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Suggested Listening: Run Wild by PLS&TY
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Nineteen: Worthy
Okita hardly had time to react. He shifted into a crouch as Hayato and Hideyoshi charged at him simultaneously. The younger of the men swung his blade downwards towards his neck, while the older one took a low sweep at his calf. Had it been anyone else, then it would've been an instant kill. Instead he gave a short, upward thrust of his arm to block Hayato's attack with the hilt of his katana. It bounced back from the force of the strike. Hayato's expression darkened as he tried to regain his balance. At the same time, the second Hideyoshi's sword was a breath away from his leg, he pivoted on his heel and brought his blade down in a sideways slash across Hayato's side. It not only pushed him out of striking distance, but the action forced the man to dodge both his attack and that of his 'teacher'.
The dark-haired male winced as his sword tore at the fabric of his kosode. Hideyoshi frantically pulled back to avoid attacking his own partner. A brief look of panic flickered across his expression. Okita slid into a defensive position, balancing his weapon over the back of his wrist. Two on one battles were unique in their dynamics. The pair would attack at the same time, taking advantage of one another's strikes to knock their opponent off balance and overwhelm them in a testament of strength. However if the pair lacked the necessary timing and brute force to win against their enemy, then their own attacks could be played against each other. His grin became vicious. This was going to be fun.
No words were spoken between them. No words were necessary in a fight where their swords were the only method of determining their worth. He had years of training, experience and finesse behind his technique. It was clear in their defensive postures that these men were not formally trained, however they had strength and some experience. With time, they could become very worthy fighters. He was becoming more than just a little interested in recruiting them for the Shinsengumi. They would need all the strong fighters they could get. He was getting tired of Heisuke's weak recruitments. The boy couldn't see talent even if it stabbed him in the ass.
Hideyoshi and Hayato gathered together. The lines on their faces were drawn into that of concentration. Good. They weren't underestimating him because of their numbers. That would make this part much easier. His grin only grew wider, sparking a glint of fury in Hayato's eyes. His companion remained calm. He shifted on his feet, sinking into a more stable position. Hayato shot forward. His legs carried him swiftly across the open space, closing the distance between them before he could blink. A split attack.
His eyes narrowed as he shifted out of the way. He didn't bother to block the strike. He needed his arm free for what was to come next. Okita didn't need to look before slicing horizontally across the air. Hideyoshi stopped in his tracks. Hidden in the shadow of his student, he'd tried to slip close to him unnoticed. That trick was an old technique. One that had little effect against his vast experience in large fights such as this.
The ronin's sword cut into the flesh of the older man's neck. A thin trail of blood tricked down onto his kosode. Okita gave a small breath of laughter through his lips.
"You've gotta do better than that." It was the only thing he spoke, but it did the trick. The aged male threw a small smirk his way. The lines on his face lifted with the excitement of their battle. It'd be a damn shame if he couldn't get them to join. Talent like theirs wasn't easy to come by. His eyes followed their movements. The pair regrouped one last time. This would be the final strike. Whatever happened here would determine their battle once and for all.
Okita did little to shift his stance. He held his guard and waited patiently. They'd struck out in sets of one-on-one and two-on-one in quick intervals. Their defenses were good but not perfect. He'd just have to keep on his toes. Their key issue was their timing. They were able to cover most of their mistakes. Yet there were still a few second intervals in which they were off synch with each other. He'd have to take full advantage of that weakness.
They rushed forward for the final time. Their speeds matched evenly as they swung their blades towards his neck and heart respectively. He knew exactly how to counter such an attack. He didn't think. His body reacted quicker than their eyes could follow. In an instant he parried one katana with his own, and grasped the wakizashi at his hip, drawing it swiftly enough to block the other at the same time.
Okita smirked as he pushed back against both of the men. They grimaced and sank their heels into the ground to fight against his weight. He pushed even harder. Using the rest of his strength, he roughly threw both of them back with the force of his own power. They leapt back before they could fall.
He rose to his feet, slipping both blades back into their respective places at his side. This fight was finished. If they couldn't overpower him together with their collective strength, then they couldn't beat him at all.
"Match point!" Maeda called out, signaling the end of their little sparring match. The ronin rolled his neck and shoulders, enjoying the slight strain on the muscles. It'd been a long time since he'd had such a good fight. Kagome had a strength that required finesse, ingenuity and the unique use of her surroundings to fight. However in spite of all of her abilities, she wasn't capable of fighting against his full strength as these men had. It was refreshing to be able to bulldoze his way through the battle. A small smirk tugged at his lips. Now to figure out what their true aim was.
