[now would also be a good point in the conversation to back off, probably, but Kaoru doesn't mind getting this kind of rise out of a person. it isn't quite as entertaining as Chizuru's frantic distress or as satisfying as Okita's hair-trigger temper, but he doesn't shy away from it. even at the loud sound of his fists hitting the table, Kaoru hardly seems fazed, continuing to finish his preparations in silence.
once everything is on the stove and on its way to being done, he turns back around, carefully wiping the kitchen knife on a towel that he had brought along with him. with a tone that's almost thoughtful:]
Then you should discuss it with the one who accepted the offer, shouldn't you? If you believe it to be the same as ending one's life, that person was the one who chose to slice open his stomach with the blade he was given. [his head cants to one side just a little.] But if the person is as good as dead either way, it wouldn't matter much to them, would it?
[ do you really think your shitty little kitchen knife is going to intimidate him COME AT HIM BRO...
But it's true that Kaoru manages to wring himself just in the spots that annoy him, finding the topics he hates and the things he hates about them and twisting them-- at least by now he can be sure that Kaoru is just doing it on purpose, which helps a little, but it's still aggravating as hell. ]
It's not just that. It's an issue of pride as well.
[ But apparently Kaoru doesn't get that. Why the hell would anyone who thinks of the ochimizu as a gift understand that, anyway? At least the other guys had been serious about it even if they agreed with it more than Shinpachi did, but the way Kaoru talks about it so casually really grinds his gears. If you die, then you die, then it's over-- that's the way it's supposed to be. Die as yourself. ]
But if you can talk about it so easily, then why don't you just tell me who you gave it to? [ It's not exactly a polite request, in case that still needs to be noted.. ]
he's got a knack with that, though; the whole "seeking out sore spots" thing. it's his #2 ranked skill, right under his ability to appear in the worst places at the worst times for everyone else. he leaves the first part unaddressed with little more than a scoff of a laugh. going into the whole BLAH BLAH PRIDE arguments are Kazama's bag, not his...
but that, wow. he really can't resist poking a bit of fun at Shinpachi now.]
What? I've practically given you his name already, haven't I...? Unless this is Nagakura-san's way of saying that there are so many useless people and invalids in the ranks of the Shinsengumi that you can't narrow it down to just one with that.
And at least it's true that he can make a guess. With the way Kaoru is saying it, it probably can't just have been some random rank-and-file soldier - why would he have wasted that on him, anyway? - but of course there's someone other than Sannan who hasn't been able to fight because of his health. It's more that Shinpachi didn't really want to think of it, considering Souji is the one who warned him about Kaoru to begin with and could have added an oh, by the way, he turned me into a rasetsu in the middle of that but didn't.
As far as he assumed, Heisuke was the only one among them here who should have been a rasetsu but wasn't, but.. if Souji, all this time--
Shit. How dense has he been? ]
... Souji.
[ And that makes it even more apparent the "gift" wasn't really a gift - otherwise the guy wouldn't have made Kaoru out to be bad news. God, Souji, you're supposed to mention this stuff though! Thanks, man.... ]
but yes, good, mission accomplished. he's quite pleased that he can bring even a little more misery to Okita's life just by casually mentioning something that iS KIND OF IMPORTANT that has kind of also... failed to be mentioned and all. wow, being secretive sure does have its drawbacks at times, doesn't it?]
With a body like that, Okita-san was at a dead-end anyway.
[ Being secretive doesn't mean shit when there's someone like Kaoru around to yell about all your secrets, right.. not that it matters a whole lot since the guy himself isn't here to confront about it anymore, but there's still a sting at just how much shit has gone completely over his head in this place. Some of his comrades being dead men walking, people turning out to be the other gender and then actually Little Shits all along.. Shinpachi himself knows that he's actually not all that dumb, but at this rate even he's going to have to question it. ]
Souji didn't seem very appreciative of your gift though. [ If he didn't already dislike Kaoru for being involved with the ochimizu and giving it to people whatsoever, he'd at least have that to cling on to.. ] He said you were trouble. Not really something someone'd say 'bout the person who "saved" them, right? If you can even call it that. [ He certainly won't... air quotes everywhere.. ]
[he's just here to help keep you losers honest with yourselves and each other okay that's his story and he's stickin to it.]
Okita-san has never been very appreciative of anything that I've done for him. [he says it in such a regretful tone, sad and uncertain like he has no clue in the world why that might be. a mystery...! who knows why Okita would be so bent out of shape literally every time their paths cross?
then, chiding:]
Please don't be so loud, Nagakura-san... There is no ulterior motive to speak of here.
