Once upon a dream (Hakuouki fan-fic) (Hijikata x OC)

Chapter 6

Third person POV

After the members had finished their breakfast they wasted no time in getting to business. "So as it was brought up last night there are some things you haven't been telling us, Tori" The purple-haired captain spoke, his voice calm and collected. Victoria looked taken aback by this. "Huh? How can you say that, you already know everything, Saito-san?" She questioned him with a look of confusion on her face. "Wha? Saito-kun is that true, you knew all along and you didn't tell us? No fair" Pouted Heisuke. Saito remained silent opting to let his silence confirm the youngest captain's question. "Very well, that means that both you and Hajime-kun can explain the situation" Sannan informed Victoria, she nodded in acceptance before sighing lightly. "I don't even know where to start" Victoria commented mostly to herself. "Start at the beginning" Sano voiced suggestively. *wink wink, nudge nudge* This was his way of telling her not to chicken out on the whole 'I knew Sannen was gonna get hurt in Osaka but I didn't say anything' ordeal. "Fuck" She cursed under her breath. This would either end really terribly or...actually it could only end terribly. It was almost as if you could see the sweat forming on her forehead at that very moment, she was carefully contemplating her exact words. "So Sannan, what if I told you...that I knew in advance...that you'd get hurt in Osaka?" *Cricket* A dead silence fell over the room. "Theoretically speaking" She added sheepishly. With the words 'Theoretically speaking' Sannan's smiled widened which scared Victoria beyond belief she thought that was the smile expressing that he wanted to kill her but this could've been an exaggeration. What she didn't know was she was partially right, Sannan's smile was not of a cheerful one, on the inside it held malice and hate, something Victoria would soon learn...and never forget.

"Well, theoretically speaking I'd assume you must've had a very logical reason for not informing us" Calmly spoke the Shinsengumi first sergeant. Victoria visibly sweat dropped. "Theoretically speaking what if I forgot?" She questioned timidly but then she remembered something. "And what if someone didn't know you were leaving because nobody bothered to tell her until you were gone?" She snapped at the Shinsengumi captains seeing as they were the ones in charge of her at the time. "Theoretically speaking?" Sannan inquired with a raised eyebrow. "Of course" Victoria chimed sweetly. "Enough of this bullshit! You knew about Sannan's injury before and didn't say a damn thing to anyone?!" Hijikata barked accusingly but before she could defend herself with words tears fell from her eyes. They were tears of guilt. Victoria ended up standing and bowing so quickly that it startled most of the captains, it was a mystery to Chizuru how she hadn't knocked her tray over in the process. Her bow was low and it was directed toward Sannan-san, she held it as she muttered an obscene amount of apologies. "I'm so so so sorry, it's all my fault Sannan-san, I know you'll never forgive me but I am truly sorry. I'll do anything to make it up to if possible" She couldn't see from the position she was in as she bowed but she noticed a shadow approach and stand in front of her. She recognised the clothes to be Sannan's and she feared his possible outburst of rage. He might not have been a Rasetsu yet but he was still the scariest Shinsengumi in her eyes.

"Bictoria" The girl knew Sannan had tried his best to pronounce her first name, even though it didn't come out quite right she couldn't help but feel honoured that he put in the effort to try. She looked up at him slowly coming out of her bow when he addressed her. he didn't seem angry but Victoria knew better than to underestimate Sannan's ability. Sannan's right hand came up abruptly and Victoria flinched in anticipation for a slap to the face but what she found instead was a gentle pat on the head. She opened her eyes in shock and relief when she noticed he hadn't hit her. Sannan looked down at her with a small smile. "Sannan-san, you're not mad?" Hijkata pressed from his seat beside Kondou. Sannan turned to face him slightly and gave him a reassuring smile. "Of course not, didn't you hear her, by the time she was informed of our departure we had already left. This is in no way her fault" Sannan explained. "It's not?" She looked up at him with hopeful eyes. Sannan shook his head. "Way to go Sannan, now you've made us look like assholes, we were the ones telling her it was all her fault" Souji said sourly. For the first time, Victoria witnessed Sannan furrowed his eyebrows and it just so happened to be at Souji and not her. "Idiot" Sannan commented. "If it's anyone's fault it ours" Sannan informed gesturing to the other two leaders and himself. Kondou scratched the back of his head sheepishly and Hijkata looked taken aback. "N-Nani?" Hijikata stuttered in confusion. Sannan took his seat alongside the other leaders once more, Victoria also seated herself. "It's our fault indeed. You can't expect us to put the blame on someone who wasn't given enough information to do her job, can you?" Sannan voiced, Hijikata sighed defeatedly.

