Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Pairing: Okita/Kagome
Suggested Listening: Don't Let Me Down (Illenium Remix) by The Chainsmokers
This chapter has been censored. To view the full version, please visit AO3.
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Thirteen: The Talk Part One
Okita woke to the sound of his name. Kagome shook him gently as she leaned over his exhausted form. He cracked and eye open and shot her a curious stare. It was still night out given the fact that the room was currently bathed in darkness. He couldn't even spy the beginnings of dawn through her blinds just yet. What was she doing up so early? Surely she still had to have been worn out from their love making a few hours prior. The man yawned into the palm of his hand as he tried to blink the fog of sleep from his eyes.
"You have to head back to Souta's room now. We'll get caught otherwise." His woman pressed her lips against his in a chaste kiss. The ronin gave a quick snort of laughter at that. Caught? Didn't they just give themselves away? After all he hadn't held himself back very much the previous night. He ravaged her with all of his worth and was quite tempted to do the same over again now. His gaze trailed down the pale lines of her figure. She hadn't gotten dressed yet either, which meant she had just woken up as well.
"If they haven't figured out what we were up to last night, then I'd have to seriously question their observation skills." He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as he pulled her closer to him. He knew exactly what he wanted and he was determined to attempt another round. Although he did worry that she might be too sore given how new she was to such intimacies.
"Souji!" Kagome gave him an admonishing growl as she attempted to sit up. However he was faster and quickly spun them so that she was beneath him once more.
"We've still got time, don't we?" He slid his gaze to the clock near her bed. It flashed the time at him as his smirk grew wider. "We've got another hour before everyone has to get up. So why don't we take advantage of this alone time?" He ground himself against her however she winced and gave a small hiss of pain. His brows rose. "Are you sore?" Shit, had he gone too far the previous night? She had been a virgin after all. Certainly a bit of soreness was expected but he worried that he might've caused her too much pain.
Kagome sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Yeah. I think I just need a minute though. Worse case scenario I can take a pain reliever."
He glanced at her in concern. He didn't care much about whether someone heard them or not. He also didn't particularly worry about anyone walking in on them as he'd ensured to lock both of the doors. However what he was concerned about was that she'd be in too much pain to enjoy herself. He tested the waters briefly to ensure her comfort. She threw her head back as he spied her jaw clenching tightly. Yeah, she was definitely in some pain. The ronin held still, giving her body a few moments to readjust.
"I'll be fine." His lover answered his unasked question. She tightened her hold around him and drew herself closer to his heart. "Just once more." There was a pleading note in her tone. The man stared down at her intently. He'd spent much of his time in this era doubting himself, fretting about the future and holding himself back. Now he had everything he wanted just within reach. Kagome had willingly given herself to him last night. She'd chosen him for her future. Now, she was choosing him again despite the obvious pain her body was still in. He couldn't be rough with her. Not like this. Especially not while she was trusting him so completely.
Okita maintained a gentleness that he should've used their first time together. The young woman gently pressed her mouth to his and used her upper arms to pull him down on top her. He followed her lead and lowered himself willingly into the warmth of her embrace. She winced slightly but locked her legs around him to keep him from moving. She wanted him.
The ronin closed his eyes as he slipped his tongue into his love's mouth. Her frame went lax beneath his touch as she tangled her hands into his hair sensually. He didn't want to rush it. He didn't want to cause her any more pain than what she was already in. This go around, he wanted to take his time and explore every inch of her body that he didn't get the chance to memorize last night in the midst of their impassioned love-making. He slid his tongue along the length of hers and spent a long moment simply tasting her. Kagome returned the gesture just as boldly. Her initial shyness was beginning to wear off and just beneath the surface a woman with a wild streak in her was starting to emerge. A small smirk pulled at his lips as he roved his tongue over the top of her own before delving as deeply within her mouth as he could reach. He rather liked this new change.
She dug her nails into the flesh of his back suddenly. He responded with fervor. He paused momentarily to savor the image she made. His woman gave a soft whine of disappointment—silently encouraging him to continue where they left off.
Okita laughed, "Eager?" He could still see some evidence of pain in her expression, so he chose to remain as gentle as possible. Her hands clung to him even tighter as she threw her head back and gave a soft hiss of pleasure.
"If you wouldn't tease me…" Kagome growled under her breath but it quickly gave way to a moan.
The man dipped his head and pressed his lips to the shell of her ear, "Who's teasing? I'm just savoring the experience." He traced the tip of his tongue along the space behind it sensually. "Perhaps you're just being too impatient?"
She arched her chest into his own. Her nails dug into his skin as she dragged them from his shoulder blades down to the small of his back. All he really wanted to do was to lose himself within her again. He wanted her writhing in pleasure beneath him. He wanted her begging him to bring her to the brink of rapture before falling over the edge of it himself. However he couldn't lose control of his resolve just yet. She needed him to take her body's limitation into account. Otherwise she'd be far too sore to even attend her own graduation later this morning—not that he'd complain. Still, he would put her interests before his own. That was his job as her significant other after all. Although if he had his way, he'd be her husband the moment they crossed to the other side of the river of time.
"Souji," Kagome cried out for him softly.
The ronin lowered his head to the hollow of her neck and gently grazed his teeth against the flesh there. An idea came to his mind as a smirk pulled across his lips.
"Turn over." Okita commented as he pulled away from her. Azure eyes glanced up at him in both disappointment and curiosity. His smirk widened, "Trust me, I just want to try something." Truth be told he'd never really had the chance to attempt this next position. It'd always been the plain missionary during his few one-night stands that he'd had. The woman reluctantly turned onto her stomach beneath him. She cocked her head over her shoulder and eyed him somewhat nervously. The ronin curled his hands over her hips and spread her legs with his own. Gently, he pulled her up onto her hands and knees and began to take her once more. As with before, he maintained measured slowness in his movements.
"Stop teasing." His woman groaned. Instead of abiding by her wishes, he chose to simply drive her to the brink of rapture.
"Ah, but this is more fun." He teased. The manleaned over her body and pressed his chest into her back. Taking the flesh of her neck between his teeth, he gently nipped at the skin there. "Tell me what you really want from me." It was a double-edged question. He already knew what she wanted but he merely wanted to hear it again. He wanted to keep hearing her proclaim her decision to him until the moment he'd take her as his wife. A forceful wave of possessiveness flushed through his body as she cried out for him.
"I want you to have sex with me." Her lips curled as she pouted at him, "There! Are you happy now?" It took every ounce of self-control for the man not to laugh at the expression she currently wore. Judging by the way her glower suddenly darkened, he assumed that he failed at that entirely.
"Heh? Is that all you want?" Alright, so he was being a bit evil right now. He knew that. She knew that. But he couldn't really bring himself to stop his teasing just yet. He was curious to see how she'd react to something like this. "We'll have sex if that's what you really want, but I thought that you'd might want more than that." He continued to move slowly.
