The stifling heat simmered on the horizon as the sun beat the earth with fisted rays, hot dust swirled around weary legs as the lines of Shinsengumi regiments trampled the already worn road to the border.
Hijikata flicked an annoying drop of sweat from his eye, cursing inwardly at his own discomfort. They were moving slow, most of the Shinsengumi enduring the many miles of traveling on foot, only the captains and higher ranking Shinsengumi were privileged enough to have a horse to ride, but horse or not, the heat still beat on them all the same.
Hijikata stopped under a tree, taking in the shade as he waited for his regiment to catch up to him. Surveying the troops as they trailed into the distance he noticed Okita veering off into the forest on the edge of the path.
Worry flitted across his face as he watched, it was not the first time that day that Okita had broken the line, something was wrong, Hijikata was certain he looked paler each time he returned to the troops.
They needed him at his best, not only as one of the best swordsmen alive, but also as a friend, as an adviser. Okita's sharp eye and keen judgment had saved them more than once, be it in a fight or personal matter.
Yes, they needed him, there was no telling what lay ahead in the next few days. Fear nipped at the edges of Hijikata's mind as he stared at the opening into the forest that Okita used seconds before.
"You've noticed too." Sannan's voice came from behind him, deep and insightful, laced with a twinge of worry himself.
"Do you know?" Hijikata simply asked as he turned to Sannan.
"No, but he has been acting strangely for some time now." A thoughtful silence followed before Sannan continued. "At first I thought he had fallen prey to a drug, but then he told me it was a woman."
"A woman?" shock rang in Hijikata's voice.
"She saved him, at least that's what he claims. I rebuked him, banned him from contacting her...I suspect there is more to this than a simple infatuation though." Both men found themselves staring at the empty spot , an uneasy silence fell between them, saying more than words could.
Sannan cleared his throat to chase away the silence.
"He seems to have developed some kind of ailment since then…maybe…maybe I had made a mistake in forbidding the relationship?"
"Sannan-san, we all know the regulations we accept when we join the Shinsengumi, I doubt Okita-san would simply ignore our rules."
"I'm not so sure Hijikata-san, he had a look in his eyes that I did not understand, he looked…desperate, no…it was something else, something I can not place."
They turned to look as Okita returned from the forest, noticeably shaken, he rejoined his regiment, shoulders slumped, head hanging low.
"We should talk to him tonight, he can not fight like that." Hijikata yanked his horse's reins, urging the beast into a light trot to rejoin his men.
"I don't think that argument will give Okita-san the encouragement he needs Hijikata-san, he has changed" Sannan whispered to himself as he too turned to join the regiments.
/
The corrosive fire in his chest was unbearable. Okita found it near impossible to breathe as he clung to the reins in his hands, uncontrollable tremors wracked his body, making it difficult to command his horse as he tried to hide his discomfort from his troops.
Six days without any potion had taken it's toll, plagued with worry and fear had not helped either and Okita found himself in the worst shape ever. His few hours of sleep were restless, with visions of blood and death, a rich laugh slowly ebbing away until only silence was left.
He always hunted the sound, grabbing at it helplessly when he heard it close by, he never managed to take hold of it.
"Okita-san!" Harada's voice sliced through his pain-filled thoughts.
A strained "Yes?" was all he could manage.
"Are you alright? You look pale." a naughty glint came to his eye as he grinned. "Did you have some of Heisuke's cooking again? You know that could kill you."
Okita couldn't help but give a half smile as he heard Heisuke's protesting coming from a few feet away.
"Come to think of it Harada-san, I did have some suspicious looking eggs on my plate this morning, I only had a bite before I had to throw it away." Okita tried to pull a disgusted face, enjoying the gasp that came from Heisuke.
Harada's face instantly turned into one of dismay as he gently put his hand on Okita's shoulder.
"That's all you need me friend." he sighed."Only one bite, I'll make sure your burial is an honourable one."
Okita flinched at the words, even in jest they brought something to mind that was too close to home.
