HEY I'M BACK! You don't know how much I wanted to upload this, but writing without inspiration is like not writing at all, and I don't want this story to be rushed or to have crappy chapters, so I hope the waiting has been worth it for you guys! I've been reading all the reviews you've been leaving me and well, thanks for keeping up with me :) Like I said, I won't drop this story (I know how it feels).

I'll add a few notes at the end to explain some things related with thi chapter and the story in general but, for now, enjoy! :D


Yoshiwara was infested with yatos again, and Sougo knew he wouldn't find Kagura in the main building for obvious reasons. Whatever had happened between her and her tribe had her avoiding her clansmen. Last time this had happened she had spent the night with him at some random inn, so Sougo racked his brains trying to think where she could be this time. The first place that came to his mind was Hinowa's, where he knew the former geisha lived with her son and where Tsukuyo and Kagura normally went to when they had free time. Meaning that Kagura spent more time there than in her workplace. After all, it had been Tsukuyo's home until she had had to move to the main building to take care of things after the White Plague had struck.

If he's lucky, he would find her there. The problem was that he could not arrive and drag her out with the excuse of sparring. People would ask him what he was thinking about with all the yatos around, and he couldn't exactly tell them what his intentions were.

Now, while some months ago he would only have looked for her to have sex, he now wanted to make sure she was alright. But still, he couldn't tell them that either; when had they supposedly gotten close in the first place? Still, he decided to pay Hinowa a visit nonetheless, in hopes Kagura would be there alone. However, after greeting the older woman and her son, they had told him that Kagura had left before the arrival of the amantos. Tsukuyo had warned her soon enough this time, and she had fled the place.

That only made him think of one place where she could be - the Yorozuya. He knew she didn't like visiting, but she didn't have anywhere else to go, not after her fight with the glasses boy. So, with another destination in mind, he made his way to the surface.


Kagura jolted when she heard the door of the house opening, startled, and for a moment she feared Shinpachi might have thought of coming to their old house for some reason. She felt her heartbeat speeding up when she heard footsteps approaching the living room, and she jumped to her feet when a silhouette appeared at the door. She was about to yell when she recognised who it was.

"Sadist?"

"Hey, China. Missed me?" Kagura frowned, ignoring his question.

"What are you doing here?"

"I went to Yoshiwara looking for you, and Hinowa told me you had left before your friends arrived. This is the first place that came to my mind." He took a few steps towards her, and she sighed and stepped back.

"Not today, Sadist, I'm not in the mood." Sougo stopped, a frown on his face.

"C'mon China, I've come all the way here. You're always in the mood." Sougo hoped acting like normal would help him see if she was upset or not and maybe give him some indications as to how he could help her. He cornered her against a wall and his hands rested on her waist.

"Not today. Really." She looked up at him determined and he sighed, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Fine, China. Not today. But the sky is really cloudy and it's cold outside, so I'm not leaving." She smiled softly and, when he made an attempt to straighten himself she stopped him sneaking her arms around his torso. She buried her face in his neck and realised he smelled as enticing as always.

'No, no, no, Kagura. You've said it yourself. Not this time.'

"Where is your monstrous dog?"

"I left him with Seita. He always gets whiny when he comes here."

"And when are your friends leaving?"

"I don't know, whenever my stupid brother decides it's a good time." She realised her slip as soon as the words left her mouth and she stopped herself from biting her tongue. It wouldn't do her any good now.

Sougo separated himself from her with a curious look on his face. "Your what?"

Kagura felt like she had kept something from him that she shouldn't have, which was not the case, but still.

"Ah, you see… I have a brother and well… How to put it… He became some kind of authority in Yoshiwara after he defeated Hosen some years ago and it seems he can do whatever he pleases there. So yes…"

"You have a brother?" There's was no point in keeping quiet about it anymore, so she told him the basics.

"Yes, he's your age. And a psycho bastard for the record." Had that been too much information? She wasn't one to talk about her family so easily but if Sougo was involved, well, she trusted him and it was easy to talk to him lately about anything that didn't involve her feelings for him.

He started nibbling at the skin in her neck and she huffed. "Sadist, I told you–"

"I know, but you're tense. I promise I'll behave; just relax for the meantime, okay?"

"Okay," she said. "Okay." Sougo took that at his chance to relax her and lifted her up. She grabbed the back of his uwagi to keep her balance and let him carry her to one of the sofas. He sat down and she straddled him, burying her face in his hair. He kept his mouth on her neck, right above her pulse, and she sighed with delight.

"So?" His breath fanned her skin when he spoke, tickling her.

"So what?"

"Tell me more about your brother." Oh, he wanted to know more. Should she tell him? It was true that she had never liked to talk about it openly, but right now there were only the two of them and she trusted him. She had done so for a while. Maybe it could help her cope with it better?

