Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 21: Staying behind

August 1864

Since Heisuke-kun had been injured, Hijikata-san had ordered him to stay at the compound and rest. I'd been worrying over him for some time now and Harada offered to take me out on patrol. Probably to take my mind off of Heisuke-kun. This thought was running through my mind as I walked with Harada and the 10th Division. "Um, Harada...?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Arigato, I really needed a change of pace like this"
"I figured you needed a distraction so I'm happy to deliver one for you"
"Im glad you're my nakama Harada"
"Nice to hear you say that, arigato. I guess I'm glad you're my nakama too"
"What do you mean 'guess'!?"
"Haha, just messing with ya" He ruffled my hair and I playfully shoved him away from me.
"Harada! You've gotta stop doing that!" I moaned as I fixed my hair.
"Can't help it, gomen"
"You're not gomen"
"You don't know that"
"That smirk on your face tells me that I do so-huh?" A little further down the road, a couple of men in Shinsengumi blues were waving at us. "Oh, look it's Nagakura" I waved back. "Hey Nagakura!" How coincidental that our separate rounds had brought us to the same spot.
"Hey there Chiyeko! How ya feeling?"
"I'm good, but I can't help worrying over Heisuke-kun..."
"Aw, c'mon cheer up! Heisuke's come back from a lot of fights with similar or even worse injuries so trust me when I say: I know Heisuke and he'll be fine!"
"Yeah...yeah! You're right!" I found myself smiling in response. There was something contagious about Nagakura's optimism.
"Well, Shinpachi? You deal with anything exciting?"
"Iie, nothing in particular, but...Well, all of the people on the street are acting...busy, you know?" I hadn't picked up on it before, but Nagakura was right. They were acting strange, almost as if they were nervous about something.
"Now that you mention it...yeah. It looks like they're getting ready to move" I voiced my opinion and Harada nodded in agreement.
"You think maybe they're worried about getting caught in the middle of a war?"
"Hold up a second, war?" There's not a war going on, right?
"Oh, you probably didn't hear because you've been preoccupied. Well, those Choshu bastards are showing up around Kyoto again. That's why we've got extra watches these days"
"I was wondering why you guys were going out more than you usually did..." I mumbled to myself.
"Well we did give 'em a bit of a bloody nose at Ikeda. I can't imagine they'll just stand around with some of their guys in the ground"
"Do you think the Choshu are going to try something again?"
"Only time will tell" Nagakura replied.
"Even if they do try something, we'll just do our job. The Choshu attack Kyoto, we drive 'em back. Simple"
"True..."
"If they don't back off soon, we're probably gonna be getting new orders all the way from the top"
"The Aizu Domain may get involved? It's that serious huh?" Harada gave a bark of laughter at my question and responded with a nod.
"Well, chances like this only come around every so often. Who knows when the next one will be? You wanna join us?"
"I'll stay behind, I'm nowhere near ready to fight in a war so I'd only be in the way. Besides, I don't want to leave Heisuke-kun" He did get injured protecting me after all.
"Yeah, figured as much. Still, never hurts to ask"
"Take care of him while we're gone, okay?"
"I'll definitely do that Nagakura! You two will be careful when you go?"
"Relax Chiyeko, we'll be fine" Harada placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"I know, but it never hurts to ask" I smiled and both men chuckled at me.
"Let's go guys, we have rounds to complete"

A few days later

The Shinsengumi finally received orders from the Aizu Domain to go to the frontlines in preparation for a Choshu attack. Everyone was ecstatic at the news, everyone but three people. Heisuke-kun, Okita-san and Sanan-san were ordered to stay and guard the compound because of their injuries. Kondou-sama had personally asked me to keep an eye on Heisuke-kun and Okita-san, he told me he: 'didn't want them moping around like pouty children'. Before long, the Shinsengumi had left for the front, leaving only a handful of soldiers in the now silent compound. "Kondou-sama asked me to keep an eye on Heisuke-kun and Okita-san..." I doubt the latter required or wanted my supervision, but Heisuke-kun was particularly frustrated at being forced to stay behind. I wanted to do something to cheer him up. But what can I do that will keep him happy and entertained? I couldn't think of anything so I decided to go to Okita-san for advice. That and it gave me an excuse to check how he was doing. I'm pretty sure he said he was going out for some fresh air. I left my room and made my way to the inner courtyard. For a mid-summer afternoon, the air was surprisingly cool making the courtyard a pleasant place to relax. "Hmm..." I scanned the courtyard, looking for Okita-san. "Aha!" I spotted him sitting off in a corner. He sat in the shade while he gazed up at the summer sky. I turned my eyes up to the sky as well. It was a brilliant blue and a distant breeze pushed a few clouds along with it. I stretched out my arms, soaking in the sunshine and cool, clean air. It's such a nice day and the sky is nice and calming. I wonder if that's why he's staring at the sky? To calm and centre himself? I turned back to where Okita-san was sitting. "Huh!?" Or more accurately, where he had been sitting. While I'd been staring at the summer sky, Okita-san had gotten up and left. Where'd he disappear off to? I turned around to go look for him inside, but I ended up not needing to go anywhere. "Kuso!" I jumped backwards which caused me to trip and land on my butt.
