"Fuyumi! Let's head back."
"Okay," She said and started to head back.
Shinpachi followed besides her and looked up at her. She was looking at the moon. Her eyes were red, she must be holding back the tears, "The moon is nice tonight," He started, "Don't you think so?"
Fuyumi looked down at Nagakura with a smile, "It is very nice…" She said staring at the large, bright moon, "I'm sorry for being an idiot like that…"
"No, it's okay! I'm sorry, I should've known, but I guess I was too slow," He said, "Thank you… A lot."
"Like I said, 'it's no problem…''" She said, "Nagakura-san…"
"Yes?"
Fuyumi bit the bottom of her lip, "I-I…" She paused there, "Oh! I think I see the others!" She said with a nervous laugh.
Shinpachi turned his head and saw everyone else as well, "Hey!" He called out. Shinpachi snatched Fuyumi's hand and dragged her along with him. The two were running together towards where everyone else was.
Fuyumi couldn't help, but to blush, "His hands are so rough, but so warm…" She thought in her mind, "I think… I think… It can't be! We're just friends, right?" Fuyumi bit the bottom of her lip and looked at Shinpachi.
"Hey, what's up?" Sano asked.
"Oooh, you two are holding hands!" Heisuke mentioned.
Shinpachi and Fuyumi's face brightly lit up. Shinpachi slowly let go of Fuyumi's hand, "It's not what it looks like, Fuyumi- chan saved me…" He said.
"W-what!?" The two men yelled out.
"What do you mean?!" Sano asked.
"I tackled him," Fuyumi teased.
"I see, you saved him by having yourself being on top so he doesn't maul you when you're at a vulnerable opening!" Heisuke yelled out.
"NO, YOU MORON!" Shinpachi and Fuyumi roared in unison.
"There was a Choshu behind Nagakura-san and he was about to strike him, so I tackled Nagakura-san. Instead of getting Nagakura-san, the man got me," She said pointing the wound on her shoulder.
"H-h-HOW CRUEL OF YOU!" Sano yelled at his small companion.
"How can you have such a lovely lady like Fuyumi-chan take such a blow?!" Heisuke asked.
"Look I didn't know! I said thank you and apologized," Shinpachi said crossing his arms.
"It's not his fault," She said, "If I were in his position, I'd probably wouldn't notice either…" Fuyumi looked at Shinpachi and smiled, "It's not your fault, and I'm fine. It makes me happy that you're okay."
"Let's go back to headquarters, you need to clean up," Sano said.
"I guess I should," Fuyumi said nodding and walked towards Kondo, informining that she will be heading back.
"She's into you, man," Sano said.
"W-what?!" Shinpachi exclaimed.
"You don't like Fuyumi-chan?" Heisuke asked, "She's a kick ass woman…"
"Wel-"
"Shinpachi, she is not a girl, she is a woman. Not just any woman, but a woman any ma-"
Shinpachi punched Heisuke and Sano, "Listen, I do-"
"Are you gay then, Shinpachi?" Heisuke asked curiously.
"No, I am not," He denied, "Never mind, you guys talk too much…" Shinpachi said.
Fuyumi walked by with a smile on her face, "I'll be heading out now!" She said walking ahead.
"WAIT LET US COME WITH YOU!" Sano and Heisuke said.
"Why?" The young lady asked.
"We don't want you to get hurt again because of Shinpachi's reckless actions," Heisuke said.
"RECKLESS!?" Shinpachi yelled, "It wasn't my fault!"
"It wasn't," Fuyumi said softly, "Let's go back then, I'll see you later, Nagakura-san," She said waving and walked off with the two men.
"Idiots…" Shinpachi said to himself and walked towards Hijikata, "How many men have we captured?"
"Twenty-nine, but a few men escaped," He answers.
"Fuyumi killed one of those few men…" Nagakura said turning his head away.
"I see," Hijikata said.
"Hijikata!" One member cried out, "It's Okita!"
Hijikata jumped up and ran inside where Soji was, "Soji!" He screamed out.
"H-Hijika-"Soji stopped there and coughed several times, "May I head back?"
"Soji!" Hijikata quickly dug inside his kimono and pulled out a small envelope, "You may head back, but I'm afraid I can't go with you," He said, "Escort Okita back to headquarters!" Hijikata demanded.
Four men nodded their head as Soji pulled himself up, "Yes, sir!"
"Be careful," Hijikata said.
