I don't own Hauouki or any of it's characters.


Chapter 5

"Up ahead Kondo-dono." Susumu called as he came riding towards them, his short brown hair whipping in his eyes. "There's a full company of guards waiting for us."
"So much for stopping at the Inn first." Kondo huffed, he needed a stiff drink to calm his nerves. "Well, let's go then." He spurred his horse to a brisk trot, climbing the last rise before the town of Hiroshima was laid bare before them.

The late evening sun painted the town with long, creeping shadows, swallowing the many small dwellings littered in the basin. Hiroshima was quiet compared to the bustle of Kyoto, only a few vendors called for their last customers of the day, the shuffle of feet clearly audible in the dusty streets, not like Kyoto, where the sound of footfalls were drowned by voices, banter and laughter.

As they rode down the incline towards the town center, Kondo realised that the peace and calm was a farce, uneasy glances shot from passersby, the townspeople very much on edge, there seemed to be armed soldiers on every street corner, the air tense and electrified.
Kondo glanced back seeing his thoughts reflected on Hijikata's face, he gave him a slight nod before slowing his horse's pace to fall in step with Hijikata.

Approaching the official shogunate estate in the center of the town, the military presence grew visibly, soldiers idly chatting away or preparing for their change in shifts.
"A lot of them around." Hijikata commented off-handedly, trying to look non-fussed about it.
"Especially for a supposed secret meeting." Kondo muttered, a thought came to him and he leaned closer to Hijikata "Do you think the Shogun is here Toshi-san?" he whispered.
"I don't know, security would suggest that…but…we would have known…wouldn't we?"
Kondo shrugged. "We should know, but there are days that I'm not sure how trusted we are, we'll have to wait and see what this meeting is about."

The large gates creaked open as they came down the paved path and they were met with the opposite of what they expected. Their horse's clip-clopping seemed deafening in the dusk filled gardens, only a few guards dotted the edge of the garden unlike outside the estate.
"Why all the show?" Hijikata muttered next to Kondo.
"Could be to attract attention, a misguided enemy is a weak enemy." Susumu commented as they dismounted their horses, servants rushing to take their bridles.

As they entered the Shoin styled mansion, a guardsman greeted them with a salute before showing them to an empty waiting room, leaving with a promise of refreshments while they wait. Moments later a petite serving girl entered with a tray of steaming tea. Kondo sighed. "The least they could do is give us some saki."

/

She sat on the windowsill, staring at the man sleeping soundly on the futon. She didn't need a lot of light, a creature of the night, her eyes were accustomed to the dark and the strands of moonlight coming from outside were enough for her to admire the sight.

His red brown hair was loose and strewn over the small pillow, his thick lashes hiding his eyes from her, his lips were set in an easy smile as he dreamt of something pleasant. Softly her feet touched the bamboo floor as she climbed down from her seat, she made no sound sneaking closer, reaching his side she knelt down, placing a gentle hand on his chest.

His breath came steady and she was delighted to hear the smooth exhale of air from his chest, smiling she looked at his serene face and let out a small sigh.
"If only things were different, if only I was different." a momentary flash of a frown crossed her face before she made peace with her own fate and peered down at the man that had somehow captured her… is it my heart or imagination that you caught? Maybe both.

Rummaging through her satchel she took out a small green vial, filled with a mixture that had taken much to acquire, she spun the vial in her hand, mesmerized by the play of green shades in the moonlight.
"Hopefully I can bring more." she whispered to herself placing it on the floor, next to the futon. Her gaze returned to him, her heart skipping a beat just by the sight, leaning forward until her nose nearly touched his, she smiled. You are a handsome man Okita Souji.

He sighed softly, as if he heard her, and turned in his sleep, unconsciously slinging his arm around her shoulder, pulling her down towards him. Her heart stopped for a few seconds, her breath taken by his scent, her agility by the warmth of his embrace, he muttered something under his breath and tried to pull her even closer.

NO.

She scrambled from his arms, knocking over the green vial and nearly stumbling over a loose pillow on the floor. Flustered she quickly scanned the room to make sure she wasn't detected before darting towards the window. Perching on the windowsill once more, she gave Okita a last longing stare before escaping into the safety of the night, cursing herself for her infatuation, her weakness.
An unfinished, too revealing note accidentally dropped from her pocket rolled over the edge of the windowsill onto the floor below.

