I don't own Hauouki or any of it's characters.
"Understood." The confirmation came firmly from her mouth as she stared into the dark grove before her, the slight echo of her own voice sending a cold shiver down her spine.
Knelt down in submissive respect, Kasumi felt annoyance rise in her chest, she hated bowing to anyone, even her superiors. Always so bossy, always looking down. She smirked inwardly. If only they knew.
Her annoyance didn't just come from the unexpected late night meeting with her elusive leader but also the from the fact that her night's plans were now all but ruined, she would never make it to Kyoto tonight, something that she really looked forward to, her secret routine that always ended with her watching at him, his eyes never fell on her, but hers were always trained on him.
Staying in that position for a few minutes longer, she pondered the information she had just received and the new orders resulting from it. A small smile formed on her full lips, the full realisation only coming after her annoyance had subsided. "It would have happened eventually." she softly murmured to herself.
She rose, slowly, grunting as stiff pain shot through her leg, she unconsciously rubbed the new cut, wincing when she nicked the edge slightly.
"Shinsengumi-dono, you will be the death of me yet." She chuckled, shaking her head.
Sauntering back to camp, she did not notice the newcomer until he was only a few feet from her, his loud, warning cough alerting her.
"Shin…Shinji-san." She stuttered as the man came from the dark to stand in front of her. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same, Sumi-chan."the man replied with a gruff, suspicious tone, one dark eyebrow raised in question, his disheveled hair hanging in his face hiding his true expression. "It's dangerous out here at night…so far away from the camp."
"I just needed some time alone." Kasumi shrugged, pushing past him to continue on her way, as she passed him he grabbed her wrist, stopping her dead in her tracks.
"I'll walk you back." His eyes met hers, saying much more than his lips uttered, she glared at him furiously, seeing the intention in his gaze.
"Shinji…stop it, you know it's not an option." Kasumi jerked her wrist from his grip, her eyes thinning to a scorching squint.
"Fine." he growled, "But the day will come that you will be begging."
A long, tense moment passed between them, each trying to stare the other down, a near electric static filling the air around them. Kasumi felt the hairs in the back of her neck rise with the anger and annoyance, like a cornered cat, she could feel her hands clench, nails ready to strike out.
"We'll see." She spat the challenge at him. "...I don't have time for this Shinji."
She started towards the camp again, shoulders stiff as she walked faster her strides longer than necessary, Shinji followed, close on her heels, silent but still very present.
/
Two days had passed since the Commander and Hijikata-san had left, and word had since been sent that it was not just the Shinsengumi leaders that were called upon, but various other people in power across the district.
The base was bristling with anticipation, tense conversations and speculations ruled the dinner table as everyone waited for their leaders to return.
Okita walked into his room, drenched in sweat from his practice bout, Nagakura had brutally taken him through his paces, throwing everything he could at Okita.
"I'm getting weaker." he sighed as he fell down on his futon, his body bruised and aching, without thought his eyes moved to the unused green vial next to his pillow.
Should I try?
He thought of Asuka's face when she saw him limping towards his room, blood on his cheek and torn arm, her eyes were wide in near panic, rushing towards him to help. He had brushed her off, angrily ordering her to leave him alone, he felt ashamed, beaten and he merely watched as she cringed at his voice before quietly taking her leave. I should apologise.
He sighed, reaching out to touch the cold glass of the mysterious vial, it felt smooth under his fingers and he stared at the liquid within. That morning he had woken with a bout of coughs worse than ever, blood had covered his hands and his sheets were stained, his limbs ached and he couldn't move for minutes.
And then...Nagakura had beat him...hands down.
Okita shuddered at the thought, he was one of the best swordsmen in Japan and Shinpachi Nagakura had beaten him without even breaking a sweat, and here he was, exhausted, drenched and waiting for a storm of coughs to wrack his body. He let out another long sigh, which made the bloody coughs spill from his chest into his mouth.
His hand clenched around the neck of the green vial, as he doubled over in pain, clenching his abdomen, he thought of the note that accompanied the vial and slipped his hand under his pillow to find the scrap of paper, his lifeline. When he felt it's brittle edges a wave of reassurance washed over him, the coughs died down to an uncomfortable scratch in his throat and after a few moments a slight smile touched the corner of his mouth. I don't have much to loose, I'll put my faith in you.
