Remember the Time I got Reincarnated into Hakuouki?

Chapter 0 | The Harbinger

1864

The sky hallowed its tempered gusts, as it bled into saturated blues; teal, cyan, before finally transpiring into a pitch black state. Thereafter, there was a state where the whole city of Kyoto was finally at rest from the liveliness of the day. As it subsided into darkness, the littered lanterns of the night market began to flower one by one; who could possibly rest in the insidious, ravaging nights of the rowdy city, when it was a time of prosper for the dark agencies of night?

Chizuru Yukimura, with her eyes rested upon the ground in cool intent, began to sweep the dust curdles into the corners of the courtyard. It was quite an exhausting task for the young fifteen year old, being as she was used to a life of idleness with her absent father. She began to sigh, resting her aching forearm against the blunt tip of her broom.

If only she had a spot of tea, or perhaps an end to her lamenting labour she was pitted constantly against.

"Vice-Commander Hijikata," she suddenly spoke with her eyes following the entrance of the newcomer, addressing the man who began to pace their way towards her. "It has surely been a while since you've come to me personally!"

She pursed her lips, a vain attempt of calming her furiously trepidation heart; of course Hijikata, the Captain of Kyoto's special police force hardly had any time to dote on subordinates, especially ones that were assigned under their care. Female, even more. He, being one of the driving figures of the organisation, was just simply too busy.

Yet, inside her heart, Yukimura knew that Hijikata felt something - anything towards her. Perhaps pity, or sympathy, or what be it; her arm rested against her stomach, feeling the crumpled letters that pressed against her stomach. They left a fluttery, dancing feeling in her chest, perhaps the aftermath of his kindest words. So what was the occasion, she pondered to herself.

"Yukimura, how are you?" A plain, stoic question that seemed far more demanding than an intimate gesture.

"Cool. Breezy! Today's forecast was supposed to be mild tonight, but..." she trailed off in a hurried manner, briefly touching her brow to remove the beads of sweat that laced her forehead. How embarrassing, caught sweating like a pig, she thought to herself.

He acknowledged her statement, glancing up at the clouds which hid the remnants of the moon, before continuing onwards.

"I hope you aren't feeling too disheartened these days about your father," he paused, adjusting his arm to rub the nape of his neck gingerly. "The real reason I came down here, was to check up on you, you know. I've heard that you've been feeling quite gloomy these past autumn days..."

"Ah, that might've been curtesy of Captain Okita," Chizuru grimaced for a second, contemplating whether she should inform Hijikata of her secret excursions with Okita. Maybe he already knew, and he was secretly pointing this out. She wasn't, after all, completely allowed to leave the HQ Compounds, so she couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed by Okita's sleight of tongue. It was supposed to be their secret.

Sighing aloud, she could only really stare broodingly down at the ground.

"I apologise on Souji's behalf; he's probably been giving you rough treatment ever since he's been tasked to take care of you," Hijikata began to knead sheepishly at his temples , watching Chizuru with an expression she couldn't quite understand. "Does Souji bother you?"

"No! No... I appreciate what this organisation has done for me all this time! Truly! Honestly! I should be thanking you both - All!" She breathlessly began to respond, shaking her hands in an attempt to wave off his doubt.

This caused Hijikata to chuckle huskily, and her to squeak shyly. Perhaps this was a new landmark in their slowly unraveling relationship; since, this was the longest she'd spoken since her trial. A fateful December, not quite long ago.

"You are as quiet as a dormouse; so careful of treading into areas you don't want to disturb. I commend your perseverance." He stepped closer, handing Yukimura what appeared to be an apologetic smile across his handsome, aged features; in fact, his face was as pristine as a porcelain doll, his expressions breathtaking.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I assure you, we will find your father. The Shinsengumi are indebted by his work, and so the favour will be passed to you, Chizuru Yukimura."

Yukimura felt her shoulder blade burn with crazed sensations flooding her heart, brazen as she immediately stepped back. It wasn't as if she was being reproachful and warding off Hijikata's intimate gesture, but rather... she felt her stomach leap into a cramp. Or worse, she cautioned herself as she began to nurse her stomach.

"Ai... I really feel queasy. Maybe it was the beans." She muttered to herself, shying and facing herself away from Hijikata in an attempt to mask her stomach pains. It was instantaneous, her head beginning to spin as the paper lanterns, scattered in the courtyard, began to blind her eyes. Was she experiencing, what her father diagnosed in many patients, a migraine attack?

However, Chizuru was unaware of Hijikata's heightened senses, as the man immediately reached her side. His arms were outstretched to catch her before her legs gave up on her, his voice penetrating her blaring mind. "Chizuru! What's wrong? Are you in pain? Ill, perhaps?"

"No no..." she murmured gently, her pounding head beginning to cause her to sway. There were fast, fluid visions running through her mind.

Visions of children dancing in a dewy field, embers crackling as the trees screamed in agony; visions of a woman, her skin dark and her eyes burgundy. Staring straight at her. Her lips dry and arid, muttering as she began to sprint towards the suffering Yukimura, before vanishing into mid-air.

Chizuru could not completely handle these grim sights that festered in her mind, and whereupon she managed to catch a breath, she fainted. Sinking, sinking deeper into Hijikata's quaking arms. As if, the surreal visions had managed to penetrate into her idyllic reality.