Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Prologue: You saved my life...twice!

Welcome to my first Hakuōki fan fiction! I hope you enjoy and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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February 1864

"Finally! I'm here!" I sighed in relief as I took in the busy streets of Kyoto. People greeted each other as they passed by, smiling and waving as if they were all the bestest of friends. Well, time to find that painter I heard so much about. Before I could set about asking around for him, I heard angry yelling. Curiosity got the better of me and I went to check it out. What I found was a ronin shouting at a woman who had a small child with her. The woman was on the ground, holding her child close to her. The ronin, who I assumed had pushed her down, was shouting at her about not listening to a patriot. Everyone around was watching, but not helping. What's wrong with everyone?! She obviously needs some help! I ran out and placed myself between the ronin and the mother and child. "Just who do you think you are?! Stop this at once!"
"You think you can tell me what to do little girl?!"
"I am not a little girl and I'm sure as hell telling you to back off!"
"Ha! You're trying to pick a fight with me?! A patriot loyal to the emperor?!" He grabbed a fistful of my black kimono and lifted me off the ground. "How about you mind your own goddamn business?!"
"I don't think so! A person who loves their country, as you're claiming to, wouldn't abuse women and children!" I wasn't about to let him intimidate me. "A samurai should protect common people, not attack them!"
"What did you say?!" He sounded and looked shocked. As if he wasn't expecting what I'd said. Or that the thought never even crossed his mind.
"That's right girl! You tell him!" A man, one of the onlookers, encouragingly shouted.
"How'dya like that, ya damn ronin! Patriot, my ass! Get outta my city!" It seemed my short speech had roused the crowd watching us, causing them to shout encouragements at me and insults at the ronin.
"You son of a bitch!"
"Hate to tell you, but I can't be a "son of a bitch" because I'm clearly a girl"
"I'll wipe that smug smirk off your face!" He threw me onto the ground before I heard the rough hiss of metal. The ronin had drawn his sword. My body began to shake as I found that I had trouble swallowing. I could roll out of the way, but then he would strike the mother and child I had intended to protect. That's definitely not an option...I won't stand down or run away! I closed my eyes and waited for the pain, but it never came. Instead, the sound of the ronin crying out in pain reached my ears.
"Huh?" I slowly opened my eyes to have them filled with light blue. There was a man in front of me wearing a light blue and white coat. That's a Shinsengumi coat! He had long brown hair held up in a ponytail. The ronin harassing me seemed to have run away.
"I can't believe the ronin these days..." He sighed. His voice was higher in pitch than I expected. He turned to me and held out his hand. "Daijōbu?" That's why his voice is high. He was a rather young man with green-blue eyes and bangs that crossed at the end. They reached down between his eyes. "You know you're staring, right?"
"Oh!" My face flared red out of embarrassment. "I'm so sorry!" I accepted his hand and after pulling myself up, I bowed in apology to him.
"Hey, don't sweat it! Daijōbu?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you. Hold on a second!" I quickly excused myself and went over to the mother and her child. "Daijōbudesuka?"
"Hai, I'm quite alright" I helped her up. "Arigato gozimasu for protecting me and my child, your act is greatly appreciated"
"I couldn't stand by while that bast-I mean bad guy shouted at you for no reason" I corrected myself as to not swear in front of the child. "I'm glad you're both okay" I smiled. She bowed before waving and walking away with her child.
"You're a good kid" I jumped at the unexpected voice. "Gomen! I didn't mean to startle you!" I turned to see the man who had saved me.
"It's okay and arigato. I'm Kawaguchi Chiyeko, what's your name?"
"I'm Toudou Heisuke! Chiyeko huh? That's a pretty name"
"O-oh..." A blush rose to my cheeks at his compliment. "Ah! A-Arigato...! I think Heisuke's a nice name too..." I rushed to thank him and complimented him back in a quiet voice.
