Chp. 3: Admitting Feelings

It had been a month since I saw Kenshin at the festival. He crossed my mind once in a while, which always left me pondering on the same question: Why had he become an assassin without a question? The Kenshin I remembered always had a smile on his face, or if he was mad, the largest and most protesting mouth in the world. I kept all the thoughts in my head to myself, trying not to be much trouble. Sagara constantly kept me in touch of the Sekihoutai's plans and ambitions, and that was to gather soldiers from the farms using the government's pledge of a tax cut as the bribe. I really didn't think the government in the middle of the Revolution was very trustworthy, especially the Tokugawa Government. But Sagara was a trustworthy man, and I didn't think that he would lie about these things.

Sano-chan had become a little nicer, being a little humbled by the kicks I gave him at the festival. He and Katsu invited me to go fishing with them one day.

"C'mon, it'll be fun!" Katsu pleaded.

"Yeah, couldn't you come?" Sano-chan asked alongside Katsu.

"I don't know…"

"Please?" Katsu tried again.

"Uh…alright," I consented.

"Yes! Now I can push you in the water and get you back for the festival!" Sano-chan cheered.

"You know what?" I snapped, my good and patient mood gone. "I am going as a supervisor, and if you do anything fishy, I'm gonna dump you into the pond and drown you so that the fish can poke those annoying eyes of yours out! And that's not an empty threat, you hear, Sanosuke-chan!"

"Y-yeah, I hear you…but could you stop it with the 'chan' thing? Katsu always teases me about it," Sano-chan pleaded.

"No."

"And besides, Sano, you deserve it after what you said to her on her first day," Katsu grinned, taking two fishing poles and waving to Sagara. "You know you should respect elders, even if it is a girl, and you have to admit, she's a lot better in combat than you are."

"She is not!"
"Not meaning to brag or anything, but I have a tiny feeling that I am," I said, following the two of them.

"No one asked you, you manly-girl!"

That just crossed the line. I unhooked my bow, making sure Sagara was out of sight, and slammed it hard onto Sano's head. He fell to the ground, a huge bump growing on the top of his head.

"I'll have you know that there are probably many more 'manly-girls' out there in the world other than me. At least a lot more than some 'girly-guys', like you," I said coolly.

"Uh, Kikome-san, I have a small feeling he can't here you," Katsu stated weakly.

"That just gives me more work to do," I sighed. "Good thing Captain Sagara didn't see." I grabbed the neck of Sano's shirt and started dragging him after Katsu. Hearing my comment, Katsu grinned.

"You think very highly of him, don't you?" Katsu asked.

"You couldn't have picked a worse example," I answered. "This moron brought the doom on himself."

"No, not Sanosuke!" Katsu laughed weakly. "I meant Captain Sagara."

"What!"

"Don't act stupid, Kikome-san. I watch the captain while the meetings are progressing, and when he calls on you, you always give the most simple and direct answer possible," Katsu answered lightly.

"What's that got to do with anything?" I pouted.

"You see? With Sano and the rest of the army, you say your full opinion. And I see you thinking really hard at meal times; often you glance at Captain Sagara, obviously thinking that what you would do would be in his benefit or not."
"That still doesn't prove anything."

"You'll see," Katsu smiled slyly. "He'll fall for you eventually. You don't see it, but I do. I thought of telling Sanosuke, but—"

"Don't you dare tell what you think to anyone, you hear?" I said angrily. "Not that it's true, but there could be a rumor, and if there is, I'll know who to beat up like Sano-chan."

"Too late," Sano-chan's voice stated evilly. "I heard everything."

"WHY YOU—!"

Sano-chan pried away my fingers and stood up. "I heard every little thing Katsu said. What will Captain Sagara think?"

"Say one word and that bump on your head will become ten times larger than what it is already."

"You want to fight?" Sano-chan sneered. "I'll make you a deal. I'll duel you, just swords. But since you're older than me, I get to attack you first, and you can't attack me until I swipe. But you can't move while I attack."

"Sanosuke! That's a lose-lose situation for her!"

"That's the point," Sanosuke grinned triumphantly. "Captain Sagara will kick you out."

