30kisses Shinpachi/Sanosuke. 08 "Meet me there"
Name : Meet he there
Series : Hakuoki
Pairing : Shinpachi/Sanosuke
Theme : 08. You can’t make a deal if you’re dead.
Rating of the kiss : Teens - T - NC-17?
Warnings : for this one-shot it’s shounen-ai, mild yaoi - kissing between males, something like a triangle (but not quite, just kinda), issues of death (but no character death)
Summary : On the verge of dieing, Sano discovers that the promise of a few more nights can keep him alive.
Disclaimer : I do not own Hakuoki, or any of it’s characters. The creators do. My muse owns the idea of the fic, myself the work and the time I put into writing it. Credit me at least those, ok?
AN: Historically, Harada has died of his wounds two days after the battle. I’m using this piece of knowledge.
Also, Shinpachi never reached Aizu because something kept always getting into his way, so he had to turn around.
Last but not least I would like to thank Bellatrix.... for the help and inspiration. Set after episode 18 (6th of 2nd season)
Meet me there
Nu#08: You can’t make a deal if you’re dead.
-o----x-*-x----o-
The first thing he knew was pain. Even before he came fully to his senses there was this feeling of stabbing, burning, hot pain. It felt like his whole body was in pain, suffering, aching. Burning, on fire. Hurting.
Slowly, his senses started returning and he found his lids fluttering open, then falling closed again.
So heavy...
He was still tired...
He wanted to sleep...
„Nice to see you awake, pretty boy.“
He knew that voice. It was the last thing he remembered before this stabbing pain. It was there with him as this sheer suffering begun, it was there even before that...He opened his eyes again and tried to focus on the person he found sitting next to him.
„Shiranui...“
Were just his senses deluded or did his voice sound really so weak right now? It was then that he realized how weak he actually felt. And then, with the memories of the fight, of the gunfire, of explosion a pain, it came to him.
„Am I dying?“
„Looks like it.“
Harada Sanosuke felt a smile curve his lips upward sharply. It felt bitter to him.
„In the end you are but a weak human.“
„Certainly can’t argue with a demon about that...“ he heard his thin, fading voice and smiled some more. Somewhere he always hoped death would be less painfull. And he certainly hoped it would have come a bit later to him. Just by a bit. Just by as much time as it required to get to Shinpachi and give him one last kiss.
Shinpachi...waiting for him at Aizu...for gods knew how long...
„How much time has passed?“
„Two days since we killed Koudou.“
Two days...Shinpachi might not be even alive anymore with those fierce battles going on. But still, something inside of him told Sano, that his lover was still out there, alive and terrible for his enemies. At Aizu, where their promise was. A promise Sano couldn’t keep. He hoped Shinpachi would understand. That he wouldn’t throw a tantrum. But then again, in these past months after they left the Shinsengumi, Shinpachi had grown up a little. Matured. Bit by bit, from a boy to a man. Even if he was older than Sano, oldest after Kondou and Hijikata, it seemed sometimes that he was still lost like a child, searching for his home, searching for the place where he belonged. However, that changed in these past months. It almost seemed like Shinpachi finally found that place. He didn’t need Sano anymore to hold his hand, keep him in check and run after him to excuse each of his mishaps. He wouldn’t loose himself anymore.
At least Sanosuke hoped so. Not that he could change anything about it, that is. A warrior knew when death came to claim him. For Sano it was now. Even if seemed like he had still so many things to do, still so much left to live...
„At least I repaid my debt...“ he coughed and turned to Shiranui. „For Koufu...“
The man didn’t look happy.
„And what about your debt for me nursing you?“
Sano smirked bitterly. „I wonder if I have the time to repay you...“ his voice was even weaker than before.
„You still remind me of him...“
Before Sano could react to the comment, he felt lips descend on his own. Ironically, the first thing he could think about was, that it weren’t Shinpachi’s lips. Shinpachi’s were rough, these were sharp. They felt hard against his own lips, dry and chapped from two days of dieing, waking only to the last moments to feel the life slipping slowly away. At least he wasn’t alone. Even if weren’t Shinpachi’s lips, even if they were hard and cold, even if the kiss was laced with despair, they still were there. With him.
The kiss went on for what felt like forever. It seemed like Shiranui didn’t want to let go, almost as if he was afraid of what it would mean, what could come to pass. But finally, after a small eternity of peacefullness, a moment of calm before the lightning struck, he pulled away and crimson eyes met with eyes of the color of a golden sunrise, hidden behind a thick layer of clouds.
