pmk [Bloom2]
Title: Bloom2
Pairing: HijiOki
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters!
Note: This is a 3 part series but there's no direct link in the plot. It's simply an illustration of the different stages in Okita Souji's life
Thanks to aggy for helping me beta this fic! ^^
It was a lazy afternoon. Okita Souji watched until the last of the children left the temple before sitting back down on the long corridor to catch his breath. The gentle spring breeze threaded its fingers through his long hair that was casually tied back and then caressed his cheeks which were a rare pink from playing with the children. It was unusually quiet at Mibu temple today because everyone had been dragged off for 'special training' at the outskirts of town under the watchful eye of the Demon vice captain himself. One would have thought that Shinpachi was being led to his execution judging from his expression as he looked back longingly at Souji who bade them farewell at the temple's entrance. Souji laughed at the memory but his mirth was cut short when the implications of being the only one left behind suddenly struck him.
How long had it been since he was a part of Hijikata's hell trainings? His thoughts drifted to a different time, when he was another person.
Strong, valued. An asset.
True, he still held the title of First Captain and Hijikata often said his capability as a strategist helped no less. But when it came down to the crux in battles, one's ability to fight was of the utmost importance, especially with Shinsengumi's 'strength in numbers' strategy. He used to be Shinsengumi's priced asset, the tensai that inspired the team by his mere presence. If Okita Souji was there, they could win any battle.
Souji wandered to the dojo and surveyed the empty training hall. So many times, he laid in his futon and listened to the familiar sounds of training or sparring. That's all he could do, listen.
He walked to one end of the dojo and picked up a wooden katana from the rack. Long pale fingers curled round the handle as Souji reacquainted himself with the familiar weight of the katana. He wielded the katana expertly, smooth strokes that were fast and precise, striking down his imaginary foes one after another. His strokes were deadly as they were beautiful and Souji reveled in this shadow of a strength that he once possessed. For those brief moments, Souji thought he somehow managed to rid himself of the monster that had been slowly devouring his body.
But a sudden dizzy spell forced him to break a stroke in midair. He hastily clamped a hand over his mouth in an attempt to quell the cough that he knew was about to seize his body. However, the body refused to submit to will and the coughing fit that followed forced Souji onto his knees.
This was the sight that greeted Hijikata Toshizou who came looking for Souji. It was not the first time he saw Souji's illness acting up. Unfortunately, this would not be the last.
He could only watch helplessly as this beautiful young man in his prime fight a losing battle against an enemy with no form. He wanted to rage against the higher beings that decided this cruel fate for Souji but no amount of anger nor determination could save him from the early demise that Hijikata knew awaited him. And this knowledge pained Hijikata, a pain so deep that it reached the recesses of his soul. But at last the anger burning in his eyes faded away and was replaced by an emptiness that one could not decipher.
"Hijikata-san ..." Souji's voice was hoarse from the strain of coughing and he struggled to stand up. There was nothing left of his illness to hide from Hijikata of course, for the older man has seen him in worse states. But how Souji hated to be in such situations, where the hopelessness of it all becomes so apparent. A blush spread across his cheeks as he fumbled again, limbs, sleeves, katana in a tangled mess on the floor, the grace of a master swordsman lost.
Hijikata strode across the hall to where Souji was and picked him up easily.
"They'll need the training hall soon."
"Yes, of course." Souji murmured a reply, as if they were simply excusing themselves from the dojo after one of their private practice sessions and he wasn’t being carried out in Hijikata's arms.
Souji could feel his remaining energy ebbing away and he dropped the pretendence of strength, leaning weakly against Hijikata as they weaved through the winding passages leading to Souji's room.
"Hijikata-san, I saved you some dango*. Let's go have some now, ne?"
Souji looked up at Hijikata but his face was obscured by the shadows as he was back-facing the sunlight. Hijikata didn’t answer but Souji knew they were going to have that dango because that's what they always did after practice. An unspoken routine that Souji enjoyed going through because for Hijikata to suffer those sticky sweets on a regular basis was proof of his love and indulgence.
"It's really tasty. The kids were fighting over them! But I told them we got to save some for Hijikata-san ... he'll be hungry after all that training..."
The lure of sleep was too great and he nodded off against the broad and sturdy chest, comforted by the steady rhythm of Hijikata's heartbeat.
-END-
*dango - Japanese dumpling made from rice flour.
