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[It's such a nice day out that Okita has decided to take the House 50 pets for a walk. Around mid-morning after he finishes his training, Okita can be found wandering around the village with the yellow chocobo Tammy in tow. And on her back? A disgruntled Saizou, wishing he could be down from the heathen bird. Tammy doesn't seem to care since Okita keeps plying her with treats to ensure she follows.

As he walks, he'll open the journal and turn on the video, showing him and the bird in the background.]

It's such a nice day out~

I wonder if everyone's in school or if they're on break~?

Are all the New Feathers settled in? If anyone would like a tour around town today, I'll be out with Saizou and Tammy~ Dog, unfortunately, can't take walks. Poor thing. But! That's okay~ He's happy at home. Come say hello! I really want to meet all of you.

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[At some point, once Okita's away from his house, Homura makes sure to cross his path. It'll be the first time they've spoken after yet another awkward experiment, although from Homura's perspective, this one has been less jarring. Seeing Okita as a son is quite different than being in love with him, so perhaps this time it will be easier to reconnect with him. It helps that Okita seems to be in a particularly good move, likely due to the arrival of a certain New Feather.]

Okita. How are you doing this afternoon? [He grins a bit at the bird, remembering Tammy quite well.] I hope you have a firm hold on her today.

[When Homura steps into the path, Okita pauses slightly. It's easier to see him again in a way, but also a bit harder. After all, this is the man that Ayumu spent over a week thinking was her husband. And he spent the time thinking he was his father.

His father...who died because of him. But it isn't Homura's fault and it isn't like he knows. Okita was very careful not to tell anyone about his dreams.]

Hello, Homura-san. [The bird warks over his shoulder and Okita reaches up, petting her beak.] She's quite well behaved, I'll have you know. We're on a walk. Would you like to join us?

[No, but Homura suspects. The dreams affected everyone, after all, down to their behavior. Even if Okita carefully kept the contents of those nightmares secret, that he too had been plagued by them is simply the natural assumption.]

Less so when I first met her. You had left Ayumu to catch the creature on her own.

[Which had been fortunate for Homura, in the end. But that isn't the point.]

If your company doesn't mind. You seem to have quite the parade going here.

[He laughs at that memory, but Tammy seems confused, warking and nudging Okita for another handful of food.]

It was a good day, I think. For everyone.

[Pulling a few more greens out of the bag at his side, Okita holds them up to encourage her to keep walking.]

Oh, I don't think they mind at all. It's good to see you again.

I suppose that might depend on your definition of good. I don't think Ayumu enjoyed the chase so much.

[But that is little more than Homura's guess, and he can't argue that the day had been a good one for him.]

[He grins at Okita's assessment of the animal's opinions, then nods slightly at the other man's sentiment.]

You as well. I've gathered you've been busy as of late, with your new arrivals.

[But it got her out of the house and introduced to more people, so it's all good. Souji just smiles and leaves that tidbit to himself.]

I've been a bit busy yes.

[He tempts Tammy forward and starts walking again. He doesn't want Homura to see the expression on his face as it turns a little sad.]

It's wonderful to see them all again.

[Homura doesn't see it, but he doesn't need to see it. He's spoken to Okita enough in person to know that the man turns away when he wishes to hide.]

Do you truly believe that? Or is there something tainting your joy at being reunited?

[You learn too quickly.]

I do.

[Taint his joy? Oh... Well, there is, but it isn't anything to be spoken about.]

Always in the habit of prying, aren't we? I wonder why.

[Well, he's had centuries to develop the skills?]

Because there was a time when I wasn't in this habit--and it cost me dearly.

You do have the option of telling me what's on your mind, you know. Since I am not one of those people from your home, you might find the release beneficial.

[8( Damn you!!!! orz]

...It isn't something that should be told. I'm sorry, Homura-san.

[Because it is something that even he isn't sure of. Yamanami's betrayal... Leaving the Shinsengumi could only mean one thing. It would explain Heisuke's strange behavior and so many other things. But nothing can tell him how the others are handling it, or if they've said anything to each other.

Okita falls quiet for a moment and Saizou huffs at Homura and Okita in turn, sensing the tension from his master. At the sound, he realizes he's being rude and laughs lightly.]

I should just be happy to see them again. And hope it lasts longer than last time.

[Hey, blame the Heavens. If they didn't suck, Homura wouldn't be a bastard.]

Don't apologize. You have your reasons for not telling me. Just know that if you do decide it's too much to keep in, I am willing to listen.

