Hey guys...Sorry that I never update this story...
It's been a really long time since I've worked on it since I had a ton of crap to do
That's why it took until now to find this chapter that I had typed up...but never put up "OTL
If anyone actually reads this, h-here you go... lol
I'm also trying to draw promotional manga pages to get people to read this...
So...I guess...stay tuned for news on that? XDD
Please Read, Review and Enjoy!

Chapter 7: The Blade I Wield for You

Rui stretched his arms over his head as they left school. "Another day over," he announced with a grin directed at Sumi and Kirie. Kirie was about to say something before he caught a glimpse of a girl coming towards their direction. He wondered who she was for a moment. In the next moment, she tackle-hugged Rui, right in front of Sumi and Kirie. The black-haired male's amber eyes widened in shock at the long, flowing black hair that suddenly was covering Rui. "Wha-?"

"Rui!" the girl chirped excitedly. "Remember me?" Rui stared at the girl for a moment before his blue eyes lit up in recognition.

"Oh, it's you, Yuki!" Rui laughed as he looked at the girl. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to see you, Rui!" the girl replied with a smile as he clung to his arm. Sumi and Kirie stared at the two in silence before Sumi finally cleared his throat loudly, catching Yuki and Rui's attention and interrupting their chatter.

"Oh, sorry, guys. This is Yuki, my pen-pal from middle school." He smiled as he looked down at the girl. "And Yuki, these two are Sumi and Kirie." The girl looked both the blonde and the brunet over with disinterested eyes.

"Rui, why'd you suddenly stop paying attention to me?" she chided the redhead as she clung tighter to his arm.

"Sorry, sorry. I got caught up in things," he said apologetically with a laugh. Kirie stared up at the redhead with worried amber eyes. What was he doing, being so friendly with another woman? Wait a minute...another woman? That wasn't even the least of his worries, actually! Since when were he and Rui even a "thing"? He shook his head and sighed. Perhaps it was better to just stand back, since he was the one who was running from Rui all the time...

Kirie, as he watched the two, couldn't help but think about how good the two looked together. If...if only we could look like that... he found himself thinking before he caught himself and shook his head. Who was he to think such things?

Kirie, that night, couldn't look Rui in the face. He curled up in the blankets and rolled so that his back was facing the redhead so that Rui couldn't even offer to hold his hand as they slept. How could he face him after he finally realized what kind of relationship they really had? Rui had told him, time and again, that he was fine with the way things were going now, but Kirie really couldn't believe that Rui would have such strong feelings for him in such a short time. He was sure the feelings from the "memories" were just influencing Rui to think that he was in love with Kirie.

Kirie closed his amber eyes. But it wasn't fair to Rui. Kirie was, in actuality, just holding Rui back from having a normal life. Kirie was sure of it. After all, how could Rui look so good with someone else if he wasn't meant to be with her? Kirie curled up in the blankets. It was easy to make such assessments, but in actuality, it hurt his heart to think such things.

But he couldn't help but think it. After all...he was the one that would cause them both to die before twenty if they continued down this path. Kirie buried his face in the pillow and pulled the blankets tighter around him, as if that would soothe the pain in his heart as he tried to get to sleep.

"Ha!" Tsubaki slashed down at the enemy before him. Before the enemy had time to react, he slashed again and again, aiming for vital points each time. He panted as he finished his attack. He turned at the sound of clapping from behind him, his long chocolate brown ponytail swishing from the motion. "Who's there?"

"A performance as expected of Tsubaki, one of the best samurai there is in the Shinsengumi," the man said with a smile.

Tsubaki sighed as he lowered the katana in his hands. "It's you, Akiyoshi. Don't scare me like that," he said, giving a sigh of resignation.

"Why? Did I scare you?" Akiyoshi asked with a little teasing smirk as he brushed his black bangs out of his face. "Do you not like being surprised?"

"It's not that." Tsubaki sheathed the katana. "If I didn't realize it was you, I would probably have killed you, you know!"

"Like you killed that poor mannequin over there?" Akiyoshi said with a smirk as he pointed at the target Tsubaki had been slashing at. It was, to put it simply, destroyed. Tsubaki jumped in embarrassment, his cheeks flushing red. "You know, you really should learn how to hold back in training...before you break everything..."