"Really? Arigato..." He blushed. Huh, wasn't expecting him to blush like that. I giggled to myself before bowing.
"Arigato gozimasu Toudou-san!"
"You're welcome" He smiled "I've got to go, but it was a pleasure to meet you!"
"Same here!" I waved and watched him walk off with his group of light blue coated friends. Wait, I should've asked him about Ginsuki! Damn it Chiyeko! Oh well, guess I'll just ask somebody else. "Excuse me!?" I called out trying to stop a nearby passerby. They turned to me with a smile.
"Kon'nichiwa. Did you need something?" He politely asked.
"Kon'nichiwa, I was wondering if you knew where to find Ginsuki the painter?"
"I believe he went to the cliff to paint, I could walk you there if you like?"
"That would be greatly appreciated"
"Follow me" As we walked, the man introduced himself as Yoshitoshi Fuse. I gave him my name and we conversed. He questioned me about my time in Kyoto and when I told him I'd only just arrived he told me about all the popular places I should visit while I was here. "Well we're here" He gestured to the cliff edge where I saw a man sitting with his brush speedily moving about his paper.
"Arigato gozimasu" I bowed in thanks.
"It was a pleasure to help a beauty like you"
"O-Oh..." He walked off before I could respond to his comment. I felt my cheeks redden. Get yourself together Chiyeko! You're here for a reason! I slapped my cheeks while taking a deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready" I approached Ginsuki and was about to announce my presence when my eyes caught his paper. On it was a scenery painting of what was in front of us. The beauty of it took my breath away. Wow...! He's even more talented than I was led to believe!
"It's rude to stand and stare you know"
"Oh! Gomenasai!" I quickly bowed.
"Hoho, it's quite alright young girl" He chuckled before putting down his brush. "I'm finished here so I'm all yours now. What is it that you wanted?" I took out my pad of paper and brush from the large drawstring bag I carried with me.
"Um...I want to better the quality of my paintings and I was hoping that you could teach me...!"
"Hmm...Show me something you've painted"
"Oh! Ah, if you're sure..." I flipped to the page I was most proud of. A painting of my parents smiling happily. He stared at it for quite some time, not saying a single word the whole while. I grew nervous as he studied my painting. "Um...what do you think?" I asked worriedly.
"This is amazing, you have a lot of natural talent young girl but your paintings lack emotions"
"Emotions?" I tilted my head to the side as I often did when I was confused.
"Indeed. It is one thing to be able to paint beautifully, but without emotions a painting lacks life. Only when you are able to convey emotions with your paintings will you have mastered the art"
"I don't understand"
"Look here" He showed me a painting of a child smiling while she played. My eyes widened as I looked at the painting. Childlike innocence and happiness seemed to roll out of the painting. "Now do you understand?" I nodded. "Then come, we have work to do" He took me back into town. I was brought to the house he was staying in. "Come in, come in" I hesitantly followed him inside. "Sit here" I sat on a cushion he had placed and turned to a blank page of my paper pad. "Now the lesson can begin" He left the room leaving me confused. He came back a few seconds later with a box of sweets. "Here you go"
"Oh...arigato" I took one and popped it into my mouth. "Hehe..." I giggled as the enticing flavour spread through my mouth. It'd been a while since I'd eaten any sweets. Something about the small, colourful candy seemed so adorable that I couldn't help but smile. Ginsuki-sama didn't laugh at my admittedly childish reaction. Instead he just smiled warmly.
"Now channel your happiness to your brush and paint me"
"Paint you now!?"
"That is what I said. The key to giving life to your paintings is to channel your life into them. Your happiness travels from you to your brush where it gives life to each stroke you make" He placed the box of sweets next to me and sat cross-legged on a cushion in front of me. "Have more sweets if it makes you happy"
"O-okay...!" I was a bit unsure and my brush shook in my hand.
"Relax. Have another sweet and paint"
"Right!" His encouragement gave me strength and I threw another sweet into my mouth before setting to work.