What makes history (Hijikata x OC)

To Ito's health

The shōji nearly rattled when it was violently pushed open and I smiled in my cup of tea, lifting my eyes to find the very object of my musings.

"What are you doing up?", Hijikata boomed, a familiar crease of annoyance etched upon his brow.

My smile only grew; I was so very fond of the way every single molecule in the air had to shift to give him space. Hijikata was a tornado that laid waste upon us, poor mortals. How a man could muster so much energy at all times baffled me, but I found his worry more adorable than frightening.

"I am glad to see you too", I responded.

The heartfelt response caused his eyebrows to knit in confusion. Rouge crept up his cheeks, and my eyes widened slightly; was that a blush? Hijikata sent me a glare, then sunk on a cushion with a huff.

"You are lucky I am not in the Fukuchō mood", he responded, his voice so close to a whine that my smile broadened. My poisoning had no doubt stirred events for the Shinsengumi that needed the Commander's presence. Perhaps it would do him good to unwind, even for five minutes.

"I am glad you are not", I answered truthfully. "I find meeting the man behind the title enjoyable."

Our gazes locked for an instant; he seemed utterly baffled by my admittance. For a moment, his features were open for me to read. I saw the young man he'd been, the child, even, whose older sister used to boss around. I was about to try to pour some tea for him when his hands stopped me.

"Don't overtax yourself, Kitsu. You should not even be sitting."

The ease with which he filled his own cup and settled back on the cushion caused my jealousy to flare. Right now, I felt so drained that the simple action of bringing it to my lips was tiresome. I doubted Hijikata would address the elephant in the room; namely, the way I had clung to his sleeve as I dry drowned. Now that things had returned to normal, I felt self conscious about those blooming feelings.

Instead, I choose to tease him for his overprotectiveness. Better to laugh than to revisit those horrible moments.

"I understand how Okita felt when you fussed over him."

Poor Sōji must have gone stir crazy, being looked after by both Hijikata and Sanan at the same time. If being stranded bruised my ego, I couldn't even fathom how crushing weakness felt for a warrior. Yet, I understood now that the stern tone meant Hijikata cared; a heartwarming thought. One I clung to as he watched me over the rim of his cup.

"Well, he won't need it anymore, thanks to you."

I heard his gratitude as if he had voiced the words, and slighty bowed my head. Speaking of Sōji, I wondered how he had reacted to Itō's attempt to kill Chizuru.

"I bet he was pretty upset someone tried to poison Chizuru", I mused.

Hijikata tensed in front of me, conflicting emotions danced in his eyes. I captured a fleeting flash just in time: guilt. What did he feel guilty for?

"What's wrong? What else happened?"

Hijikata set his cup down upon the platter with a clang, and I wondered how it didn't shatter in his very hands.

"She gave you the damn things in the first place!", he growled.

Where did that anger come from? Tense shoulders, jaw set, he was everybit the Oni no Fukuchō right now and I swallowed a mouthful tea to keep my composure. Annoyance didn't even begin to describe what swirled around him in aggressive waves. Hijikata-san was downright livid.

"Oh my...", I mentally facepalmed. "Did you yell at her?"

His eyes returned to the floor in the closest sheepish expression I'd ever seen upon his face; there, it explained the guilt now. Poor Chizuru. Rather than throw anger at him, I tried to explain what went on in a teenager's mind filled with love and puppies.

"She's not used to people trying to kill her."

For a moment, I wondered if my words actually crossed that invisible barrier between us; Hijikata's knuckles turned white upon his thigh. Would he yell at me if I pressed my point, or relent? Sometimes, his swinging moods threw me out for a loop. All that tension caused my chest to tighten again and I took a shuddering breath. At once, worry returned to his features but I lifted a hand.

"Chizuru would have died as well, she ate most of the sweets. Thank the Valar she is an Oni."

A long moment passed during which he probably considered his comeback. Then, a long sigh passed his lips, and I knew I had won this round. Of course, Oni no Fukuchō woul never admit it, hence his gruff stone as he stared me down.

"But you are not. So heed Yamazaki and Sanan's advice, and keep your strength."

I was too tired to bite his head off about patronizing me; instead, I chose to be a reaonsable woman.

"I am, and always have been capable of assessing my own health. I know my limits, unlike some of your captains, and would be very grateful if you could extend your trust to my judgment."

Hijikata paused, his eyes travelling in the room around me. Elvish sword on the stand, a lamp –yey – and writing material, a few clothes stowed away. It wasn't much, but it suited me just fine. Was he taking the measure of who I was? Assessing if I'd be a pain in the ass like Sōji, or a total badass like Saitō?

"Very well", he eventually nodded. "Keep your word, and I will keep the ... ah, fussing minimal."

A fond smile bloomed upon my face at his hesitation. There was an awkwardness to the man that Fukuchō didn't have. When Toshizō surfaced below the layers of the commander, his words were less secure, more poetic, somehow.

"Fukuchō!", came a voice from the outside.

Hijikata straightened, and the commander was back in the blink of an eye.

"Yamazaki ... Hairi."

Incredible, how he knew the voice of all his subordinates with just a word. The door slid open, revealing the ninja with another tray. Blue powder sat in a ceramic bowl, along with warm liquid that I assumed to be water mingled with herbs.

"I bring Kitsu-san's medicine. Kondō-san and the captains await you in the common room."

We both nodded to the man, and I watched, mesmerised, as he prepared a liquid that I was supposed to down in one go.

Liquid smurf, yuck.

I stole a glance to Hijikata who looked equally puzzled, and we shared a grimace before Yamazaki handed me the bowl.

"You need to drain it, then wash it away with tea", the spy instructed.

"Neat. Blue is my favourite colour, after all."

Hijikata squinted; I'd never told him that his choice of kimono had touched my heart so deeply. I gave him a slight smile before he stood; I mourned that this private audience came to its end. After all, none of us had yelled or tempested at each other this time. More frustrating was the fact that I couldn't join the meeting; already, my eyelids stung. I lifted my bowl to Hijikata.

"To your health, Fukuchō."

I hoped it would remind him of our agreement; I'll take care of my health, and he'll stop fussing about it and order me around while healing. This should cut short any arguments between us. Surpinsingly, Hijikata's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression suddenly turned thunderous.

"Drink to Itō's health. He'll die for what he's done."

I gaped, the bowl stuck halfway between hand and mouth when he turned tail, leaving a devastated landscape in his wake.

What?