/

The distinct noise of glass on wood woke him. Half asleep, Okita's hand instinctively reached for his katana and unsheathed it. Sitting upright, his sight obscured by darkness, he used his ears to scan the night, nothing… he sighed. And my dreams were so pleasant.
He could still feel her warm body in his arms, so vividly so, that it seemed more real than ever. He sighed again before he realised the window on the far side of the room was wide open, a soft chill sweeping over his face.
"Odd." He muttered as he raised himself from his futon, intent on closing the gaping hole, a rush of Orange Blossom bombarded his nose and he froze. She was here…maybe…

He spun around searching for a source of light, his fingers fumbling with the flint as he tried to light the lamp next to the futon. Please be here, please…

Light bloomed from the lamp and his eyes painfully adjusted, the bright light subsided to reveal his room empty. She's not here. Okita's heart sank, falling back on his futon his mind wandered to the mystery. Who is she? And why…
He stretched out his arms, his hand brushing cold glass, with a start he looked up and saw a familiar green vial lying on the floor. Gripping the glass he brought the container to his face, watching as the foul smelling liquid twirled and circled itself.

"Why are you helping me?" he whispered, he was confused and felt annoyance rise through him. "Why will you not show your face?"
His mind wondered to their first, and to him, their only meeting.
She wore armour, she was skilled, more so than most and killing a man did not bother her, she was not a stranger to violence...could you be the enemy? But then...why help me? Okita had a momentary doubt in his mind about the vial in his hand. No. He shook his head, something inside told him she did not want to kill him. Still he was perplexed.

A note, the last vial came with a note. He placed the vial on the floor once more and searched the room, seeing what he was looking for on the ground next to the open window. He scrambled to get up, reaching the tied roll of paper in seconds, ripping off the twine he immediately recognised the elegant angles of her writing. His heart thumped as he read.

Shinsengumi-dono
I am pleased to see you have taken the elixir, I feared that you would not, given its unknown origin. Thankfully it seems to be working. I would ask that you use this vial sparingly, I do not know when I will be able to return with more,
I have been sent on a mission of great importance which

Also, I would recommend caution around Yamanami Keisuke-dono, I believe he is suspicious of your actions of late.

The note ended abruptly and was written in haste, Okita strained his eyes to read the scratched out parts. A mission? How did she know so much? Sannan-san? What did he know? His mind raced through all the questions but they vanished as his chest warmed re-reading the note, realising that her words were soft and admitted her worry for him, written in a caring tone, was there more to those words? He didn't like that she would not return soon and from what he could gather from the scratched out writing, it seemed like something serious. Next time I'll be awake and waiting, he promised himself as he dampened the flame of his lamp, his mind occupied by the mystery that was her.

/

It was silent in the large room as Kondo-dono gave thought to what he had just heard.

The Mori Clan was formidable and to hear that they have enlisted numerous Shogunate defectors was disheartening, there were rumours that they had joined with even darker forces, something that Susumu's operatives were investigating at that very moment. A full offensive against them in the heart of enemy territory was a frightening thought, even to the leader of the Shinsengumi.

Kondo looked up at the line of stern faces in front of him. I really need a drink, he thought as he cleared his throat to speak.
"Are we sure this is wise? Do we have any idea of their strength?"
A heavy-set bald man answered, "That is why we requested Yamazaki-san be present, he will be given orders after this meeting."
Hijikata looked over at Susumu questioningly, Susumu shrugged in answer, not knowing any more than the rest of the Shinsengumi.

"Fine, we will meet at the rally point in a month's time." Kondo was loathe to agree to this reckless plan, but saw no choice in the matter.
"Then you and your second are dismissed, Yamazaki-san stay for your orders." the bald man said, not even looking at Kondo as they left.

As they entered the empty waiting room, Hijikata turned to Kondo.
"This is insane!" was all he blurted before picking up his belongings.
"I know, they're sending us in blind, almost all of their troops, they must be terrified of something."
"Dark forces, what on earth does that mean?" Hijikata was clearly upset, his face flushed in anger.
"I have no idea Toshi, and it scares the hell out of me..." Kondo shuddered as he thought of what those words could entail. "Come, we can't waste time here, we need to prepare..."
"Prepare for what..." Hijikata's ominous words hung heavily in the air as they rushed to find their horses.