[31 August] [Hakuouki] Amnesty day
Title: Putting off the inevitable
Day/Theme: 1. the soon-to-be dead
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Okita
Rating: G.
Well. Technically. We're are going to die anyway. Sooner or later. They all told themselves that. How else would they get on with their patrols.
But. Still. He'd kind of hoped it'd be different. Even if there were good ways to die in bed. Or so Shinpachi claimed. Not that he believed him. That man tended to exaggerate for the heck of it.
Even as he thought it, his fingers crept towards the vial.
The crimson liquid glistened in the darkness. Promising. Beckoning.
Sighing, Okita put the vial away and tried to go back to sleep.
The madness isn't worth it. Yet. Maybe one day.
Sooner or later it'll probably end up boiling down to it.
But not right now.
Title: An unintended witness
Day/Theme: 2. the taciturn watcher
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito and Chizuru
Rating: G. Spoiler for early part of game re:Okita's condition.
Really. It's not like I want to be a witness to this. Its not even like I was planning to eavesdrop. I was just walking back to my room when I heard them talking.
Anyway, it's not really like I hadn't already suspected it for a while.
It's none of my business. I thought to myself and made to move on.
From out of the corner of my eye, I see movement.
Oh. Damn. Without thinking, I reach out, pulling her back into the shadows, one hand over her mouth.
"Souji has very sharp hearing. Be silent and do not move."
Title: Partial truths
Day/Theme: 3. accurate but not specific
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito and Hijikata
Rating: G. Set in Reimeiroku. Spoiler for episode when Saito arrives in Kyoto.
"Why did you stop coming to the dojo."
All the way in my flight to Kyoto I've been dreading this question.
As such. I have eventuated several different ways of answering truthfully and sincerely. Hoping that customary politeness will prevent me from having to disclose more than I should.
"To return the favor. For the kindness you showed me in Edo."
Please don't press me further. I look down, hoping that you will let it slide.
We all have our secrets. Let this be the only time I ll have to hide something from you. Hijikata-san.
Title: True love's first kiss.
Day/Theme: 4. kiss her true love
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito, Okita, Yukimura, Hijikata, Shinpachi and Sano.
Rating: PG. Some swearing. Mostly Hijikata.
Its a warm summer afternoon. Okita's sing song storytellling voice rises from the central courtyard and drifts through the hot still air. Sunlight glints off steel as I continue cleaning my blade.
Once upon a time.
In a land far away. There lived a beautiful princess. But because she was so beautiful, she was kept locked away in a tower which was guarded day and night by a fierce Demon.
In addition to the Demon, there were also skilled guards, whose duty it was to make sure that the princess didn't get hurt, kidnapped or otherwise leave the tower. But mostly they went out on patrol, or bought groceries. Or cooked for everyone else.
From my seat by the open door, I see another screen door slide open. Yukimura's. She sits just inside the doorway, eyes alive with curiosity.
Many bad people came to take the princess. But they all got killed either by the guards or the Demon. And day by day, the princess got more and more breathtakingly beautiful.
Till, finally, one day. Even the Demon fell in love with her.
A gasp from Yukimura. Souji's eyes remained wide and innocent and he continued his tale in his singsong voice as if nothing had happened.
He couldn't do much to express his love at first. Except maybe to write crappy poetry and step up the guard around the princess.
Another door slides open. From within, there is a menacing rasp of steel sliding out of a scabbard.
Souji carries on, seemingly oblivious, his audience listening with rapt attention.
But then. One day. The princess gets cut in a horrible domestic accident and falls into a deep deep sleep. Everyone tries to revive her, from quack medicine in hot sake, to accupuncture, even to generally threatening her in a loud voice with death unless she revived immediately, all to no avail.
Even the Demon, is. Here Souji pauses, seeking a word. Distraught.
The air of menace thickens around Hijikata's open door, but no further movement comes from within.
Till one day, one of the herbalists they hired to cure her speculated aloud. "A kiss might do it."
