"Gochisosama," Shinpachi said walking off with his bowl.
"Done already, Nagakura-san?" Kondo asked.
"Yeah, I need to check on Fuyumi…" He said in a worried tone.
"What's wrong with Fuyumi-chan?" Soji asked.
"Heat exhaustion," Tetsu said stuffing a carrot in his mouth, "Her forehead was on fire."
"I hope Tachibana-san feels better," One man said.
"Me too," Another agreed.
"She said she'll be fine," Sano said drinking the miso, "She's so strong…"
"Indeed she is," Saitou agreed, "Tachibana-san is strong, yet… I feel a lonely and sorrowful aura around her when I see her… Mmm… This is good," He said chugging the miso.
"Oh Fuyumi~" Shinpachi sings as he walked into Fuyumi's room, "OH SHIT! FUYUMI!!!" He cried and quickly ran towards Fuyumi who was bleeding. The rouge blood spilled from her nose, it drained between her slender fingers. The blood flowed down her arm and it was all over the place as if a murder was taken.
"Don't worry," She said giggling, "My nose is probably just dry."
"'Don't worry?!' Why the Hell are you giggling?!" He asked, "There's blood all over the place!" Shinpachi grabbed the cloth and cleaned her bloody face, "You scared the Hell out of me."
"I'm sorry…" She apologized and looked at Shinpachi who was tenderly cleaning her face, "You're so kind…" Fuyumi said softly placing her hand on his, "I can clean myself up, I'm a big girl," She said with a wink.
"Very well then," He said with a chuckle and pulled the water basin over so Fuyumi can wash her hands, "I hope you'll feel better soon and when you do, don't push yourself…"
"I won't!" She said washing her hands in the tub.
"Promise?" He asked sticking out his pinkie.
"I promise," She said shaking his pinkie, "Cross my heart. Hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye…"
"Good!" He said giving a kiss on Fuyumi's hand, "I'll see ya' later…" The young man smiled and walked to the training hall.
Fuyumi blushed as she watched him walk away. She held her hand close to her chest, "So… So… SO KAWAII!" She squealed.
Shinpachi turned his head when he heard Fuyumi squeal, but continued walking into the training hall with the other men, "Hey!" He greeted.
"Yo, Shinpachi!" Heisuke greeted back, "What happened?"
"What did you mean?" He asked.
"We heard you scream out 'OH SHIT!'" Sano said, "Did something bad happen?"
"Yes! There was blood spewing all over the place," He exclaimed.
"Whoa, how scandalous," Heisuke teased.
"Too much information, man!" Sano said.
"YOU GUYS AREN'T ONLY IDIOTS, BUT PERVERTS TOO!!!" Shinpachi yelled out, "Her nose was bleeding and it got all over."
"Oh…" The two men said in disappointment.
"You guys are disgusting!" Tetsu exclaimed.
"See, even 'Puppy boy' knows right from wrong!" Shinpachi agreed, "Anyway, Fuyumi needs space…"
"I guess she does," Heisuke said, "How come you get to visit her? I'm worried about her too."
"Because Shinpachi is her tiny lover," Sano said with a laugh.
"Because she takes care of us and I want to take care of her when she's like this," Shinpachi said and picked up a wooden sword, then looked at Heisuke, "Heads up!"
"Whoa!" Heisuke responded with a quick dodge, "For a raccoon, you're pretty quick… AND ADORABLE!"
"Oh great," Sano said with a sigh and watched the two spar together.
"Where am I?" Fuyumi asked herself as she opened her eyes. She scanned the environment, she was by the ocean. The sand tickled through her feet as she walked along the ocean with her bare feet.
"Fuyumi!" A voice called out.
The young woman popped her head up to discover it was her father and mother, both waiting for her. She couldn't help, but to let out tears and run towards her parents, "Father… Mother…" She wept, "Why are-"
"We wanted to stop by and say 'hi,'" Her mother answered.
"So who is this man going out with my adorable daughter?!" Her father exclaimed.
"Calm down," Her mother said grabbing her lover.
"FATHER!" Fuyumi shouted out and escaped her dream, "What was that about?" She asked herself.
"Tachibana, is something wrong?" Saitou walked in, "Or did I interrupt your conversation?"
"Hajime-san?!" Fuyumi jumped a bit, "N-no, don't worry I'm fine…"
"Very well then, go get some rest," He said walking away.
"That was strange…" Fuyumi said after Saitou walked out, "I wonder why mother and father just came in like that… They normally stop by my dreams saying: 'Happy Birthday!'" Fuyumi said to herself, "I need some rest!" She said as she tries to fall asleep. Fuyumi stared at the ceiling for a very long time, she tossed, and turned, but wasn't able to fall asleep.
"Having trouble falling asleep?" Shinpachi asked.
Fuyumi slowly turned her head and saw that Shinpachi was still in his training clothes, "Yes," She answered, "My parents came into my dream…"
"Your parents?"
"Yeah, they were probably worried about me," She said laughing, "So how was training?"
"Y'know, same old same old," He answered then walked by Fuyumi placing his lips on hers.
Her face became extremely red, it was so soothing, sweet, and so gentle. And watched as Shinpachi broke away from the kiss.
"It's not the same without you in the halls," He said, "We all miss you and we're worried."
Fuyumi was still speechless from the sudden kiss. All she did was blush even more, "Is that so?" She asked, "Well-"Suddenly, Fuyumi fell over. Her loose body slammed against the ground.
"FUYUMI!" Shinpachi rushed over and held her body, "Fuyumi!" He called out, "Fuyumi!"
The young woman didn't answer. Beads of sweat rolled down her body. Slowly, Fuyumi's body became warmer. Fuyumi slowly opened her eyes seeing Shinpachi, "I think I just need more rest…" She said and from there, the young woman fell asleep.
Shinpachi watched Fuyumi fall asleep. He placed her body on her bedding and set the cold cloth against her boiling forehead.
"Shinpachi!" Sano called out.
"What happened?" Heisuke asked.
"Fuyumi just passed out again," The small man answered and looked at Fuyumi, "I'll be right back," He said walking out on his friends.
"Man, I hope she will be fine," Heisuke said, "This is scary…"
"D-don't worry," Fuyumi started, "Mother… Father…"
"Is she sleep talking?" Sano asked looking baffled.
"No," Shinpachi said walking in, "She's talking to her parents."
"You're back," Heisuke said, "What did you bring?"
"Uchiwas," He answered showing his companions a few.
"Why?" Heisuke asked.
"To cool off Fuyumi… And stamina!" He answered.
"I understand the first part, but the second part?" Sano said nervously.
"Let's have a contest," Shinpachi suggested, "Whoever fans the longest, without stopping, wins."
"Wins what?" Sano asked.
"Fuyumi?" Heisuke teased.
"Dammit, leave my girlfriend alone!" Shinpachi said, "If I lose, I clean all the dishes tonight, but if you lose, you guys clean the dishes…"
"Deal!" The two agreed.