Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own PMK. I do not profit from my fanfics...don't sue me please.

Chapter 1: Sweet dessert

The young man strolled alone along the streets of Kyoto. He wore his white yutaka in a manner some might call effeminate, but he never let it bother him. The day was fine after the previous night's storm. Clean and crisp. He took deep breaths of the fresh air. It's good to be alive. Too bad his best friends weren't around to enjoy this day with him. Aha! The new desserts shop. Those desserts look scrumptious. A little snack wouldn't hurt.

Okita Souji sat down and ordered a dessert. Wonder how Hijitaka-san and Saitou-san are enjoying each other's company?

Okita chuckled. Two days ago, a very angry letter had arrived from Saitou's prospective in-laws concerning his long overdue wedding. Saitou Hajime has to marry his fiancée Tokio or her family will stop funding the Shinsengumi coffers. In addition, they'll quit funding Hajime. Life's hard when you are perpetually short on cash.

Okita would have loved to attend the wedding. After all, Tokio was a distant cousin of his. However, Hijitaka-san had come to the hasty conclusion that his Souji was unfit for travel. Now Hijitaka has the unenviable task of escorting the prospective groom. Hajime has a bad habit of running away from his own wedding. The young waitress served his dessert. Okita thanked her and tucked in.

Honestly, Hajime is poor husband material. Ditto for all the Shinsengumi. Their wives all run the risk of early widowhood. Hajime is a gloomy, cold fish at times, always looking as though he's attending a funeral. Poor Tokio.

Okita had seen Tokio a few times before. That was years ago. She is older than him. A feisty girl with lots of spirit, Tokio had enjoyed archery, riding and kendo. She can be outspoken and fearless as a tiger if need be. Maybe he should be feeling sorry for Hajime instead.

The dessert was sweet and creamy, delicious! You don't know what you're missing, Toshi, Saizou. His piglet would have loved the dessert. Too bad Saizou was taking a nap when he left the barracks. Waking him up was not an option. Saizou has a temper that can rival Toshi's any day.

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"Now you're gonna pay, runt!" A hand clapped over his mouth.

The chest loomed before him like a waiting coffin. No! He wanted to scream but could not. Nine-year-old Okita Souji had crossed the line this time. His talent had found favor with the sensei and incurred the jealous wrath of all his senpai at the dojo. Today, some older students had cornered him in the storehouse. He was pushed roughly into the chest…

It's so dark. When will they let him out? No one will hear his cries. No one will come looking for him. He is an orphan and the relatives he live with will assume that he was playing somewhere else. No one will think of looking in the old chest that sat in the far corner of the storehouse. He could be trapped for days. Fear gripped his chest like icy fingers; suffocating him…He's going to die in that damp, cramped chest. No one will know until they do spring-cleaning and empty his bones out in the garbage.

"If anything happens to him, I'll make sure you sorry shits wish you've never been born! Wake up! Souji!" Safe and warm, a pair of strong arms cradled his little frame. A rough hand massaged his chest, forcing him to breathe. Souji will open his eyes…

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"Hijitaka-san…" Okita murmured weakly as he opened his eyes…

He gasped in pain as he was kicked in the abdomen. His head spun. He was in a dim room. Ropes bit into his wrists and ankles. He was lying bound on the tatami. Okita struggled to sit up in a more dignified position, drawing his legs under him. White. A white yutaka like his.

"Don't you worry about your beloved Hijitaka-san, I'll take special care of him…really special care." Its wearer said with an edge of pure malice in his voice.

Slowly, Okita's eyes adjusted to the dim light. There were several others in the shadows. His attention was focused on the young man in the white yutaka.

"You!"

Author's notes:

Thank you for the reviews. This is my first long story.

Please review.