Chapter 14: Fujisaki Tomi's Curse

A week went by. Kaoru stayed as far from Shoji as humanly possible and managed to get nothing more than cold glares from him. She was quickly gaining strength, and that was good to her, since if or when she did end up facing off against Shoji, she didn't want to get slaughtered. After all, he never seemed to be doing much more than observing.

As the days went on, she began to realize how tired she felt every day. At first she thought it was her, but she was quickly beginning to see lots of the men dragging themselves out of bed in the morning and even going so far as skipping dinner to get more sleep. One of these people was Yahiko.

Since Yahiko was more into sleeping now, Kaoru spent a lot of her time talking to Sanosuke who was apparently used to late nights and early mornings. Megumi was too busy checking over many of the men for wounds, and so Kaoru was lucky when she managed to get a conversation with Tomi.

He walked up on her and Sano unnoticed. "Hi…" He greeted in a small voice, smiling a bit weakly.

"Tomi!" Kaoru cried excitedly, her eyes glittering.

He sat down, a bit apart from the crowd and folded his white hands in his lap.

"It's been awhile," Tomi said. "I'm sorry…"

"It wasn't your fault," Kaoru said, her smile fading a bit. He didn't look too good, but he seemed in good spirits.

"Yeah… Hey, I got to write home! How lucky am I?" He practically sang. "I wrote a letter to Tae, told her how we're all doing."

"Did you get a reply?" Kaoru asked, beaming.

"No. We're not allowed to have letters sent to us. It was only a lucky strike that I got to even send one out. You know how people have to keep the information about stuff under wraps and all."

Kaoru nodded. "Yeah."

"If I ever get to write again, I'll send a letter to your folks too, Kahei-kun."

"Oh, I don't have anybody back in Tokyo," She said, shaking her head.

"Someone as nice as you? That's too bad," Tomi said. "K…Kahei-kun, let's go for a walk outside."

-

It was just the two of them walking around the building in the night. It was very warm out, and the moon was large and full in the sky.

"I've never been a very strong person," Tomi told her as they slowly strolled around. "I've become much weaker now… but I'm going to remain strong… I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"You… You're always so strong willed and ready for anything. You inspired me to be stronger, Kahei-kun."

"Stronger…" She whispered.

"I don't want to shrivel away in fear. I want to be strong for my Tae, and you are constantly proving that the little guy can overcome the odds… I… I saw how you reacted when Shoji hurt Megumi-san… The way you threw yourself in front of her as if you'd rather die than see someone unable to defend themselves get hurt… I find that… really noble." He sat down on the porch, and Kaoru sat next to him. They both stared up at the moon.

"I'm not that noble… I just try to follow what Kenshin does… I just never realized that he's not as strong as everyone thinks he is until he told me that the strong will cry when they're hurt…"

"The weak will sometimes go void of their emotions, so there's not anything for the bigger guys to pick at," Tomi said, sighing. "The moon… is so beautiful tonight…"

"Yeah… I don't usually get to appreciate it," Kaoru replied. "What are you thinking about?"

"Tae…" He responded, barely above a whisper. "She's constantly on my mind. She makes me stronger too… I think love does that. I love you as if you were my own brother, Kahei-kun."

Kaoru glanced at him, covering her mouth. Why do I feel like crying?

"I know that when you fall in love, you'll take care of that person really well."

"I… I'm already in love…" She replied.

"Really?" He asked, sounding delighted.

"Yeah… but you can't tell anyone…"

"I won't."

"I'm in love… with Kenshin…"

"Oh…" Tomi said, smiling at her. "That's wonderful! Good choice, heh-heh! I didn't know you liked men though, I'm surprised."

Kaoru gave a half-hearted chuckle. "It doesn't matter what I like… I'm not here to gush over him… I'm here… to protect him… because that's what love makes you do. Crazy shit."

Tomi laid down on the porch, his legs dangling off the side and his hands folded on his stomach. "Well, just to see that smile… a lover will do anything…"

"Just to see… that smile…" Kaoru whispered, closing her eyes and smiling. "You're really in love…"

"Yeah… but I never got to kiss her," Tomi said.

"What? Never?" Kaoru exclaimed, looking at him.

"Nah… probably never will, either," He replied, not the least bit upset. "I have my reasons, and she knows them. Besides, the best kind of love is the kind that can be shared without saying or doing anything. A simple walk together, hand in hand, should send chills up your spine if you really like this person."

"Tomi, I need to tell you the truth," Kaoru turned to him. "I--- I'm really not-"

The door slid open. Megumi looked livid.

"Both of you get inside! Fujisaki!"

Tomi laughed and stood. "We were just talking, Megumi-san. I'm doing well today, so you don't have to worry."

Kaoru stopped him by grabbing his wrist as Megumi disappeared.

"I'm a girl," She told him in a whisper. "Don't tell anyone else."

Tomi looked astonished for a moment, then he laughed. "I won't!"

She didn't understand why listening to him made her want to cry. There was something about his voice that made her feel she'd never hear it again, but then he would speak, and the feeling would come in and out like the waves of the sea. It concerned her deeply, that her heart would ache. Truly, he was like family to her too, and she hoped they would become very close when they went home.

