|COMPLETED| The Emotion Love - Heisuke x OC

Chapter 17 ~ Food and Some Shopping

~ Tsukino ~

Both Heisuke and I strolled through the busy crowds of the lively city. The smells of food wafted past my nose, making my mouth slightly water as I was now hungry. And the sounds of people talking or laughing greeted my ears.

Heisuke was walking beside me, looking around. I tapped his shoulder, getting his attention quickly. I looked ahead as I scanned some stalls, filled with trinkets or clothing. "Where are we going?" I asked again. I did not like it when people didn't tell me something, I just simply hated the concept of it. Surprise was a word used to describe it.

Heisuke grinned and shook his head. "We're nearly there. Come on." He grabbed my hand with his as he walked a bit faster, a slow run. I hated these damned things. Kimono. They were extremely hard to move in.

We stopped at a little store. A dango store. Food was something that I did like, especially sweet things. That was one thing that never changed over the years, I always had a sweet tooth for food like this.

"Dango," I whispered to myself, my eyes lighting up. My body was still, betraying not a hint of how excited I was, but my eyes did. Stupid eyes.

Heisuke laughed as he pushed me inside. The smell of the food made my stomach growl, resulting in me facing the ground. Heisuke laughed again as we both sat down, ordering some dango.

A plate was set in between us with a cup of green tea for both of us. I grabbed some dango, putting it into my mouth as I chewed slowly, enjoying it as if it was my last.

"Do you like it?" I nodded my head as I took another bite. I looked up at Heisuke with my eyes, who was also chewing on one. I looked back down at my dango and took another bite, finishing it off quickly. I then picked up the cup with the green tea, taking sips of the slightly steaming liquid.

Both Heisuke and I drank in silence. It wasn't one of those uncomfortable ones. This one... it felt right like it was meant to be silent. It didn't make me want to get up and walk away. I was quite happy with it. It was a comforting silence.

Heisuke paid for the treat, even though I insisted I pay half. He had smirked as he asked if I had any money, which I did not. His smirk had become bigger as he laughed, being successful.

We left the shop quickly, continuing our walk from before. We both chatted quietly between each other, the topic changing all the time. Nothing in particular really.

"Is there anything else to do?" I looked up at Heisuke, who shrugged his shoulders in response. "I can't think of anything. We can still continue just walking and talking." I nodded my head in understanding.

I stopped as I saw a little store that caught my interest. I found it mildly funny as I had complained about needing new kimono's as mine were too small. It seemed to become a little funnier the longer I thought about it.

I turned towards the store, wondering off from Heisuke. I turned around, seeing Heisuke look over to where I was going before he followed behind me. I stopped in front of the store, other people already there and looking around. I stopped in front of a few of the folded kimono's, my eyes wondering over the many colours and designs.

"Tsukino." I looked behind me to see Heisuke there. He looked over my shoulder to see the various designs and colours on the kimono. I reached for a dark blue one, white on the edges of the sleeves and bottom as it faded.

"I need a new one," I said plainly as I folded it, putting the bundle back where it was before. "Do you want to...help?"

I looked away from him as I skimmed over everything. From the corner of my eye, I saw Heisuke looking over the many kimono. A ghost of a smile fell onto my lips as I looked away from him.

My mind wandered off as I continued. These last few days, there was no emotion that I could think of to describe it. I didn't feel like I belonged at the Shinsengumi. That I wasn't meant to be there. But now, being with Heisuke...It was the same. I could think of no emotion to describe how I felt.

I felt...accepted. Like I could trust him. It reminded me of my days when I was a kid, where I had trusted Kazama and trusted people. When I was a cheerful and loving and...different. Heisuke was slowly starting to bring that up in me. My old self.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around to face them, Heisuke held up a beautiful kimono. By the looks of it, the kimono was made from a fine silk. It was a pale lavender, a pearly pale lavender. Silver decorated the top half with twigs and different sized flowers, the bottom untouched. The obi was a snow white.

"It's pretty," I said. I turned behind me and picked up another one I had seen, holding it out as well. It was a black with a reddish-orange obi, bright orange flowers decorating the bottom.

Heisuke nodded his head with a smile. I liked both of them, but I couldn't get both. The one Heisuke was holding had to be expensive. The look of it, the feel of it, there was no way I could get that.

Heisuke took the one I held before he walked off, heading to the owner of the shop. My eyes widened slightly as I ran after him, grabbing him by his wrist. "Heisuke, you can't get both of them. You can't get one of them either."

Heisuke shook his head. "It's fine, Tsukino! You said you need a new one, don't ya? I'll just get you two then!" I frowned at Heisuke as he smiled, proceeding to pay for the two kimono's. I shook my head in disagreement.

Both of us walked away from the store as I mumbled under my breath about the current situation. I heard Heisuke laugh as I continued to mumble. "Lighten up! It's ok, I didn't mind buying it. So stop fussing about it."

I frowned as I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest as I closed my eyes. Heisuke laughed as he swung an arm over my shoulder. I felt slightly tense ad Heisuke's face came closer towards me. "Hey, why do you keep them on?" I looked at him from the corner of my eye as he pointed to my hands, the bandages wrapped around them. I sighed and shook my head.

"I do not like seeing the scars," I replied honestly. "It makes me remember what they did to me. And I do not like remembering it."

"Oh," he said. He sounded a bit depressed. Regretful for asking the question. I smiled lightly and looked up at him. "It is alright. People must ask question's if they want to learn. I understand."

Heisuke nodded and smiled, although it was not a happy one. He was trying to reassure me, but I had mastered this type of emotion. I would always be able to identify that type of emotion, no doubt.

Sighing, both of us walked back to the Shinsengumi quarters. I had to put away the new kimono's Heisuke had gotten for me. I was truly grateful for what he did. Very, very grateful. I frowned as I felt that feeling again. What was this feeling? It reminded me of something, but I could not tell. Was Heisuke the cause of this?