"But I still could have told someone maybe then you could've been notified or something-" Victoria argued only to be cut off by Hijikata. "Sannan's giving you slack you should be grateful" "I am grateful, that's why I'm going to help him gain some feeling back in his arm, I know a method" She voiced, her words aimed more towards Sannan. Said glasses wearing leader raised an eyebrow at her in response. "In my time there is a medical treatment called Physiotherapy, it helps patients who have experienced crippling injuries" Sannan looked interested but also skeptical. "And it works?" He inquired. "Depends on how serious the injury is and how much physio you're doing, I can help, it's much easier than excepting that you'll never be able to use your arm again" Victoria explained. "You don't have to if you don't want to, just think about it and consider it payment for being useless to you before you were injured" She added simply. Sannan nodded in acknowledgement but didn't say anything more on the matter. "Now that that's dealt with, what was this kidnapping thing you mentioned the other night?" Inoue questioned the raven-haired girl.

Victoria's POV

"This one's a rather long story, I don't even know how to explain it. Saito, you're good at cutting things short would you mind giving them the run down?" I asked him hopefully. His expression didn't change but he was a nice enough guy to help me out I knew he wouldn't say no. "A few nights ago during one of my patrols, we ran into this guy by the name of Chikage, Kazama. He claimed him and Tori to be pureblood Oni from the west, he also claimed that Tori was the only remaining member of one of three ancient bloodlines" Saito began explaining until I cut in. "Kazama explained that when the Rose clan was being hunted and slaughtered a few members managed to escape temporarily but before they were found again the clan elders combined their powers to send me to another world where I'd be safe, he said I was the princess of the Rose clan as well as the only surviving Oni from all three original clans. My powers were sealed so that I could live a normal and peaceful life in the future until the day that I returned to avenge my clan" "Hmm, that's very peculiar" Sannan hummed. "Maybe that guy was crazy?" Heisuke voiced to which I sighed. "Unfortunately, Heisuke, Chikage Kazama is an extremely smart and powerful opponent, he's not alone either there are others like him, not as powerful but like him, none the less" At my words Heisuke frowned. "I thought you said you didn't believe him?" Saito questioned suddenly, I sighed again. "I didn't want to believe him but I know about him, he doesn't lie, he may be the enemy but he doesn't lie. I am what he says I am, no matter how much I try to deny it" I informed him with a serious expression. "The bright side is...oh, who am I kidding? There is no bright side to this, my life is a lie~" I whined.

"The bright side is if he is as powerful as you say he is that must mean you're just as powerful as him if not more" Souji commented. "I won't be able to learn anything on my own, I'll need his help if I want to learn how to use my Oni abilities but he creeps me out with that whole 'Female demons are rare I must make you my mate' bullshit, it's freaky" I admitted. "Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you mention Chizuru was one of his targets, is she a demon as well?" Shinpachi voiced. 'Oh god, Shinpachi why'd you have to bring that up now, she's not supposed to find out until later on' I mentally groaned. At Shinpachi's words, Chizuru perked up. "I'm a what? A demon? No that's not possible" She stammered. "Truth be told I don't know if Kazama will still try and kidnap her. Originally she's the one he goes after but now that I've appeared he might have his eyes set on only me, I can't be sure just yet" Hijikata narrowed his eyes at me slightly. "You didn't answer the question" He said gruffly. "What if I said the answer will come in due time, it's too early for me to answer that and it's not really in my place to say" I explained sheepishly. "You forgot to mention an important detail" Saito informed me. I thought for a moment before realizing what he meant. "Uhm, Kazama also admitted that he was the reason for me being here, he brought me back" Everyone held a look of thought. "If that's true then it means you never really belonged in your world, to begin with, this is your home" Sano voiced in a factual tone. "Yeah! that means you don't have to worry about going home, you can stay here with us" Heisuke exclaimed cheerfully. I frowned at both captains words. "Daijōbudesuka, Tori-chan" Inoue asked when he noticed my solemn expression. "Huh, yeah, I'm okay" I said flatly, however, my tone wasn't very convincing.