„Too much. You remind me too much of him.“
„Takasugi, was it?“ his voice was almost reduced to a mere whisper now.
„Yeah.“
„How do I remind you of him?“
Even if he knew it was none of his business, and he could have probably already guessed the answer, it was something he wanted to hear before his ears would cease to hear forever. Instead of answering, Shiranui carressed with calloused fingertips his lips and to Sano’s surprise, a smile graced the handsom features.
„Your tongue. Your tongue reminds me of him.“
„Tongue?“ In spite of that it could have been as well his last moment, Sano couldn’t help but be sarcastic. „Of all the things you could say, it’s the tongue? Not even the lips, but the tongue?“
„Shut up Harada. What I meant was that he used to talk like you.“
„All smooth and sweet?“
„If you weren’t dieing, I would kill you for daring to be this cheeky with a pureblooded demon.“
„You might as well. Then I wouldn’t be in so much pain anymore.“
„Any last wishes?“
„What is this? A moment of mercy?“
„You shouldn’t question these things.“
„True...“ Sano’s voice faded and the light chuckle that was forming in his throat turned into a weak cough. „But since you are asking, I guess I would have wanted to apologize to Shinpachi for not being able to keep my promise. And I would’ve liked to hold my spear for one last time.“
„I can’t help with the latter, since you threw it into the epicentrum of a small explosion and I would have to spend at least a week for searching all the splinters to put it again together.“
„You would actually do that?“ Sano cut him in, but Shiranui ignored it.
„But I could help with Nagakura. Will you be able to hold out until dawn?“
„I think...I could find a few spare powers.“
„Then do that. Wait a little and I’ll grant you your wish. My promise as a demon.“
Sano closed his eyes in the ghost of a nod. As he opened them again, said demon was gone with the shadows.
ox*xo
It was a restless night. Nagakura Shinpachi couldn’t fall asleep. For a while now a restless buzz running through his body and an unsettling feeling in his gut have been making him tense. Something wasn’t right tonight. Something was happening. Something that shouldn’t be. And for some reason an image of Sano kept appearing in front of his mind’s eye, so Shinpachi couldn’t but have a bad feeling that it had to do something with his restlesness. Something had to happen to his partner. Something bad.
Suddenly there was a presence next to him. A presence that had not been there a moment ago. A presence he didn’t feel approaching. Swift like the wind he drew his sword and spun around. What he saw surprised him.
„You?!“
„Yeah.“ Of the shadows, Shiranui Kyou stepped out. Shinpachi didn’t lower his sword. He couldn’t bring himself to trust this man. Shiranui didn’t comment on it. „You know why I’m here?“
The unsettling feeling was back and sense of dread spread through him. „Is it Sano?“ Really, what other reason could the demon have to look him up?
„He wants to see you. Said he needs to tell you something.“
Shinpachi frowned. Since when couldn’t Sano walk or talk on his own?
„Then why isn’t he here himself?!“
„He has his reasons.“ Was the court answer.
Shinpachi still didn’t trust the demon.
„How do I know it’s not a trap?“
„He’s dieing you idiot.“
In shock, Shinpachi even dropped his sword.
„Right now he is waiting for you, fighting the unevitable only to be able to see you one more time. Do you want to make the lost fight be in vain?“
Vain. That one word alone was enough for making something deep within Shinpachi explode. He seized the shirt of the demon in an iron clutch.
„Bring me to him, now!“
Shiranui laid a hand onto his wrist. „Follow me.“
With that he disappeared.
ox*xo
„I’m back. And I’ve kept my promise.“ Shiranui announced as he entered, a slightly swaying Shinpachi following him. He was still lightheaded from earlier. As Shiranui pulled him along it had been like the ground disappeared from beneath his feet. There was only air around them and Shinpachi had been feeling light and weightless. He remembered that for a moment he wondered if this was what birds felt like. Then the ground had been there again and he had been standing in front of an old, broken hut.
„Where are we?“ he asked, leaning onto the nearest wall for support.
Shiranui went to stand in front of the window. He looked up at the night sky. The darkness was slowly fading and the stars were paling. Dawn would come soon. Perhaps in a half an hour.
„It used to belong to a man I knew. But that’s not what I have brought you here for. Someone’s waiting for you.“
That brough Shinpachi back to reality. For a moment he had almost forgotten why he came here in the first place. He looked around the room frantically until his gaze settled on the figure lying on the matt, pale and fading.
„Sano!“
He didn’t remember crossing the room, but suddenly he was kneeling next to his partner.