"I-it's not my fault that things are so fragile around here!" Tsubaki replied, embarrassed. There was a rustling from the bushes, and something suddenly jumped out at him. Tsubaki drew his katana, and there was the sound of steel on steel. "W-who is this?" he asked as he fought the mysterious person. They were pretty much on par, ending their duel of katanas in a deadlock, neither side giving in. Tsubaki's light brown eyes widened in pleasant surprise as he realized who it was. "Masamune!" he chirped cheerily, his entire face breaking into a smile.

Masamune smirked at the response that he elicited from Tsubaki. "I see you've been training lately," he said with a laugh as he sheathed his katana. Tsubaki nodded.

"You know...I'll never be able to understand how both of you manage to find practically killing each other fun..." Akiyoshi said with a sigh.

Tsubaki and Masamune looked at each other and shrugged. "Who knows. It just kind of...comes naturally, you know?" they answered at the same time.

"Oh great, they even talk evenly in unison..." Akiyoshi sighed. "If you two weren't such great samurai, I swear..."

He never got to finish his sentence. "Urgent meeting for all Shinsengumi!" All three of them looked at each other, then in the direction of the building. They took off running. There was never a call for a meeting for every member of the Shinsengumi unless it was something very important.

The feeling of playfulness and amiability that usually abounded within the Shinsengumi compound was gone. All that was left was a stern and severe atmosphere as all the men sat in seiza-style before their leader, Hijikata Toshizou. He unrolled a scroll before himself and laid it on the floor. "The Shinsengumi have been far too lax lately, so I have made a list of articles to follow," he said calmly and clearly, his voice even and impassive. "Article 1: It is not allowed to deviate from the proper path that a man should follow, including deviant sexual behaviors. Article 2: It is not allowed to leave the Shinsengumi in any way. Article 3: It is not allowed to raise funds privately for your own selfish reasons. Article 4: It is not allowed to be involved in the matters of the court of others. Article 5: It is not allowed to engage in personal or private fights such as duels." Hijikata looked out over all of his men. "Violation of any of these articles is punishable by death, and only death." He looked into each and every man's face. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, Captain!" all of his men replied, clearly, without any signs of doubt. None of them intended to ever violate any of the articles, so they could voice their agreement with certainty.

But every tragedy starts with a law that forbids something.

"Ahh...it's not fair how strict the articles are," Tsubaki complained with a sigh. "What if I want to train seriously with Masamune?" he asked as he looked out over the garden from the porch, pulling his knees to his chest.

"I-it's not like you're seriously trying to kill him or anything...right?" Akiyoshi asked worriedly.

"Hm, I wonder..." Tsubaki replied with a mysterious smile before he turned to the terrified Akiyoshi. "Just kidding!" he added with a laugh.

"...you'd better be..." Akiyoshi muttered with a sigh.

Masamune sighed as he cleaned his sword. Before he knew it, his eyes had drifted to follow Tsubaki's every move again. The delicate curve of his pale neck, just like a woman's... The long brown hair tied up in a ponytail that fell gracefully to the small of his back... The elegant hands that wielded the katana so beautifully against his "enemies"... The slim waist beneath the kimono and hakama... The fit body that was so leanly muscled... "Hey, Masamune! Hey, Masamune!" Finally, the straw-color-haired young man heard someone calling him.

"Y-yes?" he asked, trying to sound like he had been paying attention the whole time.

"...You were watching Tsubaki again?" Akiyoshi asked, leaning over his shoulder to stare at the brown-haired young man as well. "You know...you should really try to be less obvious if you're going to stare at him all the time..."

"I-I wasn't!" Masamune protested, his cheeks flushing red. "I was just wondering if we had time for a spar or something!" he said with a frown. "I...I was just about to challenge him, you know!"

"Really? Go for it," Akiyoshi said with a smug smile. "I'll watch." Masamune was stuck, caught by his own lie. Akiyoshi sat cross-legged on the porch where Masamune had been as he watched with a smirk.

"Hey, Tsubaki," the blonde said with a smile as he approached the brown-haired young man. "Want...want to train with me?" Tsubaki looked up at Masamune curiously, but then nodded.

"Wahh..." Tsubaki sighed as he slipped off his hakama, uncovering the bottom of the kimono that he wore underneath it, like all samurai did. "I always lose to you..." He pulled his sweaty hair back, away from his face, then put it over one shoulder, his pale neck exposed. Masamune couldn't help but stare, completely forgetting to even take off his own hakama. "...Masamune?" Tsubaki's light brown eyes looked up innocently into Masamune's, unaware of what was running through the blonde's mind. "You're not going to shower?" Tsubaki asked as he slipped the three layers, one kimono and two underkimonos, that he wore off his shoulders, not realizing that Masamune was still staring at him.

