𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐢 [ON HOLD]

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟗

it was september. much had happened but most of all keiko's relationship with the shinsengumi had grown.

around the afternoon, she was wandering around the shinsengumi looking for who was on patrol today. she wanted to join because she had enjoyed going with heisuke and wanted to go more.

she could see shinpachi, sanosuke and chizuru by the stairs. as she went to talk to them, a hand stopped her path.

"you. watch yourself." itou said, sending her a nasty stare. he retracted his hand and it disappeared into his long sleeve. he looked down at her like dirt on the ground.

"you were the one to put a hand in my way." she replied. she hated the man. he was unbelievably annoying and fussy. the others may put up with him but she wouldn't, especially because she had a big mouth and wouldn't hold back in saying what she wanted.

"how dare you talk back to me." he gasped his sleeve covering his mouth. he looked so taken aback as he leaned away from her like she smelled.

"excuse me?" keiko held her ground waiting for him to speak again.

"you are nothing but an errands boy, worthless." he spat.

"i am a swordsman!" she retorted, her hand on the hilt of her katana. a look of panic flashed across his face, from fear of her possibly trying to fight him.

"pathetic." he left, with quick steps and was out of her view within a few seconds.

with her hands balled into fists, she went over to the three and sat down next to chizuru, not forgetting to let out an annoyed sigh.

"ah, keiko, what's wrong?" chizuru asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. considering the direction she came from, she guessed it was because of itou.

"itou pissed me off." she said, confirming her guess.

"we were just talking about that creep." shinpachi said rubbing the side of his head, annoyed thinking about him.

"harada." a man called out. the group looked to the man with more men with weapons waiting for sanosuke to join them.

"oh. times up huh?" sanosuke asked and got up to follow the man.

assuming they were going to protect the sign, keiko got up and went after him. she almost tripped over shinpachi's legs but managed to save herself and hurry after sanosuke.

"sanosuke, can i join you?" she asked.

"why is that?" he peered down at her, in a way to fluster her but he didn't stop her from following.

"i want to be more useful around here and help out as much as i can." keiko told him. she felt like she hadn't been helping out to the best of her ability and wanted to do more.

"sure." he said a smile on his face, "just don't mess around."

"i won't."

by nightfall, the men and keiko were still by the sign. so far nothing had happened and no one had appeared. but that didn't last long as a group of men came running at them, katanas raised and yelling.

keiko was quick in taking out her weapon out and knocking a man to the ground. she stood by one of the shinsengumi men, trying to tie up their opponents, when a katana sliced down the mans back, throwing him forwards.

"fall back. fall ba— ugh." a guy began yelling, but was cut off as keiko's dagger lodged into his chest. the other men retreated and the person who had hurt the man beside her, stopped to look at them then turn away. they were wearing a kimono and a cloth over their head.