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Suggested Listening: The Final Blow by aKu
Of Pride and Honor
Chapter Twenty One: A Man's Honor
Hijikata focused on the sentence in front of him. His brush was still, his brows furrowed as he tried to complete the thought that he'd started. It'd been a few days since Okita's second letter arrived. He'd informed them that they'd breached the post town of Magome and would be due back at the end of the week.
He didn't give much information about his new wife but he did go into great detail about the recruits' strengths and weaknesses.
There were five men in total. A pair of brothers whose combined strength made them capable of bulldozing through most fights victoriously. Then there was an odd student-teacher pair. Okita hadn't mentioned much about them outside the fact that their skills were on the same level as a Captain's. Which coming from Okita, meant a great deal. Then finally he mentioned a boy who could hardly be called a man. He had feminine features with a thin frame but also wrote that his prowess with the blade was enough to handle even difficult opponents. It would seem that he'd managed to find some very promising fighters in the time that he was gone.
The Commander set down his brush. The words would not come. No matter how hard he tried his mind would inevitably wander back to the same thing. If his judgment was correct then they'd be arriving sometime today.
A loud roar of excitement rose up from outside. This had become a new normal. Rumors were running amuck. The soldiers were getting rowdier each day that passed since news of the marriage broke. The anticipation of meeting 'the woman who'd tamed Okita' had grown into a frenzied height. His men were like a pack of wolves devouring a fresh kill. They were spreading gossip and guessing wild backstories for the unknown female. He could only imagine the things being said that he didn't hear.
The man stood. He marched outside, his eyes falling on the crowd gathering by the gates. They were like a mob of children. His irritation grew. So much for peace and quiet.
"Is that them? I can't see!" A warrior leaned over to peer around the others. The group pressed together in a tight ball, each one trying to catch a glimpse at the mysterious woman Okita had taken for his wife.
"Back to work!" Hijikata barked. The men whirled around on him in surprise. Faces turned pale as fear etched into their features. "This isn't a side show. Get back to your duties!" They'd cowered—turning away from the gate to do just as he'd demanded. Useless bunch.
In an instant the mood shifted as another called out from the front.
"I see them! They're coming!" The small crowd grew three times in size as the other rank-and-file soldiers rushed to the front. What were these guys, over-eager children that just obtained a new toy? He was about to scold them a second time when the chatter grew overwhelmingly loud.
"Is that her?" The men peered down the path at the silhouettes of Okita's group. A woman was clearly at the front walking beside the Captain. He could not make out any significant features from this distance behind the gathering. "Oh she's cute. I'm surprised he found a girl like that. He usually just scares them off on accident."
Hijikata's brows twitched. This was absurd. He wouldn't have his men gawking at her as if she were the first woman they'd ever seen. They had more pride than that.
"Enough!" His yelling drew the crowd's attention. "I told you once to get back to work. You make me say it again and I'll have all of you punished." He couldn't go soft on them now. These are tedious waters that they'd be treading for a while yet. Having a lone woman in a house full of men was bound to bring out the unseemly nature in a few of their soldiers. For her sake, he hoped she knew how to handle herself with a rough crowd.
The men dispersed. They milled about the entrance to the compounds. They wanted to see Okita's wife but first she would need time to acclimate to their house rules. He wouldn't go easy on her. Okita still had some answering to do as well. They both would be explaining themselves thoroughly tonight.
Hijikata waited by the front gates. Little by little the tiny caravan came into view. He could see her more clearly now. Dressed in a simple, pale blue summer yukata with cherry blossom print and a pink obi, she stood out amongst the men she travelled with. His eyes stopped at the blade strapped to her hip. A wakizashi? Had Okita given it to her as a wedding gift or did this woman really know how to fight? The mystery surrounding her grew deeper.
She was a short thing, hardly coming up to Okita's shoulders. A wide smile was stretched across her lips. Azure eyes were focused entirely on her husband with an adoration that was commendable. They came to a stop before him. His eyes narrowed at Okita for a moment. Just as he was about to speak he found himself interrupted.
"Souji!" Kondou rushed out of the Yagi House*. "It's good to see you!" Their Chief came to a stop beneath the gates with them. Hijikata sighed. He should have known. With all the commotion the man would've put two and two together and run out to meet them before he could get his questions answered.
Kondou's eyes dropped to the woman's form. "Ah, you must be Kagome. We heard a bit about you from his letters." Did he now? Perhaps Okita had sent more to Kondou than he realized. He was already fully aware of the fact that the man adored their Chief as if he were his father. So it was likely that he'd given him a bit more information.
The woman blushed furiously at the comment, "I do hope he didn't mention anything odd." Azure eyes darted towards Okita suspiciously. The man cast a playful grin at his wife.
"Now why would I do that?" His hand went to the small of her back.
Hijikata had to hand it to the man, he definitely found a cute wife. In spite of her short stature and kind smile, a fierce attitude poured off of her. He'd been right. She was a typical Edo woman. This was going to be trouble. He could just feel it in his very bones.
