#▹ ic ⌜ ❀ ⌟ first division captain of the shinsengumi ¸ okita souji.

[hanahaken]

Hajime held out the dango to Okita, while his expression remains stoic, it was clear the treat made him think of the other caption. He didn't offer a single word, but a nod - while nibbling on his own.

  ❛ Areh? It's unusual to see you with something so sweet, Hajime-kun. I half expected this to secretly be tofu. ❜ Nevertheless, he accepts the offered treat with a quick bow of his head in gratitude and appreciation, and bites into the first of the soft ball, tugging it off the skewer between his teeth. ❛ If you think this will make me go easy on you during training later, though, you're going to be disappointed. ❜

  Though he teases — after all, Hajime would never ask him to hold back — Souji recognizes the gesture for what it is: a thoughtful token. Mouth closing over the second dango on the skewer, he slides it off and gives a pleasant hum as he chews.

  ❛ It's delicious. ❜

[hanahaken]

❝Do you believe in the thread of fate, Okita-san?❞ Tsukiko asks, sitting next to him as they look up at the night sky. To think, of all her work as a doctor, it's come to this. Still, it could always be worse, she supposes. ❝I'd like to think it lead me to you.❞ Putting her hands together in front of her, she tries to hide the smile behind her hands.

          He hears her coming long before she sits but doesn’t acknowledge her presence until she speaks to him. Brows knit and a sharp gaze cuts through the dim light to scan her own for some hint as to the direction of her questioning. If there’s anything he believes in, it’s fate. With absolute certainty, he knows it was fate that brought him to Kondō’s dojo, brought him to Kondō to get strong for him, to fight for his sake. Hell, it was Kondō who taught him that everything happens for a reason.

                                               So what’s the reason for these lungs, then?

          ❛ Oh? ❜     A brow quirks and he grins, tilting his head to peer at her, taking in her hidden smile. Happy to be fated to meet him of all people? A laugh, a scoff, escapes his lips.     ❛ If that's the case, fate must not like you much. ❜     //     @lacedmagic  ♡

[hanahaken]

@hitofuriken​ hates me (for good reason) :  「...」 

          ❛ Hold onto this for me, would you? ❜     He doesn’t take no for an answer. Hijikata’s poetry is officially in Saitō’s hands. May he rest in peace whenever the Vice Commander finds it.

[hanahaken]

@nigiyakaken​ TATAKAI plays bass boosted in the background

          ❛ Ehhh, so you’re cheating then. Unfair ~ ❜     He sips at his boba again, watching with feigned disappointment as Shinpachi’s summoned Noise Erase the last handful of Players in the immediate vicinity.

          ❛ Well, not that it matters much. I guess it’s only fair that I give you a bit of a handicap, anyway. ❜     Souji’s tone is teasing, but he’s anything but joking. There’s a reason his point score is consistenly as high as it is: he’s really good at his job. He might have shown up late to this particular show, but he’ll more than make up for it later.     ❛ How many did you get? You did at least leave me some, right? ❜

[hanahaken]

THIS WAS IT. THIS WAS GOING TO BE HIS TIME TO WIN. Arms pressed against the wall to trap the other between. He wasn't going to win this time! But it's the finger under his chin from the other which already summons his blush. NO! THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GO THIS WAY! Souji leans in, and presses the kiss to his lips which forces him to fall back and drop all confidence he had, dark blush spreading as he looks up to that smirk, slamming his fist down. " DAMN IT! " / GAY CHICKEN GAY CHICKEN

          In truth, he’s rooting for Shinpachi. His determination to win this contest is as admirable as it is fun to watch it crumble at the slightest hint of a challenge.

          Which is why when he finds himself trapped between the building’s wall and a wall of muscle he’s genuinely surprised —— at first. The grin that spreads as he untucks his arms from his haori sleeves to tilt Shinpachi’s jaw is nothing less than predatory, and it only spreads further against the second division captain’s lips when he leans in to claim them, maintaining eye contact for maximum effect.

          And, oh, is it ever effective. He all but roars with laughter as the other man hits the ground, bright red and cursing him. His laughter is broken up by a slightly - longer - than - usual coughing fit —— that Souji entirely refuses to acknowledge, of course —— before it dies down and is poorly concealed in further chuckles.

          ❜ You’re getting better at this. That might have been your best try yet. ❜     He turns, waving over his shoulder before tucking his hands back into his sleeves and gleefully hop - skipping away.     ❛ Still not quite there, though. Maybe next time, Shinpachi - san ~ ❜     //     @nigiyakaken  ♡

[hanahaken]

Kondo smiles, ruffling the other's hair in approval.

          His smile, uncharacteristically soft, spreads in an instant with an ease that no other can conjure from him. Warmth blooms in his chest, a blossoming tree branching from his heart and spreading through him, filling him with so many petals he feels he might burst. And then Kondō withdraws his hand and the tree withers, branches petrifying in his lungs, dead flowers in his throat, choking him as much as his illness does. As short-lived as the cherry blossoms he thinks himself as. As short-lived as he will be.