Kagome's expression thawed somewhat. He knew that she wouldn't be able to take him within her arms like this or even be able to grasp at his hand. So she did the next best thing. She cocked her head over her shoulder and timidly brushed her lips against his.
"I do want more, Souji." Her tone was soft just like the rest of her. "I'll say it as many times as you need to hear it, but I'm not leaving you. I want to stay with you." A light blush went across her nose. Her nails curled into the sheets under them. Her eyes met his as a flame of determination burned in their azure depths. "I love you. So I'll stay with you. Whether we're in this era or yours. I want to be beside you."
He leaned over her shoulder and slanted his mouth over hers heatedly, "That's all I need." At that moment he chose to stop teasing her. He trailed the palms of his hands along the hourglass of her figure, down her arms and slowly slipped the tips of his fingers between the spaces of her own. He pressed his cheek to the side of her face as he continued to make love to her. This was what he'd been missing during his time in the Shinsengumi. It wasn't about the sex or physical pleasure that he found himself longing for. Rather, somewhere within him, he knew that what he lacked was a proper family unit. His sister had abandoned him on the doorstop of Shiei Hall at nine years old due to financial constraints. Kondou had taken him under his wing and cared for him as if they'd been brothers. He'd dedicated himself to serving at Kondou's side and ensuring that all of his enemies were cut down long before they could reach him. However there was always a small part of him that wondered if that was all there was to a family unit—that perhaps he might have been missing out on something important.
He'd spent his life living like he was a blade to be used. He didn't care who it was or what he had to do—if the Shinsengumi needed him to kill, he did. He didn't take much pleasure in the act of killing itself, but he had developed a warped sense of humor to cope with it. Human life was incredibly fragile. He was fully aware that with just one wrong move, the woman beneath him could easily be slain. His eyes narrowed at the thought. She would be his responsibility when they returned. Even if she were to outright reject his proposal of marriage, she'd be heavily reliant upon him. Women could not own property or maintain positions outside of menial work. They were the responsibility of either their father or husband to support. Kagome's stubborn nature would likely cause a few issues but he knew that she could handle herself quite well. Still, that wouldn't stop the questions that were sure to arise.
He needed more. This was what a family was supposed to be like. Supportive and unerringly determined. From the moment they'd discovered him at the bottom of the well, the Higurashi's had done everything they could to accommodate his needs. They didn't judge him for his lack of knowledge in this era. They patiently taught him how to work all of the electronics and informed him of the many odd and useless laws to keep him out of trouble. More than any of that though, they'd offered him a seat at their table and treated him as if he were a true member of their family.
If that were the only thing that'd held him here then he never would've laid with Kagome the way he had the previous night and now today as well. To touch and be touched in his era was often to inflict or experience pain. These simple gestures weren't prevalent among the men of the Shinsengumi. If they wanted to release their sexual tension then they had to visit the red light district and air out their frustrations that way. He took his woman roughly as he wrapped one arm around her waist and the other over her chest. With quick reflexes, he pulled her up until her back was flush against his chest and she'd locked her arms around his neck.
She'd always had a habit of touching him so gently even from the first night. She had cradled his hands within the warmth of her own as she tended to his wounds. She'd held her palm to his forehead as she nursed him back to health. She had gently touched his arm or back if she'd wanted to reassure him or get his attention. These simple yet intimate gestures had made him curious.
What really drew him in though was how she had always ensured to remind him that he'd never been a burden upon her or this family—even when his body had been weak and incapable of wielding his blade as he wished. Even when his medical expenses had climbed so high that she'd worked herself to illness to cover the costs. Even when she'd taken his face between her hands and told him that his life here was worth more than the money she spent on his health; that his place in this home was not valued on what he could do for them but that he was cherished as a part of the family because he just was. There were no questions asked. No requirements to be met. He had been accepted by her and thus her family followed after her lead. This woman had given him her home, her kindness and, temporarily, her name. It was only right that he'd do the same for her the moment they left for his era. Soon, he'd make his home there with her by his side.
Okita gently brushed his lips along the line of her jaw. Her arms tightened around his neck. The man buried his nose into the junction of her neck and shoulder. He was being selfish. He knew that. As much as he appreciated what this family had done for him, he knew that he'd be taking their cornerstone from them without a moment's hesitation. He'd take this woman away and make her his wife.
His own arms locked even further around her waist and shoulders. As of now, she was unofficially his fiancé. Undoubtedly, Kagome would be flustered at the prospect and attempt to convince him to reconsider. Either out of her own nervousness or a lack of self-confidence, he was certain that she wouldn't be willing to accept such a proposition just yet. However he was done with double guessing himself and holding back. He'd made his decision just as she had made hers. He wanted her at his side, in his bed and carrying his name. He wanted to marry her. He wouldn't settle on anyone else. But that didn't mean that he'd force her into it either. The choice would have to be hers in the end.
"Souji…" She moaned next to his ear. He lightly bit at her skin sensually and grunted in response.
"I love you." The words were soft and barely above a whisper but he still heard them. Another moan tore from his throat. He loved every time she said those words to him. He loved how she always managed to soothe his frustrations before they ever spiraled out of hand. Most of all, he simply loved her. He'd never been one to vocalize such things though. Instead, he merely allowed his actions to emphasize the emotions that he could not put into mere words. He trailed his fingers from her shoulder, along the hollow of her throat before gently cradling her jaw within his grasp. As if sensing his line of thought, she leaned her head to the side and permitted him access to her neck—the most vulnerable place on the human body. She trusted him. He opened his mouth and began to take the flesh of her skin between his teeth. Emerald eyes narrowed somewhat as he spied the slight mark of one of his previous hickies that he'd left upon her. Dipping his head, he latched onto that same spot and began to suckle upon it. He flicked his tongue over the skin and held it softly between his front teeth, ensuring not to harm her.
Kagome's breathing became shallow pants. She was already close. He'd intended on being gentle. He still had the soreness of her unaccustomed body to think about but he quickly lost himself to his desire. It'd likely take more than just a simple pain reliever to help ease some of the issues she was going to have after this round of sex. However he couldn't bring himself to stop. The only thing he could think about; the only thing that was flashing across his mind was the fact that this woman was entrusting him with her life, her future, her heart and everything that she was. He wouldn't sully that deeply held faith she had in him.
His own breathing grew ragged as he felt himself approach his own closure as well. She opened her mouth and called out his name in a demure, sensual moan. As with the night before, the bed creaked and groaned in protest. Its high-pitched squeaks registered minutely in the back of his mind. Okita traced his mouth along the soft flesh of her shoulder and towards the line of her collarbone. He grunted at particular moment that forced her forward slightly. Taking advantage of the situation, he gently placed his hand between her shoulder blades and encouraged her to move back onto her hands and knees. His woman complied. Instead of glancing curiously at him as she had before, she merely braced her palms against the wall behind her bed and held fast. He slid his hands up her thighs until they found purchase on her hips..