Kagome offered a polite bow to them, "I apologize if the announcement caused any issues. My husband sometimes gets ahead of himself when it comes to these matters." Hijikata had plenty to say when it came to that. But seeing her offer an apology in her husband's stead raised his opinion of her. Unlike her spouse, she seemed to be far more level headed. Perhaps she'd be the good influence he desperately needed.
Okita casually looked away. His smirk still growing wider at the conversation.
Kondou clapped the man on his shoulder heavily, "Nonsense! We're just glad to meet the woman he's been going on about." The flush on her cheeks darkened. So it was true. He probably told the man every little detail about their courtship. "Please, come in. I'm sure you've all had a long journey."
His eyes landed on the new recruits. They were definitely a rough looking bunch. However when they looked between the couple he could only find a glint of respect in their eyes. Interesting. Kondou continued, "Lunch will be served in an hour. Feel free to take time in between to familiarize yourself with the compounds. Ah Yamazaki!" They shifted to glance towards the thin-framed male. "Would you care to set these fine men up in their new quarters? We'll be heading back to the Common Room."
Yamazaki nodded. His eyes slid towards the small group. They were short in numbers even by his standards, but that was the trade off in sending Okita on this kind of mission. He only chose the best. He never brought a man of substandard skill.
Hijikata looked to the smallest of their little caravan. The kid was hardly a man, looking more the part of a boy on the cusp of adulthood. The First Division's Captain had warned them that his appearance was odd but his skills were nothing to sniff at. His shoulders stiffened. There was only one way to find out.
The Commander followed after the group. He was about to get his answers one way or another.
Okita sighed. He should've known something like this would happen. He scratched the back of his head, mild irritation filling him. They'd been quickly pulled into the Common Room by Kondou where the rest of the Captains, Hijikata and Sanan gathered together around them. What'd started out as a meet and greet swiftly devolved into an interrogation.
Harada, Nagakura and Heisuke shouted rapid fire questions one after the other at them. Things such as how they'd met, who made the first move, what kind of family she came from, and most annoyingly, if she had a sister.
"You lookin' for an early grave?" Okita glared sharply at Nagakura. He loved his wife so he wasn't about to let any of his companions degrade her or attempt to flirt with her behind his back. Doing this would be the first step in erecting those firm boundaries with the others. As much as he respected Kagome's independent nature, there were a few things he had to settle himself. This being one of them.
The burly man laughed nervously, "It was a joke!" His eyes darted to Harada. "Right?" The Samurai sought back up from his friend. Unfortunately he did not receive it.
"Told you that'd be a bad idea." The red head's voice dipped into a chiding tone. "You just had to go there."
Kagome sat beside him. Her expression remained as welcoming as it'd always been. However there was the tiniest twitch in her brow. Okita felt his lips quirk upwards. This was going to be interesting.
"Ah let's not get too far ahead." Her hand reached for the pot of tea between them. With practiced movements she refilled his cup before they switched; him doing much the same for her. All eyes were on them oddly. What? It wasn't like he didn't have some manners. What did they think he was? Some sort of brute?
His wife expertly shifted the conversation, "For your question, I actually do have a sibling."
Okita didn't stop the grin that spread across his lips. Yeah and the kid was downright hilarious. Definitely not Nagakura's type though.
"Really?" His voice was far too excited.
Kagome went on, "I have a younger brother who's about twelve now." Her smile grew bright. "He was quite thrilled at all the things Souji told him about this place."
The man's shoulders deflated with his disappointment.
She pressed forward, "Souji treated my family very well. By the time we left my mother was practically calling him her son." That was a bit of a stretch, but there was a minimal amount of truth to her words. Momo had only accepted him as her son-in-law and even that was contingent on her daughter's acceptance. It was a tremendous amount of faith she'd placed in him as Kagome's sole surviving parent. So he'd long decided to fulfill his final promise to her. Emerald eyes shifted back towards his wife. He'd make damn sure of it.
"I'm glad!" Kondou interjected into the conversation. "I assumed she'd given her blessing quite readily, then?"
Okita looked up. A wry smile crossed his lips, "It wasn't that easy. Her mom's more ferocious than any warrior I'd ever fought." He gave a small laugh at Kagome's confused expression. "What? It took a while for her to trust me. She was about ready to claw my hide for a while there."
Raucous laughter rang out from the others.
"Souji! You know that's not true. She loves you just as much." The young woman defended her parent against the accusation. That was one of the things he cherished about her. She would defend her family with everything she had. A warmth spread through his chest. Now he could rightfully state that she was part of his own family through their marriage.
He laughed, "It's fine. I convinced her in the end. Besides you should give her more credit." His smile turned soft. "Your mother is more viciously protective of you than you think."
She blushed heavily at his words. The other Captains stared in awe at their interaction. What? Had he said something weird?
"Did you see that?" Nagakura leaned forward. His eyes were wide and mouth agape in shock.
