Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 48: War has begun

Just a quick heads up, this chapter is particularly long (7000+ words)!

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3rd January 1868

We barely got to enjoy the new year before war was upon us. Apparently, the Satsuma had set their men up on high ground and spent most of the day raining cannon fire on the Shinsengumi and anyone else unfortunate enough to be in range. That's what I gathered from bits and pieces I heard as I walked through the corridors of the magistrate's office, looking for everyone. Eventually, I found them outside conversing with one another. "You still alive Sano?"
"Barely...I really thought we were done for"
"It was practically raining bullets and cannonballs for a while there"
"Bastards...They think they're so great just 'cause they got the high ground. Guns are for chumps, all right? A real man uses a sword" Everyone nodded in agreement with Nagakura's statement. The bombardment had gone on all day with no respite and the vaunted skills of the Shinsengumi meant little if we couldn't get close enough to our enemies to utilise them. From what I learned, everyone had done their best to protect the magistrate's office, but they'd been forced into an entirely defensive battle and had very little to show for it. Barring the holes torn into the building by cannonballs and bullets. Saito-san was the first to notice me and called my name, alerting everyone else to my presence. Oops, didn't mean to eavesdrop... "Hey guys" I joined them, taking my place standing next to Heisuke.
"How ya feeling kid?"
"I'm able to fight"
"Wait, something happened to you?"
"I...um, went out to do some shopping with Harada because we were running low on food. But...we were ambushed by Satsuma troops before we could even make it to town...We were taking them down no problem, but then three of them brought out guns..." I trailed off, shaking slightly as I remembered the pain that followed after.
"I think I'll take over from here. They were all aiming their guns at me, but Chiyeko shoved me out of the way just before they pulled the triggers. Angry that they missed their target, they shot her multiple times. I took the bastards out before they managed to shoot her fatally, but she had still lost a lot of blood because of the gunfire. I rushed her back here and bandaged her up before making her rest"
"Nani?!"
"I-It's okay Heisuke! I feel fine now!" I exclaimed in an attempt to reassure him that I was okay.
"If you're sure..."
"I'm sure. So I heard a lot happened while I was out of it. How bad was it?"
"Bad. We lost so much men that if we screw this up tonight, we might as well just surrender tomorrow" Damn...I can't believe it, those Satsuma jerks...!
"So what are we gonna do now?" Saito-san was the one who decided to answer me;
"We've been at a disadvantage thus far. But now that night has fallen, we can turn the tables. Their guns will be difficult to aim in the dark. We cannot afford to miss this chance, we must counterattack"
"Saito's right. We have to use tonight to attack enemy camp"
"Then it's finally time to take the fight to them! We aren't cut out for this defensive shit! To the front lines!" Nagakura exclaimed happily.
"I agree. If these gun battles continue our position will only deteriorate" Saito-san stated, but in a more composed way than Nagakura.
"Our biggest problem is just going to be getting together enough men. A lot of my guys are out of commission" Harada informed us sadly.
"Yeah...Man, I sure wish we had Kondou-san or Souji right now" Nagakura sighed.
"You're not the only one..." I added. Kondou-sama had been shot just before the new year and had been sent to Doctor Matsumoto's to recover along with Souji who's tuberculosis seemed to be getting worse. I'd heard that Kondou-sama was feeling better, but he was still in no state to be fighting.
"Guess we'll have to use the Fury Corps. They should still be fresh..." Hijikata-san ordered. "...I'm sure Kondou-san would've done the same thing" Hijikata-san seemed like he was trying to convince himself more of that fact than the rest of us.
"The Fury Corps...?" Heisuke appeared surprised by Hijikata-san's choice.
"Why so surprised, Toudou-kun? At last, we've been given our chance to shine!" On the other hand, Sanan was elated by the decision to use the Fury Corps.
"...Oh! Yeah, I guess we have, huh?" I noticed something was strange about Heisuke's tone of voice.
"Hey, is something wrong?" I whispered the question to Heisuke as not to interrupt the strategy Hijikata-san was going through.
"Oh, iie...I just...hadn't really thought about how I'm part of the Fury Corps. I mean, I know I am, I guess it just hadn't really hit me yet"
"Are you sure that's all that's bothering you?"
"I'm fine Chiyeko, don't worry" He sent me a reassuring smile while he briefly held and squeezed my hand.
"...If you say so" I squeezed his hand back. The truth was that I didn't entirely believe him, but I knew he wouldn't tell me anything now.
"I guess it's time to make up for all that sleeping during the day!" Heisuke announced with a grin.
"Awesome! Way to go Heisuke! Let's go get ready for-!" Nagakura excitedly began talking, but was interrupted by a loud booming noise which shocked the group into silence.
"What the heck was that?!" I exclaimed.
"That was a cannon, no mistaking it" Harada stated.
"Are they here already?" Saito-san questioned. There was a second boom followed by the crack of splintering wood.
"Sounds like they've got us surrounded. Damnit...All right, let's move! We gotta push 'em back!" Everyone nodded and we ran towards the front of our headquarters. The cannon fire we heard was the Satsuma trying and successfully blowing the gate open. Satsuma soldiers streamed in through the opening that had been made.
"Heh. So they decided to come pay us a visit, huh? Well, that suits me fine!" He unsheathed his sword. "Now I don't have to walk my ass out there! Nagakura Shinpachi, Captain of the Shinsengumi's 2nd Division comin' at ya!" Nagakura stated paired with a chuckle and a grin before setting off towards the gate with a handful of other men. Sanan drew his own sword and looked over at Heisuke.
"Well, let's get going Toudou-kun. Time to show those Imperial fools why they should learn to fear the fall of the night" His smile sent cold shivers through me. Honestly, I didn't want to leave Heisuke with Sanan on the account that I no longer trusted the man.
"...Hold on Sanan-san. We're short on men. You think you can leave Heisuke here?" Harada stopped Sanan before he could run off into battle.
"Nani?" Heisuke was confused by his friend's request.
"Heisuke, I want you to keep an eye on your girlfriend. She might need a bit of help since she was injured earlier" Harada smiled.
"I'm fine!" I yelled defensively.
"That all right with you Sanan-san?"
"Hai..."
"Great, then I'm gonna go back up Shinpachi so I'm leaving this place to you" Harada winked at me with a grin before grabbing his spear and running off after Nagakura. Oh, he did that so I wouldn't worry about Heisuke...Arigato Harada. Sanan watched him leave before shrugging his shoulders.
"I suppose it doesn't matter what you do. I mean, look around us...The front line is everywhere!" He drove his sword through a nearby Satsuma soldier in one lightning-fast strike, laughed-albeit a bit crazily-and ran towards the gate. The rest of the Fury Corps followed him, yelling battle cries.
"Guess you and me better get to it"
"To me you're still the leader of the 8th Division, so lead the way captain!" I smirked as I drew Aka Tatsu.
"Then to battle soldier" Heisuke grinned while unsheathing his sword. We stood back-to-back and helped each other take out our enemies. Blood and bullets fell like rain all around us, but we stood strong and fought on.