Chapter Five: Yamanami Keisuke
A/N: Quite a fluffy chapter. Depressing at some points, but still quite a
bit of fluff between Sei-chan and Okita-kun. ^^
"He's got quite a following," Sei mumbled under her breath as she sat against Okita's windowsill.
"Hmm?" the captain responded, looking up from his place on the floor, fiddling with something or the other.
"Itou-san has quite a following. Have you heard him speak?"
Okita snorted. "He follows an ideal I could not."
"What ideal?" the girl asked, hopping off of the sill and sitting next to her captain.
Okita leaned his head against the wall. "*Shonno-Joi," he responded.
Sei's eyes widened a bit. "Honto ni? I didn't think that Hijikata-san nor Kondou-san would care for that too much."
"They don't. There is friction between our two captains and the Adviser." He turned his dark eyes toward the girl. "I suggest you don't get involved. Staying natural is best when it comes to something like this, regardless on your beliefs."
"What are your beliefs, Okita-san?" she responded innocently.
Okita coughed lightly into his hand. "I only wish what is best for Japan," the captain of the first division responded. "That is all I wish for, and my loyalties lie with those that will get that accomplished. I stand behind Kondou-san and Hijikata-san in whatever they wish to do."
Sei nodded, allowing the information to sink in.
The young captain coughed for a moment, and then looked up. "And you, Sei- chan?" he asked with a smile. "What philosophy do you stand behind?"
The brown-eyed girl took her captain's hand for a moment, frowning at the bit of blood. "I would follow you wherever you go, Okita-san," she responded, looking up and into his eyes.
Okita smiled. "That may get you in trouble, Sei-chan," he responded with a teasing note in his voice. "What shall you do when I'm no longer here?"
Sei's eyes widened and she looked as if she would cry for a moment. They sat for a half a moment, staring, and then she clasped onto him, clinging to his him and let out a sob into his gi. "I don't want you to leave me, Okita," she whispered, voice amazingly strong despite the tears streaming down her face.
Her captain wasn't quite sure what to do. He put a careful arm around her, still managing to keep out of her face. "It'll be a while yet," he responded quietly. "Don't worry about that."
She looked up, eyes sad. "But it will happen, won't it, Okita?"
"Everyone dies sooner or later, Sei-chan. It is how life works."
She choked back a sob. "I don't want to loose someone else! Not you! Especially not you!"
Okita's blue coloured orbs widened. "What do you mean by that, Sei-chan?" he laughed out, attempting a cheerful smile.
"Atashi." she whispered. "Atashi wa. Gomen nasai, Okita-san. I think I've fallen in love with you."
Okita started to respond, but was cut off by the sound of a loud bell. "Something's happening," he whispered, springing to his feet. "Come on!"
The two Mibiru raced down the hall way and into the main room. Kondou had an expression of worry on his face, Hijikata wore his mask, but his eyes revealed hurt, betrayal and anger.
"What is it?" Okita asked.
"Yamanami has left."
"Left?" Sei asked, regretting the action because it pulled attention to her.
"Ran from us," Hijikata explained.
Murmurs rose from the small crowd of captains and a few soldiers.
"He wouldn't do that," Harada said with a frown, chewing slightly on his ever-present piece of grass. "Not Yamanami. He's been with us since before the beginnin'!"
Okita's breath caught, but not from the disease. "Do you know where to?"
Kondou nodded. "Yes."
"And you'll send someone after him?" Inoue whispered.
"Yes."
"I will go," Okita said, standing to his full height. "I can catch him."
Sei watched the quick happenings of Kondou explaining where Yamanami was going and Okita leaving to find him.
The captain of the first division raced along the countryside and slowed only when he felt he had to. He took in a sharp breath and stopped when he heard his name called.
Yamanami stepped forward, looking worn and tired. He smiled slightly. "Hello, Souji-kun," he whispered.