He looked dead.
Except that his chest was still rising and falling. Flatly, slowly, weakly, but it still was. He was still alive. Golden eyes opened, but instead of a sparkle there was mist clouding it, making it fade into darkness. Sano smiled weakly.
„Yo.“
Shinpachi found himself at loss of words, so instead he just took Sano’s hand and grasped it tightly. It was cold.
„Sorry I couldn’t make it to Aizu, even though I promised...“ His voice was weak, reduced to only a whisper and Shinpachi saw that he was struggling for every breath. He couldn’t stand it. It hurt so much to see his partner so broken...so wmithout hope...
„Don’t worry. I couldn’t reach it myself. It seems like they are really keen on preventing us reaching it. We had to turn around.“ Looking at this weak and broken man struggling in his last fight made his decision seem convenient. „But I will find a way! And then I will fight for our dreams!“
Sano smiled almsot sadly. „You still are such a child...I wish I could’ve seen you grow up...“
„Mother henn.“ Shinpachi said simply and raising Sano’s hand he laid his forehead against it. And he realized he didn’t want to come what came next. „Don’t die.“ It came out as a harsh demand, spoken in a loud and strong voice without a trace of doubt, but at the same time laced with pain and sadness. „You must not die, do you hear me?! You must not! You can’t!“
A sad smile was his answer and he understood that no matter how he begged, his wish wouldn’t be fulfilled. Death wasn’t that generous. Nothing could change it. Nothing except...
Shinpachi’s eyes widened. That’s right. That time, the evening of their leave, Sannan-san approached him and...
His hand went into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of red liquid. He had always wondered why he just didn’t throw it away. Now it seemed like fate.
„No.“
The voice that said it was strong. His look went from the bottle to Sano.
„No.“ Sano repeated it again and added: „I am not drinking it.“
„Why?“ He didn’t even need to ask. He understood Sano’s reasons. He felt the same. But still... „Why not?!“
„Because you would never forgive me and Shiranui would hate me.“
Shinpachi had already opened his mouth to retort that if he wasn’t able to forgive him for it, he would never offer it, but the second half of the sentence made him change his words midway.
„What does it matter what he thinks?!“
And again he knew the answer before it came.
„It simply does.“ And as their eyes met something in Harada’s look made Shinpachi’s eyes widen and then look away. He felt hurt. But he felt not an ounce of regret from Sano.
„You’re going to die.“
„Everyone dies one day. You said it yourself.“
It was true. Those were his words. But back then he didn’t think he would come to see Sano like this. „I know! But I...I don’t want you to leave like this!“ Not without fighting with him by his side. Together. Their promise. „I don’t want you to die! Not just yet!“
„It’s too late...“
„Not yet!“ Shinpachi inhaled deeply. „If you say you are dying then what does it matter if you drink ochimizu? You won’t be able to move by day and it leaves you only a little more time to spare. A few more nights with me.“ He spoke rashly, hurriedly, as if afraid that the next word wouldn’t be already heard. „It’s like a rebirth.“
„A rebirth into death.“ Again there was sarcasm in Sano’s voice, but the redhead started to wonder if it really was at his last moment. Judging by Shinpachi’s look it might as well have been, but the hope in those skyblue eyes betrayed it.
„Then so be it.“ Shinpachi said. „For a little more time, a spare moment of being together. That’s not so bad, is it?“
He could live. With Shinpachi. For a few more nights, a little more time to spare. Just as he had wished.
Suddenly the voice that has been quiet until now, spoke up.
„We could visit the grave together.“
They both looked at Shiranui, who hadn’t moved an inch for the last half an hour from his spot next to the window. A sliver of light appeared on the horizon like a thin string creating a silken web of a future. It was dawning.
„You could come with me. I’m sure he...would have approved.“
Silence. Then there was a smirk.
„Only if you come with me to China.“
„China?“
„I have always wanted to go there...see our neighbours and wreck a little havoc...“ Actually there were many more things Sano didn’t have the chance to do yet... And if he was honest with himself, he didn’t want to die. Not if he could have at least a little more time to spend with Shinpachi. And got to China with Shiranui.
„It’s a deal then. Now drink it. I won’t hate you.“
They looked at each other. Then the first strays of sunlight finally touched the sky and carressed the demon’s tan face through the open window.
„Alright.“
The morning came.
Shinpachi undid the lid and pulled Sano up into a halfway sitting position and let his head rest against his belly. He brought the bottle to the dry lips, but suddenly there was a hand on his wrist.
