Chapter 32: Betrayal

"Here you go," Susumu place the hot green tea down on the kitchen table in front of Kondou-san who was right about finishing his novel.

"Thank you," he said, not bothering to look away from his book.

Susumu look around the kitchen, "Where's Okita-san?"

Kondou-san looks up from his novel, "I think he's in the living room. It's that time of year when he needed to be alone for a bit."

Clash! The two looked at each other. "Okita-san!" "Soji!" putting down his novel, the two rush into the living room. "Okita-san!" "Soji!" the two shouted in unison.

"Heh, sorry," Okita-san grin nervously as he bend down beside a broken vase.

Kondou-san let out a relief sighed, "Becareful you might hurt yourself."

"I'm not a little kid anymore, Kondou-san," he pouted.

Kondou-san bends down beside him, "Yamazaki-kun," he turns to Susumu, "Could you go get a towel for me?"

He nodded and dash out the room. Kondou-san turned back to Okita-san, "Next time, you should be more careful Soji. What if you accidentally hurt yourself?"

Okita-san grins, "Is the captain of the Shinsengumi worried about me?"

"Huh?" Stab!

KONDOU-SAN'S POV

One moment Soji and I were cleaning the glass, and the next… my blood was everywhere. A deep pain went through my body like fire. Through my bloody vision, the little boy I learn to care and love so much… grin dangerously at me. His eyes were full of hate and pain. Everything that I thought had become a part of him, were shatter in a second like broken glass. As I begin to fall back, I reaches a hand out with every hope that the little boy I knew would take hold of it, "So…ji?" and with everything I had left, my blurry clouded over until nothing was left but a mere fragrance of memory I had of the Okita Sojiro that I knew.

SUSUMU'S POV

I was on my way back after getting the towel from the kitchen. As I got closer to the living room, a fear washes over me like rain. A deep, deep fear told me to quicken my steps or I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I quicken my steps based on my instincts. As I got closer, the air around me got thicker and thicker. I stopped outside the door, afraid of what to find out on the other side. Taking a deep breath and hoping everything was the way I had left it, I reach for the door knob. "So…ji?" Huh? That sound like Kondou-san. I grip the doorknob and swung the door open as quickly as I could. What awaits me wasn't what I had hoped for. An unmoving Kondou-san lay strewn on the floor, while an Okita-san stood by the body unfazed… and he even seem… happy? He turns around and grins innocently at me, "You're a little late, Yamazaki-kun."

AKESATO-SAN"S POV

Tetsu-kun manages to stop crying for the moment, but he hadn't left his room since. Yamanami-han and I were beginning to worry. Why would he cry over Hijikata-san's departure? Is this something that had to do with his past?

"What are you thinking about, Akesato?" I turned to Yamanami-han and shook my head, "It's nothing. I was just worried about Tetsu-kun. He had been in his room for such a long time now, so I was just wondering what's wrong with him."

Yamanami-han took hold of my hand and kiss it gently, "Don't worry. Tetsu-kun would be fine. He was just a little sad right now. He will get used to it later on."

I smiled and nodded in understanding. Yamanami-han is always right when it comes to this. "Is the kid out yet?" We turn to the intrusion as he enters. I glared at him, "Not yet."

He laughed nervously as he understood what he just did, "Sorry," he scratch the back of his head, "But seriously, what his wrong with the kid? One moment we were training, and then he just started crying. Before I could even comprehend what was wrong, he ran off."

"You said he started crying out of nowhere?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied, dumbfounded.

I turned away from him and thought for a moment. Could it be that Tetsu-kun had a flashback? But how is that possible? All we who remember our past only dreamed about them, not having flashback out of nowhere. The door slide open and we all look up.

TESTU'S POV

Every hope I ever felt shatter just like that. A feeling I had never experience broke every little thing I have ever felt. Tears made their way to my eyes once again. No matter how hard I tried, my tears won't stop. Slowly, a dark fear grew inch by inch within me. More than anything, I want to be where the people I care for is… even if it's only for a short moment.

That thought replay itself over and over again in my mind. In order to be with them, I had to do everything I can to gain everything I lost back from Suzu. I will not let him take them again, and that means that I had to do it now, or I'll regret it for the rest of my life.

I forced my leg to bring myself up and out of the room. I walked towards the door and paused. I wipe away every last trait of tears before sliding the door opens. Surprisingly, everyone was there, except Tatsu-nii of course. He's probably cooking lunch right about now. The other three here looks up with a look that tell complete relief, but their expression harden a little. I realize my facial expression was hard for them to read, which is exactly what I wanted.

"I want to go back to Tokyo," I said with complete conviction that leaves no room for argument. The other three didn't say anything, but simply watch me. "I won't," I begin, "lose them again."

Author's Note- i know it's short, but i promise it would get more interesting from here. in the next chapter is the fight between the evil Okita-san and Susumu. and who knows, i might even add a little surprised to it. though i can't really guarantee the surprise.