Disclaimer: I do not own PMK.

Chapter 13: Coming Together

They were walking slowly because of Susumu's injured ankle. The streets here are familiar to him. The teahouse, the sword seller's...He stopped suddenly. A redhead boy and a young man wearing the Shinsengumi uniform passed them on the opposite side of the street. Tetsu-kun! Without thinking, he crossed the busy street. The boy's in danger! He did not know how or why he knew.

"Stupid pig! Were you trying to get killed?" Susumu saved Saizou from being run over by a wagon as they tried to follow their friend. Saizou squealed in protest. When they looked up, they had lost sight of Okita.

Why is this so familiar? Tetsu thought as they came to a small fenced compound with the skeleton of a burnt house in it. The sight of its half-burnt roof and charred pillars made him uneasy. This was where Suzu had tried to kill him... "It's quiet enough here, no one about," his companion sounded bored.

Tetsu sensed the katana being drawn behind him. He rolled to safety as the blade slashed the air. "Okita-san! Why are you doing this?"

"Simple, because you're the enemy." Tetsu winced as the assassin slashed his arm open. Okita-san wouldn't hurt me...he remembered the night Saizou ran away. The pig knew. This is an imposter! Tetsu grabbed a bamboo pole as a weapon, hope this works...

Saya screamed silently when she saw the attack on Tetsu. She turned and fled, knowing she needed to get help. Okita had lost track of the pair when he saw a girl in a pink kimono running out from an alley. He ran into the alley and towards the fight...

"Must we put up these ugly posters?" Shinpachi waved a sheet of the "Lost Pig" posters the Comedian Trio had been putting up since dawn. "I not saying Sano-kun's a lousy artist," he added as Harada shot him a murderous look. "But the picture looks nothing like a pig!"

"The big circle's Saizou's head and the little one's his snout...Oof!" Harada almost fell over as Saya ran full-tilt into him. "Saya-chan? Are you hurt?" Saya shook her head and gestured frantically to the trio. Tetsu needs help! Follow me!

"I think she wants us to follow," Heisuke said as Saya nodded. She turned to lead them and promptly tripped over her sandal strap. "Harada-san! I think you better carry her." Harada picked up the girl as if she were a sack of vegetables.

I'm doomed...Tetsu tried his hardest to be brave as Kichisaburo closed in for the kill. There's no way the flimsy bamboo pole's gonna stand up... He closed his eyes as the blade descended. The ring of steel on steel. Tetsu opened his eyes. Okita-san? Okita-san was standing in front of him, blocking the imposter's sword.

"Tetsu-kun, please, this is personal," Okita said quietly. Tetsu mutely scampered to a safe distance. This is Okita's fight. The two young men glared at each other, their swords drawn. Today, only one of them will live...

Hijitaka and Saitou had just returned. They had reached the Takagi residence to learn the bride-to-be had gotten tired of waiting and left for Kyoto. Now it's Saitou's turn to chase after Tokio and he did so willingly. Saitou said something about sensing her strong fighting spirit in Takagi's training hall. Now he actually seems eager to court the lady. He's totally intrigued by the fiancée he has yet to meet.

Saitou had gone on ahead when the hope of getting some clues to Tokio's whereabouts from Souji. Hijitaka made a detour to buy Souji some candy to make up for having left him behind. Will Souji prefer the candied cherries or the peppermint?

What the heck...He watched in disbelief as the Shinsengumi Comedian Trio ran past with a girl tucked under Harada's arm like rag doll. What in Buddha's name are those clowns up to? If they're molesting young girls...Forgetting the candy, he ran after them. "Stop! You clowns are in deep trouble!"

Heisuke looked over his shoulder and blanched. "Guys, the Demon's after us! Shit! He knows about Saizou!" The trio accelerated with Hijitaka hot on their heels. The good citizens of Kyoto looked at each other and shrugged. It's just another day...

Author's notes:

Hijitaka-san's back. He does have a real bad impression of the Trio.