Chapter 3:
Day 3: Prince with a cold mask.
Kagura woke up in her bed. "Nani? I thought I fell asleep in his room..."
She slept well. The first in a long time.
"If you're wondering why you're here... I can tell you. But mind you, nothing a shinobi does is for free." Sa-chan said, hanging from the ceiling.
"A ninja fulfilling a ninja's duty huh? What do you want –aru?" Kagura asked with her negotiation voice.
"Tell Gin-san how pretty I am!" "And then he will do _ to me and we can _ together…" Sa-chan thought while fangirling.
"Fine... now tell me, why did I wake up in my room –aru?"
"Okita carried you to your room."
"W-WHAT?" Kagura was surprised. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed. "The sadist? He was sick, wasn't he?"
"Yeah. It was today at around 11am... just so you know, you missed breakfast." Sa-chan uninterestedly said. "He was also the one who covered you so gently... who knows what else he did with your body. Either ways, he told us all that he feels better. I think he's now downstairs trying to kill Hijikata or something. Anyway, I've come to wake you up. Today we're going to ski and at night we're having a campfire."
"Yeah... but why…" Kagura said lost in thought. "Maybe I'm exaggerating. I mean we're talking about the sadist… Right... what do I do?! How do I act now? I mean he carried me to my room, and covered me. But why...? I expected him to drop me or harass me while I'm sleeping..." Kagura felt depressed.
"I can see that this matter is pressing on you. If you want you could tell me what's going on..." Sa-chan said now standing on the floor.
"What do you want?" Kagura said picking her nose.
"Well, I just want to help" she said … "Ha! I just need to hear your problems, then I can tell Gin-san and then he'll start loving me" Sa-chan thought blushing at the mere thought.
Kagura sighed. "Fine. I just don't know how to act. I mean we're rivals right? Do I act like I did before or should I change… after all that happened I mean…"
"Just act the same way he does." Was what Sa-chan said.
"Kids these days are stupid" what Sa-chan thought.
"Act like he does... makes sense… if he changes, I will too... and if everything is like before, then that's fine too... no need for complications –aru" Kagura said. And up she was. "Arigatou busai!" she said unintentionally and went off to prepare herself for the day. And of course, she didn't care one bit what Sa-chan said in return.
Downstairs.
"Ohayou mina!" Kagura cheerfully said. They all replied back to her. "Aree? The sadist isn't here..?"
"Ohayou Kagura-chan. I left you some breakfast. It's on the table." Shinpachi said as kind as ever.
"Ahh arigatou..." she replied… which shocked Shinpachi. She's never that polite. He sighed. "Ano Kagura-chan... are you worried? He's outside... just so you know." He said.
"Ehh? I don't care about that sadist..." she said, regretting it.
"Ahh…" Shinpachi smirked. "Who said I was talking about Okita-san?" Oh yes, even Shinpachi can be scary sometimes.
"Urusei Megane. Just go back fulfilling your job for the poor glasses -aru." She shot back and quickly made her way to the breakfast table.
She ate it eagerly. Ever since yesterday she didn't have a decent meal other than her breakfast and sukonbu. "Those weird feelings sure make me hungry... they make me forget about food. I'm just focusing on him. That's bad –aru" she thought. "He's outside… mhh, maybe I should go see him -aru…"
She finished her breakfast and before she knew it, she was already on her way to the veranda outside. He was standing there. Very casually yet there was something beautiful about it. Him facing the snow-dunes. Kagura approached him from behind.
"Sadist. You carried me to my room. Nande –aru?" she asked.
"China. Don't get me wrong, but this whole thing is developing in a weird manner. Let's just forget everything and go back to our old lives." Okita said facing away from her. He talked slowly and his voice sounded a bit sad.
This time her heart started beating fast, but the reason for that was not good. Along with her heartbeat, her stomach started developing a feeling she really didn't like. The kind of feeling she had when her father left her so many times and when she was seeing the people she loved the most getting hurt. And she knew, the next thing she'd feel would be her warm tears flowing down her cheeks.
She turned around instantly and made her way back inside. She didn't want anyone to see her like that. What would she tell them? How could she explain these feelings to others if she didn't understand them herself?
Okita turned around. "Kagura."
Doki Doki
It's the first time she heard him call her name this way.
"What's wrong, I mean you don't think of this as anything serious right? I mean you're china... and I'm the sadist, this won't be good. We should just cool off for a bit, right?" Okita said concerned. He didn't like where this was going. He really didn't.
Kagura knew that if she replied she'd burst out in tears and she definitely didn't want her rivals to see her that way, but this time, luck was not on her side. Okita's eyes widened as he saw her reflection in the window.
"Crying…? Kagura?" he thought. For an instant his heart which has only been moved several times in his entire life, hurt. Okita Sougo. No matter how sadistic he is, he is never that cruel to ignore a girl's tears. He's always been that way.