Okita relaxed his stance, "I take it you two are after more than just a spot in the Shinsengumi." His smile became sharp with suspicion. They were amazing fighters but there was something that kept nagging at him. If they truly were so interested in joining them, why wait until Kagome approached them? Why didn't they come forward before? Clearly they'd informed his wife that they'd attended his little shit show of a gathering yesterday. So why wait until she'd brought them to him? He needed that answered before he ever allowed them near Kondou, or Kagome for that matter. His smile dropped a little at that thought. Hayato's appearance was still throwing him through the loop. Seeing Takeshi's face in his era instinctively made him want to turn the male away, but he needed to figure him out first. What did he want? What was he after?
Hayato stood to his full height. He bowed at the waist in an act of sincere apology. "It was not our intention to waste your time. However there was something we needed to verify for ourselves." His dark eyes slid from him to Kagome, as if contemplating what to say next. Okita bristled at the look. This was preciselywhat he'd wanted to avoid. A sharp twinge of possessiveness rushed through him. His shoulders squared and the smile fell from his lips.
"I must ask but are you aware of how the other villages see you? Of the reputation that you now present to others?" Hayato's tone grew louder—emphasizing his point. "Do you truly believe that holding a competition of this sort and encouraging violence is the best way to spread your message?" He pressed on without stopping. "If the Shinsengumi wants to make headway in earning the people's trust then you must first acknowledge that your way of doing things is wrong." His gaze slid to Kagome once more. "Is she even aware of the reputation that youhave?"
Okita felt his lip curl back in fury. What the hell? He just beat their asses and now the guy was going to stand on some damn pedestal to scold him about his life choices? Fuck that. He wasn't going to sit back and let him berate him, especially not after bringing his loved one into this.
"Last I checked the business between a husband and wife was strictly their own." A sharp smirk split across his lips. "I don't think you were ever apart of that equation." It was a calculated blow but it had little to no effect on Hayato. Unlike Takeshi, he hardly bat an eye at the accusation. He continued onwards, "Besides, you seemed just as eager to partake in this violence. So mind getting to the actual point here?"
"I will but first, that's not what this is about." He straightened his shoulders and his voice grew more serious. "That last attack was the same one she used yesterday." The dark-haired male gestured towards the sword strapped to her waist. "You were the one who taught her to use that technique, weren't you?"
Okita didn't bother answering him. He merely gripped the hilt of his katana more firmly with his palm. He observed his opponent. There was no flicker of rage in the other man. Just a cold form of stoicism and a quiet anger stemming from something he couldn't quite grasp. This wasn't jealousy on Hayato's end. This was something else entirely. His eyes narrowed on the male. What was he after?
"Do you really want her to partake in such things? She's a good fighter but why encourage it? Why put her on the frontlines like that?" The man's tone grew firm. "You need to reevaluate how the Shinsengumi will react to her presence. She can fight but shouldshe have to? Think of someone besides yourself for once." He was correct on all accounts. He didn't want Kagome to fight. He didn't want her to be forced to battle. The days she wanted to spar with him were one thing but at the end of it all, all he truly wanted was for her to just be happy. Needless to say he'd handle the men of the Shinsengumi himself. There would always be those who would oppose the presence of a female in their mist but they didn't have any say in this choice. Kagome was his wife, therefore she would be coming with him; with or without the other's approval.
Okita made a move to speak but Kagome stepped forward. She placed a reassuring palm upon his bicep as she stood at his side. The twitch in his sword arm relaxed somewhat at the show of comfort.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding." His wife spoke up. She clutched at the sword strapped to her side. "I appreciate the concern Ono-san, however Souji has neither forced me to participate in fighting nor has he put me in any real danger. He's an incredible teacher and he knows my limits better than myself sometimes." She rubbed her hand in a soothing motion over his arm, calming his frayed nerves. "I was already aware of his reputation before my family took him in. So you needn't worry for my sake. Besides," She lifted the blade to draw attention to it, "I've battled long before Souji came into my life and it's very probably that I will fight again later. That's not a bad thing. It just means that I still have the strength necessary to stand by the people I care about and defend them the best way I can."
She offered a short bow of gratitude, "I appreciate your concern but at this time it is unnecessary." Kagome raised her head before speaking the next part, "But I must ask. If you never intended on joining the Shinsengumi, then why did you wish to test Souji? Surely you must've gotten more from this then just the chance to talk down to him."
Okita grimaced at the final part of her speech. It was his duty to protect her. Not the other way around. He didn't want her to have any part in the battlefield if could help it. She deserved more from him than simply an obligation to fight for him. Those days of struggling, battling and just striving to survive were over for her. The few things she'd divulged to him about her travels were enough to steel his resolve in that regard. He might be a blade for the Shinsengumi, but that didn't make her a tool for either himself or the organization to use. She was simply herself. Nothing more, nothing less. His back straightened. He'd talk with her later tonight regarding that issue. For now, he'd settle this matter.
Hideyoshi clapped his student on the back heartily, "Might as well tell them. It's not like you've got anything to hide by it."
