Disclaimer: I do not own PMK.
I seem to be on a roll on this...here goes.
Chapter 3: Saizou
See me! Please! The Ichimura brothers walked past the building without even stopping. Look this way, Tatsu, Tetsu---BAKA! He screamed mentally. Exhausted by the pain in his shoulder, Okita sank to the floor and into unconsciousness.
"Tetsu, what's it?" Tetsu stopped and glanced about the busy street. "Tatsu-nii, I thought I heard Okita-san's voice..." The brothers glanced about the street. Uneasiness settled on them. The air had suddenly become heavy...
"Must be my imagination, Tatsu-nii." Tetsu reassured his brother. Somehow, he didn't feel too certain.
Saizou buhied and tottered to his master's room. It was empty. The futon was rolled up and stuffed absently in the closet. Papers littered the mats. Strange, he should be there at this time of the day. The training hall! Maybe his master is giving some pointers to the redhead kid. The piglet trotted off in the direction of the training hall.
Yamanami and Kondo were playing a leisurely game of chess as he passed Kondo's office. The new cook, Hotaru, almost tripped over the piglet as she struggled under a load of dirty bedding. Saizou nudged open the door of Yamazaki's room only to have the dog-tired shinobi slam it in his face. Still grunting at this shabby treatment, Saizou entered the training hall past the motionless forms of the Shinsengumi's Comedian Trio taking their midday nap.
The hall was dark and quiet. A slight figure stood by the weapons rack. The pig grunted in distaste. That was where the taishi's weapons are kept went not in use. Sharp shiny objects never interested him the way it did humans. If anything, the spears and blades made him uncomfortable.
Looks like him. Saizou hesitated. This person had his master's face but the piglet sensed something was wrong. He sidled along the shadows. It's amazing how quiet pigs can be once they set their minds to it.
That's it! The scent is different! That was not his young master. On top of it, Saizou could smell the sickly sweet smell of blood on this stranger. His master's blood! If that bastard had hurt his precious master...Throwing all caution to the wind, the brave little pig let out his best war cry and charged Kichisaburo.
It was bloody, swift and brutal. The skirmish was over. Blood stained the floor by the overturned weapons rack. Cursing under his breath as the sound of running footsteps approached, the assassin fled the scene.
"What was that racket?" Nagakura Shinpachi yawned. "Sounds like a pig been slaughtered in there." He was still groggy from his nap. Night patrols always were killers. They had those Ishii-bastards to thank for that.
"Who left the doors open?" Harada Sanosuke strode in. "There's no one...Merciful Buddha!" The giant collapsed onto his knees as they took in the mess. Shinpachi tried to support his friend the best he could.
"What..." Toudou Heisuke's mouth gaped like a goldfish. Harada's second best spear stuck out of the wooden floor, its point stained a bright red...
"Not good..."
Run, Tatsu-kun, run! The elder Ichimura sat working over the Shinsengumi account books. He was unaware of the danger approaching from behind. Wearing the Shinsengumi uniform, the assassin raised his blade... Okita's eyes snapped open. It was only a nightmare. However, it has the nasty possibility of becoming reality.
He managed to spit out the evil-tasting rag they had gagged him with. His wound had stopped bleeding by now. His hands were tied behind his back. If only he could get them loose...No! The fit of coughing shook his entire frame. Why now? He felt his strength draining away. Not like this...Toshi...anyone...
They had stopped for their midday meal at roadside stall. The food was poor and the company worse. Hijitaka never thought he'd miss Souji's company that much. Saitou had spoken little and attempted an escape two miles back. Hijitaka had caught him. Now Hajime looked as though he would gladly put a curse on Hijitaka.
Hijitaka sighed. They still had a long walk ahead. A very, very long walk. Souji, if only you were here...
Author's notes:
LydiaBlessing: As requested an update. Cheers!
Hope I'm not being too mean to poor Okita-sama...I'll make it up to him in the later chapters (or have Hijitaka-san make it up to him ). Kinda dragged Hotaru-san in as well...