No words were spoken between them. Instead there was just a silent understanding of what this budding relationship was becoming. She wasn't quite ready for marriage but he wasn't willing to allow another male to so much as touch her. They were at an impasse—one that he was determined to bring to an end as swiftly as possible. He'd convince her. Of that he was certain he could do in these next three months.
"Souji," She started with a slight gasp. The ronin gave a small hum of approval. He couldn't see her body or her expression, but he could feel the effect he had on her. He lowered his resolve and lose himself to their bout of sex. Okita curled his fingers around her hips fiercely. He wouldn't hold out much longer like this. So he needed to ensure her pleasure came first.
"I can't…" The words fell from her mouth and he automatically knew what she was trying to say. She couldn't last long like this. He quickly leaned over her, placed his palms over the back of her hands and buried his nose in the crook of her neck. It was a bit more difficult to maneuver like this but the absolute feeling was overwhelming. In this position, nothing else existed but himself and the woman beneath him. She cried out suddenly as she met her end. The man grazed his teeth against the soft flesh of her neck. Not yet, he still wanted to go a bit longer.
"Souji," She started again, barely a whisper over the sound of their love-making. He gave a grunt in response, too lost in the feeling. He needed more. His fingers curled tightly between the spaces of her own. His breathing grew ragged and his body prepared for its release. Just a little longer. "I love you." She repeated. Ah, there it was again. He pressed his lips against the back of her jawline. He didn't question her feelings for him. He didn't question her determination to follow him. The only thing he questioned would be if she would accept him as her husband.
Okita suddenly dropped his forehead onto the point of her shoulder. His grunts gave way to full throated moans as he felt his release starting to Despite the intensity of their sex last time, he found himself seeking rapture even more fiercely this time. He closed his eyes as his body began to convulse. His hands gripped tightly at her own as he hit the final note of his own orgasm. Once finished, the ronin slowly released her hands and lowered himself onto her back.
His breathing was ragged and his body was spent. Still, he wrapped both of his arms around her waist and pulled her onto the mattress with him. Okita tugged her back into his chest as he threw one of his legs over her own.
"Souji," Kagome turned her head to the side and quirked her brow at him nervously. "Shouldn't we be getting ready?"
A smile pulled at his lips, "Just ten minutes. I think we both need a short rest after that." A dark blush spread across her nose from his words. She nodded and settled back into the warmth of his arms. He watched as her eyes fluttered closed. Her breathing evened out as a peaceful expression overtook her features. He felt his own thaw slightly at the sight. She trusted him so completely to put herself in such a vulnerable position with him. Truthfully, he'd never had anyone show as much faith in him as Kagome currently did. Having travelled to an even more volatile time period, he knew that she was fully aware of the risks associated with opening her home and bed to an essential stranger like himself. She knew that he wasn't some boy who'd merely fallen into the well and in need of direction. He was a man hardened by his experiences on the battlefield and already had the stain of blood on his hands. She knew that about him and still opened herself up to him in such a way. She trusted him. Okita pulled her closer to his heart. He wouldn't betray that trust. Not now, not ever.
Time had flown by quicker than he'd wanted it to. Two minutes became five and then ten faster than a blink of the eye. He gently shook his woman and roused her from her sex-induced exhaustion.
"Ready to shower?" The ronin questioned playfully as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. She nodded once then sat up. Her expression grimaced slightly but otherwise didn't show any other signs of discomfort.
"Probably should, huh?" Kagome glanced down at her thighs and curled her lip back. "It's all sticky now." Okita couldn't help it. He laughed. He wrapped both of his arms around her and gave a full-throated laugh at her expression.
"Did you think it'd be clean?" He teased her slightly, pressing his lips gently against her cheek. "Hate to break it to you love, but sex is always dirty. There's no getting around it." She shifted her legs slightly and winced at the wet sound it made.
"I know but," She twisted a bit as if to avoid feeling the slickness of both of their release upon her thighs. "It just feels so gross." His laughter grew louder. He slipped one of his arms under her knees and used the other to brace behind her shoulder blades. With a swift tug, he had her in his arms and rose from the bed.
"I guess I'll just carry you in there like this, then." A wolfish grin spread across his lips, "Would this be a good compromise? Don't exactly want to put you off of it anytime soon." The man lowered his head and pressed his mouth to the shell of her ear. "There's still quite a bit I want to try before I let you out of this room."
Kagome shot him a baleful glare, "I'm too tired. Besides what do you mean by 'letting me out'?" She crossed her arms indignantly over her chest. "I get to choose when I leave this room on my own, thank you very much! You have no say in the matter."
His eyes narrowed in amusement as he carried her towards the shower. He swiftly locked the door towards Souta's room while Kagome still in his arms. Turning back, he did much the same with the door leading back to her quarters.
"You so sure about that? I clearly remember doing a few, ah, interesting things in this bathroom." He lowered her feet onto the floor and started up the water. "There's just enough time to have a quick go at it while we're here."
His lover stepped in before him. She drew back the curtain and allowed for him to climb in behind her. The water was fairly warm but it was clear someone else had already showered within the home given how cool it was starting to turn. Damn, that meant that the others were awake. The ronin rolled his shoulders as he brought his woman closer to his chest. She leaned into him without a word. A smile drew across her lips as she brushed her hands over his forearms. The water rained down over them like a summer shower. There were many things he missed about his era. He missed the fresh air, the simpler rules and regulations, and he even missed the view of the stars at night. However the one thing he knew he'd miss of Kagome's time was this simplistic moment of just being next to one another. No interruptions. No ronin terrorizing the streets. No other responsibilities than the ones they had for each other. It was just a moment of a mutual existence together. Kagome trailed the tips of her fingers from his wrist along the line of his arm until they brushed the point of his elbow. Okita followed suit and ran his hands along the lines of her upper arms. It was the physical outpouring of their affections for one another—a manifestation of the words he couldn't say.
The alarm on her phone suddenly went off and the two separated somewhat. Unfortunately their time was starting to run short, so Kagome had made the decision to clean herself as quickly as possible before darting back into her room. He hadn't even the chance to finish washing himself before she was out of the shower and drying her hair. The ronin pressed his lips into a thin line of disappointment. Damn, he really had been enjoying himself too. He supposed that he could just take advantage of their time together later in the night. Her aunt and uncle would leaving for Nagoya before the day was out, so he could even bring her back into his room to have their alone time there. A smirk pulled at his lips. He rather liked the sound of that.
The man shut off the water and stepped out after ensuring he was thoroughly cleaned. He grasped at the remaining towel and began to dry himself off. Kagome was still standing before her mirror, drying her hair as fast as she possibly could.
"I'm so late!" She growled beneath her breath as she glanced between her hair and the watch on her wrist. Okita silently wrapped his arms around her once more. With a gentle tug, he had pulled her back to his chest.
"Relax. We'll get there." To emphasize his point, he grazed his teeth against the lobe of her ear. She scowled but didn't speak. The rest of the morning she rushed about the bedroom and furiously finished preparing herself for the day. On more than one occasion he had to stop her as she'd not only mismatched her buttons, but put her shoes on the wrong way and somehow managed to tie her hair up in an upside down bun. The amount of fashion faux pas' she had made were both astounding and hilarious. The ronin took his time in helping her correct her issues. By the time they'd finished, they were being called down by her mother.
