I don't own PMK or any of it's characters, I only own Din and Setsuna.
Damn I need to update this more, I'm ten chapters behind. Anyways, thanks for the review! Enjoy. 000-shows a flashback.
Two days later, everything seemed to have fallen back into its normal form. Everyone was training once more and Tetsunosuke was doing more and more chores for punishment because of the Ikeda-ya incident but he didn't care, he was happy. Everything was fine, until Tetsunosuke was walking up the street from buying more tea and spotted a small brown box in front of the gates of the Shinsengumi.
"What's this?" he asked out loud as he walked towards it.
He picked it up and felt that it was a bit heavy. He blinked, and looked at the top to see whom it was for or who it was from to see sloppy written handwriting he had to squint in order to read.
To: The Shinsengumi--Din Hinto"Cowgirl"
Din-chan? Tetsunosuke asked himself as he blinked. I wonder what's in it? It's kinda heavy.
Feeling like he had to give it to her, he walked back into the main house and began looking around the dojo for the older woman.
"Tatsu-kun?" Din asked, popping her head into the room where the dark red head was working.
"Yes?" he answered as he looked up towards her with a smile on his face.
Din stepped into the room with a pile of papers in her arms. "Yamanami-san wanted me to give you these papers to finish up."
"Oh," he sighed, "thank you."
She stepped over towards him and handed him the papers. Just as she was pulling away, something someone has said to Tatsunosuke reentered his head.
"I heard that you and Yamanami-san weren't getting along," he said as it came to him. "I was wondering what happened if you don't mind me asking?"
Din turned away suddenly and sighed. "I'd rather not talk about it Tatsu-kun. It's something you…won't really understand."
Tatsunosuke blinked. "Din-chan…you know that—"
She shook her head. "I really don't want to talk about it. I know he's someone you respect so I don't want to say anything insulting in front of you."
"What could Yamanami-san have said to make you so angry?" He thought out loud. "I've never had any kind of problem with him."
A flashback of the first time she and Yamanami had gotten into a fight went through Din's mind; she gripped her fists. It had been over something stupid, something about training or dinner, or something little. It was nothing until more of the Shinsengumi came and everything blew up to were it was out of control. Since then everything between them had been different and they had a general hate for one another.
"You don't know the Yamanami-san I know," she hissed. "You don't know the one who's sarcastic and will say anything to get under your skin and cause you to fall…" she stopped. "Forget it Tatsunosuke-kun. Just…forget it."
Din stepped away, leaving a stunned and confused Tatsunosuke behind. He sat there, wondering what he said to anger her, and how he could have stopped himself but he couldn't think of anything. What would he do now? Especially now after he had just settled his feelings with her?
"Din-chan!" Tetsunosuke yelled as he walked through the hallways. "Din-chan! Where are you?"
"What?" she asked with a sigh, coming around the corner.
He held the package up towards her. "This was waiting for you outside."
Din picked up the package and looked at the label. The small red head sat there and watched Din's eyes light up, and a smile cross her face.
She giggled. "Thank you so much Tetsu-kun!!"
He stood in wonder as she turned around and ran off into the kitchen, only to wonder what had made her so happy. There had to be something in that box that made her so happy, and he wanted to know what it was.
Dinner had been started, and Din was waiting for the water to boil. Dying to know what was inside of the box, she set it on a clean counter and opened it carefully. On top of everything was a note she picked up only to see a ring underneath it. Figuring the note would explain everything; she opened it and began to read.
Din,
Hope this got to you all right. I had Katsu-sensei drop it off 'cause I'm not in town. Inside are some things I found that belonged to your sister. The ring is the ring that tied her to the Choshu, and Yoshida. The rest are things she left Earth bound, but mostly importantly, a letter she wrote to you right before her passing. Don't worry about owin' me anything, just smile when you see me.
Din put the letter down and searched through the box until she found a letter sitting on top of a light pink kimono. She moved the ring sitting on top of it and pulled out the letter. The envelope was a light pink and looked delicate, so Din took care when opening it. The paper inside was white, with ink stains showing through. Din took out the letter and opened it, amazed that it was in such good condition after three years.
Ready? Din asked herself. She hopped onto the counter and took in a deep breath. Everything will be fine.
Moving her fingers towards the edge as her heart beat away in her chest, she pulled the letter open and instantly recognized her little sister's handwriting.
Din-nee,
If you're reading this, I have to have passed on. I wanted to write you because I wanted you to know why I left to be adopted, and to tell you everything that's happened. I'm with the Choshu now, married to one of three leaders, Yoshida Toshimaro, which is why I am not able to see you anymore. I'm also caring for a small boy whose brother was killed by the Shinsengumi, Suzu. If they found out about you and Hijikata-kun, you would get hurt.
