Cure
A finishing touch for my almost-year-old fanfiction, Purple and Green (found on this blog), refurbished for @hijiokiweekend.
The title is… Haphazard at best, but you’ll understand after reading the story. This is the second chapter of Purple and Green but still not quite: this is a shortened final version that follows the Day 1 prompts of HijiOki Weekend. I basically took the boring parts out. And refocused the story.
Fandom: Hakuouki
Pairing: HijiOki
Prompts: Kuroyuri (love, curse) ; Pride
Rating: I have no idea, probably PG 12/PG 16. Mentions of sex and lust are present. Safe for work.
Spell-checking would make posting this before midnight-at-any-country impossible, so I’ll do that later.
Enjoy!
Cure
Pain grew inside his heart, as Hijikata watched the unconsciously first division capitain’s suffering. Souji lay curled up over a futon, shivering from the heat burning his insides. His cheeks were an adorable light pink, signaling every being that he wasn’t sick, in spite of the high fever that soaked his skin with cold sweat.
Princess Sen had known what it was. It was a lucky accident that the man passed out when she was present. A cold bath helped his condition, but didn’t kill the cause inside.
No-one can tame the fires of a demon’s incomplete heat. Except for the person they are burning up for.
And Hijikata himself was ill with the same fever as well, although the flame was much weaker.
Unknowing of their bloodline, their strange bond was made by accident. They wanted their sinful night to be a way to let go of some pent up tension, like any other time in the past… Then it breeded only more, causing all kinds of trouble.
He knew the words. He knew the deed. He was told what they need to ease it, but his pride stood in the way of it all. He’d never admit he’d fallen for a man. It seemed absurd to him. He’s bed Souji before for both their convenience and this never happened. He wanted to hold him for as long as it all lasted, to kiss him and make love… But could he really do that? Absolutely not. He should not. What they have done over the past weeks was already ridiculous, going in and out of each other’s quarters all day and week.
He sighed. Trouble never ceased to come his soliders’ ways, and he was no exception himself.
“Sacred bond my ass.” He growled with irritation. His Souji’s fever was dangerously high. Each touch of his skin burned Hijikata’s hands at least. According to the oni princess, this was rare with pureblood demons to happen, but it was fair as neither of them were that. Fullbreeds at best, if he himself was also one. Human blood may interfere with oni magic, abilities and nature, if you asked a demon raised among their own kind. For Hijikata, being part-oni felt more like a secret curse he was not let in on. Sure, it did have some perks that he always thought each person had, and now it turned out he was special: his sharp senses, hardly exhaustable stamina, little need for sleep, quick healing and good health that rarely ever lessened, were all oni heritage. He was told that it was rare to have so much use of these traits without ever transforming.
He was told they were weird as well. A latent oni over twenty, and another, nearing forty - he hated to put his age that way though. They should have transformed on their own at about seventeen, growing their horns slowly, over weeks or months, not the way it had happened to Souji. It must have been painful… It seemed like it truly was. And it hurt his lover each time they appeared. He’s become a monster he never wanted to be, yet his body could not care less. Destiny had never been nice, had it?
But it still was the force to decide they could both pursue their dreams. And one to determine they are to have each other until their deaths. It was horrifying to see how strong it was.
Lost in troubled thought, the quiet shuffle of Souji’s clothes brought him back to reality. He looked over and saw his face stir and relax. Maybe he would finally wake. Maybe Hijikata could finally take a deep breath and stop denying how much he needed Souji to be close, aware and living. He didn’t want the strange fever to kill him - he put it this way because calling their sickness a ‘heat’ seemed outlandish.
Not long after, a pair of green eyes opened, seeking the vice-commander whose presence was clear for his mate. His energies, his smell… intoxicating but forbidden. Purple eyes soon mirrored his greens, filled with concern. Souji wasn’t awake to hear the princess and didn’t know what was wrong yet. Well, according to the young oni lady, nothing but Hijikata’s stubbornly held pride was wrong.
“Good to have you back.”, sounded a relieved sigh. “Are you better now?”
“Yes.”, came a weak, quiet answer that meant no. Of course he couldn’t get better. That would be too easy. “I think I need a cold bath. It’s too hot here, I’m melting.”
“You have a fever, idiot.”, barked Hijikata, though a bit gentler than usual. The princess’ words echoed in his mind. 'Love him and make it known he’s more than a human toy.“ He knew how to end it. But could he really?
"It’s true I’ve been feeling weird…” Okita mused, licking his dry lips. “How long have I-”
A wet, sloppy kiss stopped him from finishing the question, Hijikata’s saliva rehidrating him more than clear water ever could. His fingers twined into Hijikata’s hair, pulling him down to be kissed more, for he’s never been kissed like this. Not when they weren’t having sex, that is. Pulling away proved difficult, as air suddenly seemed less important than their increasingly sensual union, their ever-growing desire to be touched, kissed and make love. Finally, Hijikata let go of his lips with a loud pop, panting even louder, a string of saliva connecting their tongues.
“We’re unbelievable, aren’t we?”, Hijikata chuckled, sliding his hand across a few loops of hair pulled from his neat ponytail. “But that can’t be helped among lovers.”
Souji’s heart audibly skipped a beat. Did he really mean it?
“You undeniably are my lover. I yearn for you with all the power of my heart. I love you, Souji. I’m honored that you chose me as your mate and do accept you as mine”
“What are you…”
“It doesn’t matter now. Later I’ll tell you exactly what I mean, but it’s complicated. For now, please accept my apology and heartfelt confession.” Hijikata said, his words heavy. Shutting away the protesting voice in the back of his mind proved difficult, but he managed it for Souji’s sake.
He could see tears of happiness welling in the young man’s eyes, though all were quickly swallowed. Green eyes, twinkling with joy were the single most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. That stubborn pride was still within him, but they could work through that in exchange for something so exquisite.
Then he knew: he’s fallen in love with the mischievous man he should but can never hate.
