Okita understood anger and he knew why Sano was angry. He had nothing to do with Hijikata's disappearance and, therefore, didn't know why Okita was suddenly lashing out at him. It wasn't fair, but Okita needed to get out this energy. He needed someone to focus his rage on or he'd self-destruct. He couldn't get to Martin Landel yet, but when he did, he'd wish it was Hijikata doing the torture instead of him. All his pent up frustration at being kept here twice while his leader went free rushed out and he couldn't stop himself as he smiled when the pen dug deep into Sano's forearm.

But then Sano was finally fighting back and Okita was forced to leave the pen behind as he quickly jumped out of the way. Not fast enough though. A glancing blow struck him in the stomach as he slid back and away from the full force of the attack and Okita felt his muscles spasm. Reflexively, he began coughing and he knew that it wasn't the disease, but internal bruising and bleeding now. Wonderful. Looking at his hand, he could see spots of blood, but it felt all wrong. All of it. Another pen was pulled out of his sleeve, leaving thin red trails on the fabric as he stood and faced Sano again. "...give him back," he growled, clutching the pen hard in slippery fingers. Running forward again, Okita attacked on Sano's injured side, aiming a hard kick at the pen still in his arm.