So the pair reluctantly left the sanctuary of her room and joined the rest of her family at the bottom of the stairs. Souta appeared particularly groggy as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. He'd chosen to wear a simple slip on tee shirt and formal pants but nothing else out of the ordinary. Her mother, aunt and uncle on the other hand were dressed to the nigh in proper blouses, skirts and trousers. Okita glanced at his jeans and black button down. He suddenly felt very underdressed for this occasion.
Mrs. Higurashi pressed her lips into a thin line as she shot them a reproachful glare, "Kagome, of all days you choose to be late…" Her voice trailed off, leaving the disappointment she felt towards her daughter to simply float in the atmosphere around them. A chill suddenly went through the ronin as the older woman pinned her baleful glare upon him. She knew. His instincts set ablaze the moment her lips pressed together and her brows furrowed. As much as he wished for it, he sincerely doubted that it was just their tardiness that had infuriated the Higurashi matriarch. In fact, they were only ten minutes behind schedule—still early enough to make it in time. A bead of sweat formed at his brow. This was not going to be a good day. He could practically feel her clawing furiously at his hide already. The image caused another shiver to run through him. That was not something he was looking forward to.
The young woman offered an apologetic bow, "I'm so sorry!" She didn't find a false excuse as to why they were so delayed. Instead she chose to redirect the conversation. "Let's get going before we're actually late!" So the family piled out into the cool March air. A breeze swept through the streets as they made their way across the town. Fellow students wearing the same uniforms filed around them along with their families. A low chatter emanated from all around. The ronin matched his stride with Kagome as Souta clung to his sleeve on the opposite side. The siblings remained silent but otherwise appeared content.
Emerald eyes narrowed somewhat as they crossed the threshold of the school's entrance. The cherry blossoms that lined the pathway were in full bloom. Colorful petals cast a light wave of pink over the concrete. A few students had stopped to pick a few of them up and toss them in the air playfully. Beside him, Kagome smiled warmly and held out her hand. A single, coral-colored petal fell into her palm. She ran her thumb over the surface lightly before lifting it to her lips. He quirked a brow at her momentarily. Sucking a breath between her teeth, she gave an quick blow and allowed for it to flutter in an elegant spiral back towards the ground a short distance away. His own lips pulled into a small smile. It was exactly that near child-like innocence that had drawn him in so completely to her. Despite the few odd looks she received from some of the older people that passed by them, the ronin knew that he didn't want that part of her to ever change.
Okita followed after the family as they pressed forward. Kagome ran her hand along his before shooting him a smile.
"I have to go this way. I'll meet up with you guys after the ceremony." She announced. Her aunt and uncle nodded while her mother and brother waved her off. Without caring that they were watching, he turned and brushed his lips against hers in a quick parting kiss. A bright flush went across her nose at the sudden gesture. They were used to kissing in the privacy of their bedrooms; never in public. Except for when she confessed to him. He supposed that they'd both been too far caught up in the moment to much care about where they were at. His smile suddenly widened into a smirk. He really needed to get her used to public displays of affection. After all, he wasn't exactly the type of man to hold himself back on the account of what others thought about him. No, he was far too forward for such antics.
"I'll see you on the other side then." The man commented subtly. It was a promise that only they would fully understand at this point. Kagome nodded once then turned on the ball of her heel. She shot him as shy glance over her shoulder. Then just as suddenly, a few of her classmates had surrounded her and pulled her off in a different direction. Okita gave a quick shrug and faced the family once more. Mrs. Higurashi glared fiercely at him. Her eyes were narrowed into thin slits as the laugh lines in her face morphed into something that bordered on the dangerous. His fingers flexed slightly as Souta latched onto him once more. The boy clung to his sleeve and chatted away obliviously about the game they played the previous night. Upon the back of his neck he felt an flaming heat that seared and went cold simultaneously. It was the feeling of an impending threat—one that involved a rusted spoon, pain and a great deal of blood. Yeah, he was in deep shit.
Masahiko and Freya glanced between them nervously. The taller man bent his head down and whispered something to his sister-in-law. The dark haired woman shook her head vigorously before leading them in the direction of the other families. The man squared his shoulders. This was a battle he needed to prepare for. The ceremony aside, he had a great deal to discuss with Kagome's mother and none of it was going to be pleasant. The group pressed onwards as the crowd crushed in on them.
To ensure that they could remain together, they filed one-by-one into the school's gymnasium. A low tremble of excitement rose above the swelling crowd. Now he wasn't exactly well versed in this time period and their customs but he was keenly aware of just how important of a moment this was by observing the reactions of the people around them. Parents wiped tears of pride from their eyes as the students gathered in small, loosely shaped circles within their lines. His eyes roved from face to face—searching out his future wife in the process.
It took several minutes but he finally spotted her waiting at the front of the first line. He spied her tugging on the sleeves of her navy blazer. Another female student behind her, one whose face and name he could not place, gently grasped at Kagome's shoulder and shot her a reassuring smile. The young woman relaxed somewhat and smiled politely back.
Suddenly Souta roughly tugged on the sleeve of his button down. The boy gestured towards his sibling as the students began to walk neatly towards a row of seats placed in the center of the gym.
"It's starting!" He grinned excitedly, rolling from the back of his heel to the front of his foot. Okita allowed the child to hold onto him firmly. He braced his arm so as to not let the boy fall should he suddenly lose his balance. "There she is! Think she can see us though?" Souta craned his neck as he peered down at his sibling. A small smile pulled at his lips. As much as the kid tried to deny it, he seriously cared about his sister. It was quite admirable.
"Careful kid, otherwise you might just wind up down there." He gave a laugh as the child scowled at him in response. "But hey, at least Kagome would see you then."
Souta tugged at his sleeve at bit harder in retribution, "Not nice nii-san. Not nice at all." The ronin shrugged nonchalantly. Who ever said he was nice? He could be quite the bully if he really wanted to.
Mrs. Higurashi shot them a reproachful glare, "Be silent, the both of you. Unless you rather I find a proper punishment for ruining such an important occasion?"
Both males straightened their backs and immediately went quiet. After the glares and killing intent rolling off of her this morning, Okita thought it best not to push her patience any further than he already had. Although he was anticipating on the woman pulling him aside later to 'talk' to him about his relationship with her daughter. The man pinched the bridge of his nose. That was not a conversation he was looking forward to but it had to be done. He still needed her blessing if he was going to marry her daughter anyways. Oh the joys of convincing an overprotective mother to let go of her oldest child. That was not going to be fun. He just hoped that he'd still have his fertility still in tact at the end of it all.
