A/N: This story has been sitting in my file for a while, and I thought I'd just post it up. It's set in episode 9, after Chizuru was attacked by the rasetsu, and inspired by the song from Secret Garden 'A song for a stormy night'

DISCLAIMER: Hakuouki does not belong to me and neither do any of its characters...(even if I wanted them).

~x~ SAFE ~x~

It was well past midnight by the time they had managed to repair the damages done to her room and cleaned up any evidence of the rasetsu's attack. There was still a never ending list of things that needed his attention, like what to do with Itou-san now that the 'cat's out of the bag' as Souji had so kindly put it or figure out how Sanan had managed to overcome his blood lust, but for now all he wanted to do was sleep.

Dark clouds had been ushered in by the winds, hiding the clear moonlit sky from earlier and as he slid the door to his room open, his hand immediately went to the hilt of his katana as he wondered for a brief moment why there was someone sleeping in his futon, before he recalled offering it up to her and the looks the captains had given him after she had left them in a huff.

"You sure are moving fast, aren't you, Hijikata-san? Inviting a girl to your room right after she has been attacked." Souji had commented in that annoyingly cheerful voice of his.

He had swore at Souji to keep his damned mouth shut before muttering some excuse about her being allocated as his page and therefore, was his responsibility. Besides, no one was likely to pry into the demon commander's room thus giving her the privacy she needed, while he himself was unlikely to sleep this night due to the never-ending work that needed to be completed. All these explanations had been given in the gruffest tone he could manage (complete with a frown of impatience), before ordering them back to their work.

As the rain began to fall insistently, he silently padded into the semi-darkened room to kneel by her side. She looked so young and peaceful in her sleep that it was almost a compulsion for him to reach out and gently brush her hair from her face with sword calloused fingers, a soft gaze stealing across his features.

Now that he was left alone to his own thoughts, he recalled the moment when he had heard the disturbance coming from her room and the unforgettable sound of blade kissing flesh. The mere thought of something happening to her had spurred him on, while his heart felt like it was lodged in his throat. At that single moment, fear as he had never known nor experienced had threatened to consume him whole.

At that time, he had merely chalked it down to the fact that being raised by his older sister had instilled in him the need to protect the opposite gender. But in the confines of his personal quarters, he reluctantly admitted that it was more than that. What it was, he wasn't quite sure. Perhaps it was the intriguing puzzle that she represented or her unwavering loyalty or unending supply of kindness and willingness to help.

Admittedly, the real reason he had instructed her to use his room was to reassure himself that she was truly safe and alive. Chizuru suddenly turned in her sleep, causing the blankets to shift down to her waist. With the faint dustings of a blush on his cheeks, he pulled the covers back into place and tucked it securely around her.

Never again. He promised himself, will he allow harm to befall upon her, or the look of fear to reside in her eyes. Satisfied that she was safe, Hijikata moved to the far corner of his room and settled against the wall for a few hours of sleep. When morning came, he would be back to his usual self and leave no trace that he was ever in the room, just like the rain outside had never fallen.

A/N: How was it?