Hello!! It's about freaking time I uploaded this chapter, eh? Anyway, this story is specially dedicated to Ione-girl, who drew a lovely, lovely page full of Okita/Jarenna pics just for me! And also to Kaori Akayama—What was it you said about not changing your name again?—for being a super-sweet reviewer, and also I'm Trouble and Jade-eyed Neko for being my faithful reviewers, I love you guys!

…

If Kimiko hadn't seen him occasionally raise the tea cup to his lips, she would've thought that Yamazaki Susumu was some kind of statue or something. She had been in this teahouse for approximately forty-five minutes, and he had not said a word since he found her on the floor.

It had been very embarrassing, that, but at least the guy had enough decency to not talk about it.

Though, really, why can't he just say SOMETHING? The silence is so unnerving.

Indeed it was. The faint sounds of conversations carried on all around them outside, and it seemed like the room was just an independent bubble of silence. For Kimiko, who was pretty much fun-loving and liking noise, it was something short of sheer torture.

Finally, unable to help herself, she spoke, breaking the silence. "Why did you bring me here?"

Calmly, he glanced up at her, and took his time answering. "It would be better if Okita doesn't see you around for a little while."

Kimiko frowned, puzzled. Yamazaki Susumu wasn't one who really bothered with the goings-on at the headquarters, especially personal affairs and everything. This was very much unlike him. "Why would you care?"

His answer was simple and curt. "I don't."

"Why did you bring me here, then? Tell me the real reason."

He fixed her with a steady gaze, his eyes impenetrable as always. He was always a mysterious one, this Yamazaki Susumu. "To know."

She was reaching the end of her patience. "To know what?"

"Why you do the things you do."

She bristled. "What business is it of yours, Inspector?"

"When you deliberately try to disturb the peace, it is."

Kimiko was disgusted. "This is about Jarenna, isn't it? Don't tell me you're in love with that simpering—"

"Why must everything be about her?"

"I don't know!" Kimiko said exasperatedly, throwing her hands up. "I mean, you tell me. You're this aloof, sullen guy who just sits in his room all day doing kami-knows-what and then suddenly you bring me here and expect me to give you answers to my behavior? What is wrong with this situation?"

Indeed, Susumu thought wryly. Everything was wrong with this situation. When he was not outside collecting information, he would lock himself up in the room, quietly meditating, but when he had chanced upon a crying Kimiko, something in him just…well, just tugged. And before he knew it, he had brought her here. Maybe it was because he had been noticing her for a good long while now. Or maybe…he didn't know.

It was a highly unpleasant feeling, not knowing what he was really doing. When he had seen her on the ground, tears spilling down porcelain cheeks, all he had wanted to do in that insane instant was to comfort her. It was all he could do to not take her in his arms and hold her.

He saw her efforts to win Okita's heart, had understood her heartbreak when it was patently obvious he only had eyes for that Yukijurou girl, watching her childish, clumsy attempts to try to win his heart even though he was taken…she had spirit, which was so unlike any other girl—woman—he had ever seen.

Maybe that was why she had captured his attention in the first place.

"I will tell you nothing," he said, his tone indifferent. It wasn't like he could explain anything to her. Heck, he didn't even know, himself. It had all been on the spur of the moment, something which he still had trouble getting used to. "Finish the tea."

Kimiko cocked her head at him. "You are one very strange person, you know."

"What I am is none of your business, I believe."

Kimiko steamed.

"He's not going to love you, you know."

Kimiko stiffened, her teacup frozen midway. "What?"

How could anyone be so unfeeling? The guy didn't even bat an eye when he repeated his earlier sentence. "Okita Souji. He's not going to love you."

She glared at him. "Look, this is none of your business, all right? I love him, and one day he'll see that he'll be better off with me."

Susumu was unruffled, taking in the look of anger in her eyes. It was foolish, what she was doing. Why waste time on someone who would never return your feelings? Then he shrugged. "We'll see."

Maybe this would prove to be amusing.

"Natsumi-san!" The both of them cried out in alarm at the same time even as Jarenna hurried to the old woman's side, wanting to help her back into the futon where she could rest.