"There's no need for such foul language" Okita-san smirked after he finished laughing at me.
"There is when you suddenly appear behind me like that!"
"I walked behind you and waited for you to notice me. It's not my fault your senses weren't paying attention"
"You knew that I'd react like that, don't play innocent with me!"
"Gomen, happy?"
"Mhm..."
"You planning on staying down there forever?"
"Maybe"
"Come on, get up" Okita-san held out a hand to me and I debated before sighing and putting my hand in his. He pulled me to my feet and I dusted myself off.
"So..."
"You don't need to worry about me. I'm not out here making a plan to escape or anything"
"That's not what I'm worried about..."
"Really...Well, that's good I suppose. You are worried about something though. Tell your big brother Okita" He crossed his arms over his chest as his face adopted a small smile.
"Two things: don't refer to yourself in the third person, it's weird. And I've never seen you as a brotherly figure"
"I'm wounded, truly I am"
"Sure you are(!)" I rolled my eyes at his mock hurt.
"Just tell me what's bugging you"
"Fine...you're still not in the best condition. It isn't good for you to be out in the cold for too long. Now you know what I'm worried about" He blinked, as if that wasn't quite what he had expected to hear.
"You're worried about my health? Well, arigato. I'll try and stay out of the cold, all right?" Okita-san was annoying and I never expected him to genuinely thank me for worrying about him.
"Good, I'm holding you to that you know"
"I wouldn't have it any other way"
"If you actually rest like you're supposed to, I'm sure your injury will heal in no time" Okita-san put his hand on his chest absently and diverted his gaze from me.
"Well, it's not a sword wound, so I'll probably heal fast enough...I'm fine is what I'm saying" He was right and that fact should've caused joy to sport his features, but his facial expression didn't change.
"Are you thinking about Sanan-san?" It made sense, Sanan-san's injury was a sword wound and we both knew he wouldn't be fine. Okita-san stayed quiet, only cocking his head to the side and smiling in response to my question. His stare caused my cheeks to heat up. "W-Well? Am I wrong or right?" His grin widened as he shook his head.
"You're a weird one, you know that?"
"What's wrong with being weird? Being weird just makes me more unique!" I yelled defensively. I must've looked quite amusing to Okita-san as he burst out laughing.
"You're really weird. Look, you don't have to worry about me kid. I got hurt 'cause I wasn't careful. There's only one person to blame and that's me"
"How is it your fault?" I hated to admit it, but Okita-san had done nothing wrong. He was only following orders and did the best he could, like the rest of us. I really didn't see how he could say what happened was his fault. Since Okita-san hadn't answered, I was going to repeat my question when I noticed his smile had disappeared again. I thought it'd be better to drop it so I said nothing more on the subject. Okita-san briefly glanced down at me before returning his gaze to the sky.
"It's a beautiful sky today, isn't it?"
"Hai..." The mid-summer sun shone down on us, giving our skin a breath of warm in the cool air. Clouds the colour of cotton seemed to dance across the blue expanse. I almost forgot one of the reasons I came out here for! "Hey, Okita-san?"
"Hm?" He answered, but continued to stare at the sky.
"I wanted your advice on something"
"You want my advice? This'll be interesting" He looked down at me and his usual smirk was back on his face.
"I'm being serious here Okita-san!"
"Okay, okay. I'm listening"
"Arigato. Heisuke-kun was so...unhappy when he was told he had to stay behind. I wanted to do something to cheer him up"
"Cheer him up eh? Bring him to Shimabara"
"Come on, be serious"
"If you don't want to take him to Shimabara then bring Shimabara to him"
"I'm not bringing an oiran here!"
"Someone's jealous" Okita-san chuckled.
"Iie I'm not!" I pouted while turning away from him.
"Are you sure about that? Because I never said anything about oirans"
"Why else would one go to Shimbara if it's not for that?"
"Sake. Every time he goes there, Heisuke tends to come back drunk. So just bring him some really good sake"
"That's a great idea!" I exclaimed in excitement as I turned back towards Okita-san. "But I don't know much about sake..." I looked up at Okita-san. "...Would you be willing to come with me and help me pick a good bottle for Heisuke-kun?"