Heisuke nodded with him, "Oh I saw it alright."
Harada shrugged his shoulders, "That's what happens when a man falls in love."
Kagome tried to keep a straight face but the blush upon her cheeks darkened. It was cute. He turned his attention back to his colleagues.
"What are you idiots going on about?" His voice grew sharp.
"It's just that you're so nice right now." Heisuke shot him a wary glance. "It's weird. You've usually got this 'I'm gonna murder your whole family and enjoy it' look on your face."
Kagome clapped a hand to her mouth. She tried to stifle her laughter to no avail. Great, it looked like she had more ammo to tease him with later. He just had a feeling she wasn't going to let this go.
"Looks like I wasn't the only one to notice." She playfully jabbed her index finger at his cheek. Okita closed his eyes. A small smile spread across his lips. He just couldn't catch a break, could he?
Harada glanced towards her sword, "So how much training have you had?" A curious gleam entered the man's eyes. Kagome was about to speak but he'd beaten her to the punch.
"Enough to whip those recruits' asses into shape." The man grinned sharply at his colleagues. "Don't let this sweet face fool you. She's a verifiable warrior on the field." His hand dropped onto her head, ruffling her hair affectionately.
"Why does that sound like an insult?" Kagome scowled at him.
He waved his hands in a placating manner, "It's the truth! Daichi wouldn't have pulled his head out of his ass nearly as fast if he hadn't had you kicking it the whole way to Kyoto." He didn't need to be reminded of the male's dislike of her ability to best him. Along the way he'd grown more respectful of her strength and less aggressive overall. It'd been the positive change he was looking for. Now he just needed to keep it up.
The others stared at them incredulously.
"Come on, Souji's the one who taught you, right?" Harada glanced at him. There was an air of dubious curiosity. What? Even if he had been the first to teach her how to battle with a sword, what difference would that make? She was a warrior through and through. Her gender would never change that aspect about her.
"Actually," His wife cut in. "He'd only picked up where a close friend of mine left off. I've been training in many different battle techniques since I was fifteen. Currently I do best with archery and then my skill with the sword is just after that." She took a drink from her tea. "Most of my expertise lies with medicinal remedies. Fighting was a necessary way of life where I was but healing people will always be my first priority."
Okita sipped at his own drink. What she hadn't said was that the things she fought were not of human origin. They were demons—monsters that'd taken her from her peaceful era and left scars upon her body, heart and soul. His expression became grim. All he did was continue what'd been started in regards to her training.
The mood shifted. The others would learn sooner or later about the hell she'd been through. They were sharp enough to sense the change in her demeanor. When that day came, he'd be there for her. Okita rubbed his hand in soothing lines down her back. He owed her that much as her husband.
In a vague attempt to change the subject, Sanan spoke for the first time since the impromptu meeting began, "If I may intrude." The male waited until they both met his gaze. "How was it that you two first met?"
The ronin knew exactly how to lighten the mood. Okita grinned, "She went fishing for a husband at the bottom of a dry well. That's how she landed me." Several pairs of incredulous faces were on them. He had to admit that it was well worth it. He didn't think Hijikata's mouth could open that far.
"Souji, no!" His wife admonished him quickly. "It wasn't exactly like that. I just heard something coming from our well that night so I went to check on it." She turned her head away with her embarrassment. "We found him at the bottom so mom, Souta and I tied some rope around him and pulled him out." The young woman sighed heavily. That didn't sound much better.
"So you did fish a husband out of an old well." Nagakura stated blankly.
Kagome sighed again, "We had a strange start."
"No kidding." Okita's words were meant to only be understood between her and himself. No one else would know of the place he travelled to. No one else would know the true history of their bond—of the commonality of passing through time itself. His lips quirked upwards. Fate sure had a strange sense of humor.
Saito chose to ask a question of his own, "What did your family do for a living if you do not mind?"
Kagome shook her head, "Oh it's no trouble. We lived on a shrine that's been in my family for many generations. My grandfather was the last priest to keep watch over it before he passed." Okita heard the twinge of solemnity within her voice. Her family had suffered through so many deaths, each of which he hadn't been present for. Even after the years that'd passed by them he could still sense the lingering grief when she spoke about it. His hand went between her shoulder blades.
She continued, "My mother and I were the ones tending to it for a while. So since I left it's down to Mom and Souta. I sincerely doubt that he's going to train to be a priest though." Kagome hardly blinked at the looks of pity thrown her way. "But mom's tough. If anyone can do it than she can."
"So you were a priestess?" Sanan's eyes were wide with shock. Ah crap, he'd forgotten how to explain that one. Now he just looked like a sleaze for leading a woman of the cloth away from her righteous path. Okita shifted uncomfortably under Hijikata's sharp glare.
"Only for a short time." His wife's tone grew distant. "It wasn't something I intended to do forever so I never took any formal training for it."