"First of all, what Katsu is saying is completely false, but you're probably not going to believe me. Second of all, I think you are the dirtiest duelist in the world, and probably not worth my time. However, since I worry about my reputation in this army, I'll agree to your circumstances. But what I'm saying is that I don't think Sagara will kick me out for a foolish reason as that. So if I win, then you won't tell anyone. If you win, then you can tell all the people you like. And if either breaks a rule of this contract, then the other can beat the crap out of them. First to get wounded loses. Is that satisfactory?" I asked dully.

"You bet. Here I come!" Sano-chan charged at me. He, being an amateur swordsman, was unaware of the clear path of the his blade. I unbuckled my sword and blocked with the sword in the sheath at the last minute.

"Hey, you cheated!" Sano-chan yelled.

"I did not," I retorted ignorantly. "My feet didn't move at all."

Sano looked down at my feet and frowned. I grinned inside. The little boy was completely helpless.

"Shall we continue?" I asked, drawing out my sword from it's sheath.

"N-no, I won't say a-a thing," Sano-chan stammered.

"You'd better not," I snarled. "That's a forfeit, so I win. Not one word, Sano-chan."

"S-sure…"

We came to the small lake. Katsu baited out his fishing line, showing Sano-chan what to do. I leaned on a tree, thinking.

Great, now I'm thinking about it, I grumbled. Captain Sagara is just the captain, there's nothing more to it. Besides, it's only been a month or so…AGH! This isn't getting anywhere! I sighed deeply, trying to sort things out. I think Captain Sagara is a good man and all, but… I glanced at Katsu and Sano-chan, Sano-chan dropping the second fish in a row. Katsu groaned. …what am I feeling? This feeling, it's as if…I attracted to him or something.

"Agh, dammit!" I yelled in the middle of nowhere, standing up and stringing my bow. Katsu and Sano-chan stared at me. "This is all your fault! I can't think straight!"

I notched three arrows at the same time and fired it at a tree. They struck the target and sank inside the wood.

"What are you two staring at me for?" I snapped, stringing another two arrows. "Keep fishing; I'm not gonna hurt you two anytime soon!"

"Any…time…soon?" Katsu stuttered weakly. "How about not hurting me at all?"

"Just keep fishing!"

I frowned in frustration as I chose farther targets and started hitting them harder. Half an hour or so passed as I kept targeting and firing, each shaft sinking deeper into the wood than the first.

"Ok, I guess that's enough," Katsu nodded approvingly at the pile of fish they had caught. "I caught most of them, but I guess that's alright."

"Shut up, Katsu," Sano-chan growled. "This was my first time."

"Well, if you didn't keep on yelling and complimenting yourself when you caught one, you would have caught more," Katsu teased.

"Gather your materials," I commanded, "and wait. I have to get my arrows."

I headed towards the trees and started pulling out my arrows from the tree trunks.

Now, we've got to go back to camp, I sighed, finishing up and starting to follow Katsu and Sano-chan. And then, I'm going to end up all light-headed in front of the Captain. I'm not going to screw anything up for him. I'll just act normal…so what's called NORMAL! I'm NOT normal! If I was normal, I wouldn't even be out here right now. I sighed, readjusting the weight of my bow and quiver on my shoulder. Katsu led us back to camp, and ran towards Captain Sagara, Sano-chan right at his heels. They showed him the fish that they caught.

"Look at this one, Captain," Katsu said excitedly. "It's really big, isn't it? I caught it! Sanosuke would have caught three, but he let go of two because he was praising himself on how good he was."

"Shut up Katsu," Sano-chan snapped, embarrassed. "It was my first time."

"It's alright, Sanosuke," Sagara smiled. "Everyone has their own mistakes and first times. It's quite understandable."

"See, Katsu," Sano-chan bragged, "even the captain thinks it's alright."

"Not if you compliment yourself every single time," Katsu muttered under his breath, laying down the fish and poles and heading towards his gunpowder equipment.

"Are you working again!" Sano-chan groaned. "I want someone to talk to!"

"Why not talk to Nato-san?" Sagara suggested. "Katsu has work to do."

"I think I'll pass," I said shortly, turning to the inside of camp. "I'll go prepare dinner."

"Why don't you go help her?" Sagara said. "It'll be a good experience, Sanosuke."

"Are you kidding?" Sano-chan replied dumbly. "Cooking's for women."

"That's not too true," I mentioned, picking up their fish and heading towards the pot. "My friend was quite a good cook if you ask me. He left quite a while ago though."