"Doshite?" the younger man responded, hurt seeping into his voice. "Doshite, Yamanami-san?"
"I couldn't stand it any longer, Souji," he whispered. "The Shinsengumi was something to be proud of in the beginning, but it has turned downhill! I can not handle the murders of innocents any longer."
"Murders of innocents? The Ishin Shishis?!"
"The people who can not identify themselves on the street and those that are simply fighting for what they feel is right. Souji, have you taken a step back to simply look at what has happened?"
Okita hung his head slightly. "Do not do this, tamadachi," he begged quietly.
"Take me in. I will not be a coward."
Okita's eyes widened. "I could give you the chance to run, if I wished."
"But I do not wish for you to do that. Your ideals are different from mine, Souji-kun. You would never be able to live with the thought that you had betrayed the Shinsengumi." He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry if I have hurt you, Okita."
Okita nodded. "And I am sorry I can do nothing for you."
Yamanami smiled slightly. "It is your duty."
"Seppuku?" Okita whispered.
Yamanami stood silently, hearing his punishment and allowing the meaning of it to sink in.
"That is the punishment for those that attempt to leave the Shinsengumi," Hijikata responded.
The younger man's blue eyes were wide. "Hijikata-san! You can't mean it! You can't possibly-"
"I suggest that you stop now before I place a punishment on you for testing my judgment, Okita."
"Kondou-san." Okita looked over to his elder friend, desperation in his eyes.
"Listen to Hijikata," Kondou said quietly. "He is the one who deals with this sort of thing."
The young man turned his frantic blue eyes toward Yamanami's quiet black ones. The elder man smiled. "I knew the consequences when I ran. I shall face the penalty."
"I'm so sorry, Yamanami," Okita whispered, a tear trailing down his face.
"Do not weep for me, Souji-kun." He cupped the younger man's face for a moment, as he had done when he was a boy.
"Stay here, Okita," Hijikata ordered as he led Yamanami out.
The small man stood, tears streaming down his face. He fell to his knees. "Doshite.?"
"They killed him?" Sei whispered. "For running, they killed him? Hijikata is cruel and should have the same done to him!"
"Hush," Okita growled. "Never say such things!"
"Okita grew up with both Yamanami and Hijikata, Kamiya," Saitou explained as he sipped at his sake.
Sei's dark eyes widened. "My stars. Gomen nasai, Okita-san," she whispered, still keeping her voice low.
Okita turned his eyes to her. "Remember what I told you earlier? Staying neutral is best, regardless of your beliefs."
"And you also said you would follow Kondou-san and Hijikata-san in whatever their decisions were."
"Then you are a fool."
The threesome turned to see Itou standing behind them, a frown on his face. "How could you say something like that after your friend was killed by that man? Have you fallen to his ways as well, Okita-san? I thought you wanted a peaceful Japan!"
"I wish nothing more!" Okita argued, angered. "But I will follow Hijikata- san and Kondou-san to hell and back to gain that! I know they can achieve it!"
Itou glared. "Fool! You will not live past this war!"
"I never expected to," the young man said quietly. They glared at each other, neither willing to step down.
"Stop it," Saitou growled. "Both of you are acting like children."
"You will be there, Saitou-san, won't you?" Itou asked.
"Of course."
Itou smiled. "How about you, Kamiya-san? How would you like to join one of our meetings?"
Sei frowned. "I don't believe I would like that. Some other time perhaps."
"Perhaps." That said, Itou took his leave.
"What meeting?" Okita demanded.
"One that he holds every week or so," Saitou responded. "His ideals and beliefs."
Okita frowned. He didn't like this at all.
"Traitor!" Okita yelled, slamming a fist into the wall. He coughed, bringing his hand to his mouth and wiping the blood away.
"Easy, Okita," Kondou said, placing a strong hand on either of the younger man's shoulders. He kept them there until the coughing fit subsided and Okita breathed normally.
