Heyaaaaa! It's been awhile! I'm back and better than ever!
For: @preabevee
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The Night before the Ikedaya Inn Incident
"I want to go too." You whined as the men were filing out of the room. "I don't want to stay behind with Inoue! I always do..."
"You have to." This was all Hijikata said before heading out of the meeting, and whatever he said was usually final.
You felt a warm hand pat your head. "You're safer here." Kondou's kind voice filled your ears before he exited the room as well.
"Okay..." You couldn't win over his radiating attitude.
"Yeah, we might end up killing you anyways. Little girls should stay home." Okita tried to pat your head but you slapped it away.
"I'm not a little girl anymore, Souji." Your eyes narrowed.
"But you look like one." He teased. "And you just acted like one."
Your face turned red out of frustration. "Souji! You're so mean!" You stomped off in the opposite direction that he was headed.
You stormed into a secluded corner of the courtyard and took a seat on a stone bench. You longingly looked at the sword attached to your hip. A gift given to you by Hajime Saito himself.
You had been with the Shinsengumi for a couple years now, so you couldn't understand why Souji continued to doubt your abilities.
"(Y/n)." A sudden voice interrupted your thoughts.
"Ah! Who is it!?" You had already drawn your sword and pointed it up at the surprise visitor.
"It's me." A raven-haired male with kind eyes took a step out from the shadows.
"Oh! Hajime! Come sit with me." You patted the seat next to you and shielded your sword.
You really admired his swordsmanship and skills. He was the only left-handed swordsman you had ever known.
"You know, Souji is only teasing." He said while looking up at the sky.
"Yeah, but it makes me so mad! I can't believe he would undermine my skills like that!" You clenched your fist. "You've seen me in action before! Am I really not good enough?" You frowned, but just then an idea popped into your head. "Hajime! Let me fight you! It can prove I'm worthy." You reached to grab your sword but he stopped you by placing his hand over your own.
This made your heart skip a beat.
You looked into his eyes, then down to his lips.
"Not with these." He said.
"Huh?" You were confused.
"Let's go use the wooden training swords. These are far too valuable to be using them in friendly combat."
"O-oh. Okay." You followed him as he headed toward the training hall.
Once you arrived, Hajime threw a wooden sword to you and took to his usual fighting stance.
"Hi-yah!" You swung the sword down quickly, but he was able to evade and you saw him move to your left.
He was about to strike.
But you swiftly brought your blade to protect your left side from his side-slash, and attempted to bring your blade up in order to dislodge the wooden sword from his hands.
The only problem was, he was stronger than you. So he was able to resist your attempt and hold your sword in its place.
You were sweating. This was a battle of pure strength against Saito and you knew you were going to lose, but you stood your ground and held out. You stared into Saito's eyes until he averted his gaze and you felt the pressure on your blade release.
"I think that's enough for tonight." Saito sighed and dropped his weapon.
You panted, he was definitely intense. You sat on the floor and sweat ran down the sides of your face.
Saito moved to sit next to you.
"You hold up well. I will talk to Hijikata-San about letting you come on patrol with me." He gazed at you as his hair fell free from its restraint.
"But-" He put a finger to your lips.
"Baby steps. If you want to be on the battlefield, you have to take it one step at a time. Earn their trust." He advised.
"Okay." You smiled, heart pounding. Whether it was from the challenge or your feelings, you didn't know. Saito was probably the first member that really believed in you.
~*~*~
Quite some time had passed since your challenge with Saito and there was a war breaking out about a shift in power.
At the moment, a man named Shiranui Kyo was having an all-out battle with Saito while you were in the process of fighting off the enemy's soldiers. It was going smoothly until they brought out their western weapons.
You ran to Saito to help him fend off the handgun-wielding demon. It was obvious that he was getting tired.
"Hah!" Shiranui laughed. "All you humans are the same! You're all weak!"
"Why you little-!" Saito charged for him.
"I think it's time we end this fun." Shiranui aimed for Saito's head and pulled the trigger.
Saito's reflexes made the bullet miss it's shot and hit his right shoulder instead. It went straight through.
"Hajime!" You screeched and ran faster in his direction. The adrenaline pumped all through-out your veins.
"Bye-bye Shinsengumi boy." Shiranui aimed for his chest and fired just after you jumped on top of Saito as his shield.
"(Y/N)!" Saito's eyes went wide. He helplessly watched as you coughed up blood. The bullet had gone through your back and lodged itself in your lungs.
"Thank you... for always bel...ieving in... me..." You couldn't stop the tears from pouring out even though the adrenaline numbed the pain.
"No! No! NO!" He panicked. His left hand dropped the sword and held your body close to his own. He shed tears as you bled out in front of him.
"I love you." You managed to choke out. "A lot."
Saito pulled something out from his pocket and opened it.
It was a vile of the Water of Life after Chizuru's blood had been added to it.
"No..." You muttered under your breath. It was getting hard to keep your eyes open.
You watched as Saito took a swig of the whole thing and then pressed his lips to your own, sharing the Water of Life with you.
"You have to stay alive." He desperately pushed the drink down your throat. "I believe you will."
~~~~~
There you go! That's that! Hahah. Hope you enjoyed❤️My sweet boy.