As soon as the old woman had come to, she had taken one look at them, whispered their names, and kowtowed to them, sobbing. The two girls had been stunned for a moment, not expecting anything like this at all, but Jarenna had recovered quickly, her nursing instincts taking over as she tried to make the old woman lie down.

"You must rest, Natsumi-san, don't do that!"

Natsumi gripped Jarenna's wrist with her unhurt hand and stared up at her, an almost wild light in her eyes. "Forgive me, my ladies!! Forgive your wayward servant!"

"Natsumi-san, what are you talking about?" Tokio, who was on Natsumi's other side asked, confused at her words. The look in her eyes was so intense and searing, full of pain and sadness and guilt. What had she done? All she remembered was that just after her mother's death, Natsumi had disappeared.

The woman was sobbing loudly now, her hold on Jarenna's hand tightening. "I've found you at last…" she rocked back and forth. "I've found the two of you at last…at last…"

Gently, Jarenna touched her hand and mustered a smile, having no idea what the old woman was talking about, but finding the need to reassure her nonetheless. "Yes, you've found us. Now get some rest."

She shook her head violently, her eyes wide and searching. "Iie! I need to tell you—"

"You can tell it to us later, Natsumi-san," Jarenna replied kindly as she helped the old woman lie back down and pulled the covers back up. "You need to recuperate. We'll still be here when you wake up."

"Go and get some rest, Tokio," Jarenna said softly as Tokio nodded off for the second time. They were both still in the First Aid room, watching over Natsumi, who had fallen into a deep slumber. It was already deep in the night, the only sound being the slow, steady sound of the old woman's breathing. The room glowed a gentle gold, but the only true warmth came from the hot water compresses that Tokio had specially made.

"I will if you do," Tokio replied, edging closer to her sister in order to share the blanket. Jarenna huddled next to her gratefully, sharing her warmth.

"I can't. What if something happens to her in the middle of the night?"

"Then I'll accompany you."

"You're tired."

Tokio raised her chin, stubborn. "So are you."

Jarenna stared at her for a long moment, at the face that was identical to her own, and the stubbornness that was not unfamiliar to her. Then she smiled. "So that's what it's like dealing with me."

"What?"

"Seems like we share a stubborn streak, Tokio."

She laughed softly, nodding. "Seems like we do."

There was a short silence between them before Tokio finally said. "He loves you, you know."

Jarenna stiffened. "We've been over this already." Her voice was tight. She did not want to go through this again.

"Now you're being stupid."

"Society has no place for a woman like me."

"We're not talking about society. We're talking about Okita Souji. The man you barely take your eyes off whenever he's around."

"I don't—"

"Liar."

Jarenna bristled at her words. "Don't act like you know everything, Tokio. The fact is you don't. I don't tell you how to live your life. You don't tell me how to live mine."

Hurt flashed in the Tokio's eyes, but she refused to break contact. "I may not know everything, but I know enough to see that you've got Okita-san's heart in your hands, and yet you want to throw that away just because you're afraid of what his love, your love can do. And you go making these kinds of excuses hoping that he, and other people will buy it so they'll leave you alone. Well, here's a fact, Jarenna. The thing is that you don't run away from things. They will always come right back at you. And where will you be then? What are you going to do? Make more excuses?" Tokio knew that she was harsh, but there was no choice. Jarenna had to see.

"I'm your sister, Jarenna. And believe it or not, I love you, and I care, which is why I'm here talking to you like that. I know that for most of your life, you've never known love, but all that's going to change. I'm here."

Jarenna stared at her sister for a long moment, and Tokio stared right back, her eyes alight with determination. Then Tokio spoke, her voice soft. "I don't want to see you hurting, Jarenna. And I know neither does Okita-san."

At that, Jarenna turned away and got to her feet. Suddenly she didn't want to hear any more of this. "I'm going out for a walk."

"Want me to come along?"

She shook her head, her smile strained. "It's all right, I'm just walking around the compound. I need to be by myself for a little while. Will you be all right staying with Natsumi-san?"

"Of course."

Jarenna had hurt her sister, that much was obvious. It was something that she never wanted to do, but when her sister had called her a liar…

It's true, isn't it? Her mind taunted.

So what?