[or rather, none he's gonna be talking about with Shinpachi.]
[ seriously, asking shinpachi not to be loud... you might as well ask rain to not be wet but okay ]
Like hell I'm gonna fall for that. [ But then on the other hand, there's the question of whether it's really worth getting into a battle (in the middle of the kitchen, mind you, he's not particularly looking forward to someone randomly wandering in only to find Shinpachi and Kaoru crossing swords.. or, well, sword and kitchen knife on top of the counter) over something like this. Maybe he can ask around and see if Hijikata or anyone else knows something more before he gets himself in head over heels.
He's a little smarter than he usually seems, after all. ]
[he should at least be awarded with an A for effort there okay...
but yes please don't get into a kitchen battle with a demon, he'd probably just chuck a pot of boiling water at Shinpachi and leap out the window or something and who wants to deal with that]
Oh? [he OPENED HIMSELF UP FOR THIS ONE:] I'm a little surprised. You're oblivious enough to miss something so large, but you can catch small things like that?
[ is that even a fight or an episode of hell's kitchen lbr
And GOD... god... Kaoru really had to go there, huh, the one leverage he has over Shinpachi that the guy really can't deny because he did just blindly believe Kaoru was an innocent woman all this time rather than a male rude little shit. No way to deny that one, he has too much pride to try to deny it even if he would be a good liar. So he obviously frowns. ]
"So large" my ass! [ Well, at least it's less improper for Shinpachi to talk like that now Kaoru's not a woman after all, huh. ] Everyone else thought you were a woman too! Even Sano when you caused trouble on that bridge!
[ And he's pretty sure his best friend is supposed to be the expert on the opposite sex here, so if he can't, then why should Shinpachi be able to.. ]
BUT WOW SHINPACHI... Kaoru actually stops what he's doing to turn around and look more fully, since he is literally on the verge of busting up after that.]
Is that an unusual thing for Harada-san? [how did Okita manage to catch it while everyone else floundered in confusion for ages okay. THAT SAID:]
Still, I wasn't referring to that. One of your fellow captains leaving behind their humanity is something large, isn't it? To think that the two of you have been here together for so long and you're only just now learning... [his shoulders rise and then fall in a sort of ho-hum gesture, but the vicious amusement is still very much present when he adds:] Well, I can see why it might be a struggle. Okita-san isn't very good at pretending that he isn't a beast to begin with.
[ THE SHINSENGUMI ARE A BUNCH OF DUMBASSES SOMETIMES, THAT'S WHAT.. especially when it comes to girls, seriously, have you seen the love confessions in the routes, Kaoru..
But yeah, that's another big thing he completely missed and he knows it. But it's just-- he hasn't even thought of how he could have missed it, technically rasetsu shouldn't be able to move a lot in the daylight, but Souji was up plenty of times during the day-- he was right there when everything with Kondou's death happened, when the two of them tried walking to the graveyard after.
Souji might be good at faking things, but.. faking that much? Fighting your body's urges so much it's not even noticable?
Whatever the reason is he missed it, that can wait. Telling off Kaoru first. Sounds like a plan. ]
Don't talk about Souji that way. [ He sure won't be the first to deny Souji is triggersword-happy, but to call him a beast.. ]
The real beast is the one going around offering that shit to people behind other people's backs to try and turn them into something else!
[ You know, like a certain person dressed like a girl in this room..... ]
[I THINK I MIGHT BE IN LOVE WITH YOU yeah they're definitely gold medalists when it comes to absolutely flopping at everything that has to do with feelings rather than swords, huh.
but yes, either way SHINPACHI used ANGRY RETORT! it's ineffective...]
You make it sound as though I held it to his lips until he drank it. As I have said, the only thing that I'm responsible for is pointing out the option and making an offer. The one who chose to take that option, the person who decided to become something else; that was Okita Souji and Okita Souji alone. [you can't pin this on him shinpoodles his hands are FREE OF BLOOD!! totally.
and then, because he can't keep his shitheaded comments to himself even if he tried:]
[ Yeah, but it's not like you can really expect to offer Souji a Bad Life Decision and not expect him to go for it... not that Shinpachi can use that as an argument out loud since it'd just make him the one who's ridiculing his comrades here, but come on, we all know it's true. ]
You should've stayed the hell out of things that don't concern you! You don't have anything to do with the Shinsengumi..! [ Sure, Chizuru does and Kodo does, but that doesn't mean all family suddenly gets an entry pass, sorry bro.. ] If anything, you're against us with how you interfered with Sano's job before!
