[The Sky is Linking Us all the Time] by rustedheart

Anime: Hakuouki

Protagonists: Saitou Hajime [斎藤 一], Yukimura Chizuru [雪村千鶴]

Genre: Romance, Historical, Supernatural, Tragedy (maybe)

Rating: T, may contain spoilers (Rated for mentions on violence, and maybe future HajimexChizuru stuff :P)

~Based on the original story by Otomate

.

*With special thanks to my beta-reader for my very first fanfiction, KuroNekoShoujo! ^^

(The usual disclaimer: No profits are intended. I do not own anything, except the writing of this fanfiction. P.S But I do hope to own Saitou Hajime from Hakuouki! :P)

'Even if the sun sinks, even if the stars flicker out,

The sky is linking us, all the time.'

Chapter One: A Dream of the Snowy Night

You appeared just like a dream to me.

The season has changed, and Nature takes another turn. The falling white cotton-balls are getting heavier and thicker, soon covering the whole of my panel window. The warmth from the cup of green tea in my hands is slowly diminishing. Is Otou-san okay? Does he have enough warm clothes for the winter? My father, Yukimura Kôdô, had lost contact with me a month ago. And the last letter I've received from him gave me no hints on his whereabouts. This explains my presence here in the capital city, Kyoto – a place I thought I would never set foot in.

Finding no meaning in going about circle of worry and the endless heaving of sighs, I proceeded outside and brought a little hope with me. Yes, I should not give up hope in searching for Otou-san.

"Excuse me; have you seen Kondou-sensei recently…?"

"He wears brown haori and is about a head taller than me. He is a sensei practicing medicine around here..."

As I continued my search into the inner parts of this street, I found myself encountering two hooligan-like men. Hooligan-like; am I correct in discriminating their appearance? Seeing the evil grins on their faces, I knew that they were up to no good; I did not even try asking them what they are going to do with me. I ran.

.

I have been panting non-stop. Obviously my disguise as a boy takes place only on the surface. How long has it been since I last ran like this? I cannot keep up with the required speed to escape anymore; I need to find some place to hide. Turning myself into the nearest alley, I hid my tiny figure behind the large basin, camouflaging in the darkness.

"Dammit, where did that brat run to?"

"He couldn't have gone far. I think he went inside here."

Their quickening footsteps made my heart beat louder as it accelerates. I hope my growing nervousness does not lure them here. However, the tension came to a halt as one of their bodies fell onto the white snowy platform – no, it is red now. I received the shock of my life as another two white-hair young men with crimson-red eyes are staring right back at me… and gave a monstrous laugh.

"Who are you? Or what are you?" I just blabbered the questions desperately, wanting to see the proof that they were still humans.

Oh my god, was that a growl - an animalistic growl? Their fangs have replaced their teeth, and one of them took an unusual predatory stance towards me. Likewise, I took out the wooden sword which Otou-san gave me as my form of defense. I mentally willed my wooden sword to be strong.

As he approached me and the distance between us closes, my back came to a stop against the wall. The swords' collision caused my wooden sword to leave my hand and land on the still-white platform. I thought that would be the end of me.

I closed my eyes and screamed.

.

"Saitou-kun, another scream came from that side again." Okita Souji, my patrol partner for the day reminded me.

"Yes, but this time the scream seems to be more feminine." The pitch of the scream is higher than the previous one. There were two different people involved.

We speedily arrive at that scene, and saw two Shinsengumi members who surrounded a young boy, who was wearing a pink haori. Is that a new fashion trend? I will not want to know. Judging by their white hair and protruding fangs, it is no doubt that they have drunk the medicine and paid their sanity for it. Having no need for second thoughts, my automatic reflex of swordsmanship came into effect.

.

I waited for the attack, but it did not come. I have only heard swinging of swords before everything came to a stop. I finally opened my eyes, and the first thing which caught my eyes was the now-red platform – except that it was not my blood, then whose blood was it…?

Supposedly to be the person who saved me, he has long purplish navy hair tied into a low ponytail with accompanied cloth headband and scarf. His solemn appearance exudes a sense of elegance. Most unique of all, he has a pair of very distinctive light-blue eyes that seems to glitter and stand out in this dark and lonely snowy night. But somehow, the silent exterior of his eyes gives a depth of deep sadness and perhaps, contains many untold stories which are engraved in his heart.

"Do we need to kill this boy? He witnessed everything. He may spread this to the villagers." the brown-hair man with emerald-green eyes on the left spoke. He looked very gentle, yet his words were quite provoking in a sense. My heart skipped a beat and turned to look at the guy beside him. I was attacked by monsters, saved by humans, and now I am going to be killed by humans? This is a total nightmare.

"You… Are you guys going to kill me?" I asked hesitantly, but almost unafraid. I wanted to believe that they are more rational than the human-monsters just now.

"By Shinsengumi standards, we should kill you. But by orders, we have to bring you back to the headquarters and let the Captain and Vice-captain decide what to do with you." My eyes were wide open, did he say Shinsengumi? It must be that organization. Either way, there was no room for negotiation; that was what he meant. The only thing I could say was:

"Thank you."

Our eyes met - my chocolate-brown eyes met his glitter-blue eyes, there was slight surprise in his eyes in response. My heart warmed up a little as I thought he smiled at me. But his face has remained expressionless the whole time…

"I merely did my job." Maybe he was being modest, but it was alright. Is this a dream? As he regained composure, he repeated; maybe to reassure me, "We will only kill you if the Captain and Vice-Captain give the order."

(I looked at the sky; it is still snowing. And I wondered what this dream will lead me to. So surreal… Just like how the man's eyes actually glittered in this dark and lonely snowy night.)

'Someday we will visit – meetings and partings,

All in one moment.'

.

Author's Note:

This is my very first fanfiction, so please go easy on me :P

Do drop me a review if you like! :D

Thank you for reading!