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

Chapter 11

Her hair stick fell out, and tumbled to the ground. She looked down, and all of a sudden, she was back in front of the jewelry store, throwing her arms around Okita's neck, so happy he had given her a gift, and even happier she could make him blush.

She bent down to pick it up, and turned it over in her hand. Another image flashed in her mind—her sitting in her room with Okita's head on her shoulder, and his hand tightly clasped in hers.

Platonic. Completely platonic...

"No," she sighed, sliding the stick back into her hair. "It isn't, is it?"

~o0o~

The next morning, (F/N) awoke with the realization that she would have to face Sougo, and that was the last thing on earth she wanted to do.

She ate breakfast slowly, every bit of the luxurious meal tasting like sand in her mouth. By the time she was done, Kagura and Sarutobi had left, leaving only Soyo, and Nobume, the Princess's bodyguard.

By ten o'clock, (F/N) was forced to wait by the front door for Okita to arrive. She had Soyo and Nobume for company, but she was barely aware of their presence. How was she even supposed to talk to him? He was perceptive. He'd notice immediately if she was off, or putting on an act. She knew he'd tease her relentlessly if he figured it out...maybe she should just kill him? That would certainly be easier.

She heard footsteps on the ground, and a sharp intake of breath from Soyo.

"Brother!"

Wait a minute—brother?

"Ah, Soyo, is this one of your friends?"

That voice...it was so dignified. It had to be...

(F/N) turned her head, and sure enough.

It's the Shogun!

She froze, staring at the man before her. The Hitotsubashi were a noble family, so of course (F/N)'s parents had met him, but they were so overprotective of her. She hadn't even been allowed out of the house until recently, and even if she'd befriended the princess, she hadn't thought about actually meeting him.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot!" Soyo exclaimed. "This is (F/N)-chan! She's the new friend Kagura introduced me to the other day!"

"I see." The Shogun smiled. "Thank you for being a good friend to my little sister. I'm sorry I couldn't greet you earlier. I'm afraid I've been busy with work lately."

"Oh, no, it's fine!" (F/N) insisted. "I don't mean to keep you from work!"

"It's all right. Any friend of Soyo's is a friend of mine."

Oh, my god! He's the nicest human being on the planet!

"By the way," he continued, "what are you doing out here?"

"We're waiting for (F/N)-chan's bodyguard," Soyo explained.

"Yeah, we are, but he seems to be running a little late." (F/N) glanced outside, and, seeing her walking heart-attack still hadn't arrived, made a decision.

"That's fine," she said, "I can just walk myself home."

"Are you sure?" the Shogun asked. "I can have a guard walk with you, if you like."

She shook her head. "Thank you, but it's fine. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Bye, Soyo-chan! It was nice meeting you, Shogun-sama, Nobume-san!"

And with that, she bolted out the door. She couldn't avoid Okita for the whole day—she knew that. He would show up at her house later, and he would be pissed. Then they would fight, and then everything would go back to normal.

She nodded to herself. That's right. All she had to do was burn off some nervous energy, and she would be fine.

Still, she thought as she walked down the empty street, Sougo's bound to be pissed—and so are my parents. I wonder if they'll still be willing to let me out of the house after I ditched my bodyguard...

'Don't do anything stupid.'

Shut up! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself!

'I know you're strong, but so is whoever's committing these murders, and I don't want to see you get yourself killed, understand?'

I said, shut up!

She looked up. There was her house. It was right there. Sougo was an idiot. She could take care of herself.

That's when she noticed them. Mimawarigumi cars. Dozens of them.

Oh, no...

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

-Marguerite Partello