopping momentarily. "Also," His voice was quiet; so much so that she could hardly hear him speak. "If any of the guys start giving you shit, come either to me or Kondou-san. We'll take care of it."
"Not Souji?" She decided to tease him. Kagome was already fully aware of the reason why Hijikata didn't want Okita involved in this. The man was liable to fly into a fit of rage. He was calm and gentle towards her, but absolutely merciless when it came to anything that might cause her harm. Keeping him from killing Takeda would take a miracle at this point. Regardless, she would not withhold that information from him. He deserved to be the first to know.
Hijikata shook his head. He cast her a blistering glare for the joke before trotting off. She smiled to herself. The men here were gruff. They each had their own hardened nature; sharpened by the danger they faced every day. Yet in times like these she could sense the current of kindness in their actions. Hijikata could have easily left her with a warning and reassigned her duties. Instead he'd chosen to keep an eye out while she finished up just in case.
These weren't bad men.
Kagome hurriedly made her way down the engawa. She deposited each haori in the respective Captain's room along with their washed sheets. Once finished, she set the basket aside and returned to the kitchen.
The young woman paused at the sound of Harada's low muttering. His brows were pulled into a deep furrow as he leaned over the boiling pot of food.
"Need some help?" Kagome smiled widely at the red-head's look of dismay. The scent of tofu and green onions filtered through the tiny kitchen. Okita was not going to enjoy this meal already.
"Please," Harada's tone was desperate. He stepped to the side so she could assess the damage.
"Miso soup?" She glanced into the pot. He'd gotten the base done quite nicely. Was he perhaps stuck on the flavoring?
The Captain rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah. I'm not really good at this sort of thing."
She gestured towards the pot, "You've done a good job so far. Just keep an eye on those vegetables. Make sure they don't overcook." She tied up the sleeves of her yukata. She settled in beside him as she set to work on the meat.
"I'll handle this part so let's put that on a simmer to keep it from overcooking." The young woman started to cut at the freshly caught fish. Cooking in this time was vastly different from what she was used to. There were no ranges that could adjust heat with the turn of a dial. Nor were there refrigerators that kept her food cool when needed. On the other hand the flavors always came out much stronger than they did in her era. She could only assume that it was due in part to the fresh ingredients and method of cooking over an open fire.
The Captain observed her keenly. He gestured towards the bones still lined along the meat of the fish.
"How do you remove those? I try but the damn things are stubborn." He leaned over her shoulder to peer down at the filet.
Kagome pushed it towards him, "It's easier if you have a tool that can pull the bones but you can still get them out by hand. You just have to feel around a bit." She showed him how to do one then allowed him to finish the rest.
Harada's eyes focused on his task intently. A keen thirst for knowledge lit up his features.
"Do you like this sort of thing?" Kagome set to work on cutting the next fish for him.
He laughed a little, "Well none of the guys here are all that great at cooking. Souji's probably the worst out of all of us." Now that surprised her. He'd always left the cooking to her and never seemed all that interested in learning either. Could he truly be that bad at it?
"Why do you look so surprised?" Harada grinned as he finished the first fish, moving onto the second one she'd passed to him. "He never told you?"
Kagome shook her head, "Not at all. I just thought he didn't like cooking." About the most she'd ever seen him do was brew tea.
The red-head laughed loudly at that, "Well that's true to some extent. Souji's impatient so he never liked this sort of thing." She took the de-boned fillet, cutting it into even pieces to be added into the miso. "Last time Hijikata gave him kitchen duty he tried to make some kind of curry." Kagome listened intently as he passed the second de-boned fish over to her. "It came out looking like a black tar. No one could eat it. I think Shin tried but he was out sick for the rest of the week."
Well that'd explain Okita's aversion to cooking. He was probably worried he'd accidentally kill her with it. She laughed loudly at the thought. Death by curry. Now that was a new one.
"I think I have to ask him about that when he gets back." A wide grin played across her lips. She placed the even cuts of meat onto the pan. They sizzled over the fire as the scent of carp filtered through the kitchen.
"I'm sure he'll love that." Harada watched the food keenly. He had a vested interest in learning how to cook. Perhaps the meal the other day wasn't under seasoned on purpose but rather because none of them knew how to do it properly. She tapped her chin.
Maybe she could help them out in this regard. Her eyes dropped to the finished meat. She plucked the pan from over the fire and carefully added the ingredients to the original pot of stock and vegetables.
"Lunch is finished." She grinned up at the Captain. He carefully took the pot from her and portioned the meals. Okita and Saito were on the day shift this week. Which meant that Nagakura and Heisuke were pulling the night shift. They'd be waking soon for their first meal of the day. She grabbed one tray at a time, carefully carrying them into the Common Room. Harada followed after her with two trays in his arms.
Meals without Okita used to be an awkward affair. The silence that filled the gaps of forced conversation had been difficult. At least until she'd began asking questions. Things that were mundane or seemed obvious, she asked them all.
"So who's technically the strongest? I've only ever seen a few of you fight." She looked between Heisuke and Nagakura. This was merely one of the ice-breakers she'd use. Anything to do with fighting and the conversations would become charged with excitement.
The burly male flexed his muscles, "You're looking right at him!" Immediately afterward a partially devoured piece of carp smacked his face.
"As if!" Heisuke's spoon was still held up, a mischievous look upon his face. "You can't beat Souji so there's no way you're the toughest!" The teen jumped away the second Nagakura tried wrapping his arm around his neck.
"Say that to my face you little runt!"
Kagome casually sipped at her miso. A smile pulled at her lips as she watched the two wrestle around on the floor. At the very least she could say all their meals were quite lively when Nagakura, Heisuke and Harada were around. The trio just had a certain energy to them that livened up the crowd wherever they went.
