𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐢 [ON HOLD]

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟕

"how is your shoulder?" heisuke asked, approaching the girl who sat on one of the benches in the gardens.

when she got back with yamazaki, he wrapped her up and told her it wasn't that bad. keiko knew that already. she knew a lot of things about doctors and treating wounds. it was another thing her parents got her into.

"it hurt a lot before." she whined. "but i heal quickly."

truth was, while she may not be a demon who's wounds heal easily, she was not human so her wounds heal quicker than humans at least.

"i should've gone yesterday then maybe you wouldn't be hurt." he said, sitting beside her. he seemed hesitant to bring up the topic of him not going.

"no. you weren't feeling too well and that's okay. i'm a strong girl anyways!" she lifted up an arm showing off her muscles that were covered by the sleeves.

"nah, i don't see anything." he teased, poking her arm. she let out a scoff.

"i'd bet i could beat you in an arm wrestle."

"not true. i'm way stronger and now that i'm in better health it would be easier." heisuke responded, flexing his muscles.

"i'm glad you're feeling better."

she turned to look at him and noticed a guilty look on his face. he was staring down at his hands, his eyebrows furrowed as if he was thinking hard. she was about to ask what was wrong when he opened his mouth to speak.

"actually, that was all a lie about being ill."

"what do you mean? why'd you lie about that?" keiko asked. she felt like she may know the answer to that but wanted to hear him explain.

"i didn't want to protect the shogun. the shinsengumi's original goal was to keep peace in kyoto, but the bakufu took that away. anyway, don't worry too much about it."

"if you say so heisuke." she put a comforting hand on his shoulder. keiko didn't have much opinion on the matter, but she was trying her best to gain the trust of the shinsengumi which is why she went to help them.

"oh! that reminded me. we have health checks soon. gotta go! and don't follow me."

"why not?" keiko asked, already getting up.

"you'll just see a bunch of shirtless men!" he yelled, rushing away.

"maybe i want to see!" she yelled after him.

"just don't!"

she sighed and left to go find chizuru. as she climbed up the steps, she could see the girl running in her direction and then straight past her.

"chizuru, where are you going?!"

"health inspections! come on." chizuru ran back to her and grabbed her hand, dragging her down the place and towards the room where all the men were getting checked.

they got to the entrance and were met with the sight of many shirtless men like heisuke had said. keiko slapped her hand onto chizuru's eyes.

"look away, kid."

"keiko!" she complained, pushing her hands away.

keiko was practically drooling as she stared at the captains. she felt wrong for staring at them like this, but she couldn't help it. she hadn't seen people look this good before.

"keiko, you should get checked, too!" one of the random men called out, noticing her by the door. of course, he didn't know she was actually a girl.

"no. no. no. i'm okay." she refused trying to back away, but got pulled into the room.