Disclaimer: I do NOT own PMK or its characters.
The long-awaited reunion. I hope it isn't too anti-climatic or cheesy. Added a bit of Okita-Kenshin fluff a la Green Tea and Haiku.
An Assassin's Tale
Chapter 14
Umeya. Sou was deep in thought, the redhead waiter Kenni noticed as he served the tea. Sou would normally be smiling, but not today. Sou looked almost like another person, Kenni thought as he glanced at the pensive expression on his friend's face. Unconsciously he scratched slightly at the plaster on his cheek.
"Hey, Kenni-kun, if you have someone you got to hide from your friends, where would you hide this person?" Sou suddenly asked.
"Not in my room," Kenni turned bright crimson as he recalled Tomoe and the ceaseless teasing he received after she spent the night in his room, even if nothing happened between them. Sou laughed. "I suppose not in the closet either."
"Do you suppose Umeko-dono needs another pair of hands here?"
"You ask her. If your person is in dire need of help, I'm sure Umeko-dono will do her best to aid her." Sou nodded at Kenni's reply.
First he had to follow up on the morning's message. He was going to meet his twin, if possible, get him out from that brothel. He had heard about this from gossips about Kondou's mistresses. Word has it that sly old Kat bought one out of the brothel. A considerable amount of money exchanged hands and she's an honest woman (barring the properly married part). Would he be able to redeem Akira or Kichi as he was now known?
Where could he hide Akira? Toshi's a man of his word. Bring Akira back to the HQ and it's a short walk straight into Sasaki's clutches. Sasaki's probably not gotten over that incident with his men getting cut down. Could he rent a place for Akira in Kyoto? Nope, considering he has already little enough cash left, even redeeming his twin might be problematic.
Akira was in danger still from the authorities. After all, he was an assassin, responsible for killing some of the local bakufu representatives in cold blood. A monastery? Have Akira seek shelter there? No way. Buddha did not receive the same respect as in the old days. Toshi was discussing having their HQ moved to the Mibu temple complex itself so they can deter fugitives from seeking the monks' help.
"Sumimasen, Sou, would you like something to eat?" Kenni asked politely. His friend had been deep in thought for hours. It was time for Battousai to report for duty and he would like to make sure Sou was alright before going off. He had missed the hour! With a start and a hasty apology to Kenni, Okita excused himself.
Souji wondered if he should have asked for some company when he came into Shimabara. No, this was too private. He politely fended off an offer from a sultry young woman and ignored a series of catcalls from some drunks. He was carrying his sword and wearing a straw hat (bought from a peddler) pulled low to hide his face. He felt like a sneaky Ishin supporter. How do the Comedians manage to hang out in such places? He turned into the gay pleasure quarter.
Yogotoya. The place really put him out. If it was bad in daylight, it was worse at night with the whores and their patrons. Okita groaned. It was his fault for missing the hour. Some brother he was. He hoped Akira did not wait too long. He'd probably be mad at him… Okita Souji stepped into the entrance and past a couple engrossed in some serious fondling by the doorway.
"Sir, how may I please you?" A young man batted his eyelashes coquettishly as he touched him lightly on the arm.
"I'm looking for Ak-er, I mean Kichisaburo," Okita replied.
"I'm sorry, Kichi's busy entertaining a guest. Perhaps you would like another..."
"Where's he?" Okita snapped at the poor prostitute. No one was going to bully Akira ever…The youth quailed and whimpered: "In the second room on the right, upstairs…" Without much ado, Souji hurried up the rickety stairs, surprising Osu en route. Telltale moans and grunts drifted from the said room.
"What took you so long? Hey! You can't go in there!" Osu tried to restrain him but it was too late. With a splintering crash, Souji yanked the sliding door wide open. The room was almost tastefully done up, if you ignore the erotic prints on the wall. A dead silence fell over the pair on the futon. The customer, a half-dressed man with a paunch and a drink-reddened face, blinked in confusion at the intruder. Pinned underneath the man and stark naked save for his socks, was…
"What are you doing here?" Kichi growled as he shoved his customer aside roughly and glared at his twin. "Osu! Get him out!" Kichi leapt to his feet and yelled to the woman.