„Shinpachi...“
„What is it?“
„Kiss me.“
„I don’t think now’s the right time for tha-“
„I don’t care. Kiss me. Kiss me or I won’t drink it.“ His eyes were hard and determined as Sano looked up at him, but his voice was getting weaker and weaker with every uttered syllable. There was no time to hesitate. So Shinpachi leaned down and pressed his lips against Sano’s. He flinched at how cold they were. Dry. Lifeless. He felt shallow breath on his cheek, the inhales slowly dying out. He wanted to pull away and get over with it, finally pour the life-sparing liquid into Sano and then regrett for the rest of his life turning his loved one into a living corpse. A corpse. A corpse, but still living. Living. Living. But as he tried to pull away, but Sano summoned the last specks of his strength and pulled him near again.
„Sano...“ he needed to drink it now. Shinpachi felt the remains of life pouring out of his partner and slowly the body started to go limp.
The last words came out almost inaudibly. „Meet me a Aizu, Shinpachi...“
„Sano!“
A tremble shook through Sano and Shinpachi’s eyes widened in horror. It was too late. There would be no China, or Aizu. No more nights and kisses. Nothing just dull emptiness. His whole world started to break apart. But that was when Sano, with the last remaining strength he had, seized the small bottle and downed the content in one go.
The liquor was bitter in Sano’s throat and his insides felt like burning. He was vagualy aware of someone holding him firmly. He realized he was screaming. Fire was everywhere around him, inside him, eating him up. It felt like it would last forever. But then it was suddenly over and instead of pain, there was numbness. Everything that had been alive burned down and poured out of him, leaving him empty. Like a shell. Dead. And yet he was breathing, his heart was beating, he felt warmth around him. He opened his eyes and looked up into blue eyes. The look in them said that his own weren’t golden anymore. He smiled bitterly. Shinpachi noticed it.
„Sano, I...“
„Shinpachi.“
And as always when Sano used that tone, Shinpachi shut up. But it didn’t stop him from looking guilty, as he finally seemed to realize the impact of his wish. But he forgott that even if he convinced him, in the end the final decision to drink it was Sano’s and Sano’s only. Sanosuke could think of only one thing to do. He kissed Shinpachi again.
This time the kiss was gentle and warm as sunlight joined into the intimate touch. Slowly their lips started moving against each other in an affectionate gesture of assurance that it was alright. They were together. Here and now at the beginning of a new day.
The light of the morning was pouring into the room and slowly Sano felt himself getting tired. He sighed into the kiss and pulled away, leaning his head onto Shinpachi’s shoulder. A few strands of his hair fell into his face an dhe noticed it was red again.
„Rest now.“
„Yeah. I’m not a creature of the day anymore. And before you even open your mouth, no. It is not. Period.“
Shinpachi simply had to smile.
„Right.“
They stayed a little longer in their embrace, enjoying the feeling of being in each other’s arms, basking in the feeling of hope. Hope for a morning to come
„I have to go now. Or else the men will think their commander deserted.“
„I know.“ Sano sat up and detached himself from Shinpachi. „Take care of yourself.“
„Yeah. I’ll come back tonight.“
„If I decide to bring you here.“
They looked both at the intruder who decided to disturb their moment ever so rudely.
„You will.“ Shinpachi stated and Sano had to sigh. Really now...
Shiranui smirked. „No need to get jealous there. The pretty boy is all yours.“
„You bastard...“
„Shinpachi.“
„What?! He is!“
„Shinpachi.“
„What do you see in him anyway?!“
„Shinpachi.“
„I mean he is all arrogant and-“
„Shinpachi!“
Silence.
Broken by a silent laugh as Shiranui approached them. „The pretty boy has you wrapped around his finger.“ He stood by Shinpachi and yanked him up. „Come. I’ll bring you back to your beloved squadron. Go and get yourself killed.“
„Bastard...“
„Shinpachi!“
Shiranui laughed again and started turning. Before they could disappear, Shinpachi turned back to Sano and called with a wide grin on his face: „See you at Aizu!“
The soft „Yeah.“ he didn’t hear anymore as Shiranui disappeared with him in the light of the morning.
Sano shook his head. Show offs.
-o----x-*-x----o-
That’s it for today folks! Hope you liked it!
To the scene where Shiranui disappears and pulls Shinpachi along with him, as he is holding him: I don’t know if demons can actually do that - take people with them as they disappear, but it was never mentioned they can’t. So, since it’s fan fiction , I say they can.
