It was a lovely day and Ichigo was out on a walk with Heisuke. The streets were packed with people as it was almost New Year's. Heisuke was saying that he wished everyone could just relax. Suddenly the two of them heard the unmistakable sounds of a fight. Heisuke pushed his way through the crowd to try and stop the fight, Ichigo following him as best she could. When Ichigo finally got to the front of the crowd, Heisuke and the man were already fighting. Ichigo was about to step in to help, when a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders. She turned around to find Sanosuke and Shinpachi holding her shoulders firmly. Sanosuke gave her a smile and shook his head and the two men let go of her (her glaring at Shinpachi might have had something to do with it though).
After a few moments the fight was over. Heisuke turned to see the three of them standing among the crowd, the two men looking amused and Ichigo looking a little worried. Heisuke winced and turned around to see a completely smashed shop. The young captain grabbed his head in frustration and quickly moved to start helping the shop owner clear up the mess. Ichigo was about to help him, when the two men behind her gabbed her arms and pulled her off, leaving Heisuke to clear up the wreckage on his own.
When Heisuke finally got back to the headquarters, he was pulled off by Hijikata. Shinpachi, Sanosuke and Ichigo decided to follow the two of them. The three could hear Hijikata from around the corner, and then they heard a loud smack. The three of them decided to go back to what they were doing before they were hurt as well.
Later that day Ichigo found Heisuke sitting on a beach rubbing his head. Looking up to see her, he gestured for her to join him. When she sat next to him, he turned his head to face her. "I didn't do anything wrong" he sighed and continued "I just know if Hijikata was in that situation he would send fists flying". The girl next to him only giggled in response. Shinpachi and Sanosuke walked up to the two of them. Heisuke glared at them and, after they tried to comfort him, asked "why didn't you guys stop me?"
Sanosuke laughed and spoke up while still chuckling. "That's impossible once you start there's no stopping your".
Then Shinpachi decided to speak. "That's what makes you master forerunner". Ichigo put her hand on her chin and asked what a master forerunner was. Shinpachi and Sanosuke explained that a master forerunner was a man respected for his courage. Ichigo turned and smiled at Heisuke, who was giving a huge grin, which soon turn to a pout when Shinpachi said "Heisuke gets too worked up and ends things in failure, he's hardly a master of anything when Hijikata runs him through".
Ichigo turned to Heisuke and told him that she and her sister would cook them a feast, causing his eyes to light up. She shot Shinpachi a smug look saying that the muscular man seemed so full of energy, that he couldn't possibly want any of the dinner the girls would make, making the man splutter in indignation while the other two roared with laughter. Ichigo put her hand back on her chin and, after a moments thought, suggested duck soup. Heisuke jumped up and told her he know a great place to get some ducks. He grabbed Ichigo's hand and pulled her away, ignoring the crimson spreading across her cheeks, as well as the still shocked Shinpachi behind them.
After a few minters of walking, they arrived at a pond just outside of town. Ichigo turned to Heisuke to ask him what he was going to do, but before she could Heisuke jumped into the pond trying to catch a duck but instead splashing water everywhere. After about 10 minutes Heisuke had managed to catch a couple of ducks. Ichigo seemed impressed and congratulated him, making Heisuke blush with embarrassment.
After the two got back, Ichigo went to find Chizuru so they could make dinner. After a while, the girls brought out the meal they prepared. The girls insisted that Heisuke was the first one to try it, since he caught the ducks. He almost jumped for joy at the taste, and everyone else started to dig in. It seemed to be a peaceful dinner until, Heisuke and Shinpachi grabbed onto the same piece of meat. Ichigo tried to ask them to stop, but they seemed to be in their own little world, the two kept pulling the meat back and forth between them, until it slipped out of their chopsticks. Unluckily for them Hijikata walked in at just the wrong time, and the piece of duck smacked him right on the forehead. Hijikata face filled with rage which was aimed right at Heisuke who kept trying to think of excuses. Ichigo tried to tell him that he was making it worse but before she could Hijikata punched Heisuke on the head.
The next day Shinpachi, Sanosuke and Ichigo were watching Heisuke train with his men. Out of the corners of their eyes, they saw Itou doing the same thing as them. All three of them glared at him. He finally walked off and Sanosuke said something about Itou steeling men for his faction. The young girl stayed silent, a sense of unease in her heart.
A few days later the spear-wielder, Shinpachi and Heisuke were walking through the Shimabara hallway towards their rooms. Heisuke was lagging behind the two bigger men looking downcast. He thought back to the meeting a few a days ago, where Ichigo volunteered to dress as a geisha (she also asked for Chizuru to stay at headquarters, as she would worry about Chizuru and blow their cover). "Is she really going to be okay? She's going to pouring drinks for drunks, winning their favour" Heisuke muttered to himself out loud. The two older males turned back, looking at him in confusion, until Sanosuke smiled and said "We'll leave Ichigo to you". The two of then walked off chuckling, leaving an apprehensive Heisuke behind.
