Chapter Four

He refused to hover.

He refused!

But the phone was just so infuriatingly silent. It sat all innocent on its cradle, oblivious to the anxious human standing over it.

The room was in typical disarray with laundry draped across chairs and books scattered across the floor in untidy piles. The bed was unmade and sprawling. Yet, somehow, the room seemed cramped. It was making Souji pace, and he was worried for the carpet's safety.

Saizou snoozed in his bed, ignoring his master's restlessness.

Violet eyes hit the phone then jerked away. He wouldn't even think about it. No way. He wasn't waiting for the phone to ring. Or at least not a call from him.

"You've got mail." The computer announced in a mechanical voice.

Souji practically dove for the overstuffed, hideous couch he used as a computer chair. He always liked to have something to sink into, especially if he dozed off during a late night. It was draped with a plain sheet because the pattern was the most hideous thing every thought up by a want-to-be designer.

Saizou jumped up, squeal indignantly as Souji's barefoot caught on his fat rump.

"Oh, I'm sorry Saizou," Souji apologized, soothing his pet with a pat to the head. Saizou grunted, accepting his master's apology, and turned to go back to his nap. Souji, sure that all was right now, jumped into the chair and took three mouse clicks to disappointment.

Well, of course.

He hadn't given him his e-mail; he had just written down his phone number.

Hi Okita!
Howre u doin? its fine hear butt its realy quite w/o u. i hate tatsu tho hes a buttmunch cuz he wont let me out affter 9. i lik hschool so far and i have a g/f know! can u beleive it! her naime is Saya youd lik her lots. so have u maid knew freinds their yet cuz peeps like u and miss u. hope to c u son and u buter vissit two!
Tetsu

Souji had to take a minute or two to slowly decipher the seemingly foreign language presented to him.

Oh Tetsu, what are they teaching you in English class? Souji wondered to himself. He would have to introduce his young friend to a little thing called spell check.

Dear Tetsu,
I'm doing just fine, thank you for asking. Being away from you guys is a huge adjustment and it's awfully quiet around here! Saizou misses you but he's taken a shine to the poor boy next door. I don't have many friends yet. Well, Susumu is here in the city, but he's busy with work and not nearly so bouncy as you are. I would love to meet Saya because she sounds like a lovely girl. I haven't met someone special…

Souji paused in his typing before slowly backspacing.

…What I mean to say is, I met someone, but I doubt they'll ever look at me. But I'll definitely visit sometime at the end of July before school starts up again. After all, I need my dose of family, right? Tell Kondou and Mitsu hi for me. Oh, and Tatsu and Saya too.

Always your friend, S. Okita

He was about to hit the send button when the phone rang.

It took another mad dash over Saizou, who was so annoyed he squeezed under the bed, to snatch the receiver up and say a breathless greeting.

"Just who were you expecting?" The voice teased, "Your girlfriend?"

"Okita's got a girlfriend?" A voice in the background asked curiously and then there was some catcalling and kissy noises.

"Oh no," Souji blushed, trying to think of an excuse as to why he was answering the phone out of breath and so eager, "Susumu was supposed to call and I just got out of the shower…"

"Su-re."

"It's true!" Souji protested, "And how did you get my number Toudou?"

"Me?" An innocent pause, "Tetsu, of course."

There was a scuffle on the other end of the phone and Nagakura's voice piped over the receiver, "What Heisuke meant to say was we're going to be down your way on our road trip, and we wanted to know if you wouldn't mind us crashing there for a day or two. You know, hang out like old times."

Souji was so delighted he almost dropped the phone to clap his hands. Saizou's snout poked out from under the bed, covered with dust bunnies, and he snorted in disapproval.

"Yes, yes! Come!" Souji yipped, then wobbled in a high, squeaky voice, "Looooonely, I'm so looooooonley."

"Gah, you can't sing Okita."

Suddenly Harada was on the phone, singing along.

Souji felt torn between laughing and covering his ears. The big man did not sing high parts that well.

"So it's on?" Toudou asked, after wrestling the phone away from Harada, who Souji could still hear in the background. His words had changed to some kind of heavy metal about bodies hitting the floor and nothing wrong with me. That seemed more his style anyway.

"Absolutely, but only if Nagakura cooks because I suck at homemade meals." Souji teased, "Do you need directions?"

"Real men don't ask for directions." Toudou remarked proudly then oofed, "But we'll call you if we get lost, okay."

Souji managed not to drop the phone before he did a dance of joy. The trio was always a blast to be around and he really looked forward to their visit.

The phone rang again and Souji picked it up expecting to have to give directions.

Instead, Susumu came on the line, "What did you do?" His voice was low and harsh, accusing.

"Me? What?" Souji yelped in confusion, his mind still on his to-be guests. "I'm confused."

"Hijikata."

The name hung between them for a few seconds.

Souji's voice dropped to a simple, "Oh."

"So you did do something." Susumu growled.

"How is he?" Souji was afraid to ask.

Susumu grunted.

"It's not like I drugged and raped him!" Souji yelled making Saizou squeal and dive under the bed again. The phone, still intent on doing its duty, beeped, "Hang on. There's another call."

Switching over to the other line, he said, "Hello, Okita residence."

There was a heavy pause before a very sexy, familiar voice said, "You owe me. Tomorrow at one at the café down the street from the office. I expect coffee."

Click.

Souji was stunned for a moment before he turned the line over.

"Susumu, what's Hijikata doing right now?" Souji asked cautiously, guessing his friend was in the club.

"What happened?"

"He just asked me out."

"Asked?" Susumu yipped softly.