Pairing: HijiOki
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters!
Note: This is a 3 part series but there's no direct link in the plot. It's simply an illustration of the different stages in Okita Souji's life
Thanks to aggy for helping me beta this fic! ^^
It was a lazy afternoon. Okita Souji watched until the last of the children left the temple before sitting back down on the long corridor to catch his breath. The gentle spring breeze threaded its fingers through his long hair that was casually tied back and then caressed his cheeks which were a rare pink from playing with the children. It was unusually quiet at Mibu temple today because everyone had been dragged off for 'special training' at the outskirts of town under the watchful eye of the Demon vice captain himself. One would have thought that Shinpachi was being led to his execution judging from his expression as he looked back longingly at Souji who bade them farewell at the temple's entrance. Souji laughed at the memory but his mirth was cut short when the implications of being the only one left behind suddenly struck him.
How long had it been since he was a part of Hijikata's hell trainings? His thoughts drifted to a different time, when he was another person.
Strong, valued. An asset.
True, he still held the title of First Captain and Hijikata often said his capability as a strategist helped no less. But when it came down to the crux in battles, one's ability to fight was of the utmost importance, especially with Shinsengumi's 'strength in numbers' strategy. He used to be Shinsengumi's priced asset, the tensai that inspired the team by his mere presence. If Okita Souji was there, they could win any battle.
Souji wandered to the dojo and surveyed the empty training hall. So many times, he laid in his futon and listened to the familiar sounds of training or sparring. That's all he could do, listen.
He walked to one end of the dojo and picked up a wooden katana from the rack. Long pale fingers curled round the handle as Souji reacquainted himself with the familiar weight of the katana. He wielded the katana expertly, smooth strokes that were fast and precise, striking down his imaginary foes one after another. His strokes were deadly as they were beautiful and Souji reveled in this shadow of a strength that he once possessed. For those brief moments, Souji thought he somehow managed to rid himself of the monster that had been slowly devouring his body.
But a sudden dizzy spell forced him to break a stroke in midair. He hastily clamped a hand over his mouth in an attempt to quell the cough that he knew was about to seize his body. However, the body refused to submit to will and the coughing fit that followed forced Souji onto his knees.
This was the sight that greeted Hijikata Toshizou who came looking for Souji. It was not the first time he saw Souji's illness acting up. Unfortunately, this would not be the last.
He could only watch helplessly as this beautiful young man in his prime fight a losing battle against an enemy with no form. He wanted to rage against the higher beings that decided this cruel fate for Souji but no amount of anger nor determination could save him from the early demise that Hijikata knew awaited him. And this knowledge pained Hijikata, a pain so deep that it reached the recesses of his soul. But at last the anger burning in his eyes faded away and was replaced by an emptiness that one could not decipher.
"Hijikata-san ..." Souji's voice was hoarse from the strain of coughing and he struggled to stand up. There was nothing left of his illness to hide from Hijikata of course, for the older man has seen him in worse states. But how Souji hated to be in such situations, where the hopelessness of it all becomes so apparent. A blush spread across his cheeks as he fumbled again, limbs, sleeves, katana in a tangled mess on the floor, the grace of a master swordsman lost.
Hijikata strode across the hall to where Souji was and picked him up easily.
"They'll need the training hall soon."
"Yes, of course." Souji murmured a reply, as if they were simply excusing themselves from the dojo after one of their private practice sessions and he wasn’t being carried out in Hijikata's arms.
Souji could feel his remaining energy ebbing away and he dropped the pretendence of strength, leaning weakly against Hijikata as they weaved through the winding passages leading to Souji's room.
"Hijikata-san, I saved you some dango*. Let's go have some now, ne?"
Souji looked up at Hijikata but his face was obscured by the shadows as he was back-facing the sunlight. Hijikata didn’t answer but Souji knew they were going to have that dango because that's what they always did after practice. An unspoken routine that Souji enjoyed going through because for Hijikata to suffer those sticky sweets on a regular basis was proof of his love and indulgence.
"It's really tasty. The kids were fighting over them! But I told them we got to save some for Hijikata-san ... he'll be hungry after all that training..."
The lure of sleep was too great and he nodded off against the broad and sturdy chest, comforted by the steady rhythm of Hijikata's heartbeat.
-END-
*dango - Japanese dumpling made from rice flour.