Why bring up the will-sucking creature if Himura already read about them? Watching the other carefully, Okita tried to figure out the man's angle. Was he just trying to change the subject? Was he trying to do a Landel's version of small talk? Or was he hiding something?

..did he know?

Okita quickly shoved that idea out the window. It was impossible for Himura to know anything. As far as the rurouni was concerned, Okita was injured, but not ill. He was cured, healthy and (as much as one could be in this place) reasonably well-off. "Unfortunate," he replied, eyes scanning the room for a moment. Heiji had mentioned Zuko's disappearance and now was a good time to check for the scarred teen. No sign of him so far. "At least your speed helped you, yes?"