crimson soul <[okikagu]> on hold

chapter 4

When Kagura finally regained some senses, she found herself in what looked like an infirmary; but it was not the one in the princess's ship so she deducted that it was the Shinsengumi's. Now that she thought about it, she did hear a certain captain's voice resonating with her spiky haired friend's low tone before losing consciousness. Memories were slowly coming, while she felt, weirdly enough, a weight on her lap. And sandy strands scattered on the pale green blanket, making her wondering how he finished sleeping soundly here. He looked pretty innocent now, well, he does have an angel face with round features, on the contrary of his sadistic nature. It was rare to see him in this state; so she began to poke his cheeks but it did not any effect.

"Wake up Sadist, you're heavy!" she ordered. His wide red eyes opened slowly, only to meet China's cute– no, very ugly, ugly pout. Surely annoyed, the young girl crossed her arms, lips smeared with black. At the same time, he got up, his hand caught forcefully her wrist, pinning her down on the bed– a very provocative position indeed.

"Don't act like it's totally normal to faint like this, China." His voice was harsh, he disliked very the careless way she acted. Like her health meant nothing, because of his dear sister's death, illness was an important topic to him. It mattered especially if it was the Yato female's case– who just mumbled something. "Care to repeat, China?"

"Listen, what do you know? What if that it is normal for me, I'm not a human like you."

"What are you trying to say, China?" he frowned, it sounded wrong. So wrong. And deep within, a fear was born; her manner imitated perfectly Mitsuba's one. As if...As if she was going so far away that he couldn't reach her.

"I don't want to talk about this with you, sadist." Her ocean eyes wavered, he could see how she was hurt; it made him angry. When he was depressed after Mitsuba's disappearance, she comforted him, in her own way. Why could she ease his pain if he couldn't? That she learned his story but he didn't get the same right? Weren't they sworn rivals? All these questions circled in his head, making his grip tighter.

"Don't do this to me. Just because I had to quit Edo, you decided to ignore me, is that it? I'm not gently asking you, tell me the truth." The sight of an unusually non-calm Okita surprised her, he expected him to use his deadpan tone or better, to laugh at her face about how weak she is– like the prince of sadists he is. His closeness troubled her too, his face was a few inches apart from hers, his breath was tickling her sensitive skin.

"F–Fine Sadist, but remove yourself from me first aru–!"

"No. I won't let you escape; I want to hear you out before."

"You damn perverted bastard! Guess I have no choice then...What I'm trying to explain is that it's not so odd for me to be sick. Mami and most of the women in her lineage died this way. My life won't last long, I understood it many years ago." She paused a moment. "Somehow, it's linked with my Yato power, it shortens it. However, even if I do not use it, passing my late thirties would still be a miracle uh–uh!"

The– no his world was crumbling, the strongest woman he knew, the same brat who can brawl with him every day without sweating, has health issues? Was this a very bad taste joke? Sure, she looked a bit frail, but damn, she was a Yato! A race whom the body allowed to destroy a wall or two in one punch easily, just how the hell could she be...Dying. In front of him. Again. Like his Aneue, it was unfair, she has no right to leave him. They would be fighting against each other forever, eventually, he'd make her his property; that was how the future should be. His body stiffened, instead of going away like promised, his arms wrapped around her. He wanted to feel her heart beating, to feel her breathing, to feel her alive.

"What the fuck Sadist?! You're raping me, yes?" she shouted.

"Shut up for once, China" he mumbled back. "Your friend is a famous healer, no? You won't die. I won't let you, not until we settle scores. Slipping away from me is forbidden."