Freya and Masahiko stood beside him. Their hands were interlocked as they spoke to each other in a language he couldn't quite place. The two seemed preoccupied in their conversation, a serious expression reflected in each of their faces. Okita quirked a brow curiously. What? What were they going on about? Suddenly he felt like a misbehaving child again with the way the others glanced at each other and the cool air that settled between them. He supposed that they might've heard their little escapades as well but the ronin couldn't bring himself to care all that much about the thoughts of these two virtual strangers. Now her mother on the other hand... he shivered slightly as he felt her killing intent roll off of her small shoulders like a wave of heat. That was something he cared a great deal about.
Below the raised platforms that they now stood, the students filed one-by-one down the aisles. They followed after their teachers and only stopped when the reached the end of the makeshift row of seats. Kagome was placed at the first chair closest to the teacher that had led them. The crowd around them grew steadily more excited as the rows began to fill. Okita narrowed his eyes as he spotted a familiar face barely three spots away from his loved one. Takeshi tugged at the collar of his uniform nervously. The other male looked around at the crowd of students swelling behind him. He couldn't read his expression well from this angle but the ronin knew that he was worried about something. It was in the way he moved in quick, jerky shifts of his limbs and in the way his eyes would dart over to Kagome's oblivious form when he thought no one was looking. Okita's fingers curled tightly into his palms.
He'd always been a selfish individual. He'd been cagey, spoiled and unapologetically childish throughout most of his life. He knew that he had his faults and embraced them as a part of his nature. However at no point had he ever been so viciously jealous over a woman. He'd fought, he'd killed and he'd even manipulated his enemies before, but he had never been jealous to the degree that he felt right in that moment. It burned like a white-hot rage and made him gnash his teeth together in frustration. The utterly instinctive and visceral reaction left the man baffled at his own lack of self-control. He needed to iron down his resolve, lest he chase away his intended before ever getting the chance to properly propose to her.
The ronin relaxed his stance and loosened his fists. Kagome had promised to return with him. He had absolutely nothing to fear other than the obvious pain her family would endure after their departure. He felt the stirrings of guilt gnaw away at him. Before they'd leave this time for good, he'd need to speak with her mother privately. Despite all of his flaws and selfish tendencies, Okita knew that neither of them could start their future beyond the well without giving a proper goodbye to her family first. Admittedly that wasn't his only purpose in speaking with her. Okita wouldn't take Kagome as his wife without her mother's approval. Even if it were considered an archaic custom in this era, he wanted to do right by Kagome and her family who'd shown him so much support in his time of need. He refused to become some common thief to these people by making off with her daughter in the middle of the night. He respected the sacrifices and risks the Higurashi family had taken on his behalf to ever treat them so shabbily.
Souta roughly pulled at his sleeve once more, "Look! It's starting!" The boy bounced on his feet excitedly as Okita braced his arm more firmly to provide him with something steady to hold on to. It wouldn't do if the child toppled over the rails and harmed himself on the hard floors below.
Mrs. Higurashi gave an odd glance in their direction. The air between them was still quite cool but somehow she seemed somewhat warmer than she had been this morning. The older woman gave him a semi-thawed expression as she gave him a small, grateful smile for helping with Souta. The man inclined his head politely before turning his attention to his lover's fidgeting form. She tugged on the sleeves of her uniform nervously and switched from one foot to the other and back again. A light smile touched his lips. That was a nasty little habit of hers. When she was shy or uncomfortable, she'd pull on her sleeves. It was rather cute. For that brief moment, he wished that he was standing on that floor beside her.
The crowd grew silent quickly. Emerald eyes snapped up to the stage as a man dressed in formal attire moved to stand behind a talking post. He appeared to be well into his fifties with a crown of hair surrounding his head; leaving the top section bald. A proud smile made its way across the stranger's face.
"You may be seated." Were the first words the person announced. Both students and the families did as instructed. Okita slid his gaze to the side as Masahiko and Freya shifted beside him. The blonde gently grasped at her husband's hand. She leaned over and whispered something to him in her native tongue. Kagome's uncle nodded once before smiling as well. He glanced back down at the crowd of teens below. It wasn't any of his business anyways.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the achievements of these fine young men and women…" The male, whom he swiftly learned was the principal, droned on from his pedestal. Okita wasn't afraid to admit that he zoned out for a vast majority of the speech. It wasn't all that great of an interest to him. So instead he settled on observing the graduating students and their interactions. Kagome turned partially to the girl seated right next to her. They were engaged in what appeared to be a minor conversation but would occasionally look up to the stage as to not draw attention to themselves. He felt his smile widen, it appeared that he wasn't the only one bored after all. In total there were close to three separate speeches, one from the principal, one from the girl next to Kagome and the last one from the Student Council President. Each one lasted for nearly twenty minutes and the crowd had grown restless.
The ronin's back straightened suddenly as the people around him snapped to attention. The teachers on stage moved to their proper seats as the principal began to call out names. His future wife was summoned first. The young woman nervously stood, walked steadily over the stage and grasped at a black cylindrical shaped item. She flashed a proud smile at the principal before offering him a bow and moving off the stage. It was such an odd custom but he was certain that Kagome had questioned many of the customs of the era she had been dropped into. His lips dipped slightly at the thought. That was right, he still needed to prepare for the worse case scenario. Inuyasha. Her mother feared her daughter being ripped away from them without a choice. Her brother feared his sister being forced to face the hell that she'd endured three years ago. That just left the physical and emotional scars that marred the woman for possibly the rest of her life. His fists clenched into the cloth of his jeans. He'd heard both the boy and Mrs. Higurashi mention that he wasn't human. That the man who'd harmed his loved one so viciously had been half demon. Although he had to sincerely question that declaration given the trail of scars upon her back. Killing a human was easy. Just a quick slash to the neck and shoulders was all it would take. But a hanyou? Would their flesh tear as easily as a humans? Would his daishou be sharp enough to cut through that enemy? His teeth clenched together in frustration. It didn't matter. Whether it was by his katana or by his hands, he would make sure that Inuyasha never harmed his loved one again. Not ever.
The process repeated hundreds of times for each name that was called. Okita quickly filed this ceremony away as one meant to test the endurance of both those partaking in its celebration and the others who were to act as witnesses, such as himself and the rest of the Higurashi family. It was a long and tedious process that passed far more slowly than he thought was possible. Twenty minutes felt closer to an hour and an hour felt more like three.
Souta's head lolled to the side. A light snore left his mouth as Mrs. Higurashi shot his sleeping form a dark glare. He quickly nudged the child awake. Said boy sat up with a start. Azure eyes blinked rapidly before turning to cast him a curious, if not somewhat annoyed stare. He silently answered his question by inclining his head towards the seething woman one seat over. Noticing her glare and wordlessly mouthed threats, Souta quickly sat up straighter and stared down at the crowd of youths with rapt attention.
His eyes focused on the wide smile across his lover's lips. Even so far away he could still see her beaming with pride. He wanted that smile to stay there. He didn't want her to ever feel the terror of fleeing from an enemy again. In that moment, he made a vow to himself. No matter where their decision would lead them on the other side, he refused to let her see the battlefield ever again. She'd fought her war. Now it was time for him to fight his.
