The White Scarf: Thunderstorm (3/3)
Fandom: Hakuouki
(For OkiSai Week 2019)
"I knew all along that you were on a secret mission, Hajime-kun! I wish you could have told me about it," Souji grinned brightly, gazing at Saito, the all important white scarf, a gift from him, still snugly wrapped around the latter's neck.
Since the moment Saito stepped into the Shinsengumi headquarters, Souji could hardly contain his excitement and was unable to stop smiling so much, that night he pulled Saito into his room for a little catch up session.
"You know that I can't tell anyone about it," Saito replied warmly, quieter in expressing his own joy, and gave Souji a once-over, "how have you been?"
"I'm good. Hijikata-san is just being an overworried old lady and keeps me out from all the actions. I'm so bored being stuck inside my room, while you're out there having all the fun," Souji laughed jovially, but a moment later, he choked on his own laughter and started to cough.
Mercifully, the coughing fit did not last long, and there was no blood involved. But when Souji looked up, Saito was watching him intently, his mouth pressed into a tight, grim line.
"There's just no hiding from you, Hajime-kun. How long have you known it?" Souji grimaced, and forced a contrite little smile.
Saito was about to answer when he was interrupted by the loud noise of clashing swords and cackling furies mad with bloodlust. Did the Fury Corp lose control? Sensing an urgent threat, he immediately picked up his swords and got up.
"I will take a look outside. You stay here and guard yourself. I'll be back soon," he solemnly instructed, as he placed Souji's swords next to his futon, then rushed out of the room.
Saito hurried, following the sound of the commotion, and once there, he saw Kazama fighting in a leisurely manner, looking almost bored, while the Shinsengumi members were struggling to keep up with him. The ground around them was littered with multiple corpses of furies.
"If anyone is injured please step back. I'll handle him," Saito announced his arrival and entered into iai position.
"Oh, it's you. Unfortunately, my task here is done, and I don't have time to play around anymore," Kazama drawled, sheathing his sword. Then as quickly as he had come, he leapt away, his figure melting into the darkness.
Saito was contemplating if he should chase after him, when Yamazaki announced in an urgent voice, "we have bad news! Some of the furies that got past us, made it into the building!"
"Souji!" Saito muttered under his breath, his legs already started running back into the premise.
He found many dead furies covering the floor of Souji's room, and among the carnage was an unconscious Souji drenched in blood, his silvery white hair distinctly prominent amidst the sea of red.
"Souji! What have you done?" Saito hissed, conjuring up mental images of what must have transpired. His face twisted in quiet agony as he hoisted up Souji's limp figure and tried to rouse him but failed. "Yamazaki, get Matsumoto-sensei here immediately!"
-----
Lightning flashed in the night sky, intermittently illuminating the dark street, revealing the bloody scene of the massacre that Saito had been too late to stop.
"This is too much, even by your standard, Souji," Saito frowned, his monotonous voice dripping with disapproval.
"They all deserve a fate worse than death for trying to kill Kondou-san," Souji's mouth split into a sadistic grin, "they need to suffer more pain, an easy death is too good for them."
"Are you here to stop me, Hajime-kun?" He scoffed.
Saito kept his silence, looking straight into Souji's red eyes. Was it madness he saw in them? He felt a cold shiver running down his spine. Someone he cared about was becoming a different person. "Souji-"
"Don't get in my way, Hajime-kun. It's my duty to kill all of Kondou-san's enemies. I'm still the sword of the Shinsengumi. A sword doesn't think, it only kills," Souji turned his sword, so the sharp end was aimed at Saito. He took a deep breath, revelling in the alluring smell of fresh blood around him.
In response, Saito lowered his body into a crouch and his hand reached for his sword. If Souji really turned into a bloodthirsty monster, was he prepared to stop him at any cost?
They stood on opposite ends, staring each other down until a loud crack of thunder broke their silence, giving them the signal to kick the ground and lunged towards the other.
Saito had fought Souji in the past, but fury Souji was a whole other level. His moves were much faster, more precise, and deadlier. Furthermore, Saito did not fight to kill, he was more busy defending than attacking, while trying to get a word in to convince Souji to stop his spiralling madness and return back with him.
"We changed that night, Hajime-kun," the shadow of a smile played on Souji's lips as he swung down his sword, "you're still living in the light. I'm different now, I can only exist in the shadows, staying hidden in the dark."
Saito nimbly blocked and stepped around, forcing his way forward with the intention of disarming Souji.
"Light and shadow exist together. When there is light, there is shadow." He paused, seeing the flicker of emotion in Souji's expression, "even if you're in the darkness, I can still see you."
Souji's face contorted in anguish, and he forced out a laugh that sounded more like a cry, "I'm sorry, Hajime-kun, but you're wrong."
Saito let out the breath he did not know he was holding. He realised that there was no convincing Souji, but perhaps one person could have the desired effect.
"Chief Kondou has awaken. His fever has broken now, and his life is no longer in danger," Saito announced, observing the shift in Souji's mood as he lowered his sword.
"Are you sure, Hajime-kun? You're not lying to me, aren't you?" Souji gripped his shoulders, a relieved smile spreading across his face. His hair gradually turned back to its original color, and his eyes were no longer red.
"I know he won't die so easily! I'm so glad he-"
Souji winced with pain. He clutched his injured shoulder, and fresh blood trickled out of the gunshot wound, soaking his haori. His body started to sway as his vision blurred.
"Souji! Are you alright?" Saito steadied his slackening figure, "hold on to me, I'll take you back!"
-----
It was discovered that Souji had been shot by a silver bullet, and even after receiving treatment, his gunshot wound refused to heal properly. To make matters worse, it turned out that the water of life had not cured his illness. His condition deteriorated quickly, and it was immediately decided that he would be moved to Osaka Castle along with the injured Kondou-san for convalescence.
"Don't think about anything else. Just focus on reclaiming your health," Saito said as he neatly wrapped his white scarf around Souji's neck, "I'll wait for you to come back and return me this scarf yourself."
Souji stared unblinkingly at him, not quite sure of what to say. He had an ominous feeling because he knew his own condition best, and moreover, the Shinsengumi was facing an imminent war...
"I was uncertain before, but now I know that you're still the same Souji. I feel the same warrior spirit within you," Saito gave him another one of his rare warm, sunny smile and patted his shoulder comfortingly.
Souji grinned affectionately in return, and resting his head on Saito's shoulder, he whispered, "don't die, Hajime-kun."
"I won't," Saito chuckled before quickly turning serious, "don't die too, Souji."
"See you later then!" Souji laughed, walking away and waving at Saito without looking back.
Both of them oblivious to the fact that it would be the last time they saw each other.
Tagging: @okisaiweek