"Well Shin can't beat Souji and Souji can't beat Saito but Saito always loses to Shin. Those three are pretty evenly matched." Harada ignored the chaos to answer her question more thoroughly. "If I had to choose, I'd put my bet on Kondou-san."
Nagakura paused, he sat up as Heisuke struggled to escape the vice-like grip of his arm. "Now that's a beast of a man! I don't know if there's anyone that can beat Kondou-san!" A bright grin lit his features. "I'm surprised Souji hadn't been going on and on about it. The guy can never say enough about him."
Harada shot her a sly grin, "I think he's been a bit busy with other things."
Her face heated involuntarily. Since when had it gotten so warm? She focused on her meal to avoid the sudden attention.
Nagakura's face dropped, "Yeah, he's been followin' ya around a lot more recently." He thought for a second. "And he's been pissy to everybody else."
She knew exactly what they were referencing.
"So?" The red-head pushed. "What'd the idiot do?"
Her bowl became increasingly more interesting to look at, "Not much." Did her voice just get higher? It certainly sounded like it. Kagome closed her eyes. She was not going to tell these guys about the night Okita had purposely misled her about their room being adjacent to Hijikata's. Nope, not a word from her about that mortifying incident. It'd taken her three days just to meet the Commander's eyes afterwards.
Since then Okita had been apologetic. He'd followed after her, helped her as much as he could and offered her a truly sincere apology. Unfortunately she had an entirely different reason as to why she'd been forced to cut sex. The fertile period of her cycle had been approaching. So as a safety precaution they were forced to put a hold on their sexual activities. She'd explained as much to Okita and he'd taken it well.
They'd only just returned to the Shinsengumi. It wouldn't bode well if she accidentally got pregnant before they'd had a chance to truly settle in. Children were a long-term responsibility that she simply didn't want just yet. She was also sure that Okita would prefer to spend this time enjoying the freedom of being childless for the moment. So they'd settled on a compromise and found pleasure through other means. It wasn't quite the same as regular sex but it worked well enough for her. For Okita though, that didn't appear to be the case. The poor man was suffering.
"Just let it be." Hijikata entered the Common Room. He took his place at the far corner. Violet eyes narrowed into thin slits at Nagakura and Heisuke. "As for you two," His voice grew threatening. "Knock it off. I can hear you down the damn hall."
She was saved! The young woman shot him a grateful look before setting her bowl down. The others took to their seats.
"Oh come on, you can't deny that he's been pissy." The burly man scowled. "Damn near took my head off during training yesterday." His hand went to a small scratch on the side of his neck.
Kagome drifted away from the conversation. She'd need to talk to Okita tonight about what'd happened. He'd been in a particularly foul mood so his reaction was something she'd have to be cautious about. She didn't want him to risk breaking the code. She needed her husband alive. Not being forced to commit seppuku* because of some idiot.
The group grew raucous as Kondou entered the room. The same wide, paternal smile lit up his face. Kagome greeted him as he took a spot beside Hijikata. They fell into a casual conversation. She shifted into a more comfortable position. Even with Okita gone on patrols she didn't feel lonely. Her smile widened. She felt at home.
"Ah, Kagome!" The Chief looked towards her as she finished her meal. The young woman shot him a quizzical look. "Are you free? There's something I wanted to discuss." The same kind smile played upon his lips. There was such a warmth to him that it lowered her carefully crafted guards easily. She could see why Okita cherished him so deeply. The man was genuinely kind in a way that inspired trust in his colleagues.
Kagome smiled, "Of course." His features lit up. She waited patiently as he ate and followed after him once he'd finished. She had a feeling that this discussion was going to be a positive one.
Okita narrowed his eyes at the crowd. He searched through unfamiliar faces for any sign of danger. Things seemed peaceful for now. The muscle in his sword arm twitched. What a shame. He could use a good fight to work off his frustration.
He couldn't deny that the lack of sex wasn't a prime source of his foul mood. Kagome tried to help him find release through other methods but in the end he simply craved the full feeling of her wrapped around him that much more. His wife's concerns about children were valid. She wasn't quite ready to become a mother so he wouldn't force that on her purposely. Nonetheless accidents were still a risk. He'd do the best he could and just tough things out. At the very least his sexual frustration served as a good motivator in his training sessions. His skill had vastly improved since the last time he'd fought Nagakura.
He grinned viciously. It'd be a little while before the other Captain would have the guts to call him soft-hearted again. He may have gentled his tongue towards Kagome but that didn't make him any less fierce of a warrior.
Okita stopped mid-step as someone collided into his side. He blinked, glancing at the man who'd just run into him. How had he missed their presence? Immediately his guard was up.
"Oh, sorry about that!" The stranger smiled widely. He kept a bright expression in the face of the Shinsengumi's patrol. Okita gripped the hilt of his katana a little more firmly. This was unusual. Why hadn't he noticed him beforehand?
The man tipped his chin up at them, "It's a mighty hot day out. You boys feel like taking a short break? We've got plenty to feed you with." His eyes were a dull shade of hazel; nothing notable to spark his intrigue. There was no flicker of suspicion or warmth—just a flat color that seemed like a veil. He felt his instincts react to the odd revelation.
Okita looked between the man and his troops behind him. They were breathing in ragged pants. Sweat collected across their foreheads as they used their hands to shield their eyes from the sun. They were in desperate need of rest. His lips turned downwards.
"Captain Okita," Hayato came to his side. "We should take up his offer. The others are likely to collapse." The recruit was turning out to be one of his strongest fighters yet. He was hardly affected by the natural elements and worked well with the others. Maeda even seemed to have taken to him in the short time since their arrival in Kyoto.
Okita's shoulders dropped, "Alright, we'll take you up on that." He looked back at the man. This time a flicker of emerald sparked behind his eyes. Just as quickly as it was there, the color returned to normal as if nothing had happened at all. What the hell? His hand dropped to his daishou. This didn't feel right.