Masamune stared at the delicate skin that was revealed as Tsubaki slipped off the fabric. "Hey, Tsubaki..." He came up behind the brown-haired young man and wrapped arms around him, causing Tsubaki to tense up slightly. "...why is it that you look so much like a woman? It could confuse someone, you know!" he said with a little smirk.

"W-what? I do not! S-stop teasing me!" Tsubaki replied indignantly, pouting. "Y-you're just getting cocky because you won this time! I'll beat you for sure next time!"

"If you say so, if you say so," Masamune said with a laugh as he untied the kaku that held Tsubaki's kimono closed playfully.

"H-hey, what...what're you doing?" Tsubaki asked, cheeks flushing red as he struggled against Masamune's arms.

"Checking to see if you're really a guy down there. What else?" Masamune replied with a pleasant smile as he pulled apart the two sides of Tsubaki's kimono, much to the embarrassment of Tsubaki. "We've seen each other in the bath tons of times already. What's the embarrassment for?" he asked with a chuckle.

Tsubaki pouted. "Y-you're just a perv, that's why!" he replied, pushing Masamune's hands away. The blonde only chuckled and rested his chin on Tsubaki's shoulder, his hands teasingly tracing over the brown-haired young man's pale thighs. "Masamune!" Tsubaki cried, his cheeks really crimson now as he pushed against the blonde's body. "W-what do you think you're doing?"

"Teasing you," Masamune replied with a little smirk. "Man, your skin is just as pale and delicate as everywhere else on your body..." He sighed. "Do you even have something under here?" he asked, sounding incredulous as he touched light fingers to the underwear that Tsubaki wore.

"S-stop it!" Tsubaki cried as he finally broke free, his cheeks burning as he fled the scene, slamming the door shut behind him. He leaned back against the door heavily, clutching the two sides of his kimono layers together at his chest with one hand. He panted as he slowly slid down to sit on the floor with his knees to his chest. "W-what was that...?" he asked out loud, his cheeks still red. He looked down and blushed even deeper. He jerked forward and covered the part between his legs in embarrassment. "W-what's going on...?" he asked, his voice frantic as he tried to think deep thoughts. "W-why is this happening...?"

"Damn..." Masamune stared at the closed door. He had a feeling he had gone too far in teasing Tsubaki, but his hands and body had moved on their own and he couldn't stop himself. He ran a hand through his blonde hair as he shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't think something like this would happen..." he muttered as he pulled his kimono a little closer to cover himself up, his cheeks slightly red. "I wonder if this counts as deviant behavior..." he said in an attempt to make himself start thinking deep thoughts.

"Good morning, Masamune!" Tsubaki said with a smile.

"Morning," Masamune replied. They were both obviously acting like nothing had happened the night before. After all, it had been a major infraction... No deviant behaviors. If anybody found out, the punishment would most certainly be death. "Wanna train again today?"

"Coming in..." Tsubaki called as he slid open the door briskly. His light brown eyes widened when he saw what was happening inside the changing room before the shower and bath room. Masamune had his back leaned against a wall, his hand between his legs. Tsubaki's cheeks flushed red as he realized what the blonde was doing. "M-Masamune?"

"C-crap! Tsu-Tsubaki?" Masamune jumped at the brown-haired young man's sudden voice. He hadn't noticed Tsubaki opening the door. Masamune had been too busy trying to...satisfy himself while thinking of Tsubaki.

Tsubaki stood in silence, staring at the blonde for a bit. No deviant behaviors. The words resounded in his mind, echoing and reminding him that what he was thinking about was wrong. But it didn't matter anymore. "...would you like some help with that?"

Masamune's amber eyes widened in surprise for a moment before he understood what Tsubaki meant. He gave a little smile. "I would be very grateful if you would help me." Tsubaki closed his light brown eyes and dipped his head in what could be called a nod before he silently closed the door behind him, locking it quietly.

"The leaves are falling..." Tsubaki said as he looked up at the multicolor vision that fell towards them. "It must be fall already."

"Yeah," Masamune replied. He looked up as well. "They're beautiful." He chuckled lightly. "But they're not as beautiful as you, Tsubaki." The brown-haired samurai's cheeks flushed red at this, but he said nothing. Masamune smirked before he lifted Tsubaki's chin up to kiss him gently on the lips, bending down slightly to do so.