-

"EVERYONE GET UP!" Shoji's voice yelled as he came down the stairs. "Everyone up! First floor! Now! Everybody get down here NOW!"

The second and third floors trudged down while the first floor tiredly pulled themselves out of bed. The sun had not risen yet.

Shoji lit candles so that they could see.

"What's going on?" Kenshin asked.

"Word of our location has leaked out," Shoji told them. "We fear the armies are on the way to attack us."

"What!" Kenshin cried, and horrified gasps traveled throughout the crowd.

"There's a spy among us," Shoji said, his eyes narrowing.

Kaoru put her hand on her heart. "A spy…"

"Who do you think it could be?" Yahiko whispered.

"Any of us," Kaoru replied nervously.

Shoji looked around the group and withdrew his blade. "If that is indeed you, spy, then speak now and step up, or I'll be forced to find out for myself."

Everyone just looked at each other in silence. The air was thick with the unspoken feelings of anxiety each man was feeling.

"Of course… I've got a pretty good idea," Shoji said. "Fujisaki Tomi. Step forward."

"TOMI!" Kaoru gasped.

"Sir, you can't possibly think that!" Tomi cried in his defense.

"You're the only one who's sent out any form of communication," Shoji responded irritably.

"-but Megumi-san checked the letter!" Tomi yelped, horrified.

"Fujisaki-san's telling the truth, Shoji-sama!" Megumi defended. "He's not a spy! He was just writing home to his lover!"

Tomi was breathing heavily, tears in his eyes. "I didn't say anything about our location or our methods, I promise!"

"Why should I believe you?" Shoji snarled, looking at Tomi as if he was some disgusting creature.

"Because he's certainly more trustworthy than you!" Kaoru yelled, stepping forward in his defense.

"Kahei, no!" Yahiko said.

"What if it's you?" Shoji asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm not a spy!" Kaoru cried.

"Can you prove it?"

She was silent. How could she prove it?

"I haven't leaked out any information! How could I?"

"Hey, come to think of it," One of the men said, "he's always going missing. I never see him at the hot springs."

Tenka came to mind. Her eyes widened as she discovered how comfortable she'd gotten with him… maybe… she WAS the spy… and she didn't…even…know it…

"I've always been a bit suspicious of you myself," Shoji said, looking all too pleased to discover this angle and tapping his sword on his shoulder.

She looked around, feeling all eyes upon her. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

"NO!" Tomi sobbed. "I know Kahei-kun isn't out to hurt us! I'd… rather take the blame then let him be hurt!"

Kaoru gasped again. "NO, TOMI!"

"Leave him alone!" Tomi yelled, withdrawing his weapon.

Shoji raised his eyebrows in interest. "I knew you weren't as weak as you were playing. I know better than to send home any man."

Megumi glowered at him. "I can't advise this," She said sternly.

"Well, you aren't leading this army, wench."

"Son of a bitch!" Sano yelled, grabbing Megumi's arm defensively.

"Just because she's your wench doesn't make her something other than that," Shoji replied, walking up to Tomi and grabbing him by the shirt, then tossing him against the front door. It fell and he tumbled onto the porch.

"TOMI!" Kaoru screamed.

Tomi pulled himself up just in time as Shoji crossed blades with him. They began going into combat.

Kaoru covered her mouth with her hands, shook her head and took off after them.

Saitou followed her.

Aoshi stepped forward and watched everyone's faces. "I know this much… no one in this room… is guilty…"

Kenshin looked at him.

-

Tomi flung his blade, and then Shoji knocked it out of his hands. It spiraled across the yard and landed blade down in the dirt.

Tomi looked at it, then back at Shoji, fearful. He was gasping for air now, sweating and coughing.

"Tomi…" Kaoru whispered, getting ready to draw.

"Fool," Shoji said, kicking him in the knee and making his legs buckle.

"I give in…" Tomi said through his chokes for air. "I…" He started coughing heavily at this point.

Many of the men emerged around Kaoru.

"God, no!" Megumi sobbed, heading down after him. She couldn't hide it anymore.

Tomi was coughing blood onto the ground.

Kaoru felt all the feeling drain from her. "What…. What's happening… to him…?" She asked.

"He's ill in the lungs," Saitou responded. "Tuberculosis."

Kaoru felt tears slip down her cheeks. "No… That can't be right!" She shouted, running down to him.

Saitou for once looked distant, not at all menacing… almost… sad.

"TOMI!" She screamed, dropping down next to him.

He looked up, blood pouring down his chin and tears glittering on his cheeks from the light of the moon… and he was smiling.

"Now, Kahei-kun… d-don't look at me like that…" He whispered. "Heh…heh…"

"This can't be…" She sobbed. "It can't be…" She let out a whimper, her lip quivering slightly. "Tomi…"

He laughed a little. "Kahei-kun… I'm…sorry… I just wanted…to protect you… A wise person once told me… that the strongest of people protect the ones they love and…c-care about… I didn't want you… to get hurt… I knew you'd do the same for me… because you did…" He coughed up more blood onto the ground.

