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

Chapter 21

Once Kondo was thoroughly skewered, (F/N) went downstairs to gather her things. Very little had survived the ship's crash—only some spare kunai and a few changes of clothes. Not that it mattered. She'd have plenty of time to shop in Kyou.

The ship landed and docked, and everyone filed outside to say their goodbyes. (F/N) hugged Kagura and Kondo, and even Hijikata, who stiffened up like he'd never been hugged in his life. Then she got to Sougo, and froze.

I...I have no idea what our relationship is...

Before she could decide whether a hug, kiss, or handshake was more socially appropriate, Sougo bent down, and pulled her into his arms.

"Let's continue where we left off next time, shall we?"

A smile played on (F/N)'s lips, and she tilted her chin up to whisper in his ear.

"I'm looking forward to it."

He drew back, but before he could walk away, (F/N) lifted a hand to cup his cheek.

"Hey," she murmured, "keep in touch, okay?"

"Okay."

"(F/N)-san."

(F/N) jumped, and spun around to find Shigeshige standing there with a smile.

"It's time to go."

"Ah—okay!" She turned around, and waved a quick goodbye to everyone before hurrying after him and Soyo to their next destination—the Imperial Palace.

For the foreseeable future, that's where they'd live. It was so foreign—so different from their normal everyday life, so far away from all their friends...but hopefully, someday soon, they would return to Edo, and everything would return to the way it had always been.

~o0o~

Unfortunately, that day never came.

Not long after they parted with their friends, an assassin took Shigeshige's life, and (F/N) and Soyo were sent back to Edo under the protection of the Mimawarigumi. The days following their return were busy with preparations for the funeral, and she and Soyo used their only break to pay a visit Kagura. (F/N) had hoped it might lift the Princess's spirits, but the whole of the Yorozuya held a lingering gloom, and she scolded herself for being so stupid. Of course they wouldn't be normal. No one was. Not now.

With how busy things were, (F/N) didn't see Sougo until after the funeral had ended. It was just a quick glimpse of the back of his head, but, as if sensing her eyes on him, he turned around, and their gazes locked.

The sight of him brought with it a certain weight. It wasn't until that moment, when she thought back to the day they'd said goodbye, that she truly realized how much had changed. Shigeshige was dead. Nobunobu was shogun. They'd never return to those happy days again.

It was that thought that finally made the tears burn at the back of her eyes.

Sougo opened his arms, and she ran into them, throwing her arms around his waist, hands clinging to the back of his jacket. His warmth made everything a little better. At least he was still there—at least he was safe.

There was so much she wanted to say, but before she could even open her mouth, he spoke, so softly she could barely hear it.

"I'm sorry."

She raised her head and stared up at him. What was he talking about?

"I should have been able to protect him," he whispered, holding her tighter. "I failed in my duty as a Shinsengumi officer. I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about?" (F/N) pulled away, and cupped his face in her hands. "Shigeshige-sama's death was not your fault! It was the fault of the man who killed him! Do you understand?"

He averted his gaze. (F/N) stifled a sigh, and let her hands fall to his chest, closely followed by her forehead. Her hair fell over her face, and she hoped that, somehow, it could hide her from the world.

"Hey, Sougo," she whispered. "I need you to do something for me."

"What's that?"

"I need you to take me with you."

His hands on her back tensed, and she looked up to meet his gaze.

"I need you to take me back to the Shinsengumi compound. Then I need you to hide me away, and never let anyone else know I'm there. Can you do that for me? Please?"

"Huh? Why would you—"

"Hitotsubashi (F/N)-sama?"

(F/N) froze, and slowly turned to look over her shoulder. There were two Mimawarigumi officers, watching her with soulless eyes, and their hands on their swords.

"Nobunobu-sama would like to see you. Please come with us quietly and don't make a fuss."

Slowly, (F/N) drew away, and turned towards the officers. She walked over to them, head bowed, and only at the last moment did she glance behind to steal one last look at Sougo's face. There, she saw the dawning horror—the realization of why she'd asked him to steal her away.

With Shigeshige dead, she was now in Nobunobu's custody. 

Author's Note: Hello! Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and if you did, please remember to vote. Thanks!

-Marguerite Partello