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

Chapter 25

It had been a long time since the Shinsengumi had left Edo. The days since then had been surprisingly boring, considering they were on the run from the law, and with that in mind, Okita decided to spice things up a little...in his own way.

"Sougo!" Hijikata shouted. "What happened to my secret mayonnaise stash?"

Okita tried his best to look innocent as he turned towards his superior, who was currently storming through their temporary base with murder in his eyes and a cigarette clenched between his teeth.

"You have a secret mayonnaise stash?" Sougo said. "Wow, Hijikata-san, you're just like a regular squirrel. Or maybe dog is more appropriate—"

"Don't mess with me!" Hijikata snapped. "I just went in there to find all my mayonnaise bottles empty, and the contents spread all over the floor!"

"Oh, no. I wonder who could have done that. Maybe we have a ghost..."

Hijikata said nothing, but his eyes widened a just a fraction, and Sougo suppressed a smirk. The Vice-Chief's fear of ghosts never failed to entertain him...

He was about to go further, but before he could, a strong killing intent appeared behind him, sending a shiver down his spine. This feeling was familiar. Too familiar.

A second later, something sharp sank into the back of his skull.

"Sougo, you goddamn bastard! You have some explaining to do!"

He yanked the kunai out of his head, and ducked just before another barrage hit, leaving them to skewer Hijikata, instead. When he looked up, (F/N) was standing there with her arms crossed, and a deep scowl on her face.

"Sougo..."

"What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Go back to Kabukicho."

"No!"

"He's the one who ditched you," Hijikata growled. "Why the hell are you stabbing me?"

(F/N) ignored him, and let loose another round of kunai. Okita dodged, and took off down the hall. Blades continued to fly from her hands, hitting the walls, the ceiling, an unfortunate Yamazaki. Meanwhile, Sougo was wondering three things: how did she find him, what was she doing there, and what could he do to get her to go away?

Before long, they'd reached the second floor. It was largely deserted, mostly used for training and storage. She stood before him, a kunai in each hand, gripping them so hard her knuckles turned white.

"Goddammit, Sougo, fight me!"

So that's what she wants, huh?

"Fine then," he muttered, drawing his sword. "Come at me with everything you've got."

She ran at him, both kunai raised and ready to carve him up. He waited until the last moment, and swung down. She would dodge—she always did. He knew her fighting style better than anyone else, after all.

But this time, she didn't dodge. Instead, she blocked his strike with a single blade, and in a split second, he was pressed against the wall with the cool edge of a kunai kissing his throat.

"Checkmate, asshole."

~o0o~

It had taken (F/N) several days to track the Yorozuya to one of Katsura's many hideouts in Akihabara. By the time she found them, the Shinsengumi were already gone, and after getting their approximate location from Gin and Kagura, she set off, leaving the Yorozuya behind. She could get their rent later.