CHAPTER 37: Silent Revelations

Yuuta led Saitou into the farthest room in the third floor. The corridor was dark, archaic and smelly but it did not help prepare him when the young man opened the door. He could see a figure of a person upturned and laying on her stomach. He slowed down his breathing as the pungent stench of blood pillaged his lungs. He fought an urge to cover his mouth and goaded towards her.

He bent down and lighted the lamp beside them. He frowned upon it at closer inspection, the wick was awfully short and the oil would probably last less than an hour. The ramen noodles caught his eyes, the top was caked with fat. He picked them up in disgust and handed them to Yuuta who was obviously distressed.

"What am do you want me to do with this?" Yuuta asked uncertain. Saitou's face half lighted by the lamp was eerie and morose.

"Throw it." Saitou reached down in his uniform and handed the young man a coin purse. "Buy some candles, oil, new towels, some sake and clothes. Buy a yukata for her and hurry."

Yuuta needed no more prodding, he left without another word. Saitou content that the young man was gone inspected the young lady, going around her like he was some sort of hunter. He stopped intermittently examining her bruises and the ragged patchwork of thread on her side. He shook his head, "So much for an aspiring doctor..." She was practically naked with the exception of her lower half which was covered by a half blood soaked towel. He pried it off gently though the caked blood stuck stubbornly. He was careful not to wake her, all he needed to see was her lower half to make sure nothing else was broken or bleeding. She stirred awake though.

"Yuuta... Put that back on me or else... "She said in between gasps.

He did not reply and placed the towel back on her after he was assured nothing else in her body was amiss. He noted the futon was soaked with blood, he held back another sigh. "Doesn't he have enough sense to even take this off before it dries up?"

"Midori how are you feeling?" He asked not facing her.

"Hajime? What are you?" Shocked yes, she was shocked. Why was he here?

"I'm fine. A little bent out of shape but fine." She lied. Oh Kami-sama up to now I still can't answer him truthfully... What am I doing?

Saitou leaned himself heavily beside the window. He opened it and started smoking. He was quiet and the only thing that betrayed his state of mind was the longer and faster drags that he took from the cigarette. He closed his eyes and tried to separate the night breeze from the pungent smell of blood but he couldn't. Fine you say? You're one hell of a liar Midori. Never wanting to get caught. Never wanting to admit.

He opened his eyes once again. He wondered for a moment what she was thinking and what that face was showing. She was a terrible liar and her face betrayed her all the time.

"Do you remember back in Edo, at that inn where we stayed the night?" he said sternly.

"Hai..." Oh kami-sama please make him go away. I don't want him to see me like this...

"Didn't I tell you to just admit when you hurt? And you know it wouldn't hurt to admit you were wrong either." Saitou took out a pair of matches and lighted his cigarette. Then in a low grumbling voice he whispered "Give me the word and I'll take care of Akio."

SILENCE.

The San-ban-tai Kumichou waited and waited. There was a constant ringing in his ears that seemed to grow louder as each silent minute passed. Speak you mind! You are giving me a headache!!!

He kneeled beside her. "You do know that even if you say no, if we pass each other on the street I WILL NOT hold back. Pray to kami that we never cross paths. I still do not know what you see in him, that you chose him over..." he paused catching himself off guard, "over yourself."

Yuuta darted through the alleys. He had made several stops to procure the goods that they will need for a few more days stay in the inn so his sister could recuperate. He only needed one more thing, some oil and candles and he can go back.

Who knows what Saitou intends to do with my sister??!! Why did I agree to this arrangement! She could very well be dead by now...

He couldn't understand it but he felt more anxious by the minute. He became more paranoid as he heard steps after his own. He looked back and then left and right, there was nothing. It was very late and no moon was out that night, he had decided not to carry lantern so as not to draw attention to himself.

Baka! You should've brought a lantern! Baka! You're grown up now and still you're afraid of the dark...

He moved swiftly, not really sure whether which was his motivation was for doing so.

