Disclaimer: I do not own PMK.
Chapter 4: Escape
"You sure Saizou's dead?" Harada asked in disbelief. "Maybe he's just injured and hiding...There's no body"
"Look, there's a fair bit of blood here. And I've checked the pig pen. Saizou isn't there. Whoever did the poor porker in probably removed him to make pork chops. Sano-kun, you're in deep shit." Heisuke said solemnly.
"But I didn't hurt the pig! Believe me, guys..."
"We believe you alright, but the question is will Souji believe you? Chances are, he'd lob off a few of your body parts, then ask questions." Shinpachi indicated the bloodstained spear. Harada groaned. He's doomed. Okita loved that pig.
"Don't worry, Sano-san," Heisuke patted his friend's shoulder. "We'll help you. First, this place needs some major tidying up before the afternoon practice. No one must know of this."
"Poor Souji. I think we better get a make-up pet for him since Saizou has disappeared..."
After hours of trying, he had finally loosened the ropes that bound his wrists. I should've been more careful...I should've cut down on sweets...I should've... A coughing fit overtook him. He was weak from loss of blood and his illness. Okita prayed his friends were safe. His wrists were chafed raw. He freed his hands and then his ankles.
How much time had passed while he drifted in and out of consciousness? It was dark in the room. Footsteps! He dodged into the shadows just as the door slid open. The guard only had time to see the undone ropes on the tatami before Okita ambushed him and dispatched him with his own sword.
Breathless from his exertions, the captain of the first patrol looked at the corpse with a grim satisfaction. He was armed now, but his shoulder was bleeding again. He must get back to the HQ alive. He needed to get out before... A woman's scream rang out. A waitress stood screaming in the corridor. He pushed his way past the screaming woman as men shouted commands from below.
Okita-san's not himself, Tetsu thought as he prepared Okita's medicine. Over dinner, he had actually yelled at Hotaru-san for spilling the soup over his lap. Throughout the meal, he made simple conversation on the weather. But Okita-san rarely made simple conversation at mealtimes. He cracked jokes, spoke of outrageous things, ribbed his brothers-in-arms...
Kichisaburo was nursing a series of very painful pig-bites when Tetsu knocked. He quickly pulled his sleeve down to hide them. "Come in."
"Okita-san, your medicine," Tetsu placed the cup in front of him. "Leave it and go!" Kichisaburo snapped. He had taken an instant dislike to the redhead page.
"Something's bothering you, isn't it? Is it Hijitaka-san?" Tetsu flinched involuntarily as Kichisaburo fixed him with a withering glare. Okita never glared at me like that before, Tetsu fidgeted. This is not the gentle Okita-san I know...
"But, Hijitaka-san says to make sure you take... Whoa!" Tetsu yelped in pain as he is thrown bodily out of the room. "I told you to go!" He sat rubbing his sore behind as the door slammed shut. Geez, what's with the guy? Is he crabby at being left behind by the old demon?
"Hey, Okita-san! A visit to the Temple School tomorrow will cheer you up!" Tetsu ducked just as the cup and tray sailed through the air and smashed into the tree behind him.
Inside the room, Kichisaburo cleaned his sword. This job was turning out to be tougher than he thought it would be. Now, he'd have to play his part as Okita-san. Maybe later, he could sneak out for some sport...
He was familiar with the maze of back-alleys. He had hunted there before with the wolves of Mibu many times. Now he was alone and the hunted. He had taken a fair number of them down but he was rapidly weakening. Outnumbered, he had no choice but to flee. He cannot afford to die, yet.
Okita dodged into a side alley that brought him to the river. They got him cornered at the quay. Another man perished under Okita's blade. Several small boats were tied up by the bank. Okita learnt a bit of boats from a friend. The current should carry him to safety but the river was dangerously high with the past day's rain. He could be swept away to sea.
He took the gamble. With a leap, he landed on the deck of the nearest boat. It pitched. He slipped and fell backwards into the water.
"Nooo!" He hit his head against the side of the quay. Darkness. The waters closed in over him. His pursuers fled as the Shinsengumi Second Patrol came running to investigate the quayside disturbance. Blood flowed freely. The Miburou have killed again.
Author's notes:
OK, folks, an update. Tissues, anyone? Don't think a Hotaru-Okita pairing on the cards yet...
Ack! I've done it this time lol...hope I live to update soon. (Runs from angry katana-wielding Okita fangirls.) Believe me...