"Sure"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I needed an excuse to leave the compound anyway"
"Gee, arigato Okita-san!"
"Call me Okita"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm flattered you actually respect me enough to ask that question, but yes I'm sure"
"Okay then Okita. Let's go" So Okita escorted me to a sake shop. The smell of sake within the shop was so strong that it almost choked me. I let out a few coughs and Okita chuckled at me. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing"
"Whatever, so which one should I pick?" Okita scanned the whole shop before walking up to a table and picking up a fanciful sake bottle.
"This one"
"There's so many here, how'd you choose so quickly?"
"I know my sake" He put the bottle in my hands and closed my fingers around it. "This is definitely the bottle of sake you want"
"I'll have to trust your judgment, so you better not be tricking me!"
"Hey, I can be sincere when I want to" I took that as a sign that he was actually taking this seriously and sighed.
"Gomen Okita, I'll trust you" He looked taken aback by my apology.
"Don't worry about it. Now are you gonna buy that sake or just hold onto it?"
"Right...I'll go pay for this now" I went over to the counter and put the sake bottle on the table.
"Ohh, that there's a great choice little girl. What's the special occasion?" It irked me that be called me a 'little girl', but he wasn't trying to be rude so I managed to keep it together.
"I'm just trying to cheer up a friend" I handed him the required yen and he wrapped up the bottle for me before putting it in a bag.
"If this is how you cheer up a friend, then I envy the guy you're friends with" He chuckled as he handed me the bag. "Have a nice day"
"Arigato gozimasu sir!" I left the store with Okita. "Arigato Okita! You were a huge help!" I bowed.
"You could thank me by buying me some food?" He suggested with a smirk, knowing I wouldn't decline.
"I knew there had to be a catch to you being so cooperative and helping me..." I mumbled annoyedly. "Is there a place you had in mind?"
"Yup and I believe you've been there once before" He took me to Ayame's Teahouse. Ayame came out to greet us or more specifically me. She didn't even appear to acknowledge Okita's presence.
"Hey Chiyeko! It's full inside, but there are a few seats outside, follow me!" She showed us to a table in the shade of her teahouse. "What does your nakama want?"
"Mitarashi dango" Okita answered.
"What does your nakama want?" She repeated the question and I looked at her confused.
"Um...mitarashi dango...?" I repeated.
"Okay, I'll get started right on that" She left and I looked at Okita to see him smirking.
"She doesn't exactly like me"
"What'd you do?"
"Why do you assume I'm the problem?"
"Because most of the time you annoy me so you must be the problem"
"I don't get what her problem is. I just hit on her a couple times"
"You didn't just hit on me. You hit on every woman who got close to you while I was still in earshot" Ayame stated as she slammed down a set of five mitarashi dango in front of Okita.
"I said I was gomen"
"And I said I don't talk to womanisers" She set down a plate of seven dumplings in front of me. "This is a batch of my sweet dumplings, I know you'll love them"
"Arigato Ayame!"
"And your food is on the house"
"Does that include mine?"
"Since you never come here unless someone else is paying, hai that includes yours"
"I-I couldn't, please let me pay for it"
"She's giving you free food, what is wrong with you?"
"No one asked for your opinion"
"Well, I realised I never did thank you properly for saving my life all those months ago. So consider this my gratitude"
"I mean, I'm flattered, but I didn't save you because I wanted to be rewarded"
"I want to reward you. Plus all those months ago you said you'd accept my gratitude, correct?"
"Well, hai but-"
"And this is my gratitude, so you have to accept it" I'm surprised she remembers something I said to her about five or six months ago...Knowing I wasn't going to win, I resigned to defeat.
"Okay, arigato gozimasu"
"That's better. Hope you enjoy your food"
"What about me?"
"I hope you choke on yours..." Ayame mumbled to herself as she left, neither of us heard her. I took a bite of a dumpling and sweetness filled my mouth.
"This is really good!" Okita chuckled at me as he ate his dango. "Laugh at me all you want. I don't have time to care when I'm eating something this sweet" I finished off my first dumpling and excitedly reached for another. I enjoyed dumpling after dumpling until I made it to my fourth one. I picked up a dumpling when Okita suddenly grabbed my wrist. "O-Okita!?" He pulled my hand in front of his face and took a bite of the dumpling. "What are you doing!?" My cheeks heated up.
"So this is what a complimentary sweet dumpling tastes like, interesting" Instead of taking the dumpling from me, Okita took his sweet time eating the dumpling from my hand. "You're right, that is really good" He let go of my wrist and I quickly pulled it back towards me.
"B-Baka...!" Okita chuckled at how I avoided his gaze while we finished our food.