"Heisuke-kun, I don't think that's what she wanted to here" Chizuru commented examining my facial expression. "I'm sure Tori-san misses her family and friends, she'll probably want to go back eventually" She added softly. "But according to that Kazama guy her family's de-" Heisuke was cut off by Sano who had stood up and crossed the room in a second flat only to punch Heisuke in the mouth. I let out a sharp gasp. "HEISUKE!" Chizuru screeched in shock and worry. "Ow! S-Sano, why'd you-" Heisuke was cut off once more by an angry Sanosuke. "Shut up, Heisuke! Think of others before you speak" 'So apparently whether I stopped the first punch or not Sano was meant to punch Heisuke at some point' I concluded mentally. "S-Sorry Tori-chan" Heisuke muttered in apology while rubbing the side of his face in pain. I looked Heisuke in the eye. "There's nothing to apologize for, I didn't know my real family, the family Chizuru is referring to are the people I lived with almost my entire life. To me Mom and Dad aren't a title you get because of birthright, it's a title you earn. They are my family and I'll do anything to see them again" I explained. "I was raised in the future, I know a lot more than I would if I had lived here my entire life, I can be useful" I added with a cheerful smile. "I think that's what Kazama meant when he said your knowledge could avenge your clan" Saito commented, this was true but I didn't plan on seeking revenge against the humans, up until now I thought I was one, long live humans. "If anything I'm going to use my knowledge to stop Kazama, I'm well aware there's a war brewing and it pisses me off knowing Kazama brought those damned westerners into this fight" "Wait, aren't you a westerner?" Heisuke questioned but his words went ignored.

"You think the war is his doing?" Sannan questioned, I shook my head. "No, it's not his doing but he's playing a part in it. Normally war for you guys involves a lot of sword battles but what Kazama did was arm his men with guns. There's a saying where I come from, It's that 'You should never bring a knife to a gun fight' it's the same with swords you don't stand a chance against bullets" I informed them. I held a somewhat worried expression. "Even though you don't want to you guys are gonna find yourselves having to use guns a few years from now but the kind you get from the shogunate is gonna be no match for the enemies more advanced weaponry" I explained. The expressions on everyone's faces were grim they understood exactly what I was getting at. "So what you're saying is we lose the war?" Hijikata asked simply. Yes. That's simple to explain, they do lose but that's not what I wanted to tell them. Whether I was in the anime or not was unclear to me, if this was my real home then I must've been in the actual past in which case all this demon crap wasn't documented in the history books for a reason. Suddenly something occurred to me. Kazama mentioned he often traveled to the future to gather information if he could travel to the future so could I if I learned how. In the future, the weapons they have could surely give the Shinsengumi the advantage unless Kazama discovered that first which I could not allow. If I was somehow able to get back to the future I could surely bring back some weapons. Back in American, a friend of mine is in the military, he works at an armory. I also know my dad has a handgun in our family safe. I knew one thing was for sure, the Shinsengumi would not lose this war..."Not if I have something to do with it"