The blue-eyed captain stumbled back into the elder man's grasp, head spinning. "Two trusted friends betray me."
"Don't take it personal," Hijikata said as he sipped his sake. "If you do that, you'll never get anywhere in this war."
"Will you send someone after them?" Okita asked quietly.
"Someone has been sent," the elder man responded.
"Then I will never see Saitou-san again."
Hijikata did not respond, but simply took another sip of his sake.
Kondou eased the first captain to the floor, handing him a sake cup of his own. "Don't loose sleep over it."
Okita took a sip of his sake and stood.
"Where are you going?" Kondou questioned.
"To rest," the youth responded.
Sei turned her brown eyes to where Okita lay sleeping on his futon. She sighed as she sat next to the bed, brushing his dark hair away from his pale face gently. "Gomen nasai," she whispered to his sleeping form. "I wish I had known. I would never have let him hurt you."
It had been nearly two months since Saitou Hajime had left with Itou's group. Okita still took it hard.
"No one knew," Okita whispered groggily, eyes opening.
She managed a smile. "I'm still sorry I didn't."
Okita became fully awake and pulled back from her. "Do not get in my face, Sei-chan," he said quickly.
She frowned. "You shouldn't worry about me so much. I would die a thousand horrible deaths to be near you."
"It would kill me before my time to see you die those deaths, Sei-chan."
She smiled. He had not had time to say anything that day. The day she had blurted out her feelings to him and beaten herself mentally for it for hours after. He had, however, spent much more time with her.
"If I live through this," he continued in no more than a whisper, "I would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my days with you."
Sei's eyes watered and she clung to him. "Ai shittaru, Okita-kun."
Okita's response was cut short when he heard his name called from the hallway. Sei immediately dropped to the floor and Okita scooted to the furthest side of the futon.
A young boy came into his room. "Okita-san! Battousai has been spotted!" he said, panicked.
Okita stood. "Where?"
A/N: Yeah.. It's been a while since I wrote on this^^;;; Gomen nasai!! I have an idea that is warped and strange, so please come back for it soon!!
TBC
"He's got quite a following," Sei mumbled under her breath as she sat against Okita's windowsill.
"Hmm?" the captain responded, looking up from his place on the floor, fiddling with something or the other.
"Itou-san has quite a following. Have you heard him speak?"
Okita snorted. "He follows an ideal I could not."
"What ideal?" the girl asked, hopping off of the sill and sitting next to her captain.
Okita leaned his head against the wall. "*Shonno-Joi," he responded.
Sei's eyes widened a bit. "Honto ni? I didn't think that Hijikata-san nor Kondou-san would care for that too much."
"They don't. There is friction between our two captains and the Adviser." He turned his dark eyes toward the girl. "I suggest you don't get involved. Staying natural is best when it comes to something like this, regardless on your beliefs."
"What are your beliefs, Okita-san?" she responded innocently.
Okita coughed lightly into his hand. "I only wish what is best for Japan," the captain of the first division responded. "That is all I wish for, and my loyalties lie with those that will get that accomplished. I stand behind Kondou-san and Hijikata-san in whatever they wish to do."
Sei nodded, allowing the information to sink in.
The young captain coughed for a moment, and then looked up. "And you, Sei- chan?" he asked with a smile. "What philosophy do you stand behind?"
The brown-eyed girl took her captain's hand for a moment, frowning at the bit of blood. "I would follow you wherever you go, Okita-san," she responded, looking up and into his eyes.
Okita smiled. "That may get you in trouble, Sei-chan," he responded with a teasing note in his voice. "What shall you do when I'm no longer here?"
Sei's eyes widened and she looked as if she would cry for a moment. They sat for a half a moment, staring, and then she clasped onto him, clinging to his him and let out a sob into his gi. "I don't want you to leave me, Okita," she whispered, voice amazingly strong despite the tears streaming down her face.