Ichigo was in her room just finishing her makeup when heisuke came bursting in. She turned blushing (hoping he couldn't see it under her makeup). Heisuke when seeing Ichigo in geisha clothes again froze. Then after a couple seconds, he sat down next to her. He avoided making eye contact with her as she poured him some sake. The girl looked up at him in confusion and asked him what was wrong. Heisuke said that it was nothing, but she was persistent and asked "then why aren't you looking at me?"
"Umm it's just that you look so pretty and you're serving other guys too". Heisuke stumbled over his words, only confusing the girl even more. At that moment he shot up and shot out of the door, turning back to Ichigo to tell her he would ask Kondou and Hijikata to let her out of doing this. In a second he was gone, leaving a flabbergasted Ichigo behind. Ichigo stepped out of the room to get some air, only for a cold shiver to go down her neck. She inwardly cursed and turned to find Kazama standing right behind her.
He gave her a small predatory grin and asked her to bring some sake to the room they were standing in front of. He then turned his head towards a noisy room. "I'm tired of there noise so I slipped off from the group" he explained, narrowing his eyes towards the room. Ichigo was still standing there, hoping that Heisuke would re-appear and help her. Kazama's eyes narrowed and he told her to hurry up.
After a few minutes, Ichigo returned and apologized to Kazama, saying that the sake would be there in a moment. He smiled at her again, and said "It's rare to see a geisha who does not speak with a thick ascent". Ichigo inwardly swore again, and tried to come up with an excuse, but Kazama found a comeback for everyone. While Ichigo was trying to think of another excuse, Kazama decided he'd had enough. "How bout we stop this game now, Ichigo Yukimura".
Ichigo let her anger show as she replied "So you saw through my disguise then". Kazama's eyes narrowed as he put his hand under Ichigo's chin and pulled her close to his lips. Turning her head, he whispered in her ear "I'm glad I chose you your appearance is befitting of my wife". Pulling back slightly, his smile grew at the fury growing on her face. Ichigo tried to push him away shouting at him. "I'm not your wife". She cried as she struggled to get away from the blond-haired demon. Kazama watched her actions and pulled her in closer. The door suddenly slid open and Sen entered the room. Hitting Kazama on his head with a fan, Ichigo was now free from his grip. Sen told her to run and so she did, blessing Sen's timing. After a bit of running she arrived in front of the room where the ronin were, she took a deep breath and walked in.
Finally Heisuke managed to get back to headquarters. He slide a door open to reveal Chizuru, Kondou and Hijikata. "I'm telling you making Ichigo do this doesn't feel right" Heisuke shouted at Hijikata. He pushed and then continued "Ichigo looked so pretty there's no way she's going to be safe serving those scum".
"Don't shout, Ichigo volunteered to do this it's her decision". Hijikata replied calmly. Heisuke and replied still very angry, "what are you going to do if something happens to her?" Hijikata scowled at him and answered him, trying very hard to stay calm, "It is your job to make sure that does not happen". He then asked why Heisuke was there. Heisuke didn't say a word. Kondou spoke saying that he thought it was a bad idea. He then asked Hijikata to go check on her. Heisuke shot up and told them he was going to go ahead of them.
Chizuru, who had remained quiet throughout the entire argument, turned to the commander and vice-commander. "Is my sister really going to be alright?" she asked the men, worry and a small amount of panic in her voice.
Heisuke ran as fast as he could back to Shimabara. He ran straight back to the room he left ichigo in, but she was not there. Heisuke started to panic, until he heard a noise. It sounded a bit like Yamazaki. Heisuke ran up the steers to find Yamazaki fighting some men. Heisuke filled with rage after hearing that the men were after Ichigo. He jumped in to help Yamazaki. After a few minutes all the thugs lay unconscious on the ground. "where is Ichigo?" He asked Yamazaki in an angry voice. Yamazaki replied by pointing to the entrance. Heisuke quickly thanked him and ran off to the entrance.
Ichigo was standing there by herself. Seeing Heisuke coming towards her she turned to him smiling. Heisuke gave her a relived smile and walked up to her. The young man suddenly hugged her surprising the girl at his sudden affection. He just as suddenly let go of her, stammering an apology as his face turned scarlet. When they had calmed down slightly, he turned to her, extended his hand and said her "let's get you back to headquarters". Ichigo nodded and took his hand.
