So I was...not a good place when I wrote this. I certainly wasn't myself and I needed to let off some steam. This is a very dark chapter and the intent of what was meant to occur should be obvious. However, I waited a long time before writing the next chapter to this so it changed from what it originally was supposed to be. Now it's...A LOVE STORY! ^_^ So though this chapter is dark, please keep going to the next chapter! It's a lot cuter than this one...

The weather outside was dark and cloudy. Anyone with eyes could tell rain would be coming, though it didn't matter to the Shinsengumi. They would train regardless of what the weather was like. It was their job, their duty, to keep up their skills and perform their job with as little mistakes as possible. One never stops learning and the day a person says they've stopped learning is the day they die. The same goes for the warriors. The day they claim they are perfect and stop training is the day they die and most likely not in a pleasant way.

So when one of them missed the training it was not taken lightly. Toshi didn't bother asking anyone where Heisuke was. He simply went straight to his room and knocked on the door before opening it slightly.

"Why are you still in bed, Heisuke?"

Heisuke hoped his harsh coughing would be a good enough answer. He didn't bother saying anything as he threw the covers from his body because he was just too hot. His hair was down and strewn about on his pillow. As he coughed again he turned to his side and buried his face in the pillow. He was a bit ashamed to see Toshi. They both knew that being sick was no excuse to fall behind, but Heisuke couldn't even get up the strength to walk.

"I'll leave you." Toshi said. "I'll be back to check on you when we start dinner."

He left closing the door behind him only to see Sano and Shinpachi standing on either of side him.

"What's wrong with Heisuke?" Shinpachi asked.

"Is he okay?" Sano asked, following Toshi as he began walking.

"I'm not sure. Has he said anything to you two about feeling ill?" Toshi answered.

The two other men looked at each other, trying to remember if Heisuke had given any indication at all that he was unwell. They thought back on the past couple of days and a few things started to come to memory.

"I did notice he was eating less!" Shinpachi said. "I stole practically his whole plate yesterday."

"I also noticed he was running out of breath quickly these past few days. During training he would get exhausted so quickly. I asked if he was all right and he said his chest felt a little tight. He told me not to worry about it though. If I had known it would have gotten this bad…."

"It's not your fault, Harada. Don't worry. We'll take care of him," Toshi said. He kept walked, leaving the other two standing and staring after him. They both had the same idea. They turned back around and went straight for Heisuke's room. They didn't bother knocking though they did slowly and quietly open the door and silently walk inside.

"How are you feeling?" Shinpachi asked as they made their way over to him.

Heisuke just shook his head, putting his arm over his eyes. "I feel so…." He drifted off as he felt another cough come up.

Sano stood over him while Shinpachi bent down on one knee to get a closer look at him.

"He's so pale," Shinpachi said to Sano.

"He looks sweaty too. It's not too hot so it must just be him," Sano said.

Shinpachi put a hand to Heisuke's cheek though it didn't take long for him to remove it and wipe it on Heisuke's robe. "He is sweaty. Gross."

Heisuke actually cracked a smile as he removed his arm from his eyes. Shinpachi could only stare at how blood shot they were. Looking down at him he realized that his friend was seriously ill. There was something really wrong with him and there was nothing they could do for him except try to keep him happy and comfortable.

"You guys should go," Heisuke said with difficulty. He kept himself from trying to cough and swallowed several times before continuing. "I don't want you to catch…."

He hid his face in pillow again as harsh and raspy coughs came out of him. Sano and Shinpachi gave each other concerned looks. Neither was sure of what to do. They just stayed silent and waited for Heisuke to calm down. When he did he didn't move his face from the pillow. He stayed there gasping and trying his best to keep down whatever it was that was trying to make it's way up his throat.

"We'll leave you for now. Toshi said he'll back to check on you at dinner. We'll come too," Sano told him.

Shinpachi stood and followed Sano to the door. "Yeah, I'll take care of your dinner for you. Don't you worry about that."

He laughed as he heard Heisuke tell him "Stay away from my food." They said their byes and left, walking slowly down the hallway. The air between them was heavy and the only thing on their minds was Heisuke.

"He really was pale," Shinpachi said in a low voice.

"Yeah. And when he talked…it looked like it hurt," Sano said.

"Those coughs sounded horrible. I thought his lungs were going to fly out of his mouth with how hard he was coughing!"

"Something's terribly wrong. I have a bad feeling."

The two stopped walking and looked at each other, fear evident in their eyes. The same worst-case scenario was playing out in their heads and they could see it written all over each other's faces. Shinpachi's upper lip began to quiver and he quickly looked away from Sano.

"He'll be fine!" Shinpachi shouted. He laughed, an obvious forced laugh, and lightly hit Sano on his back. "Toshi's probably already told one of the doctor's and he'll be there shortly with some medicine for Heisuke! He'll be fine a few days! Hell, maybe even a few hours!"

Sano nodded quickly and closed his eyes. "You're right. He'll be fine! He's too young to be sick like that. He's got a nice, young, healthy immune system and…he'll be fine." Sano wasn't sure who he was trying to convince. He shook his head once more and tried to believe what he was saying. "He'll be just fine…."

Just as he said a strong clap of thunder resounded through the skies, making the two men jump. There was a downpour of rain and the two once again looked at each other. The same thought kept running through their heads no matter how hard they tried to push it out.

"He'll make it, Shinpachi. He has to."

All Shinpachi could do was nod as he turned away from Sano again to look at the heavy rain. "He has to…."

No! Heisuke doesn't sound like Okita at all! Psssh...what are you talking about...

Keep going! Next chapter! Move it along, people! I promise it's a lot more light hearted than this chapter is...The next one has lots of fluffy yaoiness.