The entire courtyard was dark and empty even as she walked, and not a sound came from the pig pen. The night crept steadily towards morning, though the place was still entirely silent. The birds had already gone, seeking warmer places to live in. Absently, she drew the book Okita gave her out of her kimono sleeve. The weight of it felt comforting in her hands, and it seemed like he was right there with her. The pages were already well-thumbed, but was far from falling apart; she treated it as if it was worth the world.

Because, she supposed, in more ways than one, it did.

It was too dark for her to even read, but that was all right. She just needed the silent comfort of his gift. It was something that he had picked out, had bought for her. It had a little of himself in it, too.

What she saw next made her pause.

The Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Toshizou, was seated on a stone seat in the middle of the garden, a book and brush laid out before him on the stone table, just next to a glowing lamp. A curl of smoke coiled up into the night air, and the faint smell of tobacco reached her nostrils. Jarenna couldn't really make out his features, but it was obvious that he was deep in thought.

That's surprising, she thought. Hijikata-sama always does his planning in his room. Why is he out here, and so late at night, too?

She decided to turn around and leave him alone. It wasn't like she could go up to him and ask him what he was doing. He was the unspoken boss around here, and servants didn't generally ask their employers what they were doing in the dead of the night.

"Sit down." He snapped.

Jarenna stopped, not knowing whether he was speaking to her or not. He sounded like his usual brusque self, but something was…off. She turned around awkwardly. "Me?"

He looked straight at her and nodded coolly. "I don't see anyone else around."

What does he want with me? She wondered as she acquiesced. The stone was like ice beneath her, and she fought not to shift. The flickering candle-light made him look…sterner, somehow, the chiselled features of his face more pronounced, and he was just looking at her.

After a few moments of this, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Did you need something, Hijikata-sama?"

His dark eyes did not move away from hers, and the intense look in them made her even more uneasy. It was like she was something that was put on display.

What is it about you, Toshizou thought, observing the woman before him thoughtfully. What is it about you that makes Souji fall at your feet? What is it about women, they who make men utterly helpless in their devotion to them?

Of course, he knew she held no answers for him. Perhaps this was one of the questions that lacked a definite answer, something which did not sit well with him. He hated not knowing anything.

He took a long drag out of his pipe, mildly impressed that she had managed to keep eye contact with him. Not many people, men and especially women, could do that. She had the bearing of a lady but was surprisingly bereft of the pride that came with it, and slowly, he was beginning to understand why Souji would like her. Whereas other women would fill in the oppressive silence with inane chatter, she invited conversation with her calm silence.

And as much as he hated thinking about it, he knew he needed the company. In the daytime, he could busy himself with strategies, and observing the men, and all other thoughts would be pushed out of his mind. In the serenity of the night, it was when everything would come flooding back to him. Everything, for most part, meaning Yanagi.

He could never, would never accept that she was gone. Not when she had been such a large part of his life for so long. It was so much better simply not knowing where, exactly, she was than knowing for sure that she was truly gone.

Maybe that was why he had called her here; he needed a distraction.

"Your works are commendable."

Jarenna paused for a moment, then carefully said, "My…works?"

"Your poetry. I have read them."

Jarenna blinked. This was definitely not what she had expected. Oni no Fukuchou, telling her that her poems were good? She resisted the urge to pinch herself, to see if she had inadvertently fallen asleep while walking. This was simply unbelievable. She had heard talk that Hijikata Toshizou was actually more or less a poet at heart—in her opinion, it was more likely in his most deepest heart of hearts—but to actually talk to him now…it was unnerving. She had never once spoken directly to him before, and quite frankly neither did he.

But then again, how had he managed to actually read her poems? The only one she had ever shown them to was—

He sensed her unspoken question. "Junko-san only had high praises for them."

So that's how he knew. "Oh. I…thank you." Then, deciding to go for it, she asked. "Do you write poems, too?"

She knew he spewed extremely bad haiku on a regular basis—if Okita's accounts were to be believed—but really, haiku, like poems, were just an expression of the soul. To be honest, she had never expected Hijikata Toshizou to even take an interest in it.

He looked mildly taken-aback at the question—obviously no one had asked him that before—before he nodded, slightly less brusquely than before. "Haiku. I write whenever I'm in the mood."

