Battlefield Romance: Hakuōki x Reader

On Patrol: Shinpachi Nagakura

Scenario: After straight, solid training for the past week or so, you're finally being allowed to go out on patrol. Your trainer (and now friend) is responsible for your well-being on your first day. What will happen while the two of you are in town?

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"You comin', Girly?" Shinpachi calls back to you with a big grin plastered on his face. You smirk at his cockiness as you hurry after him.

"'Course I'm coming. It's my first day out on patrol, isn't it? I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Shinpachi practically skips backwards down the street ahead of the patrol group, taunting and teasing you by implying that you can't keep up. You laugh at his antics and return his remarks with good-natured insults of your own. The guy was an a**, but he did know how to have a good time no matter the assignment.

"Hey, look!" He stops abruptly, causing you to bump into him.

"Watch it, you idiot!" You snap, stumbling backwards a few steps. He smiles dumbly back at you before walking towards a building.

"You know what to do!" He calls back to one of the men in our patrol group. The guy answers in affirmative as Shinpachi waltzes inside, and you have no choice but to follow. Hijikata-san had told you to keep next to Shinpachi and learn by example, after all.

"Uh, Shinpachi-san? Isn't this a bar?" You ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Yup!" He grins as he takes a seat at a table. Your temper rises, and you stomp over towards him and smack him smartly on the head.

"Hey, what was that for?" He glares up at you and you roll your eyes back at him.

"Aren't we supposed to be doing something, oh, you know... Important?!"

"Oh, is that all?" Shinpachi chuckles. "It's alright if we just-"

"What about Hijikata-san?" You ask, putting your hands on your hips. "Won't we get in trouble?"

"Nah." The waiter brings a bottle of something to the table and Shinpachi takes a long swig as he motions for you to sit down. You shake your head at him; how idiotic could he be?! You take a seat across from him and watch as he practically wastes himself.

Finally, after ten or so minutes of staring into the glass that Shinpachi had "so generously" paid for, your finally snap. Forget Hijikata-san's orders; you were not staying next to his creep any longer. You slam back your chair and stand up.

"I'm going to go find the patrol group" you mumble, turning around to leave.

"Wait." A firm hand grabs your wrist.

"I'm not waiting!" You practically shout, yanking your hand out of his.

"Buuuut (y/n)! I'll be boooored without you!"

"Bored?" You stop and stare at him. What in the heck was wrong with him now?!

"Pleeeease don't leave meeee."

"Shinpachi-san, you're drunk."

"... I know."

"That means it's time to go home."

"... I know." With a sigh and an eye-roll, you help Shinpachi to his feet, thank the waiter, then guide the feeble warrior back to the Shinsengumi Headquarters.

Needless to say, Hijikata-san was not too happy with Shinpachi when the two of you returned. After giving him a good tongue-lashing and threatening him that if he ever did it again, Hijikata-san would "be forced to exact punishment", you take Shinpachi to his room before retiring to your own.

But all things considering, you fell asleep smiling that night. For some reason, Shinpachi Nagakura seemed to have made life worth living.