"If this war goes down the way she says it does we're gonna need her help, vice-commander" Sannan commented. "I agree. Toshi?" Kondou questioned waiting for his input on the matter. "Kondou-san it's your decision" Hijikata voiced. Kondou gave him a crooked smile. "Ah, yes, but she's your attendant, is she not?" It seemed almost as if Kondou-san was rubbing it in his face that I was his responsibility which Hijikata did not like, he let out a light growl of dissatisfaction. "Fine, from now on you'll be attending all official and unofficial meetings that have to do with our affairs" Hijikata instructed. In my excitement, I gave him a two-finger salute. "Yes, Sir" I chimed happily causing a few people to chuckle at my enthusiasm. "But if anyone from outside the Shinsengumi asks you're just an attendant, got it?" He added firmly. I nodded in acknowledgement. "Does this mean you'll allow us out of our rooms from now on?" I inquired, Hijikata looked taken aback for a moment. "Wha? I never said that!" He protested causing me to pout. "Aw, Hijikata-san, look you made her sad" Sano pointed out after observing my dampened mood. "I don't give a damn" Hijikata replied gruffly. "Aw, come on, Hijikata-san, let us take her on patrol with us" Heisuke pleaded. "Yeah and Chizuru-chan too" Shinpachi added giving Chizuru a small pat on the shoulder. Hijikata looked calculating for a moment but held his hand up to silence the captains once he had made up his mind. "No" He replied simply. All the captains deadpanned then look to us with a 'we tried' facial expression. "Toshi, you're too hard on the girls" "No, I'm not hard enough on them, neither are you" Hijikata countered. "How is Yukimura-kun ever supposed to find her father if you won't let her look for him?" I heard him emit a low growl. "I'll think about it" Just to convince him further I added, "I know what he looks like too ya know" My voice was sweet and just to add an even more innocent effect I batted my eyelashes cutely. He simply clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Well, now that that's settled I think I'll head back to my room I have some important matters to attend to" Sannan-san said simply as he stood to leave. I noticed his food was barely even touched but didn't comment on it. "Make sure you get some rest Keisuke" Kondou said as his first sergeant left the room. "Would you mind if I prepared Sannan's meals from now on?" I asked suddenly. I was thinking Sannan wasn't taking the medication he had been receiving, I'd cut it up and slip it in Sannan's food hoping he'd eat it. Everyone seemed Shocked by this sudden request. "Uh, sure, Tori-chan, I'm sure Sannan would be honoured to have you serve him his meals" Kondou said with a small smile. "Oh, I highly doubt that" I muttered under my breath, thankfully no one had heard.

*2 months later*

It was the beginning of march, spring had already sprung into action. The Shinsengumi were gathering new recruits and starting to train outside now that the snow had disappeared. The snow wasn't the only thing that has disappeared, virtually no one but me ever saw Sannan-san anymore, he was always in his room. I was bringing him his food often laced with medicine but he rarely ate it, I figured he knew I spiked his food with pain meds so I started bringing his food and medicine separately. I found that he ate more of it that way. Chizuru and I have been witnessing more and more of his odd behaviors lately. Every time I brought up the idea of physiotherapy to him he always shot me down telling me it was useless or that he had accepted his injury as part of his failure which I knew was utter bullshit. I also noticed his tendency to watch the training sessions of the captains teams. I'd sneak away to the outside of Chizuru's room at night to watch Sannan practicing with his Katana, I was aware of Chizuru watching him as well. It was upsetting to see Sannan so sad and distant he was also acting colder towards everyone, he only offered me sad smiles whenever I brought him his food. It was enough to make any girl break down and scream 'Just be happy dammit!' but alas I wouldn't allow myself to do any such thing not in front of him anyways. I'd often find myself yelling all of my problems into my pillow at night, it was the only way I could get myself to sleep. You could wonder why Chizuru and I were taking Sannan's depression so hard but it was easy to tell. We were girls. We have the gift or in some cases curse of sympathy, other people's problems became our problems simply because we cared about them, we suffered with Sannan simply because we didn't want him to have to suffer alone.

One morning I was in the kitchen preparing Sannan's breakfast alongside Souji and Saito. "Ohayo gozaimasu" I heard Chizuru beam. I turned to look at her. "Ohayo!" I beamed back with a bright smile. "Ohayo, Chizuru-chan" Souji greeted her. "Okita-san, Saito-san, Tori-san, you prepare the meals?" Chizuru asked. I was taken aback by being called San rather than Chan. "We're not the only ones. Everyone takes turns cooking and Tori-chan only comes in to prepare Sannan's meals" Saito explained, I nodded to confirm this without taking my eyes off the knife I was currently holding. Normally everyone was served a large bowl of rice but because Sannan couldn't hold his bowl and use his chopsticks at the same time I had to make it so he could bring the rice to his mouth without dropping it. For this, I took the same bowl of rice but I rolled the rice into three smaller pieces of rice that he could eat with his hand instead of chopsticks just to make it easier, I know he hated being babied but it was necessary. He normally didn't have a problem with anything else but I do take all the bones out of his fish just because I know I hated having to pick them out. This morning's breakfast was miso soup so there was no fish luckily but I still had to cut up all the ingredients into smaller pieces that he could pick up with his chopsticks. "Yo, Chizuru" I heard Heisuke greet as he walked into the kitchen. "Tori-chan, Sannan wanted to eat breakfast alone in his room again" He informed me, I rolled my eyes without even looking at him and sighed. "How many times have I told you not to bug Sannan to eat with us? If he wants to eat alone let him" My tone was soft but it held slight annoyance. "Sorry, I just thought-" "If you asked him enough times he'd eventually give in and eat with us again?" I cut him off. Heisuke scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah" I sighed rather loudly this time. "That's called being a pest, Heisuke" I said harshly. "Gomen" He said solemnly. My expression lightened. "It's fine, Heisuke, just...do not do it again, Sannan's not feeling well he prefers sitting in silence" I informed him giving him a small glance. "O-Okay" He nodded.

