Trying to Kill Each Other Doesn't Count as Flirting (or Does it?)

Chapter 17

(F/N) had never been on a ship before, and, as she stared up the giant contraption, she realized they looked much bigger up close. As they waited to board, she pestered Okita and Soyo with talk of how big the ships were, how cool they looked, and how she wondered how many people they could carry. She convinced herself it was to keep Soyo distracted, but (F/N) knew it was to ease her own nerves more than anything. She'd never been part of something so big before—never been asked to protect someone else's life. She was certainly capable—she'd been training for years, and Sa-chan had made sure she was prepared, drilling basic ninja principles into her day and night. She'd even given (F/N) a proper ninja outfit, much easier to move in than her usual kimono. It showed a lot more skin, and she wondered if she imagined the way Sougo looked at her every time he thought she couldn't see him.

As soon as they boarded the ship, Soyo slipped into the bathroom, leaving (F/N) and Sougo outside to wait. (F/N) heaved a sigh, and flexed her fingers, trying to work out some of the tension that had been building in her body the last couple of days.

"I didn't realize being a bodyguard was so boring," she muttered. "How do you stand it?"

"It's a lot less boring when your charge is a spoiled brat who regularly makes your life hell," he replied. (F/N) glanced at him, searching for any sign of emotion, and as usual, came up empty.

I guess I do make his life hell, huh?

She thought back to all the times she'd tried to kill him, all the times she'd helped him assassinate Hijikata...the way he'd leaned on her after his sister's death, and the way he'd held her after the death of her parents. They'd been through so much together, and all she wished was that then, in the moment when they were about to be separated, he'd let her in at least a little.

"Hey," she murmured. "This'll probably be the last time we see each other for a while, huh?"

His expression tightened, and he bowed his head in a nod.

"Yeah."

(F/N) took a deep breath, and wetted her lips before she spoke again.

"We've been together for so long. It'll be odd...not having you there."

"Yeah..." He frowned, and his blank eyes took on a different look—tense, a little sad. "It will be strange, won't it?"

Ah, I see...

So it does bother him...

(F/N) let her hand fall to her side, and inched it slowly, carefully, towards his. She stole a glance down, and saw, to her surprise, that his own fingers were extended, reaching for hers. Her thumb brushed his index finger, and in that moment, Soyo came bursting out of the bathroom.

"I'm sorry I took so long!" she exclaimed. "I hope you didn't get tired of waiting—um, guys? Is something wrong?"

(F/N) shook her head. She now stood on the opposite end of the hall, hands behind her back, desperately trying to hide her blush.

"Nothing," she muttered, "nothing at all."

~o0o~

The trip proceeded fairly uneventfully at first. Soyo took (F/N) on a quick tour of the ship, then they settled in their seats, and (F/N) and Okita proceeded to team up to destroy Soyo at poker. Everything was nice and peaceful, and (F/N) almost thought they'd make it to Kyou without incident

That is, until a giant explosion shook their ship.

(F/N) and Okita immediately leapt to their feet. Soyo remained where she was, still clutching her losing poker hand to her chest.