Everyone is aghast. But the demon, seeing as it's the only hope they have had so far, orders everyone in the compound to line up and in his words, "get on with it".
Yukimura giggles. Sano and Shinpachi who by now have started to eavesdrop are much less restrained. Their laughter echoes around the compound, eliciting a low feral snarl from the vice-commander's room. That soon quietens things down.
Finally. The end of the line approaches and still the princess slumbers.
Then the herbalist turns to the Demon. "Perhaps the Oni-sama would like to try. For what it's worth after all"
"I guess I just have to do this? But all of you lot can damn well get out of the room while it's happening."
And so, after chasing everyone out of the room, the Demon, looks down at the sleeping princess in all her innocent sleeping beauty and....
A pregnant pause. The courtyard listens with bated breath. Unknowingly, I too, have paused in my sword maintenance.
Kisses her.
...
"Or we could try this new medicine that I just cooked up." Says the herbalist from behind the pair.
There's a roar of rage from Hijikata's room and he bursts out, murder in his eyes. Sano and Shinpachi have once again dissolved into cackles of glee.
OKITA SOUJI YOU BASTARD... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY!
The children scatter, some laughing, some crying in fear. Either way, they dash out of the compound.
I sigh and slide my now shining sword back into its scabbard. Then after adjusting my garb and replacing the sword at my waist, I go out to see how best to keep the peace.
Title: Acceptance
Day/Theme: 5. that’s all there is
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito (introspective)
Rating: G Spoilers for Reimeiroku - Saito's arrival at Shiekan
The blood pounds in my head and my breath catches in my chest. I wait, chest heaving, for the inevitable rejection.
"I'm left handed. That style is considered unorthodox."
"Left or right handed. It doesn't change the fact that you are skilled."
Can it really be that simple? But the expression on all their faces, the admiration, doesn't change. Their eyes speak the truth.
Perhaps, it would not be so bad to stay a while here.
Title: The sound of inspiration. Or not.
Day/Theme: 6. a symptom of insomnia
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Hijikata and Souji
Rating: G
A candle wavered in a weak breeze casting dancing shadows on shoji. Off and on, a muffled expletive would erupt and a sound of paper being crumpled and flung across the room would be heard.
A tapping sound on the adjoining wall.
"WHAT." He growled.
"Hijikata-san. You're noisy."
"Shut up and go to sleep Souji. Some of us are trying to work here."
"Writing crappy haiku is NOT work. It's a symptom of insomnia."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
Title: Worth it
Day/Theme: 7. it was possible that death wasn’t for nothing after all
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito and Chizuru.
Rating: G Speculations on life after Saito ending.
The house is a hive of activity. From which I have excused myself. Before they ask me to leave. It is really not my place to be at this type of event.
It's strange to hear yourself talked about as if you were dead. Killed in action they say. At Nyoraido.
Then again it's even stranger to have no sword at my waist. The familiar weight I've carried for as long as I can remember is missing. Some days
I feel my hands drifting downwards to rest on a grip that is no longer and I feel strangely unbalanced. As if a long cherished part of me is no more.
The air is chilly and clouds cover the sky. There's sharp scent of impending snow. My breath comes in puffs of steam.
Perhaps I did die and this is the afterlife. Perhaps the ochimizu has finally addled my wits. Even if I haven't had the bloodlust for months now.
The thin wail of a baby breaks through my reverie and my heart leaps into my throat. Only years of practiced control stop me from rushing through the doorway.
A call from within.
"I'm coming."
You hold out a red faced screaming boy to me.
"Your son. Would you like to hold him?"
"Er... remind me again how I should do this?"
As I hold the infant awkwardly, he quietens down and regards me with a solemn look.
He's so small and yet. So. Perfect. I murmur wonderingly as I hand the child back to you.
The embers of the fire reflect in your eyes and I see a future and a chance of rebirth.
Perhaps death wasn't for nothing after all.