She tried to organise her thoughts, trying to put the rapture she was feeling aside. Where to start?

"Kamui and I were close when we were young." Right, from the beginning. "He used to take care of me when I was just a little child back at our home planet. It was always raining there, and the atmosphere was gloomy and kinda lifeless. The streets were not a safe places for kids to play in, more if you consider we're yato kids." Her hands entangled in Sougo's hair when he moved to the union between her jaw and her neck. "My dad was –is– one of the most strong of the tribe, so it was only normal that his offspring would be considered valuable. We always had to keep an eye out."

Sougo hummed, showing her he's listening to every word she was saying even if he's busy leaving hot red marks along her skin. She closed her eyes, recalling the afternoons she had spent with her older brother playing in the dirty alleys, murky water staining their boots and the hems of their clothes. Kamui used to take her by the hand back then, leading her to all the safe places he could think of and making sure she came back home unscarred.

"Things changed when my mother fell ill. It wasn't long before she couldn't walk, so she stayed home in her bed. My dad was never home, so we had to take care of her on our own. I remember sleeping with her and fearing that when I woke up, she wouldn't be breathing. Things got worse when Kamui decided he wanted to become stronger. It was a tradition for yato children to kill their parents, but I wasn't quite ready for the shock when they fought, considering it shouldn't have happened. Nobody else follows those stupids customs anymore." She stopped, because Sougo's ministrations were starting to get too distracting. His hands were on her lower back and his lips were sloppily caressing her shoulders. When had he unbuttoned her kimono? "Sadist…"

"I told you I won't trespass any limit. Keep talking." Fine, as long as he didn't go further down she would be fine. She just didn't have any kind of barrier when it came to him, so she let him do as he pleased. It was enjoyable, after all.

"I somehow managed to stop them, but my father lost an arm that day and Kamui decided to leave, telling me he had no use for weaklings like me. My father's trips got longer as time passed by and my mom died a few months later. It was then that I decided to come here. I haven't been in good terms with Kamui ever since. The rest of the story, you already know." Well, this was a first for her. She had never told anyone the whole thing herself; some people had learned it bit by bit, some things from her and the rest from other people. Sougo stopped torturing her for a second to answer her.

"So that brother of yours is a jerk."

"Just a little bit more than you are." Kagura smirked and looked down at him, leaning in and kissing him. His lips were warm and just what she needed. She had been feeling down but this idiot had come out of the blue to cheer her up. Her heart clenched, a bittersweet sensation taking over her. Did he even know what he was capable of doing to her? She was happy he was here, but she didn't want to be so open towards him, not when he could turn her into a million pieces with just a few words. That was no way of protecting herself from him, was it? Still, she had fallen a long time ago, and she could only react to his demanding mouth the way she was doing now. She didn't know any better than this.

They were so caught up in their bubble they didn't notice the sound of the rain getting stronger as the door opened, then being muffled again as it closed. The sound of glass cracking on the floor, however, did make them jump out of their skins. Kagura scrambled out of Sougo's lap even though she knew it was already too late as the man himself stood up, on guard.

The person standing on the other end of the room had a shocked and disgusted expression and Kagura froze on the spot.

Shinpachi.

"What are you two doing here?" His voice was cold and hard, and she took a step forward with a defiant expression.

"That's none of your business. What are you doing here?" Sougo observed how the other boy sighed with exasperation, trying not to snap at the girl in front of him and pinching his nose.

"Oh, god, I don't have time for this…" he muttered. "Look, whatever you were doing, I don't care. You are old enough to make your own decisions. I'm just here to let you know that Otae is on the hospital. I guess you can recognise this." He pointed to the floor and Kagura realised that there were shards of glass and a pink substance everywhere around Shinpachi. It must have been the crushing sound Sougo and she had heard before, had Shinpachi dropped it? The liquid looked familiar and she tried to guess where she had seen it. Ah, yes, it was the medicine for the White Plague, the one that helped alleviate the symptoms, though it didn't stop the mortality. What was Shinpachi doing with that?

Then it clicked.

"Shinpachi, who is that for?" The truth was that she already knew the answer to the question.


The first thing Kagura did when they returned to the Yorozuya, drenched to the bones and no Shinpachi in sight, was to throw herself at him and cry her eyes out. Sougo wasn't expecting less. She had managed to keep a happy face when she had entered the room where her "older sister" had been moved to not even 2 days ago, as the older woman had explained herself while he waited outside to give them some privacy. Shinpachi had only told them where to look for his sister just to disappear right after, so Sougo had decided to accompany the Yato to make sure she wasn't alone.