The pair started walking down the street, until Ichigo tripped. Luckily for her Heisuke caught her, she thanked him and stepped forwards. "Ow" she gasped quietly as her foot flared up in pain. Noticing her wince, Heisuke turned to her and asked "can I see your foot for a second?" She tried insisting that it was fine, but he frowned at her. "You just said ow so it's not fine" he scolded her as he knelt down by her foot. Flushing, Ichigo looked away, but allowed him to lift her foot. Heisuke gave her a smile and fixed her shoe. She thanked him still a little embarrassed as he stood back up and grabbed her hand, and said "let's go". It looked like he was dragging her but she was just having trouble walking in her shoes.
They were almost at the gates when a man stopped them and asked "where are you taking that geisha?" Heisuke frowned at the man and replied "she's not geisha". The man seemed confused. "How can you say that? Whatever way I look at her she a beautiful Shimabara geisha" Heisuke panicked "there's a good explanation for this I swear". The man only laughed. "I'm sure there is a good reason for the interaction between every man and woman, if you wish to buy this geisha you can but you…". Heisuke interrupted the man before he could finish what he was saying, blushing a deep red, "you want me to buy her? What are you talking about?"
People had started to gather around the three of them. Ichigo slid a little closer to Heisuke. As the crowd grew a little angrier, her fear grew as well. Heisuke took one look at the panicked look on her face and promptly lost his temper. Pushing the man in front of them back, he pulled Ichigo into his arms so that he was carrying her bridle style and started running.
They had nearly reached the headquarters before Heisuke slowed down. Looking down, he finally realised that he was still carrying Ichigo. After he gently put her down, the pair was engulfed in an awkward silence. "I'm sorry" the man whispered, barely even able to face the girl in front of him. Ichigo shook her head and peeked at him. Noticing him watching her, the warmth on her face grew, but she smiled at him anyway. "Thank you" she murmured to him, making him smile in relief. The pair then began to walk the rest of the way back home.
After they arrived at headquarters, Heisuke asked Ichigo if she had been alright, when Okita popped out of nowhere. Smirking at the two of them, he turned and walked off again. "Don't get the wrong idea Okita". Heisuke called to the older swordsman, but by that time he was already gone. The two of them heard more footsteps. It was some of the soldiers in the Shinsengumi. Heisuke, in his panic, pushed Ichigo into an empty room to hide her. As he slid the door shut the men walked through the open gates. As they did they bowed to Heisuke and kept walking. After they were out of sight heisuke slide the door open again, to see a slightly dazed Ichigo sitting on the floor, holding her head. Wincing slightly he helped the concussed girl to her feet and walked her to her room. When they got there, Heisuke sheepishly explained the situation to a very bemused Chizuru, who shooed the captain away so she could take care of her sister.
The next day Heisuke had a meeting with Itou. The man was scolding him for what happened last night. Heisuke apologised to him and left. On is way back home, Heisuke took a walk down by the river bank to think. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a small leaf boat spinning in the river. It seemed to be a lot like him, not being able to find the right path. Heisuke soon sent the bout down the river and watched it go down the stream.
A few days later a recovered Ichigo had just finished getting dressed, when she heard Heisuke calling for her. She slid her door open to see a fresh blanket of snow had fallen. Grinning widely, she ran out to play in the snow with Heisuke. The two of them had been running around for a while, when Shinpachi and Sanosuke came outside. Shinpachi shook his head at the antics of the snow-covered pair and said in a patronising way "I can't believe you're playing in the snow when it's so cold out".
Heisuke grinned at his friend and shot back "that's only because you spend the whole year practically naked". Shinpachi closed his eyes as he started to show off his muscles with pride and replied "ha it would be sinful to hide". As he was saying that, Ichigo threw a snowball at his chest, which made him jump around.
Heisuke and Ichigo couldn't stop laughing, even Sanosuke was laughing a little. Shinpachi growled and ran out onto the snow, Sanosuke following him. "I'm gonna get you strawberry" Shinpachi told the girl with a happy, but mock angry voice. Ichigo's eye narrowed and she growled at him. "Bring it on" she smirked at him. The two of them glared at each other, then jumped to make snowballs with their partners. Then snowballs started flying everywhere. Shinpachi suddenly threw one at Ichigo and Heisuke that missed them entirely. When Ichigo realized what his plan was, she ran away from the tree they were against as fast as she could. Before she could worn Heisuke the snowball hit the tree, knocking the snow off it and covering the him.
When he popped out of the snow a nasty surprise was there. It was Hijikata who pointed to the wall which was filled with holes and snow. The snow-covered teen tried to explain by pointing to Shinpachi, but he was already the other side of tree hidden from Hijikata's view. Sanosuke was holding Ichigo back to stop her trying to help Heisuke. They all knew what was coming, as Hijikata made a fist and punched Heisuke on the head.