But she did learn on the fly while battling against demons in the Warring States Era. His jaw clenched tightly. If only he'd been sent a few years sooner.
Several of the men visibly relaxed.
"Souji," The Commander started. He looked up at him curiously. "So you mean to tell me that for some unknown reason you took shelter in their well, seduced the oldest daughter and then married her after bribing her mother?"
Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, "With all due respect, you're wrong." Okita didn't bother to stop her. This would be the best time for her to lay down her boundaries to their leader. The man was earnest but he had a habit of assuming the wrong things sometimes. In this case she was about to teach him the error of his assumption.
"Souji had taken refuge from the winter storm in the only place he could." She took a drink from her tea. "We were fortunate to have found him when we did. He'd sustained several injuries and he had grown ill from the exposure to the elements." He kept his gaze on her. This was the first time she ever spoke about that night in such detail.
"What followed was the result of his healing process and his own determination to return back here." Kagome's voice grew admonishing. "You above all people should know the absolute dedication he has for the Shinsengumi. He'd done nothing but give my family respect and offered support to them when needed." A tenor of anger reverberated in her tone. "You should show your own men more faith, as he's come a long way to return to this place and uphold the code of honor that the Shinsengumi embodies. By doubting him, you are shaming the efforts he's made thus far." Azure eyes narrowed on Hijikata fiercely, "Is that how you truly are Hijikata-san? Do you honestly have so little faith in your own men?"
She had him cornered. The Commander no longer had any grounds to question the legitimacy of their marriage without first sullying his own name. Okita smiled warmly at his wife. It was one of the first times anyone had defended him so ferociously against Hijikata. It was a nice change.
"There you have it." The ronin shrugged his shoulders. "Although I do think she's being a little generous but you get the idea." Okita met Hijikata's gaze with a challenging glare. "So what's it going to be?" When this whole thing started he knew exactly what the man had been after. He'd wanted to ensure her safety and seek out any reason to ship her back. Unfortunately for him things weren't going to go his way.
The Commander sighed, "Edo women. You can't argue with them." He looked at him intently. "I hope you know what you're doing. It could be hard for a woman to live here."
Kagome didn't give him the chance to respond, "I think I can manage." The confidence she exuded spilled to the others.
Harada was the first to laugh, "No wonder she was able to collar Souji. She's just as much of a spitfire as he is!"
"Hey, I didn't collar him!" The young woman objected. "He wouldn't let me." The men blinked at first, hardly registering the meaning of her words. Then Harada, Nagakura and Heisuke fell into a fit of laughter. Saito stared off into the courtyard, a faint blush upon his cheeks. When was he so damn shy? Sanan coughed into his hand while Hijikata pinched the bridge of his nose.
Okita laughed more loudly than he should have. The guys were just going to have to adjust to her free personality. She was a modern woman through and through. He wasn't going to make her change that aspect about herself anytime soon.
The man wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side. She smiled, leaning into him despite the onlookers. That was another thing he loved about her. She wasn't shy when it came to expressing her affection for him. On the short travel back she did not withhold this sort of physical affection from him just because they had company. She was just as willing to touch, kiss and embrace him in front of them as if they were still alone. It'd led to a few awkward moments of the recruits staring off in other directions. About the only thing they became discreet about was sex. They had resorted to slipping away to naturally occurring hot springs to partake in those pleasurable activities.
Kagome was a person that required touch. Either by touching someone else or being touched by them; it was how they asserted nonverbal support for each other. That wouldn't change now.
"Souji, why don't you two take some time to get settled in. I'm sure it must have been quite a journey for you both." Kondou smiled widely at them. A brief look of realization flashed across his face, "Ah that's right. We should have you two move to the East Wing. It's got a private bathing area of its own so you won't have to run into any issues."
Okita knew exactly what he'd meant. The Captains often shared bathing areas with the other rank-and-file soldiers. By doing this they'd improve the morale of their warriors and help curb unwanted behaviors. Only Kondou, Sanan and Hijikata had private bathing quarters due to their higher standing in the Shinsengumi. With Kagome they couldn't take the risk of her sharing with the other men. Their situation would require the short move to the other side of the Yagi House.
"Understood, we'll get to work on that in the morning." He shot her a small grin. "In the mean time I'll show her around. Right, hey Nagakura," His eyes settled onto the other captain. "Why don't you go challenge the runt when you get the chance. I think he needs a little bit of practice."
Kagome threw him a curious look. Okita shrugged. It'd do the man some good to have a worthy sparring partner. Getting him riled up with Maeda's swift speed would be the perfect way to get the men settled in. They were going to have to test their mettle against an array of different guys. This would just be the breaking in period they'd need.
"Oh that girly lookin' kid? You saying he's good or something?" The Captain scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I'd feel bad sending a boy to fight a man's battle." His eyes slid over to him. "But if you're suggesting it then I can't turn that down!" Nagakura grabbed at his daisho. "I'm off!"
