Aku No Hana ~ Flower Of Evil ~ Hakuouki Fanfiction Story

***...Preparations...***

{June 1887, Noon}

Time flies by and before I knew it a month had passed. I couldn't believe time was ticking by like there was nothing to worry about. My mind was still wondering about Yukimura. Could I find him and ask for help, before my mother would turn out worse. I didn't even know if she was fine right now. Thinking about her made me miss home, the people that cared about us and the kids we used to teach. The memories were all nice, not once had something bad happened there. A safe little heaven that no evil could penetrate.

     "Kimura." My thoughts were interrupted by the strong voice of Heisuke. I was spacing out a little forgetting we were in the middle of training. I quickly look around to see if anyone noticed. "You know boss, why doesn't he have to train with us?"

     "Yeah, I mean he's one of us to, right?" The guys from the division were stationed before us. This was a once in a week tryout to see if everyone could still keep up with each other. Slackers were immediately punished by more training. I guess it was pretty hard to be able to keep up with everyone. "Of course not, he'll die before he has a chance to go into battle. You guys are way too rough." The voice came from a tree next to the open field we were all standing in. Everyone's eyes went towards it in unison.

The reddish-brown locks of a familiar person fell down his face. He jumped out from the tree without any difficulty and stretched his back. "That is why I will train him first." Souji said, his lips forming a proud smile. He was going to train me now, but what about Heisuke? I looked up at him not knowing what to expect. Once he noticed me he looked back. "True, since I'll be the once training you guys you better try and keep up!" Without any further words he began to run, the guys of his division soon joining him. It looked fun, like they were all kids again, playing catch.

     "Alright Hana, let's go." He took my hand pulling me with him to an unknown location. I was a bit worried, but it would only be training so it would be fine. Okita still scared me, I didn't know why, but it might have been because he always tells jokes that sound so honest. I wonder if they really are just jokes or if there is some truth behind them. He pulls me into a room and stops in the middle of it. Somehow this brought me back to the training with Heisuke. I still felt stupid about that, also embarrassed. "Alright, I finally have you to myself." I almost forgot I was with Okita now. I turned back to him and was greeted by his stretched out hand, he held a wooden sword out to me waiting for me to grab it. Once I did I took a stand, remembering it from my childhood.

     "Oh, so you do know a little." He nodded his head while circling around me, trying to find something I suppose. "If you don't want to be knocked back after one hit you better move your foot to the back a little." I listened to his word and placed my foot a bit further away. I was learning and it felt good. "Now your arms, they are still too weak, but to make it look like you know what to do.." It startled me a bit when he touched me. His hands trying to readjust mine. His hands were big and strong, I was starting to get a bit uncomfortable. "..Just go and pull back your shoulders, lift your elbows and try not to glare at people too much." After he was done he took a place before me and held out his sword. "First try to get the sword out of my hand with one swing. I will not move." I did what he said, this was easy. If I just hit the upper part his thumb would give in and he'll let go.

I was right, after I hit the sword by striking down he let go. "Good." He said once picking up the sword he dropped. "The way to unarm your opponent is easy like this, but once your target is moving there will be more difficulties." Without warning he launched forwards, the time to react was just enough for me to stop him, but not enough to keep standing. I fell backwards hitting my back against something hard. The pain began to spread out through my body, but I wasn't going to give in. Even with the pain in my back I stood up. I held the sword in front of me and resumed my stand. "I guess I can't complain much. You are still weak, but you can take a hit by me, meaning you are strong." His words were a compliment this time, how strange. But his words warmth me a little, the way I thought he was, was maybe a bit much. "Alright, but before we continue, strip." I swallowed my words immediately. What was he saying, I can't just strip in front of a guy like that. I gave him a glare before holding the sword strongly into my hands. "I will not." He smiled at my words like I was playing with him.

     "I guess I have no choice then." He again launched forward, but this time he tricked me into thinking he was going to attack head on. In fact he quickly moved to the right where he disarmed me of my sword. He was so much faster than I could progress and before I knew I he had me pinned against the wall. The pain in my back began to pick up and I could no longer hide the painful expression in my face. "You're injured, aren't you?"

     "I'm fine. Let go." I tried my best to sound strong, but I couldn't hide the pain. "Mmh, are you sure?" He placed his hand on my back and searched for the place that hurt the most, I tried to push him off, but he had already found it. The pain was stronger and I began feeling sick. I didn't even know why it hurt this much. "P-please, stop." My face had been flushed by the intense pain and my breathing had become heavy. Everything around me was fuzzy and my eyes had teared from the touch.

     "It's hard for a man to resist such a face.." His words hardly came in. I felt a bit dizzy and I wasn't sure why, was this the beginning of a fever maybe. I hardly noticed how he turned me around and began pulling down my yukata. It felt like I wasn't myself, as if I watched a scene of a play. I felt out of control and defenseless. "Souji, what are you doing!" The voice belonged to Heisuke, he was standing at the door, his eyes wide in both shock and disgust. He quickly made his way over, Souji pulling away with his hands up. Heisuke glared at him for a brief moment before pulling me towards him. "What the hell are you doing, if you want to go at it do it somewhere else. Also!" He turned towards me, I could see the anger fuming behind his big blue eyes. "why do you look like you're having fun, try to show some shame." The words hit me hard enough to pull me back to reality. The pain was getting less, but I still felt like I wasn't me. "Heisu-ke.." I spoke his name and tried to stay awake. Maybe I was getting sick.

     "Souji, what have you done?" Heisuke turned the conversation back to Okita and I could see him just looking to the side. I wondered if he was always like this, so nonchalant. Would he care if any of the people here died. Why were those words inside me, why was I thinking about death? "I haven't done a thing, she fell hit something and I wanted to check what." Everything began to get darker, my eyes heavy and I was ready to fall asleep.

     "Hana?" When he felt my body getting heavier his concern became more visible. "Are you alright?" I took a final look up, before I passed out. The last word I heard was my name.