"Of course, come right on in gentlemen!" The shopkeeper invited them into the quaint restaurant. There were a few other couples sitting at the tables around them. His troops crowded the establishment, each splitting off into separate groups to fill the small tables. Hayato, Hideyoshi and Maeda trailed after him.
Okita took a seat with his back against the wall. His gaze followed the man cautiously as he set about taking their orders. Something was off about this guy.
"You gettin' a weird vibe too?" Hideyoshi glared at the overly welcoming male. "Now I ain't been here too long but this guy is fuckin' weird."
Hayato sighed, "Shouldn't you feel a little grateful? He didn't have to let us take a break here."
The older male snorted through his nose, "That's something you gotta learn. No good deed isn't offered without a string attached." He gestured towards their temporary host. "Just you wait. He's gonna come sniffin' over here soon enough. Mark my words."
Okita kept silent. He was in full agreement with Hideyoshi's sentiment. He didn't like the oddness of this situation. Who was this man? What did he want? A wave of vicious protectiveness rose up within him. He'd find out soon enough.
The stranger approached their table last, "So what can I get you guys?" His speech was informal. It had a strange drawl to it; like mixture of several accents at once.
"Just water and dango." Okita looked at the others. They took their turns putting in their requests before the man gave him a wide grin. "Say, aren't you Okita Souji? The one everybody's been talkin' about?"
He stiffened. From beside him, Hideyoshi's posture went rigid as the atmosphere grew thick.
Okita played ignorance, "Depends on who's asking." His smile was sharp. Any normal person would've sensed the violent intent rolling off of him and backed away. The stranger did not. A wide grin spread across the man's lips.
"Ha, the name's Higurashi Daisuke." Okita's brows twitched. That surname could not be a coincidence. "Rumor has it that you've finally settled down. Did you find yourself a good wife?" Now he knew this guy was up to something. Higurashi and the vague mentioning of Kagome in one go? There was more at play here than a generous shopkeeper.
Daisuke continued, "I used to be pretty wily in my youth too. I didn't start calming down until I married my wife." His grin was wide and full of affection. "She practically tore my hide into two when she found out about my secret stash of sake."
There was meaning behind his words that he couldn't quite decipher. If Inuyasha was capable of hiding in the crowd, he doubted that he'd approach him so peacefully. So who was this then? Could it be someone Kagome had known from her previous travels? Some sort of youkai capable of hiding their true appearance? It'd explain the use of her maiden name and odd shift in his eye color but who could it be? He still knew next to nothing about her travels. His lips dipped downwards at the thought.
He didn't want to force her into reliving that nightmare by making her tell him. She needed to come around to it on her own accord, when she felt ready to tackle that portion of her past. Until that happened he'd have to keep on his toes. He had no idea who was her ally and who was her enemy. He couldn't drop his guard just yet.
"She's a headstrong sort." Okita tested the waters. "She's got a resolve that I envy sometimes." He closed his eyes. In spite of her pain she was always so dedicated to him. He was grateful to Kagome for always placing him first but for now, he wanted her to focus on herself for once. He'd deal with this stranger on his own. Okita shifted his gaze towards him, "Why do you ask?"
Daisuke didn't answer him directly. He merely took their orders back and threw a playful grin at him. Okita remained on guard. He didn't like this.
"Was somethin' weird about his name?" Hideyoshi lowered his voice as to not be heard. "You got this crazy look on your face when he'd said it. Not the normal one either." He ignored the comment.
The ronin should've known. He kept his eyes on Daisuke as he responded to the inquiry, "Higurashi was Kagome's maiden name. As far as her family is concerned he's not related to her."
The other men stiffened.
"Could it be a coincidence?" Maeda was the first to speak. "It's possible for people to share the same name without blood ties."
Hayato shook his head, "He seemed too interested in their marriage." Dark eyes narrowed suspiciously at their host. "Do you think he knows her?"
Okita couldn't answer him. He didn't have a damn clue. His instincts screamed yes. In which case the only way that'd be possible was if he weren't human. This man was likely a youkai.
Daisuke returned with their food, "Enjoy. It's on the house today. Oh by the way," He dropped his voice so that only he could hear him. "I'm grateful to you. I hadn't seen her smile like that before." The ronin froze as the male continued. "I can't answer your questions now but if you meet me here tonight then I can explain more." A small smile played upon the stranger's lips. "All I ask is that you take care of her."
Okita roughly grabbed his arm when he made to leave, "Who are you?" The steel in his tone was enough to cut through ice. Daisuke didn't flinch.
He brushed off his grip, "Someone who knows about Kagome and the well." His brows furrowed. "Inuyasha too but let's save that for later." The man stepped away. "Enjoy yourselves!" His face slipped into a mask of perfect hospitality.
Hideyoshi leaned close to him, "What'd the bastard want? I couldn't hear a damn thing."
Which was good. He couldn't expose Kagome or their secret with the well to anyone else. Besides, his eyes narrowed at the man, it would seem he'd found himself another source of information. The only question was if it'd be reliable.
Okita shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing at all." He evaded the question. A small smirk slanted across his lips. He pointed a dexterous finger towards the sticks of dango still left upon Hayato's plate. "You gonna eat those?"
He'd took the leftover dessert from his subordinate. His eyes didn't leave Daisuke's form. He'd give it a shot tonight. If everything went to hell then he'd kill him. Kagome's safety was his top priority. He wouldn't risk it for the world.
The ronin swallowed what was left. He'd get his answers tonight one way or another. He'd make damn sure of it.
Kagome followed after Kondou. The man led her away from the group and towards a more secluded room near the end of the East Wing.
"I use this as my study." The Chief smiled down at her widely. "Make yourself at home." He gestured towards a seat at the center. She offered him a polite smile in return, taking up the offered spot. Kondou sat across from her. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly for a moment.
