Souji stepped into the dimly lit entryway, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it in a moment's notice should he need to. A musty scent, like old wood mixed with stale sake, saturated the air. The handful of candles that were placed throughout the room provided just enough light to allow him to make out a man, whom he presumed to be the owner, standing at a counter in the back corner of the room. He was malnourished in appearance, with bony limbs and a gaunt face. He had greasy black hair pulled back into a top knot and shifty, sunken eyes that lit up when they landed on Souji. Just looking at him caused Souji's skin to crawl and his senses to bristle. This man was not to be trusted. He approached the counter, not allowing his face or mannerisms to betray his thoughts on the man.

"Good evening, sir," he greeted, his tone forced, as though it was a great effort for him to sound pleasant. "Are you looking for some entertainment tonight? We have plenty of rooms and girls available." Souji shook his head.

"I'm not wasting my night here," he explained, not bothering to disguise the distaste in his voice. "I'm here looking for someone." The man's face twisted into an unsavory grin, revealing his yellowed teeth.

"Of course, sir, I can offer you an hourly rate if you won't be staying the night with us. May I ask which one of our lovely women you were hoping to meet with?"

"I believe her name is Hasegawa Mikoto, at least, that's what I was told." At the sound of her name, his smile fell and his grey eyes widened in surprise. His reaction piqued Souji's interest. What had this woman done to elicit such a response from the innkeeper? The man opened and closed his mouth several times, but was unable to articulate his thoughts. Souji folded his arms across his chest impatiently, cocking an eyebrow as he stared the man down.

"S-surely you must be mistaken," he finally sputtered out. "A man such as yourself would certainly prefer better company than her. I have plenty of women who are far more obedient and more well trained than that she devil." Souji's green eyes narrowed, his lip curling with disgust at the man's words.

"I'm here looking for Hasegawa, or did you not hear me the first time?" The menace in his voice was thinly veiled, if at all. The man scowled, but he couldn't keep the fear out of his eyes as they flicked downwards to glance at Souji's hip where his katana hung.

"Very well, suit yourself," he muttered. He led Souji back to the correct room, clearly none too pleased to be doing so, and left him in front of the door. He watched the other man make his way back down the hallway for a moment before returning his attention to the door before him. With a bit of cautious hesitation, he slid the door open. Upon entering the room, his hand immediately gripped his weapon, as the first sight his eyes caught was the orange flickering of candlelight dancing off of the reflective surface of a blade.

"Okita-sama?" The gasp of surprise drew Souji's eyes to meet with hers. In that moment, he felt powerless to do anything as he found himself lost in the two big, golden pools. "Okita-sama?" Hearing his name for a second time pulled him from his trance. He blinked and took a moment to take in the rest of the scene before him. Mikoto was near the center of the room, kneeling on a cushion. Across her lap sat a katana that appeared to have been freshly polished. This was confirmed for him as he noticed a small polishing kit beside her. "Okita-sama, is everything alright?" He allowed himself to relax, then nodded. A soft painted smile graced her heavily made up features. "Well, have a seat and make yourself comfortable, I'll be with you in just a moment." He closed the door behind him and then did as he was told. He sat rigidly, watching as she sheathed her sword and proceeded to store it and her cleaning kit under the same floorboard he had watched her rummage through several days earlier. He found it odd that a woman had a weapon as impressive as that, though so long as she didn't turn it on him, he wouldn't question it. From that same hiding spot, she produced a bottle of sake and two wide mouthed cups. She poured for the both of them and settled back down into a comfortable seating position, facing her visitor. She looked at him expectantly, but he said nothing. He still wasn't entirely sure why he was there, and now, even as she fixed him with an attentive stare, he was at a loss for what to do. "So…" she started for him, "I trust someone was able to tend to your wound properly?"

"Oh, yeah." He glanced at his arm. "Though you left them with little work to do. I wanted to thank you for your help that night. You were impressively brave." At his compliment, she hid coyly behind her sleeve. He then recognized the large, jagged tear in the arm of her ornate kimono.

"It was nothing, really. The least I could do for someone who helps to keep our streets safe. Besides, you really aren't as frightening as you'd like to think you are." The last part was said with a lilting, playful tone. He smirked, genuinely impressed by the confidence this woman clearly had.

"Oh, is that so? If you aren't careful, I may just have to show you just how wrong you are," he the words themselves were threatening, it was clear from the teasing glint in his eyes that she was in no danger. Mikoto's only response was to chuckle before taking a sip of her sake. "Why are you still wearing tattered clothing?" His question led her to glance at her ruined sleeve, and she suddenly seemed to become slightly self conscious.

"Well, it's not like I have the room to store much clothing, and even if I did, I couldn't really afford it…." She looked at the ground and sipped her drink once more. Unsure of how to respond, Souji did the same. Mikoto shifted, becoming uncomfortable in the silence. "So, what exactly did bring you here, Okita-sama?" she questioned. He glanced up from his sake, his green eyes flashing for just a split second with something indiscernible to Mikoto. He frowned.

"I've already told you, I wanted to thank you. Don't ask stupid questions." His disapproving scowl and defensive tone weren't enough to get her to stand down.

"You thanked me that night," she pointed out. "And I may be mistaken, but I can't imagine that the Shinsengumi cares to pay someone of my standing much mind. Even if you did, couldn't being seen here damage your reputation?" Her prying clearly struck a nerve as she saw the muscles in his jaw tighten. He stared down into his cup, searching for a reason that he himself was unsure of. When he looked back up, realizing he had been silent for far too long, he had to keep himself from jumping back. Her face was mere centimeters from his, her eyes glimmering behind hooded lids.

"H-Hasegawa, what the hell?" he demanded.

"Perhaps you're here for my services, and you're simply too proud to say it." Her voice was low and enticing, and her warm breath tickled his lips. He looked away, trying and failing to hide his flushed face.

"You wish, don't you?" He scoffed, folding his arms. After a moment, Mikoto sat back and lost herself in a bout of gleeful laughter. Souji glanced at her from the corner of his eye and relaxed at the sight of her cheerful glow, his features softening with a bemused mile.

"I'm only teasing, Okita-sama, you made it too easy," she managed to explain as her laughter slowed. A mischievous grin played on his lips.

"If that's what you need to tell yourself Hasegawa-chan, I understand." She shot him a half hearted glare, and it was his turn to laugh. He was glad that the conversation had moved on, and to be sure it wouldn't loop back, he started his own line of questioning. "What is a woman like you doing in a place like this? It seems beneath you." He regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. Her face instantly fell and her eyes clouded over with pain and anger.

"It's something I'd rather not speak about," she stated flatly. She smiled again, though this time it was clearly forced and lacking in warmth. He sighed, and got to his feet, seeing no point in pushing the issue.

"Fine, I understand. I should be leaving now, before they come looking for me." Mikoto nodded, but couldn't hide her disappointment. He turned to leave, but stopped after sliding the door open. "You can expect me back tomorrow, for a proper thank you. It would be wrong to leave a woman with ruined clothes." She glanced at her tattered sleeve, then back up at him, her features lighting up once more.

"I look forward to it!"