casually descends into sword hell

[feminitis]

[The streets of Kyoto are not safe.

These days, they're never safe - which is a large part of why the Shinsengumi does what it does. Protecting the ancient city is their task, and they patrol the streets faithfully every day. But there is only so much they can do when their orders from the Shogunate to investigate the use of a concoction called the ochimizu create greater threats to the city's peace, and even less they can do when threats come from powers much higher than their own.

But most of these things are not known to the average person, nor the rank-and-file soldier. The rasetsu and the demons are one threat; those who would rewrite history are another. It's unfortunate that they've intersected in such a way, but such is fate.]

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[feminitis]

[He doesn't get a verbal response, but as soon as Kashuu replies with an affirmative, Sei is on the move. She heads straight for the gates, still ignoring her comrade's call - "Kamiya-san, I really think you should get some rest before you go back out there!" It's nowhere near time for curfew and none of the captains have ordered her movements restricted, though, so there really isn't anything they can do to stop her.

...it occurs to her, just briefly, that she'll probably get in trouble later, but she doesn't really care. How can she? Okita might be in trouble right now.

She retraces her steps to put her back on the same route the troop had been on when their patrol was first interrupted by the explosions, and when she comes to the place where she and Okita had parted ways, she immediately begins to retrace his steps. She might find it a little odd that after everything she's still able to recall in such detail exactly where he went, but she's always paid an unusual amount of attention to him, so she supposes she can't really be surprised. Following his route eventually to the hollowed-out shell of what once had been a thriving kimono shop; both the storefront and the attached family home have been reduced to rubble and ash.

There are bodies. None of them are wearing the Shinsengumi blues, but Sei feels compelled to check anyway, just in case.]

Sensei. Sensei—

[None of them are him, thank the gods, but though she should be relieved that he isn't dead, the fact that he's nowhere to be found is more worrying than anything else. Eventually she rounds on Kashuu, her expression mutinous.]

What exactly are we dealing with here..?! I have to know, or else I won't know how to find him and help him!