Hayato's shoulders slumped. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed through his lips.
"I needed to be sure of something." Hayato's eyes met his fiercely. The determination that burned in their depths forced a small spark of respect within him. He hated that. "I needed to make sure that you weren't just using your position as an excuse to abuse your own strength." He glanced at his wife once more. "I also needed to be sure that she wasn't be forced into anything." There was a flicker of concern before it dissipated.
Okita bristled, "And what exactly gave you that idea in the first place." He genuinely wanted to know. Had she acted unusually yesterday? Or had the whole incident with the previous day's fight made her a bit skittish? He needed to know. The ronin felt his shoulders relax the second the warmth of her fingertips touched his open palm. He splayed his fingers and allowed her to take hold of his hand.
"Just call it an instinct." Hayato brushed the question aside. His teeth gnashed together in frustration. Damn it all. "In any case I think we're through here. I apologize for wasting your time." He offered one last bow before turning on his heel. Hideyoshi offered a sympathetic shrug as he followed after him.
"Hold up," He pushed the conversation. He glared at them as a nagging feeling settled over him. There was more to it than that. There had to be. Guys like these didn't just involved themselves in bullshit fights without reason. There was something that caused them to feel as if his wife were being used. "You didn't just come here to check on her, so out with it." He crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "Why didn't you approach me yesterday with this? Why wait so damn long? Why even fight me?" His brows furrowed. "You've gone through a lot of trouble just to prove a damn point, so why don't you make it already." He didn't like this. He couldn't get a read on the man. He didn't necessarily have a bad feeling but he definitely wasn't feeling good about their interest in Kagome.
Hayato paused mid step. The man he called teacher looked between them curiously. Then, in a softly whispered voice he was able to hear the answer.
"I wanted to see if you were worthy. I didn't think much of you yesterday but," He shifted one last glance towards his wife. "Hearing her speak highly of you made me reconsider." With that he left. His teacher trailed behind him slightly.
"In case you were wondering," Hideyoshi cut in, "It's cause she ran the other day. Scared him out of his mind." A wide grin cut across his age-withered face. "But I think we found the answer as to why. Give the kid some time, he'll come around." He turned around and gave a final wave of his hand. "See you around, little lady."
Okita was left watching them leave. A mixture of frustration and confusion wormed its way into his being. Worthy? That wasn't something he'd thought about often. He was by no means a good man as Kagome liked to think, but he wasn't the worst either. He was just himself. His sense of worth had always been derived from his ability to make Kondou proud. It was his prowress with his blade that'd set him apart. It was his desire to become a tool for the Shinsengumi that had driven him on. But was that all there was to it? Where did Kagome fit into that? Or his men for that matter? How did they view him?
His wife trailed her fingers along the small of his back, "Souji," Her voice cut in over his thoughts. "Don't worry." The warmest smile spread over her lips as she looked up to him. "You are worthy. Besides," She turned to glance at the disappearing silhouettes of the men who'd challenged him. "I think he's searching for more than just a position. What he wants to find is probably something he has to find in himself."
Okita blinked. Find in himself? He thought on it carefully. Well, he wasn't going to fight her on that front. She had a keen eye for people and if she felt that Hayato's issues were more personal than just his style of recruiting, then he'd have to believe her. A small smile made its way across his lips. For now, he'd just trust her instinct.
"Hey kid," He dipped his head low as to avoid the remaining three recruits from hearing him. "I want you to stick by me for a little while." He couldn't keep an eye on her if she were to wander off to do her daily duties as she normally would have for them. That sensation of not being able to know where she was or if she was safe didn't bode well for him; not after that confrontation.
Kagome nodded, giving his fingers a firm squeeze of affirmation.
"You have a bad feeling?" She tried to pry a bit more information from him. He smiled down at her warmly. That wasn't necessarily true either. It was just the briefest flicker of curiosity over the other man's expression that had set him at unease. This was beyond just his regular sense of possessiveness. He was all too familiar with that sharp sting. It was always there, dragging lines down his back much the way she did in their bed every night. This wasn't the same though. Something sickening twisted in his stomach each time he noticed that look in the other man's eyes. Even if he'd never act on that interest, he didn't want to take any risks where her safety was involved. She deserved more from him than that.
"I wouldn't say that so much as I just get an odd feeling about the whole thing." He settled on watching their silhouettes disappear into the thinning crowd. "Until we know what they're really after it wouldn't be safe to let you wander off on your own. You okay with that?"
His brows furrowed together. He truly wanted her to have the freedom of exploring the village as she saw fit. There were still a lot of things she'd need to adjust to and having some time to herself would've been perfect for that. Unfortunately it looked as if his wish wouldn't be granted. An idea suddenly entered his mind. A slight grin spread across his lips as he took on a playful tone.
