Disclaimer: I do NOT own PMK, RK or their characters.

I threw in the Umeya girls in the end. And references to Battousai and Tomoe… For the Kenni-Sou friendship, it is in my Green Tea and Haiku. This may be a one-off reference to Kenshin and Tomoe.

An Assassin's Tale

Chapter 4

Umeya. Facing a particularly bad night after a tenchuu killing occurred almost on their doorstep the other night, the Umeya waitresses were indulging in a little idle chit-chat. "Is that true?" Nami blinked. "That dashing young man who says he's that ramen stall owner's nephew's actually Oniwabanshu? And your little brother? Kiku-nee, please introduce us…" Nami goes all starry-eyed.

"In your next lifetime. We parted company after a no-holds barred ninja duel in Edo Castle," The senior waitress took a sip from her teacup. "He's probably just passing through, or I might be tempted to take a kunai to him. Besides, isn't he a tad young for you? He's only 16."

"Well, Kenni-boy's 15, but he has a major crush on an older female at Kohagi… He even brought her home…"

"And we thought he's so innocent! Sly devil… Say, isn't that Kenni's pal Sou? I thought I saw him heading towards Shimabara just a couple of minutes ago."

Nami craned her neck for a better look. "Looks like Sou. Just like the other one. But Kenni-boy swears the other chap's not Sou. Said his ki felt different, more bloodthirsty… I guess Kenni-boy's an expert on that stuff."

"Yeah, now that you mention it… His ki is very different from that guy Hotaru has a dizzy crush on. Would you believe she actually shadowed him the other day? Him being a Miburou too…Say, does Kenni know his pal's a…"

"No way! And we're not to tell him too. Umeko-san's very put out by what happened the other night. It must be one of Katsura-san's colleagues who ordered that one. He's not one to get his sis in trouble. She'll be very upset if Kenni kills Okita on her doorstep when he comes for his weekly candy."

Oblivious that he was the topic of the waitresses' discussion, Okita Souji continued on his mission. The plan was sketchy, having undergone some drastic modifications in the past few hours. As it turned out, only the chiefs were invited to the banquet. However, most of the captains were granted the evening off. The Trio had eagerly pounced on this opportunity to do some tavern-hopping and check out the women of certain establishments. Saitou volunteered to stay back and train a number of not-so-skilled recruits. Pity them, please…

It was simple, but lame… Walk along the route his double took a few days back asking if anyone knew one Akira.

As it turned out, the businesses that lined the streets have heard of someone named Akira, but it was never the one he was looking for. Their Akira was an ironsmith's apprentice, a retired artist living down the street or the neighbour's new baby boy. Okita was on the verge of going back to ask for Yamazaki's expert aid in this matter when a drunk approached him.

"Say, Whassat ya doin' out so early? Don't ya got work to do?" the drunk hiccupped.

"Sumimasen, you know me?" Okita tried to support the man and steered him to a nearby bench. He was into his late forties, so Okita judged and had the symptoms of too much drink. "Know ya? Boy, I watched ya grow from a little boy… The favourite boy at old Fatso's…"

Favourite boy?

"Heartless, ain't ya? Can't recall your long-time client? Old Fatso always kept ya busy with the customers…" The drunk laughed. Client? Souji quickly looked around them and realized that he had blundered into the Shimabara gay quarter. "So sweet ya were, squirming in the futon." Okita burned with rage then went cold. Please let this be a major case of mistaken identity… let the drunk be blabbering nonsense or talking about some other boy. Not his twin brother.

The man was trying to pull open the top of his yukata. Okita's hands rose instinctively to protect his modesty. "Coy, are we?" The man leered while Okita's hands held the top of his clothes together. "I've seen you naked in the futon, as have all the regulars on this street." No words came to Okita. Instead he trembled with rage.

"Ya were always good for the bedroom games… look, a quick tumble in this here alley for old times… I'll pay…"

That did it. Okita kneed the drunk hard in the groin. The man doubled over with a surprised grunt. "I think not." He turned to leave.

"Ya little bitch! Die!" The enraged man charged him with a dagger. Instinctively, Okita reacted to disarm him, sidestepping his charge and twisting the dagger in his grasp, finally driving it home into his attacker's chest. This time, the man sank to the refuse-littered alley floor without a sound. Souji wiped the blood off his hands. This was bad. He'd have to explain to Hijikata-san later, and face his wrath.

A quick return to the barracks was definitely the best option under the circumstances.

The training session for the recruits was over and Saitou had dismissed them. They had brought in a batch of new shinai to replace those that got broken. Saitou inspected them. They looked sturdy enough… He was taking a few practice swings with one when Okita stepped into the dojo.

"Okita, you look peaked," Saitou remarked.

"Saitou-san, I have a problem…Can we talk?"

"Do I look like Agony Aunt?" Still, Saitou nonchalantly sat down next to Okita. "So talk."

"My brother's in, well, a kind of trade where he's forced to let people do nasty things to him… I don't know how I am going to face him…They all thought he died in the fire, but I always felt he was alive somewhere… I went to all the orphanages and places where they take in homeless kids, so I can find him. But all these years, I was looking in the wrong places! All this time I was playing games, learning kendo, he was… he was…" The idea of his twin enduring the perversions of men much like the drunk he had killed earlier brought tears to his eyes. He clenched his fists.

A part of him wanted to see the gay quarter go up in flames. The other more logical part reasoned that it was his duty to protect Kyoto, not turn it into a merry bonfire. Leave that part to Yoshida Toshimaro and company. Besides, his twin might be still in the quarter.

"Your mind is clouded with fears and doubts. You cannot see the path that lies ahead… What will be, will be… Cast aside your doubts first, before walking ahead." Saitou replied. "Now, how about a match to clear your head?"

Okita caught the shinai he was thrown. Before he could decide whether to take on Saitou's offer of a match, the third unit captain launched his attack. Quickly, Okita parried the thrust. The fierce crack of wood drew a crowd of eager recruits. A match between the two master swordsmen of the Shinsengumi was always a sight to behold.

Author's Notes:

Souji's got one hell of explaining to do, as usual. I guess it counts as self-defense? Okita gets mistaken for Kichi... will someone mistake Kichi for Okita?

Am I dragging this out too long? ShouldI hurry up and let Kichi fall in with that spooky guy from the creepy mansion? Then maybe kill Kichi or arrange a reunion or something? Will Okita find Kichi before... na, let's stay true to the anime.

Oh, guess who the Umeya waitresses are talking about besides Souji, Kenni and Tomoe in their opening conversation. You may check my profile for a hint or read my New Kyoto Post fic.