          But he is no cherry blossom in the spring, living and dying beautifully as it rushes through its life. No, if anything he is like the camellia, giving everything desperately to bloom through the snow before the entire flower simply falls off, dead, a stain of red petals on pure white. How long before his body, like the camellia, simply and suddenly ceases?

          Kondō tells him to hurry and get better so that he can come back and Souji laughs and nods. I’m feeling better every day! he tells him. I’ll be back before you know it. Somehow both of them know it isn’t true, but they keep up the pretense for both their sakes. Kondō had told him once: you can’t outrun destiny just because you’re terrified of it. Yet here, now, both try to outrun this fate because denial is easier than the truth they’re both fleeing from that Souji will not see the end of the war.

          I’ll visit again, Kondō tells him as he rises to leave. I’ll be waiting, Souji replies.

blows a kiss for @shinsenmibu ♡

[hanahaken]

no one. not a single word. not even a drop of a pin. "souji , why do you smell like /that/?" no context. none. whatsoever.

               shows up late to the party with sake and ozōni // @miburoni

          ❛ Why don’t you ask Shinpachi - san ? I’m sure he’d love to tell you all about the mess he dragged me into in his quest for ozōni —— assuming he  can remember. ❜     This is what he gets for leaving them unattended on New Years. And this is what Souji gets for agreeing to accompany Shinpachi. Mistakes were made, no one is happy about it... except maybe Shinpachi himself.

[hanahaken]

          ❛ People like you and me, who have nothing, feel a strong attachment to what they gained. I am attached to the only treasure I have — I’ll never leave Kondou - san’s side. The last thing I want is for him to hate me. I would rather die than to see him sad. ❜     Melancholy drips from every word of Souji’s abnormally candid tenor. Perhaps it’s because of Ryunosuke’s unique insight into his heart stemming from similar experience, but something about the boy’s honesty made him feel the need to reciprocate it.           ❛ I don't know who is more fortunate: me, who has already met someone so important — ❜     Souji looks at him and sees far too much of himself reflected back. He hates it, and yet something about it is strangely comforting. He sighs,     ❛ — or you, who have yet to meet one? ❜                                                       ▬▬ι═══════ﺤ  @shinsenmibu

[hanahaken]

@yugencia​​ / Toudou Heisuke said : ❝ why are you dressed like a sad silk trader? ❞

          ❛ Ehhh? So that’s what you think? ❜     Though  a  trademark  smirk  curls  the  corners  of  Souji’s  lips,  the  eyes  that  stare  down  his  nose  at  the  eighth  division  captain,  narrowed  nigh  to  pinpoints,  hold  none  of  their  usual  teasing  humor.  The  instantaneous  realization  on  Heisuke’s  face  that  he  had,  just  maybe,  made  a  mistake  in  his  choice  of  words  does  not  go  unnoticed,  but  it’s  too  late.  The  damage  is  done.  A  thumb  pushes  at  the  guard  of  his  katana,  sliding  the  blade  up;  an  obvious  threat.  Heisuke’s  fate  is  sealed.

          ❛ And here I thought it was quite stylish when Kondou-san was wearing it. ❜     An  ill-timed  cough  had  drawn  the  attention  of  the  Shinsengumi’s  chief  who,  in  his  very  Kondou - like  persistence  despite  Souji’s  stubborn  declaration  of  being  perfectly  fine  and  that  the  chief  was  simply  worrying  too  much,  had  insisted  Souji  at  least  take  his  haori  for  extra  warmth  if  he  wasn’t  going  to  go  rest.  As  if  he  could  ever  refuse  Kondou.  Still,  he  couldn’t  deny  he  appreciated  the  extra  layer  and  had  perhaps  even  looked  a  little  proud  to  be  wearing  it.

          ❛ Hey, Heisuke... did you know an enemy of Kondou-san is an enemy of the Shinsengumi? As the sword of the Shinsengumi, it’s my pleasure to cut down any who would oppose — ah? What’s the matter? Why are you backing away?❜     Souji  lets  out  a  bark  of  laughter  before  clicking  his  sword  back  into  its  sheath  and  crossing  his  arms  across  his  chest.  The  lesson  had  been  learned;  there  was  no  need  to  tease  him  further.     ❛ What are you so afraid of? It’s not like you’re an enemy of the Shinsengumi . . . right? ❜

[hanahaken]

          ❛ If this is all you have to give — ❜     Pivot, parry, strike. His bokutō darts out in one thrust, two, three, and with that final display of Mumyo-ken, the match is over. His laugh is humorless as he returns the wooden sword to his side.     ❛ — then I could beat you any time of the day with my hands tied. ❜                                                       ▬▬ι═══════ﺤ  @ibakeishi

[hanahaken]

