Disclaimer: I do not own PMK or RK.

Chapter 12: Parting as Friends

Yamanami had gone on urgent leave. The fire had affected him so deeply that he was unable to carry out his duties. Tatsu will cover the treasurer part of his job. Kondo had offered to handle the sponsorship part. As for other duties...guess who's the lucky fool? Hijitaka went through the weapons acquisition list for the hundredth time. Did they really lose that many swords a month? Maybe seppuku is in order for careless taishis...

He put down the list as footsteps came down the veranda. A soft knock-knock on the door. Okita sat up, tense. Their eyes met. Souji-chan, are you ready? Whatever decision you make, I'm here to back you up. Okita gave a slight nod. After long and painful struggle, he has reached a decision.

"Come in." Hotaru quietly slid the door open. She knelt on the tatami beside Okita's futon. "Souji-kun?" She asked timidly. Okita reached out to take her hand. She noticed he had lost weight. He was pale and very thin. An uneasy silence followed before Okita spoke.

"Hotaru-san, I'm really sorry... but can we part as friends?" It came out haltingly. Hotaru bit her lip. Okita looked away. It was too hard. I want to say I still love you, but I know it won't be fair...

"As friends, Okita-san," Hotaru spoke as calmly and with as much dignity as she could. Okita gave her a forced smile. "As friends, Hotaru-san."

"Take care," she exited the room, closing the door behind her. Outside she dabbed away a tear that had escaped. A rejection. That was what it is. She blinked and hurried off to the kitchen. Inside, Hijitaka moved over to the futon.

"Souji-chan?" Okita buried his face in Hijitaka's shoulder and wept. It was painful all the same. Hijitaka held him, as he had done when Souji was a little boy. That was all he can do to give him support. Okita's sobbing suddenly changed into coughing. Hijitaka felt stickiness on the tear-dampened cloth. Blood!

"Souji!" Alarmed, Hijitaka quickly bundled his friend in a blanket, lifted him in his arms and ran all the way to the nearest doctor.

By noon, Okita Souji was admitted to the Kyoto Tuberculosis Hospital, where he will stay until his recovery, if that is possible. Hotaru visited him later that day with Susumu. Okita was very weak, but happy to see them.

Tomoe's dead. Saya could not believe it. It had snowed heavily in the night. Both Suzu and Saya had slept in and awoke to find both their housemates gone.

Much later, Kenshin returned carrying Tomoe's body in his arms. Her white kimono was stained a dirty red. Kenshin himself had suffered terrible wounds, apart from exposure to the cold. A lesser man would have died, but not Battousai. Suzu tended the wounds the best he could.

Saya sat there staring at the body in shock. So much blood...Suzu yelled for more bandages, snapping her out of her trance. When the wounds have been treated, Suzu left to carry a message to Katsura. He ought to be informed of what happened. Katsura sent a message back with Suzu.

"Kyoto. We're going back to Kyoto." Saya stared at Suzu. I don't want to go. I can't face him...she pleaded silently. Suzu was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice. Katsura had offered him a job and Suzu had accepted. Hopefully, it'd be a job where he can work towards Yoshida's dream.

Katsura had written a letter of reference for both him and Saya. Suzu was looking back to returning to the city. He has some unfinished business with a certain redhead Shinsengumi page..

.

Saya. After he had completed his chores, Tetsu stopped to look at the stars. It's been three months. He hadn't realized he'd take so long to clean up the pig sty. Saizou butted his ankle. Tetsu picked him up. Poor Saizou. They banned pets from the hospital. He tickled the pig and was relieved when he did not get bitten.

"Anyone will do, right?" Tetsu chided as the pig nuzzled him. If only it were so simple... The Comedian Trio, well Duo now as Heisuke was facing some issues of his own, had tried to cheer him up by introducing him to various kitchen girls and waitresses about Kyoto. The pig nipped his finger in protest.

With a sigh, he walked off to the bath. He smelt like a pig-sty himself. Tatsu watched him go. "He's growing up, isn't he?" Tatsu turned to see Hijitaka lighting his pipe. The Demon did not look so scary tonight. Instead, he looked and sounded tired.

"They chased me out after visiting hours, said I will give the children nightmares."

"There were children there?" Tatsu asked. Hijitaka nodded.

"The adult wards are full up. They figured Souji's bed could fit in the children's ward. Souji doesn't mind. He's always a softie when it comes to kids and animals. I hope the kids don't bully him. That place has a serious overcrowding problem. I wanted to take him back, but they wouldn't let me. Dammit! It's cold."

Hijitaka returned to the room which he shared with Okita. It seemed so empty and dark now. Saizou squirmed his way into the room, looking for his master. Failing to do so, he settled down near the closet. Hijitaka did not chase the pig out.

Author's notes:

Finally settled to debate on whether to kill off Tomoe or not.