That would be all. ‘Till next time!
Series : Hakuoki
Pairing : Shinpachi/Sanosuke
Theme : 08. You can’t make a deal if you’re dead.
Rating of the kiss : Teens - T - NC-17?
Warnings : for this one-shot it’s shounen-ai, mild yaoi - kissing between males, something like a triangle (but not quite, just kinda), issues of death (but no character death)
Summary : On the verge of dieing, Sano discovers that the promise of a few more nights can keep him alive.
Disclaimer : I do not own Hakuoki, or any of it’s characters. The creators do. My muse owns the idea of the fic, myself the work and the time I put into writing it. Credit me at least those, ok?
AN: Historically, Harada has died of his wounds two days after the battle. I’m using this piece of knowledge.
Also, Shinpachi never reached Aizu because something kept always getting into his way, so he had to turn around.
Last but not least I would like to thank Bellatrix.... for the help and inspiration. Set after episode 18 (6th of 2nd season)
Meet me there
Nu#08: You can’t make a deal if you’re dead.
-o----x-*-x----o-
The first thing he knew was pain. Even before he came fully to his senses there was this feeling of stabbing, burning, hot pain. It felt like his whole body was in pain, suffering, aching. Burning, on fire. Hurting.
Slowly, his senses started returning and he found his lids fluttering open, then falling closed again.
So heavy...
He was still tired...
He wanted to sleep...
„Nice to see you awake, pretty boy.“
He knew that voice. It was the last thing he remembered before this stabbing pain. It was there with him as this sheer suffering begun, it was there even before that...He opened his eyes again and tried to focus on the person he found sitting next to him.
„Shiranui...“
Were just his senses deluded or did his voice sound really so weak right now? It was then that he realized how weak he actually felt. And then, with the memories of the fight, of the gunfire, of explosion a pain, it came to him.
„Am I dying?“
„Looks like it.“
Harada Sanosuke felt a smile curve his lips upward sharply. It felt bitter to him.
„In the end you are but a weak human.“
„Certainly can’t argue with a demon about that...“ he heard his thin, fading voice and smiled some more. Somewhere he always hoped death would be less painfull. And he certainly hoped it would have come a bit later to him. Just by a bit. Just by as much time as it required to get to Shinpachi and give him one last kiss.
Shinpachi...waiting for him at Aizu...for gods knew how long...
„How much time has passed?“
„Two days since we killed Koudou.“
Two days...Shinpachi might not be even alive anymore with those fierce battles going on. But still, something inside of him told Sano, that his lover was still out there, alive and terrible for his enemies. At Aizu, where their promise was. A promise Sano couldn’t keep. He hoped Shinpachi would understand. That he wouldn’t throw a tantrum. But then again, in these past months after they left the Shinsengumi, Shinpachi had grown up a little. Matured. Bit by bit, from a boy to a man. Even if he was older than Sano, oldest after Kondou and Hijikata, it seemed sometimes that he was still lost like a child, searching for his home, searching for the place where he belonged. However, that changed in these past months. It almost seemed like Shinpachi finally found that place. He didn’t need Sano anymore to hold his hand, keep him in check and run after him to excuse each of his mishaps. He wouldn’t loose himself anymore.
At least Sanosuke hoped so. Not that he could change anything about it, that is. A warrior knew when death came to claim him. For Sano it was now. Even if seemed like he had still so many things to do, still so much left to live...
„At least I repaid my debt...“ he coughed and turned to Shiranui. „For Koufu...“
The man didn’t look happy.
„And what about your debt for me nursing you?“
Sano smirked bitterly. „I wonder if I have the time to repay you...“ his voice was even weaker than before.
„You still remind me of him...“
Before Sano could react to the comment, he felt lips descend on his own. Ironically, the first thing he could think about was, that it weren’t Shinpachi’s lips. Shinpachi’s were rough, these were sharp. They felt hard against his own lips, dry and chapped from two days of dieing, waking only to the last moments to feel the life slipping slowly away. At least he wasn’t alone. Even if weren’t Shinpachi’s lips, even if they were hard and cold, even if the kiss was laced with despair, they still were there. With him.
The kiss went on for what felt like forever. It seemed like Shiranui didn’t want to let go, almost as if he was afraid of what it would mean, what could come to pass. But finally, after a small eternity of peacefullness, a moment of calm before the lightning struck, he pulled away and crimson eyes met with eyes of the color of a golden sunrise, hidden behind a thick layer of clouds.
