I don't own the Hakuouki anime or any of it's characters.

Her fingers lightly brushed his brow, moving stray strands of hair from his face. He felt her softly tracing the contour of his cheek, lovingly stroking it as her delicate fingers sent ripples down his spine, he concentrated on her warm touch as she purred his name in a whisper, her voice soothing away all the tension in his aching limbs, her mere presence bringing him peace he had not known for years.
He reached up to pull her closer to his body, but she evaded him, intangible like mist, a soft chuckle escaping her invisible lips as he grasped at nothing.
"Elusive as ever." he murmured sleepily.
He heard the smile in her voice as she whispered close to his ear, her breath tickling in his neck, "As it should be."
A smirk crossed his face, quickly to be replaced by a nervous smile as he felt the heat of her body draw near, her hand cupping his cheek, she was closer than ever and his mind raced with want, he wanted to crush his lips to hers, he wanted to taste her, he wanted her body in his embrace.
The faint tickle of her hair on his face made him shiver in anticipation, her soft lips lightly brushing against his own, once again he reached up, needing to span the small gap still separating their lips.

"Okita!" Nagakura's voice boomed into his ears, breaking the fragile dream into a million pieces, "Kondo-dono is leaving soon, get up." A loud hammering on the door frame followed by Nagakura's heavy stomping down the passageway brought Okita fully out of his slumber.
"Shit, damn you Nagakura...why now?" Okita hissed to himself through clenched teeth.

With a heavy heart he lifted himself form the futon, sitting up straight, waiting for the coughs to wrack his body. Nothing came.
"At least something good." Okita muttered dragging his palm across his face, as he readied himself to get up he noticed something from the corner of his eye, slowly he turned in its direction.
"What is that? And where..." his eyes quickly scanned the room, looking for an intrusion, something out of place, only to find it as it always was, bare.
He carefully reached for the object, a green glass vial with a cork stopper, it was cold to the touch and Okita winced at the iciness of it, as he lifted it from the floor a small piece of paper that was tied to the neck fell to the bamboo covered ground. Intrigued, he picked it up, turning it in his hand.
It was tightly bound with twine and seemed to be a note of some sort, Okita undid the knot, eager to read what was written inside. The writing was eloquent, beautiful, clearly written by someone well educated, the paper was just a scrap but it was clear that the ink was expensive, the quality was in the deep colour.

Shinsengumi-dono.

Since our meeting I have found myself deeply troubled by your illness.
I have seen this illness before and I know the pain that comes with it, I do not wish to see you suffer. Please accept the vial I left at your bedside, it's not a cure but will surely help with your symptoms, I discovered it on one of my many journeys and the Isha that gave it to me is a good, honest man. He had sworn on his family that it would work.

The note wasn't signed and stopped abruptly, like it was written in haste.
Okita stared at the piece of paper in disbelief, he brought it closer to his face to make sure it was real, a faint scent of orange blossom clung to it and filled his nose, closing his eyes he slowly breathed in the aroma, enjoying it's citrusy smell.
A stark realisation came to him. She had been there, in his room, so close to him. He unknowingly moved his hand to his cheek, still feeling her warm touch, her delicate fingers tracing his jaw, her breath on his neck.
I know you are real now, he smiled, I was starting to doubt my sanity, but...was this real...or a dream? His hand stayed where he had felt hers for a few seconds before he dropped his it to his lap, his heart willing his dreamt memories to life, making them real in his mind. He felt his smile spread until his face split into a grin, his heart beating slightly faster.

Feeling intoxicated by his thoughts, he decided to study the vial closer. Holding it up to the light, he saw the liquid inside swivel around effortlessly as he tilted the vial, it seemed to be clear inside its green glass container. The cork came out with a "pop" as he carefully removed it, a stifling odour spilling from the vial, Okita nearly chocked as he got a full breath of it in his mouth. He carefully brought it back to his nose to take a brief sniff, he didn't recognise any ingredient and was once again repulsed by the odor.
"Poison?" Okita took a last whiff from the vial. "No...it's can't be, she wouldn't...or..." He was taken by doubt, his heart telling him to use the potion, lobbying for his mysterious visitor, his head shouting warnings at him. He was confused, conflicted, a deep frown replacing the smile of a moment ago.