Okita ignored the remaining chatter of his colleagues. Their presence was going to be something of a stir for a little while. He'd need to keep a close watch on things in the mean time. His arm tightened around his wife's waist. At the very least they had somewhere safe for her to return to.
The man grinned down at his companion, "You craving some dango?"
She returned it with a wider one of her own, "Am I ever!"
Hayato sighed. He'd hardly had a chance to unpack his furoshiki before he'd been hit with a thousand questions from the other men.
"Oh come on, you guys traveled with them right? What were they like?" Another man in Okita's Division crowded around him.
Hideyoshi gave a dismissive wave of his hand, "Those two are sex fiends. Future note, don't get between that crazy idiot and the little lady when they're off somewhere together." His voice dropped in a low warning. "You'll regret it."
Jeers rose around them. He fought against the temptation to sigh again. What Hideyoshi hadn't mentioned was that their little group had learned that mistake firsthand. Of course it'd been Daichi to stumble onto the intimate moment between the two. The man hadn't said much on the matter but the blue-tinted bruise that still darkened his jaw spoke volumes to Okita's protectiveness towards his wife.
None of the others ever chanced following them after that. He scratched at the back of his neck.
"So what's she like? Is she one of the sweet innocent types or is she some kind of badass?" Another man interrogated.
Daichi answered that time, "She doesn't look like much but she can knock you on your ass flat if you aren't careful." Despite the one victory he had over her, he never managed to win against her a second time. Kagome didn't just preach about the importance of adapting to one's enemies, she practiced it in every fight. She learned quickly, soaking in all the information she could and devising strategies on the fly that rivaled a tactician's keen mental ability.
Daichi might not have wanted her as a sparring partner, but that did not mean he couldn't respect her raw ingenuity. She was strong.
"So she's a fighter?" The group continued. "You think he's gonna take her with him to the Training Room?" Several incredulous looks were thrown around.
Hayato laid upon his futon. He rolled to his side, trying to cut the chatter from his mind. He'd gotten where he needed to be. Now he just had to figure out where to start his search. Their assignments hadn't been given out yet but given Okita's interest in their skills, he assumed that the man would place them onto his team first. That was the only explanation as to why he'd force them to train nonstop from Edo to Kyoto.
The travel had been nightmarish from the start. Okita's caustic remarks did little to boost their morale. However where the man was harsh, his wife had been encouraging. The woman hardly broke a sweat during the trip. She'd frequently offered to help aid the men if they fell behind or had started to feel sick from the summer's heat. Conversely, Okita remained stuck to her side. He kept her as comfortable as possible and guarded her fiercely.
Daichi knew little of how to respond to the odd conflict of their personalities.
"Yo!" A brusque voice burst through the air. "Which one of ya is the runt Souji brought back?"
The largely silent Maeda rose to his feet.
"It's Maeda Toru." His eyes were sharp. A wave of bloodlust permeated from the teen. This was yet another odd quirk of their group. The boy was fiercely defensive of his appearance. Any remarks would immediately send him into a cold rage. Hayato could see the potential of a great fighter within him, but he definitely got riled up entirely too easily.
"Right!" The man who had yet to introduce himself slung a thick arm around the teen. "We're gonna go training. Any of you feel like joinin' in?"
The men scattered. The walls became oddly fascinating to the crowd. He paid the shift in atmosphere no mind. Hayato closed his eyes as they wandered out of the shared living space. It was large but cramped. Futons were sprawled across the floor in a semi organized manner. He tucked his arms under his head. He needed some rest. His body was at its very limit.
The chatter continued, "I feel sorry for the new kid. Right off the bat and he's shipped off to train with Captain Nagakura." A wave of pity rolled through the crowd of onlookers. "He's going to have it rough."
Hayato fought the urge to snort. Unlikely. Maeda had more stamina than the rest of them. He'd do just fine against an opponent like that.
His mind inadvertently drifted off. His body went lax as the stress of their trip weighed on him. He'd start devising a plan later. For now, he'd rest as much as he could. With their luck they'd be shipped out on the first night patrol. He tried not to groan at the thought.
Hayato slowly drifted asleep, dreams of gunfire and blood filled his mind. Soon, he would search for her.
Kagome relaxed. She kicked her feet out as she enjoyed the flavor of freshly cooked dango. A small smile pulled at her lips. This was nice. It'd been a little while since they'd been able to enjoy a good outing together like this. They'd been so cramped together with the other men that they could hardly find any personal time for themselves. Daichi once made the mistake of following them to the hot spring after a night of drinking. Either he'd been too drunk to comprehend what they'd intended to do or it simply went over his head in the first place. Regardless, her husband had shown him just how irritated he was at the interruption.
That'd been a few days ago. Since then Okita had gone through great lengths to ensure her comfort. This, she assumed, was simply yet another thing he was doing to give her a chance to adjust to this time. He really was quite kind.
Her eyes shifted to her husband. Three sticks of dango poked out from his mouth comically.