Ignoring Okita, Kagura slowly walked back inside. She walked up the stairs and went into her room. Pressing her back against the door, she felt her tears which rolled down her cheeks. Slowly she started to feel the frustration. "Nande... what's wrong with me?" she helplessly thought. Taking a deep breath she washed away her tears and sat on her bed looking outside the window. Gintoki was outside with Otae and Kondo. They were playing in the snow. Seconds after Kyubei and Toujou joined them. "That's right, today we were supposed to ski. I don't have time for stupid feelings, I won this so I have to enjoy my time." Kagura thought and so she did. She wore her coat, scar and gloves and made sure her sukonbu were in her pocket. She then went downstairs and wore her boots.
"Ah Kagura-chan, you're coming?" Shinpachi asked.
"Hai, hai."
They both went outside and joined the group. The sadist wasn't there. But that's one thing Kagura didn't want to think of.
They spent the afternoon skiing and trying new things. Later on everyone was assembled and they all had a great time. While Gintoki and Hijikata where trying their old ski technique (penile break) again, Sa-chan and Kagura built another Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon which once again gave Shinpachi a hard time. Otae, Kyubei, Toujou and Yamazaki were busy having a snow-fight while Yamazaki was also trying to get rid of Okita who was harassing him.
"Oi Yamazaki, should I tell them what you do at night?"
"Okita-taichou! What are you talking about?"
"You know, the magazines I found under your bed back in the Shinsengumi HQ" Okita replied with a straight face.
"Ehh?" Yamazaki said confused.
Otae and Kyubei started to look at him and whisper something.
"I-it's not true!" Yamazaki hopelessly told them but they backed off
"Oi, are you saying that I'm lying?" Okita replied slowly revealing his sadistic side.
"iie!"... "He will kill me if I say the wrong thing"
"Then what are you saying?" Okita asked not waiting for a reply for he got his bazooka and already started shooting at Yamazaki. The poor guy could only run away and so the snow-fight continued with only Otae, Kyubei and Toujou. And of course the two ladies and the small monkey teamed up against Toujou. He was found two days later in the snow mixed with monkey crap.
While enjoying their time playing in the snow, Kagura once in a while peeked over to Okita who was running after Yamazaki. She promised herself that she will enjoy her time but she still felt a bit sad and uneasy. And of course, Okita noticed.
Time passed and everyone went back to the house. It was time to eat.
They all gathered around the large table and ate in silence. After so much time of playing In the snow, they were all exhausted. Of course the silence was awkward and the small noises annoyed Gintoki. When the silence started to become unbearable, Gintoki gave out a short cry of frustration and said "Oi oi, what's with everyone? Why's everyone so quiet?"
They all looked at him and the first one to answer him was Zura.
"Maybe it's because everyone has lost their appetite after sitting on the same table with those Shinsengumi" Katsura thoughtfully said crossing his arms.
"Maybe..." Elizabeth revealed on his cardboard.
"Katsura!" Hijikata shouted and stood up. "What are you doing here?!" He was ready to attack him but Zura dodged it and the atmosphere changed abruptly.
"Etoo… this is not what I meant …" Gintoki said awkwardly.
"Ready to get arrested today?" Even Okita stood up and was ready to fight.
"Mina…! Ochitsuke! We're here to enjoy our time not to fight nor arrest someone." "Baka Zura, why did you come!" "Anyway, if you want to fight, none of you can come back here again!" Shinpachi said. They all glared at him.
"Ehh Megane? What did you say?" they all said in a dangerous tone.
"kso…" .. "Chotto… Gin-san... Help me!" Shinpachi whispered.
"Don't involve me in any of this.." Gintoki said picking his nose.
A vein popped on Shinpachi's forehead
"Ma, ma, I think Shinpachi-kun is right. We are rivals but we came here to enjoy our time, ne?" Kondo interrupted.
"Demo Kondo-san! This is our chance to capture Zura!" Hijikata said disappointedly
"Zura ja nai! Katsura Da!" Katsura interrupted.
"But we shouldn't be that harsh. He's an uninvited guest and he'll feel out of place so we shouldn't make him feel worse. As a protector of Edo, I have to feel with people, no matter who it is. Right Otae-san?"
"You're also an uninvited guest" Otae smiled sweetly
Kondo's dazzling smile was replaced with a depressing aura.
"So you're saying I should leave? Would that make you happy!?" Kondo said dramatically.
"iie Kondo-san, falling off a cliff is easier" she replied with manners.
"Ma, ma, gorilla" Okita tried to cheer up Kondo-san who was crawled up in the corner surrounded by a depressing aura.
"Anyway, no fighting." Gintoki finally said.
Everyone went back to the dining table and finished eating.
Afterwards they all did whatever they felt like it and waited for the night. They were all eagerly expecting the campfire. Kondo and Shinpachi along with Yamazaki where preparing the campfire while Hijikata and Katsura were glaring at one another. The rest were in the living room enjoying a cup of sake. But there were two missing.
Kagura was in her room. It was not like her to feel that depressed but she couldn't help it. It's as if she was longing him.