"So...that's their secret." A chuckle in the shadows that neither of the young lovers heard. As suddenly and quietly as the chuckle had come, the person that had made it disappeared.

"U-uh...let's forget that happened, huh? For the sake of both of us," Tsubaki suggested with a chuckle. They both knew he didn't need to say it. Neither of them were ready to die over breaking the rules. This secret was theirs and theirs only to keep.

"It's so cold!" Masamune cried into the air, his breath turning into mist in front of his face as he watched. Tsubaki laughed as he adjusted his light green scarf, making it tighter around his neck. Akiyoshi looked up at the sky silently underneath his black hair, smiling up at the clarity.

"You're exaggerating!" the brunet said as he walked alongside the shivering blonde.

"What are you talking about? I'm speaking the truth!" Masamune complained as he hunched his shoulders closer together in an attempt to get warmer. "You're just abnormal!" he said with a pout.

"Or maybe I'm just more of a man than you!" Tsubaki replied with a laugh as he turned away, the ends of his scarf trailing out behind him to catch up to Akiyoshi, who had walked ahead of them.

"Alright. That's it." Before Tsubaki could turn to see what Masamune was talking about, a hand grabbed the back of his scarf and kimono and a copious amount of snow was suddenly thrown down his shirt.

"Y-you...!" Tsubaki jumped and shook his kimono, trying to get the snow out, reaching a hand down his back to try and scoop it out. The snow settled right above where his kaku was tied, a cold reminder of Masamune's teasing. Akiyoshi turned in surprise at Tsubaki's squeal. Masamune, laughing at the reaction, turned and ran into the field of snow where children were playing. Tsubaki chased him angrily. "You come back here right now so I can shove your face in a snowdrift!" he yelled at Masamune's back. Tsubaki's cheeks turned red and he jumped as some of the snow made it down past the kaku. "M-Masamune! Some of the snow is in my hakama!" he complained uneasily. Then Tsubaki's eyes narrowed playfully as an idea occurred to him. "Get back here so I can dump some snow in your underwear!"

"Y-you two, calm down!" Akiyoshi said, trying to hold back his laughter.

"No way! You'll have to catch me first!" They both ran, laughing. The children that had been playing in the snow field stared and gathered around Akiyoshi and Masamune, who had taken refuge behind him, clinging to his shoulders.

"N-Niisan...do you want to play with us?" one of the children asked Masamune. Masamune bent down and smiled at the question.

"Sure. If you want to!"

"Gotcha!" Tsubaki cried as he dumped an abundant amount of snow down the back of the blonde's kimono in revenge. "Take that!" The children stared as Masamune started jumping around, trying to get the snow out, laughing at the scene.

"Niisan." Akiyoshi looked down at the children when they tugged on his kimono sleeve. "Will you play with us too?"

"Oh, sure!" Akiyoshi bent down and smiled at them. "What kind of things do you want to play?" he asked.

"C-can we make a snowman?" one of the little girls asked excitedly.

"No! We should have a snowball fight!" one of the boys said.

Akiyoshi watched the children break into fighting over what they should do. "Hey, how about we do both?" he finally asked with a smile. "Whoever wants to make a snowman can make it with Tsuba-nii here, and if you want to have a snowball fight, you can come with me, Akiyo-nii and Masamu-nii." The children held back laughs at the terrible puns as Akiyoshi fought back his own chuckles.

"Okay!" The children agreed readily at the idea with smiles. They didn't like fighting, after all. They were content as long as they got to do what they wanted.

While Akiyoshi was dealing with the children's arguments, Tsubaki and Masamune had finally come to a stop in their frolicking, panting heavily, cheeks flushed red. It was silent except for the sounds of Akiyoshi and the children far behind them. "Hey, Masamune...do you think...we'll ever be ablt to play like this again...?"

"What? What's wrong?" Masamune asked, worried at the sudden serious turn that their conversation and playing had taken. Tsubaki took a deep breath, about to say what he never had the courage to say. There were many times he had wanted to, but he had always been too afraid. After all, they were already breaking the rules by being together physically, but to tell Masamune his true feelings would most certainly tempt them to break even more rules. But Tsubaki had to say it.

"I...I have to tell you...I...I like you-"

"Tsubaki! Masamune!" Both of them turned at the sound of Akiyoshi calling them, waving his arm over his head at them. "C'mon, let's go play!" Akiyoshi smirked teasingly. "Unless...you two are secretly courting each other right now?"