"Ravenous today?" She grabbed the empty skewers and pulled them away. Okita clamped his teeth down just enough to avoid losing his precious dessert. He didn't answer her verbally but the glint in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.
The young woman offered him a cloth. He accepted graciously, his gaze never leaving her face.
"What?"
He swallowed. His eyes narrowed with an amusement she couldn't place.
"You really stuck it to Hijikata-san, didn't you?" His arm went around her. Kagome shrugged her shoulders at the comment.
She truly had wanted to give a good first impression when they'd arrived. Okita had gently teased her the few times he'd caught her practicing some introductory lines. She hadn't wanted to berate her husband's Commander or place him in an awkward situation. Surely having to deal with Okita's less than stellar announcement had left Hijikata scrambling to regain control of the troops.
However the more drawn out the impromptu interrogation became, the more her patience had worn thin. The final straw had been Hijikata's less than acceptable comments about her husband.
She turned her head away petulantly, "He started it."
Okita laughed. The man pulled her closer as he pressed his lips to her temple in an affectionate kiss.
"Thanks, love." He'd taken to using the new nickname for her. His tone lowered a bit more, "I'll have to show you my appreciation tonight."
Kagome shifted just enough to poke his cheek firmly, "Oh no you don't! The last time you did that I was sore for three days! While we were traveling no less!" Azure eyes narrowed into thin slits at her husband. "I'd like to take some time to actually rest tonight. We both need some sleep." It was true too. They had a minimal amount of energy left. They'd chosen to forgo training the new recruits in favor of some time to themselves. Still, her body would need more rest if she were to help him move their furnishings to the other wing of the Yagi House.
The sideways smile was still slanted over his lips. If there was one thing this journey had taught her, it was the fact that Okita was insatiable. His drive was something that was difficult for her to keep up with. Perhaps it was because of the looming reality that their moments of privacy would be greatly diminished back at the Shinsengumi. But another part of her just felt that the man had held himself back more than she realized in her era.
Okita rested his cheek upon the crown of her head, "Fine, but tomorrow I'm going to go all out. You best prepare yourself."
Kagome fought against the heat that burned her face. She could always count on him to knock her off balance when she least expected it. It was something he was quite good at and took pride in. She leaned into the warmth of his side. It was fine though. The subtle surprises were good for their relationship. She didn't want to fall into a routine and let the romance fizzle out.
Kagome lifted her head to meet his lips in a gentle kiss. They received a few strange looks. She could hazard as to why. Her sword aside there were very strict notions about public displays of affection in this era. It hardly mattered to her. As much as she'd chosen this time as her permanent home, so too did she choose to remain openly affectionate with her husband. This was a point neither of them would concede for the sake of societal appropriateness.
"So you feel like walking around the town a little bit?" His palms rubbed against her arms in a soothing manner. "Or are you still exhausted from this trip?" His brows furrowed a little at that question.
Kagome wouldn't deny the slight aching in her calves and feet. She pressed her lips against his once more, "I'll be fine for a short trip. Nothing too extensive though." Her smile quirked upwards. "We've got a lot of time ahead of us to see the rest of Kyoto later."
She watched as his expression thawed. That was something she loved about this man. His caring nature was written on his sleeve. He'd tried to hide it from time to time but it'd always be scrawled across his features. She always knew exactly where she stood with him—there would be no guessing his feelings or motives.
"Alright, just tell me if you start wearing down." Okita shot her a playful grin, "I can always carry you back if you need."
Her face inadvertently grew warm. He was enjoying himself entirely too much. The young woman thought quickly.
"Fine by me." Her smile widened as she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. "I'll just stake out my territory while I'm at it." She rarely showed her own possessiveness so openly. It was difficult for her but she swallowed her embarrassment for the sake of keeping her husband on his toes. Just as he was unwilling to let her go, she was just as determined to make her presence known. Not as a burden, but as his wife.
Okita grinned widely, "Sounds good." He quickly paid the shopkeeper. With practiced movements he slipped one arm under her legs and the other around her shoulders. Kagome still marveled at the strength of his grip. He hoisted her up as if she weighed next to nothing even with her blade tucked at the cinch of her obi. She leaned her head at the crook of his neck. His scent filled her senses and caused her body to relax. She felt his warmth through his touch and actions.
In that moment Kagome knew that she'd made the right choice. She would never regret joining with him in this time.
Hijikata continued to glare at the parchment in front of him. He'd been thoroughly scolded by a female no less. The man sighed heavily. She'd been correct. He had been too harsh on Okita. At least where their marriage was concerned. The man would still face repercussions for his lack of correspondence in the months he'd been gone.
"What do you think?" Sanan questioned. Round spectacles reflected in the afternoon's sunlight.
He looked back towards his companion, "I think she's a good fit for him, but that attitude…" his voice trailed off. It'd be a nightmare to deal with Okita if his wife continually busted on his chops like she did today. He'd have to speak with him about that later.
