Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 20: Choshu problems

Heisuke-kun and myself were called in to Hijkata-san's room after we came back from morning patrol. "What did you want to see us for?" I asked after we had sat down.
"I was talking with the Doc and he says he knows of a medicine that will help Souji better than the Ishida Powder is"
"What does that have to do with us?" Heisuke-kun asked.
"He needs a certain ingredient deep in a forest that's not far from here, but he's got his hands full running his clinic"
"What is this ingredient Hijikata-san?"
"A herb called Ephiacress, it's a white flower with three leaves on its stem. The leaves have five points"
"So you want us to go get the herb so he can make the medicine?"
"Wait, nani?!"
"Exactly, you catch on quick Chiyeko"
"I'm sorry, you want us to do what?" Heisuke-kun questioned the commander.
"You heard what she said"
"Why have we gotta do it? This is Souji's problem, get him to go"
"I'm not letting that man out of my sight. I've continuously told him to rest yet I keep finding him trying to sneak out of the compound. If I gave him this, he'd use it as an opportunity to screw around!"
"Point taken" Heisuke-kun sighed. "Fine, we'll do it"
"It's nice that you think you had a choice" He smirked before turning serious again. "Go be on your way then, bring the herbs straight to the Doc's when you've collected them"
"Hai sir!" We bowed and left his room.
"Unbelievable...why have we got to be the ones to do this?" Heisuke-kun complained.
"To keep Hijikata-san from losing it, he'd probably pop a vein if Okita-san went out instead of us"
"Yeah, I know but..." He trailed off before sighing. "This sucks..."
"Okay, think of it this way. We get to spend more time in each other's company while also helping out a nakama"
"Huh, it sounds bearable when you put it like that"
"Good, now wait while I pack a few things" I quickly whipped up a few rice balls and placed them in a box and placed that box in my bag. Then I put some bandages in the bag before meeting with Heisuke-kun outside. "Let's go" We left headquarters behind and began our walk towards the forest on the outskirts of the city.

Ten minutes later

As the Shinsengumi was based in the Mibu area, which was on the outskirts of Kyoto it didn't take long for us to reach the forest. We walked around, searching for Ephiacress for a good ten minutes.

I tripped over the uneven ground and nearly fell, but Heisuke-kun caught me. "Seriously Chiyeko-chan? That's the twentieth time you've tripped" Heisuke-kun teased with a laugh.
"It's not funny! I'm unfamiliar with forest terrain!" I exclaimed defensively.
"Ya gotta admit, it's kinda funny"
"Iie it's not! Forget this! I'm going to gather herbs on my own!" I angrily yelled before stomping away from him.
"Don't wander off too far!"
"I'm not a kid! I'll be fine!"
"And watch your step!"
"Damare!" I walked until I could no longer see Heisuke-kun. That baka! He's so annoying! I took a deep breath to calm myself. Calm down Chiyeko, remember what you're here for. I set to work trying to find the herb. After wandering around for five minutes, I entered a particularly grassy area of the forest. Where there's grass there's other plant life! I began searching this new area and rejoiced when I found the herb that matched Hijikata-san's description. "I've found it! This must be the Ephiacress!" I carefully removed the herb from the ground and placed it in the box Hijikata-san gave each of us. I'll collect loads of Ephiacress then show Heisuke-kun I can handle myself in the forest! With a new goal in mind, I swiftly, but carefully plucked the Ephiacress out of the ground and placed them in the box.

After an hour of collecting herbs, my stomach growled loudly. I'm so glad Heisuke-kun wasn't around to hear that...I covered my stomach. I remembered I had the rice balls. But I can't eat them without Heisuke-kun...I made them for the both of us and he's obviously hungry too. I sighed. "I guess I can't stay mad at him forever..." I made up my mind and began walking back to where I first left Heisuke-kun. I would probably be able to find him better from there. As I walked, I heard a familiar voice yell out in alarm. That was Heisuke-kun! What happened?! "Hang on, Heisuke-kun! I'm coming!" I ran towards the sound of his shout. I soon found myself on top of a cliff-slope. I saw Heisuke-kun at the bottom, he must've rolled down the slope of the cliff. I took a path around the slope and quickly ran to Heisuke-kun's aid. "Daijobu!? What happened?!" I quickly lended him my shoulder and helped him over to a tree he could rest against.
"I tripped..." He mumbled.
"Gomen, could you repeat that?" I teased.
"I tripped alright! And hai, I'm aware of the irony here!"
"That's karma for you"
"Yeah, well karma's a bitch..." He muttered angrily.
"You're not the first person to say that" I chuckled. "Now let's check you for injuries" I inspected his body, making sure not to overlook anything.
"I'm fine Chiyeko-chan" I was about to agree with him when I looked to his legs. One of them had a cut that was leaking blood.
"Well, you haven't sustained any serious injuries. But you do have a cut on your leg"
"It barely hurts, I'm fine" He tried to get up, but I pushed him back down.
"Iie! Let me bandage you up!" I opened my bag and took out a bandage roll.
"Why'd ya pack bandages?"
"You never know what kind of situation you'll find yourself in" I unrolled the bandages and began to wrap it around his leg.
"Arigato gozimasu..."