Okita was right on the mark with his reasoning, and Sanosuke, for his part, was getting more and more pissed off by the second. He still didn't have a fucking clue why the bastard was after him, and the strike that should've ended it barely got a graze in. The futae no kiwami was damn powerful, but Sano knew that he'd have to get a full on strike to make Okita stop.

The guy was already coming at him again, shouting something that Sano almost didn't hear at first. He wasn't thinking about the pen lodged in his arm, and when Okita's kick connected, Sanosuke let out a cry of pain, the sensation sharp as it ran the length of the limb. But Sano could take the agony, so long as he gave some back. Even an amateur could get a hit in, right Saitou?

"Who the hell are you talking about?!" The words had registered, and Sanosuke was starting to get it. Like when Zuko vanished--now someone else was gone too. Someone important enough to drive Okita nuts.

Oh, fuck.

"God damn you, would you listen Okita?! I don't know where Hijikata is! Not if they took him!" Sanosuke took a shot at Okita's jaw, a hard right, but just a regular punch. He had to be careful now, since the bones in his hand would break if he put too much strain on them. He was already going to get his ass chewed out by Kenshin for this.