Same old disclaimer drill: I do not own the two animes, Ruronin Kenshin and Peace Maker Kurogane.

In the PMK manga, Okita gets worked up about his illness towards the end, he is very determined to go down fighting, despite what the doctor might say. As to whether the friendship is officially kaput, we'll see.

Afternoon Stroll

Kenni, why do you have to be so bleeding nice to me? We're enemies, for crying out loud! Okita was really torn between his sense of duty to the Shinsengumi and his own code of honour. It is very awkward to duel to the death with someone who has just given you a box of your favourite cakes. Not just any cakes, but those limited and highly popular cakes from Umeya. You had to order in advance. Umeko must be chewing Kenni out for his generous gift. They cost a lot. Since the Shinsengumi budget cut, Okita had not been able to afford such indulgences.

Was it too late to stop Tetsu? That boy is fast on his feet. Loud footsteps echoed down the corridor. "Okita-san!" Failing to knock as usual, Tetsu barged in. "Umeko-san, er, demands you drop by at her place this afternoon, or else she'll ask Sakamoto-san to invite you out." Okita also fell flat on his face anime-style. "Sakamoto?" Good grief! What company does Umeko keep? "Oblivious to the captain's reaction, Tetsu continued. "Yup, Sakamoto-san. He's that cool guy with the strange hat. He's really fun to be with…" Oh great, Tetsu looks up to Sakamoto… Unless he wanted a visit from Sakamoto, he better visit Umeya.

That afternoon, Umeya.

"Sou, I absolutely object to this." Umeko tore the letter he had written into confetti in front of him. "Why do you demand a death duel from Kenni at this time? Why don't you just spill the beans on me and the gals consorting with rebels and set the entire wolf pack on us?" she fumed. "Men! Something else is bothering you, isn't it?" she softened her tone slightly as Okita stifled a cough.

"How's your cough?" She continued in a concerned tone.

"It's nothing," Okita lied.

Okita, you are one lousy liar. Umeko poured a cup of her herb tea and offered it to her guest. Sakamoto was teaching Tetsu how to whistle a tune in the back room of the restaurant, and showing him one of those foreign timepieces he got through his trading company in Nagasaki for Umeko. The page had insisted on accompanying Okita.

Umeko sighed in exasperation. In the winter following the Ikedaya incident, a consumptive Takasugi led a doomed campaign that set Katsura's vision back at least two years. She idly wondered if the disease that brought blood from the lungs also messed up the brain. Takasugi survived the campaign, but it was doubtful if he would ever lead again.

"Most people fear dying before fulfilling their dream… what do you fear about death?" Umeko asked. "I don't fear death. Samurais do not have any fear of that," Okita retorted. Umeko chuckled.

"Hello, is that Samurai Hijikata Toshizou speaking or Sou?" Souji looked away. He couldn't be sure. Toshi did have a sizeable influence on him, although he sometimes questioned if Toshi's code of conduct was a tad too rigid. Seppuku for this, seppuku for that… No retreating from battle, not even if it was the best policy… They did have many arguments when Toshi first drew up the code. Not that it helped.

"True courage is facing your fears… not only in battle…" Umeko sipped daintily from her tea cup. Okita did look a little less sure of himself. So far so good…

"Please come with me. Hope you don't mind accompanying an old lady as she visits a friend…" Umeko murmured as she dusted off her skirts. "Ryouma, please take care of things here while I visit Tomoe." Ryouma gave a Western-styled salute in reply as he strolled nonchalantly past them with Tetsu in tow.

"Umeko-san?"

They were walking among the nameless graves of the Kyoto graveyard when they stopped in front of a small headstone. Umeko placed the irises lovingly in the holders and lit the incense. "Himura Tomoe's resting place," she explained. "Kenni hasn't been able to bring himself to visit yet. He'd buy the flowers, but he'd ask me or one of the girls to place them on his behalf."

After observing a minute of silence, the pair left the cemetery. Calmly, Umeko continued. "There are many types of courage. Not just that of the samurai in battle, but courage to continue living. Take Ichimura Tatsunosuke for instance, it takes guts for him to raise his little brother after his parents died. Sometimes, it takes more courage to live, especially if you are weighed down by guilt." Touché. There was a slight change in Okita's manner. Guess those rumours flying about had some truth.

"Is that why Kenni can't visit his wife?" Okita questioned. Umeko nodded. "Have you visited Yamanami's grave recently?" Okita shook his head. Somehow, he would pay his respects to his fallen comrades in the Mibu graveyard. But always, he shied away from Yamanami's grave. "They say you acted as his second. For Kenni it was worse. Some enemies kidnapped his wife and he went to save her. They got him in an ambush. She got between Kenni and an enemy, trying to protect him. He was blinded then and accidentally killed her along with his enemy. He was nearly dead from his injuries when my brother called on him."

"I can arrange a duel if you still wish, but it will not be with Battousai. Battousai will not fight a friend. And it will not be to the death." Umeko continued as Okita tried to absorb what he had just learnt. The shrewd woman had hit a sore spot. He hadn't meant to stab Yamanami in the back. He was trying to protect Hijikata from what they thought was an attack from Yamanami. He was beginning to have second thoughts. He did not want to lose another friend the way he lost Sannan.

"Here we are… this could be a nice place to duel…" Theystopped at an abandoned water mill. They were not alone. Sakamoto was there, waving to Umeko. So were the Ichimura brothers. Tatsu paled when he saw Okita. Hotaru was hopping excitedly as she squealed a warm welcome to Okita. She was carrying a medicine chest and a naginata, Umeko's. Umeko raised her eyebrow suspiciously.

"Sugar Plum, I sent word to Kenni first as I figured Oki will never pass on a duel- OW!" Sakamoto winced as Umeko popped a vein and pinched his arm hard. "Moron, I told you to wait! I almost talked some sense into him!" Looks like whether he liked it or not, he'll be seeing Kenni today. Okita waited. The sun was setting.

Someone was coming up the path leading to the mill, someone with red hair that glowed in the setting sun. A katana hung at his waist. He carried two bokkens on his back. "Sorry I'm late, Sakamoto-san…" Kenshin apologized. "You wanted a friendly sparring match with me? We could do it in the…" He froze as he saw Okita.

"No, no, you got it wrong, Kenni-boy. Oki here wants a friendly match with you," Sakamoto Ryouma corrected in his booming voice. "Let's keep it friendly…" Resignedly, Umeko took her weapon from Hotaru.

"Kenni-kun, try not to hurt Okita-sama too badly, okay?" Hotaru whined. "Okita-san, kick his butt!" Tetsu shouted some encouragement to Okita.

"You gentlemen know the rules. No kicking, biting, throwing punches… please take your bokkens. Leave your swords with Dragon Boy," Ryouma appointed himself as the referee. A visibly trembling Tatsu took the blades from both fighters. He had a premonition when Sakamoto pounced on him at the abacus store his day was going to be ruined.

"Up to it, Sou?"

"Ready when you are."

"On the downward swing," Umeko poised her naginata high above her head as both fighters got into position on the grass by the mill pool. "NOW!" The naginata blade flashed down to earth in a blur of silver, announcing the start of the duel.