Cherry Blossoms and Forgotten Love

Chapter 8

Chizuru's pov~

"Here eat." She heard Kazama say. "Problem. I'm tied up." I said. He grunted. "Well running won't get you anywhere..." He said and untied her. "You really have a way with the ladies." I said rolling my eyes. "Shut up." He said. I ate and drank. "He defeated you last time." I said. "I never said I wanted to fight him." He said with a smile. She sighed. She had to admit she felt foolish for not remembering sooner. It made her long for Hijikata more. She couldn't imagine what that must've been like for him. "Why do you like the humans so much?" He asked. "They're unreliable." He stated folding his arms across his chest. "Not them. They have always been there when I needed them so I return that favor." I said. "Well they aren't here yet." He stated. 

Just then the door to the room came flying off smashing against the wall opposite of it. "Kazama!" She heard Hijikata charge in with the others. "Impeccable timing." Kazama said dodging Hijikata's punch. "I'd rather not fight honestly. It's pointless. Without a doubt we are matched in power so please." Kazama sighed. Hijikata straightened up with narrowed eyes. "Why take her?" Hijikata demanded. "So I could talk to her, you and your wolves are quite hard to get around." Kazama said. "I hope I didn't upset you too much... of course I have a door to replace now." He said frowning and looking at the crumbling door. "Make that two... there's the front door too." Okita said. My lips pulled into a smile and it was hard to laugh. "You helped me in the past so I can't say I have anything against you. But please. Kidnapping?" I said shaking my head. I stood up examining the door. Hijikata looked at me curiously. "Can we go now?" I asked. Everyone nodded. I followed them out. "Two doors?" I asked trying not to laugh. "Hijikata was... ah... Hijikata." Kondou said with a chuckle.

 "What did you mean by that?" Hijikata asked clearly referring to what I told Kazama. "Ah, that. Well you see when I went after you I fell off a cliff-" Everyone froze in horror. "You what!?" Hijikata shouted. "Kazama found me and told me about my clan's past... and he helped me get to you." I explained. "Huh, guess he isn't such a bad guy."Heisuke said. Hijikata shot him a look. "Ah I mean, what a horrible guy." He corrected. Hijikata huffed. "Hijikata-san, without him I would have never gotten to you in time." I said. "Well it sounds like something you would do." He sighed. I smiled.

 "So what do we do now?" Senhime asked. "Well I'm kind of tired. Can we just hang around somewhere?" I asked rubbing my eyes. Hijikata chuckled and nodded. We decided on Hijikata's house, his seeming to be the biggest. When we got there I scooped Sakura up grinning. "I missed you so much." I said into her soft fur. "I think she missed you too." Hijikata said petting her head as Heisuke and Shinpachi started playing video games. "You're going to die." Shinpachi said with a smirk. "That's what you think." Heisuke growled. I smiled and leaned into Hijikata who wrapped his arms around me. "I'm glad you finally remember Chizuru." Hijikata said pressing his lips to my forehead. "Me too." I said. "Hey Hijikata-san, still have that poem book?" Okita teased. Hijikata's eyebrow twitched. Everyone burst into laughter. Hijikata's face flushed. Senhime and Harada laid side by side on their stomachs watching Heisuke and Shinpachi play and the others were on the couch. I kissed sakura on the head before setting her down on her tower. "Shinpachi your cheating!" Heisuke accused. "Am not!" He replied back laughing. "Just like old times huh?" I said looking at Hijikata who nodded. He pressed his forehead against mine. "mmm, maybe a little better." He said smiling.

 "Guys it's snowing!" Senhime beamed making me jump. Hijikata laughed. "Not funny." I said. "I thought it was." Okita snickered. I rolled my eyes and grabbed a jacket and put my shoes back on and ran outside with Senhime. She was right. It must've been snowing a while because a thin layer coated everything. "It's so pretty." I murmured. She nodded. "You two are just like kids." Kondou chuckled. Heisuke and Shinpachi raced out picking up snow. "Oh no." I murmured. Okita scooped up some himself. "Oh, yes." He countered. I quickly scooped up some snow. Okita threw a snowball at me which I quickly dodged then threw mine barely skimming his leg. "Hah!" I grinned when a snowball hit me. "Senhime!" I gasped. She giggled mischievously. When Heisuke threw his Shinpachi ducked and it hit Hijikata. "Ah-uh... Hijikata... I uh...Didn't see you there?" He squeaked. Hijikata bent down scooping up some snow and threw it back at him easing up the tension right away. Everyone was running around having fun. "Hijikataaa." I said getting his attention and throwing a snowball at him with a smirk. He raised an eyebrow. "You're really going to go there?" He asked. "Ahhh.... yea?" I said suddenly wishing I didn't do that. He leapt at me and I quickly dodged him and booked it. It didn't take long before I was tackled. "Ok, ok you win." I panted. He smirked. "What do I win?" He asked making my face flush. I leaned up pressing my lips against his. He kissed back grinning victoriously. 