"Hey," He waited until she tipped her head to glance back up at him. "What do you say you help me kick these guys asses into shape?"
She glanced between him and the three. A slow smile spreading over her own lips, "Sounds good."
Okita laughed. That was just yet another thing he loved about her. Always eager to spar no matter the occasion.
They turned to face the last of the recruits still standing with them. The twins were eyeing them cautiously while the youngest of their small group kept his gaze hard with a fierce determination. That one was definitely a bit of a spitfire.
He gestured towards his woman, "So here's the official meet and greet. This is my wife, Kagome." He slipped his hand from hers to place it squarely between her shoulder blades. "She's got a good set of skills, so she'll be helping out for a little while. Any of you got a problem with it can either suck it up or go home. We clear?" His tone was hard with the severity of his command. He didn't give a damn how they felt personally. This was now beyond simple societal gender roles. With those two wandering about, it'd be safest if he could keep her near him. She wouldn't be satisfied just standing around watching, plus with her abilities she would do best at shaping Daichi's wild technique into something more refined.
The baby-faced teen was the first to respond, "Pleasure to meet you Okita-san." He bowed to her politely. "I am Maeda Toru." Dark eyes narrowed at the pair next to him in a display of irritation. Clearly he was unamused by the brother's inability to introduce themselves properly.
One twin stepped forward after catching the look, "Tanaka Michio and this is my brother Daichi. We are also pleased to meet you." He gave a bow as well. Daichi stood off to the side. He blinked twice before gesturing towards her.
"Wait, so you're saying we've got to fight a girl?"
Michio sighed at his brother. This was not going to end well for him. He chose not to intervene in what came next. Instead he simply stood aside and watched as their recruiter stepped close to him.
"Not afraid are you?" A cold edge entered Okita's voice. It was sharp and ice-like in its quality. He watched as the men shivered subconsciously at the hidden threat. "She might not look like much but she's good at what she does. Don't let your guard down or else she'll take you out." He gave the burly man a strong clap on his shoulder with his palm. "Trust me on that one. It'll be your greatest mistake."
Kagome hadn't spoken much during the conversation. Her eyes keenly surveyed the men as she watched their every movement like a hawk. He knew that expression well. It'd been what she'd done to him when she was observing his techniques; watching and learning, so that she could gather as much information on his style as she could. She'd later use that knowledge to counter his attacks. She was a sneaky little devil in that regard.
A bright, disarming smile lit up her features, "Oh please you can just call me Kagome. It feels weird hearing '-san' attached to my name." She waved her hand in front of her face in a placating manner. "I'm not that formal."
Okita smiled widely, "You heard the lady. Now," His eyes drifted towards the scarlet monochrome of the sky above their heads. "Looks like it's getting pretty late. You idiots head home for now. If you still feel like signing up then meet back here first thing in the morning." His smirk grew vicious. "No bitching about the rules either. I'll kick your asses out, understood?"
The three responded in kind, "Understood!"
The ronin noted with no small amount of interest the way Maeda eyed Daichi. The boy's gaze was dark and full of malicious intent. It'd be a good start to get his offensive attacks going but he'd need to do something about his rampant bloodlust. It'd be a horrible idea to pit him against Kagome in the morning. He knew a berserker type when he saw one.
The brothers for the most part remained oblivious to the teen's intent. Whether by nature of habit or a purposeful snubbing of the kid's ability, they certainly knew how to get under his skin. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. He'd have to come up with a good plan. He couldn't just let them go hog wild on each other either.
Maeda needed restraint. Daichi needed a better defense and Michio, well he hadn't seen much of Michio's ability, but he'd assumed that the man's style would be similar to his brother's. If not a bit more tamed judging by their personalities.
Kagome's fingers trailed alone the small of his back. His mind snapped to attention as he looked down at her smiling form.
"Let's go home."
The words struck something soft within him. Home. This place wasn't going to be their permanent residence but he knew exactly what she'd meant. Home was where they were. Just the two of them outside any other interference. Home was wherever they chose to be. In this case, she'd chosen for her home to be at hisside. Not anyone else's.
Okita wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his body, "Sounds good to me. We can pick up where we left off this morning." He dipped his head to capture the lobe of her ear between his teeth sensually. His wife stifled a moan. She pushed her hands at his shoulders as she blushed furiously.
"Not in public!" Kagome's tone came out in a rushed whisper. "You're awful!"
The young man gave a hearty laugh, "Better than in front of the guys. Now what do you say? I've still got to show you some proper appreciation for trying to help me."
She blinked. Confusion flitted over her expression before a dawning realization hit.
"Oh, that's right! Those two guys, Fujiwara-san and Ono-san correct? Do you think that they're after something else besides just joining the Shinsengumi? It seemed like they were searching for information." She tried to bring them up, but he cut her off with the sharp slant of his mouth over hers. He didn't want to hear about them right now. All he wanted was to focus on her.