[obviously he knows it's true or he'd have totally abandoned the prospect of tricking Okita into tripping down the Bad Life Choices stairs ages ago...
THAT SAID, Chizuru is involved which automatically means he's involved as far as he's concerned!! and he will state so plainly.]
Anything that has to do with my precious little sister concerns me. If I make things a little more difficult for those who keep Chizuru so close... well, that's just an unfortunate coincidence, isn't it?
[ UNFORTUNATE COINCIDENCE HIS ASS.. that's basically his immediate thought when he hears this since he doubts anything can be an "unfortunate coincidence" when it comes to such an annoying person.. ]
And you seriously think turning people into that's gonna make her feel any happier? [ That's exactly the point, Shinpachi.. but while he does know Kaoru has something (???) against the Shinsengumi, he doesn't figure out that it's more like he has something against his sister. ]
You're just gonna make your "precious little sister" feel worse!
you didn't figure out the Chizuru's misery thing though, and Kaoru can't entirely decide if he wants to let this loser in on that. Okita had been worth the effort since he was close to Chizuru, but he has no idea just how close Chizuru is to Shinpachi...]
Do you think so? [FEIGNING IGNORANCE IT IS.] I would think that she would be happy to know that someone she cares so greatly for wouldn't end up coughing his life away.
[ Spoilers Chizuru ends up being from the hidden Shinpachi route JOKE'S ON YOU, KAORU... ]
Yeah, because she'd obviously be happier knowing someone she cares for's gonna end up going crazy over blood? Stop jokin' around!
[ After all, it's what happened to all the rasetsu before, and even Sannan has been.. off... to put it lightly after taking the ochimizu. Sure, it hasn't happened to Heisuke yet, but it's only been a few weeks for him at best and Shinpachi is actually entirely worried it'll happen to him too given the track record.
And even though Souji didn't seem off here, it's not like they talked a whole lot either, so.. who knows.. ]
whatever, Shinpachi!! your anger fuels his little spiteful heart. he's still trying to at least sort of keep his act together... a little. a vague effort is there, okay, but it's starting to become very difficult!!]
How unkind to your teammate, Nagakura-san... I didn't know that you were the kind of person who would lose faith in the people you fight alongside so quickly.
[ Sorry, Shinpachi just takes these guilttrips a lot less personally than Chizuru, so he doesn't even start to feel bad at hearing those words - mostly because they're just not true and he knows it, not like he's going to let himself be swayed by Kaoru of all people. ]
Shut up! It's got nothing to do with him but with that junk and you know it! It'd happen to anyone..! [ God, urge to chuck or smash something rising.. do you still happen to have that bottle of ochimizu now... ]
[yes but it is not for you shinpoodles you can't have it!!]
Do you really think that's true? Many men have been unable to keep their minds, but there are some out there who have the willpower necessary to combat a rasetsu's madness... Don't you think a person like Okita Souji could manage that much?
[which is kind of the truth! he expects Okita to be able to outlast anyone with a weaker will, anyway, even if he thinks it's pretty inevitable that the onset of bloodlust will happen eventually. all the better for him, since he'll be able to enjoy Okita's struggle much longer if he doesn't give in right away. win-win!]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
once everything is on the stove and on its way to being done, he turns back around, carefully wiping the kitchen knife on a towel that he had brought along with him. with a tone that's almost thoughtful:]
Then you should discuss it with the one who accepted the offer, shouldn't you? If you believe it to be the same as ending one's life, that person was the one who chose to slice open his stomach with the blade he was given. [his head cants to one side just a little.] But if the person is as good as dead either way, it wouldn't matter much to them, would it?
no subject
But it's true that Kaoru manages to wring himself just in the spots that annoy him, finding the topics he hates and the things he hates about them and twisting them-- at least by now he can be sure that Kaoru is just doing it on purpose, which helps a little, but it's still aggravating as hell. ]
It's not just that. It's an issue of pride as well.