"Okita-san?" Sannan's soft voice came from outside the door. "Are you coming, Kondo-dono and Hijikata-san are about to leave."
With a start Okita remembered why he had been so rudely awoken in the first place. Scurrying from his futon he scrambled to get dressed, placing the vial back on the floor as he rose.
"Apologies Sannan-san, I'm having a slow morning." he grinned as he pushed past Sannan to leave for the courtyard.
"Sannan-san." Sannan looked up at Okita who was already halfway to his destination.
"Will you please close my door." he shouted.
"Sure." Sannan replied loudly, turning back to do as he was asked, taking the door edge in his hand, he threw a quick glance across Okita's room, immediately noticing the green vial next to his futon.
An eyebrow raised, Sannan stared at it for a few seconds before sliding the door closed, turning to join his comrades. "What are you up to Okita?"

/

It was a clear morning, spring was close and the last winter snow was slowly melting on the muddy, slippery ground, a cool breeze blew through the courtyard where the Shinsengumi were gathered, their blue overcoats fluttering in a synchronised dance.

Asuka stood with the men, waiting, she did not understand the importance or urgency of what was happening, she did not understand politics or men who killed for the Shogunate, but she had grown to like the Shinsengumi and as such, she wished Kondo and Hijikata-dono all the best in their travels.

She scanned the group, looking for one person in particular, as her gaze turned back to the household she saw her main subject of interest approaching hastily.
"Okita-dono" she whispered, her heart skipping a beat as the sun caught the red highlights in his brown hair, the morning rays showing off his handsome features. He passed her and gave her a short greeting, her heart nearly melted as his light green eyes and soft smile met hers, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen, her smile spreading wide and girlish.
He stopped a few feet in front of her, taking his place next to Harada-san, his shoulders were broad and strong, his tall frame lean but well built, the looseness of his uwagi not hiding his muscular chest and arms. Asuka let out a wistful sigh as she stared at his back, the conversation at the front of the small gathering only a hum in her ears.

"Judging by the weather the journey might take longer." Kondo-dono said while staring at the muddy ground.
"Which means we should leave immediately Kondo-dono." Hijikata said, his nervous hand gestures and near clenched teeth a clear sign that he was worried, apprehensive for this meeting. His nervousness did not go unnoticed by the gathered Shinsengumi and more than one of them raised an eyebrow in curiousness.
"Why is Toshi so tense?" Harada mumbled in Okita's ear.
"I don't know, I've rarely seen him like this, and it's never been a good sign when I did."
"Should we be worried?"
Okita carefully studied Hijikata, seeing the tired lines on his face and slight twist in his neck muscles, his shoulders unnaturally straight and stiff, he then turned his gaze to the Commander, who was still holding the reins of his horse loosely, his face relaxed, carrying a broad smile as he said his goodbyes to Chizuru and Asuka.
"Not yet Harada-san." Okita said plainly.

/

She heard the arrow whirr through the air before she saw it's glint, it cut a clear path for itself, slicing through the cold of the late afternoon, it was off target and she didn't even try to dodge the deadly projectile as it hit the tree behind her with a distinctive, deadly thud. She wasn't the target, she realised when she noticed a small rolled up note attached to the shaft, sealed with a crest she would recognise in an instant.
Kasumi ripped the arrow from the tree trunk, skimming the area to make sure no-one was there to notice her delivery, satisfied that she was alone, she broke the seal.
"What do we have here?" she muttered to herself as she carefully unrolled the paper, quickly reading it's contents she grinned, a feral, dangerous grin, it only had one phrase scrawled on it's surface.
The nightingale sings.
The note ended with a symbol only she recognised as signifying ten days.

Kasumi crumpled the note in her hand and set to breaking the arrow shaft into pieces. Leisurely walking back to the camp, and excited pit in her stomach, she threw both note and shaft in the closest fire pit she could find, watching the momentary flare as they caught fire.
"Oba-chan." she addressed the old, greying lady approaching her.
"Yes Sumi-chan?"
"How long until we reach Kyoto, the weather has been so bad lately."
"Four...maybe five days sweetheart, the wagons are struggling with the wet road, if we were travelling on foot we would have been there already." the old lady said in a somber tone.
"I know." Kasumi said with a mischievous grin.
"Are you excited to see the city?" the old lady asked innocently.
"More than you can imagine Oba-chan...more than you can imagine." a loud chuckle escape her lips, her heart feeling warm and excitement simmering in her veins.