"You guys are going to get a cold." Okita said. "I don't think they really care." Shinpachi said laughing. My face was quickly turning red. Hijikata pulled away and got up and helped me up. "You guys are unbelievable." Hijikata huffed. "But you love us." Okita winked. Hijikata hit him upside the head. "Don't make me change that." He said. Senhime shivered and Harada pulled her into his arms. "Let's go back inside." Harada said looking down at Senhime sympathetically. Hijikata nodded. We went back inside and I made some tea for everyone. They all thanked me. I found a blanket to wrap myself in. Kondou-san was getting a fire going and everyone looked exhausted. I know I certainly felt exhausted. I climbed into Hijikata's lap wrapping my arms around him tight. In response he wrapped his arms around me resting his head on mine. "I love you chizuru, never forget that." Hijikata murmured. "I love you too Hijikata-san." I said my lips pulling up into a small tired smile. He smelt the same as he did before. It was like she was caught up in time somewhere in between the now and then. She closed her eyes happy to remember, happy he remembered, and happy all of them remembered.

She woke the next next day rubbing her eyes in confusion. She recalled last night. I must've fallen asleep in his arms. She sat up and looked around her. His bedroom? It was nice and spacious. I looked down beside me. He was dead asleep. A smile crept onto her lips. She climbed out of bed thinking better then to wake him. He looked like he needed the sleep. She went out into the living room where everyone was sleeping in one big pile. She tried to hold in a giggle. Senhime was asleep on Harada whose head was on Shinpachi. Shinpachi was leaned against Heisuke along with okita. "Awake already?" She heard kondou-san say. ok almost everyone. I nodded and followed him to the kitchen. He made us both tea. "Toshi has changed quite a bit." He noted. I nodded. "I guess so... I don't think it's so much that he changed... He'll always be the same, He's just opened up a little more." I explained. He nodded. "I'm glad it's you Chizuru." He said. I smiled. "Please tell me someone made me a cup." Hijikata said walking in with a stretch and resting his hand on his waist. "I'm on it." I said with a smile. "I'm surprised you're up." I said pouring his cup and handing it to him. "You look exhausted." I said as he took a drink. "I have to get up eventually... they would tear up my house." He said motioning to the sleeping pile.

 "Shouldn't we wake them up?" Kondou-san asked. "Let's just get to making breakfast, that'll wake them up." Hijikata said. I nodded. The three of us cooked and in no time you could hear them. "Told you." Hijikata said. I laughed. We served up everyone then joined them when we had ours made. After we ate I helped clean up. I felt someone watching me and turned. "Hm? What is it Hijikata-san?" I asked. His lips pulled into that soft gentle smile I loved so much. "Nothing, just thinking. Hey when you're done with that let's go for a walk, just the two of us." He said. I nodded. When I was done I cleaned up best I could, I brushed my hair and put it up. I grabbed my coat and shoes and left with Hijikata. "It's beautiful isn't it." He said looking up at the sky the snow falling around him. I nodded. "Like the night I ran into you." I said with a soft smile. "Why you hang on to that memory I'll never understand." He said shaking his head. My face flushed. "Which leads me to wonder how I ever earned your love." He said coming to a halt still looking at the sky. "Hijikata-san-" I started and took one of his hands on mine bringing his attention to me. "You can be... well harsh sometimes but you always mean the best from it. You don't show it often but you do care. You also somehow always managed to save me when I would stumble into trouble... And still do." My lips pulled up into a smile. "It's because you are you. I wouldn't want it any other way." I said. His lips pulled into a smile. "Yukimura, what would I ever do without you?" He asked. bringing her hands to his lips. "Who knows." I said with soft giggle as he wrapped his arms around me.

a/n: I did it yayyyy! xD I'm really wondering if I should resurrect his hair but I think I should leave that up to you guys. Keep it short or have him grow it out again? :3