He blinked as the speeches drew to a close and the last student returned to their seat. The crowd became anxious as the low chatter rose a few degrees in volume. The ceremony was nearly complete. He felt a sigh of relief coming on. Now if only the old principal could hurry up the process a bit more. It'd already been close to three hours since the very start of this ordeal.
Suddenly, the students stood and started to file neatly out of the gymnasium. The families followed suit as Okita rose with the rest of the Higurashi family. Souta clung tightly to his sleeve as the crowd began to crush upon them. The ronin held firm. He expertly guided the boy through the rough sea of strangers while keeping his eye on the point between Mrs. Higurashi's shoulders. It wouldn't be very good of him to get the both of them lost in this mess.
He hazard a glance over his shoulder to check on Masahiko and Freya. The pair had been pushed back deep within the crowd and were struggling to keep up. However they didn't seem too bothered by that fact. Instead the pair chatted amicably amongst themselves. The ronin turned his attention back to the space where Mrs. Higurashi should have been. His brows furrowed as his lips thinned. Just above the mess of hair and clothes, he could spy the crown of the older woman's head moving farther and farther away from them. With the halls closing in and the other people crushing together, Okita knew that it would take some time to find her again.
Souta roughly pulled at his sleeve. The front of the boy's feet started to scrape lightly against the back of his heels in his desperation to remain close to him. The kid's brows knotted together as his azure eyes looked swiftly from one face to the other. Once he realized that his mother was no longer visible, the man could tell that Souta started to worry.
"Where is she?" The pre-teen's voice was quieter than normal. It held a quivering edge that denoted his nervousness despite the brave face he was clearly trying to put on. The ronin held the child's wrist firmly as he led them through the masses. He was used to this sort of thing. Children had always been naturally drawn to him for as long as he could remember. As a result, he'd had to deal with returning a few lost kids to their fretful parents. It was tedious work but the reward was always well worth it.
Slipping back into the routine that he'd known for years, Okita decided to do what he thought was best—distract the child. It always worked to help calm them before. He saw no reason why it wouldn't do the same now.
"I swear, turn your back on them for one minute and they disappear. I now see where your sister gets it from though." He shot the boy a wide grin. "What do you say we find a lost mother? She can't have run off too far." As expected, Souta blinked then laughed in return.
"So you found out about that, huh?" He clung to him tighter as they passed the threshold of another doorway. Okita ensured that he remained close and kept a diligent eye on those daring to get nearer than necessary. Regardless of how peaceful this era seemed, he was fully aware of a few of the dangers it presented to its youth. Kagome had briefly gone over with him some of the more common issues to look out for when he was on his own. That conversation had been particularly... unpleasant.
"When nee-chan was little, kaa-chan used to say that she had to tie a bell to her clothes because she was always running off." The slowly worked their way through the hoard of strangers as Souta pressed onward in his explanation. "Apparently it was the only way she could keep track of her." He gave a quick snort into his free hand, as if he'd thought of something quite hilarious. "Baa-san learned that lesson the hard way from what I've heard."
The ronin quirked his brow curiously. Now this sounded interesting.
"That day baa-san took nee-chan out to go shopping. Apparently she made her pretty mad so she ripped the bell from her sleeve and threw it at her head. It'd hit Hoshi-baa so hard that it left an imprint for a week straight." The child snorted to himself. "Then because she didn't want to be near her, she hid under some shelving until tou-san had to come out to find her about an hour later." Now this had infinitely gotten more interesting. The two slowly pushed their way through the throng of people. The rays of the Spring's sun filtered down on them gently. Despite the lack of heat, it still produced a blaring light that forced Okita to cup the palm of his hand over his brows. The shade cast from his hand no longer left him squinting but he couldn't see that far ahead of them. Damn.
Souta remained close to his side. The pre-teen continued onward with him in their track, shadowing his every move as best as he could in the mass of strangers. Their shoulders were pressed up against someone else's as the smell of perfume, body odor and something oddly floral infiltrated their noses. This was why he loathed crowds. It was always so overwhelming. The boy's gaze darted around them as his brows furrowed in concern. While not outwardly showing his fear, he knew the child was starting to panic at being separated from the rest of the family. So he chose to keep him calm by continuing their conversation from before. "I take it that your sister was a bit of a brat as a kid?" This was too good to pass up. He needed more dirt to tease her with. The woman flustered so easily that he simply couldn't help himself with the opportunity to acquire more ammo arose.
"Nah, as far as I can tell everyone hated Hoshi-baa." They'd managed to force their way through the worst of the crowd to a small opening by the school's gate. Kagome and Mrs. Higurashi would have to eventually pass through here to get home. Sure he could just use his cellphone to call them but that wouldn't be as entertaining as drawing out the mystery of why his future wife seemed to hate her grandmother so much. He needed to know—his curiosity was filled to the brim at this little revelation.
The boy further explained, "Oji-san was originally adopted by jii-chan. I don't know the specifics about it. Just that jii-chan was married to his childhood friend at the time that they'd adopted Masahiko-san." The ronin didn't miss the particularly distanced honorific he used for the other man—denoting their lack of familial closeness. "She died a few years after that and I think jii-chan got lonely; so he married Hoshi-baa." His lips curled as if he detected something foul. "I wasn't around when she was alive but nee-chan used to say that baa-san was the unholy offspring of hatred and evil itself wrapped in human skin. Kaa-chan never corrected her about it either." The pair pressed their backs against the rough surface of the bricked-in wall that enclosed the school's property. Colors passed by them in a flurry of clothes and movements.
The man cocked his head to the side to cast Souta a curious glance, "Even your mother hated her?" He genuinely wanted to know. Sure he'd pissed her off by sleeping with her daughter and likely unintentionally let on about his plans to whisk Kagome away to his era and make her his wife with his actions towards her. That woman was smart. She knew a danger to her family when she saw one and she definitely viewed him as a threat to the family unit. Therefore Okita could not bring himself to blame Mrs. Higurashi for disliking him. He hadn't done much to earn her favor at this point anyways. However he also knew her to be an exceptionally kind person towards others—the fact that she hadn't tried to kill him yet was proof enough of that. He sincerely doubted that the grandmother could be so innocent if both mother and child hated her so viciously. He couldn't see his loved one being cruel without due reason. It simply wasn't in her nature.
The boy shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, yeah. I never got the chance to meet her myself but apparently she was quite the raving narcissist." Okita only had a vague idea of what the word 'narcissist' meant. However he did have the notion that it wasn't all that great of a personality trait. Especially if it meant creating so many unnecessary enemies. "As far as I know, no one liked her. Not kaa-chan, tou-san, Masahiko-san or even Seiji-oji. In nee-chan's infinite words, she was a 'hosebeast born and bred'." The child lifted his fingers and curled them towards his palm as if to quote the sentence. The man's brow rose higher. Hosebeast? What sort of creature was that? It certainly sounded unpleasant.