"Thank you my dearest friend." he said, a strained smile on his lips. "Please make sure that my ungraceful death is avenged." with that he turned from his friends, his chest about to erupt in another barrage of bloody coughs, flicking his reins he trotted off, hoping that he would make it to the tree line in time.
Harada looked on as his friend left, his posture slumped and tired in the saddle.
"Heisuke-san, something isn't right."
" I know." Heisuke replied with a frown. "Is my cooking really that bad?"
/
Her remarkably fast healing had never let her down. Kasumi was irritated as she picked at the tight bindings around her chest, her body, for once, taking it's time to give her back her mobility.
A last tug on the bandages came with a floral set of swear words, tears stinging at the brim of her eyes. She had to walk, urgency tugged at her as she once again tried to hoist herself from the hard pallet, pain sliced through her body as she came up from her seat, her chest straining against the bandages and her own skin. She felt a single tear run down her cheek as she finally straightened her legs and gingerly placed her weight on her hips and feet, a loud grunt coming from her tight lips.
She stood, moments trudging by as she waited for the pain to subside, her breath coming in short gasps, her mind racing through a plethora of emotions she had yet to deal with.
Then...
Her heart broke once more, as she saw Okita and Asuka, arms wrapped around each other, lips gently touching. Her breath hitched, her mind clamped down on the memory and snuffed it, sending it back to the furthest reaches of her mind.
A long breath followed, she had other troubles.
Finally regaining some of her composure she looked down at the ciphered note she had found under her pillow earlier.
The small piece of paper contained instructions, orders she did not necessarily like.
She had to leave.
Her newly found friends had to be discarded so she could do what she was made for, the same cycle repeating itself as she would vanish into the evening dusk, never to be seen again. She sighed as she contemplated her next move, packing, sneaking off, stealing a horse.
The long distance travel to the Aki Province would not be pleasant either, her body was not yet ready for the non-stop ride, nor the dangers that she would face alone. She only had four days to make the journey and once she arrived she was certain there would be no rest, the situation sounded urgent, it was very rare for her to be recalled into direct battle. She tried to flex her tired muscles as she re-read the last few sentences.
It was a rebuke for her injuries, but even in the harsh words she could feel the worry and care, a smile graced her full lips as she thought of the brotherly love she enjoyed from her Commander.
He was a strong willed and intelligent man with many worries and responsibilities weighing on his shoulders, still he made time for her, even if it was only to shout in writing. She often wondered if he did the same for others, if his compassion embraced more than just a few.
"Sumi-chan!" the old woman scurried towards her . "You're up" she grinned as she inspected Kasumi from closer, carefully touching her sides.
"I am oba-chan, I can't be lying around like a lazy neko forever."
The old woman laughed, her face wrinkling even more.
"I am relieved, your injuries seemed serious...please don't do that EVER again!" a stern look went Kasumi's way as the old woman started an avalanche of chides and advice, making sure Kasumi understood how worried she had been the last few days.
Kasumi listened in silence, taking in the old woman's concern for a last time, her heart and mind slowly letting go of the support she had found in wrinkled smile and haunched back.
/
Do they know? How?
Susumu pondered this as he watched the group of Mori Clan soldiers set up camp for the night.
From his hiding place he could see the men sharpening their blades and repairing there armour, light banter filling the air around them.
They are certainly preparing for battle, he thought. Why?
The Mori knew the Shogunate was moving to their border, but he himself had made sure that the information the Mori received was wrong, the main force seemingly would only arrive in a week.
Why would these men be preparing for battle now? And why here, did they know where the Shogun forces were heading?
Is there a traitor amongst us? his heart skipped at the dreadful thought.
Preoccupied with these questions, Susumu did not notice the slow, measured breathing a few feet away, the eyes observing him, hatred glinting in the moonlight. The hand eagerly clenching and unclenching a murderous blade.
Susumu rummaged through his satchel, taking out a small map of the area, by the moonlight only he plotted his position and marked it.
I have to get to Kono-dono. he thought as he stood, leaving his cover he vanished into the night like a ghost.
A whispered voice followed him. "Soon Yamazaki Susumu, soon I'll have my revenge..."
