Love at first sight (Heisuke x OC)

Chapter 81: Revenge is an art

I was having trouble with finding motivation to paint and it was starting to affect my overall mood. Heisuke noticed this and suggested an outing to get my creative juices flowing again. I had no problem with it so here we were, in a peaceful forest by a calming waterfall.

"You really go above and beyond for your painting, don't ya"
"I seem to remember that it was a certain boyfriend of mine's idea to come here"
"I know, I'm just saying that I'm amazed that you were inspired the instant you laid eyes on the scenery"
"Any artist who truly loves art can find inspiration almost instantly when the time is right" I answered as I continued to paint the beautiful edge of the waterfall in front of me.
"I forget you're famous sometimes"
"Heisuke, you know that embarrasses me! Plus I've barely made a dent in the art world"
"Barely made a dent? You have an entire gallery full of your paintings!"
"A small gallery"
"I don't get you sometimes"
"That's good, means I can keep surprising you from time to time" Heisuke didn't reply to my joke causing me to look up from my canvas. He had on a serious expression as he looked around. "Heisuke, what's-?"
"Ssh! I sense someone else's presence..."
"Nani?!" We both stood up and Heisuke held onto my hand. He squeezed it tightly to reassure me. I squeezed back.
"We know you're hiding! Come out!" A few seconds later, a group of ninjas emerged from the trees. "Who are you and why are you here?!"
"To finish the job he started" Quicker than either of us could react to, one of the ninjas took out a gun and pulled the trigger. A second later, pain erupted from my abdomen as blood began to trickle from the hole the bullet left.
"Argh!!!" For some reason, the bullet created a burning pain that was unbearable. I collapsed to the ground, but Heisuke caught me in his arms before I could hit it.
"Chiyeko!" I covered the wound to slow down the blood flow. Heisuke's eyes became hidden in shadow as he gently laid me down. He then stood in front of me and drew his sword. "Who the fuck are you bastards?!" He roared in an angry voice.
"Our master died trying to kill her and we're here to honour his dying wish" It can't be...
"You're Kioshi's ninjas!?"
"We won't allow that monster to leave this place alive!"
"The only monster here is you! Shooting a defenceless woman, have you no pride?!"
"That thing is not a woman and we're doing her a favour by killing her!"
"That's it!" Heisuke leapt into battle, his rage providing a great energy source for him. He fought them off while making sure that none of them took cheap shots at me. I looked down at where the gun had shot me and removed my hand. My kimono was turning a deep red. It's not healing...it must've been a silver bullet...The excruciating burning pain was still present meaning that the bullet was still buried inside me. There was nothing I could do about that now though. I covered my wound again and winced as I forced myself to my feet. "Iie! Chiyeko look out!" My head whipped up to see a ninja charging for me from the side with his blade raised high. Fortunately, I managed to dodge his blow. Unfortunately, he didn't stop there. He kept swinging for me and I kept dodging, he was swiftly backing me away from Heisuke. "Leave her alone!" He tried to get to me, but the other ninjas wouldn't allow it. He swung again and I jumped back to avoid him, but my foot slipped on wet earth and I fell into the water. "Chiyeko!!?" I was completely drenched through as I rose to the surface. This is bad...! I desperately tried to swim against the current, but my body didn't have nearly enough energy to do so. I was sent over the waterfall. "Chiyeko, iie!!!!" T-Typical...my life was finally good, I was happy and this happens...I frantically broke the surface of the water, but my kimono had become heavy and I couldn't move. What would happen if I died like this? What about my nakamas? What about Heisuke? My consciousness began to fade. He said he'd never leave me...Does that mean Heisuke will take his life if I die? My eyes flew open as the last of my air escaped my lips. I can't let Heisuke die! There was nothing that I could grab onto. Even so, I stretched out my arm and continued floundering in the water. I can't breathe...! Water was painfully filling up my lungs. As I floundered in the water, I absentmindedly slid into past memories. My life has been real hectic, hasn't it? Both sets of my parents were murdered and I was separated from my brother and lost my memories...I joined the Shinsengumi and made great new friends. Not to mention fell in love with Heisuke...My body was no longer responsive to my brain and I slowly descended towards the bottom of the water. Gomenasai Heisuke...please forgive me...Out of nowhere, something grabbed hold of my arm. Huh...? I was forcefully pulled to the surface. My body vomited out water as it tried to take in air. "Chiyeko!!!" I was dragged up to the edge of the water and laid on the ground. My body was trying to rid my lungs of the foreign entity, but it wasn't strong enough and I began drowning again. Outside of water this time. "You are not leaving me, ya hear?!" Heisuke pressed down on my abdomen and I let out a loud, gurgled cry of pain as water propelled up my throat and out my mouth. "What is it?" He took away his hands and gasped. "You're still bleeding!? Why haven't you healed yet?!" Since there was still water in my lungs, I had trouble answering him. "Shit, hang in there!" He applied pressure to my abdomen again. I cried out as more water left my lungs. This painful process continued until my body was able to finish the job itself. I coughed and hacked out the remaining water. Every part of my body hurt and my throat hurt too much to speak. Suddenly, Heisuke untied the obi of my kimono allowing him to remove the article of clothing. A wave of relief followed by drowsiness washed over me as my heavy, water-soaked kimono came loose. I lost consciousness soon after that.