Falling in love with Heisuke Toudou

Awake

I slowly opened my eyes. Because of the strong sunlight I had to blink a few times before I could completely open them. When I tried to get up a sharp pain shot throught my arm. I sat there confused.

(What happened?)

Then the missing pieces finally came back. I remembered everything from the last night. Rasetsu attacking me, fighting with Hijikata and then being saved by Heisuke.

I was in unfamiliar room. There were some katanas and nodachis on their standings but otherwise the room was empty. I rubbed my head to clear my mind.

(Where am I?)

»Oh, so you are awake!« a friendly voice said. I almost jumped from surprise. I searched for the direction the voice came from. Then I saw him. A young boy sitting on porch looking at me from behind. He was smiling.

»I'm probably in his room!« I thought to myself.

Because I didn't reply he stood up. He walked towards me. I was looking at him like I was in trans. When he streched his hand toward me I squeaked and jumped away. Pressing myself in the corner of his room I looked at him with scared eyes. He looked at me with confusion.

»Hey, I haven't done anything bad have I?« Heisuke tilted his head.

»I swear...«he mumbled before he went up to me. I squeezed myself even tighter. He stopped only one meter before me. Then he crouched and offered me his hand again. He was friendly smiling at me.

He doesn't look dangerous. In fact he is the one that saved me.

(What should I do?)

I just kept staring at him. He rubbed his back hair and smiled again.

He has long brown hair which he keeps up in a ponytail and blue-green eyes. His clothes initially consist of a yellow sleeveless shirt over a purple one that has the shoulders cut, but not disconnected, a red sash and black sash around his waist, black pants that go down to his knees, leg warmers that wrap around his feet, arm and leg pads and straw sandals.

(That's how he looks like.)

» I'm Todou Heisuke and sorry for that. You probaby don't trust me« he kept on smiling and I finally managed to nod.

»You probably don't remember what happened last night, do you?« he asked me still with calm facial expression.

»I do« I mumbled.

»Oh, sodesu ka! Then you probably also know what you were doing there and...«

I shook my head.

»I don't remember anything from my past. There are things I know like my hometown, but I don't remember who I am. This might sounds wierd but I don't remember I ever touched katana before yet wield it in a fight. There are things that I didn't even know they exist within me. I feel like I forgot who I really am. I can't really explain them and...«I couldn't stop talking.

I felt like telling somebody about my problem would help me. And Heisuke just sat there and listened to things I was saying.

»...It feels like a time travel«I finished, looking at him. He was looking at me like he was waiting for something.

»You are tellling the truth ain't 'ya« Heisuke sighed.

»And I'm glad you can talk« he laughed at me friendly.

»Would you mind stepping out from the corner« he added.

I slowly picked myself up. My arm still hurts but I forced myself to stand straight.

»Like I said before my name is Heisuke and yours?« he asked me calmly.

»Harada Risa« I shyly mumbled.

»I hate to say that but our commander ordered me to bring you to our meeting. They will discuss if you live or die« Heisuke mumbled looking at the tatami floor.

I gasped. Trembling a bit, I looked in his eyes.

(He is not joking!)

»I will try to help you but I can't promise you anything« he finished. Then he looked back at me.

I remained quiet.

(I can't help it. I will tell them the truth and then is up to them...everything's up to them!)

»Are you ok?« Heisuke looked at me with worried face.

»Would you be okay if someone just told you that you have fifthy chances to survive?«

»There is no telling for me when I'm going to die. When you are Eight Division commander of Shinsengumi you must be prepared to die any second«

I remained quiet. I felt sorry for him and like he gueesed what I was thinking he said:"You don't have to feel sorry for me. This is the path I chose to follow and it's not as bad as it sounds" he smiled.

»Anyway I'm leading morning patrol today and I have a favour to ask of you« he looked at me with more serious facial expression. He narrowed his eyebrows and then grabbed my uninjured arm. He squeezed it tightly as he pulled me closer to him. We were very similar heigh so he didn't have to bend his kness to look me in the eyes. He looked in my eyes with serious expression. All of a sudden I became scared of him. I tried to set my arm free but he was to strong.

»Don't by any circumstances leave this room. Do you understand?« he whispered with clenched teeth.

(He looks scarier than before. Is that really the same Heisuke? He looked more friendly before.)

I looked at him with fear in my eyes.

»Why?« I quietly mumbled.

»Fact number one you are so called our hostage and if they see you they will kill you right away if I'm not around. Fact number two you are girl and the fact number three you are the only girl around here so you can imagine what could other man here do to you!« he finished looking at me seriously.

»I...u-understand« I quietly nodded. He let my hand free.

»Sorry for this but I thought if I tell you all this in a little bit roughter way you would obey but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't obey now«he was still looking at me with serious expression.

I nodded.

»Please just stay safe until I come back« he finished before he picked up his blue coat and katana. He waved goodbye but I just kept on staring at him.

»So he was rought with me because he wanted to protect me« I mumbled to myself before I closed the sliding door behind me.