"Later." He broke in. "Now we go home and finish what was started." His hand roved over towards her hip before lowering to cup her thigh within his palm sensually. If they weren't out in the open, he would've already loosened the obi and sash to lift the whole thing over his own hip. Alas, such things were not to be seen here.
Kagome sighed into his lips. Her eyes closed and she gave a single nod.
"Fine, but we finish this conversation later. No excuses."
His smirk grew wide, "We'll see."
He'd be damned if he let any other name slip between their sheets, even as just regular conversation. For now, this time was about them and their bond. Not anyone else. He'd make damned sure of it. With that they meandered their way back to the hotel. Not pausing for a second at the odd glances they received for Kagome's sword. His mind flitted back to the conversation he'd had with her mother. If Momo had denied him then he would've been forced to do this with her only posing as his wife. It would've been nothing but a farce to satisfy her parent. He would have never been able to experience any of this with her. His grip around her waist tightened.
To hell with playing pretend. He would've never been satisfied by that even if he'd tried. As much as he would have loved to be able to promise to only keep her under his wing if Momo had requested it, he knew himself well enough to know better. He wouldn't have been able to stay away. He would've eventually taken her to his bed while bearing his name. His eyes flicked back to her smiling expression. Now Kagome was his wife in the truest sense of the word. No if's, and's or but's about it. She had chosen him and that was how it was going to stay. She was not just a charge he had to take responsibility for. She was his wife. His family. He wouldn't give her a chance to regret it. Not on his life.
The night bled away. The only thing his mind focused on was the sound of her voice, heat of her flesh and rough touch of her fingertips dragging down his back in parallel lines. This was how it was always supposed to be. Just them. No one else. He slipped between the sheets of their futon with her, forgetting about everything else besides the pleasure of her warmth.
Hayato dropped his arm over his eyes. The night had passed so quickly. He'd hardly blinked and it was already gone. His body ached mildly as he tossed to his side. The battle yesterday had worn on him more than he'd anticipated. Okita was a powerful fighter and had exposed every single weakness he had. That was something he couldn't deny. Okita was strong. His power was unrivaled amongst those whom he fought. But his personality… His lips turned downwards at the thought. He hated this.
A heavy weight pressed upon his chest. He didn't have to look to know what it was.
"Come on. The more you mope around the more it makes me depressed." Hideyoshi used the ball of his heel to push him from side to side. "Now up! Up! Up! Up!" His teacher repeatedly pushed his foot against his ribs and back, emphasizing each word that he spoke. Hayato swatted the appendage away, a faint scowl marring his features.
"Entertain yourself for once. There's something I need to think about." It slipped out before he had the chance to stop it.
Hideyoshi's lip split into a wide grin, "Oh? You mean the little lady? The one who's married to that batshit crazy idiot?" The older man took on a thoughtful expression. "You'd think they'd repel each other given their opposite personalities. Who knows, maybe she's got a thing for the wild type." He fought the urge to glare at the man. Only he would suggest something so ludicrous. Certainly there was more tying those two together than just simple notions of fantasy. That was made evident in the way she'd defended him against his accusations.
Hayato turned to his side, facing away from his companion. That aside, there was something else that kept bothering him. His gaze narrowed at the half-filled bottle of sake beside his futon. He wanted to join the Shinsengumi's ranks. In fact, he desperately needed to. A vague memory of japanese maple trees and autumn showers filled his mind. There was more at stake than just a simple pique of interest.
"It's not about that." He sighed. He should've known that his teacher was going to keep pushing that topic. The man was relentless when it came to trying to pair him up with virtually any woman that showed an interest in him. Albeit in this case he was the one to be mildly interested in her. He just had the unfortunate ability of picking the only woman who was married to the craziest man alive.
Hideyoshi's face grew serious. He crouched low beside him as his tone dropped to an even level, "You think she might know something?" The air grew thick around them. His reason for wanting to be near the Shisengumi wasn't without ulterior motive. There was someone he needed to find. Someone that had lost contact the moment they'd run into their rag-tag group. His brows furrowed sharply at the thought.
"It's hard to say. At the very least I think she's unaware of what's happening." Hayato rolled to his back and used his arms to pillow his head. "As far as I can tell she's local to this village. She mentioned that they'd only recently got married yesterday. I doubt she's even been to Kyoto." These were just simple observations he'd picked up in the short time he'd known her. He'd have to investigate further to deduct the truth to her place in all of this.
"You think he's using her?" That time Hideyoshi's expression darkened. That notion didn't seem quite right. The way he stood in front of her protectively; the way he'd defended her and tried to keep him away from her. It wouldn't make sense if he were just using her to cover his own ass. Okita was many things but in their battle he could determine one simple truth about the ronin: He was earnest.
