What makes history (Hijikata x OC)

Revenge

Yamazaki eventually stopped fussing around me when I stated that, with or without his approval, I was going to pass the damn threshold of my room ... or implode altogether. I knew the bruise upon my throat was impressive, I still had trouble swallowing. Both Chizuru and Harada still frowned at the sight. The captain of the tenth unit usually wasn't as hot-headed as his peers of the baka trio, but I still remembered his simmering hazel eyes when Hijikata had carried me back to my room.

The Vice Commander had to raise his voice to prevent him from rushing out.

"They're gone, Harada. This son of a bitch disappeared into thin air."

Sanosuke's nostrils flared and he swore, his knuckles white over the spear.

"What the hell, Hijikata! How did a single Oni manage to keep the three of you ... the four of you in check! Three of our best swordsmen, and a Rasetsu!"

Fukuchō snorted derisively, muttering something about 'best swordsmen' under his breath. His own anger swirled under the surface, barely kept at bay.

"He threw Sanan-san over the wall like a rag doll!" he thundered.

Despite the fact that both he and Harada were of similar age and shared a strong companionship, I felt both tempers escalate. Was it the helplessness that caused it?

"Don't fight," I rasped, struggling to sit up on the futon.

My voice was raw, the lack of oxygen causing my head to spin. A warm hand steadied me at my back – Hijikata's – while another shot to my chin. Harada's eyes pierced me, his calloussed fingers lifting my head to take a look at the injury.

"Kuso ! That bastard got you good."

"I'll kill him," I murmured, reaching for the stinging pain at my neck; the skin was raw, and bleeding from the silver chain.

This was no threat, but a promise.

Another set of warm fingers wrapped my shaking hands. Hijikata's touch was soft, his voice coiled with regrets.

"Don't touch it. Yamazaki will put a salve over the bruise."

Harada nodded. "Okita went to fetch him. He'll be there soon enough."

I watched them both, eyes travelling between the tenth captain and the Vice Commander.

"Sano...", I breathed. "He took ... he..."

I swallowed as tears flowed upon my cheeks, the emotion too rough to keep them inside. Harada's face contorted in fury and he turned to Hijikata.

"What did that bastard want?"

"He took the necklace," Hijikata provided. Harada frowned; he couldn't understand what it meant since I'd never told him how the magic of the Valar worked. The Vice Commander's eyebrows shot up; he probably thought I had shared most of it with Harada.

It wasn't the case. Me and my secrets.

"What?"

"The Keeper of Time's necklace."

A sharp intake of breath, and I was pulled in a warm embrace. Harada's arms circled my frame as I broke down, sobbing like a baby in the safety of his arms.

I didn't even realise that Hijikata left my side, albeit he stood in a corner of the room, watching my pitiful wailing in the tenth captain's arms. Didn't see his jaw tighten, and the fire burning in his eyes when he allowed Yamazaki in.