Once upon a dream (Hakuouki fan-fic) (Hijikata x OC)

Chapter 25

Third Person POV

Everything in the Shinsengumi headquarters appeared to go back to normal shortly after Victoria's return, however, from the captain's point of view, things only got tenser as they looked at the younger female. She acted so casually as if she hadn't just been the subject of a sinister kidnapping, just the idea of it was enough to bother most of them and yet it really happened to the girl. Was she really as fine as she appeared? The slightest look of discomfort or minor stumble made all of the captains flinch, the girl found this increasingly annoying. She wondered why the captains were walking on ice around her, did she seem that frail to them? The Shinsengumi commander looked on from afar as the girl went about her regular daily chores, against everyone else who pushed her to leave the work to them. She hummed a simple tune as she carried a basket of laundry to the wash basin, pulling up her sleeves and tying her tasuki to hold them back. Kondou-San shook his head lightly his right-hand man eyeing him curiously.

"Maybe we're looking at the situation wrong" The older man admitted. His Vice-commander gave him a strange look as if to question him. "What do you mean, Kondou-San?" The commander sighed, rubbing his hand through his hair with a hint of frustration. "Maybe we're the bad guys holding her against her will" Hijikata looked perplexed. "Have you gone mad? She's here on her own free will" The ravenette argued. "But if she wanted to leave, would we let her go? She knows all of our ambitions, our sins, our futures. Her innocence and perspective are refreshing to have around and she gives a lot of us hope. I truly think the Shinsengumi would be different had she've not been here, saying that...I believe we selfishly keep her close to us for our benefit and I think it's hurting her, Toshi" The look in the commander's eye shouted guilt and Hijikata could see that. He gave a quick glance to the peacefully humming female before looking back at his longtime friend. "Don't be fooled by her innocence, she uses us for shelter and protection, you know that" The commander hummed, nodding slightly, agreeing with his friend's statement. "I understand, Toshi but how far will we let this conflict run until someone gets hurt?" Hijikata knew his friend was worried about the girl's safety after all he recognized how the girl reminded his friend of a daughter, something Kondou-San never had the pleasure of having himself. "I won't allow it any further than this, it stops now!" The purple-eyed samurai proclaimed sternly.

The sureness of his statement made Kondou-San's lips twitch happily. He knew his Vice-commander would keep his word. Hijikata never lied to him and always kept his word. There was something else though. "You have feelings for her?" Now, this had come as more of a statement rather than a question. Kondou's eyes flickered between the dark-haired girl and the equally dark-haired Vice-commander as he allowed his friend to respond. Kondou had watched the interactions between the two ever since he suspected there to be feelings. He noticed the way Victoria lit up, her face grew colour, her eyes sparkled with feeling, her actions grew either bold or shy. Kondou-San noticed her personality just fluctuated like that. Her actions for the Demon vice-commander spoke louder than any of her words, the same could be said for the latter. His friend had never been so attentive towards the well being of anybody other than Kondou himself, he was so tolerant of her despite how often she tested him. The commander had even caught the man in the middle of intense thought while unconsciously observing the girl. Kondou-San was sure that he had caught his friend smiling at one point.

The vice-commander stayed silent. He was normally quick to complain about being teased by his friend but something in him told him not to fight the allegations. He'd never act so boldly, never falter in front of his superior but he felt a piece of his walls breaking off. Something was slowly melting down his hard interior and he had a strange feeling he knew what it was. Seeing his friends silence and stiff stature the commander placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Toshi, you work harder than anyone else, I couldn't be more thrilled to have someone like you aiding me through all of this, you're the strongest person I know but even I can see when you're struggling. I can see you both have feelings for each other, it pains me that neither of you will admit it" "What do you want me to say?" Was all the vice-commander could say, refusing to meet eyes with his old friend, clearly embarrassed. "Say that you like her" "And what if I do? I'm a soldier, I don't have the freedom to drop everything for the girl and live happily ever after, that's not how the world works. Moreover, I have a duty to this country, I have a duty to you, she has nothing to do with that" Hijikata said sternly, a small scowl etched on his face. Kondou-San sighed. "My dear friend, you still have a lot to learn don't you?" The man half-chuckled. Hijikata raised a brow in confusion.