"You do have a certain weakness for headstrong women." Sanan commented. They'd left the Common Room shortly after Okita and his wife did. The two had retreated to Hijikata's personal study—the room in which he wrote his Haikus. It was private enough to allow them to speak freely away from Kondou. Their Chief was a good man but often too trusting. Especially where his men were involved.
"I do not believe that she is a threat." The Colonel stated simply. "Okita-kun is many things but easily deceived is not one of them." There was a short pause. "He's a man with a strong intuition. If he's given her his trust then it would be safe to assume that she poses no real threat to the Shinsengumi."
Hijikata's shoulders relaxed. He thought as much. She was an odd woman but that didn't make her dangerous to them. Okita would've killed her long ago if he felt that she were using him in such a way.
"So that just means he found someone twice as stubborn as himself." A headache started to form between his eyes. That was exactly what they needed at this point. Two Okita's.
Sanan's lips quirked upwards, "A meek woman would not have been able to capture his interest so thoroughly." He looked out towards the emerald boughs of the tree leaves. "I do have a proposition."
The Commander felt his headache increase in severity, "I don't know what you're going to say but the answer is no."
Sanan threw a wry smile at him, "I was merely going to suggest that we have her continue her training with the troops."
At his look of incredulity, the Colonel pushed forward.
"Okita-kun spoke very highly of her skills. You were also worried that the men could take her presence here negatively." Dark eyes shifted back to him. "If she's truly as good as he claims, then perhaps seeing her in such a light could improve the morale overall."
Now he'd lost it. Have a woman train with them? The guys would be at his throat for suggesting the very idea.
"I think you've lost your mind." Hijikata didn't bother to hide his frustration. "It's gonna be hell on earth just keeping them from bitching about the fact that Souji's prancing her in front of them. Now you suggest we let her fight?" He picked up his brush, turning his attention back to the unfinished sentence. "No matter how strong she is she's still just a woman. I can't have my soldiers getting riled up over that. We've got enough to deal with."
Sanan remained silent. A knowing smile spread across his lips. The seed had been planted. All that was left was for their Commander to grow accustomed to the idea. Sanan stood. He brushed off his clothing and offered a slight inclination of his head.
"Please excuse me." With that he was gone.
Hijikata grimaced. Let the woman fight? Okita's word alone wouldn't be enough to convince him. He'd need something more substantial then the praises of a man who'd taken her for his wife. Once it was earned, Okita's loyalty was steadfast—like the iron of which their swords were cast. As such he could be easily blinded by that ferocious loyalty given the right circumstances.
The Commander neither felt the inclination nor the obligation to think on the subject further. For now he'd have to reassign shifts since Okita's return. His eyes fell to the sentence. The words flowed once more as he went through the possibilities in his head.
Starting tomorrow, everything would change.
Okita smirked. Kagome held herself close to him as they wandered about the streets. He'd managed to keep a little of his money by camping out in the wilderness. They'd saved even more by hunting wild game and using the meat while it remained fresh. Doing both of which had saved them a great deal; enough that he could take her out like this without the fear of coming up empty handed.
Her eyes had closed as soft breaths passed through her lips. She was amazingly stubborn. She'd never admit to her exhaustion unless he forced the issue. In this case by offering her something more than just a reprimand and back to be carried on, he'd given her the option of doing something else. Something that allowed her to maintain their proximity without diminishing her pride.
"Hey," The ronin nudged her with his cheek. "We'll be back soon." His wife made a small noise of agreement, then promptly fell asleep. She burrowed herself deeper into his neck and chest. He didn't think she'd ever truly realize how cute she was.
The man walked down the cobbled pathways. Eyes watched them in a mixture of fear and curiosity. Even without his official haori, his presence was still widely known through the town. People feared him. They feared the people he served. Most of all, the feared the amount of death he'd left in his wake. So seeing him carry a woman so tenderly through the streets was bound to start a few rumors. Not that he minded at this point. Having people talk about his wife positively was something he'd take great pride in.
His eyes narrowed at the gates of the compound. The soldiers were still huddling near the entrance. All of their eyes were centered directly upon them. A small grin pulled at his lips. As he passed under the gates, he turned his attention towards the curious crowd.
"Just so you know," A familiar sharpness entered his tone. "She's off limits. Find yourselves your own wives." It was a cruel joke. The other men booed at him in jest. The ronin continued on to the Yagi House. Like hell he'd just let them gawk at her. Perhaps he did have a bit more of a possessive streak in him than he'd realized.
Okita paused as a towering frame came into view. His brows furrowed. He knew exactly who had just cut him off.
"Okita-kun," A red-haired male bowed his chest indignantly. Sharp eyes narrowed at the woman cradled in his arms protectively. "I did not think you'd be the type to bring a woman here." He sneered at her in disgust. "You would do well to send her to the secondary compound."