"N-no! I'it's nothing like that!" Tsubaki said, denying the teasing accusations that Akiyoshi was making. "It's just...we're-"

Tsubaki was suddenly cut off by a snowball to the face. "Too much talking! Let's play!" Akiyoshi called with a playful smirk.

"Why you-!" Tsubaki's face grew dark as he grinned evilly. "We should just leave you with the kids, you immature brat!" the brown-haired young man yelled as he started to chase Akiyoshi, his worries forgotten as a snowball fight started.

Masamune looked over and smiled at the happy expression Tsubaki was making. For some reason, though, deep down in his heart as well, it felt like this would be the last time that any of them would ever be this happy ever again. He shook his head when a kid tugged on his sleeve. He had better things to do than think about doom and gloom.

There was snow to be played with.

"You three should be ashamed of yourselves!" All three samurai lowered their heads in shame, their clothes dripping wet and muddy from their playing in the snow with the children. Hijikata frowned down at them. "Grown samurai acting like children! Do you not remember the code at all?" All three remained silent, shoulders slumping in shame. "There is to be a major battle soon, you know!" Tsubaki couldn't help but jerk his head up in shock. However, as quickly as he lifted his head, he lowered it again, cheeks red as he realized that he had almost offended their commander. "...But I suppose they are your last few days." He frowned. "No punishment for today. Dismissed."

All three filed out numbly at the shocking news. There had been no warning, no sign, and now they were faced with impending doom that they couldn't possibly escape. Tsubaki's heart sank. So his feelings had come true, even though he had pretended it wouldn't. He lowered his gaze to the floor. If he didn't do what he wanted to now, it was highly likely that he would never get the chance ever again. He knew that. He looked up into Masamune's face, which was uncharacteristically solemn. He looked up into Akiyoshi's face and it held the same expression.

Tsubaki was jealous of his comrades' ability to keep a calm face. Truthfully, all he felt like doing was crying. He looked up into the cold, clear sky and closed his eyes to blink back tears. "It's not fair," he whispered. "...it's not fair..."

"Aren't you going to go back to your own room to sleep?" Masamune asked Tsubaki as they sat together in his room on the tatami floor, his futon already laid out neatly. "It's getting really late."

Tsubaki shook his head, his long brown ponytail swishing with his motions. "...I don't want to go back just yet." With that, it was silent again.

"Hey, Tsubaki...are you still thinking about the upcoming battle?" Masamune finally asked. A wind blew in through the slightly open doors to the garden, sending the candle flame flickering wildly. Tsubaki nodded. "You shouldn't worry about it too much. We'll definitely survive. I'll make sure of it." Tsubaki looked up into Masamune's eyes.

"How can you be so sure?" Tsubaki asked, his vision starting to blur with unshed tears. "What if we all die? What if one of us dies? What if both of us die? What if Akiyoshi dies? What if all three of us die?" Tsubaki looked back down to the tatami floor again, hands clenched tightly as they rested on top of his knees.

"...It'll be fine. Life will keep going on no matter what happens. There's nothing we can do about it but try our best to survive, you know?" he asked Tsubaki, looking at the top of the brunet's lowered head. "It's not like there's some magic spell that can just save us all." Masamune sighed. "I guess this is the kind of feeling they talk about when they say that you lay everything to rest before you go to die." He gave a slight laugh that died out.

"Hey, Masamune..." The blonde looked at Tsubaki, whose head was still lowered. "...I...I have something to tell you." He looked up, cheeks flushed red, into Masamune's face. He looked away, unable to meet the samurai's steady gaze. "...I think...I think I might...love you." His cheeks turned crimson. "I...I would understand if you're disgusted...or...or anything, but..." Tsubaki lowered his gaze to the tatami mats in front of him again. "I just...I just had to say it!" He didn't lift his head.

"Tsubaki." The brown-haired young man flinched at the sound of his name, refusing to look up into Masamune's face. "Tsubaki. Look at me," Masamune requested, lifting the brunet's face up by the chin, forcing him to look up into his face. However, Tsubaki didn't meet Masamune's eyes, instead flicking his eyes off to one side. "Please." Tsubaki's eyes slowly and shyly made their way back towards Masamune's at the pleading tone. "Tsubaki. You've never said anything about this before." Masamune was met with silence. "Why won't you say anything?"

"...I don't want to get my hopes up," Tsubaki whispered, closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to see Masamune's expression.