"iie, iie" she shook the thought off. She changed her clothes. Otae bought Kagura a beautiful mini kimono since Kagura always wore her usual china-clothes.
"You should change your image a bit" Otae said.
Kagura changed into the Red Kimono with a black big bow at the back. She wore her long black socks and sat on her bed. Then lay. Looking up at the ceiling she thought of the sadist.
"I want to see him" she whispered and closed her eyes. The sun already set and it was starting to become darker.
"I'll just nap until it's time for the campfire -aru" she said and slowly fell asleep.
-While Kagura was sleeping-
"China, you in there?" Okita knocked at Kagura's door. No response.
"mhh well if she's not in there I can pull a prank until she comes" Okita amusingly thought and went inside. After he closed the door behind him, he spotted the sleeping and defenseless Kagura on the bed. He smiled his sadistic smile. He slowly approached the defenseless Yato girl until he reached the bed. He looked at her sleeping face and had to resist the urge to draw something on it.
"Cute" he thought. He sat down on the floor with his back to the bed and waited for her to wake up. He didn't know why exactly he was doing it, but he realized something. She was the only girl he could be around without acting like someone else. That's exactly what he liked.
Kagura woke up. She was still a bit sleepy. When she thought of the time she sat up almost instantly, afraid that she missed the campfire. Luckily she was able to hear voices from downstairs.
"Thank God. I thought I missed the campfire –aru!" she said relieved. But her feelings got stirred up once again after she saw the sleeping Okita at the side of her bed. He put his sleeping blindfold on his face and seemed distant.
"Ehhh! Why is the sadist here –aru?" she exclaimed.
She jumped down from the bed to the floor and looked at the sleeping Okita at a closer range. She chuckled a bit and admired his handsome face. She then looked down to his lips.
"iie iie iie , what am I thinking? Really this guy is trouble –aru!" she thought but her feelings said otherwise. She came closer, bit by bit she dismissed the distance that was between them. Her mind was telling her one thing and her feelings were telling her another. Until something bizarre happened. Before Kagura knew it, Okita embraced her passionately. Her head was on his chest. She felt her heart beat fast and her face turn red. "Hanashiteyo–aru!" she said but she couldn't free herself from him. He took off his sleeping mask and looked at the helpless girl.
"What where you trying to do? First you watch me when we were outside in the snow and now this. Do you really love me that much?" Okita said with his sarcastic voice. He couldn't help but smile.
"Nothing! What do you think I would do to you bakayaro! And I don't like you! –aru!" she said embarrassed. She's never been so close to him.
"Then, why did you come so close to me?" Okita said demonstrating what she was doing seconds before. He held her close to him with one arm and put his other hand on her chin, slowly drawing his face closer to hers. To his surprise, his heart was beating fast. And so was hers. Her cheeks were red and no matter how embarrassed she was, she liked what was happening. Slowly they came closer. Okita's cold eyes reflected passion for a change and her eyes were full of loving feelings. They were both breathing calmly but there was a bit of passion and excitement mixed into it. "Close your eyes" he told her with a gentle voice. And she obeyed.
"What... is this feeling?" she thought.
He looked at the girl who was centimeters away from him. He didn't know why he was doing it or why he felt that way towards her, but he liked it. He liked the way his heart was beating fast and he liked the way she was so close to him.
His lips were close to hers…
But he resisted that temptation and slapped her on her forehead.
"hentai" he said with a smirk and released her, standing up. Without another word he left the room. He stood in front of her room trying to capture that image of hers forever. "Close your eyes.. huh" he said and went downstairs.
Kagura felt disappointed. She wanted a kiss. But she didn't get one. "im so stupid -aru.." she thought, still sitting on the ground. She remembered his scent and his touch as well as his gentle beautiful voice. "Why am I so stupid.. nande -aru" she said frustrated and looked at the floor, ashamed. "I should have known that he was making fun of me… and now he saw me in such an embarrassing state -aru…"
"what are we… "She whispered in the dark still trying to calm her heartbeat.
After she calmed down for a bit she went downstairs and joined everyone. Okita looked at her but she tried not to make eye contact. She was too embarrassed.
Outside.
They all were outside around the big campfire. There was food and sake and everyone was awed by kaguras different dressing. Even okita commented on it.
"The circus would gladly accept you" he said meanly which resulted her to kick him. They both had mixed feelings. They both treated each other a bit differently but what didn't change about their relationship was their usual behavior other than the romantic feelings they were new to experience.
Kagura was able to take her mind off of things for the rest of the night. She danced around with the drunk Otae and Kyubei and also laughed with gintoki and shinpachi. Katsura and Elizabeth were playing uno until yamazaki joined them. And of course he got hit; by both, hijikata and okita. While Kondo san was busy admiring Otae's dance and Sachan was trying to sit on gintoki's lap. They all had a colorful and memorable night full of their old habits and atmosphere. That was the night before Christmas Eve. The Christmas miracle was yet to happen. It's a small spark that already started before anyone other than Kagura and Okita realized. A small spark just like the one they saw when they were so close to one another.