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I am facing some major technical problems with this site. Can't upload my documents or contact the admin regarding this. If this persists, I may have to migrate to an alternative site. Someone knows how to contact the admin or have I exceeded some limit on my account? I had to use 'export' on this post.
This might be the last post for a while, until the problem is fixed.
An Assassin's Tale
Chapter 9
"He looks exactly like Okita-sama, but his eyes were colder…"
If life had dealt him as many hard knocks as it did Akira, he'll have cold eyes as well.
It made painful sense why Sasaki swore Okita was responsible for the deaths. It was an Okita alright. Okita Akira, long-lost brother of Captain Okita… a whore turned assassin. Hotaru's account of their meeting only told him that Akira was still in Kyoto. How long can Akira continue before his luck runs out and he's captured? Why was he attacking the Mimawarigumi? Was he an Ishin supporter? Would he have to draw his blade against Akira?
"You should talk to Hijikata-san about this." The calm voice made him jump nearly out of his skin.
"Ya! Saitou-san, you scared me!" Third Captain Saitou stood nonchalantly by his side. "But I can't. Not even Kondou-san…"
"They do not know about your brother? If he is in Kyoto, he might resemble you enough for…"
"He's gone. I went to look for him but he's left! Please don't tell them… Kondou-san doesn't even know I had a brother…" Okita struggled to keep his voice steady.
"Okita, we'll have to face that we fear eventually. If need be, I'll face it with you." Saitou gripped his sword meaningfully. Okita suppressed a shudder. The shinigami of the Shinsengumi, Saitou strolled off for his soba meal. Okita swore to keep out of Saitou's way for the next few days.
Kichi looked at himself in the large mirror screen. He looked every bit a Shinsengumi warrior in the uniform. His hair was tied in a high ponytail, just like Soujirou's. He experimented, standing proudly with his shoulders back. Back when they were children, they often mimicked each other's actions so they confused their family. Sometimes, they would swap clothes so Akira, who should have been grounded as punishment for his pranks, could go to the festivals.
The lamp flickered. He was still a person of the shadows. An assassin, he could never hope to walk proudly in the sun like Soujirou. He put out the lamp and left. Furube would guide him part of the way to the Yagi compound. After that, he's on his own…
"Okita-senpai!" The unsuspecting recruits on guard duty greeted him as he strolled boldly through the gates. He had memorized the layout of the place. Hijikata's room should be this way…
"Toshi, I think we should pull Souji off patrol duty for a while…"
"Nonsense, Kat. Do you have any idea how that would look on us?"
"Toshi, please be reasonable. The boy's been looking very peaked since…"
"Sannan, you do not know Souji at all. There's nothing…"
A heated three-way discussion was underway in Hijikata's room. Should he barge in, kill them and risk being outnumbered when the other men responded? One of them might raise the alarm… Or wait to catch Hijikata alone, or…
"Okita-san?" A tiny voice piped. Kichi spun around. It was a redhead boy who looked no more than twelve. He held a tray with three cups of steaming tea. A page, probably the one serving Hijikata. "I thought you wouldn't be back so soon."
Tetsu was puzzled. Kichi gave him a strained smile. "I was feeling a little, well, worn out…" A tiny hand reached for his brow as the boy stood on tiptoes, tray precariously balanced on the other. "Nope, no fever…"
"Look, I'll be fine after going back to my room… Why don't you get moving?" He didn't want to kill the boy. Damn, do all those little boys all have to look so bloody innocent?
"Hai!" Remembering his page duty, Tetsu took his leave. Soujirou's room… What would it be like? Kichi wondered. He could get Hijikata later… He crept down the corridor leading to the captains' quarters, feeling like an intruder. Okita's room was the first at the end. Further down the row came the sounds of other captains, arguing, joking and teasing each other. He slid the door open.
In the pale light of the moon, he could see the empty sword-stand, a clothes rack and a modest study table strewn with papers. The closet door was open. He stepped inside and kicked against… He looked down. A wooden pig, the exact likeness of the one he once gave his brother. Please, kami, don't do this to me! He couldn't stay any more or he'd lose his nerve…
He stepped out and into the shadows… He was an assassin. Just get the target and get out! Tears? He couldn't cry now! Choking, they stuck in his throat.
Hijikata was more than a little worried when Tetsu inadvertently blurted out that he had met Okita outside. Why was he back so soon? Was he unwell? Concerned, he quickened his steps towards the captain's room. Would he find Okita inside, coughing into his hand to muffle the sound? Or worse?
"Souji?" He slid the door open. No Souji there, but he could hear coughing.
Still clad in his uniform,Souji was standing in the shadows some way off, coughing quietly…
"Souji!" Concerned, Hijikata hurried to him…