Chapter Two
"Ouch!"
Saizou glanced up at his master with a look of utter contempt. The pink pig grunted under his breath and buried his head under his front hooves in disgust.
"C'mon Saizou; it's not that bad."
The grumpy little creature let out a muted squeal and wiggled on his wicker bed. It was clear what he thought of this little escapade.
Souji glanced in the mirror and sighed. It really was a wonder it hadn't cracked already. Plus, he accidentally broke the mascara stick in his hand when he stabbed himself in the eye. Maybe raiding Susumu kit, which the younger boy usually left in case he stayed the night at Souji's, wasn't such a wonderful idea.
Grabbing a clean washcloth, he scrubbed at his face with cold water. It felt good to get the foreign chemicals off his skin, but when he glanced up in the mirror his fair skin was very blotchy from the rough treatment.
"Maybe I should skip the makeup, ne Saizou?"
Getting out the door wasn't as hard as Souji had imagined it might be. It wasn't because he was in a dress… well it was. Not because he looked like a girl but rather because he kept tripping over the too-long hem. Mitsu was taller than him. In fact, somehow, he got fewer wolf whistles and honks in the dress.
Even though it was almost noon, the day was nippy. The wind teased and tugged at his long hair, making it whip in his face. He brushed it aside with an impatient hand only to trip on the sidewalk.
Klutzy, he chided himself.
"Oof!"
"Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Souji immediately felt bad. He had smashed into someone, possibly even hurt them.
"Okita?"
Souji jerked up at the familiar, yet unexpected, voice. A brilliant, sincere smile flashed across his slender features. It was the sort of smile that froze on your face if you didn't truly mean it, but could be bright as the sun with feeling.
"Yamanami!"
The bespeckled man looked mildly confused and it took Souji a moment to realize why. He twirled saucily and winked.
"Do you like what you see?"
Yamanami chuckled deeply and pushed his glasses back up in embarrassment, "I would never say you look better in a dress than my girlfriend, but I believe that is because I wish to sleep inside, not out with the dog."
"Oh?" Souji raised an eyebrow in exaggerated curiosity, extremely happy to have company. All thoughts of revenge had retreated to the fringes of his mind before the thoughts of the light. The slinking creatures of evil would be back… later… it was a promise. "And who is this lovely lady who can out-look me?"
"Ah."
Bright red.
"Umm-hmm. Don't want to share because you're afraid I'll steal her, huh. She must be something else to catch you, Mister Bookworm. However did she drag you away from your mistress?"
The older man gave a soft chuckle, this time in amusement, and commented, "And how are you doing?"
Souji let the obvious change of subject go. He was too happy to really pry. As long as he was invited to the wedding of course.
"Oh, you know." Flippant wave. "A bit of school and a bit of play. Typical college student minus the bars and parties." He felt a twinge of guilt at that slight, itty-bitty, little lie. Well, he didn't usually go to bars; that was a special case. "I don't have time to be sloshed if I want that scholarship."
"I would not worry too much, Okita. You are a bright, determined young man."
Souji gave a light laugh, "Don't you mean young lady?" He twined his arm and linked it with the man in the suit. Leaning into him, the youth just enjoyed the familiar presence. He didn't pay too much attention to their surroundings or the jealous looks. At least not until a black Volvo caught the corner of his eye. A thought niggled at his mind. It had something to do with the slinky ones of revenge…
"Mister Hijikata." Yamanami gave a slight bow of polite acknowledgement, dragging Souji down with him. He stood back up, looking unusually serious, "I hope you have had a pleasant day so far."
The larger man grunted, "Do you have the documents?"
"Yes, of course I do. Why else would I be here?" Yamanami said crisply while Souji stared.
Hijikata glanced over with harsh, black eyes and Souji squirmed.
"You."
"Me." He agreed, clinging tighter to the arm. It wasn't that he was seeking protection or even playing a game. He felt dizzy and was afraid if he let go then he would fall. The dreaded sensation filled his chest and his eyesight swarmed dangerously. If he didn't sit down…
"Okita—oh good, you are awake now."
"Huh…?"
His mouth felt like it had been rinsed out with sand and sewer water. The tongue inside wiggled groggily, not even feeling like his own. The rest of his body was similarly detached. His sight was blurry and doubled, but not nearly as bad as it was before… before what?
