Shinsengumi fanfic

[elaby]

I'm posting this because glr1114 gave me the big anime wibbly eyes. I wrote this several weeks ago after attempting to translate about two minutes of a missing scene from the Kenshin OAV (the after-series one). It had Saitou saying cryptic things that I think we figured out were something other than what I thought they were later. At any rate, my interpretation of the clip made me want to write this.

Saitou in this fic is from Rurouni Kenshin, but Hijikata (as little as he appears) is from Peacemaker Kurogane, and I imagine Okita as some weird hybrid between RK's Okita and Peacemaker's Okita. In my head, he looks like Kenshin's Okita, anyway. But you're free to interpret as you will!

Being Shinsengumi (mini)-fic, this takes place when Saitou, Okita, and Hijikata were all in the Shinsengumi at the same time.

344 words, angst. Sort of. Oh, it's Saitou. He kind of defies and lends himself really well to angst at the same time.


It was springtime and the streets of Kyoto were mud, but the clear morning sun had washed the sky blue. Saitou stood to one side of the road, watching the people go by and the shops open up. A few dozen yards away, Okita stood talking to the Shinsengumi’s second-in-command, Hijikata Toshizo. Okita’s brilliant smile made him look even younger than he was, and although Hijikata appeared stern to the casual passerby, Saitou knew him better. It was subtle, but Hijikata moved differently – looser – when Okita stood that close. Saitou folded his arms in his sleeves and waited.

Okita, laughing, bowed to Hijikata and hurried down the street to where Saitou was standing. “Good morning, Saitou-san,” he said.

Saitou inclined his head and turned into the street, heading in the opposite direction from which Okita had come. “Takata-san doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

“We won’t be late,” Okita said cheerily.

“Okita,” Saitou said, and Okita blinked at him for dropping the honorific. “You shouldn’t get close to him.”

A cold instant passed and then Okita’s casual smile was back. “Whyever not?”

“For the same reason he shouldn’t be so close to you. If you care for someone you fight alongside, your skill will suffer. Both of you.”

Okita bristled. “I would never let—”

“You say that now,” Saitou interrupted. “But on the battlefield, deep feelings for a comrade are a liability.”

Okita looked straight ahead, stiff, his eyes narrow. Saitou was pleased that he had gotten his point across well enough to make Okita angry. “You’re a hard man,” Okita said.

“That’s why I’ll survive. You can keep your ideals, but don’t care too much for a single person. It will only get in your way.” He saw Okita looking at him, indignation hiding conflict on a face that was so young. Saitou turned away and tried to imagine when Okita would look like an adult. He couldn’t. “You’re well aware of a swordsman’s destiny,” he said to the air. “If you continue this, you’ll only end up crying. Or he will.”

Comments

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

Dats because he's gonna DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

*falls over giggling* DUH!

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

Oh, Saitou, Saitou, you sure know how to put a damper on romance, don't you? We know you're only saying it because you care (maybe there's a bit of jealously involved here, hmmmmm? *g*), but damn, you need to lighten up a little. After all, Souji-kun isn't the only young, girly-looking, sword-wielding prodigy in Kyoto, now is he? *gigglesnerk*

Well done. I really enjoyed this. :) Did you know that in real life, Saitou was actually the same age or a little younger than Okita? He's never portrayed that way in anime, obviously.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

We know you're only saying it because you care

Seriously XD That's what gave me the idea from the OAV clip. You're so big and mean and badass, but if you really didn't care whether Kaoru got hurt or what happened to Kenshin, you wouldn't be having this conversation, would you?

He DOES need to lighten up XD Needs a good shagging, if you ask me.

After all, Souji-kun isn't the only young, girly-looking, sword-wielding prodigy in Kyoto, now is he?

My point exactly! Though I can't imagine the kind of tenderness going on with Okita and Hijikata being present in any relationship between Saitou and Kenshin ;)

I'm really glad you enjoyed it ^_^ I had no idea Saitou was around Okita's age! I like him older.

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

I know that I focused on my own silly thoughts instead of giving this the proper attention that it deserved, so now I have lots more to say about it. :)

Seriously XD That's what gave me the idea from the OAV clip. You're so big and mean and badass, but if you really didn't care whether Kaoru got hurt or what happened to Kenshin, you wouldn't be having this conversation, would you?

That's always so true about Saitou; I love how always Watsuki puts him into situations where his actions can be interpreted in more than one way: taking over Okita's fight with Kenshin when Okita was obviously not well; chain smoking during the Sano-Anji fight; randomly showing up when Kenshin was fighting Enishi at the dojo and telling Kaoru that she'd better get the hell out of there if she knew what was good for her; telling everyone where Kaoru most likely was; accompanying them all to capture Enishi; and refusing to fight Kenshin at the end. It's like Saitou needs to cover his butt because god knows, he wouldn't want anyone to think he cared, would he, so he's very careful with his words and actions.

