Trying to Kill Each Other Doesn't Count as Flirting (or Does it?)

Chapter 12

Of all the days for my alarm not to go off...

Sougo sighed as he brushed his hair. It was already ten o'clock, and the palace was a half-hour's walk away. He wondered if she'd still be there by then. Probably not.

And I told her not to do anything stupid...

"Hijikata-san," he said, "is it okay if I take a patrol car?"

"To do what?" Hijikata asked, eyes not leaving the morning news.

"To pick (F/N)-chan up," Sougo answered.

"Hell no," Hijikata muttered. "It's your own fault for sleeping in."

He left the room, and Okita wondered when the poison he'd given him would kick in. It was a slow-acting one of his and (F/N)'s own creation. He'd have to report the results to her later.

He slipped on his jacket, but before he could leave, a news headline caught his eye.

Hitotsubashi (Dad's Name) and Hitotsubashi (Mom's Name) found dead.

It took Sougo a moment to remember where he'd heard those names, and the moment the gears clicked into place, a single name flashed in his mind.

(F/N)...

A second later, he passed Hijikata, sprinting towards the door as fast as he could.

"Oi!" Hijikata shouted. "Article 34, no running in the—"

"I'm borrowing a patrol car!"

"I already told you—hey, are you listening to me? Hey!"

~o0o~

This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening...

(F/N) stared at the Mimawarigumi officer in front of her. The man who'd just told her 'your parents are dead.'

No, this can't be real. This has to be some sort of joke, right?

She made a break for the front gate. Her parents had to be in there. They had to be fine. She would walk in there, and they would greet her like they always did. Everything would be fine. Everything would be fine...

But before she could make it to the gate, the Mimawarigumi officer grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

"Wait!" he snapped. "You're not allowed to go in there—"

"Shut up!"

She twisted her arm out of his grip. She just had to make it inside, and everything would be fine.

Then she saw it—two bloody stretchers covered with sheets.

She fell to her knees.

No, no, no, no. This can't be happening. Mom...Dad...

"Look..." The Mimawarigumi officer said, "we're going to need to ask you some questions..."

(F/N) shook her head. She pressed her hands against her ears, hoping to drown everything out and disappear. It was impossible. If she walked through that door, they had to be there to say 'welcome home.' They had to be there to hug her, and say 'I love you.' They couldn't be gone. They just couldn't...

The man placed a hand on her arm, and she shook it off.

"Go away!"

"Miss," he said, "we just need to bring you to the station and ask you some questions. If you'll just—"

An explosion shook the ground. The warm shockwave hit (F/N)'s back, and the Mimawarigumi officer placed a hand on his sword, prepared to defend against the attacker. Normally, (F/N) would have joined him, but she didn't care, anymore. The assailant could go ahead and kill her if that's what he wanted.

"There you are."

A moment later, (F/N) found herself swept off the ground, and she was in his arms, staring straight into his eyes.

"Sougo?"

"With all these cockroaches running around, I could barely see you. Had to take extra measures."

He started carrying her towards a waiting patrol car as she stared at the wreckage from his bazooka blast. For a second, she thought they might get away unnoticed, but that was a bit too much to hope for.

"Hey!" a Mimawarigumi officer shouted. "Where are you going with that girl?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Sougo asked. "I'm kidnapping her."

Wait, what?

"You—you can't do that!" the man snapped, scrambling after them. "What are we supposed to tell our boss?"

Okita opened the passengers' side door, and set (F/N) down on the seat.

"Tell him to take it up with Shinsengumi Vice-Chief Hijikata Toushirou."

~o0o~

One hour and one scolding from Hijikata later, Okita walked down the hall towards his room. He figured the Mimawarigumi should be blowing up Hijikata's phone with complaints by now, and the thought made him smile. He'd doubtlessly get another scolding, but if his 'kidnapping' gave (F/N) some time to recover, it would be worth it.

He slid open the door, and there she was, curled up by the wall with her face buried in her knees. She was usually so strong, with fire burning in her eyes and an insufferable smile on her face. Seeing her so fragile broke his heart. He wanted to do something to help her. The only question was, what?

When Mitsuba died, (F/N) had known exactly what to do, but Sougo had never been especially good at comforting people. He had no idea what to do to make her feel better. All he knew was, whoever had done this was dead. He'd kill them for hurting her.

Because he loved her.

He didn't know when he'd realized it. Perhaps it was the day he'd given her the hair stick, or perhaps it was the day after Mitsuba's death, when he realized the only way he could find any peace was to feel her warmth. Even as he stood there, frozen in the doorway, he wanted to feel it. He wanted to hold her—to cradle in her arms, and tell her everything would be all right, because he was there, and he would always protect her.

Before long, that was exactly what he was doing. He crossed the room, knelt down, and pulled her against his chest. He hoped maybe, if he held her like that, he could bring her a moment of peace.

Instead, she trembled for a moment, and let out a quiet sob.

Shit!

He tried to pull back, but before he could, she wrapped her arms around his waist, and clutched the back of his shirt in her shaking hands. Though she couldn't find the words, he knew she wanted him to stay, so he pulled her closer, and held her as she sobbed into his chest.

Well...it looks like Hijikata-san's lecture will have to wait.

Author's Note: Hello! Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you did, please remember to vote! Thanks!

-Marguerite Partello