"How've you been settling in so far?" His voice was warm as he offered her a cup of tea. Kagome returned the favor by filling his own.
"Quite well." She took a drink. "Souji's been helping me out when I need and the others have been exceptionally welcoming." Which was true. Okita didn't just follow her around everywhere because he felt bad about the incident with Hijikata. He'd also seen to it that she knew what she needed to do to fit into the Yagi House without raising questions.
Although Harada and Saito were quite welcoming in their own ways. Where Harada was kind, gentle and had the air of a caring older brother, Saito was curt and to the point. Both men were usually one of the first to answer any questions she had if Okita was out on patrols. Neither were keen on leaving her alone for long periods of time if they could help it. Given the incident with Takeda earlier in the day, she could guess that that was probably the reason why. He was certainly not the only one to have an issue with her. Harada and Saito were merely guarding her in their own way.
"That's good!" Kondou's face lit up with his smile. "I was worried at first but you seem to be fitting in well." There was a brief pause as he tried to collect the words he wanted to say. Kagome waited patiently.
"If you don't mind," Kondou started. "Would you be willing to join tomorrow's training session?" She blinked rapidly. Now that was something she hadn't anticipated. "Souji speaks very highly of your skills. After seeing those matches I have to agree."
Kagome knitted her brows together in concern, "Would that not disrupt the morale? I don't have a problem with it but I don't want to cause you any issues." Takeda was liable to use the Training Room as grounds to challenge her to a fight. She didn't see any problem with taking him on there but the risk was still high. She really needed to talk to Okita about that.
Kondou smiled widely, "It's no trouble at all! Besides, you could spend the first few days on observation. Give them some time to acclimate before throwing open the fire."
Kagome nodded, "Then I accept. Souji's been talking about doing more sparring lately anyways. So this would be a good start." It'd also serve as the foundation for her acceptance by the rank-and-file soldiers. She still had a long way to go before she could count herself as one of their ranks.
The man nodded to himself. He offered her that same smile before switching topics.
"So tell me," He leaned forward. "How'd you two really meet?"
She laughed nervously, "It's a very strange story." She spent the next few hours explaining how they'd gotten together. By the end her face was flaming and Kondou was grinning from ear to ear. She had a feeling Okita was going to have a field day with this when he got back.
Okita sighed. His troops trudged behind him wearily. Their rounds were finished. Daylight was draining away into a scarlet monochrome. They'd briefly filled their stomachs at Daisuke's restaurant and now they were exhausted beyond reason. His arms felt heavy. He'd need to rest before returning to Daisuke's restaurant later that night. He'd get his answers but in the meantime he couldn't let Kagome know what he was up to. At least not until he discerned whether Daisuke posed a threat to her or not.
The ronin paused. Upon the Maekawa House's engawa sat Takeda. He had a raw cut of meat pressed tightly against his eye. Even beneath the meat he could spy hints of the swelling. The skin around his hand was bruised a dark shade of purple. Okita felt his lips quirk upwards sharply.
"I think you're supposed to eat your food, not wear it." He didn't hold back the snide tone in his voice. "What, you piss off Harada again?" It was no secret that the other Captain had a short temper. He was quick to throw fists when angered and Takeda had a certain knack for irritating the best of them. It wouldn't be surprising if he'd pissed off Harada enough to cause him to punch him.
The other male snorted through his nose, "It's none of your concern." Okita had a feeling that Takeda would only become more tight lipped about the matter if he pushed it. So he pressed forward, departing with one final shot at him.
"Better keep that mouth shut next time. Otherwise you won't be able to see at all." He didn't see the look on the other man's face. He could only hear the faint sputtering left in his wake. He'd have to ask Harada what happened because that story sounded entirely too good to pass up.
The man glanced around the entrance of the Yagi House. His heart dropped into his stomach as he came to a realization: Kagome wasn't there. She was always waiting for him when he returned home. So where was she? Hijikata approached him from the far side of the engawa.
"Kondou-san is talking to her now." The Commander folded his arms over his chest. Okita felt his shoulders relax. The two hadn't had much of a chance to get to know each other yet. So perhaps he'd decided to use this time to learn more about her. Hijikata's eyes shifted towards the vague silhouette of Takeda's form. "So you saw it?"
Okita pursed his lips together, "What, that shiner Takeda's got? What'd the idiot do?"
The dark haired male shook his head, "Better ask your wife that. She's the one who did it to him."
His body went cold. Kagome struck Takeda? His mind rushed through the different possibilities that could have led to that outcome. She was rarely physically violent. The only time he'd seen her react with such viciousness was with Takeshi. Even then she never raised her fist to him. Her sparring was much the same. She never caused undue pain—only incapacitated. He turned on the heel of his foot. He was going to find out one way or the other.
"Get your ass back here." Hijikata growled darkly. "She hasn't said a damn thing to us so she's probably waiting on you."
Okita whirled on him, "You expect me to just sit back and do nothing?" He didn't know what happened. All he knew was that it was enough to drive his wife to violence. That was all the encouragement he needed to deliver his own punishment to the man.
"Did I say that?" Hijikata's voice grew firm. "I said get your ass back inside to her. Figure out what he did and then let us handle his punishment." Violet eyes settled on him cooly. "Your responsibility right now is to her. Don't forget that."
Okita grit his teeth. Hijikata was right. He needed to talk to her first before flying off the handle. He'd still rather be the one to issue Takeda's punishment personally. However for the time being he'd tend to Kagome first. Knowing her, she was still holding back all the years of frustration from her previous travels. The ronin stomped off. He didn't pay the Commander any mind as he left. He had more important things to deal with.
