Samurai Heart

Chapter 4: F e s t i v a l

It was a few days ago since Hasegawa-san entered the hospital. The next day he was released from the hospital, receiving another patient instead. This was her job, taking care for the people injured or ill, and she loved it, filling with love every action that she does, even just talk with her patients. For that very reason, she became in the most loved doctor by the patients and the team in the hospital, even out there. 

She loved her job, but sometimes it was strenuous, like today, that she was coming to her home, in the center of Edo, late at night, a simple, but warm, apartment. Yawning from exhaustion, she got up the stairs and took the keys out of her pocket, accidentally dropping them to the stairs, reaching the first floor. 

Cursing for herself, she went down the stairs, and before she could pick up the keys, a pale hand was holding them out to her. She raised her head to thank the stranger, but her gaze changed to a surprised one when she saw his face. 

-Long time no see, (Y/n)- said the purple haired terrorist- I think you dropped this keys, here, take them- continued, putting the keys in one (Y/n)'s hand. 

-What are you doing here Shinsuke? It's dangerous here, everyone is looking for you and Kotarou, calling both of you terrorist and all those things- replied the (H/c) haired female, worried by his friend. 

-Ah...You're still the same (Y/n)- said the man with a sigh, approaching her. 

-Wha..!?- she couldn't complete the sentence because the man hugged her tightly between his arms, bringing his lips close to her ear. 

-I'm here because I want to fulfill my promise and take you to a festival in the city- he whispered- Will you go with me?- finished without letting her go. 

At that moment, a light went on in the second floor, where (Y/n) lived. 

-I've to go now, but I'll be waiting for you- said the samurai before leaving her at the beginning of the stairs, confused and nervous. 

She was blank for a few seconds, glued to the floor, processing the last minutes. Still thinking about that, she went up the stairs again. Before entering her apartment, she had a brief conversation with her neighbour, an old woman who was renting her the apartment. When the conversation ended, she entered her house, knowing that she couldn't sleep tonight. Her mind was racing a thousand an hour, filled with memories and questions. 

Still remembering, she lay down in the futon, falling asleep sometime. 

It was an icy night, with a light breeze that rocked the flowers of the tree she was looking at. Admiring the beauty of the landscape, she didn't notice the footsteps approaching her. Only when Takasugi sat by her side, she noticed him. 

-Shinsuke, what are you doing here?- asked the (H/c) haired girl, looking at her friend. 

-I have round tonight- answered the samurai, looking the tree- What are you doing here?

-I'm just relaxing and contemplating the landscape- said (Y/n) giggling. 

With that, they both fell silent. She always felt calm with him, even with his gaze or his silences. Suddenly, he took both (Y/n)'s hands in his hands, looking at her for a moment and then look down at the floor. 

-(Y/n), when the war ends and we bring sensei back...-he gulped- Would you like to go with me to a festival in the city? With lights, food and all those stuffs- he finished without looking at her. 

She was surprised. Since some time, she was saying that she wanted to go to a festival in the city, with all the traditional stuffs like a yukata, some delicious food and fireworks, and always she said that, Tatsuma asked her to go with him, stopped by Kotarou and Gintoki, saying him that he was too idiot for something like that, and that he would surely ruin it. Always in those situations, Shinsuke didn't say anything.