Shinsengumi and Me (COMPLETED)

Takaku Village

Saito POV

"Men, this is the final stretch! Today we fight with everything we've got!" I chanted in front of my large group of soldiers, all of these men members of the Shinsengumi. "Yeah!" They cheered as we set off through Takaku Village.

A little way outside the village, on a stretch of empty path, surround by a small field we saw the enemy soldiers approaching. "Raise the banner." I order.

The Shinsengumi banner was raised, I drew my sword as they halted a few hundred meters away from us, guns raised and ready to fire.

"I am Saito Hajime of the Shinsengumi! I swear under our banner, you won't get by me!" I shouted and charged.

Bullets rocketed towards us, taking down man after man after man. I won't let them pass, they will not pass! I screamed as I tore through the enemy soldiers, on after another. My left hand stance giving me an advantage as the could not block my attacks.

Snapping my head to the side, screamed pierced the air at the back of the enemy troops. Is someone attacking from behind.

"DEVIL!"

A white haired blur, darted back and forth between the soldiers. No one escaping his blade. It stopped for a brief second, connecting our eyes then shot off again, taking out dozens of men before they knew what hit them.

A white scarf whipped out behind them, the jingle of beads echoed in my ear as the shot past me, killing men who had slipped passed. Beads....white scar- "EKŌ!" I screamed and whipped round to see her body jolt backwards as a bullet entered her shoulder.

Enraged, with such hatred I've never felt before in my life. The blood coursed through my veins so fast I could feel every part of my body at once. "You bastard!" I stabbed the gunman straight through the heart.

"Ekō chan!" I looked around wildly, killing all who dared to try and pass. "Saito-San! What is that?!" One of my men pointed his sword towards her. "She's a secret weapon. Do not shoot her! She's an asset!" Screamed at my gunmen who nodded.

Bodies began to pile up, more than I could count. Gunmen reloaded, medics pulled the injured back and all the while she kept fighting as blood poured from her shoulder. She's protecting us.

"Saito-San! Move!"

I whipped round, a blade came hurtling towards me before I could draw my sword. I choked as it sliced my hip, but missed anything vital.

"Thanks for protecting me...Saito-san." Ekō whispered, the length of the blade protruded from her rib cage, just below her heart. "N-no, Ekō chan. No!" She pulled the blade out as she fell on her knees.

"I need a medic!" I screamed wildly, two men came up with stretcher. "Do not let her die." I growled at them. They nodded, slightly scared at my reaction as they pulled her away from me.

"N-no, I'm not lea-leaving." She grabbed my arm, pulling her self up. "Your wounded, I'll come back I promise." I looked at her but she shook her head.

"I don't have time." She said, suddenly spinning on her heal, taking out a soldier. "What do you mean you don't have time?" I asked her. Her hair faded back to brown and she collapsed onto the ground.

"I don't.....have.....ti..."

Her head fell to the side, my men loaded her onto a stretcher and hurried back to our lines.

Looking at the few enemy soldiers that were left, my hatred over flowed. They're responsible for her wound. It's their fault is she dies. If she dies....

A screams ripped out of my throat as I charged at the few remaining men, my vision tinted red as the wind whistled past my ears. My heart pounded like a drum, adrenaline pumping through me as I took out each man, one by one!

*****

Entering the small tent, I looked at the last members of the surviving Shinsengumi. My last medic was tending to her wounds as she lay unconscious. "Is she going to make it?" I crouched beside her.

Her face has changed, matured. Her features are sharper, her hair is darker, and she's beautiful even when dying. "Saito San who is this girl?" My medic asked. "Her name is Ekō and she's extremely important to me." I said and took her hand. She flinched slightly but didn't wake up. Her skin was hot and her pulse hammered beneath my fingers.

"Sir, this woman is critically ill. Are aware of her tuberculosis?" He said to me. A rock dropped inside my chest, "Tuberculosis?" I repeated and he nodded. "A very severe case. I'd guess she's in her last days. I'm sorry sir but if these wounds don't kill her, she hasn't much time left." He left me with her.

I don't have time. So that's what she meant. "Ekō, please wake up." I whispered to her, laying my head on her chest. Her heart beat was fast, like her heart was trying its hardest to keep beating. She stirred, then began coughing herself awake.

I quickly pulled a tissue and handed it to her. Blood stained her lips a deep red, her cheeks flushed pink as I inspected her face. She really isn't a child anymore, she's so beautiful. My heart quicken and I blushed at my thoughts.

"Your blushing Saito San." She blinked lazily at me. Opening my mouth, I wanted to fire so many questions at her, but no words came out and she chuckled. "Nothing to say huh? Kinda disappointed." She coughed slightly, holding her shoulder.

"Y-you, why did you come back?" I asked her. She smiled, like it was the simplest and happiest question in the world. "It's because," she put her hand on my cheek, "I love you Saito-san."

She loves me? But how could she love me? "How?" I asked. She breathed a laugh closing her eyes. "You were never a brother to me, or a father. You were always just my Saito. I had to tell you, but I know it's too late now. Maybe in another life...." She breathed slowly, and began paling.

Her hand fell from my cheek, what's happening? "Ekō? What are you doing? This isn't funny, wake up. Ekō! Ekō!" I shook her shoulders as she her skin changed to the colour of ash. " No, no please don't leave me Ekō." I begged her, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes. My heart felt like I had been stabbed and the blade was being twisted to maximise the pain.

"Ekō! Ekō! Wake up! Don't please don't!" I shook her shoulders. Her hand slipped on top of mine and for a brief second...she held it with her last ounce of strength. A blue shimmer began at her feet, spreading like slow motion closer up her body. It's too late.

Leaning forward, I placed a gentle kiss on her still pink lips, "I love you too." And closed my eyes.

*****

*sniff* The End *sniff*

I might do an epilogue. Tell me if I should or if I should just leave it here. I swear the tears rolled down my cheeks as I wrote those last few lines.

Their love will never be....

-imnothereshh