Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 32: The green eyed monster

November 1866

I was out at Ayame's Teahouse, having lunch with my friends Heisuke-kun, Harada and Nagakura. We were on the second part of our meal, meaning dessert! We had ordered a whole Castella cake to share amongst ourselves. Though I ate the most. The others only had a couple of slices and since there was a considerable amount of cake left, I obviously couldn't leave it. I had had three slices as the guys watched me enjoy myself while drinking sake. Just then, I spotted someone on the street waving to me. I recognised him as the man who had been kind enough to take me to where Ginsuki-sama was on my first day in Kyoto. "I'll be right back guys, I've gotta go talk to someone real quick" I left before they could answer. I jogged up to the man and called out. "Kon'nichiwa Fuse-san! What brings you here?"
"I wanted to see you"
"H-Huh...!?" My cheeks reddened. "W-Why?"
"Well, I went to this market they were holding at the harbour. They had lots of interesting things there from foreign countries and stuff. I thought you'd be interested in something like that"
"Wow, really...? Things from overseas?! That sounds really cool...!" He handed me an elegantly crafted hand mirror. "Woah...what unusual handiwork..." I examined it carefully. "It's beautiful...!" My embarrassment was long forgotten as I stared at the mirror's intricately designed handle and back. "I love it Fuse-san, arigato gozimasu"
"I'm glad. You can call me Yoshitoshi you know and..." He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled softly before continuing. "...I'd love to meet up with you for dinner sometime"
"O-Oh...I'll have to think about it" I mumbled as my face heated up. I purposely made sure my eyes didn't meet his as I said this.
"That's okay, take all the time you need" His hand went back down to his side. "I'll see you around Chiyeko"
"Sayōnara Yoshitoshi-kun...!" I waved him off and ran back to the table I was occupying with the guys, my face having cooled down by this point.
"So, who was that?" Harada asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Fuse Yoshitoshi, look what he got me!" I showed them the small handheld mirror.
"Looks cool" Nagakura commented.
"It's from a foreign country, it's more than cool! It's amazing!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"Well, you seem to like it. Good for you" Harada smiled. "Is there a reason he gave that to ya?"
"Well...I think he wants to take me on a date..."
"A date? Look at you Chiyeko, bringing in the men" Nagakura joked which caused me to blush.
"Don't tease me Nagakura! Besides, I told him I'd think about it..." Heisuke-kun had been silent ever since I returned, but now he opened his mouth and spoke in a cold and harsh tone;
"It doesn't matter if he takes you out on a date 'cus he can't love ya anyway. Soon as he discovers you're a demon, he'll run away scared" My eyes widened at his words. They hit me hard and fast. It was as if Heisuke-kun had pierced my heart with his blade and I could feel tears begin to well up in my red eyes at his betrayal. My hand was moving before I had a chance to register what I was doing. My hand stung where I had slapped him and I saw that his cheek was quickly growing red.
"How could you say that?!" I yelled before running away. Harada and Nagakura yelled for me to come back, but I ignored them and carried on running.

I ran until I reached the forest. When I finally stopped, my tears overflowed. I thought he was my nakama...how could he say something like that?! I punched a tree hard out of frustration. The force behind my blow caused the skin over my knuckles to split open. I watched as my skin instantly repaired itself. My anger was then replaced by sorrow. I sank to my knees as I cried into my hands. Maybe he's right...I stared at myself in the oval shaped mirror, watching the tears roll down my cheeks. Maybe I'll never find love because I'm a demon...I sat there, staring sadly at my reflection. I don't know how many minutes I had been sat there staring into my new mirror when I suddenly heard a voice right behind me. I tilted the mirror until I saw the person's reflection staring back at me. "Kazama..."
"I could take you away from them. Away from the people that don't understand you. You would be among those who truly understand you and would never discriminate against you"
"Even if they don't understand, I can't leave the Shinsengumi"
"Why are you so reluctant to leave that bunch of useless ningens!?" I turned to face Kazama instead of talking to his reflection.
"The real question is why are you so reluctant to leave me alone?" I stood up and put my hands on my hips. "Why are you so obsessed with me?!" He didn't answer so I tried a different question. "Fine, answer me this. Who are you to me?!"
"I am Lord Kazama Chikage, a pure blooded demon"
"That doesn't answer my question! You know what? I don't care anymore! If you're not going to give me a straight answer then forget you!" I turned on my heel and began to stamp off when I heard him say something in a quiet voice;
"You already have..."
"Nani?" I turned around, but he was nowhere to be seen. I looked around in confusion. What'd he mean by that...? Just then, I heard footsteps from behind me. They were light, so I knew they weren't Kazama's. I turned around to see Heisuke-kun. "Are you here to rub in my face the fact that you're ningen and I'm not?" I crossed my arms over my chest and looked away from him.
"Uh, iie...I came to apologise..."
"This'll be good..." I muttered quietly.
"What I said was bang out of order. I didn't mean to, I wasn't thinking straight and it just slipped out...I know that's no excuse, but it's the truth. Gomenasai Chiyeko-chan. I never wanted to hurt your feelings..." I was taken aback by his extremely sincere apology. "Will you ever forgive me?"
"I will if you can answer me one question"
"Ask away!"
"Do you really think I'll never find love because of my race?"
"Iie! Of course not! I know for a fact that your race won't stop people from loving you. The family you're born to isn't important. It's what you make of yourself that matters. You were born into a family of demons, but you've made a life for yourself among ningens"
"Arigato gozimasu Heisuke-kun" I happily smiled.
"What are you thanking me for? I'm just telling the truth" Heisuke-kun smiled.
"You have an adorable smile, Heisuke-kun" Without thinking, I had said what was currently on my mind. He responded with a look of surprise before shaking his head with a wry smile.
"You're the one who's adorable, Chiyeko-chan"
"Huh!?" My cheeks reddened at his comment.
"...Oh! What I mean is..." Heisuke-kun found trouble trying to explain himself which caused me to giggle, forgetting my feelings of embarrassment towards his unexpected statement.
"Arigato Heisuke-kun, I appreciate the compliment" I chuckled.
"That's good...Should we head back then?"
"That's probably a good idea, I bet I worried Harada and Nagakura by running off like that"
"That you did Chiyeko-chan, that you did" He chuckled before holding out his hand. I grabbed it and we began walking back to the compound. For some reason, our joined hands caused a blush to rise to my cheeks. Why am I embarrassed? We've done this plenty of times before...I couldn't take it anymore and let go of Heisuke-kun's hand. I gave him a lame excuse as to why I did so and luckily he didn't press me on the issue. What's going on with me...?