Her captain wasn't quite sure what to do. He put a careful arm around her, still managing to keep out of her face. "It'll be a while yet," he responded quietly. "Don't worry about that."
She looked up, eyes sad. "But it will happen, won't it, Okita?"
"Everyone dies sooner or later, Sei-chan. It is how life works."
She choked back a sob. "I don't want to loose someone else! Not you! Especially not you!"
Okita's blue coloured orbs widened. "What do you mean by that, Sei-chan?" he laughed out, attempting a cheerful smile.
"Atashi." she whispered. "Atashi wa. Gomen nasai, Okita-san. I think I've fallen in love with you."
Okita started to respond, but was cut off by the sound of a loud bell. "Something's happening," he whispered, springing to his feet. "Come on!"
The two Mibiru raced down the hall way and into the main room. Kondou had an expression of worry on his face, Hijikata wore his mask, but his eyes revealed hurt, betrayal and anger.
"What is it?" Okita asked.
"Yamanami has left."
"Left?" Sei asked, regretting the action because it pulled attention to her.
"Ran from us," Hijikata explained.
Murmurs rose from the small crowd of captains and a few soldiers.
"He wouldn't do that," Harada said with a frown, chewing slightly on his ever-present piece of grass. "Not Yamanami. He's been with us since before the beginnin'!"
Okita's breath caught, but not from the disease. "Do you know where to?"
Kondou nodded. "Yes."
"And you'll send someone after him?" Inoue whispered.
"Yes."
"I will go," Okita said, standing to his full height. "I can catch him."
Sei watched the quick happenings of Kondou explaining where Yamanami was going and Okita leaving to find him.
The captain of the first division raced along the countryside and slowed only when he felt he had to. He took in a sharp breath and stopped when he heard his name called.
Yamanami stepped forward, looking worn and tired. He smiled slightly. "Hello, Souji-kun," he whispered.
"Doshite?" the younger man responded, hurt seeping into his voice. "Doshite, Yamanami-san?"
"I couldn't stand it any longer, Souji," he whispered. "The Shinsengumi was something to be proud of in the beginning, but it has turned downhill! I can not handle the murders of innocents any longer."
"Murders of innocents? The Ishin Shishis?!"
"The people who can not identify themselves on the street and those that are simply fighting for what they feel is right. Souji, have you taken a step back to simply look at what has happened?"
Okita hung his head slightly. "Do not do this, tamadachi," he begged quietly.
"Take me in. I will not be a coward."
Okita's eyes widened. "I could give you the chance to run, if I wished."
"But I do not wish for you to do that. Your ideals are different from mine, Souji-kun. You would never be able to live with the thought that you had betrayed the Shinsengumi." He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry if I have hurt you, Okita."
Okita nodded. "And I am sorry I can do nothing for you."
Yamanami smiled slightly. "It is your duty."
"Seppuku?" Okita whispered.
Yamanami stood silently, hearing his punishment and allowing the meaning of it to sink in.
"That is the punishment for those that attempt to leave the Shinsengumi," Hijikata responded.
The younger man's blue eyes were wide. "Hijikata-san! You can't mean it! You can't possibly-"
"I suggest that you stop now before I place a punishment on you for testing my judgment, Okita."
"Kondou-san." Okita looked over to his elder friend, desperation in his eyes.
"Listen to Hijikata," Kondou said quietly. "He is the one who deals with this sort of thing."
The young man turned his frantic blue eyes toward Yamanami's quiet black ones. The elder man smiled. "I knew the consequences when I ran. I shall face the penalty."
"I'm so sorry, Yamanami," Okita whispered, a tear trailing down his face.
"Do not weep for me, Souji-kun." He cupped the younger man's face for a moment, as he had done when he was a boy.
"Stay here, Okita," Hijikata ordered as he led Yamanami out.
The small man stood, tears streaming down his face. He fell to his knees. "Doshite.?"