The five men nod their heads and start to walk back to headquarters together. Soji looked at the small envelope Hijikata handed over to him.
"Fuyumi, that was very brave of you to save Shinpachi like that," Heisuke said.
"Really? Thanks," She said.
"D-do you fancy out little raccoon?!" Sano asked.
"F-fancy?" Fuyumi repeated. Her face instantly flushed red.
"We know all about it!" The two said together.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"People do crazy things when they're in love!" Sano shouted out.
"L-love?" Fuyumi repeated.
"Of course, you tackled him and save our buddy," Heisuke said rubbing his chin.
"You guys sound like teenage girls," She teased, "No off-"
"You know you liked it when he held your hand," Heisuke mentioned in a sly style.
Fuyumi's face grew as red as a tomato. She looked down at her hand and held it towards her chest, "Y-you guys are so mean!" She whines, and then pouts.
"We won't tell!" Heisuke said.
"Shinpachi, you lucky bastard," Sano said, "Having a wonderful woman like Fuyumi care for you…"
Fuyumi busts out laughing, "Really? I like you guys too; you're all really great people."
"Really? I-I feel so loved," Heisuke sings in joy.
Fuyumi and Sano both laughed together.
Soji looked up ahead to see three figures up ahead. They were wearing the Shinsengumi haori. A large smile formed on his face as he started to walk ahead.
"Okita-san!" One member cried out.
"Don't worry, they're one of us," He said walking a bit faster.
"So you really do fancy our litt-"
"Shhh… There's someone following us," Fuyumi said and looked back.
"Fuyumi-chan?!" Soji sang and finally caught up with the three other members.
"What brings you here, Okita-san?" Sano asked.
"I just wanted to head back," Soji lied, "Wha-"He paused there and looked at Fuyumi's bloody shoulder, "You're hurt…"
"Don't worry, it only hurts when I move it," She said, "You scared me, I thought you were the other Choshu men…" The young lady said.
"Yes, you should be heading back, so you're wound can heal faster," He said, "And I'm sorry, I didn't know you're all heading back too."
"It's okay," Sano said.
"So what were you guys discussing about? I'm sorry to have interrupted it," He apologized.
Fuyumi's red face went off. It turned to shades of pink and red, "I-it's nothing, you didn't interrupt anything, Okita-san!" She lied.
"Fuyumi fancies a certain someone!" Sano blurted out.
"Isn't it adorable!?" Heisuke asked.
Fuyumi pinched Todou and Harada's neck.
"I want to know!" Soji said in an excited tone, "So who is this person? Is it me?"
"Sorry, Okita-san, but it's not you," Sano said with a sigh.
"Oh! Then who is it?" He asked impatiently.
"They're just playing around with you," Fuyumi said, "Look, we're here!" Fuyumi said pointing at the gate.
The other members looked, "We are," Soji said, "Anyway, I'll be off now! I hope you feel better!" He said waving and ran off.
Heisuke, Sano, and Fuyumi waved back. The three all walked in together. Tetsu ran out to Soji with a smile, "How was it, Okita-san?" He asked.
"It was a true success, but a few of us returned," Soji answered.
"That's good," Tetsu said, "Would you like me to make you tea?" The page offered.
"Hot water will be fine," Soji said.
"Yes, sir!" Tetsu said and ran off.
Soji smiled and continued to walk back to his room.
"Thank you for coming along with me, Todou-san, Harada-san," She said.
"No problem!" Sano said.
"Do you need anything? We can get it for you," Heisuke offered.
"Don't worry; I can take care of myself," Fuyumi said.
"Alright, Fuyumi-chan," Sano said.
"We'll see you in a bit," Heisuke said. The three walked their separate ways.
"These guys…" Fuyumi said quietly to herself.
"Oh, Fuyumi!" A familiar voice cried out.
"Tetsu!" Fuyumi called out and walked towards the small boy.
"How was your first raid?" Tetsu asked, "I wish I was there."
"It was like something new," She answered with a giggle.
Tetsu smiled and discovered there was a cut on her shoulder, "Fuyumi that cut…"
"Don't worry, I'm fine," She said, "Well I need to clean up, I'll see you later!" Fuyumi said walking off to her room.
"Okay," Tetsu said and made his way into Okita's room, "Okita-san, I have your hot water!"
"Thank you, Tetsu; you may leave it out there."
"Yes, sir!" The boy said and walked away.