Hakuouki in its entirety belongs to IDEA Factory; Kawa belongs to me.
"This place has bad vibes," he mused aloud, shuffling to his feet from sitting across from the older brunette plus bluenette at his back, smirking a little. "I'm gonna take a walk around the area. Neh, you coming, princess?" He wondered, looking at the stoic woman at his side.
She blinked out of her reverie, looking up at him before glancing to Kondou-san and then back at Serizawa, exhaling. "Yeah, let's go." She obliged softly, straightening to walk out of the front room first as he held the door flap open before they took off into the twilit afternoon.
Her mind once again traveled to the earlier incident in the day, that man's words echoing in her ears.
'You lack resolve to be the villain even when you need to procure funds.' Her hands lightly fisted at her sides as she saw her brother's facial reaction to his words, gray eyes narrowing.
She didn't want to see that look on his face, not ever. Just who did that man think he was, insulting her brother outright in broad daylight?
"I hate him." She muttered.
Her companion opened an eye at her words, practically feeling the brooding aura emanating from her body as she walked at his side through the streets. "Pretty sure there's a club of people who hate 'im, at this point," he mused aloud.
Nearly starting, she looked at him, almost forgetting that he had invited her out; embarrassed heat flooded her cheeks and made them look pink before she looked away. "I wouldn't doubt it," she mumbled.
Souji smiled to himself at the blush on her cheeks, sliding his hands from the folds of his haori sleeves to tug on the sash at her waist, pulling her to walk closer to him until his arm was around her hips, surprising the pensive Hijikata woman.
Kawa blushed more and then smiled, holding his arm to her hips as they continued walking.
"Do you think Toshi's okay?" She wondered quietly after they'd passed another couple of alleys and were heading to the wharf, stirring him from his thoughts.
He cocked a brow. "What brought that on; I thought you were still pissed at him for that night I killed Tonouchi." He asked in slight confusion.
She shrugged. "I got over it; no matter what we fight about, we're still blood regardless. I'm just worried about him, okay? He doesn't react the same way you do towards that man, but he loathes him just as much as we do." She saw him make a face at comparing him to her brother, smirking gently in teasing.
The scent of the water teased their senses as they neared the bridge.
Kawa's eyes lit up as she saw the familiar sight of Ibuki's berserker blue hair trailing in the opposite direction with a familiar back donning a purple haori in the lead. "Nii-san!" She called happily, seeing both men pause as Souji came to a halt at her side.
Toshi looked to see his sister on the opposite end of the bridge, smiling slightly when she ran towards him, turning fully to greet her. "You two escaped without getting or causing any trouble, I'd imagine." He mused as the couple came to a halt short of a foot away from him and Ibuki.
Souji chuckled and folded his arms behind his head leisurely. "Neh, Hijikata-san, ya never give me the benefit of the doubt; I'm hurt!" He whined.
Kawa jabbed him in the side with a finger, smirking. "Such a drama-king! Nii-san, we were wondering where you'd gotten to." She declared, ignoring the pouting face her lover sent her, smiling innocently.
Ibuki sweatdropped as Toshi rolled his eyes before he exhaled. "Well you found me; did something happen or what?" He wondered, perking her ears.
She hesitated to answer, the cheeky light in her face dimming, as she thought back to earlier before she flashed a light smile. "Nope, nothing at all, just checking on ya!" She replied assuringly.
He frowned slightly, vaguely wondering what had possessed her to find him, but deciding to keep that to himself, exhaling patiently and closing his eyes in the same manner. "Fine, fine." He muttered.
She didn't know why she didn't bring it up to him right then and there; was it because she didn't want to call him out in public, infront of both Souji and Ibuki? Or was it because she felt that he could handle it on his own?
An inward snort at that question: Toshi was not only her older brother, but also the strongest fukuchou between him and Sannan-san.
Of course he can handle it on his own!
THWACK. "Bakkero!"
"Ow, that hurt!"
Both of them exhaled patiently before the lankier of the two spoke again. "You actually said that crap to that nice little maiko!? No wonder she gave ya that handprint!" He scolded.