Okita took a breath through his nose. He couldn't be angry when he talked to her. Kagome was highly sensitive to any subtle shifts in his mood. If he were furious then she'd undoubtedly blame herself. He needed to be her foundation. He couldn't risk shattering her trust because he was angry. Especially not over that vile snake. He leaned against the wall outside Kondou's study. The soft chatter of her voice flowed through the wood slats that separated them.
"Oh no, he was quite the gentleman!" He heard her speak to his Chief. "Souji was always very kind to my family." There she went again. Painting him up as if he were some benevolent person. His lips involuntarily quirked upwards. She really knew how to boost his ego.
"I'm glad. Souji has always been cagey. He's an earnest man but I did worry that he could be too fierce for a while." Kondou laughed a little. Okita fought the urge to interject in their conversation. He was only fierce when he needed to be. Besides, the Higurashi family hadn't done anything to raise his suspicions. Kagome had been especially welcoming of his presence in their home. He wasn't so cruel as to treat them less than what they deserved for their hospitality.
His wife pressed forward, "Souji's just protective. He takes a while to warm up to people but when he does, he's exceptionally kind to them." He didn't have to look to picture the smile she'd be wearing. His body relaxed further at the image he knew she was making. The man took a few more moments to collect his thoughts. He didn't wish to intrude on this moment.
"He did seem rather terrified of my mother though." He heard her laughter through the wall. "If you ask him then he'd probably equate her with some ferocious grizzly." Okita wouldn't deny that charge. Higurashi Momo was terrifying. Not because he felt any mortal threat from her. Oh no, it was the slow edging of childlike guilt she inspired in him. His memories of his parents were vague but he could still recall his mother's stern voice from time to time. Momo's voice had been reminiscent of that period in his life. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't help but fear the maternal protectiveness she displayed over her daughter.
Kondou joined in her laughter, "Now that's a surprise. Your mother must be something."
He heard Kagome shift, "I wouldn't know anything about that but perhaps Souji could tell you." There was a brief pause. "You don't have to hang around out there, dear. It's much nicer in here."
He'd been caught. Okita pushed off from the wall and entered Kondou's study. A small grin slanted across his lips.
"Like mother, like daughter. You both have that crazy ability." He sank into a seat beside her. "There's no sneaking by you." The man jutted a thumb in her direction. "Don't let that sweet face fool you. She's got her ma's warrior instincts."
Kondou broke into hearty laughter at their interaction. Okita smiled warmly as Kagome's fingers interlaced with his own. The slight knitting of her brows indicated the fact that she already knew of his upset. She didn't say anything but squeezed his fingers all the tighter. He took comfort in the touch. He'd ask her about it afterwards. For now, he just wanted to enjoy this time together. The ronin rubbed the pad of his thumb over her knuckles reassuringly. His message was clear.
"Ah well, it's as they say. Never get between a mother and her child." Kondou's grin grew wide. "Women are more ferocious than any man when it comes to children." The hint wasn't subtle. They'd hardly returned to Kyoto and already bets about when Kagome would become pregnant were flying about. Some already suspected the possibility but they were going to be sorely disappointed. She was about as pregnant as he was.
The faint blush on his wife's cheeks caused Okita to smirk. Too soon, huh? Well it wasn't like they were in any rush. They had more than enough time to discuss the topic later.
"You've found yourself quite the wife, Souji. She can only say good things about you." Kondou had meant it as a compliment, however Kagome's face turned a stark shade of red. Had that embarrassed her? Now he had to run with this.
Okita released her hand in favor of wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close to him, "Is that so?" He'd meant for it to be aimed at her. Kagome dropped her eyes to her lap where she was wringing her hands nervously. "She's quite the sweetheart herself. Did she tell you about how we met?"
His wife buried her face in her hands and shook her head, "Not again!"
Okita laughed harder. Now that was the reaction he'd wanted. It was always so fun watching her fluster. It was cute in its own way. The blushing, sputtering and sheer embarrassment she'd display egged on his desire to do so. She hadn't any idea how adorable she was. This was how he wanted her—happy and far removed from the terrors of her past.
"Well it's getting late. I think I'll leave you two be for the night." The three stood at once. Kondou offered Kagome a warm smile. "We're glad to have you here."
Her face remained dark, "Thank you for letting me stay here with Souji." He felt her lean into him more heavily. "I couldn't ask for more." Okita couldn't fight against the warmth in his own face. Judging by the sudden widening of his father figure's grin, he knew that he'd seen it too.
"Alright we should go." He urged her down the open-air corridor. "See you tomorrow Kondou-san." He ushered them back to their quarters without looking back. Kagome followed his lead. A knowing smile played upon her lips. Damn, she must've seen it too. Okita drew the shoji screen closed behind them. He waited until he was certain that no one else was near.
Emerald eyes dropped to the light scuffing on her hand. The knuckles were slightly discolored from the strength she'd used to hit Takeda. His hand reached for hers tentatively. He kept his gaze on the small injury, rubbing the pad of his thumb over her knuckles.
Kagome threw him a wry smile, "It's not a big deal." She started to explain.
Okita cast her a sharp look. Like hell it wasn't a big deal! Sensing his rising frustration, she went on.
"I already took care of it. Besides," Her hands grasped his gently. "I wasn't planning on hiding it from you. I just wanted you to be the first to know."
He felt his shoulders deflate at that. The ronin pulled her into his arms and tucked her head beneath his chin. He sucked a breath through his nose, enjoying the scent of cherry blossoms and fresh rain water. It calmed his frayed nerves.
Kagome wrapped her arms around his back tightly. He felt her lips press at the junction of his neck soothingly.
"Love, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He held her closer to him. "Came home and Hijikata-san was about ready to tear Takeda apart."
Her fingers flexed against his back, "Ah, so you guys already knew?"