[ But apparently Kaoru doesn't get that. Why the hell would anyone who thinks of the ochimizu as a gift understand that, anyway? At least the other guys had been serious about it even if they agreed with it more than Shinpachi did, but the way Kaoru talks about it so casually really grinds his gears. If you die, then you die, then it's over-- that's the way it's supposed to be. Die as yourself. ]
But if you can talk about it so easily, then why don't you just tell me who you gave it to? [ It's not exactly a polite request, in case that still needs to be noted.. ]
no subject
he's got a knack with that, though; the whole "seeking out sore spots" thing. it's his #2 ranked skill, right under his ability to appear in the worst places at the worst times for everyone else. he leaves the first part unaddressed with little more than a scoff of a laugh. going into the whole BLAH BLAH PRIDE arguments are Kazama's bag, not his...
but that, wow. he really can't resist poking a bit of fun at Shinpachi now.]
What? I've practically given you his name already, haven't I...? Unless this is Nagakura-san's way of saying that there are so many useless people and invalids in the ranks of the Shinsengumi that you can't narrow it down to just one with that.
[not-polite "request", meet not-polite answer.]
no subject
And at least it's true that he can make a guess. With the way Kaoru is saying it, it probably can't just have been some random rank-and-file soldier - why would he have wasted that on him, anyway? - but of course there's someone other than Sannan who hasn't been able to fight because of his health. It's more that Shinpachi didn't really want to think of it, considering Souji is the one who warned him about Kaoru to begin with and could have added an oh, by the way, he turned me into a rasetsu in the middle of that but didn't.
As far as he assumed, Heisuke was the only one among them here who should have been a rasetsu but wasn't, but.. if Souji, all this time--
Shit. How dense has he been? ]
... Souji.
[ And that makes it even more apparent the "gift" wasn't really a gift - otherwise the guy wouldn't have made Kaoru out to be bad news. God, Souji, you're supposed to mention this stuff though! Thanks, man.... ]
no subject
but yes, good, mission accomplished. he's quite pleased that he can bring even a little more misery to Okita's life just by casually mentioning something that iS KIND OF IMPORTANT that has kind of also... failed to be mentioned and all. wow, being secretive sure does have its drawbacks at times, doesn't it?]
With a body like that, Okita-san was at a dead-end anyway.
no subject
Souji didn't seem very appreciative of your gift though. [ If he didn't already dislike Kaoru for being involved with the ochimizu and giving it to people whatsoever, he'd at least have that to cling on to.. ] He said you were trouble. Not really something someone'd say 'bout the person who "saved" them, right? If you can even call it that. [ He certainly won't... air quotes everywhere.. ]
So what kinda ulterior motives do you have?!
no subject
Okita-san has never been very appreciative of anything that I've done for him. [he says it in such a regretful tone, sad and uncertain like he has no clue in the world why that might be. a mystery...! who knows why Okita would be so bent out of shape literally every time their paths cross?
then, chiding:]
Please don't be so loud, Nagakura-san... There is no ulterior motive to speak of here.
[or rather, none he's gonna be talking about with Shinpachi.]
no subject
Like hell I'm gonna fall for that. [ But then on the other hand, there's the question of whether it's really worth getting into a battle (in the middle of the kitchen, mind you, he's not particularly looking forward to someone randomly wandering in only to find Shinpachi and Kaoru crossing swords.. or, well, sword and kitchen knife on top of the counter) over something like this. Maybe he can ask around and see if Hijikata or anyone else knows something more before he gets himself in head over heels.
He's a little smarter than he usually seems, after all. ]
You're just sayin' you're not gonna tell me, huh?
no subject
but yes please don't get into a kitchen battle with a demon, he'd probably just chuck a pot of boiling water at Shinpachi and leap out the window or something and who wants to deal with that]
Oh? [he OPENED HIMSELF UP FOR THIS ONE:] I'm a little surprised. You're oblivious enough to miss something so large, but you can catch small things like that?
no subject
And GOD... god... Kaoru really had to go there, huh, the one leverage he has over Shinpachi that the guy really can't deny because he did just blindly believe Kaoru was an innocent woman all this time rather than a male rude little shit. No way to deny that one, he has too much pride to try to deny it even if he would be a good liar. So he obviously frowns. ]
"So large" my ass! [ Well, at least it's less improper for Shinpachi to talk like that now Kaoru's not a woman after all, huh. ] Everyone else thought you were a woman too! Even Sano when you caused trouble on that bridge!
[ And he's pretty sure his best friend is supposed to be the expert on the opposite sex here, so if he can't, then why should Shinpachi be able to.. ]
no subject
BUT WOW SHINPACHI... Kaoru actually stops what he's doing to turn around and look more fully, since he is literally on the verge of busting up after that.]