An audible sigh from Souji caught everyone's attention. "He probably doesn't feel well because of how little he eats, he hardly ever touches his food" I glanced at Souji only for him to send me a mischievous grin. "It's almost as if Sannan knows Tori has been slipping things into his food when no one's looking" My eyes went wide and my grip on the knife tightened and to my dismay came down too far to the left nicking my left hand in the process. I gasped when the knife came down on my hand dropping it in the process. Everyone's heads snapped to me in worry. "Daijōbudesuka, Tori-chan?" Heisuke asked as he approached me. I examined my hand but the blood was obscuring my ability to see the damage. I was handed a dishcloth by Saito and I gratefully took it and wrapped it around my hand. "How clumsy of me, hehe" I giggled trying to loosen the tension but to my dismay, everyone had heard what Souji had said and they fully acknowledged it. "He'll never get better if he didn't take the medicine" I muttered in my defense. "Sannan-san is smart, he'd never fall for something so simple" Saito commented going back to his cooking. I looked down at the floor feeling slightly guilty. "I know that's why I stopped putting it in his food" Souji looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "How long ago was that?" I thought for a moment, I had been serving Sannan his meals for a little under 2 months now, I concluded he knew about the medicine maybe 2 weeks after. "About a month and a half ago" "So it's not that medicine" I heard Saito sigh. Suddenly Chizuru approached me placing a hand on my left forearm. "Tori-san, can I see your cut? I want to know if I have to dress it" I reluctantly removed the cloth from my hand only to see there was no more blood nor was there any sign of a cut. My eyes went wide and I looked up to Chizuru who held the same expression as me. Luckily Heisuke was distracted by how delicious breakfast smelt and wasn't paying attention meanwhile Saito and Souji were busy cooking.

"So it's true" I said sighed quietly. Chizuru looked up at me with curious eyes. "What's true?" "I really am a demon" I replied simply, she looked confused on the matter. She really couldn't put two and two together, could she? "Rapid healing is a demon ability, you have it too don't you?" I questioned quietly but I already knew the answer to that. She looked away from me and to the Shinsengumi members who were all occupied. "What's gonna happen to us?" She queried. "We'll keep your being a secret until the right time comes as for me...I've got some things that I need to figure out" I replied simply, she nodded and I went back to Sannan's food to finish it. I put the knife in the wash bin put all the chopped vegetables into the bowl and then onto Sannan's tray. I held the dish towel firmly around my hand despite there not being a cut there anymore, the others didn't know this and I didn't want to scare them by telling them just yet. I noticed the water for the tea come to a boil and Saito was about to tend to it but I got to it first. "It's alright I got it" I told him. He looked at my hand then back at me. "Your hand" Was all he said. I looked at him with a smile on my face. "Don't worry it's just a small cut, no biggie" He glanced once more at the blood soaked rag. "That's an awful lot of blood for a small cut" I simply shrugged off his comment and continued to pour cups of tea and place them onto every member's tray. "Chizuru would you like to help Saito-san and Okita-san bring the others trays into the common room for breakfast?" I questioned her, it looked like she wanted to help but wasn't sure if it was her place to ask. "Uhm, are you sure that's alright?" She asked. I nodded with a light hum.

