Chapter 9: The Well Kept Secret

A few more days pass. Saitou and Akira have been spending a little more time together. They talk about their day and how it went. They talk about the difficulty of situation, but ever since that day in the kitchen, they haven't been alone. Someone was always with them. When they tried and trick people away, Okita always appeared. They were beginning to suspect that he had some kind of knowledge about the arrangement, but they couldn't confirm it.

Today Akira looked towards the gates where Saitou and his men were preparing to leave for patrol. Her green eyes showed a mixture of worry and sorrow. Worry, because they might run into danger. Sorrow, because she too wanted to go.

"I envy them," she murmurs to herself, not expecting to be heard.

"Because they get to with Saitou?" a smug voice from behind her asks.

Akira shakes her head and replies, "because they get to outside," her eyes saddening a little more.

"Eh, now what would poor Saitou-san say if he ever heard this?" the voice teased.

She turned to look at the person behind her. I knew it. Right behind her stood the man who could never live a day without making a smart comment – Okita. She blinked of confusion.

"Why would Saitou-san care if he heard me Okita-san?" she asked innocently. Why would Saitou care indeed, but Okita replied by saying the last thing she had ever wanted to hear from his mouth.

"I thought he told you to call him Hajime," a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a bright red. She was a deer in headlights at this moment. She was frightened, but unsure of what to do. The phrase we're doomed, was all she could think of. She looked down and tried to think of some kind of explanation he would take.

"Tha- that was…" was all she managed to say before Okita started laughing and quickly stopped.

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone yet," he said as a small smile played at the corner of his lips.

Yet. So he does mean tell.

"I want to see Hajime-kun's face after I tell him first, then I'll decide if it what would be more fun."

Okita assumed it was Saitou's idea to keep it quiet, so he couldn't wait to see his face after he told him. The thought of Saitou's shocked look on his usually emotionless face made Okita want to die of laughter, until he saw Akira's face. Her face looked sad and dejected. He thought it would be fun to tease her too, but she was more sensitive to it than he thought she would be.

"Hey, don't make a face like that. Everyone would have noticed at some point," he meant to cheer her up, but it took the opposite effect. She looked even more depressed than before. Those really were not the words she wanted to hear.

Then Okita noticed Saitou scanning the area one more time before his departure and Okita quickly took action. He hugged Akira. When Saitou saw this, his eyes narrowed and he clenched his jaw. He knew what was going to happen to Okita afterwards. Okita gave Saitou a huge smile and Saitou's eyes widened. He knows, so why… Saitou thought and he saw his comrade get electrocuted. He wanted to help but he knew he couldn't, so Saitou left in a bad mood because he wasn't able to stop his friend.

It all happened so fast for Akira. One moment Okita was giving her the worst news of her life and the next, he was hugging her. She immediately saw the electric current flowing through Okita's body. She wanted to push him away, but he didn't let himself. The next thing she saw was Okita throw himself backwards to the floor.

"Are you okay Okita-san?" she asked, but all you saw was a sheepish grin on Okita's face.

"I'm fine," he said and his grin grew wider, "but I think Hajime-kun left in a bad mood."

"Eh?" she was confused.

Okita laughed. It was interesting to see Saitou react for once. He thought of doing it again, but the hug is a little too much… maybe if he did something else to stir Saitou up.

"What do you mean Saitou-san left in a bad mood?" Akira asked.

He was too busy thinking up ways to prank these two that he had forgotten the girl was still in front of him.

He gave her the most mischievous smile he has ever had and told her, "hmm, it was probably had to do with the hug I gave you."

"I see," she said.

Saitou was probably worried about Okita. She wanted to run to him and tell him that Okita's fine, but she can't. She's not allowed to leave the temple. She also wondered if he was mad at her for not stopping Okita like she did to Heisuke. She sighed. For now she'll just wait until Saitou comes back from patrol, then they could have a proper talk.

Saitou came back late from patrol, but he seemed to be in a hurry which was rare for him. He probably just needed to tell Hijikata-san something important, Akira told herself. She would wait for Saitou in the spot where they have been meeting the past few days, but he did not come. When she didn't see Saitou in the common room for dinner either, she became even more worried. To not worry the others, she pulled Hijikata aside to talk to him.

"Toshi, may I speak with you?" she asked in a low voice to not be heard.

She felt uncomfortable using his nickname, but it became a habit. When she wanted to talk about something serious, she would call him Toshi that was an indirect way to tell others that may be around to leave. He nodded and they talked as they walked.

"What's wrong Akira?" he asked once they were away from hearing distance.

"I haven't seen Saitou since he came back from patrol and that's not like him. He usually stays to finish the rest of his tasks, so I was wondering if you sent him on an errand."

Hijikata's eye brows creased. He knew what she meant by an errand, she was talking about a mission.

"I'm afraid that it's confidential Akira," he gave her a meaningful look as a warning that said she shouldn't ask any further.

"Will he be back late?" she dropped her voice to a whisper. She knew she shouldn't pry but she couldn't help it. She dropped her gaze. She knew Hijikata was glaring at her without looking up.

"It's confidential," Hijikata repeated.

She knew that he wouldn't budge. Even if she begged him, he wouldn't leak out a single piece of information. He didn't want to have to kill her if she found out.

"I see," she said. Her heart dropped a bit, but she knew there were some things that she would never know about the Shinsengumi.

"Oh, but you do"

Immediately, Akira looked behind her. Hijikata's eyes narrowed for a moment and looked towards the direction the girl was looking at. Nothing, they both thought. She mumbled her thanks to Hijikata and she went to bed unsettled.

"Careful, they're catching on to you."

Author's Note:

So what happens when you get midterms, a cold, an upset stomache that won't even let you eat sh*t, and a major headache... each one after another? A really upset author who can't write anything b/c she's busy dealing with her bodily needs. For once, can't you be my side mother nature! And while your at it tell all your little sicknesses to STOP MAKING A LINE! *Sigh* Sorry for ranting but I wasn't exactly happy that I couldn't update until now -_-" I promised myself to at the very least I would update once a week, but I obvious couldn't so I'm upset. :/ I kinda know where the story is headed though so you guys don't have to worry about my dear writer's block. I will force a story out of my brain if I have to to make up it up to you guys.

Anyways... please review. I would really appreciate the feedback... and it would so very make my day.

P.S. before I forget I will take "situation" recommendations aka tell me hat you would like to see in the story. I don't promise anything, but I will try to incorporate into the story. If you decide to do this, PM me just in case I like. I wouldn't want to spoil anything ;)

Again please Review, me like the critics :)