The thought of the Oni no Fukuchou being all sentimental unnerved her slightly, but then again, he was still human, after all.

Jarenna gestured to the stationery on the table. "Were you writing just now?"

"Aa."

She smiled, turning to look at the night sky. It was surprisingly clear tonight, and the stars were shining through brilliantly. "Of course. It's a beautiful night."

"It's a pity no one else is up to enjoy it." He took another long drag of his pipe. Well, at least holding a halfway decent conversation with the girl was not as unpleasant as he thought it would be.

"That's what makes it special, doesn't it?" she murmured, her focus on the sky. Apparently she was comfortable enough with him to relax. "The dark sacred night, silent in it's passing. The day is meant to be enjoyed. The night, savoured by those who truly know how to appreciate it."

"That is true," he conceded, glancing up at the sky. It was then that he saw another side of the night. It was not only meant as a cloak for espionage, for getting rid of enemies who threatened their safety, but it was something full of mystery and wonder and peace…he understood why Yanagi had loved it so much, even though it was her gift and curse.

Where are you now, Yanagi? He thought, his gaze never leaving the darkened heavens. Where are you?

Tokio carefully dabbed a cold compress over the old woman's forehead, stifling a sigh. It was obvious why Jarenna had decided to go for a walk, and at this time, too. Once again, she'd obviously said something she shouldn't have. And here she thought that sisters never had conflicts before. She'd been so eager to meet her twin, her other half, and had thought that they would get along superbly.

But now…

She was beginning to realize that her twin was just another person, too, not just an extension of her own soul. And they were as different as night and day. Of course, she loved Jarenna with all her heart and was eager to compensate for the years that they'd spent apart, but the distance between them never seemed farther right now.

Does she resent me? she thought absently. Their plights were totally different, too, and from what Jarenna had told her earlier…she shuddered. But Jarenna, from what she knew, was not capable of holding a grudge for long, was she?

Getting to her feet, she replaced the cold compress and adjusted the covers on Natsumi-san before heading towards the shoji door.

Pulling it open, she gazed outside. It was silent and empty, slightly eerie, even. Feeling a chill work down her spine, she pulled her shawl closer around her.

I need to take a walk. Feeling suddenly restless, she cast a backward glance at the peacefully asleep Natsumi-san. Deciding that she probably would not be needing anything for the next few minutes, the young woman carefully exited and shut the door silently behind her.

…

She didn't know where Jarenna had gone to; there was no sign of her anywhere. But then again, Tokio hadn't really looked. She supposed her sister needed the space.

Outside it is, then. She decided. Walking around in the Shinsengumi compound would most likely drive her nuts; she very much preferred to walk outdoors.

Even as she reached the large gates, a soft, low voice beside her made her jump. "Allow me to escort you, Lady Takagi."

Whirling around, she was face-to-face with the one person she had been trying hard to get the attention of. "Saitou-sama!!"

The man looked pretty much bored with the world as usual, but there was a mild twinkle in his dark eyes that sent her heart skipping.

He nodded slightly. "It's not safe for a woman to venture out alone at this time of night."

"Well, I—um…I…" Great. She had suddenly turned into a gibbering idiot. There was just something about this tall, dark and mystical samurai warrior that never failed to render her temporarily senseless. Which was pretty bad, since he had the propensity to turn up in the strangest of places. "How—how did you know I'm here?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across his face, pale in the darkness. "Oh, just my sixth sense."

Tokio stared at him strangely. It was widely rumored that the Third Squad Captain of the Shinsengumi was very much psychic and could commune with the spirit world. So it was true, then? "Are you psychic?"

Great. Good time for my bluntness to show. "I'm sorry if it sounded blunt, Saitou-sama—"

"Hajime."

Tokio was startled. "What?"

"Call me Hajime. After all, we are to be husband and wife, are we not?" there was a hint of amusement in his smooth voice.

Despite the warm flush that had risen to her cheeks, Tokio nodded. "Well, no more 'Lady Takagi', too. My name is Tokio."

It was strange, walking down deserted streets with the man she'd had an instant attraction to. He did not speak much, but he was attentive. When he did speak, it was mildly morbid and strange, but it was just fine with her; Tokio was sick of men who were terribly full of themselves. And there was a sense of safety walking around with him. It was like they could be besieged by a thousand bandits and she knew that he would keep her safe.

