Okita snarled as he held his katana to the men's throats. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Yocchan and his friends just stood there, unable to move or speak. One collapsed on his rear end, everyone paralyzed by the brush with death and the fact that the manslaying, sadistic police officer Okita Sougo was their greatest rival. Their first encounter with the Shinsengumi captain etched a permanent mark in their memories-the day he defeated and took away all their rhinoceros beetles. The ruthless police officer had earned a notorious reputation in the streets of Kabukicho since then.

Pleased with himself for instilling fear into Kagura's merry band of servants, Okita scoffed. "Don't embarrass yourself in front of your queen now. There's a time and place for pissing and shitting."

"N-no way! Your Majesty!"

"Is he your..."

"We didn't know!"

"That's right," Okita clarified. "If you want to get near China, you'll have to go through me. Of course, that means you're going to die. Who wants to die first?"

"Aaagh!" The men shouted in unison. They all turned and scrambled into the street, knocking over food carts and people in their haste.

"Oh, look who we have here. It's Gian from Doraemon," Okita jeered as he pointed his katana at the only suitor who remained, surprised he was courageous enough to hold his ground against certain death. Looking at Yocchan's hard-featured mug, he wondered what Kagura saw in him. Certainly, I'm better looking, earn better income, better at everything.

"Y-you think I'm scared of you, Shogunate dog?" Yocchan's voice trembled. Hoping his urethral sphincter didn't fail him, he gathered what little courage he had left to stand up to Okita.

"So, you want to die first. You've been warned, Gian." Okita aimed at his neck and lunged, katana ready to mince meat.

"Aaagh! Please don't kill me! I won't bother Kagura anymore!" Yocchan shrieked as he was mere inches away from being headless.

Okita lowered his sword and let Yocchan run off. "Get out of here," he commanded as he kicked Yocchan's backside while he was scurrying to leave.

Sheathing his sword, the sadist cop turned around to find Kagura standing at a safe distance. A trace of shock lingered on her beautiful face. He watched her edge closer, her hair jewelry glinting in the sunlight, halter top framing her milky white bare shoulders, her ample breasts swelling beneath her bodice. Her figure-fitting dress made him ache to trace his fingers over the curves of her body, yet he was mildly vexed that she was wearing something so revealing in public. That much skin exposure should only be for his eyes to see.

"Not that I care or anything, but are you mad at me?" She asked.

Okita noted the concern on Kagura's face. It was amazing how she could act so tsundere while worrying about his well-being. He searched her eyes. Eyes so blue and honest that they never betrayed an emotion; so blue and honest that they encouraged him to be more communicative about his feelings. Yes, I'm mad. Mad that I looked like a possessive boyfriend, mad that I looked like I felt threatened by those buffoons. "No, I'm not mad," he lied. Sensing her body relax, Okita wanted to scold his...special lady? Lady friend? Dating partner? "What have you been doing, woman?"

His tone felt accusatory. What had she been doing? I let other guys pay for my lunch. And wrapped them around my finger. A pang of guilt hit Kagura. And another.

"Six dudes all at once? You've really outdone yourself this time."

And another. But his accusation quickly replaced Kagura's twinge of guilt with irritation. "I didn't do anything wrong!" She glowered. "It's not my fault they find me un-ugly!"

"Why are you dressed up then?"

Kagura turned around in a huff and crossed her arms over her bounteous chest. "Because you called me ugly," she fumed.

Okita blinked. When had he ever call her ugly? Oh, right. His lips curved into a smile. "I knew someone was watching me last night. It was you," he chimed, remembering the strange feeling that a pair of eyes were on him while he was listening to his men argue last night.

Unamused, Kagura only let out a huff.

"Hey, don't give me that face. I only said that because," the samurai paused. "Because I didn't want anyone else to like you." That made Kagura slightly drop her shoulders. "I wanted to invite you. That's why I suggested my division to party at Otose-san's, so I could just go upstairs to ask you out." It was a half-truth, because it was more like threatened than suggested when his men complained about the bar being too small.

Kagura turned her head a little to glance at him over her shoulder. She missed Okita showing up at their door last night. It was probably when she went out for a run.

"All I got was danna berating me about how to treat a woman properly."

"Well, screw you. You still haven't said it," Kagura spat.

"Say what?" Okita was confused, and curious at how she can go from apologetic to furious at the drop of a hat. He also noticed that they were getting looks from people around, but he didn't care.

Kagura only huffed once more.

"I'm sorry."

"Hmph!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

"Hmph!"

"I...you're beautiful."

Looking down, she bit her lip and smiled a little. "You mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it." He answered with no pause, no hesitation.

Turning around, Kagura beamed a smile that could light up the town. "How beautiful?"

"Exquisitely beautiful. You-take-my-breath-away kind of beautiful," Okita replied, trying to find more words. "The most beautiful character in this anime."

Kagura smiled, even though she disagreed, because the most beautiful character was her mother.

"I'm beginning to think you're a magician, because when I look at you, everyone else disappears."

"Okay. You can stop now. That pickup line sucks."

"I'd tap that ass."

"Seriously, just stop!"

There was silence for a while as Kagura made an angry face and Okita smirked from his own joke, and then they burst into laughter. Pure hearty, belly-rippling laughter.

Okita watched Kagura's laughing subside. He traced the outline of her lips with his eyes, and wondered what it would feel like to press his own against them. Her fiery hair matched her Chinese red dress. That was her color, red. Her essence was fire-warm, powerful, proud, spontaneous. Remembering her sensitivity to sunlight, Okita grabbed Kagura's parasol that she absent-mindedly dropped on the ground and handed it to her.

"Six dudes," he muttered while giving Kagura a displeased glare.

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"You could've said you have a boyfriend," he grumbled, glancing away as he frowned.

"Hmm? What did you say?" The redhead asked because his response was a barely audible mumble.

"Nothing. Come on." Okita gently nudged the small of Kagura's back with his hand, guiding her to walk beside him. The gentle pressure of his fingertips against her skin sent a shiver down her spine.

"Where are we going?"

"You had to refuse that pack of sukonbu. I'll get you a new one."

Walking in a comfortable silence, Kagura smiled at Okita, and slipped her hand into his.

-0-

"Anego, I want to show you something!"

It was eight o'clock in the morning. Kagura barged in the Koudoukan Dojo, rushing past Shinpachi, who was about to leave for work. This time, she showed up with a huge smile on her face and no dark circles under her eyes.

"What is it Kagura-chan?"

"Come with me!"

Kagura took Tae to an internet cafe. They picked a computer and went to the social network everyone was using.

"We were just official yesterday and he already updated his relationship status!" Kagura was grinning with glee as she navigated the website to visit Okita's profile.

Tae looked at the recent updates on Okita's profile. His display photo was an image of him and Kagura, and his cover image was a rabbit photographed at night. "In a relationship." Tae read out his relationship status. "Wow, Kagura-chan. It worked out perfectly in the end."

Kagura giggled.

They returned to Kagura's home feed and saw that Okita had published a new post. It was a photo of her from yesterday, dress and makeup and all. The caption read: "Hit the jackpot in the girlfriend lottery."

Both girls gasped.

"What a proud boyfriend," Tae remarked. "Kagura-chan, he's showing you off."

"Well, we did have dinner with his division last night. He had his arm around my waist the whole time. How clingy," Kagura cheered.