"It's already too late." Tsubaki opened his eyes in shock at the reply. His eyes widened even more when Masamune leaned in and kissed him. "After all, it's not like I can just pretend I've never heard it," he said with a smile. "Since I feel the same way."

"M-Masamune?" Tsubaki asked in shock, staring up into the smile. "Are...are you sure...?"

Masamune smiled as he gently pushed Tsubaki down on the futon, untying Tsubaki's ponytail, the brown hair spreading out in a halo around Tsubaki's worried face. "I'm very sure that I love you too, Tsubaki," he replied as he leaned down, his blonde hair falling in a slight curtain around his face as he kissed the brunet.

"Tsubaki," Masamune called softly to the brunet, who was still asleep. Tsubaki's eyebrows twitched slightly as he heard the blonde's voice, and he rolled over slightly, still asleep. Masamune chuckled to himself. "How cute," he murmured with a smile as he gently touched light fingers to Tsubaki's brown hair. It hadn't been the first time they had done something like they had last night, but it was the first time Masamune had ever woken up in bed with Tsubaki after they had done something like they had. It really made him look at things in a different light. He pressed his lips gently to Tsubaki's forehead as he smiled affectionately. He sighed as he got up. "I'll go get breakfast for the both of us, so wake up and get dressed, okay?"

Tsubaki slowly blinked awake as he heard Masamune slide the door closed behind him as he left. He sighed as he rolled in the futon, the warm cloth sliding across his skin teasingly. It felt good. He never wanted to get up from the futon. He wanted to go back to sleep. He sighed as he sat up. Even though he didn't want to wake up, even though he didn't want to hide his and Masamune's relationship like this, there was nothing he could do. Rules were rules, and he most definitely did not want them to get caught because of his own selfish desires and then be put to death. He sighed as he got up and slipped a kimono over his shoulders, tying it around his waist with a kaku. He yawned as he stretched his arms over his head.

He didn't notice that someone had entered his room from behind him until it was too late. Arms wrapped around him from behind, pulling at his kaku. "Wha-?" Tsubaki tried to struggle, but whoever it was was stronger than him, and the brunet's attempts to break free were futile. "Who are you?" Tsubaki yelled, trying to catch a glimpse of the man's face. He gave a cry as the man threw him down on the futon. Tsubaki rolled over on the futon and looked up angrily, ready to fight whoever it was. "You!"

"You" was Hisoka, a superior. He was a shady kind of character that no one liked to trust or obey. He abused his authority because he believed it was his right to. Neither Akiyoshi nor Masamune liked him. Tsubaki didn't like him either. He especially didn't like him now, when the man was smirking down at him with a lecherous smirk. "Yes, me." He chuckled. "What kind of person did you expect, dear Tsubaki?"

Tsubaki frowned at the way the man said his name. He started to get up, but he was shoved back down on the futon by Hisoka. "Let go of me!"

"Well, if I do that, you'll run, won't you?" Hisoka asked with a smirk.

"Who wouldn't?" Tsubaki growled back at the man's expression.

"Well, if you run, I'll be forced to tell our superiors about our dear Masamune and his...infractions. Then he'll be forced to commit ritual suicide. Seppuku." Tsubaki's eyes widened at this thinly veiled threat.

"You wouldn't!" Tsubaki replied, pushing at the man on him. "I could just report you for trying to do something like this!"

"Who would believe your word over mine?" Hisoka asked with a smirk. "In this society, your superiors are the ones who speak the truth, reality or not."

Tsubaki gritted his teeth at the truth of Hisoka's words. That damn bastard. What could the brunet do? He closed his eyes and bit his lip, turning his head to one side. There was nothing he could do but do as Hisoka said.

I'm so sorry, Masamune...

A tear trailed down Tsubaki's cheek.

"I'm back, Tsubaki!" Masamune called as he slid open the door. He held a tray loaded with food with his other hand. "Sorry it took so long. There was a really long line-" Masamune froze, his eyes wide at the scene before him.

Tsubaki lay, bruised and bloody, on the futon, unmoving. However, at the sound of Masamune's voice, he had begun to get up, struggling to his feet, his pale skin blemished by the bruises and bloody cuts that he had somehow gotten while Masamune had been out. The brunet struggled to pull on a kimono, but already, Masamune had briskly set down the tray of food and stormed towards him. As Tsubaki tried to pull the kimono over his shoulders quickly, Masamune grabbed the neck of the kimono from behind and practically yanked it back down. Tsubaki clung weakly to the sides of the kimono as he tried to keep it on, but Masamune's fury was too strong. The blonde tore the kimono off roughly, his other hand holding Tsubaki around the waist as the brunet struggled and tried to run.

