Disclaimer: Hakuouki belongs to Hiraku Naki
Chizuru held her breath as Hijikata slowly approached her.
"You could have been killed," he informed her nonchalantly, "Had only one person not bothered to check before drawing their sword…"
"I - I know Hijikata-san, I'm sorry."
"Just make sure there is no recurrence; next time, we won't be so lenient."
He let the threat hang in the silence between them, and Chizuru tensed. Noticing her reaction, he chuckled softly.
"To be honest with you, if it had been anyone else you would still have been killed on sight. You brought quite a change in my men Chizuru-chan, you wouldn't know since you have nothing to compare to but…" his voice trailed off as he became lost in his thoughts.
"Um, that's what Okita-san said about you," Chizuru blurted out with courage she did not know she possessed.
"Did he?" Hijikata-san shot her a sharp glance, "I suppose I must have a word with him then."
Noting Chizuru's slightly fearful expression, he gave her a slight smile, "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt him - much..."
"I didn't say anything."
"Oh, but you thought it."
And that, she could not refute.
"Well, I need to go. Stay here until you're completely dry," Hijikata said as he shrugged off his haori, "Here."
Chizuru looked at him, confusion plain on her face.
"Wear the coat, we can't have you catching a cold," he said brusquely.
"Oh. But I'm almost dry now."
"Yes, but your clothes are far from it and you need something to wear," he replied as he made his way to the door.
"I have my - "
"Your yukata is hardly," he paused, searching for the word, "... appropriate."
A quick glance at her current attire caused Chizuru's mortification to shoot up another notch; as the snow melted, the cotton material of her yukata had become sodden with water, which clung to her like a second skin.
Shaking his head as if trying to dispel an image from his mind, Hijikata left the kitchen, leaving behind a very red-faced Chizuru.
"Um… thank you…"