„Too much. You remind me too much of him.“
„Takasugi, was it?“ his voice was almost reduced to a mere whisper now.
„Yeah.“
„How do I remind you of him?“
Even if he knew it was none of his business, and he could have probably already guessed the answer, it was something he wanted to hear before his ears would cease to hear forever. Instead of answering, Shiranui carressed with calloused fingertips his lips and to Sano’s surprise, a smile graced the handsom features.
„Your tongue. Your tongue reminds me of him.“
„Tongue?“ In spite of that it could have been as well his last moment, Sano couldn’t help but be sarcastic. „Of all the things you could say, it’s the tongue? Not even the lips, but the tongue?“
„Shut up Harada. What I meant was that he used to talk like you.“
„All smooth and sweet?“
„If you weren’t dieing, I would kill you for daring to be this cheeky with a pureblooded demon.“
„You might as well. Then I wouldn’t be in so much pain anymore.“
„Any last wishes?“
„What is this? A moment of mercy?“
„You shouldn’t question these things.“
„True...“ Sano’s voice faded and the light chuckle that was forming in his throat turned into a weak cough. „But since you are asking, I guess I would have wanted to apologize to Shinpachi for not being able to keep my promise. And I would’ve liked to hold my spear for one last time.“
„I can’t help with the latter, since you threw it into the epicentrum of a small explosion and I would have to spend at least a week for searching all the splinters to put it again together.“
„You would actually do that?“ Sano cut him in, but Shiranui ignored it.
„But I could help with Nagakura. Will you be able to hold out until dawn?“
„I think...I could find a few spare powers.“
„Then do that. Wait a little and I’ll grant you your wish. My promise as a demon.“
Sano closed his eyes in the ghost of a nod. As he opened them again, said demon was gone with the shadows.
ox*xo
It was a restless night. Nagakura Shinpachi couldn’t fall asleep. For a while now a restless buzz running through his body and an unsettling feeling in his gut have been making him tense. Something wasn’t right tonight. Something was happening. Something that shouldn’t be. And for some reason an image of Sano kept appearing in front of his mind’s eye, so Shinpachi couldn’t but have a bad feeling that it had to do something with his restlesness. Something had to happen to his partner. Something bad.
Suddenly there was a presence next to him. A presence that had not been there a moment ago. A presence he didn’t feel approaching. Swift like the wind he drew his sword and spun around. What he saw surprised him.
„You?!“
„Yeah.“ Of the shadows, Shiranui Kyou stepped out. Shinpachi didn’t lower his sword. He couldn’t bring himself to trust this man. Shiranui didn’t comment on it. „You know why I’m here?“
The unsettling feeling was back and sense of dread spread through him. „Is it Sano?“ Really, what other reason could the demon have to look him up?
„He wants to see you. Said he needs to tell you something.“
Shinpachi frowned. Since when couldn’t Sano walk or talk on his own?
„Then why isn’t he here himself?!“
„He has his reasons.“ Was the court answer.
Shinpachi still didn’t trust the demon.
„How do I know it’s not a trap?“
„He’s dieing you idiot.“
In shock, Shinpachi even dropped his sword.
„Right now he is waiting for you, fighting the unevitable only to be able to see you one more time. Do you want to make the lost fight be in vain?“
Vain. That one word alone was enough for making something deep within Shinpachi explode. He seized the shirt of the demon in an iron clutch.
„Bring me to him, now!“
Shiranui laid a hand onto his wrist. „Follow me.“
With that he disappeared.
ox*xo
„I’m back. And I’ve kept my promise.“ Shiranui announced as he entered, a slightly swaying Shinpachi following him. He was still lightheaded from earlier. As Shiranui pulled him along it had been like the ground disappeared from beneath his feet. There was only air around them and Shinpachi had been feeling light and weightless. He remembered that for a moment he wondered if this was what birds felt like. Then the ground had been there again and he had been standing in front of an old, broken hut.
„Where are we?“ he asked, leaning onto the nearest wall for support.
Shiranui went to stand in front of the window. He looked up at the night sky. The darkness was slowly fading and the stars were paling. Dawn would come soon. Perhaps in a half an hour.
„It used to belong to a man I knew. But that’s not what I have brought you here for. Someone’s waiting for you.“
That brough Shinpachi back to reality. For a moment he had almost forgotten why he came here in the first place. He looked around the room frantically until his gaze settled on the figure lying on the matt, pale and fading.
„Sano!“
He didn’t remember crossing the room, but suddenly he was kneeling next to his partner.
