ᴏᴜʀꜱ [Ｇｉｎｔａｍａ ｘ Ｒｅａｄｅｒ]

It was You [Toshirou Hijikata ]

"Hey Hijikata-kun?"

"hm?"

"What are you seeing?" 

"What do you mean?" 

The clink of the metal lighter as it lit up the cigarette in the raven haired male's mouth. He took a drag before sighing, looking up in the clear skies. Seems like even the heavens won't mourn for you either. The faint smell of the incense stick melding together with the fresh air. Just one vase with a daisy on it, presented upon the cement slab. Moving to sit next to the slab, in silence like it always was. Enjoying the warm breeze, as silent tears poured down the males porcelain like face. He just couldn't accept that you wasn't beside him anymore. Alone once again. How does this happen? He questioned himself. Only until now did he have an answer to your question. 

***

"Good morning Hijikata-Kun!" You cheered happily at the sight of the raven. You was close friends with the Shinsengumi Squad, in fact a close friend of everyone you knew. You wasn't apart of any team, you worked for the government still. You was an information broker of sorts. You was brought up with the Shinsengumi lot till you all reached Edo. Of course you wasn't a member of the team due to the fact of being a woman. Rule was no women to join, that was a said rule for you too. You was more a family member anyways but you went your own way once reached the capital. You still always made an attempt to join the Shinsengumi for breakfast unless on an assignment. Not only that, you also worked in close quarters relaying information to them as well, sometimes even hired by them to gather intel. You had connections, that was important but also made it dangerous for you to be a target of sorts. "Good morning Y/N.." He sighed out, tired still but more than happy to see you. 

"You even more beautiful today Y/N-chan!!" Kondo screamed out at you, as he jumped to hug but you was swiftly moved away from the giant gorilla. You was seen as a daughter of sorts to the gorilla. Arm wrapped around your waist, hand under you chin as the sandy brown haired male made eye contact with you. "Y/n-chan when are you going to finally marry me and be submissive.." He trailed, you laughed moving out of his hold, noticing Hijikata getting more pissed off as it goes on. The same routine every morning, it was the usual. Sougo from a young child upon joining Shinsengumi always declared that he was going to be your husband. Of course his sister and Kondo just thought of it as a cute child thing, not realizing as you both grew into adults still declaring the same thing. Now that's dedication.

The loud chatter and laughed filled up the eating hall. The raven haired male, watching you from the corner of his eyes. Always been captivated by you, you did everything elegant despite being brought up by a group of men. Even Hijikata watched you grew up into the beautiful woman you are today. It wasn't till you reached your 20's was when Hijikata noticed your beauty. He had always been watching up, he was after protective of you. He could remember when he woke up in the shared room with You and Kondo at the old place before Edo. Your chest rising up and down heavily, your face flushed and sweating. You had a really bad fever that he immediately wrapped you up in his arms and ran over to the Okita residence. When he met with Mitsuba and a worried young Sougo, where she instantly went to help the male to nurse you back to health. That was one his first scares. 

Since being in Edo for years you never failed to turn up in the morning with an injury. It worried Hijikata, what length was you preparing to go for you job. That's what he wanted to figure out. "I'm going on an assignment today, I'm unsure when I'll be coming next..." You trailed off, gaining the attention of the big 3 of the Shinsengumi. Tears leaving Kondo's eyes as he blabbed off saying that 'todays the day you finally leave him forever.' Hijikata just lit up his cigarette and looked away, trying to play on his aloof behavior. "Be careful." Was all the vice commander said, you smiled before standing up and walking away, having finished your breakfast already. 

***

"Breaking news the area is being evacuated due to the large group of bandits have cleared through the scene, it seems someone is trying to deal with the situation." The usual straight faced man, in shock watching you on the tv. You wasn't trained with a sword to best of his knowledge but here you was solo. Hijikata dropping the bottle of mayonnaise in hand on the floor. Sougo next to him eyes tightly trained on the TV also, watching the situation. If you look closely you could see him shaking. 

You was heavy breathing, having multiple gashes taken out of your arms. Stamina slowly depleting, fatigue eating at you slowly. Your vision doubling. Who would of thought that the situation would get this out of hand. Not you, regardless you still needed to make sure that Edo was safe, that your family was safe, that HE was safe. The reason you always take on these dangerous jobs was because they would of been pushed onto the Shinsengumi if not. You just couldn't loose your family. As long as they are ok, so would you be. They feed, clothed and protected you from a toddler and it was now your turn. You decided. You laughed as a smile snaked its way onto your face, as his face slowly drifted into your head. 

At a time like this you was thinking about your love. Stupid but you couldn't let go. His striking eyes, his glare that could make anyone shit their pants, you would too if you didn't know on how sweet he could be. His raven hair in that infamous v-shape, you can't remember how much you spent admiring his face in secret. You was in love with the Vice Commander. Then she would appear next to him. Mitsuba who you also loved dearly but you was also someone that wasn't in his heart. 

The enemies ran at you, you slashing each one down the chest. Some was able to get some hits on you. You saw it at the last minute, one guy looking like an extra pulled out a small hand gun, shooting it. It seemed like the bullet was going in slow motion, you pulled your sword to cover your body as fast as you could but it still it wasn't fast enough. The bullet puncturing your skin, going through to your lung. Digging your Katana into the concrete to hold up your body as you coughed up huge amounts of blood. The familiar Shinsengumi sirens, pulling up the scene. You knew it was them. 

"It hurts.." You sighed out, tears rolling down your face. "These guys just don't give me a chance for breather do they?" You asked yourself, as you gathered all your strength to bring your arm up to slash the extras. Your steps getting wobbly, as another gun shot was made, this time hitting your right shoulder, forcing you to take a step back. Then again another shot was made hitting you in the leg, backing you in the edge of the building, causing you to wobble just as the doors to the top of the building. 

"Y/N!!" Your beloved Hijikata screamed out as you fall off the building. You laughed at yourself with a smile. Typical ain't it, leaving this world just as alone as you entered it. 'A farewell is like the other side of a coin. It will only happen when there is an encounter. Rather than dreading the day we have to part, shouldn't we be happy that we had the chance to meet today instead?'  Why was that silly perm headed words entering your head at time like this. Wise at times you needed him to be, not fully understanding what he meant. Just like Hijikata not understanding what you meant when you asked him that question that day. 

The Vice Commander rushing over to the edge of the building watching your body fall, the same happy smile you always had on your lips before mouthing out the words you always wished to tell him. "I love you." His bangs now covering his eyes as he watched your drop to the ground. The other Shinsengumi officers crowding around your body, as Sougo picked it up cuddling you to his chest. Your heart beat now stopped due to the large amount of blood loss and the sudden impact of hitting the ground. Yet the same smile still on your face. 

***

"It was you that I always saw, you was what I striving for, to protect but it seems that I failed. Would you still love me?" The raven laughed, as he walked away from the grave, head down. "When we meet again, I can tell you my answer and how I feel. Wait for me."