He DOES need to lighten up XD Needs a good shagging, if you ask me.

*dies* Of course I agree, but I'm somewhat surprised and delighted to hear you say it!

My point exactly! Though I can't imagine the kind of tenderness going on with Okita and Hijikata being present in any relationship between Saitou and Kenshin ;)

I love, love, love when you make a comment like this, because it shows how well you understand all of the characters. You're right, of course. Hijikata and Okita are involved in a truly loving relationship, and it's not at all hard to recognize; Okita is positively open, and even Hijikata, as grumpy as he may be, is truly transparent when it comes to Okita. Any relationship between Saitou and Kenshin at this point would only be mutual grudging admiration and respect, as well as sexual attraction. I like to think that later on, by the time we get to the end of RK, that there's some mutual grudging affection there, too, but I may be stretching my imagination a bit. ;)

I am always amazed at the subtlety of your writing. In just a few words, you've made us understand how special and unique the relationship between Hijikata and Okita is; how much Saitou cares about what happens to Okita; how Okita respects Saitou enough to care about and listen to what he says; and also just how stubborn and determined Okita can be when he really wants something. Brava!

I had no idea Saitou was around Okita's age! I like him older.

Oh, I do, too. In PMK, they seem much more like contemporaries than they do in RK (although PMK Saitou still seems older). RK Saitou is much more protective of Okita, and I like that.

/end babble

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

And that should be Bravo! instead of Brava!, which means something different altogether. *sheepish* Typo ...

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Really? I had no idea it meant anything different! Hee ^_^ Thank you! *will reply to your other comment later*

[elaby.livejournal.com]

It's like Saitou needs to cover his butt because god knows, he wouldn't want anyone to think he cared, would he

Of COURSE not. And oh god, this is why I [heart] him so very hard. All of those ambiguous situations you mentioned.

I love, love, love when you make a comment like this, because it shows how well you understand all of the characters.

AWWWW. *hides under a blanket with joy*

I like to think that later on, by the time we get to the end of RK, that there's some mutual grudging affection there, too, but I may be stretching my imagination a bit. ;)

I have to say, weird as it sounds, if either of them were to have some grudging affection at the end, it would be Saitou. I think that Kenshin truly respects Saitou, but I don't know if I think he ever actually likes him. I think Kenshin is too rigid in his philosophies to be able to get over the way Saitou acts enough to really like him. On the other hand, I think Saitou gets pleasure out of egging Kenshin (and Sano, for that matter) on, and I also think that he ends up with more respect for both of them after fighting against and beside them. Out of those feelings, I think he ends up with actual affection for them both, if grudging and way denied.

I'm REALLY glad you think I did such a good job ^_^ I loves me the Saitou Protectiveness!

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

Of COURSE not. And oh god, this is why I [heart] him so very hard. All of those ambiguous situations you mentioned.

You just know that Watsuki must have done this on purpose. It's too much of a coincidence to be otherwise. Or maybe we're just fangirls with overactive imaginations. *g*

I have to say, weird as it sounds, if either of them were to have some grudging affection at the end, it would be Saitou. I think that Kenshin truly respects Saitou, but I don't know if I think he ever actually likes him.

I totally agree; I was off about the "mutual" part. This is one of the reasons I like the relationship between Kenshin and Saitou; simply because it shows that Kenshin is not a saint. Saitou really irritates him, raises his hackles, makes him lose his temper; and although he respects him and sees him as an equal, I don't think that he ever really likes him or would willingly seek out his company. On the other hand, I think that this aspect of Kenshin's personality amuses Saitou and makes him like Kenshin as well as respect him. This may sound very weird, but in some ways, Saitou is a lot more laid back than Kenshin is.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Dude, it's SO true! I feel like Saitou is more laid back than Kenshin in a lot of ways, too. Morally, for example ;) Kenshin really is very serious when it comes to things that aren't oriented with domestic life, whereas I think Saitou gets a lot of amusement out of political stuff. I also like to see Kenshin get annoyed with Saitou because he doesn't allow himself to be annoyed at anyone else who's annoying (like Megumi). I think it shows his respect for Saitou, or his comfort level around him, that he lets himself be snappy. *giggles*

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

The only other person I can think of who really has the capacity to annoy Kenshin the way that Saitou does is Hiko; and their relationship is on a completely different level. Saitou just irritates Kenshin; Hiko has the capacity to reduce him to a 14-year old. *snigger*

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Hahah, that's SO true *giggles* They do have a completely different relationship. I think it's because while they both say things to annoy Kenshin on purpose, Hiko and Kenshin generally agree on how to handle stuff morally. Sometimes. I guess ^^;;