Is that an unusual thing for Harada-san? [how did Okita manage to catch it while everyone else floundered in confusion for ages okay. THAT SAID:]
Still, I wasn't referring to that. One of your fellow captains leaving behind their humanity is something large, isn't it? To think that the two of you have been here together for so long and you're only just now learning... [his shoulders rise and then fall in a sort of ho-hum gesture, but the vicious amusement is still very much present when he adds:] Well, I can see why it might be a struggle. Okita-san isn't very good at pretending that he isn't a beast to begin with.
no subject
But yeah, that's another big thing he completely missed and he knows it. But it's just-- he hasn't even thought of how he could have missed it, technically rasetsu shouldn't be able to move a lot in the daylight, but Souji was up plenty of times during the day-- he was right there when everything with Kondou's death happened, when the two of them tried walking to the graveyard after.
Souji might be good at faking things, but.. faking that much? Fighting your body's urges so much it's not even noticable?
Whatever the reason is he missed it, that can wait. Telling off Kaoru first. Sounds like a plan. ]
Don't talk about Souji that way. [ He sure won't be the first to deny Souji is
triggersword-happy, but to call him a beast.. ]The real beast is the one going around offering that shit to people behind other people's backs to try and turn them into something else!
[ You know, like a certain person dressed like a girl in this room..... ]
no subject
but yes, either way SHINPACHI used ANGRY RETORT! it's ineffective...]
You make it sound as though I held it to his lips until he drank it. As I have said, the only thing that I'm responsible for is pointing out the option and making an offer. The one who chose to take that option, the person who decided to become something else; that was Okita Souji and Okita Souji alone. [you can't pin this on him shinpoodles his hands are FREE OF BLOOD!! totally.
and then, because he can't keep his shitheaded comments to himself even if he tried:]
Should I have asked his keepers first?
no subject
You should've stayed the hell out of things that don't concern you! You don't have anything to do with the Shinsengumi..! [ Sure, Chizuru does and Kodo does, but that doesn't mean all family suddenly gets an entry pass, sorry bro.. ] If anything, you're against us with how you interfered with Sano's job before!
no subject
THAT SAID, Chizuru is involved which automatically means he's involved as far as he's concerned!! and he will state so plainly.]
Anything that has to do with my precious little sister concerns me. If I make things a little more difficult for those who keep Chizuru so close... well, that's just an unfortunate coincidence, isn't it?
no subject
And you seriously think turning people into that's gonna make her feel any happier? [ That's exactly the point, Shinpachi.. but while he does know Kaoru has something (???) against the Shinsengumi, he doesn't figure out that it's more like he has something against his sister. ]
You're just gonna make your "precious little sister" feel worse!
no subject
you didn't figure out the Chizuru's misery thing though, and Kaoru can't entirely decide if he wants to let this loser in on that. Okita had been worth the effort since he was close to Chizuru, but he has no idea just how close Chizuru is to Shinpachi...]
Do you think so? [FEIGNING IGNORANCE IT IS.] I would think that she would be happy to know that someone she cares so greatly for wouldn't end up coughing his life away.
no subject
Yeah, because she'd obviously be happier knowing someone she cares for's gonna end up going crazy over blood? Stop jokin' around!
[ After all, it's what happened to all the rasetsu before, and even Sannan has been.. off... to put it lightly after taking the ochimizu. Sure, it hasn't happened to Heisuke yet, but it's only been a few weeks for him at best and Shinpachi is actually entirely worried it'll happen to him too given the track record.
And even though Souji didn't seem off here, it's not like they talked a whole lot either, so.. who knows.. ]
no subject
whatever, Shinpachi!! your anger fuels his little spiteful heart. he's still trying to at least sort of keep his act together... a little. a vague effort is there, okay, but it's starting to become very difficult!!]
How unkind to your teammate, Nagakura-san... I didn't know that you were the kind of person who would lose faith in the people you fight alongside so quickly.
no subject
Shut up! It's got nothing to do with him but with that junk and you know it! It'd happen to anyone..! [ God, urge to chuck or smash something rising.. do you still happen to have that bottle of ochimizu now... ]
no subject
Do you really think that's true? Many men have been unable to keep their minds, but there are some out there who have the willpower necessary to combat a rasetsu's madness... Don't you think a person like Okita Souji could manage that much?
[which is kind of the truth! he expects Okita to be able to outlast anyone with a weaker will, anyway, even if he thinks it's pretty inevitable that the onset of bloodlust will happen eventually. all the better for him, since he'll be able to enjoy Okita's struggle much longer if he doesn't give in right away. win-win!]