"They killed him?" Sei whispered. "For running, they killed him? Hijikata is cruel and should have the same done to him!"
"Hush," Okita growled. "Never say such things!"
"Okita grew up with both Yamanami and Hijikata, Kamiya," Saitou explained as he sipped at his sake.
Sei's dark eyes widened. "My stars. Gomen nasai, Okita-san," she whispered, still keeping her voice low.
Okita turned his eyes to her. "Remember what I told you earlier? Staying neutral is best, regardless of your beliefs."
"And you also said you would follow Kondou-san and Hijikata-san in whatever their decisions were."
"Then you are a fool."
The threesome turned to see Itou standing behind them, a frown on his face. "How could you say something like that after your friend was killed by that man? Have you fallen to his ways as well, Okita-san? I thought you wanted a peaceful Japan!"
"I wish nothing more!" Okita argued, angered. "But I will follow Hijikata- san and Kondou-san to hell and back to gain that! I know they can achieve it!"
Itou glared. "Fool! You will not live past this war!"
"I never expected to," the young man said quietly. They glared at each other, neither willing to step down.
"Stop it," Saitou growled. "Both of you are acting like children."
"You will be there, Saitou-san, won't you?" Itou asked.
"Of course."
Itou smiled. "How about you, Kamiya-san? How would you like to join one of our meetings?"
Sei frowned. "I don't believe I would like that. Some other time perhaps."
"Perhaps." That said, Itou took his leave.
"What meeting?" Okita demanded.
"One that he holds every week or so," Saitou responded. "His ideals and beliefs."
Okita frowned. He didn't like this at all.
"Traitor!" Okita yelled, slamming a fist into the wall. He coughed, bringing his hand to his mouth and wiping the blood away.
"Easy, Okita," Kondou said, placing a strong hand on either of the younger man's shoulders. He kept them there until the coughing fit subsided and Okita breathed normally.
The blue-eyed captain stumbled back into the elder man's grasp, head spinning. "Two trusted friends betray me."
"Don't take it personal," Hijikata said as he sipped his sake. "If you do that, you'll never get anywhere in this war."
"Will you send someone after them?" Okita asked quietly.
"Someone has been sent," the elder man responded.
"Then I will never see Saitou-san again."
Hijikata did not respond, but simply took another sip of his sake.
Kondou eased the first captain to the floor, handing him a sake cup of his own. "Don't loose sleep over it."
Okita took a sip of his sake and stood.
"Where are you going?" Kondou questioned.
"To rest," the youth responded.
Sei turned her brown eyes to where Okita lay sleeping on his futon. She sighed as she sat next to the bed, brushing his dark hair away from his pale face gently. "Gomen nasai," she whispered to his sleeping form. "I wish I had known. I would never have let him hurt you."
It had been nearly two months since Saitou Hajime had left with Itou's group. Okita still took it hard.
"No one knew," Okita whispered groggily, eyes opening.
She managed a smile. "I'm still sorry I didn't."
Okita became fully awake and pulled back from her. "Do not get in my face, Sei-chan," he said quickly.
She frowned. "You shouldn't worry about me so much. I would die a thousand horrible deaths to be near you."
"It would kill me before my time to see you die those deaths, Sei-chan."
She smiled. He had not had time to say anything that day. The day she had blurted out her feelings to him and beaten herself mentally for it for hours after. He had, however, spent much more time with her.
"If I live through this," he continued in no more than a whisper, "I would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my days with you."
Sei's eyes watered and she clung to him. "Ai shittaru, Okita-kun."
Okita's response was cut short when he heard his name called from the hallway. Sei immediately dropped to the floor and Okita scooted to the furthest side of the futon.
A young boy came into his room. "Okita-san! Battousai has been spotted!" he said, panicked.
Okita stood. "Where?"
A/N: Yeah.. It's been a while since I wrote on this^^;;; Gomen nasai!! I have an idea that is warped and strange, so please come back for it soon!!
TBC