About Hijikata-kun…he's the reason I left that night. It's childish now that I look back at it but there's nothing I can do about it now. That night, the night I left and chose to be adopted, I left Sanosuke-chan and came around the dojo to see you with Hijikata-kun. You two were talking about how you wanted more then anything to adopt me but couldn't because you weren't married, but how you would get any job you could just to be near me enough to comfort me, even the job of becoming some kind of whore. Hijikata-kun told you that he would never allow it, and that everything would be okay because he wouldn't let anything happen to you. Then I saw you two kiss…then you asked him to marry you.
He said no.
I was so jealous. So angry that he was trying to take the last thing I had in the world away. You were the only person I had to talk to and when I saw you two together, I knew the real reason why you had been working at the Shinsengumi, and why there were nights when I woke up next to you in the orphanage and you were gone. The only thing I could comprehend that night was that you wanted to be with him more then me, because you were always there, so I thought that I would get out of your way. I left, and was adopted by the Choshu who were waiting for an answer from me about adopting.
I'm so sorry I was so young and stupid. Now I see how you must have felt but there is nothing I can do now. I just wanted you to know that I never stopped loving you, and I don't hate Hijikata-kun. Sanosuke-chan…I miss him so much but now…everything's so numb with him. I know it's horrible. Inside of this letter is another, which I ask you to give to him please.
I love you. I do hope with all my heart that you and Hijikata-kun are still in love because I believe that you two loved each other with everything you had. But please if something happens, look after Suzu for me. He's what you had with Souji-kun to me. Please.
Setsuna Yoshida
Din felt tears fall down her face before her mind had time to process the letter. She bent over and began to cry as she thought of everything; her sister, the letter, Hijikata, and that night she was talking about. That night had been engraved in her memory since the night it happened. She couldn't forget it even if she wanted too; she remembered everything from the conversation and hated herself for ever having it.
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Twelve years ago, Din and Hijikata were standing outside of the Shinsengumi, Din against the wall of the dojo with her hands over her head. The sky above them was dark, and wind blew cold, hard wind causing Hijikata to look up towards the sky, hoping that it wouldn't rain while they were outside.
"Dammit Toshi," she began, "I can't do this! Something has to be done about Setsuna-chan!! I can't leave her out there like this! There are people wanting to adopt her!"
"What do you want to do about it?" he asked.
"I don't know!" She ran her fingers through her hair. "Dammit but I'll do anything to make sure she doesn't get to leave! I don't care what man I marry!"
She took her hands back and looked at them. They were worn from the work she had been doing over and over again, and so many time she had cut her hands from the fieldwork.
"But what man wants a woman whose hands are as tough as men's? And whose body feels like one?" she asked, wrapping her arms around herself. "I might as well just become some kind of whore and call my best customer my husband."
"You can't do that." He sighed. "I won't let you."
"Why the hell am I letting this happen?" she whimpered. "Dammit it if weren't so selfish then maybe I could have married someone else by now and everything would be okay. But no, I had to be here with you because…I love you too damn much to leave."
"Din." Hijikata walked over towards her and placed both of his hands near her head, hiding her. "Setsuna-chan will be fine."
"Toshi…" Din looked up towards him and then sighed. "Will you marry me?"
"What?" Hijikata blinked as his mouth dropped open a bit.
"Please?" Din moved both of her hands up to his face and cupped it gently. "If we get married then we can adopt Setsuna-chan and everything will be perfect! I won't have to live with my parents anymore and I can stay here forever!"
Hijikata brought his right hand away from the wall and touched Din's right hand that was on his face. He pulled his fingers down, dragging hers along with it, and Din began to cry.
"I can't," he answered.
Din closed her eyes as her crying became harder. She fell against the wall behind her, taking her hands away from Hijikata's face and bringing them to her own. Hijikata moved forward, and pulled Din into his chest.
"After everything is in order and the Shinsengumi has been settled, everything will be fine," he said gently. "It's too risky to do anything now, and even riskier to bring your little sister into them mix."
"I don't want anything to happen to her. If something does, I'm gonna fall apart! I don't have any other family in this world BUT her," Din whimpered. "All I'll have left that will keep me alive is you."
"Din."
She pulled away from his chest, brought her hands away from her face, and looked up at him with tear trails running down her face. He moved down towards her, and softly pressed his lips against hers, telling her that he still loved her. Happy, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him deeper inwards.
Please. Din thought. Let nothing ever break us apart.
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Dammit!! Din thought as the memory ended. I if I had never talked to Hijikata, then maybe Setsuna-chan wouldn't have left that night! If only she hadn't seen it! I'm such a failure as an older sister! I let her die! It's all my fault.
Regardless of Din being upset, dinner was served that night and eaten by everyone. Now night had fallen and everyone was getting ready to go to bed when Din found herself looking out of Hijikata's back door.
"Damn," Hijikata cursed as he felt his left shoulder muscle pull once more.
"What?" Din asked, looking back towards him.
"It's my damn shoulder again," he hissed.