[Homura grins when Saizou makes his presence known, not quite threatened by the piglet.]

Regardless of what you "should" do, your reactions are natural. There's always a danger when people arrive from your world--that either they'll know something you didn't wish to--[a slight pause]--or the reverse. And regardless, they are here, to be used and manipulated as the Malnosso see fit.

It would take extraordinary circumstances to feel nothing but joy at the arrival of someone, when all of that is considered.

[True. :( The Heavens suck.]

....

[Oh, someone who can see through him. That's a bit...disconcerting. Time to make sure he doesn't see any further.

Okita turns around and plucks Saizou off Tammy's back, smiling at him and at Homura as he bundles the pig into his arms.]

Thank you, Homura-san. It must be hard for you here, surrounded by so many who know so little.

[Except Homura hasn't actually seen through Okita this time. Rather, he's expressing his own fears in regards to the arrival of certain others--one other, who doesn't know a thing about the five centuries he's lived beyond her.

As he said--perfectly natural reactions.

But that only makes Okita's reaction all the more curious. Now that he's facing Homura again with that smile, the demi-god raises an eyebrow at the statement.]

Do you really think that would be the reason why I don't care for this place?

No. I'm sure there are many reasons you don't like it here.

Just as there are reasons you do like it.

[He looks up at Tammy, keeping a smile on his face as he strokes her neck. But, talking about this isn't any fun so he'll spin back around and keep walking, looking back at Homura.]

Do you always keep to such heavy topics? I swear, it's like you don't know how to have fun at all.

Oh? And what reasons do I have to like it here?

[Homura grins as he poses the question. Okita is evasive, but also clever. It will be interesting to see how he replies. And of course, unwilling to let the conversation simply end, Homura falls into step a few paces behind Okita.]

Perhaps. Just as you keep avoiding such heavy topics. We both seem to be creatures of routine.

So it would seem we are. I prefer having fun though. I've enough serious people around to take care of the heavy topics for me.

Aaaas for the reasons? Mm~ Well, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. It's a bit freeing, isn't it?

[Falling into step, Okita seems rather content to go back to his walk even if he's still thinking about what Homura said earlier.]

So I've gathered. Well, if it makes you feel better, I find our talks to be fun.

[So far as Homura's definition of the word goes, at least.]

Anything beyond what the Malnosso manipulate the populace into doing for the sake of their studies, or whatever reasons they have. The parallels between this place and my own world are both too many and too thick for me to consider this freedom--the bars are quite real, even if they can't be seen.

You have a funny sort of fun.

And if you want to look at it that way, yes. But what is it to be truly free?

[He looks up at Tammy.]

She was free before this. Left out in the wild. And she chose to find a master and a home with us. Now she's penned in most of the time and must wait to get her meals.

[Tammy warks and nudges the side of Okita's head affectionately.]

But she prefers this, I think. For whatever reason, some people look for their gilded cages and choose to live in them rather than return.

Funny, but not in the sense that you would prefer?

[Homura in turn watches Okita, and how Tammy responds to him. Of course Okita's point is valid, but not as a counter to Homura's position.]

You said it yourself--that people choose. Which of us has chosen this world, or to be subjected to the whims of the Malnosso? If a servant takes that role of his own volition, then so be it--I've never rejected my own followers, after all.

But a person has the right to decide his path for himself, and the responsibility to do what he must to walk upon that path, even without hope of success.

I wouldn't say that.

[And it goes for both things. He might not have chosen this world, but he has adopted it as best he can. It wasn't his choice to come here, but it is his choice to stay as long as he still has friends here. Going home, he knows what waits for them all and until he finds a way to change it, he can't leave.]

The last experiment is still sitting poorly with you, I take it?

[Unfortunately, in Homura's view that is all simply making the best of the situation--finding a sort of freedom within the cage.]

They all do. It reminds me far too much of the world I was in, except worse for the greater effectiveness of the Malnosso.

[From the times they've talked and the times Okita has only listened in, he knows that unlike him, Homura pretty much hated his world. Or something to that effect. Whatever it is, this isn't the life he wanted, but neither was that.

Which means... It's the Malnosso that are the problem. The loss of control... If there was a way to get Homura free of their grip... Okita pauses in his walk and leans down, picking up a good sized rock. He turns it over in his hands, then drops it into his sleeve.]

Between a rock and a hard place then, is it? Unless you try to overthrow the Malnosso.

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