She couldn't see his face. She wondered how he looked. He must look mad... Angry... Disgusted even...I did choose myself, my anger at least...

Not hearing an answer he stood up abruptly and threw the half smoked cigarette.

"Kami! You are so stubborn! I'm leaving... I sent Yuuta to get some medicine and food for you. I'll speak with the owner to make sure you are not disturbed here."

He turned to leave and at that moment, Midori felt an indescribable fear. She tried to wrap herself in the blanket and tossed to stand up and catch at least his hakama, but she overestimated herself and she fell loudly on the wooden floor.

THUMP!!!

"Baka! As if you can't torture yourself enough!" Saitou burst while he tried to clumsily set her back on the futon. "Don't move again!"

"I won't..." She answered feebly. "Hajime... Can you put me up? I can't see you... your face."

"No. You'll hurt yourself. The incision is right at your lumbar area.."

"Onegai..." she pleaded as she tugged at his haori. "Onegai..."

Her pleading reminded him of their days in Tama, her childishness. The stubborn little lady who would not take no for an answer. He lifted her slowly and sat her down and took her right arm and placed it around him so that he can ease the pressure on her lower back.

"Arigatou Saitou-sensei!" She smiled not looking at his face and a little embarrassed that she must look absolutely horrendous and sweating like a pig.

"Don't speak." He said in a low voice.

For a moment she was just content having him beside her. She could smell her own blood but his scent overpowered her senses. She kept staring at his face noting every single change from the last time she'd looked at him closely. His profile was sharp and commanding.

"Ne... Your look suits you."

"Didn't you hear what I said? Do NOT speak." He replied not daring to look back.

"Your face must intimidate those who crosses you. Do you know that your expressions are harder and your face sharper now?"

"Baka..." he muttered but a smile slightly tugging at his lips.

"San-ban-tai Kumichou... It suits you. Did you know you had frightening eyes?"

He kept silent wondering why she was ranting, he turned her way briefly.

"They are most beautiful when you are mad... when you are happy... but I can never tell which is which... like now..."

He stared at her wondering if she was delirious, her eyes were stark and yet hazy. Taking his hand he tried placing it on her forehead but she slightly moved her head to avoid it.

"I hope you are happy right now... because I am..." she took her invalid left to reach his face. "Let me..."

He took it, staring at it briefly, the scars on her hand reminding him of his indebtedness. For a moment he was tempted to push it away but he knew she needed his answer and this was her way of asking. Guiding her hand, he cupped it with his and let it lay on his cheek. He cursed himself for not being able to say anything and he could only hope this was enough. Why was it so easy to declare to someone else his true intentions? While he had always found himself disguising the words he should say to her during the moments when it really counted? He didn't know. He worried... Now that he was giving his answer, he feared she did not understood either that or she was not herself as everything about her pointed to

The door opened and he let go of her hand. Yuuta came into view with the things he had asked of him. As he came closer, another shadow appeared.

"Yuuta come quick! You were followed!" he shouted as he laid her against the wall. He saw her cringe from pain but there was no time, he unsheathed his katana pushed Yuuta to the side and confronted the man at the door.

"Today you will die." Said the shadow.

Okita Souzi was definitely bored. Harada had gone off where only Kami knows where and he was stuck at the bar sipping his sake slowly while watching for anyone suspicious. It might've been because of the sake that he missed a man wearing a Mimawarigumi uniform go up the stairs of the Gion or it might be precisely because of the uniform he did not notice it suspicious.

He tried to avoid several older women who undoubtedly was trying to seduce him by saying up front that he did not have any money since his companion "Harada" was obviously lost somewhere. It was very effective since as soon as he had said that to each one that came by, they just disappeared quite as quickly.

One lady however had just about had enough. She was broke and if it meant helping to find the certain "Harada" the boy was talking about, she'd do anything to get that money.

She whispers to his ears... "Honey... Let's go find him upstairs..."

He nods in silence.