Hayato shook his head, "No that's not it. He clearly cares but something feels off about those two." His shoulders stiffened as he tried to oust the unwelcomed memories of fog, gunpowder and the scent of copper from his mind. Now wasn't the time for that. "Whatever is happening in Kyoto, I think Okita is involved in it somehow. We just have to keep an eye on things and make our move when we get the chance."
His teacher grew silent. There was an air of discontent that neither of them gave words to. He was grateful for the man's help and everything that he'd done for him up until this point. However, this was one task that he would not concede. He'd come to this place with a goal in mind. Testing Okita as he did had given him an invaluable insight into the type of man that he truly was. He doubted that he had anything to do with that person's disappearance but that didn't mean that his comrades back in Kyoto were in the same boat.
"Do you really think she's there?" Hideyoshi finally spoke up. The younger male shook his head. That was a question he'd been trying to find the answer to for a long time. At least now they had a single thread that they could follow. The real issue though was if he could stomach his pride enough to follow under Okita's leadership. His eye twitched at the thought.
"Not sure but we're going to find out one way or another."
His teacher's lips suddenly pulled into a wide grin, "That is true. Now don't think I'm just going to leave your ass moping in bed all day." A harsh kick struck his side, effectively knocking out of his futon and onto the floor. "Now up! We're going out and I don't want to hear any bitching about it either."
Hayato wanted to bury his face in the sand. Oh great, yet another day of gambling and drinking. That was exactly what he needed at this point.
"Oh don't give me that look. I'm sure you'll run into the little lady while we're out." His grin turned teasing. "You seem to have a thing for her."
His face became warm, "She's married you idiot." Okita would challenge him to a death match if he were to even step a single toe close to her. He was already treading on thin ice when it came to Kagome. Attempting to make a pass at her would be impossible without facing her husband's wrath.
"So? Doesn't mean that you can't appreciate from afar."
That notion struck a chord with him. Appreciate from afar? That just sounded creepy. Hayato shook his head, "No way." He rolled further away from his teacher, ignoring his bout of complaints. "The answer is no and that's final."
Hideyoshi was not the sort of man who gave up easily. Undeterred, he gripped the back of his student's kosode and hauled him up onto his feet with all the force of a bull. Sometimes, he really hated his friend.
Kagome struck back at her opponent. A fierce gleam entered her eyes as she shifted into a steady position.
"You can't slack off because you're afraid of hurting me!" She snapped, using a low sweep of her sword to knock the larger male unbalanced. "The more you think in terms of gender the more you're going to find yourself in danger!" They'd left the Inn early this morning. By the time they'd arrived to the training area, Maeda and the Tanaka brothers had been waiting for them. Okita'd been quick to assigning her a student for the day. So she set to work on evading his attacks and exposing his defenses.
Daichi attempted to block her but found himself knocked onto his back in one fell swoop.
"Damn it!" His teeth gnashed together. "She's too fast. I can't get a hit in." It was so frustrating! A woman wasn't supposed to be able to get around his defenses that easily. Yet here she was, running circles around him as if it were nothing. It was no wonder Okita had taken such a shine to her. She was fighting machine.
"What, you think your enemies are going to play nice?" The man himself stood over him. A coy grin played upon his lips maliciously. "Well aren't they nice guys. Letting you stand up and gather your bearings. Say, think they'll invite you to tea too?"
Kagome sheathed her blade. A sigh left her lips as she settled a baleful glare on her husband, "Souji, come on now. You've got your own to train. Unless you're looking for another spar."
The man shrugged his shoulders, "What? I can't check in on his progress? You're a bit soft on them, you know." A tick appeared above her brow. Now that was just rude. She was not soft. She just wasn't a brute like he was.
Daichi dropped his head onto the ground. Great. Now a woman was going easy on him. Where had his life led him to?
"It's not that I'm soft on them Souji," Kagome sighed as she came to stand beside her husband. "It's that I don't just utterly beat them half to death while training them." A small smile pulled at her lips. "You've got a mean streak in you when it comes to training." She was fully aware of this side to him. Even in their sparring sessions he'd never really gone too easy on her. He also wasn't quite as vicious with her as he was with the guys, but that was to be somewhat expected. Even a man as hardened as Okita had his moments where he couldn't bring out the full force of his strength against her. Maybe that was due in part to the fact that she and her family had taken him in when he'd been at his most vulnerable. Yet another part of herself denied the charge—asserting that it was his own love for her that had steadily grown over their time spent together that kept him from hurting her; even in a sparring match.
The man didn't deny her charge. A knowing glint entered his eyes as he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. She didn't find it to be a necessarily bad thing about him, it was just that sometimes people required a bit more direction in their training than he often gave. That was both his strength and his weakness.