"With pleasure," Osu walked into the room and cracked the customer across the back of the skull with a refreshment tray she was carrying. He went down like a sack of potatoes before the stunned twins. Grinning broadly, Osu started dragging the hapless man out the door. "You boys have fun catching up. I'll send up some refreshments shortly."
An awkward eternity passed as the twins faced each other. "Well, are you here to kill me or utterly make my night miserable? I'm sure there's a whip or something in that closet…" Kichi finally broke the silence. Souji was still trying to find his tongue. Kichi picked up his discarded under-kimono and threw it back on. It was way too short to be considered decent.
"I'm sorry, Akira. I'm sorry I was late…" Souji managed to whisper.
"Sorry? Do you know how long I waited by the door, until the customers start showing up?" Souji noticed a smell of sake coming from Kichi. The youth was slightly drunk, his fingers fumbled as they tried to tie up his garments.
If only I had found you sooner… Akira's life should have been different. Souji fought the urge to hug his brother. "Were you too busy getting laid by your Demon Vice-chief? Or were you dallying with little orphans like the rumours claimed," Kichi crawled over to the half-emptied sake jar and poured out a cup, splashing most of it on the tatami.
"Akira, Toshi and I are not like that…" Souji went tomato-red.
"So your preference is little orphan boys…" Kichi retorted with a barb. Souji flinched. "Dammit! Since the fire, I have been searching for you in orphanages. But I can't find anything. I treat those orphans well because I want to believe. I wanted to believe that you are alive, well-cared for, even if you lost your memory or something and can't look for us. That was a stupid, naïve belief." Souji sank to his knees in defeat. He never realized how bloody innocent he was, even after all the killing. "Akira, please come back…" It was heartfelt plea. Kichi froze. The cup halfway to his lips fell from his hand.
"What you saw just now disgusting, right?" Kichi laughed bitterly. "The Okita family has a son who has been selling his body since he was eight! You tell me, will Father and Mother want this filthy little whore back?" The laughter turned into sobs as Kichi bent his head down and clenched his fists so hard his knuckles went white.
"What do you know of what I went through? Safe in Edo with Father and Mother… Have you ever gone hungry that you'll sell yourself? Do you know what that is like? Do you even know…"
Oh, Akira… Blinking away his own tears, all Souji could do was put his arms around his twin and wait, wait as he sobbed out all those years of suffering and humiliation. Akira was finally in his arms, after all those years apart… You are safe for now… He dare not believe it. He hugged Kichi a little tighter to reassure himself it was no dream.
The sobs broke off. "Niichan, you baka, it hurts…"Kichi gasped. Souji let go. Osu re-entered the room and replaced the tray of refreshments. Tea and snacks instead of sake.
"How're Father and Mother?" Kichi asked his twin. This time, he leaned against his brother's chest as he did when they were younger. Souji instinctively held him. For a while, it was as if they were two little boys back in their nursery so long ago. "They died not long after the fire. An epidemic," Souji replied. A half-choked sob. Kichi moved slightly in his arms.
"Kino-nee and Mitsu-nee?"
"They're married. Kino moved to Nagoya, but Mitsu's living in Edo. You're an uncle now. Mitsu has two girls. Kino's finally had a baby boy last month… " Souji whispered dreamily.
"Soujirou, what about you? Do I have a sister-in-law?"
"Nope. Guess I just haven't met the right person yet…" Souji laughed softly.
"What about that long-haired girl with the wide-open eyes I spoke to? She has the hots for you…" Kichi looked up at him with the old twinkle of mischief he remembered.
"Hotaru-san? I like her, but not in that way…" The night was getting late. Hang the curfew… They had too much to catch up on.
For a while they spoke and nibbled at the snacks Osu had left. Finally, Kichi's eyelids drooped. Souji did not dare move for fear of rousing his twin. Soon, even he was asleep…
Author's Notes
Done the reunion but it is not quite the end of this assassin's tale yet...