"You may have permission to dine with us, but I don't recall giving you permission to wander about as you wish" Hijikata voiced gruffly as he rounded the corner. Chizuru not knowing what else to say simply stuttered a good morning to the vice-commander. I glanced at the black-haired man who seemed to finally notice my presence but he wasn't looking at my face he was looking at blood soaked dish towel wrapped around my left hand. "What happened, why did no one call for me?" His tone was cold but the choice of words suggested he actually cared. "I-It's not that serious, it's just a cut" I told him, he didn't miss the fact that I stuttered I could tell because his expression softened slightly. The fact that he wanted to know when I got hurt made my cheeks warm and butterflies appeared in my stomach. His glared hardened on me causing my blush to turn into a pale. "Idiot, anything that bleeds that much is worth medical attention" He said harshly. "Come with me" He said and went to leave but I stood in place not moving a muscle, he turned back to look at me and growled. "Now" It was a command and I knew that but I feared what he'd say when he saw there was no longer a cut on my hand. "I have to bring Sannan-san his breakfast, I'll tend to it once I'm finished" I told him. "No, now" He grabbed my forearm and proceed to lead me out of the kitchen. "Tori-san, I can bring Sannan-san his breakfast" Chizuru called to me. Hijikata stopped pulling and looked to her and glared. "You don't need to help us" He said coldly only for Souji to step in and defend her. "What's the harm in letting her bring it to him? It's not like he's eating for any of us and Tori even specially makes his meals, let her give it a shot" Souji argued. "Yeah, and at this rate, Sannan-san's gonna keel over" Heisuke added. "Fine, fine, do whatever you want, now come with me" And I was once again being pulled away by the handsome vice-commander. In short, he took me to Yamazaki who looked at my wound much to my protest and found nothing not even a scar. Hijikata was pissed and I had to explain to him about my ability to heal, he scoffed but didn't say more on the subject.

Chizuru's POV

After Tori-san was taken away by Hijikata-san I began to wonder why he seemed to care so much that Tori hurt herself, I was worried at first too but then I saw that she was able to heal just like me. It was just odd that Hijikata-san cared about Tori but didn't seem bothered by the fact that Sannan was starving himself. He was always so rude to me and he was occasionally like that with Tori but he was generally nicer to her or simply ignored her actions meanwhile I was watched like a hawk. Tori always had Hijikata-san's attention and I hate to admit it but it kinda upset me, it wasn't just Hijikata-san's attention either it was everyone's. Even Kondou-san paid more attention to her otherwise what was the reason for him going out and buying her a bunch of clothes, accessories, and makeup? I was jealous that Tori-san was allowed to still dress as a girl, if only I looked more like a girl. 'It's not my fault I'm still growing into my body' I grumbled mentally. I'm sure that by the time I was Tori-san's age I would have breasts as full as hers...right? Tori-san was different that's for sure, anyone would gladly give her their full attention in a split second over me, she was beautiful with her silky black hair, almost as beautiful as Hijikata-san's, her brightly coloured eyes were breathtaking despite their icy colour, her skin was smooth and flawless, it almost glowed in the sunlight, and her voice was calming and gentle...when she wasn't yelling or threatening you that is. Did I mention she had breasts? Yeah, I hear guys like those. 'Where can I get some?' I thought sarcastically. She seemed to know a lot about me but I wonder if she knew I had a crush on Hijikata? Well, I'm sure I don't need to worry about it too much I don't think she likes Hijikata-san anyways, she's always teasing him. I'm sure they don't like each other.

