Reimeiroku Okita Route Interlude #35 - Another Possibility
Point of view: Okita Souji
Characters: Okita, Hijikata, Sannan
Time point: At the end of Ch6
Okita Route Ch6 ending
Late that night. I went to Hijikata-san's room to report that I have finished off Ibuki-kun.
Souji: It is done.
Hijikata-san seemed like he's looking at somewhere far away, and replied.
Hijikata: Good job.
That's all. I suppose he felt guilty for killing off Ibuki-kun, who had been living with us for more than half a year. Hijikata-san is still soft-hearted.
Sannan: Then we should take care of the body. Such as making it look like he's killed by a random killer.
Sannan-san, you’re good at this! As soon as hearing Ibuki-kun is killed, you’re ready for cleaning up.
Souji: There's no need. After killing Ibuki-kun, I threw him into the river. With the water so rapid, he won't be seen again. Even if he is, after rolling on the riverbed and soaked in water, it’s impossible to recognize his face.
Sannan-san gazed at me, like trying to read my mind. I suppose he doesn't trust me. But I must admit it's easier to deal with someone so rational.
Then Sannan-san sighed.
Sannan: Oh well. If you say so, I'll take your word for it.
Then he looked at me with cold eyes.
Sannan: I'm sure you know tomorrow is the decisive day. Do you fully understand why I proposed including you in the assassination squad?
Souji: Because I'm Shinsengumi's sword, right?
I looked straight at Sannan-san and replied. Glancing at Hijikata-san, I continued.
Souji: I'll become a sword. A sword doesn't think, and doesn't hesitate on thinking whether it's alright to kill the opponent or not. Just follow the will of the person holding it, and kill.
I saw loneliness in Hijikata-san's eyes. Sannan-san's expression was unreadable, as always.
Sannan: Okita-kun. Let us decide who you'll swing your sword at, and who to kill. We'll tell you how to use your sword to help Kondou-san to the greatest extent. Therefore, please focus on playing your part.
Souji: I understand.
That's strange. I love Kondou-san so much, and I thought I'd never want to make him sad. Yet I understand Sannan-san's words so well. The reason must be what Sannan-san said himself: he is cold-hearted. Or it's because we're alike.
Souji: Then, I'll return to my room now. Good night.
I left the room. At the veranda I looked up at the sky, which is cluttered with heavy clouds. It looks like rain tomorrow. The sound of rainfall can cover noise and voices. That's good for swordfighting.
I recalled the moment I had with Ibuki-kun a while ago. Will he live, or will he die?
I didn't deliver the final blow. Because I think no matter he lives or not, he won't be a threat to Kondou-san. But perhaps there's another reason. Had I not met Kondou-san, I might have lived like Ibuki-kun. Therefore, Ibuki-kun is another possibility of what I may have become. So I don't feel like it's necessary to kill off this possibility.
Oh well. He's persistent. I don't think he will die that easily.
How you live your life from now on depends on you, Ibuki-kun.
Personal comments:
1) The conversation at the end of anime version was altered from this. But the atmosphere is totally opposite. Souji at this point just decided to walk the path of carnage, throw Kondou-san's advice out the window, and become a heartless "sword" for Kondou-san's sake. That's why the changes Chizuru brings to him is so important. But the anime is so bright and happy like a Disney/Pixar film! ;p
2) Sannan-san is so manipulative it's scary! >< When reading this I immediately recalled Hijikata saying something similar to Saitou, "It should be our duty to create a situation for you to wield your sword without bewilderment." ( Interlude #38) The basic idea isn't too different, but Hijikata didn't sound spooky at all! O_O
Characters: Okita, Hijikata, Sannan
Time point: At the end of Ch6
Okita Route Ch6 ending
Late that night. I went to Hijikata-san's room to report that I have finished off Ibuki-kun.
Souji: It is done.
Hijikata-san seemed like he's looking at somewhere far away, and replied.
Hijikata: Good job.
That's all. I suppose he felt guilty for killing off Ibuki-kun, who had been living with us for more than half a year. Hijikata-san is still soft-hearted.
Sannan: Then we should take care of the body. Such as making it look like he's killed by a random killer.
Sannan-san, you’re good at this! As soon as hearing Ibuki-kun is killed, you’re ready for cleaning up.
Souji: There's no need. After killing Ibuki-kun, I threw him into the river. With the water so rapid, he won't be seen again. Even if he is, after rolling on the riverbed and soaked in water, it’s impossible to recognize his face.
Sannan-san gazed at me, like trying to read my mind. I suppose he doesn't trust me. But I must admit it's easier to deal with someone so rational.
Then Sannan-san sighed.
Sannan: Oh well. If you say so, I'll take your word for it.
Then he looked at me with cold eyes.
Sannan: I'm sure you know tomorrow is the decisive day. Do you fully understand why I proposed including you in the assassination squad?
Souji: Because I'm Shinsengumi's sword, right?
I looked straight at Sannan-san and replied. Glancing at Hijikata-san, I continued.
Souji: I'll become a sword. A sword doesn't think, and doesn't hesitate on thinking whether it's alright to kill the opponent or not. Just follow the will of the person holding it, and kill.
I saw loneliness in Hijikata-san's eyes. Sannan-san's expression was unreadable, as always.
Sannan: Okita-kun. Let us decide who you'll swing your sword at, and who to kill. We'll tell you how to use your sword to help Kondou-san to the greatest extent. Therefore, please focus on playing your part.
Souji: I understand.
That's strange. I love Kondou-san so much, and I thought I'd never want to make him sad. Yet I understand Sannan-san's words so well. The reason must be what Sannan-san said himself: he is cold-hearted. Or it's because we're alike.
Souji: Then, I'll return to my room now. Good night.
I left the room. At the veranda I looked up at the sky, which is cluttered with heavy clouds. It looks like rain tomorrow. The sound of rainfall can cover noise and voices. That's good for swordfighting.
I recalled the moment I had with Ibuki-kun a while ago. Will he live, or will he die?
I didn't deliver the final blow. Because I think no matter he lives or not, he won't be a threat to Kondou-san. But perhaps there's another reason. Had I not met Kondou-san, I might have lived like Ibuki-kun. Therefore, Ibuki-kun is another possibility of what I may have become. So I don't feel like it's necessary to kill off this possibility.
Oh well. He's persistent. I don't think he will die that easily.
How you live your life from now on depends on you, Ibuki-kun.
Personal comments:
1) The conversation at the end of anime version was altered from this. But the atmosphere is totally opposite. Souji at this point just decided to walk the path of carnage, throw Kondou-san's advice out the window, and become a heartless "sword" for Kondou-san's sake. That's why the changes Chizuru brings to him is so important. But the anime is so bright and happy like a Disney/Pixar film! ;p
2) Sannan-san is so manipulative it's scary! >< When reading this I immediately recalled Hijikata saying something similar to Saitou, "It should be our duty to create a situation for you to wield your sword without bewilderment." ( Interlude #38) The basic idea isn't too different, but Hijikata didn't sound spooky at all! O_O