He looked dead.
Except that his chest was still rising and falling. Flatly, slowly, weakly, but it still was. He was still alive. Golden eyes opened, but instead of a sparkle there was mist clouding it, making it fade into darkness. Sano smiled weakly.
„Yo.“
Shinpachi found himself at loss of words, so instead he just took Sano’s hand and grasped it tightly. It was cold.
„Sorry I couldn’t make it to Aizu, even though I promised...“ His voice was weak, reduced to only a whisper and Shinpachi saw that he was struggling for every breath. He couldn’t stand it. It hurt so much to see his partner so broken...so wmithout hope...
„Don’t worry. I couldn’t reach it myself. It seems like they are really keen on preventing us reaching it. We had to turn around.“ Looking at this weak and broken man struggling in his last fight made his decision seem convenient. „But I will find a way! And then I will fight for our dreams!“
Sano smiled almsot sadly. „You still are such a child...I wish I could’ve seen you grow up...“
„Mother henn.“ Shinpachi said simply and raising Sano’s hand he laid his forehead against it. And he realized he didn’t want to come what came next. „Don’t die.“ It came out as a harsh demand, spoken in a loud and strong voice without a trace of doubt, but at the same time laced with pain and sadness. „You must not die, do you hear me?! You must not! You can’t!“
A sad smile was his answer and he understood that no matter how he begged, his wish wouldn’t be fulfilled. Death wasn’t that generous. Nothing could change it. Nothing except...
Shinpachi’s eyes widened. That’s right. That time, the evening of their leave, Sannan-san approached him and...
His hand went into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of red liquid. He had always wondered why he just didn’t throw it away. Now it seemed like fate.
„No.“
The voice that said it was strong. His look went from the bottle to Sano.
„No.“ Sano repeated it again and added: „I am not drinking it.“
„Why?“ He didn’t even need to ask. He understood Sano’s reasons. He felt the same. But still... „Why not?!“
„Because you would never forgive me and Shiranui would hate me.“
Shinpachi had already opened his mouth to retort that if he wasn’t able to forgive him for it, he would never offer it, but the second half of the sentence made him change his words midway.
„What does it matter what he thinks?!“
And again he knew the answer before it came.
„It simply does.“ And as their eyes met something in Harada’s look made Shinpachi’s eyes widen and then look away. He felt hurt. But he felt not an ounce of regret from Sano.
„You’re going to die.“
„Everyone dies one day. You said it yourself.“
It was true. Those were his words. But back then he didn’t think he would come to see Sano like this. „I know! But I...I don’t want you to leave like this!“ Not without fighting with him by his side. Together. Their promise. „I don’t want you to die! Not just yet!“
„It’s too late...“
„Not yet!“ Shinpachi inhaled deeply. „If you say you are dying then what does it matter if you drink ochimizu? You won’t be able to move by day and it leaves you only a little more time to spare. A few more nights with me.“ He spoke rashly, hurriedly, as if afraid that the next word wouldn’t be already heard. „It’s like a rebirth.“
„A rebirth into death.“ Again there was sarcasm in Sano’s voice, but the redhead started to wonder if it really was at his last moment. Judging by Shinpachi’s look it might as well have been, but the hope in those skyblue eyes betrayed it.
„Then so be it.“ Shinpachi said. „For a little more time, a spare moment of being together. That’s not so bad, is it?“
He could live. With Shinpachi. For a few more nights, a little more time to spare. Just as he had wished.
Suddenly the voice that has been quiet until now, spoke up.
„We could visit the grave together.“
They both looked at Shiranui, who hadn’t moved an inch for the last half an hour from his spot next to the window. A sliver of light appeared on the horizon like a thin string creating a silken web of a future. It was dawning.
„You could come with me. I’m sure he...would have approved.“
Silence. Then there was a smirk.
„Only if you come with me to China.“
„China?“
„I have always wanted to go there...see our neighbours and wreck a little havoc...“ Actually there were many more things Sano didn’t have the chance to do yet... And if he was honest with himself, he didn’t want to die. Not if he could have at least a little more time to spend with Shinpachi. And got to China with Shiranui.
„It’s a deal then. Now drink it. I won’t hate you.“
They looked at each other. Then the first strays of sunlight finally touched the sky and carressed the demon’s tan face through the open window.
„Alright.“
The morning came.
Shinpachi undid the lid and pulled Sano up into a halfway sitting position and let his head rest against his belly. He brought the bottle to the dry lips, but suddenly there was a hand on his wrist.