After concluding my thoughts I realize that I had just been standing near the hall the Hijikata-san and Tori-san had walked down. "Isn't Hijikata-san worried about Sannan-san?" I questioned out loud to the three boys. "You've got it wrong" I heard Saito-san's deep voice say, I turned to him with a look of confusion. What did he mean by that? "He's more worried than anyone else...well, besides Tori-chan" He replied, his blank expression never faltering. 'I'm beginning to dislike Tori-san, what am I saying? It's not her fault she's nice, she just wants to help everyone, why am I so jealous all of a sudden?' I questioned myself. "Sannan-san got hurt even though he was with him. It troubles him terribly" Saito explained. "And Tori-chan still blames herself for Sannan-san's injury no matter how many times we tell her it's not" Heisuke added and I couldn't help but feel guilty for thinking bad things about her or for thinking that Hijikata-san didn't care. I grabbed the already prepared tray and made my way to Sannan-san's room careful not to drop of spill anything. When I got there, I kneeled down placing the tray down to knock and ask permission to enter. "Excuse me. I brought breakfast" I informed him from the other side. "Thank you" He replied simply, I took that as the go ahead to enter. I slid open the door and grabbed his tray of food only then standing and bringing it to him and placing it beside him. "Help yourself" I informed him politely. "This is unusual" He mused calmly. I was confused by what he meant. Sannan-san turned to look at me with an impassive expression, I couldn't tell if he was surprised or if he was mad. "I never expected you to bring me my food, Yukimura-kun, normally Tori brings me my food" 'Great, she's even got Sannan-san calling her by her first name. No honorifics' "Well, Hijikata-san had to take her to see Yamazaki-kun-" "Oh my, is she alright?" Sannan questioned me with a seemingly worried expression.
"She's fine, it was only a small cut, nothing to worry about" I informed him rather sourly. 'Wow, what has gotten into me?' He seemingly sensed my tone and didn't question it further. "Well, that's a relief. I wouldn't want the person who prepares my food to lose her left hand, especially while preparing my food that would be tragic, she'd become just a useless as me perhaps" Sannan chuckled but I couldn't find it in myself to laugh at his dark humor. I found his words curious, though. "How'd you know she cut her left hand?" I was a bit surprised, it wasn't possible that Sannan had heard about it in such a short time. "Well it was obvious, she would've been holding the knife in her right hand because she's right-handed, is she not?" It was more of a statement than a question. I shook my head lightly. "I never noticed she was right handed" I replied simply. Only someone like Sannan who pays great attention to detail would notice something like that. "You obviously don't pay attention to detail, that will be your downfall, Yukimura-kun. What do we have here?" Sannan questioned looking down or should I say glaring dow at his tray of food. He looked at it with what almost looked like disgust. 'Did he not like miso soup?' "It's miso soup. The portions Tori-san prepared looked too big so I cut all the ingredients a bit smaller to make it easier" I informed him. I don't know what it was but he didn't seem pleased by this. Maybe it was because he was sick? Tori did mention he wasn't feeling well. "With this, you don't need to use your chopsticks. Just drink from the bowl" I finished. it was silent for a moment. Sannan seemed to be contemplating something until finally, he spoke. "Did you do this out of pity?" I was a bit taken aback. "Huh?" "Did you do this out of sympathy so that I wouldn't make a mess while tearing at the food since I can't use my left hand?" Sannan-san was full on glaring at me. This must be what Hijkata meant by him getting upset if you took pity on him. I was just trying to be considerate. I wonder if Sannan got mad at Tori every time she cut up his food for him? "No, I-" "I don't need your sympathy" Sannan spat at me, he hadn't even let me finish my sentence before he cut me off.

"Who told you to do this? I understand that Tori had a medical emergency but someone had to have put you up to this, was it Hijikata-kun? Or was is Harada-kun or Toudou-kun?" He questioned. I looked down at my lap nervously. "No, I asked Tori-san if I could bring it to you. I know that she's been bringing you your food for a while but I just thought that there was no harm in making the portions she had prepared smaller, it wasn't out of pity, I promise" I pleaded. I figured Sannan would have been grateful for the fact that people cared for him but it was the complete opposite. "You mean to tell me that my food was already prepared and you thought it was a good idea to tamper with it?" Sannan's new tone scared me, I didn't know he'd become so angry. Hijikata-san was right Sannan is the scariest Shinsengumi member. "Well, yeah but I-" "I was perfectly content with the way Tori was preparing my food. In fact, if you didn't know, I was the one who asked her to make it that way and you went messing with it. If you want to help out around here, start by paying attention to detail and quite messing with things you shouldn't be" Sannan sneered at me. I felt tears well up in the corner of my eyes but I held it in because I refused to cry. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help" I said quietly. I heard Sannan sigh and turn his back to me. "I see, you make it sound like you did it for me, you and Tori are similar in that way, always caring about others before themselves. Women are so selfless and I can't for the life of me figure out why" He said seemingly calmer now. "However, there's a distinct difference between why you both want to help so badly, Tori-chan does it because she feels responsible or obligated to, you do it to fit in around here" Sannan's words hurt but in a way he was right, I did want to fit in around here. Tori-san fit in so well, the Shinsengumi soldiers were beginning to notice her presence more around the Yagi house now that she was wandering more freely and they didn't seem at all bothered by it, in fact, they seemed even more high-spirited. "You might be right..." I trailed off. "...But even then I hope you'll eat some, everyone is really worried about you. Tori-san's really worried about you, she didn't want to get her wound tended to because she wanted to make sure you got your breakfast first...Excuse me" I said and bowed at the end before standing and leaving his room. I really hope he does eat it.