Daichi rose to his feet. A scowl marred his features and his hand gripped at his sword all the tighter. She knew that look well. The bitter taste of defeat was a hard one to swallow. Two losses in about as many days was bound to grind at him.
She focused her attention on the recruit, "That anger you're feeling? You need to channel it into your style." The young woman circled her 'student' predatorily. "The more you swing wildly, the easier it is for your opponent to see the weak spots in your defenses." She gestured towards his loose stance. "Use your anger to tighten your control and steel your resolve. Don't give your enemy any opportunities to strike. You have the brute force to power your way through most fights, but it won't save you every time." She came to a stop in front of him. "If you want to get stronger than you'll need to use your head. Not literally either. Just try to come up with strategies as you go along. Predictyour opponent's movement before they can make them. That's how you'll get stronger."
Daichi scratched at the back of his neck. A look of confusion flickered over his expression. Clearly, he was having difficulty understanding what she meant.
"She's telling you to actually think for once." Maeda cut in. His voice was cold—honed to a sharpened edge with the frustration he felt. "Or do you think you can just swing away wildly and win every time?" The feminine male glared down his nose at him. "Why don't you listen to what she's actually saying instead of getting angry that you can't win against her."
Kagome kept silent as the teen continued his verbal assault on her 'student'. There was a wave of bloodlust that poured from the young man's thin frame. The hardened lines of his otherwise soft features bore an unusual interest for her. People weren't born killers. They were made into them. She knew that first hand. So what was this one's reason for fighting? Why was he so intent on killing? Her eyes shifted towards her husband. Okita observed the pair with a thoughtful expression. His gaze met hers and she could spy the inkling of a similar curiosity in them. It seemed as if she weren't the only one whose interest was piqued in the small teen.
"Hey baby-face," Okita cut in. "I need you to run a quick errand. I've got shit for supplies and we've got to start heading back to Kyoto the day after tomorrow." He cocked his head in her direction. "I need you two to pile up on the travelling supplies. You," He pointed towards him with a firm tone in his voice. "Keep her safe. She tells you to do something, you do it. I'm going to handle this idiot's training for now." Kagome cocked her head curiously. Wait, they were leaving that soon? She thought that it wouldn't be for another week or so. Seeing her confused expression, Okita dropped his voice to address her directly.
"Those two are just gonna keep bickering if we leave them like this. Plus we've found all the talent we're going to in this town." She felt his hand brush over the small of her back reassuringly. "Might as well take off as soon as we're ready. I'm not comfortable letting you go out on your own but the shops close too damn early for me to go with you. Kid's a real blood sport but he'll be good for keeping away the worst. Come back here when you're done. We'll talk more at the Inn tonight."
Kagome nodded once. This was not the world she was born in. Nor was the world she'd learned to battle. It was something of an entirely different breed, something that Okita was more familiar with. If he had made this decision then she'd respect that. She'd simply hear his reasons later that night. The young woman addressed her husband, "Of course. I know what we need." Fishing into her sleeves she set the money away so that it wouldn't be visible to onlookers. "In any case much of the roads we need to travel will have natural growing herbs we can take advantage of as well. I'll get some nonperishable food items and the rest we'll procure on the way. Sound good?"
Okita grinned, "Sounds good to me. Now go on. I'd rather you be back here before it gets too late." His voice dropped once more. "If anything happens come straight back. I'm not taking risks this time." She knew exactly what this was. It was an attempt to separate the men before they killed each other. Okita had already spent a few hours with Maeda and as such felt confident in his abilities and worth. There was still an edge of suspicion as trust hadn't been fully gained yet, but he trusted in her strength more than he did in Maeda's. He was placing full faith in the fact that she could handle her own for a few hours while he sorted out Daichi's lack of direction.
She offered him a warm smile. Her fingers tangled with his a short sign of reassurance. It was clear that Hayato's words had shaken him somewhat. The man was generally unflappable but he wasn't without his own set of insecurities and faults. Hayato was just good at pressing all of them at once, whether intentional or not. His shoulders relaxed at the slight touch. That was one thing she loved about their relationship. They no longer needed as many words to convey the things the felt. A simple touch here, a quick glance there. These were just the things they needed to feel the slight warmth of the other's presence, the constant sensation of support. It was nice.
Kagome turned towards her temporary bodyguard. She smiled at the younger male, "Shall we get going?" He nodded in affirmation, taking one last glance at Okita for confirmation.
The two wandered off into the thickening crowd. The heat had swelled to near unbearable levels. Fortunately for her she'd gotten so used to it in her previous travels. Even in the short break she'd taken in her era to finish out her schooling, she still remained less prone to bouts of overexertion as she had been.
