Trying to Kill Each Other Doesn't Count as Flirting (or Does it?)

Chapter 18

(F/N) had always wondered what it would be like the day they saw each other again. She'd imagined yelling at him before throwing her arms around his waist. She'd imagined him apologizing, and the two of them catching up over snacks. She'd imagined sneaking out to train with him after dark, even when that stopped being a realistic part of their future.

She'd never imagined they would reunite on a burning ship as Zenzou stood before an army of yato with the Shogun's head in his hands.

Her voice, thin and trembling, carried over the ship, and the moment he looked down, his breath caught in his throat.

"(F/N)? What are you—"

"Shut up!"

She didn't want to believe it. Sure, Zenzou was what one would call a 'free spirit,' but he wouldn't do anything like this, right?

But she had to believe the evidence right in front of her. Shigeshige was dead—snuffed out like a candle—and it was all Zenzou's fault.

I want him dead.

Without thinking, (F/N) reached for her kunai, and let one fly. He knocked it away easily—of course he did—but she kept throwing, one after another. A scream tore from her throat, but before she could throw the last one, a firm hand wrapped around her wrist.

"(F/N)-chan, that's enough."

(F/N) looked up to see Sougo standing there, holding her back. His expression hadn't changed in the least, and something about that caused a surge of anger in her chest.

"Let me go!" she snapped. "Let go of me—Sougo—let go!"

He grabbed her other wrist before she could claw at his face. "(F/N), calm down—"

"No! I can't calm down! He—"

"Listen to me! It's dangerous here! Take the princess, and run! Leave with the others! Just—"

"No! I am not leaving! I'm going to stay here, and cut off his head before he can so much as—"

Another explosion shook the ship. (F/N) stumbled backwards, and before she could regain her balance, Sougo let go of her wrists, and pulled her tight against his chest.

"Please, (F/N), listen to me for once in your goddamn life."

(F/N) froze. Sougo's arms were engulfing her entire frame, his face buried in the crook of her neck. It was so warm, so comforting, but something was wrong, and it took her a moment to figure out what.

Sougo was shaking.

(F/N) raised her hands to clutch the back of his haori, but the moment her fingers brushed the fabric, he pushed her away, and turned back to the army of yato. (F/N) wanted to join him. Every bone in her body screamed for her to do so, but in the end, she lifted Soyo into her arms, and ran.

Because how could she say no to that?

~o0o~

Running with Soyo in her arms was more difficult than (F/N) had anticipated. Her feet dragged on the ground, and her breath came out in short, painful gasps, made worse by the smoke, but she didn't dare slow down, because if she did, she wasn't sure she would be able to keep on running.

'Please, (F/N), listen to me for once in your goddamn life.'

She screwed her eyes shut.

Sougo, if you die, I swear I'm gonna follow you to the afterlife, just so I can kill you again.

With the escape vessels in view, (F/N) finally began to slow down. She could see Rotten Maizou in the distance, shouting orders to a group of retainers. (F/N) stepped past him, and carried Soyo to one of the pods, setting her down gently inside.

"(F/N)-san!" Maizou shouted, "What happened? Where's Okita-san—"

"Sougo is fine," (F/N) said, partly to him, mostly to herself. "He stayed behind to cover our escape. I need to go help him—"

She moved to leave, but before she could, Maizou stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

"No, (F/N)-san!" he snapped. "We need to leave now! If we don't, the ship is going to blow!"

"It'll be fine! I need to—"

Before she could finish her sentence, there was a massive explosion on the other end of the ship—right about where Okita was supposed to be.

No!

(F/N) tried to step forward—run to where Okita was—but before she could, two retainers took her arms, forcing her backwards.

"No!" she shouted. "I need to go! I need to help him! I can't...I can't..."

I can't lose him like I lost my parents...like I lost Shigeshige-sama.

I can't stand to lose anyone else...

But there was nothing she could do. She was bruised, and exhausted, and out of weapons. As much as she fought, and kicked, and bit, she was soon pulled back into an escape pod, and forced to sit there, numb, as everything fell apart around her.

This can't be happening...She dug her fingers into her leg. I can't lose him...this can't be happening...that stupid idiot...I never thought...

Maybe I should have taken Soyo-chan's advice, after all.

She stood up, and turned towards the escape pod's tiny window, ready to take one last look at the ship before saying goodbye to it forever, and that's when she saw it—a lone figure staggering out of the smoke and flames.

No...it can't be...is that...

"Wait!"

She grabbed the handle, throwing her weight against the door until it burst open. She heard Maizou shouting at the retainers to stop the engines as she jumped outside, feet hitting the deck in a run.

"Sougo!"

He looked up, blinking at her through a veil of blood. (F/N) didn't waste a single second, and flung her arms around him. Tears pricked her eyes, and, as he wrapped her in his embrace, his legs gave out, sending them tumbling to their knees.

"What're you getting so worked up for?" he asked, voice dry and cracked from the smoke. "Did you really think I wouldn't be coming back? Stupid girl..."

She buried her face in his chest, listening to the soft thump, thump, thump of his heart, and a sob tore at her throat.

IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou.

But she was crying too hard to even speak.

Author's Note: Hello there! Thank you so much for reading this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, please remember to vote! Thanks!

-Marguerite Partello