With a single swift movement he popped off the cork and brought the vial to his lips, trying not to breathe as he gulped down the repulsive liquid. Like a river of flaming lava it went down his throat, setting his chest on fire as it reached his damaged lungs, he sputtered, coughed, stars flashing before his eyes from the painful fire. His head was swimming, fighting for consciousness, he fell back feeling the imaginary spin of his futon, no the whole world spun, it spun until all the colours around him swirled to a stark black, a black that swallowed him whole. Peace?
Minutes, maybe hours later he opened his eyes, the burning had ebbed to a comfortable warmth in his chest, cautiously he took an experimental deep breath, waiting for more coughs to erupt, nothing came and he soon realised that it was easier to breathe, the stitch he had felt with every breath for the last few months was gone. Slowly sitting up, Okita exhaled, feeling air freely rush from his lungs, no pain, just normal air leaving his body. He instinctively patted himself down, checking if everything was still were he remembered, a wave of relief crashed down on him and he burst into a fit of laughter, the first time in months that he felt like himself again.
"Okita-san?" he only heard Sannan-san's voice after the third greeting, with a huge grin he looked up at his friend standing in the open door's frame.
"Yes Sannan-san?"
"Are you alright? I saw Asuka crying earlier and...well...Chizuru said something about you being furious and shouting." Sannan stared down at his friend questioningly, the empty green vial laying on the floor not escaping his notice.
"I am..." Okita stared down at his hands in wonder, turning them over like it's the first time he noticed them. "I am great Sannan-san." his voice heavy with elation.
"I'll apologise to Asuka-chan, she caught me at a bad moment."
"Ah, I heard Nagakura-san had given you quite the beating...unusual to say the least...are you sure everything is fine?"
"Yes, yes, perfect." said Okita as he lifted himself from the floor, new life in his limbs and his heart.
"As long as you say so Okita-san." Sannan's voice was laced with suspicion as he turned to leave, the image of a green vial imprinted in his mind.I'll find out what's going on Okita, you've never been good at hiding things.
Okita looked on as Sannan-san left, a joyful smile still painted on his face.
I am in your debt again, Mistress of Mist. He chuckled. Mistress of Mist, I think that's suits you perfectly. After a few seconds Okita laughed again, his silly notion growing on him as he left his room to find Asuka-chan.
/
Susumu was growing tired of his commander's incessant humming, from old folk songs to tunes he'd only heard in less than respectable establishments, the commander never stopped and Susumu felt himself on the verge of exploding.
"Kondo-dono, will the Shinsengumi be ready if this turned out to be an order for war?" Susumu couldn't think of any other way to get him to stop.
"AH, we're always ready Susumu-san, you should know that." the commander grinned a toothy grin at the young spy. " Besides, I think the boys will enjoy getting more than just practice, they've cleaned most of the Kyoto streets, not much a challenge left there."
"But that could be a problem Kondo-dono." Hijikata's serious voice came from behind. "No matter what our orders are, we should start with a more rigorous exercise program when we return, I don't want the men to grow soft because there is no challenge." Hijikata's brow knitted in worry.
"You worry too much Toshi, we have the best men in Kyoto...maybe even the country, they won't let themselves grow soft."
Hijikata shot a doubtful look at his commander, one that Susumu did not miss.
The commander turned slightly in his saddle so he could see both the men accompanying him.
"Now if you two are done with your eyeballing, I am sure I can get back to annoying Susumu-san with my humming." with that the commander started a particularly high-pitched tune, one he had learnt from a very curvy lady at a very disreputable inn, he smiled, trying to keep his darkening thoughts at bay.
He was worried. Susumu-san had brought word that other organisations were also called for, Susumu's intelligence corps included, this worried Kondo more than he let on, this meeting was out of the ordinary, even for the shogunate.
Stealing a glance backwards, he once again heard Hijikata-san's voice in his head...the men grow soft...Your opinion might well be valid Toshi, I don't know if we are ready for war. The skill might be there, but our hearts?Kondo's thoughts went to his men, the men who had brought order to Kyoto, the men who fought with pride, Harada, Nagakura, Okita, Heisuke, Todo, Saito. No, we can handle anything that comes our way.Kondo convinced himself, trying to ignore the faint tickle of nervousness in the back of his mind and heart.