She sweatdropped at the pout-like expression on the bluenette's face, exhaling again. "Normally I would try and cover your ass if the situation were different, but Sano has a point. You're an idiot to stereotype geiko like that, baka-inu." She agreed patiently, scritching the back of her head.
"Regardless, let's go." Sano declared, lifting the boy up by the scruff and pulling him into a headlock when he protested. "Neh, Kawa-chan, it'd be best if you decided to retreat home now; this is a man's thing." He looked to the Hijikata woman, seeing her blink when he winked at her.
Kawa pouted sorely. "Fine, but you're not bein' fair…" She remarked with another sigh.
"O-oi, where're we goin'!?" Ibuki flailed.
Sano's arm on his neck tightened reproachfully, "dumbass, you're gonna go apologize to that little lady!" He barked.
She sweatdropped, exhaling for the umpteenth time and turning on her heel to retreat to the compound with her arms behind her head. Typical chivalrous behemoth, aren't ya, Sano? She mused.
::::::o|o::::::
She supposed the boys were off doing their own thing; the training hall was vacant of life.
Slipping inside the empty hall, she flopped down on the cool hardwood floor, sighing quietly.
If Katsumoto-sensei didn't take me under his wing at the age of seven, I would be in that girl's shoes, wouldn't I? She thought, lifting a hand up in the air, studying the faded and old scars on her right arm, most of them accumulated around her forearm and some even dared to grace the knuckles of her right hand.
Her hand crumpled into a fist and she huffed, closing her eyes as her fisted hand dropped to land gently on her chest. That'll never happen in a thousand years. I'll never let myself be forced to please some bleeding drunkard, she inwardly vowed, her brow furrowing softly with the mental promise she made to herself.
Someone made a slight humming noise near her what felt like hours later, rousing her as she hadn't realized she'd gone into a slight nap; her eyes slid open partly to see a familiar head of brick-brown hair hovering over her.
Eyes flying open in surprise, she did the instinctive thing and lifted a hand to smack the intruder right in the front of his face.
Okita Souji deadpanned against her soft palm pressed to his lips and front of his nose, his lips forming into a pout against her hand. "Well good to see you, too," he mused with a sniff.
Kawa pulled her hand off as he rolled off her to sit down at her side as he had that first time they kissed, blushing. "Sorry." She mumbled.
He shrugged aimlessly, flopping down next to her on the cool floor and exhaling, folding his arms behind his head like a pillow. "Coulda done worse. How long've you been in here?" He asked.
She turned on her side, shrugging as well. "Not sure; went out with Sano earlier until we saw Ibuki-kun and he mentioned something about a geiko smacking him in the face for insultin' her." She explained.
He snorted, amusement written in his eyes. "That sure sounds like 'im, baka-inu." He mused.
She chuckled. "That's what I said," she quipped.
Both of them laughed quietly.
Kawa thought back to her previous reverie before effectively dozing off, moving closer to snuggle into his side, wrapping her arms around his chest and resting her cheek on his shoulder.
Souji blinked briefly in surprise before his eyes softened at her instinctive need to be in his arms, removing one arm from behind his head to drape it over her shoulders, squeezing affectionately.
"If I was like that, if that was the life I had been dealt, would you still love me?" She wondered quietly, slightly surprising him.
He backtracked to her mention of that geiko before he huffed and pulled her closer. "'Course I would. Though I'd have to kill the bastard who would be your boss; noone can have you except me, remember?" He said thoughtfully, a hint of a grumbled growl in his voice.
Kawa blushed slightly at hearing that noise, smirking softly and shaking her head in the same manner. "You're predictable sometimes, y'know that?" She mused.
Souji pouted, shifting to lie facing her as his free arm draped down to grope her rear on reflex, making her yelp and jump a little in his arms. "Serves ya right," he sniffed, not seeing the pout that adorned her lips and the fresh blush on her cheeks.
"What's he doing?" He wondered in confusion at seeing the sword swaying a little in the younger brunette's hands, reminiscent of a cat's twitching tail.