Hajime can tell something's amiss when there's an angry air from Vice-Commander when he leaves the room where Souji is partaking in tea. His deep blue eyes flit between Souji and the retreating back of the Vice-Commander and enters the room, unfazed by the "smell." ❝Souji,❞ his voice is curt, plain, and then he sighs. ❝Did you do something again?❞

          ❛ You know, contrary to popular belief, Hajime-kun, I’m not actually the biggest problem here. ❜     An irritated sigh passes his lips and he casts yet another glare at Hijikata’s back before turning it on Saitō who is, as per usual, unfazed by it.     ❛ I got dragged into the idiot trio’s New Years plans. This, ❜     he gestures to himself with the hand not holding his tea cup, clearly indicating the scent,     ❛ is entirely Shinpachi-san’s doing. Ask him what happened. ❜

@hitofuriken

[hanahaken]

He doesn't remember how many he's had to drink, he can't even remember how he got there. There was something about tofu and next he knew, there was another against him rambling on about something else. Both too far gone. Maybe more than the top ranked members should probably be. He wouldn't remember their current snuggled up position as he takes another drink. Unfortunate to those around him that any future teasing wouldn't faze him, he wouldn't even be able to recall such events. / Saito

          It was a rare occurrence indeed when the captain of the first division drank enough to get drunk; a lack of appetite often leaves him with little desire to do more than sip his sake. Maybe it was that he wa feeling better than usual, or maybe it was simply that it was a good night. Who could really say? The reason didn’t really matter when the result was ending up in a tangled mess on the tatami with the third division captain.

          What had begun as slurred flirtations and sleepily leaning against Hajime’s shoulder had ended with a highly inebriated, half-conscious Souji draping himself over the younger man’s back. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the pair toppled over and, drunk as they were, didn’t rise again. Instead, Souji had simply shifted to better be the big spoon.

          “Big spoon” being, of course, a very loose term. In truth, Hajime ended up being little more than a human hug pillow, with Souji’s head on his shoulder, arms around his middle, and leg thrown over the one of his own that had come free of his kimono. When he would wake, it would be to Souji’s cheshire grin staring back at him and the playful teasing of the rest of the captains throughout the rest of the week.

@shinsenmibu

[hanahaken]

⌜ @shinsenmibu​​  ❀  hijikata-san ⌟ ▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

❝ SOUJI! ❞   There's an aggressive yell and suddenly, he's running out from the room, aiming to catch up to him and already knowing who the culprit of the crime was.  ❝ Enough of your games! Where is it?! ❞   He knows the other has to know what he's talking about, his haiku, once again missing and Souji HAD to of been the culprit.

          Ah, there it is: the telltale sign that he’s been caught. At the first sound of the shout of his name, Souji glances back over his shoulder, a cheshire grin spreading the instant sharp green eyes catch the ire painting the vice-commander’s face. Crossing his arms, he tucks his hands inside his sleeves and subtly hiding the book inside the pocket of fabric as well and putting on his best innocently confused expression before he turns to face Hijikata.

          ❝ Areh? Hijikata - san sure is loud this morning. It’s still so early that most of the men are asleep and the Demon Vice-Commander is making this much commotion ... ❞     He clicks his tongue, shaking his head in disapproval.     ❝ Ah —— ❞     A heavy, borderline dramatic sigh passes his lips as if he’s suddenly realized something and resigned himself to some horrible inconvenience.     ❝ Everyone’s going to be so tired during rounds today from being woken up so suddenly ~ I hope they don’t hold it against you ~ ❞

          He allows a little chuckle to escape his lips, enjoying himself far too much to hide it and, he’s certain from the look on Hijikata’s face, making the entire situation significantly worse and thus even funnier.     ❝ Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Did something happen? If you’d like, I’ll lend you my assistance — in return for some manju from that new shop that just opened, of course. ❞

[hanahaken]

TAGS / IC

▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     first division captain of the shinsengumi ¸ okita souji.

▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     open starter : mutuals only. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     closed starter. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     replies. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     answered.

▹   THREAD     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     URL  ¸ MUSE   :   001.

misc. verses ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     free form ¸ undetermined. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     free form ¸ crack. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     free form ¸ dash commentary.

no romance route(s)     reimeiroku / kyoto winds / edo blossoms ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     first round! vs : the ghosts of our ambition. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     second round! vs : the fruits of our ambition. ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     third round! vs : the consequences of our ambition.

souji romance route     kyoto winds + edo blossoms ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     final round! vs : a wish on a thousand paper cranes.

au verse     sweet school life ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     rematch! vs : the springtime of our youth.

A second year student from the kendo club who loves making fun of people. Due to his weak constitution since he was young, he took up kendo to train himself. Another reason was due to guidance from Isami Kondo, whom he looks up to as an elder brother. Adversely, he is sworn enemies with Toshizo Hijikata. His latest obsession is smartphone photography and image editing.

au verse     the world ends with you ▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     rematch! vs : the reapers’ black wings.

verse blurb tba

▹   IC     ⌜ ❀ ⌟     rematch! vs : au verse.