Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 63: Kioshi's surprising ally

Discomfort dragged me out of my sleep. It's hot...and I feel thirsty for some reason. Feeling a strange thirst, I quickly got myself dressed and headed to the kitchen. I fetched myself some water and gulped it down, but I still felt thirsty. That's strange...I had several cups of water, but the strange thirst persisted. Why won't it go away? I left the kitchen and headed back to my room. On the way there I ran into Heisuke. "Oyasumi Chiyeko! How're you feeling?"
"I'm okay, but I'm really thirsty for some reason..."
"Thirsty? Then I'll get ya some sake"
"I'm beginning to think you have a drinking problem" I teased with a raised eyebrow.
"But I wouldn't be drinking any" Heisuke looked at me confused.
"Oh Heisuke, you are adorably clueless sometimes. I'm just pointing out that instead of tea or water, you suggested alcohol"
"I see..." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Plus, I just woke up. Is sake really the best thing to drink so early in the night?"
"Iie, it is not. Then I guess I'll whip you up a nice cup of tea"
"That is acceptable" I chuckled.
"You go wait in your room while I make the tea"
"Okey dokey" I continued to my room and sat down when I arrived. I wonder why I'm experiencing this seemingly unquenchable thirst...I sat patiently and awaited Heisuke. A few minutes later, he entered my room with a warm cup of green tea. "Arigato Heisuke" I took a sip and sighed happily. "It's been a while since I've enjoyed a good cup of tea"
"It's been a while since any of us have relaxed"
"True" I enjoyed the tea Heisuke made for me, but it didn't get rid of the thirst I was feeling.
"You okay now?" I don't want to worry him...
"...Hai, I feel fine now. Arigato for the tea Heisuke" Gomen for lying Heisuke...
"That's good" Suddenly, there was a knock at my door and Saito-san slid it open before stepping in.
"Kon'nichiwa Saito-san!"
"Hey Hajime-kun. What's up?"
"Oyasumi to you both. The Commander is calling for us"
"We'll be right there then" He nodded and left.
"Well, duty calls" I stood up.
"That it does" Heisuke stood up and we made our way to Hijikata-san's room. "What'd ya need us for Hijikata-san?"
"I need you to investigate something for me"
"What is it? Has something happened?"
"Thankfully, not yet Chiyeko, but I don't want to wait around until something does happen"
"What's going on?"
"People have reported seeing men with white hair and red eyes walking around with their swords out. They haven't harmed anyone yet, but people want something done before they start hurting people"
"Understood Commander, what should we do if we encounter the furies?"
"If they retaliate, kill them. We can't have angry furies running around. If they seem docile then bring them in, I want to question them"
"Hai sir" We bowed.
"And Chiyeko make sure to stick with Heisuke"
"I will Hijikata-san" We left the headquarters and split up to investigate. I stayed with Heisuke and Saito-san went off on his own. I hope Saito-san'll be okay...I knew Saito-san could take care of himself, but I still couldn't help worrying about him. He was one of my closest friends after all. I'm sure he'll be fine, right now I've got a job to do. Heisuke and I walked through the streets, our ears alert for any commotion. "I wonder why the furies aren't attacking people..."
"Same here, it's so unlike them...Hey Chiyeko, isn't your face a bit pale?"
"It is? I don't feel unwell or anything like that" Except for the annoyingly persistent thirst.
"Please don't overwork yourself. If you need a break, don't hesitate to tell me"
I nodded and we continued to be on the lookout for furies or anything else out of the ordinary. As we walked, the thirst was slowly turning into a burning pain. Similar, but not identical, to the one I experienced in Sanan's cave. Now I knew what was behind my unquenchable thirst, the Water of Life. I was just about to tell Heisuke that I indeed did need a break when we spotted a group of four furies. They did, in fact, appear docile. That is, until they saw us. As soon as they laid eyes on us, they raised their swords and charged. We both quickly drew our katanas and raised them in defence. "I thought they were supposed to be docile or whatever!?"
"Well, they obviously aren't right now!" The furies drove themselves between us and forced us to separate. Two furies attacked Heisuke and two furies held their swords against me. I managed to hold my own against the furies, but they were proving to be a challenge to defeat. Mainly because of the pain in my throat was distracting me. Damn it, I need this pain to go away...! One of the furies threw all their body weight at me causing me to fall over. The other quickly took the opening and stabbed me in my back. "Argh!" The blade missed my heart, but that unfortunately didn't mean it was painless.
"Chiyeko!" The fury removed his sword as I coughed up blood. It raised its sword again. Heisuke help! Heisuke quickly leapt in front of me with his sword raised. The loud clang of metal against metal filled the night air. "Chiyeko run!"
"But Hijikata-san said-!"
"You'll most likely die if you stay here! Go back to headquarters now!"
"O-Okay, please be careful Heisuke!" I got to my feet and ran as fast as I could.