"Oh, your phone!" Souta piped up as he gestured towards his pocket. "You can call sis now that we're outside!" The ronin withdrew the object and read the screen. Already there'd been three missed calls, all of which had been from Mrs. Higurashi. The pit in his stomach made itself known again. Great, this was just what he needed before he asked the woman permission to marry her daughter. With a great swallow, he sucked down his pride and faced the wrath of a panicked mother. His thumb hovered over the dial button and gave it a firm press.
"Souji!" The older woman's voice came through on the other end. "Where are you? Is Souta there?" She was definitely worried. If only he'd been paying closer attention earlier, then perhaps they wouldn't have been separated at all. He felt the gnawing feeling of guilt tear away at his chest. Damn it all.
"He's here. We got pushed out front. Where are you guys at? We'll meet over there." Okita responded easily, as if he wasn't feeling furious with himself for making so many mistakes at once. There was no way he was going to make them traipse across this hell hole for his screw up. He'd own up to it and return the boy back to his mother on his own.
"We're just outside the front gate. We also got pushed out pretty far. Kagome just caught up to us a minute ago." Her voice dropped a little with concern. "Be careful!"
He nodded once despite the other party to their conversation not being able to see it. "Ah, I understand. Sure, we'll me you on the other side. We're on the inner part of the gate so it shouldn't take that long. Just hang tight. I'll bring the kid back to you." With that he ended the call and shot a grin at the boy next to him. "Looks like we've got to rally the troops. Ready?"
Souta nodded vigorously, "Of course! I'm starved!"
He snorted. He sincerely doubted that the boy was starved in any way, shape or form. Still, even above the overwhelming chatter of the crowd he heard the tell tale sound of a stomach growling incessantly. Okita laughed, "I guess you are starving, kid. We should probably fatten you up with something before we turn you into a meal."
"Hey!" The boy ran up to him and playfully slammed the side of his fist into his back. The ronin's laughter grew even louder. He couldn't help it. This family was just too easy to tease. They could be quite predictable too. All the better for him at least. "Just you wait, nii-san! I'll get you back for that! Besides," He stopped just long enough to pose his muscles as if to show them off. "I'm not so scrawny that I need 'fattening'. I'm beefy enough as it is! Look at these beef cakes!" The pre-teen flexed his arms and shot him a cocky look. This time he bellowed in his laughter and threw his head back—drawing the unwanted attention of a few bystanders.
"Good luck with those noodles. They wouldn't feed an infant much less an adult. Nice try though." So he was being a little mean here but that was all part of the fun. Souta chased after him, repeatedly trying to smack his back in their banter in retaliation. Even as they jogged up to Mrs. Higurashi and the rest of the family, the two were still play fighting. Okita held the boy's hands back with a wide grin spread across his lips. While Souta was laughing and swinging easily at him, missing his target each time.
"Might want to work on that aim!" He slid to the side just in time as the boy threw a playful punch towards his ribs.
"Hey! No jumping around! That's not fair!" The boy whined, tailing after him as quickly as he could.
The man lifted his eyes and caught Kagome's curious gaze. She looked between him and her brother before smiling a little. Still, without a word she angled her head a tad bit to gesture towards a fuming mother not five feet from them. Okita stopped in his tracks and stood at full attention. Shit, what had he done now?
"Momo," Masahiko broke the silence, placing a hand upon the woman's shoulder. "Why do you take Kagome, Freya and Souta on ahead to the restaurant? I'll speak to him." The siblings' mother shot her brother-in-law an odd look. For a moment her lips thinned as her eyes flickered in contemplation. Then she gave a quick shrug.
"Do as you please." The older woman turned on the ball of her heel and marched off into the crowd, pulling both her children and sister-in-law with her. The ronin shifted uncomfortably. Sure he screwed up by not keeping up with them but what was with that reaction? Why would the uncle that Kagome had hardly even met want to speak with him? He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms defensively. This was getting rather bothersome.
Masahiko's gaze watched until the group became just a blimp in the distance. The older man suddenly released a sigh of relief the moment he was sure they couldn't hear. "I swear, that woman just gets more and more intense as the years go by. I can't really blame her though." He scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. Shifting somewhat, he turned to face him fully. "This probably seems out of the blue and for that I apologize but there's a few things I wanted to talk to you about before I left tonight." Okita arched his brow antagonistically. Really now? What could he want to talk about? If it was in regards to his relationship to Kagome then he honestly didn't give a shit about what this man thought. He would pursue the woman as he saw fit—only Kagome herself or her mother had a say in that matter. "Firstly, let's take this somewhere a bit more private. What do you say?" The relative offered him a placating smile but he wasn't settled by it. He gave a noncommittal shrug.
"Might as well." Okita responded coolly. He really couldn't care less but the less ears listening in on their conversation the better. He disliked eavesdroppers—even unintentional ones. He followed after Kagome's uncle as they walked the perimeter of the school along the wall's exterior. It'd taken a good few minutes until they found a spot not teeming with graduates and their chattering families.
"Here's good." Masahiko pinched the bridge of his nose before leaning his back against the brick. "Firstly, I've been made aware of your situation. I've known about the well and its capabilities for a while now." Seeing the questions in his gaze, the dark haired man raised his hand as if to quiet him. "I won't go into the specifics but I learned about Inuyasha first hand. So you don't have to worry about that. It's old news to me." A few sakura petals fell from their branches onto the ground between them. The scent of the flora permeated the air and creating an oddly calming atmosphere to what he was sure would be a terse talk. Masahiko continued without paying any mind to his discomfort, "To cut straight to the point, Momo is worried about your relationship to her daughter."
Okita didn't miss on the fact that he labeled her as 'Momo's daughter' instead of 'his niece'. It denoted the distance between them, just as with Souta's honorific for him earlier. How odd.
"So?" The ronin's tone was curt. "I don't see how that's any of your business." He had a cruel streak in him that was far wider than a mile. In fact, for the longest part of his life all he had known was cruelty—at least until he'd met Kondou. He shook the thoughts from his mind. "Sorry if I'm not going to bend over backwards to your will, but I don't see the point of you getting involved in this issue."
The older man cringed somewhat, "I understand your viewpoint and respect it. That's why I'm not making any demands." Masahiko crossed his own arms over his chest as a violent glint entered his eyes. "It's not my place to say anything, nor has it ever been. But that doesn't mean that I won't at least make sure that my niece and sister-in-law aren't taken care of." He moved his hands in an animated gesture as he pressed onward. "This is a serious issue. If your relationship with her has progressed so far then have you at least figured what you're going to do on the other side? It's not exactly peaceful in the Bakumatsu Era. Plus you have a lot of enemies, especially since you're working with an infamous group." Masahiko didn't let up as he started to ramble off. Perhaps that was simply a learned trait rather than an inherited one. "How would you protect her? How would you support her? Have you thought about what you'd do for money if a child were to be born? Okita-san, you have to take these things into account."