He knew how important Otae was to Kagura, and how much she missed her ever since Boss had disappeared and she had had the fight with the glasses boys. He also knew she preferred to keep her distance, because Otae was the only person Shinpachi had left and because she didn't want to start a fight between the siblings. So it was no wonder she started crying as soon as they got to the Yorozuya, clinging onto him for dear life and soaking his clothes with her tears. The issue with the Yatos suddenly seemed very far away.

Sougo held her tightly against him, not speaking a word but rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her down as she gripped his uwagi with desperation and sobs wrecked her body. His other hand cradled her head. He was not sure what he was supposed to do. He wasn't good comforting people in the first place, and if you added to it that this was cold, emotionless Kagura sobbing in his arms he was at a loss. He had prayed for her to wear her heart on her sleeve like she had used to do back when she had been part of the Yorozuya trio, but to see her like this, so openly broken again, was not something he wished for anyone. He had been there when Gin had disappeared, and he had seen her cry more than once in everyone's arms –Shinpachi, the old hag, the masochist ninja, Tsukuyo,... He had cared for her at the time, but he wasn't as emotionally attached to her as he was now and she wouldn't have looked for him anyways. They had been rivals, even friends if someone looked close enough, and he would have saved her if she had been in danger, but they both had known he would not have been her first option if she ever needed a shoulder to cry on. Now, he was completely in love with her and the only thing he wanted was for her to be happy again, to smile and laugh. These last news were anything but welcome.

When her sobs finally died down he realised they were both trembling; their clothes were still wet.

"C'mon, we'd better take a bath." Sougo led her to the bathroom by the hand, taking her clothes off with utmost care and folding them before turning on the tap. Kagura tugged at his own clothing, indicating she wanted him to bathe with her and he complied without protesting. He made sure to collect their hair into buns –lest they were to fall sick. She stood beside him, her arms latched to his as he wondered if there would be hot water after more than 4 years, though as soon as steam started to rise his doubts were dispelled.

She was the first to enter the bathtub, hissing when the hot liquid touched her skin and sitting with her knees bent, pressed to the front to let enough room for him to plop down behind her. When he finally settled he sneaked his arms around her waist to pull her closer and she nestled her head in his chest, breathing deeply.

"Isn't the water too hot?" Her voice was barely a hoarse whisper.

"I thought you'd like to be here for some time, and I don't want the water to be cold in a while." She hummed in response.


After more than an hour later, in which Kagura had cried two more times and he had kissed the top of her head until she had stopped, they stepped out of the bathroom wearing Gin's old kimonos. Hers was far too big for her size, but it was the last thing in her mind at the moment. She was still trying to grasp what Sougo was still doing here; he should have left after the hospital visit, but he had insisted to take her home and even though she had tried to keep her tears at bay to avoid more awkwardness, it had been just too much. She was more than glad he had stayed even after that in the end, however. He was, after all, the only person left to make her feel completely safe.

With that thought in mind, and wanting a distraction to forget everything that had happened today for a while –from her brother coming to Earth to Otae's illness–, she approached him and grabbed his sleeve, halting him in the hallway leading to the office. She was aware of the nightmares that would plague her dreams tonight and, the longer she stayed awake, the better.

"Sougo," he turned his head around at the mention of his name and she looked at him with sad yet determined eyes as she continued "can you…?"

"Eh?" The girl could see the confusion in his features turn to understanding. "I don't think–"

"I need things out of my mind right now." He still looked uncertain. "Please." He completely faced her then as she took a step forward, untying the obi at her waist while the kimono fell to the floor, pooling at her feet. Sougo took the sight in front of him with reverence. He had seen her naked countless times yet he knew he would never get tired of her –her red hair was as fiery and as long as always; her white, soft skin was as inviting as any other day and even though her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were red and puffy, she looked breathtaking. She was offering herself to him. In her most vulnerable moment, she wanted him to be there with her. And she really needed him right now. But, was this alright with her in her current state?

When he didn't move, too stunned, she took one last step towards him, reaching for his face and softly pressing her lips to his.

"Please, Sougo." That seemed to take him out of his stupor, because he responded right away to her kiss, cupping her face and slipping his tongue inside her mouth. She guided him towards the main room with confident steps while he untied his obi too, falling backwards when his knees hit one of the sofas and his back collided with the cushioned back. Kagura was quick to open his kimono to straddle him, slipping the clothing off his shoulders and never leaving his mouth. She proceeded to fumble with his damp hair to undo his bun. He groaned when her thigh pressed against his erection so he bit her in retaliation, leaving red marks from her neck to her breasts. She melted into him when he took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking and lapping and making her moan. His hands settled on her buttocks as hers entangled in his brown locks –that had taken her long enough.