"Tsubaki!" Masamune yelled as the brunet fought his grip. "What...what happened?" Tsubaki shook his head again and again, refusing to answer him, unable to meet his eyes. "Tsubaki." The brunet's struggles seemed to lessen slightly at the tone in Masamune's voice. "Tsubaki." Tsubaki stopped struggling. "Tsubaki...tell me what happened." The brunet clung to Masamune's chest and the blonde felt tears soaking his kimono. He gently ran hands over Masamune's back, feeling the brunet tense at his touch and wincing when his hands ghosted over injuries. "...what happened?" he finally asked, holding Tsubaki a slight distance away. The brunet lifted his tear-streaked face up to look into Masamune's pleadingly. "What's...what's wrong?"

"I'm...so sorry, Masamune..." Tsubaki whispered as he buried his face in the blonde's chest again. "I've...done something terrible." Masamune looked worriedly down at him.

"...like what?" he finally asked.

"I...sold my body." Masamune stared with wide eyes, unable to believe what he was hearing. Tsubaki couldn't meet Masamune's eyes.

"...to who, and why?" the blonde asked, his voice getting low and dangerous.

"Hi...Hisoka." Tsubaki sounded ashamed of himself as he forced the name out. "He threatened to have you killed...unless I did it..." The brunet wrapped his arms tightly around himself, his body starting to tremble as it remembered the abuse it had gone through. "He..." Tsubaki winced as a shudder ran through his body at the thought and Masamune knew, without the brunet saying it, what Hisoka had done.

"So he just took your entire body and did what he wanted with it?" Tsubaki trembled at the harsh voice that Masamune was using now. The brunet winced when the blonde grabbed him roughly by the shoulders. "And you let him?" Tsubaki looked up with shocked eyes at Masamune's cold voice. "You should have just let me be killed instead of selling your body to a bastard like that to do as he pleased with!" Tsubaki stared at the angry blonde with wide eyes, his tears falling unbidden now as shock took over.

"Ma-Masamune...I-"

Masamune cut off Tsubaki by suddenly hugging him tight. The brunet winced at the pain that it elicited, but Tsubaki closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the one he had wanted the most the whole time Hisoka had been having his fun. "I'm sorry, Tsubaki...I'm so sorry you had to go through something like this..." Masamune whispered into Tsubaki's ear. "Let me make it up to you...I'll get rid of every last trace of him on your body... I'll make you forget that he ever touched you."

Tsubaki clung to Masamune as his legs buckled beneath him. The brunet closed his eyes again, his tears resting on his cheeks as he sought more of Masamune's warmth. "Masamune..." he murmured softly as he felt the blonde's gentle touch on his skin. "I'm sorry..."

"Enough about that. I'll make you completely forget about it," Masamune replied as he lowered Tsubaki gently down onto the futon. "So just focus on me, and call my name, okay? I'm the one that's here now, no one else."

"...Masamune..." Tsubaki whispered his name again and again as if it would make everything in the world right again. He knew it wouldn't, but he couldn't help it. Everything that Masamune said made it feel like everything would be alright again.

"Masamune. Tsubaki. Both of you are accused of severely deviant behaviors. What have you to say for yourselves?" Hijikata asked with a frown. It was a serious infraction, especially serious because all of them knew that it was punishable by death. Tsubaki chuckled bitterly in his mind. There Hisoka stood, with a smug smirk. The bastard hadn't kept his promise after all. To be honest, Tsubaki hadn't expected him to anyways.

"C-Commander, there...there has to be a mistake!" Akiyoshi cried, trying to defend his two friends. He didn't want them to die either. He flicked suspicious eyes towards Hisoka. The smug smirk had to mean something!

"There is no mistake." Everyone turned to stare at the sudden voice. Tsubaki bit his lip. He had started it, and now he had to end it by himself. "I...seduced Masamune and tempted him from the path that Shinsengumi are to follow. If there is someone that needs to be punished, it is only me. No one else." Tsubaki couldn't look into Masamune or Akiyoshi's faces. He only looked into Hijikata's face. His commander was trying to search for any hint that he was lying in his face. Tsubaki was lying, but he didn't show it. He definitely would not let Masamune get incriminated as well. He wouldn't. He couldn't. "It was only me."