She'd tried to walk behind him the way a normal woman would, but he would always quietly step by her side, the twinkle in his eyes a little more pronounced.

It was a wonderful feeling, walking beside him, and the only thought Tokio had in her mind was whether she was in love with him.

It was early afternoon even as Jarenna hurried about, struggling to keep her sleepiness at bay. She had barely gotten three hours of sleep last night thanks to Hijikata-sama. They had spoken at length about poetry, and she was surprised to know that he wasn't as bad as the men had said. She even had the fortune of reading a couple of haiku. And…well…

They're not all bad, she thought, not in the strictest sense of the word.

It had been pretty funny, though she supposed Hijikata-sama had not meant for them to be that way. So she carefully kept a neutral expression and told him that it was…interesting—which, really, wasn't the most astute word to describe it. To laugh out loud would definitely reflect badly on her emotional intelligence, so she kept her laughter at bay. It was so ironic, Hijikata-sama, a genius in the battlefield and all sorts of strategies, writing such…amateurish…haiku.

She hadn't thought that he would actually show something like that to her, considering his past record of obsessively keeping his haiku book under wraps—she supposed it was because Okita-san had nicked it and refused to return the book to him for a good few days—but then again, from poet to poet, there was nothing to hide, especially your works. They even had a discussion on the seasons. Although he still had been mildly brusque and distant—it was something Jarenna had already long considered his nature—it was still pretty interesting. He actually made sense, but unfortunately, the same could not be said for his haiku.

All in all, it was a wonderful day. Natsumi was still fast asleep, Tokio was back in her own room at Jarenna's behest, sleeping—Jarenna had seen her entering the Shinsengumi compound half an hour after sunrise with Saitou-sama and was dying to ask her what had happened between them, because Tokio had a strange smile on her face and Saitou-sama looked…well, like he normally would, but more relaxed.

But Tokio had been sleepy when she came in, so Jarenna would have to put off asking her about them until later.

The weather was surprisingly pleasant today, too, the temperature having risen a good few degrees so she was just about comfortable in her kimono and a thick shawl. Humming a soft song under her breath, Jarenna was carrying the tray of steaming miso to Natsumi's room when the thundering sound of pounding feet startled her.

Before she knew it, the tray was upturned, and the droplets of soup scalded her skin. Luckily, she had jumped back fast enough so that most of the liquid did not spill on her. "Itai…!!"

The two offending figures, one she recognized as Sanosuke and the other as Heisuke, disappeared around the corner.

"Gomen, Yukijurou-san!" The voice whom she recognized as Shinpachi's sounded as he halted momentarily, glancing over at her, concerned. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. What's the hurry?"

Shinpachi looked at her as if she was insane. "Don't you know? Tetsu's getting his ass whomped by Okita!"

"What?"

He shrugged, looking more worried than she'd ever seen him, which was a very bad thing. "They've been going at it for a good long while now. I don't know what's gotten into that guy to be so murderous. It's not like they've been sparring for the first time."

"Nagakura-san, what do you mean?" By now, alarm bells were ringing in her head. Not like the guy to be so murderous? It had to be Okita-san.

Shinpachi looked straight at her. "What I mean, Yukijurou-san, is that we've got to do serious damage control before Okita kills him. It seems like he's very serious this time. He's already sent two of the men to be treated. I've never seen him so furious before."

Jarenna's blood froze. Very serious? What was wrong with Okita-san? She knew that no one had wanted to spar with him because of his inability to tamper his strength according to the situation, but this was just strange. Furious? When had Okita ever looked furious?

Before she could question Shinpachi any further, though, the diminutive man was already gone. Frowning, Jarenna followed.

She had to see what was going on.

The sound of a shinai thwacking hard on armour reached her even before she was within thirty feet of the dojo. The frantic sounds of the men who were watching disturbed her. It was obvious no one wanted to jump into the line of fire, so to speak. Okita was as lethal with the shinai as he was with the katana, which made him very dangerous, indeed. Hastening her pace, she weaved in through the crowd even as they parted to let her pass, obviously thinking that she was probably here for medical aid.