"You blacked out, woman."
"Thanks for the update." Souji spat back, trying to push himself up. He immediately felt bad for snapping but the swarming feeling of vomit pushed away any thoughts of apology. "Gah."
He blinked, trying to focus the blur. Yamanami's concerned face floated into view. Wrinkles had wormed their way into his kind face.
A bitter bile rose in Souji's throat and he didn't think it was from his condition.
"Do you find your position far to comfortable to move?"
It was then that Souji realized that he was pressed against something very, very warm. And hard… Ooo, bad thoughts! Ones he definitely shouldn't be thinking. But those muscles and that heavy voice behind his ear…
A sudden shove sent him flying up.
"Hijikata!"
"No," Souji swayed, disoriented, but feeling more grounded, "It was discourteous of me to use Mister Hijikata as my personal pillow." Souji gave a stiff bow in the direction he had flown from before remembering women didn't usually bow. He looked up with blank, harsh eyes, feeling shame burn through him. "Thank you very much for your assistance. Next time you should mind your own business however."
"Conceited bitch." Hijikata snorted darkly, "I just didn't want to fill out a police report."
Yamanami looked between them with confusion, "You two know each other?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Susumu's boss."
"Yamasaki's girlfriend."
There was a long pause as the three sorted it all out.
"Well, I must insist that we make sure Miss Okita is quite alright. Would you join us for lunch please? Otherwise, we will take you to the hospital. Fainting is a serious matter."
"Oh no!"
Souji put on the brightest, I'm-so-chipper-and-totally-fine smile he could manage. There was no way they would get him there. None. The stench that lurked in that sterile, white coffin was enough to suffocate him. The dull clicks of nurses' shoes hitting white tiles as they bustled from room to room. Bleach and medicine hung heavy in the air. Heavy enough to clog the lungs and burn the nose. Rustles of oversized, ugly, cotton gowns as patients shuffled in a daze. The low hum of TVs for the ones that couldn't move. Needles, beeping, false smiles, grave frowns. No, he wasn't going there. Never. Not even for Yamanami.
He hadn't been in a hospital since his parents died.
And he wasn't going back into one.
Ever.
"Okita? Okita? Souji!"
"Oh," He gave a weak, watery smile of apology, ignoring the stares of the people around them, "I'm still a little disoriented."
"Then we should finish our lunch Yamanami. Bring your stray if you must, but I am a busy man. I do not have time to baby-sit some sick woman. I need that paperwork, and you need to do your job."
A warm hand curled around Souji's shoulders, and he stopped himself from shrugging it off, reminding himself it was all in good faith.
"Are you okay?"
Okay, no. He had passed out in front of a dear friend, not to mention Hijikata. Damn those spells. He probably should actually go to a doctor to get it checked out. The coughs started innocently enough. Just a little hack here or a slight, muffled choking.
He followed the two older men to the restaurant. Even though it was under a reservation, the server dutifully made an extra set and produced another menu. And he even pulled out a chair for Souji, which the temporary cross-dresser found infinitely amusing.
He tried to listen to the business talk but to be honest it bored him silly. It was far more painful than breaking his shoulder when playing football. Instead he fiddled with the menu, wondering if he should get the cheesecake or if the tiramisu was any good. The classiness of the restaurant was a bit out of his budget.
Glancing up, he stared innocently into the dark eyes that were watching him.
"Yes?"
The handsome man grunted and turned away abruptly.
Souji smiled, knowing he would have to pay a house call. Alone. And soon.
A/N: I'm trying to keep both of them IC, but keep in mind that Souji didn't grow up with Hijikata.
: well, I hope it's at least decent. I tend to use whichever setting fits the story line best, so consequently, most of my stories are AU or AT.
Ri-chan: Or not so quick, but it got done ;)
Rei-Kuhori: .
Nikki: I love Souji; he's just so… cute? I'm not sure what word I should use actually. Darling, mwahaha!
Liz: Killing the author does have that unfortunately side effect, doesn't it? Playing? I'm shocked ;). Of course I will be.
Fyyrrose: laughing That was PWP in both meanings of the word, not romance.