"...very well then. You may proceed with your seppuku," Hijikata said, stepping back. Tsubaki stepped forward, leaving Masamune and Akiyoshi behind. He never looked back as he drew his katana silently, closing his eyes.

"Akiyoshi...will you please be my second?" Akiyoshi jumped at the sudden request. The second in a seppuku was the one who cut off the person's head to end their pain quickly. It usually went to the person's closest friend. But then Akiyoshi realized why Tsubaki hadn't chosen Masamune. Masamune would have rather killed himself than harm Tsubaki in any way. Akiyoshi nodded slowly. "...Thank you." Tsubaki knelt on the ground and raised his katana, pointing it at his abdomen. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you...and good-bye."

"No!" Masamune yelled, charging forward. It seemed as if Hijikata had already prepared for something like that already. Men rushed out and restrained him and Masamune tried to fight against them. However, there was nothing he could do but watch as Tsubaki stabbed himself and slashed across his abdomen in perfect seppuku form. "Tsubaki!"

Tsubaki coughed up blood, falling forwards as his blood splattered the floor. He gave a weak smile up to Akiyoshi, who stood over him, his katana ready to strike down. The black-haired young man closed his eyes. Such a cruel signal his friend was giving him. "Please kill me now," it seemed to say. He gritted his teeth. How could he grant such a cruel request despite knowing that it was the best thing he could do for him? Akiyoshi raised his katana. "I'm sorry, Tsubaki..." he whispered before he swung down. Hijikata frowned and closed his eyes.

"Tsubaki!" Masamune suddenly lunged forward, renewing his struggle against the men. Slowly, but surely, he was starting to break free.

"No...!" Tsubaki gasped, his eyes wide as he watched Masamune break free and draw his sword, causing chaos as Akiyoshi turned to stare in shock. Once a samurai drew his katana, he fought until all of his enemies, which would include Akiyoshi, were dead or until he himself was dead. Either way, someone dear to Tsubaki would die. Masamune's eyes widened as he was stabbed through the abdomen with a katana.

Masamune turned to glare at the man watching it all with a smirk, the one who had stabbed him. "You bastard! You're the one who did this!" the blonde yelled at Hisoka, the one who had caused all of the anguish they were going through right now. He grimaced at the blade still stuck in his abdomen, but he swung his sword. Masamune smirked as Hisoka's smirk turned into a look of shock as he realized that he too had been stabbed. "Does it hurt?" Masamune asked with a smirk, even as he coughed up some blood. He grinned over at Tsubaki and Akiyoshi. Tsubaki was crying, tears mixing with blood as he watched. "...thanks, Akiyoshi. You're the greatest friend that two people like me and Tsubaki could ever have," Masamune said with a smile before his eyes closed and he fell to the ground heavily. The black-haired young man gritted his teeth, willing himself not to cry.

"...Thank you...Akiyoshi..." Tsubaki whispered through his tears. "Thank you...for giving me...the last moments...with both you and Masamune..." He lowered his head. "Now...I can go without any protests." Akiyoshi closed his eyes as he raised his sword again.

Didn't his friends know how much pain they were putting him through with their quiet gratitude? He wished he could do something for them, but there was nothing he could do. He was powerless, helpless. He could only watch his friends die.

But at least...he could end Tsubaki's pain so he wouldn't have to suffer anymore. "I'm sorry, Tsubaki, Masamune..." he whispered before he swung down, a tear trailing down his cheek.

Kirie woke up, breathing heavily. No matter how many times he died in a dream, the pain of dying never lessened. The pain his heart went through could never be forgotten. He clenched a fist to his chest as his vision began to blur slightly. He wiped hurriedly as he looked over at Rui, who was still asleep. Maybe it was because Rui was more experienced with the memories, or maybe it was because he wasn't as affected by them as Kirie was, or maybe it was because of some other reason Kirie didn't know. Whatever it was, Rui was still asleep. Kirie watched the sleeping form and clenched a hand to his chest as he felt a pang rise up. Seeing such pained expressions on a face that looked exactly like Rui's was painful, even though he knew that it wasn't his Rui, it was Rui, nonetheless. He looked down sadly. That time, it hadn't just been Masamune who had been hurting.

The one left behind was the one who probably felt the most pain. Seeing Sumi's usually cheery face in so much pain really made Kirie think. It wasn't just Rui and him that were hurt by the fates that they endured time and time again. Sumi also felt the pain of their fates. Kirie closed his eyes, and for the first time, he began to doubt.

Is our love really right..? Or will it only lead to more pain for everyone...?