Hello! This is EternalSnow96, and here is my first story posted here ^^ I hope it is good. I came here to enjoy myself and improve so criticism and reviews will be loved! Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy the story!

The rain began to fall near the base of the Shinsengumi. It was not calm...it was violent almost. It fell heavily, thunder and lightning following one another in the distance. Of course, maybe it was better it wasn't calm. The solider thought this now as he walked across the now muddy road, it wouldn't be very...suiting he supposed, it didn't seem right.

His steps were staggered due to his is left sandal being broken and causing him to slip when the mud and water got in it. Fatigue was obvious as the man slouched and thick fog emanated from him with every heavy breath he took. He shivered, this was nothing like the warm bed he was used to nowadays. Blood fell as a trail, he had injured his hand earlier and the bleeding had yet to stop even after using his headband as a makeshift band-aid.

He seemed miserable...but, despite this, a smile was plastered upon his face. He got to wear that blue haori again, that uniform of honor he missed so. His blades clicked as he walked when they hit against his hip, just hearing them, made him content, he had not seen them for ages now. Maybe, this pride was only understandable by him, but being allowed to fight was his only wish. He decided the pain he had now was worth the experience he had today.

Almost home, he thought to himself. Even though he had enjoyed himself, some rest would be to be welcomed. However, he seemed to want to avoid the comfort of his room now as he cursed to himself when the entrance to the base came into view.

There he was, the man he had hoped not to see now. The man's raven hair and purple haori kept the man from believe he had mistaken the person...it was Hijikata...not even the gods could save him now. He saw the man turn, there was no way he didn't see him. He began to walk towards the man now...actually, it was more like a mad charge. It was obvious that Hijikata was upset, his brows furrowed and his mouth formed a scowl. He reached the distance where he and the man could make eye contact, those violet eyes burning with rage.

"Damn it, Souji! What are you doing?"

Great, this should be fun, Souji thought. A smirk placed itself across Okita's face.

" I think it is obvious what I am doing. I am returning from our mission, same as you were."

Hijikata was fuming, that is what made it enjoyably fun for Souji.

" You were supposed to be in bed, that was an order straight from Kondou and I! Before we left you were running a high fever! Why the hell did you leave after you were given orders!"

"Well, I can't let you have all the fun! It makes my skin crawl knowing you are hogging it all!"

Hijikata's rage could not be contained at this moment, and Okita was continually adding gasoline to it. He needed something else to say, something else to hold against Okita! Anything to give him the advantage! He looked down to find what he needed. He grabbed Okita's bloody hand and squeezed it until he say Okita winced.

"And you got injured to! You are the biggest idiot I have seen! Why-"

"Hijikata-san~." Okita cut him off by drawling his name out in an almost sadistic tone which matched his smile horribly well. "If it upsets you that much, I will be sure to stay at the base." Hijikata gave a surprised look.

"Well, goo-"

" However, I don't want to hear a complaint if I get bored and a few soldiers go missing. I wouldn't want to become rusty simply because you are over-protective."

Hijikata sighed, he should have known there would be something added to dismiss the approval. He attempted to subside his anger, there was no use in trying to solve anything now...what was done was done...but that didn't mean he was satisfied with the outcome! He trembled as he held all his rage inside, he didn't know how much this amused Okita.

"Go inside, to your room. Chizuru will bring you dry clothes and treat you there."

Okita laughed as he passed Hijikata. But, there was still that unnoticed anger that often was present in him when Hijikata opened his mouth.

"Yes, Mommy-san."

Okita sat in his room, still wearing his wet clothes, he wasn't sure when Chizuru would come. He didn't want to sit on the bed while still wet, so he sat in the corner of his room on the floor. He tried to stop, but he continued to shiver, he was very cold, he really wished he had some dry clothes so he could huddle up in the blankets and sleep till the morning. The sun had fully set now, which only made him more tired.

His hand was still bleeding too, he had set his hand on his lap ontop of his uniform to keep the blood off the floor. He sighed. Really, he shouldn't have gotten that injury, it was stupid that it happened. The idea of the whole thing being fun seemed to have faded as he thought more. Tonight was almost too much for him, his body couldn't stand that much stress...and he hated to admit that. He used to be able to a simple task like that and so much more. If he wasn't ill, it would have gone smoother. Looking to the side of his room, only he knew what he was looking at. Maybe, things would have been better if-

His thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. He stared at it, waiting for a voice...when it didn't, he spoke up.

"Yeah, come in"

The door slid open. A young girl entered, her hands full of what she needed. That was odd, she would always say it was her then ask for entrance. She came in saying nothing and giving a simple quick bow to show welcome. Her brown eyes avoided any contact with the emerald ones that were Okita's. It made Okita uncomfortable, but he simply blew if off and allowed his sly smile to crawl across his face.

" Ahh~ Chizuru-chan has honored me with her presence again I see."

Chizuru just nodded and began to shut the door behind her. Quiet, he didn't like it. He came to feel even more awkward. He shifted. He needed something-he saw the items. A cup of green tea, bandages, and dry set of night wear. She carried it all in at once, must have been a hassle with the tea being on a tray with medicine also.

"Why did you carry them all at once, excited to see me, Chizuru-chan~"

" I was in a hurry" Chizuru replied as mono-toned as possible.

Okita's smile disappeared as he was taken aback by the reply...there was no blush, no overreacting...just...that. He had never heard her tone like that, towards him, that was. Was she mad?

She came over and reached for his hand. She refused to make any eye contact still. Okita sighed, of course she was upset. He watched her clean and bandage the wound, he had no clue what to say. When she finished, she continued to hold his hand. Seeing her like this made Okita hurt, but he had no clue what to do. He began to pull his hand away to avoid anything else to hurt him or Chizuru, obviously, he had done enough.

"Thank yo-"

She pulled his hand back towards her, refusing to let go. Okita attempted to pull it again, only to have Chizuru bring it back. He looked at her now.

"Why did you leave, Okita-san?"

Okita stayed quiet. What should he even say? He still worried he would cause more harm then help if he said anything. He felt her hands shake, then tighten as though they were trying to hide the fact she was shaking. It was painfully tight, Okita grimaced.

"C-Chizu-"

"I was worried about you!" That tone, he had not heard this one either. She then finally looked up. Okita eyes widened, tears were falling endlessly as she began to choke up while she repeated his name under her breath. Those brown eyes...so lonely and frightened...what was this? He had never seen her like this. " I scared, scared you got hurt! I was scared-" Her tears caused her to stop, she left Okita's hand to wipe the tears and cover her face. " I was scared you weren't coming back!"