Title: Poetry appreciation
Day/Theme: 8. an academic piece of art
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito and Chizuru. Rating: G Set in Shinsengumi detective story in Drama CD
Ah. The Hokusai Haiku collection.
The vice-commander said I wasn't to read it. Ever.
Ever ever.
No matter what Souji might say.
So. I will keep it safe with me and return it to him as soon as I can.
Ah. Oops. It dropped and the pages are fluttering in the breeze.
Er.
The handwriting is flowing and delicate.
But. I don't really understand it at all. Why repeatedly mention plum blossoms. And spring rain. And water.
I don't understand.
This must be the accomplishment that Vice-commander emphasizes in both literary and military arts.
Truly. This is something I must aspire to have one day. So. Maybe, if I read a few more I might understand?
No no no. No. I will stop here. I must stop here. Control is everything. Yes. I will return it to Vice-commander as soon as possible.
"Saito-kun, why are you standing there muttering to yourself?" Inoue-san suddenly speaks from behind me. I barely suppress a flinch, compose myself, and then turn around as calmly as possible, stuffing the book into my uniform.
"It is nothing Inoue-san. Have they located the missing haori yet?"
Title: Expediency
Day/Theme: 9. a secret killed your father
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Sannan and Hijikata Rating: G
"I really don't like this experimenting with Ochimizu Sannan-san. What am I supposed to tell the families of the men that... drink the medicine? What do I tell their wives or their children?"
"Fortunately, Hijikata-san, most of them are not married. And as for the rest. It can always be sorted out." Sannan's glasses glint in the candlelight.
"You are forgetting why we are even here in the first place."
Title: Compromise
Day/Theme: 11. this boy seemed like a compromise
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Sannan Rating: PG
Lurking in a pool of shadow, Sannan fumed silently.
They dare oppose me? When I rank them? Who is to say whose blood I can and cannot taste.
Soon. I ll show them.
But for now.
The young man trotting around the corner didn't even have time to gasp before the sword slashed through his carotid. A spray of hot arterial blood fountained into the night.
Sannan's eyes gleamed crimson in the darkness.
"Ittadakimasu."
Title: Trash talk
Day/Theme: 13. a question that sounds better next to a trash can
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Hijikata and SoujiRating: G
The afternoon is hot and still. Like most Kyoto summers. The air feels stuffy the heat oppressive.
In the silence of the headquarters, a door hisses open with a snarl like the unsheathing of a blade.
"Souji. Where is the thing that you took from my room?"
"Eh. Hijikata san. What thing?"
"Stop acting innocent. Give it back."
"The Hyogyoku Haiku collection? That book of crappy poems? I don't have it. Maybe you finally got the hint and threw it away?"
"I don't believe you. I'm going to search your room."
"Feel free!"
With a mocking bow, Souji waves Hijikata in and watches as he rummages through his possessions with the fury of a hurricane.
A few hours later a flushed and disheveled Hijikata is forced to admit defeat.
"What did I tell you?" If the grin on Souji's face were any wider it'd split his head in half.
"Shut up!" Hijikata snarls and storms out of the room.
"I told you, check your trash." Souji calls after the retreating figure.
The slamming of another screen door echoes down the hallway. In the silence that follows there's a sound not unlike the rustling of paper.
Its only a few minutes before an enraged howl once again splits the still afternoon air.
"Souji!"
Title:Déjà vu
Day/Theme: 28. a life this other one had already lived
Series: Hakuouki
Characters: Saito, Okita
Rating: G (Set in Hakuouki SSL)
Days like this, he gets this strange feeling of déjà vu.
The sakura falling
Him telling off Souji.
Her eyes. A flashback of moonlit streets, starry skies, snowbound landscapes, and for some inexplicable reason. Bunnies.
"Hijikata sensei gesturing menacingly with sharp objects." Souji interjects cheekily. "Hajime kun. It's not like you to space out in the middle of a lecture"
Something feels terribly familiar about this setting but then the school bell rings for class and there's no more time for reflection...