"Don't go too close now, Yukijurou-san," Heisuke said quietly beside her even as she made her way to the front. How he had managed to join her she didn't know, but she didn't care for that at the moment. All that mattered was the awful sight in front of her.

There were droplets of blood on the wooden floors. Tetsu, in full armour, had gotten to his feet shakily, and she could see blood on his face. His face was fierce, eyes filled with an unshakable determination, and Okita…

One look at him frightened her, and at the same time, filled her with the terrible knowledge that if no one stepped in soon, Tetsu would die. Okita stalked forward, shinai at the ready, looking for all the world like a wolf stalking his prey. His eyes, his eyes were shard of purple ice…

The eyes of a murderer.

Okita-san… what are you doing? she thought desperately, gazing at the tableau before her. It was horrifying, but the boy was still standing. But not, she realized, for long. What had Tetsu done to make Okita so angry? What had happened?

"Okita-san!" she shouted. "Please stop!!"

It was as if the two combatants were in a world of their own. Okita didn't even recognize her voice. She tried again, louder this time. "Stop, please!! You'll kill him, Okita-san!!!!"

"They cannot hear you," Heisuke said again. "They're away in their own battle. They're not only fighting each other anymore. They're fighting themselves, too."

"I don't believe there isn't a way to get through to them," she snapped, then shouted again, and this time it was much louder. "OKITA!! STOP!! STOP IT!!!"

She could've been talking to the wall for all the response she'd gotten from any of them.

And then Okita pounced.

A sickening 'crack' sound, and Tetsu was flung almost ten feet to the floor with a loud thud that horrified Jarenna. What in the name of Kami-sama was Okita doing? Was he trying to kill Tetsu?

But the boy had gotten to his feet again, but this time it looked like he was having a lot of trouble just standing, and Okita…Okita was still advancing, with only one deadly purpose in mind.

"Get Hijikata-san!" Jarenna heard Shinpachi snap to one of the men, but she knew it was going to be too late.

Enough, Jarenna thought wildly as she fought through the first row, intent on stopping the two combatants. That is enough!!

And then she did something very brave and very stupid.

"Yukijurou-san!!"

Even as Okita raised his shinai, about to cast the death blow, Jarenna used her momentum to slam Tetsu away, but unfortunately, could not get away in time.

The shinai swung down, hard and merciless.

And in that split second, even as Jarenna gazed desperately up at Okita, willing him to regain his senses, she saw the faint spark of the real Okita Souji.

But it was too late.

"YUKIJUROU-SAN!!!!!!"

Pain exploded on her right shoulder, so intense that it drove her to her knees. A thick film of crimson filled her vision even as she whimpered, crumpling to the floor. It was too much. The pain was too much…

Kami-sama!! What have I done? Okita dropped the shinai with a clatter as he stared in horror at what he'd just done. He had been too late to stop the downward swing.

"Jarenna!!"

He knelt beside her and scooped her up before her head could hit the ground, stunned. Why had she run out? It was then that he realized that a crowd had gathered, and most of the men had fearful expressions on their faces. He had lost control, letting the killer—the demon—in him take over in the heat of emotion, and now…

Tetsu sat up not too far away from him, bloodied and looking very much the worse for wear despite his armour…what had he been doing? He'd been so caught up in the whirlwind of emotions that had trapped him in and he'd just let go of everything.

Even his killer instinct. Even the demon he had sometimes struggled against… He had put everyone in danger.

"Gomenasai, Jarenna…" he whispered as he held her close, struggling to stop his sudden trembling. Why had she run out into the battle? What had she been thinking? Didn't she know that it was dangerous? He had put her life in danger…he could've killed her… "Gomenasai…"

That fact terrified him more than anything else.

I could've killed her.

The expression of pure agony on her face was almost too much to take as he almost panicked, trying to assess the damage he'd done to her. It was a very heavy blow to the shoulder, considering the way she fell and the cry of pain he'd heard. Please be all right, my love. Please be all right. Dear kami, what had he done??