Din crawled over towards him, and moved her arms up to his shoulders. Without saying anything, she began to rub his shoulders, and he allowed it. She moved her hands slowly against his muscles, working with them and causing them to relax.
"It's been a while since you've done this," Hijikata said as a slight smile from the relaxation crossed his face. "I'd forgotten how good you were at it."
"That's right." Din smiled. "I always did it after you were done training. But you're shoulders weren't as broad back then."
Hijikata twitched. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean that last time I touched you like this, you weren't as built as you are now. You've added on at least ten years of muscle while I was gone," she explained. "I don't know how Souji-kun gets his small hands around your shoulders these days."
He twitched once more as he felt his kimono rub against his skin over and over again. Irritated by that fact, and that his shoulder was really starting to bother him; he pulled down the clothing near his shoulders, surprising Din.
"What's this?" she asked as she looked at his bare shoulders.
"My kimono was bothering me," he answered plainly.
Din sighed, and then began to rub his shoulders this time, allowing him to feel her fingers on his bare back and causing more of a relaxing feeling to overcome him. He sighed, and moved further back against her to increase the feelings.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, not liking the silence.
"Better," she responded. "I should be over this cold soon thanks to you."
"It's my job."
The two grew silent once more as she rubbed his shoulders and he sat there and did nothing. There was nothing the two of them had left to say to one another so they said nothing but after five minutes, Din thought of the one thing she needed.
She stopped rubbing his shoulders. "Hijikata, do you have the ring you gave me ten years ago?"
Hijikata reached down into his kimono where the sash came around and pulled it out, now on a metal chain. He reached back and handed it to her.
"You wouldn't mind if I took it back once more would you?" she asked.
He closed his eyes. "No."
Din didn't bother to look at it, and stuffed it down into her kimono. Getting what she wanted, she stood up and stretched her arms over her head.
"I'm going to clean out Tetsunosuke's ear so it doesn't get infected," she said through a yawn.
"Have fun, I heard the brat squirms around whenever someone touches it." Hijikata pulled his kimono back on.
Din began to walk out of the room, but stopped and turned back around. "Sanosuke-kun may be down in the dumps for the next few days okay? I just thought I should warn you."
"Thanks." Hijikata rolled his eyes.
Dear Sanosuke,
I love you.
SetsunaSanosuke read the three words over and over again before he lowered the paper and stood in the way of the moonlight and wondered why she could never tell him to his face. He wanted to cry, he wanted to get everything he felt out of the way but nothing was coming to his eyes. He just stood there as her face passed over his memory, then faded away, almost as if she were saying goodbye for the last time.
"Setsuna-chan…," he whimpered. "Why couldn't you…just tell me?"
Din was sitting down beside Tetsunosuke, cleaning out the wound he had received from fighting with Yoshida. Most of his ear had grown back together, but some areas were still torn and needed to be taken care of.
"So how are you Tetsu-kun?" Din asked as she raised a wet cotton ball to his ear.
"Fine," he answered, moving around a bit. "Din-chan, can I ask you something?"
"Sure." She shrugged.
"Well," he moved around once more, "Tatsu-nii was talking to me and telling me how you two got into a fight today."
"We did?" Din blinked.
"Forget it Tatsunosuke-kun. Just…forget it."
Din stopped cleaning the small red head's ear and looked away as she remembered. She sighed, and then went back to cleaning the smaller one's ear.
"Yeah, I remember," she finished with another long sigh.
"'Cause I was wondering," Tetsunosuke tired turning towards her but she turned him back around, "if you liked Tetsu-nii."
Din blinked, and stopped cleaning once more. "Why do you ask that Tetsu-kun?"
He blinked. "He just looked kinda hurt when he was talking about you and him getting into that fight. I knew it bothered him so I wanted to know if you liked him enough to talk it over with him."
"Oh." Din giggled a bit, now knowing what kind of "like" Tetsunosuke was talking about. "Don't worry about it Tetsu-kun, I'll talk to him about it in the morning."
"Good." Tetsunosuke grinned. "I don't like it when Tatsu-nii is so down in the dumps."
"I'll fix it." Din pulled Tetsunosuke closer as she began to clean his ear once more. "Now just hold still for a few more minutes and I'll be done."
Tatsunosuke was putting his day's work away when a sudden spell of dizziness came over him. He stopped moving for a moment, and held his head, waiting for the dizziness to pass.
I've been working too hard. He thought while he waited. Once I get to bed I should be fine.
The world stopped spinning for a moment, and Tatsunosuke stood up only to feel dizzy once more. He began to sweat as he grabbed onto the nearby dresser and waited once more but this time the dizziness became worse.
What's wrong with me? I know I was feeling strange earlier but… He managed to think to himself.
His sweating picked up, and before he could step away or call out for someone, his eyes closed, and he blacked out, unable to do anything for himself.
R&R please!