lovefujitez

Title: I Want a Haiku
Day/Theme: November 20, 2007 / all I had so far were endless beginnings
Series: Peacemaker Kurogane
Character/Pairing: Hijikata Toshizo and Okita Souji - Based on Chrono Nanae's characterization of two real historic Shinsengumi warriors as presented in manga series Peacemaker Kurogane. I own nothing.
Rating: PG

A/N: ( sappy! It’s snowing so I am in this kind of mood!) 1,104 words. Toshi and Souji haiku exchange....bad haiku exchange!

oOo

“I want a haiku, Toshi!” Souji begged his Vice Commander, while he watched him silently apply the mint vaseline on his chest. Souji cringed. He bit his lower lip and prevented a cough from escaping. It was painful when he coughed and he didn’t want to feel the dull pain again. The bruises on his chest ached, his ribcage felt like iron talons with bladed tips. He did not suffer any broken bones but the heavy assault on his chest when he was pinned to the ground bruised his chest muscles.

Toshi carefully applied the ointment which would relieve his discomfort. The serious officer kept a watchful eye on Souji’s reactions while he slowly rubbed down every inch of his lover’s upper body.

From Toshi to Souji:

“When I stand alone,
Without you next to my side
I’m cold and empty.”

Souji closed his eyes and smiled after he heard Toshi’s response to his request. Slowly, he felt relaxing himself with the help of the soothing smell from the mint vaseline. The dull pain in his chest subsided and his breathing was no longer as rugged and heavy. The herbal medicine Toshi mixed with his evening drink seemed to have done the trick as well.

“Thank you for taking care of me Toshi,” his lavender eyes gazed at the Vice Commander. His pale cold hands held the stern officer's warm hands. Souji kissed each palm and held them both closed to his chest. Tears rimmed the younger samurai’s closed eyes and trickled down his cheeks. His heart was filled with overwhelming emotions and he couldn’t keep those feelings inside anymore. He loved his Vice Commander so much and he was so thankful for his safety.

Toshi, however, felt nothing but hate for himself as he watched Souji suffered in pain. He blamed himself for his absence and he hated himself for coming out of the evening’s bloody assault unscathed.

From Toshi to Souji:

“My heart calls one name,
Of someone with purple eyes,
With smiles meant for me.”

Toshi took Souji’s hand and kissed them as well. He laced their hands together and the taller officer smiled at his lover. He watched him in silence, he kept vigil night after night and made sure Souji was comfortable. It’s been three days and Souji was not showing any signs of getting better. His pale skin turned more pallid and gray, his chest was now stained all over with black bruises and the swelling in his chest cavity was still there.

The Vice Commander kept his calm and didn’t show any sign of his growing trepidation. He was confident of his lover’s recovery and provided Souji with his assuring smiles, his dry humor and lame haikus.

“My Souji,” Toshi silently called his name like a prayer. He couldn’t be without him in his life. He loved Souji since the first time they met. Souji was nine when he joined the Shinsengumi, he was sixteen. He remembered how he constantly teased and called him a puppy. He remembered how Souji constantly cried for being teased by him, but the young samurai knew how to get him back and he did so with a vengeance. Souji was a gifted swordsman by heart and a very skillful one. He became Souji’s sparring partner and since then a friendship grew. Toshi rose in rank and he took Souji with him. He only trusted Souji to be next to him and he did not want anyone else protecting Souji but himself.

Toshi took out his pipe from his sleeve pocket and crushed some tobacco. He pushed the sliding door open before lighting his pipe, this way he kept the smoke out of Souji’s room. He watched the cold surrounding of the camp, puffing out smoke as he enjoyed the tranquility underneath the silvery aura of the late autumn moon. He shared beautiful quiet evenings with Souji in the past. He recalled the nights when they walked under the shadows of the full moon; the endless nights when they just talked and dreamed about a life they would share together in the future. And there were those moments of intimacy and passion that constantly blazed in his memory. But this war will not end soon and Souji will be called into active duty once he was healed.

Toshi closed his eyes in frustration over the entire situation elevated his anger. He was the Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi and he was bound to his responsibility. But his love for Souji was above anything else and it was his duty to protect him, the one he truly loves.

“Toshi!” Souji coughed violently, he sat up quickly; once again pain darted sharply all over his chest. Toshi didn’t waste a heartbeat and was right next to Souji after he discarded his smoking pipe.

“Shhh…I am right here Souji,” Toshi rubbed his back, attempting to relieve him from his painful coughing.

He poured some more tea for him and added the medicine. “Drink this. It should help you with the pain.”

Souji sipped the tea as instructed and his eyes gleamed in appreciation.

Toshi held him tight and kept him warm. He closed his eyes as he attempted to hold on to his composure, he didn’t want Souji to see him break. He had to be strong for him.

“I will not allow any more harm come your way, Souji.” Toshi declared, “ no more wishful thinking or looking to the future for things we want someday. I want us now. All we wish for endlessly, a beginning of a life together. I don’t want to wish for it no more, I want us to start now.”

From Toshi to Souji:

“Okita Souji.
Hijikata Toshirou
Two souls with one love.”

Happy tears trickled down Souji’s cheeks, after he heard his lover’s commitment. He never thought Toshi would utter those words, and with a nod Souji accepted.

From Souji to Toshi:

“My promise to you
To keep you safe in my heart
And life filled with love.”

“Souji,” Toshi smiled at the young man he held in his arms, “listen to you, your haiku is just as bad as mine.” Toshi chuckled after seeing Souji pout, “I love it because you made it for me.”

“Just like all the haikus you wrote in the past. It was all for me,” Souji declared with a smile.
“I knew, that’s why I stole your collection all the time. I wanted to read it and keep the book close to my heart. Thank you for thinking of me.”

To Toshi and Souji:

“A kiss shared and an embrace,
finds happy endings
for your endless beginnings.”

oOo

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