They were completely alone and the downpour outside muffled the sounds, so they were free to scream their lungs out. He guessed she would be happy, since she had always been loud to begin with. The confirmation came as a cry of pleasure when he rocked his hips up and Kagura's hands balled in his hair, her nails scraping his scalp. He was now busy with her other breast.

"Aaaah, th–that's not fair!"

"Tell me about it!" he hissed. "You won't stop fucking moving and I won't last much more. What are you waiting for? I know you're wet enough so, where's the problem?" He wasn't sure how he had kept his voice firm because she was torturing him and he was hard enough as it was. He bit his lip when she looked at him with bright, glazed eyes one last time before she slowed herself down onto him painfully slowly.

Sougo moaned and refrained his hips from shooting upwards as Kagura shuddered. The less he moved for now the better for the both of them. Besides, he wanted her to lead this time. She let out a breathy sigh when she took him in completely and locked eyes with him again. He shot up his eyebrows and half smiled at her, signalling he was ready whenever she was. The girl closed her arms around Sougo's neck and touched her forehead to his, eyes shut as she started to move. Sougo groaned and searched her lips to mute the rest of the sounds threatening to come out; she had flushed her chest to his and he really, really couldn't take it anymore.

"K–Kagura, wait." She smirked against his mouth.

"Are we having problems down there, Mr officer?" she taunted. She had the nerve to tease him in the middle of it all. Out of all the people he knew, she had to have the nerve to tease him. Him, Okita Sougo the Sadist aka one of the most desired men in Yoshiwara, nonetheless. The worst part of it was that he didn't care. At this point he couldn't care less if it made her smile in return. And well, she was usually the one at his mercy; he could take it this time. So when she continued with the same rhythm and did nothing to stop, he had no choice but to abide.

Kagura felt him snap, holding him in her arms as he buried his face in her neck moaning, his body shaking several times. She didn't pause as he came, preferring to let him make the most out of it and enjoying it herself and, even though it was not enough to make her reach the peak, she had more than enough knowing that he was letting her see him like this. She knew of his pride –hell, who didn't?– but the fact that he willingly allowing her to hold him like this, oh god. She didn't have words to describe it, her heart swelling with tenderness and her eyes moistening. What would she give to be like this forever, in his arms and revelling in the security they provided, with the love that sometimes felt like it was real.

When he stopped trembling she didn't let go of him, just moving barely enough to slip out of him , and Sougo wondered how dissatisfied and uncomfortable she had to be.

"I thought you wanted this to last long?"

"Mmmh, it's okay. I don't mind."

"Bullshit, you were the one who needed this the most out of us; you asked me, after all." He softly pushed her away to properly look at her. Against his better judgement, she was grinning.

"I said it was fine, I don't–" She was cut half sentence when Sougo kissed her again full on the mouth, biting her lower lip and placing a hand below her right breast, his fingers teasing her skin. Her eyes closed on their own accord.

"You can't fool me, China. You're as greedy as I am, and I can tell you're as wet as before." She didn't have the strength to answer him when he shifted their position and her back landed on the sofa cushions, arching when he positioned himself on top of her and rubbed their groins together. Oh god, he was at it again; he just needed a bit of time and she was sure she was gonna enjoy it in between.


When she finally found the strength to start breathing normally again they were both laying on a futon they had somehow managed to pull out in the middle of their lovemaking. Sougo had been panting on her neck with heavy sighs trying to catch enough air and now he was facing the ceiling as she curled up at his side with blurry eyes. She still couldn't focus her sight; that last orgasm had been intense. Feeling the tiredness of the day catch up with her at last, she managed to mumble a thank you before falling asleep, dreading the nightmares that were to come but glad she was not alone. He couldn't make them all go away, it was beyond human possibilities, but his presence was a constant reminder that she would make it through to another day.


Well, here I am again. Regarding the chapter: I don't know if you remember it but it's said in the film that a person with the White Plague only lasts one month, so this chapter takes place one or two weeks before the movie time, in which Otae is still alive. I'm keeping the movie plot for this story, so Shinpahi and Kagura make up there. The following chapters will happen after that.

Sougo doesn't know about Kamui being Kagura's brother bwcause I decided to stop the manga events in the Shogun Assassination Arc (since the Farewell Shinsengumi arc had not finished when I started writing and I didn't know how things would be).

And one last thing, Pieces is coming to and end. I'll write two~three more chapters, then it will be over. I have the prompts already decided, and I will write some things you asked me to, so please be patient. I don't know when I'll update again but I promise you I will finish it completely.

EDIT: IF YOU HAVE IDEAS YOU'D LIKE ME TO WRITE, PM ME, I'LL TRY TO WRITE THEM AS LONG AS I CONSIDER THEM APPROPIATE FOR THE STORY