Chiyeko has admired the Shinsengumi ever since she first heard of them. So when a trip to Kyoto goes wrong and causes her to cross paths with her heroes multiple times, how will she react?
This trip to Kyoto throws the peaceful life of Chiyeko into...
{Upon returning to Shirakawa, we told Hijikata what we were planning to do. As Heisuke was already "dead", it was a simple matter for him to leave the Shinsengumi. It was quite different for me on the other hand. Being the first and only female member of the Shinsengumi, it would be very noticeable that I was no longer around. Hijikata knew this and knew he'd have some explaining to do to various members of the Shinsengumi. Yet he didn't try to stop me from leaving. Instead he told me: "Never stop being yourself kid". If I'm honest, a few tears were shed as Heisuke and I waved goodbye to Hijikata and Saito. They watched us go in silence with content smiles on their faces. I was sad to leave the organisation that I had admired for most of my life, but so long as Heisuke was by my side, I had no regrets. Sanan's defeat led to the collapse of the Sendai Domain and without their support the Great Northern Alliance crumbled. The world swelled with excitement at the beginnings of a new government and those who found themselves coveted by the shadow of history were simply ignored as time marched forward. But as the world changed around us, we remained hidden away from it. Consequently unaffected by the grinding wheels of progress.}
Out in the country, time passed slowly. Heisuke's body had been ill-used by years of reckless fighting, but the quiet and peaceful atmosphere seemed to have at least something of a restorative effect on him. Ever since we settled into a house on the Yukimura land, the bloodlust only affected us rarely and we were now usually awake during the day and asleep at night. Still, sunlight seemed to make both of us sleepy and we would often doze off together around noon, after we had eaten our lunch. During one such nap, I began to dream...
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Kondou-sama and Hijikata-san stood in the front, followed by Souji and Saito-san and then Harada and Nagakura. The rest of the Shinsengumi trailed behind them and everyone was laughing.
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"Mmm..." Sunlight shining against my eyelids woke me up and I opened my eyes to see a smile that seemed like it belonged in my dream.
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"I was trying hard to stay awake this time, but it looks like I ended up falling asleep" "Yeah. You looked happy so I thought I'd just let you stay like that for a little while" I snuggled my head into Heisuke's lap with a content smile. "I had a nice dream, you know" "That would explain why you looked so happy in your sleep. What was it about?" "The past. Kondou-sama was there and Hijikata-san and everybody else...They were all laughing and looked so happy...It was strange to see Saito-san so not-emotionless and I've never seen Souji so genuinely happy" Heisuke chuckled softly at my comments on my dream. "It was nice to see minna together and happy..." "...Was I there with you?" "...Umm...I can't remember...I think you were at first, but you might have drifted off somewhere later..." I reached up toward the sky as if I could catch one of the fleeting fragments of my dream. As I did this, another hand wrapped tightly around mine. "Don't worry. I'll always be with you. As long as the sun sets and the moon rises" Forever and ever..."I'll never leave you Chiyeko. And even if, one day, something were to pull us apart, my heart will be yours to keep" "Arigato gozimasu Heisuke. The same goes for me" I sat up and kissed Heisuke, keeping our hands joined together. Heisuke squeezed my hand as he kissed me back. Just as I was getting into the kiss, a low growl interrupted us. I pulled away from Heisuke to see him purposely avoiding my gaze while a slight blush rose to his cheeks. "Gomen...Guess I shouldn't have fallen asleep before lunch..." "Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too. I'll go whip us up something to eat" We stood up and we both walked inside, but as we were heading to the kitchen and common room, a knock sounded at our door. "Huh? You heard that too, right?" "Yeah, are you expecting anyone?" "Iie..." "Me neither" "Well, we aren't going to find out who's at the door if we don't answer it" "Be careful, it could be a trap" "Heisuke, you worry too much. I doubt someone with ill intentions would use the front door" "It doesn't hurt to be cautious" "If you were planning to hurt someone, would you announce your presence?" "Iie, but-" "There's your answer. Now, I'm going to greet our guests" I walked towards our door, but Heisuke stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. "At least let me open it" "Fine" I sighed as I made space for him to pass me. "You may go first my overprotective boyfriend" Heisuke didn't respond to my teasing and headed straight to the door. I rolled my eyes before quickly following after him. He slid open the door and we both gasped at who were in front of us. "Hey guys, long time no see" "Harada?!" "Hope you two didn't miss me too much" "Nagakura?!" I stared at the two in surprised shock. "How the heck did you find us?!" Heisuke exclaimed, also not believing who was standing in front of us. "C'mon man, isn't it obvious? We're destined to be nakamas forever and, knowing that, fate led us here to you two" "Are you drunk Nagakura?" "Not yet" He grinned mischievously. "Iie, I'm afraid that weird nonsense was spouted by the regular sober and baka Shinpachi" "Hey! Who're you calling baka?!" "Okay guys! We were just about to have lunch, how about you come in and join us?" I suggested before Nagakura started another one of his pointless arguments. "If there's food, I'm in" "Typical Shinpachi, always thinking with your stomach..." Harada shook his head with a sigh. "Like you aren't craving a bite of Chiyeko's food again?!" "True, I am looking forward to that, but I know how to properly conduct myself" "Excuse me, I know perfectly well how to-!" "Nagakura! Damare and get inside now!" I raised my voice as I walked behind him and pushed against his back. "Okay, okay, I'm going. Jeez, when'd you get so-" "I suggest that if that question doesn't end with a nice word, that you refrain from completing it" I warned as I pushed him until he started walking by himself. "Damn Chiyeko, you've certainly changed" Harada chuckled. "A lot can happen in seven months" I shrugged. The three men went to the common room while I went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Hmm...I was originally just going to whip up a few rice balls, but I'm guessing that Harada and Nagakura are pretty hungry after their journey-since we basically live in the middle of nowhere. I had a think as to what I could prepare that could fill their hungry bellies. I've got it! Soba noodles are really filling, plus they're easy to make! With my mind made up, I quickly got to work.