There was a brief pause in their conversation as a family passed by them. Once they were gone, Kagome's uncle went back to his 'speech'. "I'm not here to judge you or tell you that you can't take her. That's not my place. But," Dark eyes narrowed at him protectively, "She's still apart of my family and I won't allow someone to take advantage of her. Okita-san, are you prepared to take on that role? Can you see yourself making her happy?"
The older man sighed and dropped his hands to his pockets. "That's why she was sent to my shrine in Nagoya in the first place." He cocked his chin to the side curiously. Really? He hadn't heard that story yet. "Kagome had always been a bit wild. So when she started to shut herself away from the outside world, Momo got worried. She sent her to me so that she could get some time away from her responsibilities beyond the well. We only had her at our house for about a week but it was enough to see the damage that Inuyasha had done to her psyche." A chill went through the air between them. That damn name again. If only he knew what the bastard looked like. His fingers curled into tight fists at his side. Death would be too quick a punishment for what he'd done.
"She won't ever disclose when something's bothering her. She'll keep bottling up her emotions until they spill over into a mental and physical breakdown. I know you've seen some evidence of it already." The image of his loved one crying in his arms the day Takeshi confronted her was summoned to the forefront of his mind. The muscle in his sword arm flexed. He gave a brief nod at the older man. Yeah, he'd seen it. It wasn't healthy and he'd been slowly chipping away at that negative habit of hers but there was still a long way for them to go before it'd dissipate completely. He had to fully earn her trust in that regard.
"Can you swear, right here and now, that you'll do whatever it takes to protect her? Even from herself?" There was an intensity in the man that hadn't been there before. Masahiko, while built like a bear with broad shoulders and thick muscle structure, hardly put out anything more than a simple annoyed vibe. He wasn't threatening or intimidating at all. But in just that one moment, he had all the killing intent of a warrior. It was reminiscent of Saito's somehow. Interesting.
Emerald eyes narrowed in return, "As if I wasn't planning to already." He allowed a cocky smirk to draw across his lips. "No offense but you're the last person that needs to lecture me about protecting Kagome. I've been doing a fairly good job at it thus far, I don't need you or anyone else harping on me about it." He'd drawn a line in the sand with that one comment. A boundary that, if crossed, would meet dire consequences. The uncle had good intentions but he was far surpassing his boundaries with this little 'talk'. He hadn't had any contact with Kagome or her family for some time. They were estranged and had such a small connection that Souta wouldn't even give him a proper familial honorific. He wouldn't recognize this man as someone in charge of her protection. That was his role to fill.
Masahiko gave a small snort of laughter, "I suppose you got me there. I really don't have that right." He brows suddenly shot up as if he'd remembered something. "Oh, while we're on this topic. I need to give you something." He glanced around suspicious before dipping his hand into his pocket. "Do not let Momo catch you with this. If you don't know what it is, ask Kagome about it later. Just don't tell her who you got it from unless she interrogates you."
Now he was interested. What in the hell had this man gotten him? Certainly it couldn't just be some random gift, particularly if it was meant to be kept secret from Mrs. Higurashi. Withdrawing his hand, Masahiko placed a small, rectangular shaped box into his hand. It was darkly colored with the word "Condom" written across the top. Recognition lit up his eyes. Oh. Oh! Even in his time certain products of 'birth control' had been available*. Still those were usually made of cotton or some sort of cloth. Judging from the picture on the box, this looked to be some sort of flexible plastic or rubber. It was in that moment that he realized without a doubt that this man had heard them the night previous and early this morning as well. He shrugged to himself. Well, it wasn't like he cared in the first place. He tucked the package into his own pocket and motioned towards the crowd filing away into the streets beyond.
"Thanks. I suppose I ought to give this a try tonight." He smirked at the other man's slight scowl. This family was just too easy to rile up. Kagome's uncle opened his mouth as if to protest or scold him but Okita beat him to the punch. "Come on, enough of the interrogation. The others are waiting for us to hurry over to the restaurant right?" He folded his arms over his chest once more. "Did they say which one they were going to?"
Masahiko shot him a disproving glare, "Yeah, that European Bistro a little ways from here. Kagome insisted on it."
His lips thinned. Great, even on his day off he was still being dragged back into work. His hand dropped to his pocket and lightly trailed the tip of his finger along the outer edge of the box. He'd have to get her back for that. The man's smirk returned in full force. At least now he had ammo.
The uncle threw a wary glance in his direction as they made their way back. Hey, he couldn't complain anymore. He'd given him his two cents and Okita had returned the favor. He couldn't just hand something like this over and not expect him to use it. That would be entirely useless. Now, what sort of punishments should he conjure up?
The pair made their way through the city in an awkward silence. Starting tonight, he'd set to work on earning Kagome's full trust. He wanted to be her husband. Not a simple bedmate, despite what Mrs. Higurashi's might think of him in their current situation. In order to earn both his loved one's trust and her mother's blessing, he'd have to step up his game. No more floundering. No more doubting. From here on out, he would throw himself entirely into his relationship and build the trust between himself and the rest of her family. He owed them that much. A small smile pulled at his lips. When he left this era for good, he wanted it to be with Kagome as his wife and her family waving them off in congratulations. Nothing else would suffice. With that, he pressed onward—towards where he knew the rest of the family was waiting. This impasse between them would come to an end. He was determined to see it so.
A/n: First note, I tried my best to cut down the lemon so it would not be sexually explicit. If you feel that it's still dancing the line too much, please PM me so that I can fix it. I have no qualms cutting down more as necessary. I mostly wanted to keep Okita's inner dialogue through that scene without it coming off as awkward or odd. :)
Now on to the important stuff. Can I tell you all how much I hated having to writing out the longer parts of this chapter? TT^TT It was driving me insane for these past several weeks! Just ask LovelyPolkaDots and Nico-Hana. They had to hear me whine and moan about it. X_x Still, turned out a bit better than I originally thought it did. One of the important things to note about Okita's personality here is that he's always been a bit of a cagey guy. He doesn't let people in easily and in the first part I wanted to showcase why he took to the Higurashi family so easily in comparison to his usual behavior. However when Masahiko and Freya showed up, he essentially viewed them as strangers and treated them as such. He has some unique views about what constitutes a 'family' and I wanted that to be shown here a bit. While he'll tolerate Masahiko, he also won't allow him to talk down to him or tell him what he can and can't do with Kagome and her family. I sort of found that foil to be rather interesting and wanted to show it a bit more. I'll delve a bit more about Hoshi and the rift that created what I like to call "The Great Divide" in the family unit in a few chapters. However good news is that we're still on track to head to the other side of the well by Chapter Fifteen. I'm just hoping Chapter Fourteen won't be so hard. XD Anyways, let me know what you guys think! Thanks so much for putting up with this long wait! You have no idea how much I appreciate it! As always, have some internet cookies for your awesomeness! XD
*Contraception – Condoms and other forms of contraception were available in the Bakumatsu Period. For condoms in particular, they were usually made out of some sort of cloth and weren't all that effective.