Hakuoki : Tale Of Yuki

Chapter 10: Sannan Keisuke

Sannan got injured during his journey to the capital. When they received the news yesterday, everyone was shocked. And when they heard it was just an injury on his left arm, Chizuru was the first to sighed in relief. But...

"No, it's not!" Heisuke protested.

"To a swordsman both arm is essential. Without his left... Sannan-san.. probably can never wield a katana again,"Saito said.

"I-I see...," Chizuru said with a guilty looks.

"Come to think of it, where's Yuki-kun? I haven't seen him around?" Sanosuke asked, trying to change the subject so the breakfast atmosphere the morning wouldn't worsen.

"Now, you mentioned it, I haven't seen him since yesterday," Shinpachi said with his mouth full.

"Huh? is he still asleep?" Heisuke asked.

Hijikata sat his bowl down. "If it's Yuki-kun... from now on, you are all forbidden to go anywhere near him except for me, Koudou-san and Sannan-san... from now on, the three of us are going to take turn of bringing him his meal and such," he announced.

"Wha-! All of sudden? Why?" Heisuke asked.

The others were also shocked by the new set of rule. Sanosuke was the first to noticed the strange looks on Hijikata's face. "...Something had happened.... right?"

Hijikata didn't answer. He puts his chopsticks down and grabbed the small table with supposedly Yuki's meal on it. "Thank you for the meal... excuse me, I have to bring him his food now..."

Before the others could've said anything, he already left.

With every step he took feels heavy like the questions were weighting down his mind. After what happened, Yuki was brought back to his room with an order to stay in there. Then he explained about what happened to Koudou and Sannan.

#Flashback#

"What? Why would he hurt anyone?!" Koudou asked in disbelief.

"Calm down, Koudou-san... I'm sure there's an explanation for this," Sannan said in his usual calm self.

"... if there is. I can't think any of the reasons... to be honest, I can't believe my eyes either..." Hijikata said.

The three of them were quiet for a moment.

"....this is only an assumption but... do you think it's possible because of his past, he could...," Hijikata trailed off, thinking it's impossible.

"Could what? Turn violent?" Sannan asked, catching his meaning.

"It is possible"

The answer shocked the two other male.

"It's natural, living with fear and everyday abuse his body will acted more quickly than his mind. To the point sometimes he can't distinguish between what's real and not, as memories will replace his reality... and he will act according to what's important that time.. for example... if he was being... 'hurt' by.. those people.. he would do exactly what he needed or wanted to do...

That is... protecting himself"

Koudou pinched the bridge of his nose in concern. "... that's right... I almost forgot about what happened to him.."

"... do you think... it can get worse?" Hijikata asked, hesitantly.

"... yes... I think," Sannan answered. "... past trauma can easily damaged the mind... he might develop some kind of phobia towards people or pain... there's also possibility that he'll be so distraught by the memories... that he can develop some... mental issues"