His brows furrowed, "It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. Takeda's sitting out there with his eye swollen shut." Okita drew back. He cupped her chin between his index finger and thumb, encouraging her to meet his eyes. "What happened?" His voice was imploring.
Kagome sighed, "It was when I was doing laundry today." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him as she spoke. "Found him sneaking around and I didn't know who he was."
Which would stand to reason. They'd purposely kept Takeda as far away from the Yagi House as possible. He wasn't the sort to be trusted.
Okita listened patiently as she recounted the experience. His anger rose the more she continued. By the time she was done, the urge to charge outside and dish out his own version of punishment on Takeda grew nearly unbearable. Did people really think he was just using her? That wouldn't do. He couldn't let that get out of hand. The very last thing he needed was to allow for Kagome to feel any doubt towards him—no matter how small.
"Souji," Her voice was tiny. He looked down at her curiously. "Don't go crazy on him, okay? I don't want you in trouble."
A small smile pulled at his lips, "Too late for that. I was born in trouble." It was meant to lighten the mood somewhat. The ronin shifted his hands to grasp her face gently. "Are you alright? You weren't hurt?" He genuinely needed to know.
Kagome shook her head, "No, I don't think so."
His lips pressed into a thin line. Which meant she hadn't checked yet. If Takeda had grabbed her then she could still be bruised. He brushed his thumbs under her eyes.
"We should look to be safe." He slanted his mouth over hers softly. "You can go behind the shoji screen if you want. I'll play the perfect gentleman." She smiled against him at his joke.
Kagome laughed, "There's not much to hide that you haven't seen already." As true as that was, he'd rather her feel secure about this. He wouldn't force her to strip for him. The very thought left a sour taste in the back of his mouth.
Okita drew back. He dropped his hands to his side and allowed her the chance to examine herself. Kagome moved towards the tansu. She pulled a white, sleeping yukata before tugging at the collar of her day dress. The moment the fabric fell away from her body, he felt himself go cold with fury. Upon her shoulder and collarbone was a discolored mark in the shape of a man's fist. It was bruised a deep shade of purple against her pale flesh. It would seem Takeda had given her an injury when he'd grabbed her.
Kagome looked down, "Oh, I hadn't even noticed that." Somehow that made him all the more furious. Not because she hadn't noticed, but because he knew she'd been too far gone in her distress to pay heed to it. The muscle in his sword arm twitched.
Okita took another breath. He couldn't kill him. This wasn't the street rat that'd threatened her. This was another Captain. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't attack him without facing the consequences of the code. He gripped the hilt if his katana tightly. To hell with Hijikata's demands. He'd deal with this himself. Even if he couldn't kill the man, that didn't mean that he was barred from delivering his own form of justice. He stepped forward.
The only thing that'd stopped him was Kagome's arms wrapping around his middle. Okita paused mid stride. He hadn't even realized that he'd made it halfway to the door.
"Hey," He felt her lips at the back of his neck. "Mind laying with me for a little while?" Her teeth scraped along his skin gently. The ronin sighed. This woman was going to be the death of him. He turned in her embrace.
"Only if I get to have my way with you." He tried to lift his voice into something teasing. She nestled herself against his chest.
"Like you don't already. Now come on," She pulled him along to their futon. "Lay with me." The emphasis on her request struck him. He couldn't deny her.
Okita laid with her upon their bed. She curled herself into his chest, burying her face at the space below his collarbone. He held her to him tightly with one arm wrapped over her waist and the other pillowed beneath her shoulder. He trailed his hand through her hair in a soothing motion. Her fingers clutched at his blue haori.
"Hey Souji," Kagome's voice was muffled by his clothing. He gave a low hum of acknowledgement. "I love you."
His smile grew soft, "Love you too. Now sleep."
She shook her head, "No. Don't want to." His wife tucked herself further into his embrace. The heat of her breath warmed his chest.
"Why not?" He felt like teasing her. Black tendrils of hair fell over his fingers with each passing stroke. He felt the pad of her foot rub the top of his own.
"Cause then I'll miss you." Just like that she managed to pierce through every last guard he'd had. Okita pressed his lips to her brow affectionately.
"I'm right here." Which was where he'd always be. Nothing would ever change that. He worked his fingers to the space behind her ear. Kagome's breathing began to even out as her grip loosened on him. A twinge of guilt tugged at him. He still needed to meet with Daisuke before curfew at the very least. He had roughly three hours until then.
Okita gently disentangled himself from her arms. He kneeled beside her, carefully tucking the sheets of the futon around her form. His expression softened at the peaceful look upon her features. He'd make this a quick trip. The man leaned down to press his lips against her brow one last time.
"I'll be back." He trailed his thumb along the ridge of her cheek. "So don't go missing me just yet."
Her lips pulled into a tiny smile. He dropped his hands away and rose to his feet. He tugged the Shinsengumi's petticoat from his shoulders and draped it over her neatly. It seemed that his scent had a calming affect on Kagome. So keeping something near her with it would likely help for the short period he had to leave.
The man turned on the ball of his heel. He had to make this quick. Okita made his way through the compound and back out onto the streets of Kyoto without interference. His feet carried him down the cobbled pathways back to Daisuke's restaurant. When he'd arrived, the man was already waiting for him. A sly grin was pulled across the male's lips.
"Couldn't help yourself, could you?"
Okita ignored the barb. He kept his hand firmly upon the hilt of his blade as he entered the establishment for the second time that day. Daisuke slid the door shut behind them.
"Who are you really?" He flicked his thumb at the hilt, pushing his katana out from its sheath a few centimeters. Daisuke raised his hands.
"Fine, fine. It's easier if I show you anyways." He lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. A curling wave of blue fire encircled his body; revealing auburn hair, emerald eyes and glass like claws. That wasn't the only thing that'd drawn his attention. Behind the male three fox tails flicked around anxiously.