Victoria's POV

After Yamazaki bandaged my "injured hand" I excused myself from Hijikata-san to go check on Sannan-san. I wanted to make sure he got his food and that he was doing alright. When I got to his room I knocked lightly on the door. No answer. "Sannan-san, are you in there?" No answer. I opened the door slowly just in case he was sleeping but to my surprise, he wasn't, he wasn't in his room at all. 'Huh? Where would Sannan even go-oh wait...the common room' "I really suck at this whole knowing the future shit" I muttered to myself as I made my way back to the common room. When I walked in everyone turned to look at me. "There you are Sannan-san! I went to your room to make sure you had everything you needed and you weren't there" I exclaimed before making my way to the empty placemat in on Saito's left. "My apologies, I just decided that food tasted best in the company of one's friends" I smiled at his comment. "I agree, wholeheartedly" Kondou-san voiced. "Would you like me to leave you a note next time?" Sannan's sarcastic comment caused a few laughs from the other members. "In your own room..." I trailed off calculatingly before it truly hit me. "Don't patronize me" I growled at him, he laughed at my expression. I sat down at my own tray of food. "Itadakimasu" I muttered before eating my delicious miso soup. I glanced to Sannan's food to notice it was different from when I left it. I looked to Chizuru questioningly and she seemed to be thinking the same thing at the moment because she was looking at me as if waiting to explain the situation. "I may have cut up the ingredients a bit smaller from when you left them" She must've been expecting me to snap at her or scold her for messing with Sannan's food but I simply smiled at her. "It was so nice of you to put in the effort" I beamed at her. She seemed taken aback but she smiled none the less. That's right ladies and gentlemen, I was gonna kill her with kindness.

That evening while I was serving tea to Hijikata in his room I couldn't take it any longer. "You can see that Sannan's suffering why won't you say anything?!" My sudden outburst caught him off guard, he put down the papers he was currently reading to look at me. He picked up the cup of hot tea that I had just poured and took a small sip. "What do you want me to say?" He asked blankly. It honestly looked like he didn't care at all and it pissed me off to no end. His vague response baffled me. "I-I don't know, something! He's your friend is he not, give him closure" Hijikata put down his tea and looked at me more seriously. He was seated cross-legged in front of a small table which he used as a desk for paperwork and I was sitting on my knees next to him with a tray of tea in front of me, he only turned his head to look at me but even then I could still see the seriousness in his expression. "Sannan-san is not the type of man who finds comfort in closure and why do you care so much?" He questioned coldly. My expression was that of desperation I just wanted Sannan to feel needed, he wasn't useless like he claimed to be. "Because I'm a girl! We feel others pain and suffering if one person is upset we're upset. We want everyone to be happy because that's truly the only way to make ourselves happy" I exclaimed. I know it's a lot to speak for all women but I truly believe that this is true we hate seeing others unhappy it hurts us on the inside even if just a bit. "Damn, are all women this emotional?" He grumbled. "Yes!" He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "What do you want me to do?" I was a little shocked that it didn't take much to convince him but I assumed it had something to do with the fact that he cared for Sannan-san. "He has to feel included, start finding things around here that only Sannan is capable of, take him out for a night in Shimabara, just you and him" That last one caught him off guard. "Wait what?!" I raised an eyebrow at him. "You heard me go to Shimabara, have fun" I said simply.
I wasn't simply telling Hijikata to visit the red light district so that he could have fun, I didn't plan on leaving him...unattended. I knew what he got like when he was drunk it was way too funny to miss. "You know that's not our idea of fun" He replied as I stood to leave, my tea tray in hand. I shot him a look. "I don't care, convince him" I demanded simply before leaving his room.

A.N: I just realized a terrible mistake that I've been making for a while now, I've been spelling Sannan-san's name as Sannen, I'm going to start spelling it properly, I'm sure I'll fix the other chapters but because I've used his name quite often it might take a while. My apologies~