He looked beyond the sheet with him. "It's called the 'Wagtail Sword'; he keeps the sword constantly moving so his opponent won't be able to read his moves and know when to strike." He explained.
"Even with the wagging sword, I highly doubt it's possible for him to beat Toshi; Heisuke's good, don't get me wrong, I admire him for that, but against my brother…" She shook her head softly and sighed in a rather patient way. "Either way, this should be interesting." Even though I have a sinking feeling he's gonna lose regardless, she inwardly added, looking above Ibuki's head and watching as her brother forced his younger opponent back, the latter lunging at him with a battle cry.
As the round ended –rather quickly by her count, but she digressed, with her brother as the victor, she watched as both Saitou and Shinpachi took their places opposite each other in the center of the courtyard.
"Dang it, that was a close match…" Heisuke grumbled as he slunk under the sheet to join his friends behind the covering, earning the trio's attention.
"Oi, Heisuke…" Sano began to berate him for losing before seeing the injury he had obtained, quieting reluctantly and smiling sheepishly. "Never mind… great match!" He offered.
Kawa looked at what had stopped his scolding and snorted, looking away and covering her mouth to hide a giggle, the image of Heisuke sporting a shiner on his right eye forever embedded in her mind.
"Neh, what's so funny, Kawa-chan?" The aforementioned brunette pouted at the woman's giggling form.
"N-nothing, Heisuke!" She wheezed, covering her mouth with both hands and closing her eyes tight.
The bluenette sweatdropped from standing next to her. Geez, Kawa-chan, he thought.
Hollow 'thwacks' sounded as the two new combatants fought, shinai clashing and humming in the air.
"Go, Saitou-kun!" Kawa beamed, smirking widely when he and Shinpachi went for the final blow, a wide grin replacing the smirk as Saitou surpassed Shinpachi as he had done to Souji long ago (or so it seemed to her).
Sano elbowed her, "save those cheers, princess, your man is coming up next." He teased gently.
Kawa punched him reproachfully, the wide grin still in place. "I know, that's why I'm excited." She replied.
Both men came to retreat behind the sheet with their friends as Sannan-san and Souji went to the middle of the courtyard with their shinai in hand.
"Saitou-kun, that was epic!" She declared, throwing her arms around his neck and making the stoic man blink in surprise before she pulled away as quickly as the embrace had come, smiling innocently at his baffled blue stare.
Heat threatened to color his cheeks red at having come into such close proximity to the opposite sex, looking at the innocent smile on her lips before his eyes calmed and he smiled, nodding his head. "Thank you for your kind words, Kawa-chan." He replied.
"Oi, Kawa-chan, Souji's match is started!" Shinpachi announced, perking her ears.
Kawa looked around the other sheet to see the final match had started, watching the shinai bob softly in the air in Sannan-san's grip, smirking to herself.
Normally that move would confound any other man that was his opponent, but given that Souji was his chosen adversary, as well as the fact that said brunette was the sharpest sword in the bunch when it came to a match… The smirk on her full lips threatened to spread into a wide grin.
Even though she knew there was no way in hell her brother would dare let her enter a competition like this because she was a woman as well as the fact that the audience was the Aizu Domain's general, she felt jealous of her friends and Souji for being allowed to partake in this… And she was dying to fight something.
::::::o|o::::::
"Thanks to all of you, the Aizu Lieutenant General gave us wonderful words of praise: and for that, we're partying tonight so drink all you want!" Kondou-san announced to the room at large.
Applause greeted his announcement as the room became filled with giddiness and excitement as the occupants delved into both their meals and the booze.
Kawa took the bottle from her brother's tray, making him blink.
His brow furrowed. "What's that for?" He asked.
She exhaled. "A little birdy told me you can't hold your liquor, so it's best to pass it on to the next generation. Waste not, want not, neh?" She flashed a cheeky smile at his pouting face, pouring herself a shot and passing the bottle down to Souji who sat dutifully at her right.
Toshi grumbled something under his breath and delved back into his food.
"Oi, oi, isn't that bad for a warrior who speaks of politics?" A slurred voice on the other end of the room earned a look from both siblings as they saw it was Heisuke who spoke.