The stranger sat cross legged in front of him, "For the record my real name is Higurashi Shippou and I'm a kitsune."
Okita took a seat in front of him, "Higurashi?" He quirked his brow at him.
The man now known as Shippou grinned, "Yup! I took this name after Kagome left for the last time a little over three hundred years ago." He clapped his palms over his knees. "But I gotta ask, how did you get through the well? I tried more times than I can count and it still wouldn't let me through." The edge in Shippou's features denoted a seriousness to his inquiry.
The ronin rolled his shoulders, "No clue but let me ask you this." His voice grew sharp. "Where can I find Inuyasha?" He'd eliminate the threat long before it'd reach her. If the bastard was still alive then his sword would find his gut. He'd make damn sure of it.
Shippou sat up a little straighter, "Did she tell you?"
His brows furrowed, "No. Souta and the scars on her back did." That was all he needed to say. The fox sighed as his tails curled over his lap. His body sagged with the weight of visible guilt.
"About that," Shippou began. "I'm the reason she has those." Emerald eyes flashed with the gnawing guilt of his memories. Okita stilled. That hadn't been what Souta said. He stared at the youkai firmly. What in the hell happened all those years ago?
"Let's start from the beginning." Shippou lifted his finger. A curling flame of azure wrapped around the digit tightly. "Kagome was the person who'd raised me." At the quirk of his brow, the male continued. "And she's the reason why I'm alive." The fire spread outward, warming the tiny restaurant with its unusual flame.
"So let's restart this meet and greet." A grin split his lips, revealing a pair of elongated fangs. "It's nice to officially meet you. Didn't think I'd get a step-father so soon."
Okita blanched. His what now? Since when did Kagome have a child? Scratch that, since when did she have a fox? He chose to ignore that particular comment and press forward.
"What's this business about those scars being your fault?" He cut through the small talk. He needed to know. Not just for his sake but hers as well.
Shippou's grin slid away, "Well it happened three hundred years ago." He stared at the fox fire surrounding his hand. "Back then I was just a kid. Couldn't even hold a partial transformation." To emphasize his point, his features shifted back into his human illusion. Okita didn't speak.
"I won't say too much if Kagome hasn't told you anything," He gave a short pause at his sharp glare. "But to put it in simple terms, she got those scars trying to save me." The fox shifted back into his natural state. His features grew hard at the memory. "That was the last time I saw her too."
There was so much more that Shippou wasn't saying. He could tell by the slight clenching if his jaw and narrowed eyes.
"Inuyasha?" Okita tried to force the information.
The fox nodded once, "Yeah. Last I heard he'd gone incognito and aligned himself with a human domain. Don't remember which one though." Emerald eyes narrowed into slits. "If you know this much about Inuyasha then you should know just how dangerous he is to her."
The ronin tensed. He didn't need that reminder. He saw the damn scars every day. Inuyasha wouldn't just hurt her. He'd kill her.
"He won't let her go easily. You've gotta be ready to take him out." A dark scowl marred his features. "I know how weird you humans get about your codes and alliances."
Okita mulled over his words carefully. The only domain that could pose an issue for him was the Aizu. The Shinsengumi operated under the Aizu's will. Even so, if Inuyasha was near them he'd have no choice. Regardless of any alliance he might have, Okita had a responsibility to kill Inuyasha. He promised Souta that much.
Shippou grinned at him, "So," the fox tails twitched excitedly. "How'd you two meet?"
Somehow Okita had a feeling that this was going to be a particularly long visit.
The hour that passed was filled to the brim of old tales. Mostly Shippou's stories of mischief making plots in the years he'd been separated from Kagome. The fox was nice enough on his own but Okita couldn't shake a small edging of suspicion. Perhaps it was his warrior instincts coming into play but he didn't quite trust him so easily.
The ronin stood. He gathered his daishou and offered Shippou a short, polite inclination of his head.
"I should be leaving. Thank you for meeting with me like this." His tone was polite but clipped. In the end he didn't get many of the answers he'd wanted. His grip on his katana tightened. The only thing he was able to grasp was that Inuyasha was alive and posing as a human. He knew little else.
Okita gritted his teeth. This was about to get much harder.
Shippou smiled at him empathetically, "If you want to know more then ask Kagome." The azure flame wrapped around his body once more. When the fire curled and faded, his features returned to their human guise. "She's here with you now. That means she already trusts you more than she ever did any of us." There was a wry smile playing upon his lips. "I know that once she feels secure she'll start opening up more. You just have to give her time."
Okita nodded once. He already knew that. Those horrors weren't so easily faced. Kagome has already made strides in opening up to him. That was clear in their discussion about Takeda. She just needed a little bit more time. He'd be patient until she was ready. For now he'd keep his guard up. Only when Inuyasha's threat was neutralized would be relax.
"Oh and mind keeping this from her? Don't need her reliving those days." He nodded at him.
"Understood." Okita turned his back to him. "See you around." The ronin waves his hand as he left. Shippou closed the door behind him. At this point it didn't seem as if the fox was keen on approaching Kagome yet. Just like him, he was likely keeping a watchful eye on the situation.
Okita trudged his way back to the compound. His eyes landed on a tall figure still standing by the entrance. His grip tightened on his daishou. Great, just what he needed. He came a stop just before his fellow Captain.
Takeda drew up to his full height.
"You're pushing it close." The bullshit spewed from his mouth so easily. He sometimes wondered what it was like for Takeda—living with his head shoved so far in up his own ass.
The ronin stepped close to him. A vicious smirk played upon his lips. He knew just the way to handle this. He spoke nothing as he drew his sword partially from its sheath.
"That's funny." The hiss of metal scraping against a scabbard echoed between them. "I was gonna say something similar."
