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

Chapter 18

(F/N) was still holding Soyo's hand when they stepped out onto the ship's deck. There, enemies swarmed like flies, and Okita took to it like a fish to water. Within seconds, his sword had slashed through one man's chest, and was moving onto another. (F/N) took a quick moment to admire his skill before sinking a kunai into a man's forehead. As before, she stayed by Soyo's side while he cleared the area. She wondered if he was grateful for the fact that her presence allowed him to enjoy the full benefits of the battlefield, and mulled over whether or not to ask him to treat her to dinner for her troubles later.

An enemy ran at them from behind, and (F/N) pulled Soyo out of the way before slashing his throat. She looked over her shoulder to see how Okita was doing, and that's when something fell from the sky.

It took her a moment to register what it was—a boy, perhaps Okita's age—with bright orange hair and an umbrella.

Bright orange hair and an umbrella...

In other words, he was a yato, and as (F/N) looked up, she realized there was a whole ship-full of his comrades in the sky above waiting to kill them.

Well, would you look at that? We're screwed.

At some point, Okita, covered in blood, had come to stand between them and the new problem. (F/N) put an arm out in front of Soyo, knife raised, and tried to calculate their chances of getting out of there alive.

"Oops, my bad," said the problem in a surprisingly childish voice. "I thought I could fly if I opened my umbrella, but it didn't work."

"Oi," Okita muttered, "what kind of punk-ass Sheeta are you?"

The problem, who (F/N) was growing increasingly certain was somehow related to Kagura, smiled.

"Don't give me that look. I'm one of your kind."

Your kind? Sougo isn't a yato, though that would actually explain a lot...

In a few swift motions, the mysterious man took out all the remaining enemy ninjas, punching, kicking, and stomping their heads into little puddles on the ground. Then, once he was done, he focused his attention on Sougo.

"Okay!" he announced. "I'm all done cleaning. Now I can fight without worry. You should hurry up and get rid of those things, too," he added, gesturing to (F/N) and Soyo, "you can't go all-out with them in the way, right?"

"Excuse me?" (F/N) snapped, "I'm a perfectly capable fighter, thank you very—"

Okita clamped a hand over her mouth.

"(F/N), you seriously—"

Suddenly, he stopped. (F/N) saw a split second of surprise in his eyes before he darted forward, and hit Soyo in the back of the neck. (F/N) rushed to catch her, tipping under her weight before lowering her to the ground, and glaring up at Sougo.

"What the hell?" she snapped. "What do you think you're—"

"Get her out of here."

"What?"

"Just go—now!"

(F/N) saw him glance over his shoulder, and followed his gaze. She didn't know what she expected to see there—perhaps more yato, or enemy ninjas, but the last thing she'd expected to see was Hattori Zenzou holding the Shogun's severed head.

~o0o~

"Zen...zou?"