The Captain bristled. The secondary compound was one owned by the Aizu domain. The wives, mistresses and bastard children of the rank-and-file soldiers were often shipped there to live. In order for a female to be permitted to the main compound she'd have to be married to a Captain or higher. Given most of their bachelor statuses and Kondou's wife being fervently against them, Kagome would be the first woman to rightfully walk these halls. Jealousy and Envy was bound to occur in the lower ranked soldiers.
Okita kept his smile sharp. He met the other man's eyes, "What's wrong, Takeda? You feeling a bit jealous since even the brothel whores won't touch you?" He curled his arms more securely over his wife. He did not trust this man. He was a snake that had done well to charm Kondou into giving him the rank of Captain—but he had little in the way of actual ability. He was sleazy; a true mark against the Shinsengumi name.
"Why you…" Takeda bristled. He didn't dare start a fight. The only thing he had over him was height. Outside of that they both knew who the stronger fighter was.
"Do yourself a favor," Okita brushed past him roughly. "Get yourself laid. You're too damn high strung." He didn't bother listening to the faint sounds of the man's sputtering. He wouldn't be the first to act in such a way.
Kagome would face this sort of vitriol each day until they could garner acceptance from the others. His jaw clenched tightly. They had a long and hard battle in front of them but he wasn't afraid. He'd travelled this far with her. He wasn't going to give up now.
Okita brought them back to his quarters. Everything had been left just the way it was six months ago. A few of the Captains had made a point of cleaning it periodically as no dust could be found. Carefully, he set Kagome on the ground. He leaned her back against the wall as he went in search of his futon. They were going to need a larger one soon but this would do for now.
Once the sheets had been rolled out, he carefully moved her to the bed. Kagome cracked her eyes open. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently pulled him down next to her.
"No." The petulant tone in her voice cause him to crack a smile. "You're staying right here." She buried herself back into his chest. Her hands moved from his neck down to the exposed line of his collarbone.
"Who says I was going anywhere?" The man settled in next to his wife. She was beyond exhausted. When she was sleepy like this she reacted in only a few ways. In this case, she'd decided that he'd made the perfect hugging pillow and refused to let go. He wouldn't complain. It was nice having her hold him like this.
Kagome furrowed her brows. Her palms pushed at the fabric of his haori and kosode.
"No." Her voice was hardly audible. "It's in the way."
The man blew a breath of laughter through his lips. He helped her remove the top portion of his clothing. Once finished, she pressed herself further into his bared chest and threw one arm over his back. Delicate nails traced affectionate lines down the small of his back. A shiver followed the path of her touch over his flesh.
Okita pillowed her head under one of his arms as he wrapped the other around her waist. He pulled them flushed together. This was their life now. No matter the trials they would face in the future, they'd be facing them together. That was all that'd mattered.
Okita's eyes focused on his wife's peaceful expression. He curled his arm to trail the tip of his finger across her forehead; pushing back a strand of hair.
She'd chosen him. Now it was time he fulfilled his duty to her. His smile warmed. His honor as a man depended on it.
A/n: Surprise! Got another one ready! XD Honestly I'm playing a bit of catch up here since I'd gone so long without updating. Part of the reason was reworking the plot as the original draft had changed so drastically by this point. Right now this is going to focus more on Kagome's attempts to settle into a new life with the Shinsengumi. She won't always have it easy but she's a resilient character. She's more than capable of facing these sort of issues head-on.
I will admit that in every draft Kagome and Hijikata have a bit of a battle of the wills during their first meeting. She knows that he's the Commander but Kagome's only priority at this point is supporting Okita. In every draft she'd always feel that her husband was being unfairly judged, and in this case he was. The two will eventually come to an understanding and things will smooth out but they definitely have a bumpy start.
I can't say how many chapters it'll take before we get to Chizuru's arrival but I don't think it'd take nearly as many as the short Edo saga that we just finished.
I did decide to cut the travel arc as I felt that it wouldn't do much overall for the story. Much of the highlights I would have covered were in this chapter so I decided to keep it brief.
I am going to try to get at least one more update before Valentine's Day but don't hold me to it. XD It'll really just depend on a few outside forces to be honest.
Also thanks so much for all of your reviews! You guys are honestly the best. I'll try to spoil you with as many updates as I can before May. I'd like this story to be completed by early 2021 if I can. Based on my estimates even if I posted once a week from now until the end of February 2020, I'd probably still not be able to finish. It's that in depth of the plot.
Story wise, it's currently late June/early July of 1863. It was brought up in AO3 before but I'd made a mistake in my historical timeline as the Shinsengumi hadn't changed their name until January 1864. Instead of revamping what was already done, I'd decided to keep writing as is. Currently I plan to take this story up to approximately May 1869; where Okita's in-game epilogue occurs. So we're in it for the long haul here. ;)
Wish me luck guys. I'm gonna try to get on my writing again to finish this story by then. It's something I take a lot of joy and pride in, and I'm so glad you do too. Thanks so much. Consider this a dedication to you all.
**Yagi House—One of the three houses in which the Shinsengumi took residence in while they were stationed in Mibu Village.