The other Captain cast him a wary glance. His eyes dropped to his withdrawn katana as a bead of sweat formed above his brow. Okita didn't give him a chance to protest. He grabbed the hilt of his blade and thrusted the tip forward; barely missing Takeda's swelled eye. The other Captain's face drained of color.
Okita drew back, revealing a moth pierced by his blade. It beat its wings wildly for several seconds. Then just as quickly as he'd struck, it ceased all movement. He curved the sword in a quick horizontal arc away from Takeda. The insect fell to the ground lifessly as he sheathed his sword.
"Better watch your back." Okita paused beside him. His voice dipped low into a threatening growl. "Because you never know who might be putting a sword through it." He roughly shoved his shoulder into him; knocking Takeda off balance. His warning was clear. The code wasn't going to stop him from laying down his boundaries when it came to Kagome. He'd give his official report to Hijikata in the morning. For now he'd let this serve as his warning to the Captain.
Kagome was far out of his reach. Should he try that stunt again then he'd kill him. It wouldn't take much to invent a reason. As long as he was justified. That was all he needed.
Okita made his way back to their shared quarters. He slipped inside the room as silently as he could. He heard Kagome shift. A faint groan emanated from their bed. He shed his clothing—ensuring not to disturb her.
The man stopped in his tracks when he heard a pained moan from his wife. His eyes shifted to her sleeping form. Had that injury hurt her more than she let on? The man came to her side. The first thing he'd noticed was how pale Kagome's face had gotten. Her complexion had turned rice-white. Swear headed her brow and her jaw was clenched tightly. A nightmare?
She threw her head to the side. Her brows furrowed as another groan escaped her lips. Okita slipped into bed beside her. He pulled her into his embrace, noting the violent trembling from her body. She was petrified of something.
He moved his hand to the space behind her ear. He used the pad of his fingers to rub it like he had so many times before. Her shaking diminished but did not stop completely.
"Souji…" Her voice was soft, still in a deep state of slumber.
Okita nudged his mouth beside her ear, "I'm here." He presses his lips against it. "I'm here." He repeated the words over and over again until she calmed. The scent of salt stung at his nose. A dampness covered the junction of his neck where she's pressed herself.
She was crying.
In all of his years, Okita had never truly known how to react to a woman driving to tears. In the incident with Takeshi all he could offer her was his warmth and some soothing words. Here, he didn't have the first idea on how to help her. He'd lived his life by the edge of his blade. He found his meaning by leaving a mountain of death in his wake. He was a sword; a tool for the Shinsengumi's use.
This was something so far removed from what he was used to. He never anticipated on finding someone that could read him so easily. He didn't expect to meet someone that could reassure him in ways he never knew he needed. Okita held her closer to him. Now here they were. She left everything behind for him. She'd taken his name, his bed and now his burden. He couldn't let things stand.
Kagome's history was the source of her greatest pain. She was edging closer to revealing that past to him. He wouldn't push her. No matter how much he desperately wanted to know, seeing her shivering in the terror of those resurfacing memories reminded him as to why she was so reluctant.
His wife was vulnerable. So he'd protect her. Even if it was just from his own impatience. Okita mouthed words of comfort into her ear. It was the only thing he could do right now.
"Hey," The man started. "I might not be what you need." His eyes went soft. "I can't even promise to make you happy." It was a reality that stared him in the face everyday. This era was violent. The dangers her past presented were only a single part of the equation. Civil unrest was boiling to a breaking point in Kyoto. It'd only be a matter of time before war erupted. When that did, she'd be forced to relive all those hellish nightmares she escaped before.
He felt her move closer to him, her hands tucking themselves near his heart. His fingers twitched, "But you can count on me." His tone became firm with his resolve. "I promise that no matter what, I'll be here. Just as you were for me." Kagome sighed deeply. He doubted she even heard him but he wanted to say it anyways.
"Do you know why?" He heard her give a small, disoriented grunt in response. Perhaps she was somewhat conscious. His arms wrapped around her tightly. The fluttering beat of her heart beneath his fingers inspired a sense of peace he'd never felt before he'd met her. Okita pressed his lips against the shell of her ear, "Because I love you."
It was the most heartfelt confession he'd ever given her. Kagome's face slowly regained its color. Her breathing evened as her expression reflected the contentment she felt in his arms. He buried his face in the crook of her neck. The time would eventually come when she was ready to tell him everything. Right now, he just wanted this moment with her.
This peace was all he ever wanted.
A/N: To Zenobia in particular, I'm sorry I have to respond to you publicly like this but to answer your question: yes. We're definitely going to be getting into Inuyasha's history along with Okita's as well. The two are actually very similar to each other in that regard but Okita had something that Inuyasha never did; something that prevented him from becoming even more warped than how he currently views himself.
To put it into simpler terms, both Okita and Inuyasha have shouldered a great deal of pain in their lives. It's in how they've handled their suffering that separates them. How they choose to live their lives now is what draws that distinction. I do want to delve more into Inuyasha's psyche and how he became the way he is. I also want to expose more as to why he singled Kagome out so much versus Kikyou and how he views both of them. I will say it'll be a tough arc to get through but absolutely vital in understanding his actions as the current antagonist.
Inuyasha might have been able to become a good character but unlike Okita, he never learned how to be that person. So it'll be a slow wind up but we'll definitely get there.
**The Code—A set of rules in the Shinsengumi that were to be strictly adhered to. Much of the Code was comprised of principles from bushidou. There were five articles in total banning personal fights, leaving the Shinsengumi, deviating from Bushidou and a few others. Breaking the code meant committing seppuku.
**Curfew—In game, a strict curfew was instilled amongst all the members of the Shinsengumi.
**Seppuku—A form of ritual suicide. There were two types. Seppuku and Harakiri. Seppuku is performed with two people, with the first cutting open their own stomach and the other ending their agonizing death shortly afterwards. Seppuku was considered more formal than Harakiri, which was performed alone.