The sun slowly slipped onto the horizon, making the sky a pale purple in color.

"You're like… family I didn't have… You were nice to me… and you let me speak my mind… and you never put down anything I said… It was refreshing to know… that there were people in the world that cared about other people…"

Kaoru nodded, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"Stop crying, you baby…" He choked. "Listen… I need you… to do something for me… because I don't think… I can…"

"Wh…what?" Kaoru wept.

"Tell… Tae… that I'm sorry…" His smile faded, and tears spilled freshly down his cheeks again. "Tell her I'm sorry that… I didn't get to say goodbye… because… I never wanted to… Tell her to find another man that treats her well, and grow old… and be happy with him… and that… I'll be waiting upstairs… when her time comes… and then we can live in peace…"

Kaoru nodded, blubbering. "Uh--uh-huh…"

"I just hope that we both… can be reborn someday… and live together forever… without this cursed disease… this horrible monster… that's taken me away… from… her…" He vomited more blood onto the stone.

Kaoru took him in her arms and held him close. "Stop talking like that… STOP IT!"

He didn't say another word.

Kaoru screamed and began bawling into his hair. "NO! Come back! Come back! Tomi! It doesn't have to end this way! Wake up! We'll get you to a good hospital and fix you! Come on! Stop fooling around! TOMI!"

Megumi hung her head. Sano appeared and put his hand on her shoulder. "You did all you could," He told her soothingly.

"Come back…" Kaoru whimpered. "You can't go this way… People like you don't deserve to go this way…"

"It's no use…" Megumi mumbled.

"I'll tell her," Kaoru sobbed, kissing the top of his head. "I'll tell her everything, word for word… I promise…"

Shoji put his weapon away and went inside.

"Damn it…" Kaoru whispered. "Damn it all…" She laid him down gently and stared into his gray face as the last hope she had of him returning vanished. The red was so vivid on his face, the only color. His green eyes had lost their life, and everything about him looked monochrome. She placed her hand along his eyelids and closed his eyes for him. "I wish I could have done something… to save you… Tomi… You were the strongest person… I ever knew because you loved so much… and you… were family to me too."

She stood and stumbled back up the stairs, not looking at anyone.

-

Training went on as usual, but Kaoru did not go out with them. She followed them to the door, shut it, and sat on her futon with her head in her knees. She was beyond crying. She just wanted to be alone.

No one really noticed her absence, and she didn't much care if they did. She felt so empty inside, like someone had ripped her heart and soul out.

Many of the men had gone and dug a grave for Tomi out in the woods, but she didn't dare go with them. She would die if she did. Even though she had witnessed him breathe his last breath and felt him go cold, she would not, could not convince herself that he was gone.

The last death that had happened to her had been her father, and she had not seen it. It didn't hurt her as much as it did to actually see them become so much less than they were. Tomi was a young, spirited boy just getting ready to start his life by getting married… but now…

The front door slid open a ways, letting in a small beam of light along the floor. The echo of feet along the floor forced her curiosity to push her head up.

Saitou stood in front of her with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Go away…" She whispered, hanging her head again.

"You know," Saitou said, "I've told you about Okita Soji from the first squadron of the Shinsengumi. I told you that you'd never compare to him."

She didn't respond. What was he up to?

"What many don't know is that he died when he was twenty-six," Saitou continued.

She looked up again.

"The boy was a strong prodigy at swords, but near the end of our battle, he contracted tuberculosis and died in a hospital in Edo."

Her shoulders slumped.

"The boy knew he was sick, but he didn't let his men know. He didn't want them to know because he'd get their spirits down, and he didn't want them to fail in battle because of him. At night he would seal himself in his room and cough until blood was fresh on his fingers, but he never lost his spirit."

Kaoru blinked back more tears that had suddenly found themselves. To think she was hearing this from Saitou!

"The boy only let me know, and that was on accident. I came in on him. He begged me not to tell, so I didn't. I keep my word after all…" He blew smoke into the air. "Okita was my best friend."

"Why are you telling me this?" Kaoru asked.

"I figured that a little weakling like you needed a pep-talk or something. I, like Okita, am not going to let this disease let down my team."

She climbed onto her feet, her ankles feeling heavy. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't say it. Show me by getting out there and getting to work."

She smiled slightly. "O…Okay… I won't let you down, sir."

"Get out of here," He said, throwing down his cigarette and stomping it out.

She grabbed her weapon and left.

After she disappeared, another person emerged in the doorway. "It's not like you to be sentimental, Saitou," Kenshin said.

"Shut up," Saitou replied, placing another cigarette in his mouth and lighting it.

(A/N: There... everything about Tomi's been revealed... Thanks for making me cry! T.T Really, this chapter did depress me. For as short a time as he's been in there, I really did like Tomi as a character, but me being the writer knew his end. Sorry if I really depressed you guys, but I hope you'll still read on. Thanks for the reviews. Much hugs and kisses to all of you since I really need it right now... WAAH!)