„Shinpachi...“
„What is it?“
„Kiss me.“
„I don’t think now’s the right time for tha-“
„I don’t care. Kiss me. Kiss me or I won’t drink it.“ His eyes were hard and determined as Sano looked up at him, but his voice was getting weaker and weaker with every uttered syllable. There was no time to hesitate. So Shinpachi leaned down and pressed his lips against Sano’s. He flinched at how cold they were. Dry. Lifeless. He felt shallow breath on his cheek, the inhales slowly dying out. He wanted to pull away and get over with it, finally pour the life-sparing liquid into Sano and then regrett for the rest of his life turning his loved one into a living corpse. A corpse. A corpse, but still living. Living. Living. But as he tried to pull away, but Sano summoned the last specks of his strength and pulled him near again.
„Sano...“ he needed to drink it now. Shinpachi felt the remains of life pouring out of his partner and slowly the body started to go limp.
The last words came out almost inaudibly. „Meet me a Aizu, Shinpachi...“
„Sano!“
A tremble shook through Sano and Shinpachi’s eyes widened in horror. It was too late. There would be no China, or Aizu. No more nights and kisses. Nothing just dull emptiness. His whole world started to break apart. But that was when Sano, with the last remaining strength he had, seized the small bottle and downed the content in one go.
The liquor was bitter in Sano’s throat and his insides felt like burning. He was vagualy aware of someone holding him firmly. He realized he was screaming. Fire was everywhere around him, inside him, eating him up. It felt like it would last forever. But then it was suddenly over and instead of pain, there was numbness. Everything that had been alive burned down and poured out of him, leaving him empty. Like a shell. Dead. And yet he was breathing, his heart was beating, he felt warmth around him. He opened his eyes and looked up into blue eyes. The look in them said that his own weren’t golden anymore. He smiled bitterly. Shinpachi noticed it.
„Sano, I...“
„Shinpachi.“
And as always when Sano used that tone, Shinpachi shut up. But it didn’t stop him from looking guilty, as he finally seemed to realize the impact of his wish. But he forgott that even if he convinced him, in the end the final decision to drink it was Sano’s and Sano’s only. Sanosuke could think of only one thing to do. He kissed Shinpachi again.
This time the kiss was gentle and warm as sunlight joined into the intimate touch. Slowly their lips started moving against each other in an affectionate gesture of assurance that it was alright. They were together. Here and now at the beginning of a new day.
The light of the morning was pouring into the room and slowly Sano felt himself getting tired. He sighed into the kiss and pulled away, leaning his head onto Shinpachi’s shoulder. A few strands of his hair fell into his face an dhe noticed it was red again.
„Rest now.“
„Yeah. I’m not a creature of the day anymore. And before you even open your mouth, no. It is not. Period.“
Shinpachi simply had to smile.
„Right.“
They stayed a little longer in their embrace, enjoying the feeling of being in each other’s arms, basking in the feeling of hope. Hope for a morning to come
„I have to go now. Or else the men will think their commander deserted.“
„I know.“ Sano sat up and detached himself from Shinpachi. „Take care of yourself.“
„Yeah. I’ll come back tonight.“
„If I decide to bring you here.“
They looked both at the intruder who decided to disturb their moment ever so rudely.
„You will.“ Shinpachi stated and Sano had to sigh. Really now...
Shiranui smirked. „No need to get jealous there. The pretty boy is all yours.“
„You bastard...“
„Shinpachi.“
„What?! He is!“
„Shinpachi.“
„What do you see in him anyway?!“
„Shinpachi.“
„I mean he is all arrogant and-“
„Shinpachi!“
Silence.
Broken by a silent laugh as Shiranui approached them. „The pretty boy has you wrapped around his finger.“ He stood by Shinpachi and yanked him up. „Come. I’ll bring you back to your beloved squadron. Go and get yourself killed.“
„Bastard...“
„Shinpachi!“
Shiranui laughed again and started turning. Before they could disappear, Shinpachi turned back to Sano and called with a wide grin on his face: „See you at Aizu!“
The soft „Yeah.“ he didn’t hear anymore as Shiranui disappeared with him in the light of the morning.
Sano shook his head. Show offs.
-o----x-*-x----o-
That’s it for today folks! Hope you liked it!
To the scene where Shiranui disappears and pulls Shinpachi along with him, as he is holding him: I don’t know if demons can actually do that - take people with them as they disappear, but it was never mentioned they can’t. So, since it’s fan fiction , I say they can.
That would be all. ‘Till next time!