Soldier Amidst the Wolves

Epilogue

5 years later....

Shin: "Gen, watch your step, we have a lot of guest."

Gen: "Yes..."

Maro: "Oh, look who's here."

It was a typical day in Otento. Maro was making deserts as usual. Shin was walking around serving as usual. Gen was making soba...or supposed to be. He was thinking about his latest dream that he had last night. He didn't really get it. It was something about sisters and a very cramped house that they repeatedly called a 'base'. They al had weird names and fire was sometimes edging his view and he never knew why.

Maro: "Maybe it was when you hit your head."

Shin: "You at least remember who we are and what you do, right?"

Gen: "Yeah, that's crystal. Painfully crystal."

Maro: "You mean your head or your memories?"

Shin: "Haha..."

5 years ago, Shin said Genzui went missing for a month and they found him on a floating tangle of branches and logs that was the river from a hill up in the west. The hill itself was very steep and dangerous to be on. It was very rocky and edgy everywhere. Apparently they guessed that's where Genzui fell. But Genzui said he couldn't remember what happened in the month beforehand. Then he started getting those weird dreams about the women on the base.

Shin: "Kusaka, you woke up pretty late today."

Gen: "I did? What the?"

Shin: "Yes, and you started screaming in your sleep. Who's Sword? I thought you'd be talking about you actual sword, but you seem to mean a female person.'

Gen: "...I don't know...I don't remember..."

Shin: "Gen?"

Gen: "Hmm? You need some soba? Here, better when it's hot."

Maro: "Ah, I've missed the harsh and growling Gen, you know?"

Gen: "What made you think that I was anything different?"

Maro: "You were crying again last night. Quietly, though."

Shin: "Come on, I want you guys to see this. Look who Okita brought with him."

Genzui and Maro exits the kitchen and looks in the direction where he points. There Okita of the Shinsengumi sat with a woman sitting across from him. She was very expressive and her voice was bubbly, though nervous. Plus, she was uneasy at calling him 'Soji', his first name. Gen stared at the woman suspiciously, from the kitchen doorway, for some reason easing back in that room.

Maro: "Hmm? Sakuta?"

Shin: "Oh, you know her?"

Maro: "Though she's with Okita...Shin, can I take care of this?"

Shin: "Probably, she might know you better."

Maro whipped up something special for Okita and this Sakuta woman.

Shin: "Ooh, you're going to give them that?"

Gen: "The sweet bean jelly treat that's supposed to be for couples?"

Maro: "'Supposed to be'? Look at them."

Shine: "Besides, if they're just placing out a front, then very well."

Genzui forgot to argue like he always did. How Shin was giving the Shinsengumi too much time and that they should strike them than serve them. Maro goes over and serves the treat and starts out a light conversation. Sakuta easily smiles and her emotions were plain as day on her face and voice, like she had no restraint on them. Shin found this quite interesting.

Shin: "I wonder if she knows the man she's with is even Okita."

Gen: "Doesn't look like it, but she definitely knows."

Shin: "Wow, when did you develop these abilities?"

Gen: "...I dunno..."

Sakuta: "...?"

Sakuta glances over to the counter where Shin and Genzui were talking and both of them caught her gaze. Though, she didn't look away. Genzui's instinct immediately made him glare at her. Though, she wasn't scared. While Okita was chatting up a storm with Maro, Sakuta seemed to be staring fondly at Genzui. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he's seen her somewhere before. Not just this week or anything, but like years and years ago. Like he's seeing an old friend.

She seems to know that too.

In fact, it seems she knows exactly who he is and how she knows him.

The kind smile on her face grew wider.

Genzui found himself smiling himself.

(Continue through Soji Okita's route from Era of Samurai: Code of Love, this update's storyline is from episode 6 from Act 1: Dawn of Love)

For all of you guys who were confused on how I described the layout of the base here's a map I made a long time ago for this idea.

Hope this serves a use.

[Mini Author's Note]

This story had been used for the #Wattys2017

Hope you enjoyed this 5-update story!

See you!

-Author

[P.S.]
This is what Genzui Kusaka is supposed to look like. I'll send an update after the Wattys sometime to show a picture of all the girls.