An equally-drunk Shinpachi guffawed at his words. "Neh, dude, ya sound just like Niimi-san!" He exclaimed as he and Heisuke laughed.
Kawa rolled her eyes patiently, sipping the sake from her cup. "Sheesh," she mumbled.
Souji slung his arm around her shoulders, squeezing. "Quit frownin', babe; it never suited ya." He purred, burying his face into her nape and kissing the skin lightly.
Blush flared on her cheeks, staining them red; she briefly stole a look around to see the men were occupied with becoming further intoxicated, inwardly sighing before she felt his teeth nibble on the curve of her neck. "S-Souji, easy," she chided.
He chuckled softly against her nape, nipping the skin a second time to make sure he left a visible-enough hickey on her skin, before he nosed the spot affectionately. "Damn it, you look gorgeous tonight, Kawa-chan," he purred again, the sake slowly starting to settle in on his senses as he valiantly fought the onslaught, pulling back before he got serious and actually ended up dragging her to bed, his green eyes hungry and hazy.
She trembled at the familiar darkening of his eyes, looking away awkwardly as she distinctly felt something akin to a fire kindling inside the lowest pit of her stomach when recalling his hungry stare and his love-bites, rubbing her neck absently.
Sensing he had weirded her out, Souji leaned in again to pull her close, looking as if he was whispering something in her ear even though he was kissing her temple gently. "This might be the sake talkin', but I really do want you. I won't take it from ya, though; I'm not like other guys." He promised softly, his hand around her ribs squeezing as if to silently amend his promise.
Kawa trembled again, resting her temple against his lips, nodding. "I know you don't lie, 'specially not to me; and I… I want you, too. So much." She looked up at him beneath black lashes, gray eyes warm and soft like melted silver. "Thank you for respecting me, Souji." She added gently.
He distinctly felt that space in his lower regions harden at that look in her eyes; if it didn't look suspicious, then for the love of fuck he would drag her off to his bed right now.
But no, Kawa was different: she wasn't like the other girls he'd had in the past, she wasn't just some girl he'd have fun with for one night, and she sure as hell wasn't a girl he wanted to hurt.
She was the one he loved, she was the one he would die for… and she was his alone.
::::::o|o:::::::
"In order to have the Roshigumi's fame spread throughout Kyoto, Serizawa-sensei had these made with the money he collected in Osaka." Niimi announced.
Heisuke was ecstatic, "alright, let's try these on; Gen-san, get me the scissors to cut the tape off!" He barked as he held up one of the new coats in pride and excitement.
So I'm allowed to wear one of these, then, since that man hasn't barked anythin', she mused as she took the tag off her own coat with the concealed knife she kept on her person, looking at the coat in her hands and studying it.
The coat was colored a sky blue with white triangle-designs embroidered on the wide sleeves, twin white tethers criss-crossing over the front of the over-coat.
Kawa shrugged it on, pulling her arms through the wide sleeves and looking at it to see it fit her well; she smiled to herself, turning this way and that in place as she admired it.
"Damn, you look gorgeous, Kawa-chan!" She nearly jumped and looked to see Sano smirking at her with one of the coats in hand, gold eyes teasing.
"Neh, Sano-san, quit pesterin' my woman," Souji teased, coming to stand next to his friend and look her over before he whistled lowly in appreciation. "Hmm well ya weren't entirely far off the mark, Sano-san; ya look beautiful, babe." He grinned gently.
Kawa blushed again and huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Shut up, both of you." She growled.
"Honestly, sometimes I wonder if you two were this mischievous at the age of ten," Saitou defended calmly as he came forward to stand near the girl, a patient look on his stoic features.
Souji's eye twitched in annoyance at his friend's intrusion.
"This is one of the ways we can spread the Roshigumi's fame throughout Kyoto; besides, if we're all in the same uniform when we're out on patrol, there's less chance for one of us to get cut down in the streets." Toshi declared with a smirk as he looked at the quartet.
Kawa smiled at him and huffed, folding her arms behind her head leisurely. "S' about time," she jibed.
review please; thanks~ ;')