CHAPTER 16- CORNERED

Tokaji shrunk back against the corner of the building, panting heavily. His raspy breath misted the dark morning air surrounding him and he wished feverishly that it would vaporize. He wanted to just disappear.

He could hear them coming. They knew he had taken shelter in that little alleyway. The Shinsengumi had the keen senses of wolves.

Worst of all, he was alone. Himura had failed to show up in the city. Unbeknownst to the young warrior, he was going after Tomoe, who had been taken captive.

What's more: the Choshu clan was no more. In the twilight hours, Kogoro and his men had fallen to a band of Shinsengumi warriors. Now these warriors were after him, the last Imperialist in town.

His heart beat faster as his ears picked up their voices. They were splitting up to search for him. This was almost a benefit; there would be less for him to face at one time. Still, he was beginning to panic. He was tired, cold, and his body was raked with injuries.

'I don't know how long I can stand this.' He thought. But then, Hotaru's face appeared before him, smiling and bright. This seemed to renew his strength. "Hotaru...I'll keep going...I'll fight to return to you!"

His eyes froze over. His warrior self had returned.

"Look! There he is!"

"Don't let him escape!"

Three Shinsen warriors rounded the bend and raced towards him, drawing their swords. Tokaji gritted his teeth and rushed at them. "HYAAAAAH!!"

CLACK! VASH! KTCH! KAK! They were fast, much faster than the Shogun warriors he was accustomed to. As seconds turned to minutes, they evaded every one of his blows.

His heart beat faster. The demon hitokiri within was somehow relishing this and begging for more. His eyes blazed in blue fire. "HAAAAAAHHHH- YYYYAAAAAHHH!!" With one massively strong stroke, he sliced through the attacking blades and cut into the flesh of his attackers. They fell breathlessly around him, spattering blood up onto his hakama.

V-VASH!

But his moment of hesitation was ripped away with one side-strike. Tokaji felt a burning agony ripple up his chest, accompanied by the warmth of freshly released blood, his blood!

"AUGH!" Someone had sliced him directly across the chest! Pain accompanied rage as he whirled to face the one responsible.

Okita wore a rather childish smirk as he readied another blow. "You have taken three of my men and now I shall take you!"

Tokaji frowned. "We'll see! HAH!" He began to fight again, but with every blow he struck, the pain of his wounded torso threatened to drop him. And Okita was talented. He was not going to let up. Neither would let up.

Nearby, Saitoh and his own fleet watched. Normally, they would have swarmed upon this lone cub like rabid wolves, but Okita was a soldier of honor. It would stay one-on-one.

'This boy is powerful despite his body's state.' Saitoh thought. 'He matches Okita's strides blow-for-blow. It is hard to tell which side will cave first.'

But Okita cringed. The urge to cough burned his lungs. 'No! Not at a time like this!' He had to withdraw somehow, before the tuberculosis took hold of his body. He had to stop playing around and finish Tokaji quick.

Without warning, he shot off to the side and lanced out, holding his sword firmly in a stabbing position.

Tokaji gasped. It was too fast! He couldn't evade it! The sword would drive clean through him!

'Pa...Himura...HOTARU!!!'