"Jarenna," he shook her gently, his voice coming out shaky and hoarse. "Are you all right? Are you all right?" Oh please, please say you're fine…

She bit her lip and nodded, wincing at the next wave of agony that washed over her. In her entire life, even with the beatings she had endured as a child, nothing hurt quite as much as this. It was as if her arm had been ripped away from her. "Don't shake me…It hurts, Souji…"

His heart broke then. And he would've gladly died a thousand painful deaths as punishment. He stood, bundling her in his arms, careful not to jiggle the hurt shoulder too much. "I'm sorry, my love," he whispered softly to her, his voice still shaky. "I am so, so sorry…"

Her arm hung limply at her side even as she shook her head, gritting through the pain. "I know. I know…"

"Clear the way!!" he barked angrily at the crowd, who immediately gave him a wide berth. And he ran as fast as he could, down the corridors to where Junko-san would be. Jarenna needed medical attention, and fast. It was all his fault. What if he'd hurt her badly? What if she became handicapped because of him? He would never, ever forgive himself. All he had wanted to do was just to vent all the pent-up frustrations of the past few days, of the thought that Jarenna would never be really his, of all the heartache and yearning and loneliness…

And look what happened.

And Tetsu…he had almost killed Tetsu.

That was why Jarenna stepped in, he realized with startling clarity. She had stepped in to protect the younger boy from almost-certain death. To protect Tetsu from him. "You brave, stupid girl…" Why was it that everything she did made him fall even more in love with her? If anything happened to you, I'll never forgive myself. Hitting you was unforgivable. I am so sorry, Jarenna…

"Is it enough, Souji?" Hijikata growled angrily even as he appeared in front of Okita, eyes flashing in a fury he had never witnessed before. "Is it finally enough??"

A/N: And in case you're wondering, NO. Hijikata-sama DOES NOT like Jarenna. It's just a poet thing, you know? And many apologies for posting this so late! I'm in the middle of exams now, so it's kinda hard to keep writing…don't worry, I won't abandon this story! :D

Random Reader: Hey there, thanks for reviewing my story! LOL it's pretty sad, huh? I'm sorry for the current crappy chapter, but it gets better, I swear! I hope we meet again, too, and that you enjoyed this chapter. Cheers!

Ione-girl: Whoa! I know you're gonna kill me for not updating for so long, but it's heeere!!! ::HUG:: I have to thank you for drawing Okita and Jarenna for me. I've thanked you, haven't I? I don't know, I'm just so grateful! LOL I liked it when Okita told Kimiko off, too. It's about time that girl had some sense knocked into her, I must say.

Night-Owl123: Hey, thanks for your review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a little sad, but hey. It gets better!

I'm Trouble: LOL. Whaddya think about Susumu and Kimiko? I think they'd make a really cute pair, and besides, it'd be mean to just leave Kimiko out like that.

Verna-S: Hey, I know that Jarenna isn't a Japanese sounding name. It just kinda stuck in my brain and refused to leave, LOL. Weird, huh?

Jade-eyed neko: Hey there! I didn't write the lullaby that Jarenna's mother sang to her. It's a song by Selena, called 'Dreaming of You'. There'll be further elaborations on Jarenna's mother in the later chapters, so watch out for it! Sad to say, it will not be a very happy past…

Maggie: Hey Maggie! Dreaming about it in your sleep? LOL thanks for the compliment! :D I really hope you enjoy this chapter. And an addiction, huh? ::blushes:: You're too, too kind.

Hyper-Sloth: Hey there! LOL thanks for the encouragement! And yeah, Jarenna has TB, too. Sad, huh? Heh, and it'd be a crime to just ignore Susumu, you know? He's just so…angsty I can't resist it! And come on, everyone on writes pretty well, too!

Hikage Onna: LOL thank you for your compliments! I hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Akayama Kaoru: It's all right, really. Hmm, you like my version of Tokio, huh? Thanks girl! I was mulling a lot on how to portray her, and then I decided, what the hell, let's just contrast her to Jarenna. And besides, her character has to be a nice contrast to Saitou-sama's, too! And NO, Hijikata-san does not like Jarenna! He's still pretty much hung up on Yanagi. Hmm, a moping Hijikata-san? This I gotta see…She'll be back in the later chapters, though, but sadly I don't think this couple is going to have a very easy time, too…

Miaku: LOL thanks for the compliment! I hope you liked this chapter, too! I'm sorry I took so long to update, but you know, school and all…