"Because he was a girl, more or less," Sano-chan grumbled. "Captain, why do I have to follow her?"

"Because," Sagara beckoned to Sano-chan and whispered something in his ear. I rolled my eyes and started boiling the already prepared water. Scaling the fish with a knife, I put it in the pot and started stewing it. I added some vegetables and waited for the bubbles to appear to add some more things. Sano-chan walked over to me.

"So what did Captain Sagara say?" I questioned dully, not looking up.

"Not much; he just wanted me to take over so you could take a walk with him," Sano-chan smirked.

I stared at him. "You do realize that if you cook, the whole army will die?"

"Shut up; you just don't want to admit the fact that you're in love with Captain Sagara."

I picked up my bow and raised it threateningly over Sano-chan's head. "Wasn't the deal that you wouldn't say anything about that?" I said, eyes flashing.

"Ok, ok, I won't say anything! But the Captain does want you to go on a walk with him."

I glanced over at Sagara. He caught my eye and smiled, beckoning with his hand to come with him. I sighed and stood up.

"Sano-chan, put the other vegetables in after the water boils."

"Uh…sure, no problem."

I walked towards Sagara, shouldering my bow and quiver.

"Glad you decided to come with me," Sagara smiled warmly.

"I just hope Sano-chan doesn't burn down the whole camp…or at least tries not to," I replied, walking beside him. "Where are we going?"

"Actually, I was going to ask you if you wanted to spar with me," Sagara admitted. "There is an empty field by; it's a good place to spar."

"It'd be my pleasure."

"That's great; I'm looking forward to it."

"So am I."

Sagara drew his sword and positioned himself.

"Just because you are a girl doesn't mean I'll be going to be easy on you," he commented. "After all, I am the captain of the Sekihoutai."

"I'm glad you aren't going easy," I answered, drawing my own sword. "It's good to know that someone doesn't lighten up just because of their opponent's gender."

"I'm the challenger, so here I come, Nato-san." Sagara sped off the ground at me, sword out. His mood was never changing, still the same, graceful smile on his face as he thrust his sword. I blocked quickly, flipped over him and swiped. He dodged and went head on, getting a little faster . I stood where I was until I sensed him behind me, then called upon the Hiten Mitsurugi's god-like speed and went quickly behind him. I lunged at him and caught him off guard. Sagara took a step back and blocked quickly, trying to get the gist of what I was doing. Regaining his balance, he struck down from above. I thrust out my sword and barred it. He leaned closer and stared at me.

"W-what's up with you staring at me like that?" I stammered, trying to keep his sword away from my range.

"But you're so beautiful, I can't help but stare," was his calm reply.

He leaned a little closer and placed his warm lips on mine. I dropped my sword. Sagara sheathed his without moving his lips and drew me closer to him. I found myself resting upon his warm chest, his kiss so blissful and warm.

"You know, I always thought you were different from every other girl I've seen," he breathed, resting his head on my shoulder. "You're so much more…serene. Ever since I saw you, you were so attractive." His arms closed firmly around my waist.

"Uh…Captain…"

"Call me Souzou."

"Uh…right," I stuttered. "Souzou, uh…"

"What?"

"Um…I guess I'm really attracted to you, perhaps in the same way," I said really quietly. "I never really realized it, until today, when I went fishing with Katsu and Sano-chan. Katsu mentioned it, and I didn't know it at first."

"Hah, that's what Katsu said to me a few days ago."

"He…he WHAT!"

"No so loud, Kikome," Souzou smiled, calling me by my first name. "He didn't want me to tell you."

"Oh, that little jerk."

Souzou chuckled and wrapped me in his arms harder and closer to him, as if he was afraid I would leave. I relaxed and rested my head on his chest, closing my eyes and listening to his heart beating in a slow, steady rate.

"Congratulations, Captain!" a voice from the bushes sounded. Souzou released me suddenly.

"Wha—what's going on?" I stammered, face flushed and beet red.

"Relax, it's just Katsu and Sanosuke," reassured Souzou. "You two, come out already!"

"Well, uh…" Katsu came out first, followed by Sano-chan. "I don't know if we should come too close, Captain."

"Why?" Souzou inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, uh...Kikome-san? Are you ok?" Katsu stammered, shrinking away from me.

"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU TWO!"