~Dedicated to Kaedenoha~

Hello all! Here we are, at chapter eight. I meant to update sooner but was slightly busy… ^-^; …sorry.

Anyway, this chapter is the second to last. So sad, really… But that's okay. ^-^ Please read and enjoy! …And maybe review too…?

To Kaedenoha: Yes, yes… in my fics Okita always does manage to get hurt… I'm so mean to him. Recently, I was working on a different story and as I was writing it I realized something: it was too happy. I immediately had something tragic happen to Sei. ^-^ It's much better now. But don't worry there's no character death unlike usual. I have, um, problems with writing anything that's not angst. As far as the words being put together, it's 's doing. Whenever I upload something they take the words in italics and stick them together. :( I thought I got rid of them all and edited them out. Thanks for telling me though! I have now fixed it again. ^-^ Thank you so much for reviewing!

"Okita-kun!" Sei smiled and waved him over.

Okita hesitantly walked toward her. "Hello."

"It's almost odd being you outside of the house, isn't it?" Sei asked, with a slightcock of her head. Chichi-ue just got back though so I guess we'll have to meet like this from now on."

Okita nodded, not paying much attention.

"Okita-kun? Are you feeling okay?" Sei reached up to feel his forehead for his temperature but Okita dodged away.

"Tominiga-san, please... just don't. I'm fine." He looked away from her. How could he look at her? Every time he did, he wanted to hold her closer when what he needed to do was distance himself.

"Okita-kun..." He seemed far away today. He seemed hurt - like a memory had been dug up and he didn't want to see it.

"You know, I guess I don't feel so good. I should go back..." Okita lied. He didn't want to see her anymore. Whenever he saw her he only saw Miko's face. They were alike in a lot of ways he noticed. He didn't want that to happen again. It was already his fault that Kondou had died. He couldn't be responsible for someone else's death. But Sei... she wouldn't do that... he shook his head. He hadn't thought that Miko would either.

Sei grabbed onto his sleeve as he was about to walk away. "Don't leave. The only thing I look forward to in life is you. You gave me a reason to smile, Okita-kun. If you were to leave... I'm not going to get to see you much as it is. Please, stay a bit longer."

Okita froze. Is that what he meant to her? He couldn't even flinch. He was important...? He was important to her...? "T-Tominaga-san..."

"It probably sounds pathetic, but... it's true. I'm sorry." Sei almost laughed. "You know, it would be a waste if I said that and then didn't conclude with my real feelings."

Okita's eyes widened again. Her realfeelings? What could her real feelings possibly be?

"Okita Souji, Captain of the first troop of the Shinsengumi," Sei began nervously. Blush covered her cheeks.

"Y-yes?"

"You mean the world to me. I love watching you smile and laugh. When I first met you, you seemed like only a murderer to me, I didn't look underneath and see the person inside that hard shell. My goal is to make you break out of that shell. I want you to be able to smile more. That is what I want for you, Okita-kun. I want you to smile. You're the best friend I ever had. I love you" Sei blushed. What had she just done? She didn't mean to say anything like that! She was acting completely out of character. "Ah! I-I'm sorry! I didn't m-mean..."

Okita couldn't hear her. He could only hear Miko saying the same thing.

"I love you, Soujirou-kun!"

"Don't let your emotions carry you away, Tominiga-san. You're being foolish." Okita said, cruelly. His voice was cold and harsh. Okita stalked away leaving Sei clueless.

"...Okita-kun...?"

"Sei! There you are!" Gennan called out of nowhere. "You need to get home right away! You have dinner with Saitou-san and I'm not going to be there so act your best, will you?"

Sei nodded blankly. "Yes, Oki- Chichi-ue." She didn't know why she had begun to say Okita's name. He was all she could think about lately.

OoOoO

Okita was being stupid, and he knew it. After such harsh words he had said he should have left her alone. but that didn't stop him. He quietly watched as Saitou and Sei ate dinner together.

"I apologize about last time, Sei-san," Saitou said.

Sei continued to stare at her food. What had she done? Of course Okita would have been overwhelmed by her words. Who wouldn't have been?

"I was bad company," Saitou concluded.

Sei remained quiet. Okita-kun... she wasn't supposed to be here. She was supposed to be with him right now.

Something had happened between them, Saitou observed. It was obvious by Sei's behavior and the fact that Okita was watching them that very moment.

"Sei-san." Saitou stood and went to sit next to her. He tilted her chin towards him. "You're quite the pretty young lady. You will make a wonderful wife."

Sei jerked her head away. "Get away from me...!" she demanded. "It's not like I'll be your wife so you don't have to worry about me!"

"Sei-san..." Saitou paused. Something hit Saitou at that moment. This girl. As he stared into her eyes he realized something. She was honest. She wasn't getting close to Okita to kill Hijikata or anything. She wouldn't kill someone close to Okita to get to be his number one. She was trustworthy and Okita was definitely in love with her. He almost sighed. What sort of mistake had me made? He'd have to fix it.

He tilted his head and kissed Sei. She was too shocked to fight back for a moment but then her senses snapped to attention and she stood up quickly. "Get back! Stay away, you creep!" She wiped her lips off. "That kiss didn't belong to you!" It belonged to Okita-kun! She added in her mind.

Okita was outraged. He couldn't just watch any longer. Okita slammed the door aside. "Saitou... -san... get away. Now." There were things Okita would stand for and things he wouldn't. This was one of those things he would not stand for. No one was allowed to hurt Sei.

I have now left you with another cliff-hanger. Ahh…. although, it's not a terrible one. Not completely awful anyway… I hope to see you in the next chapter and hear from you in a review!