"Kagome-san," The teen addressed her softly. She cocked her head over her shoulder to look at the young man. There was something about him that was curious. He seemed so young, so soft in comparison to the world around him. Yet the bloodlust that poured from him was palpable. It reminded her a bit of old memories; of a time and place she'd much rather forget.
"What is it Maeda-kun?" She slowed her pace to match his. The chaos of merchants advertising their wares and idle chatter bled into the background.
"May I ask you something?" His gaze was trained on the ground beneath their feet. His brows pulled into a sharp furrow. She knew that look well. The self-doubt and frustration of someone deep in a personal crisis. She came to a stop along the side of the road. He met her gaze, "Why do you fight?" He cleared his throat as if trying to reword what he was attempting to ask. "What that man said earlier isn't wrong. So why are you fighting with us? So why force yourself to do this sort of thing?" It was a double edged question. There was certain aspects to this era that she hadn't taken into account. Five hundred years ago it wasn't so unusual to see women of the family take charge and fight alongside their husbands. They'd charged into battle and held their stations firmly against their opposition. Now, most samurai were simply politicians and their wives the managers of their estates. Women were little more than simply property at this time. Something to be protected, guarded against adversaries. Yet she was violating that societal view. She was fighting. She was strong. She was beside Okita on equal footing.
She could hazard a guess as to why he was asking such a thing. It wasn't herself per say that he was asking for, but himself. The reflection of self-doubt still lingered in his expression. She tucked her hands into the sleeves of her kosode. Out of all the clothes Okita had brought, she managed to slip a single set of white kosode, haori and green hakamas. She had a feeling that she'd need them for training so she slipped them into the furoshiki when Okita hadn't bee looking. Although the man had certainly brought entirely too much for their own good.
"I think I understand what you're asking." She tipped her head towards the sky. "But let me ask you this. Why do you pick up your sword everyday?" A knowing glint entered her eyes. "Why is it that you sought out Souji even after he showed himself as being rather crass?" After all, that was the reason why Hideyoshi and Hayato couldn't bear to remain under his leadership. They'd left because a part of them weren't able to respect that aspect of his personality. So why did Maeda and the Tanaka brothers remain? Were they in awe of his strength? Did they have something else they wanted to achieve? Each person's reason for fighting was different, but the key desire was there. "You could have just left the moment you felt insulted but you stuck it out. Why's that?" A small smile played upon her lips.
He remained in thoughtful silence for a moment. Then he took a short breath, "Because I didn't want to walk away. I felt like I needed to fight." He glanced towards the palm of his hand.
"You wanted to prove yourself worthy." She didn't have to look to know the sort of expression that crossed his face. She'd been much the same as him a few years back. She'd been so desperate and eager to win, to get stronger but most of all to prove herself capable. The young woman turned on her heel, "At the end of the day we all have a purpose to fulfill. Being here by Souji's side is my purpose. Even if it means getting into fights I don't mind." She smiled at the young man, "Because it means that we're together. That's enough for me."
He hadn't said anything to that. Merely thought quietly on the matter. Together, huh? It was a notion that was entirely new to him. He shrugged his shoulders and trailed after the woman. For now, he had a duty to fulfill. He wouldn't fail Okita, nor himself. After all he still had yet to prove himself as someone worthy of his strength. One day, he'd face down his demons. For now, he'd just keep fighting. It was all that he could do.
A/n: Ah so I ended up deciding to cut this one a bit shorter. There was supposed to be a final scene of Hayato and Hideyoshi I wanted to incorporate but that part didn't really make it into this segment. I also wanted half of this to be action oriented and the other half development oriented. I feel like there's still a lot that I'm trying to cover but I'm having a difficult time figuring how it's pacing. So I'm just going to keep at it and try to work in the development as much as I can so far. As for the delay, well the action scene in the beginning kept coming up so stiff and wooden in the first drafts so I'd decided to scrap the chapter… three times. Bleh definitely was a struggle getting through that segment. But I will say that since a trip to Kyoto last year, I've been more inspired than ever to get this story going again. Besides the rewrites I actually just needed to refigure several character's actual purpose in this plot as I ended up changing several points from the original draft.
Example: In the very first draft of OPAH, Kagome merely helped Okita across the well and he'd just taken her on as his charge, not his wife. Thus a triangle had formed with one of the other guys later. In this final draft Kagome and Okita are married so that triangle never actually forms. So that character along with these new OCs have to have their positions reworked, along with the actual relationships that they'll develop with Kagome and Okita. Even Chizuru had hers slightly tweaked as well.
Anyways, I can't express how much I appreciate you guys supporting both me and this story so much. Any time I get lost on where to go or how to develop things, I always go back and reread all the reviews and responses I get to this. You're support has always been so amazing. I hope you all enjoyed and I'll try to get the next chapter out after I get a few updates on some of the other works like The Space Between, Crashing Tides and Phases of the Moon. Thanks so much!