"Well," Souji drawled, "More like demanded."

"That would explain the smoke rolling out from under his office door." Susumu stated, "He doesn't know what to do with you."

Souji tittered and said in a falsetto voice, "I'm not your average girl, you know."

Click.

Souji rolled his eyes and put down the phone. Why did he continue to associate with anti-social people who had trouble with the words good-bye passing their lips before hanging up?

Emotionally drained, he crashed on his messy bed. His limps were limb and lead heavy, but his heart and mind were soaring. Some part of him was whispering warnings, but he shoved it aside. It was odd to fall so fast, but Souji always trusted his emotions.

Saizou crawled out from under the bed and jumped up next to him. His bristly snout shoved against his young master's hand, demanding to be scratched. The long, graceful fingers obliged, causing grunts of pleasure to escape his throat.

"Saizou, this is going to be an interesting week. I'm so excited, but I'm scared too."

The piglet grunted.

"You're right of course. I shouldn't be acting like a love sick teenage girl confiding in my pet cat."

"Buki!"

"No, no, you don't even compare to a cat." Souji laughed, trying to appease his disgruntled pet, "We both know that pigs are smarter, more loveable, and better."

Bunching the pillows behind him, the purple haired youth intended to take a cat nap.

It was going to be a good week.

The phone woke him a few hours later. He could see the last rays of sun slipping through his blinds, which meant it was early evening.

Groggily, he picked up the phone and mumbled something into it.

"Hi, my name is Jack Krill and I'm with the Republican Party, urging you to vote no on April Fifth…"

Souji hung up without a word.

He was really tired off all the voting and debating already. Couldn't they just leave people in peace?

Stretching, he stumbled to the bathroom. Relieved, he wandered towards the messy kitchen. He hadn't been kidding when he said he couldn't cook. The extent of his skills involved boiling water and pushing the reheat button on the microwave.

In the end, after pawing through his cabinets and fridge, he decided just to go out for some Chinese.

Throwing on some sweats, he headed out the door. It was almost dark outside, but that didn't stop him from taking the back way. He still had an English paper due for his summer school class.

"Hey chick, give us whatcha got." A rough voice demanded.

"Otherwise, we'll let you have it." Another voice seconded with the accompanying swish of a switchblade. Souji could tell that it was dull and abused, but that didn't make the owner any less dangerous.

Turning slowly, making sure they could see his hands, he pulled out the loose five he had planned on buying dinner with. The crumpled bills fluttered against his fingers, eager to play with the night's breeze rather than be stuffed back in someone's pocket. For good measures, Souji unhooked the watch that had been given to him for his eighteenth birthday.

"This is all I have."

The first assaulter glared then sneered, "Cheap slut."

The second one sniggered nastily and gave a lusty smirk, "Exactly what she'll be in a minute when I sink my cock in deep, making her scream." He licked his lips and fiddled with his zipper. Souji barely managed to cover his sneer of contempt at the crudeness, tightening his fists so that his short nails bit into flesh. Scum like that needed to learn not to pick on others.

Before he could lunge forward and break the second offender's scrawny wrist, there was a heavy crack. The man fell like a downed cow, smashing his nose into the ground and having his eyes roll back showing only whites.

A whine tore from the first guy as he turned to flee this sudden threat.

Souji wasn't known for his restraint. Especially when he was angry.

"You may have killed him." A monotone voice informed him from the dirty shadows.

Souji gave a vicious smile, "One can only hope. Then again, it would be lovely if he could feel the horrendous headache he has coming when he wakes up stripped naked and half frozen in some back alley trashcan."

"Regardless, it is not wise for you to be out."

Souji didn't relax. Instead, he shoved the money back in his pockets and started towards the restaurant. His stomach grumbled making him blush slightly. He could feel the dark shadow pacing him, yet he couldn't exactly pinpoint where the man was hiding.

"Do you like Chinese?"

"I like soba."

Souji made a face.

A man melted out of the shadows slightly to the front of him on the left side. He was almost gaunt with a sickly pale cast to him. Long, lank black hair framed his narrow face and lidded dark eyes peered out lazily. Actually, put a scythe in his hand and a hood on his cloak and he would make a wonderful Grim Reaper.

Long, skeleton-like fingers rolled over slick beads that circled the equally skinny wrist and a wane smile etched his calm face.

He was strong. Souji could sense it. Power, confidence, and pose seeped out of him in dark waves making the younger man tremble in excitement. His fingers itched for the familiar grain of smooth wood and clenched the air longingly.

"Do you practice kendo?"

The man glanced over, unsurprised.

"In a way. However, I use a bladed weapon. Swords were made for killing, not for sport." He clicked the beads slightly, easily keeping step with the shorter man. His steps were near-soundless with no wasted movements. "You wish to challenge me."

Souji smiled blithely, "Yes, but even more so, I'd like to know who you are and how you are connected with Mister Hijikata."

"Hajime Saitou."

"Souji Okita. Pleased to meet you Mister Saitou."

A raised eyebrow.

Great, another friend of the anti-social flavor.

"Ah."

"Is that a good 'ah' or is that a 'oh my god, she's a freak of nature' ah?"

"I appreciate meeting you."

"Measuring me you mean." Souji retorted boldly. Unfortunately, he seemed to be talking to the crickets chirping cheerfully into the night's air. Shrugging, he wondered why he was so special that Hijikata had to put a watchdog on him. After all, this wasn't the sort of situation where coincidences occurred.

A/N: woohoo, a relatively fast updates (despite the fact that my computer and I weren't speaking to each other for a week or so). I think the rating will have to go up soon, just warning you guys.