July 14, 1684.

"Do you love Shinpachi?" Fuyumi's mother asked.

"I really do… I know it's a short period of time, but-"

"I don't accept it," Her father cut off.

"Hiro…" Fuyumi's mother started, "Why do you love me then?"

Fuyumi stared at her father in disappointment. She walked away on the shore off the beach.

"Fuyumi!" Her mother called out. She looked her husband and gave him a stern look, "I was only twenty when you married me…"

Shinpachi woke up as he heard the loud talking around and the ray of sun sneaking through the cracks.

"Good morning!" Heisuke, Sano, and Soji greeted as they burst through the wall.

"W-WHAT THE HELL?!" Shinpachi exclaimed.

"Ooh, what do we have here?" Sano asked.

"How scandalous!" Heisuke cried.

"Shhh! Fuyumi's still sleeping," Shinpachi said, "She also sprained her ankle and got a cold…"

"No way!" Sano and Heisuke said.

"Yeah, we stayed here last night because of the rain and wind," Shinpachi said and looked at Fuyumi, "I had to carry her all the way here when she sprained her ankle while we were running through the forest."

"Good morning," Fuyumi greeted.

"W-WHAT THE HELL?!" The four men exclaimed.

"Now you see how I feel?" Fuyumi asked, "ACHOO!"

"I think we need to start going back to headquarters now," Shinpachi said pulling his kimono together.

"Okay," The three men said walking out.

"Hey! Fuyumi's hurt y'know!" Shinpachi yelled out.

"Yeah, you're carrying her," Sano yelled back.

"WHAT!" Shinpachi exclaimed.

"You don't love me? I guess… I guess I'll have to suffer in heartache," Fuyumi said in a sympathetic tone.

Shinpachi turned around and released a deep sigh. He walked over to the young woman and pulled her on his back.

"Arigatou, Shinpachi," Fuyumi thanked.

"Whatever," He said carrying Fuyumi and himself out.

"Aww, look at those two," Heisuke said looking back.

"It's kind of funny seeing Fuyumi being carried by our little man," Sano said chuckling.

"I can hear you!" Shinpachi yelled at the three who were up ahead.

"Shit," Sano whispered to himself.

"Those guys are so childish," Fuyumi said giggling.

"Yeah," Shinpachi agreed, "It's gonna take a while to head back to headquarters, so hang on, okay?"

"I know…" Fuyumi said with a smile forming on her face, "I can feel your heart beat."

Shinpachi's face turned bright red as soon as Fuyumi told him that. Yes, his heart was beating. Faster… Thump… Thump… Thump, "S-stop pushing against me…" He said shyly.

"SHINPACHI YOU PERVERT!" Fuyumi shouted.

The three men up ahead turned their heads around as soon as they heard Fuyumi scream at Shinpachi.

"'Shinpachi you pervert?'" Sano repeated.

"Ooh, sounds sneaky," Heisuke said, "I wonder what Shinpachi did this time."

"Pervert? I'm just saying!" Shinpachi shouted back, "They're getting in the way and it's weird!"

"What?! You've never had any problem with this?! I thought you were a man who can stand up to this kind of stuff," Fuyumi said jutting her lips.

"Oh, they even act like an old man and woman fighting," Sano said, "They're so unpredictable."

"I heard that!" The couple yelled out with each other.

"My back hurts now," Shinpachi whined.

"Is that so?" Fuyumi asked, "Well maybe I should eat more so I can squish you!"

"What?!" The small man exclaimed, "Why squish me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Fuyumi teased, "I'm just playing with you, if you don't want to carry me anymore, I can always drag myself."

"Woman are you drunk?" Shinpachi asked, "You promised not to push yourself."

"Ooh, that sounded hot," Heisuke said with a snicker.

"We can still hear you!" The two shouted back.

"I guess so…" Fuyumi said, "But if you're ever tired, we can always just sit for a bit, then start going, or have Harada-san or Todou-san-"

"No," Shinpachi interrupted nervously, "You're probably better off with me rather then those things."

"'THINGS?!'" Sano and Heisuke repeated and quickly ran back to even out with the other two. Soji as well ran back since he didn't like to be lonely.

"You don't trust me, Shinpachi?" Heisuke asked.

"Of course not, you're a pervert," The small captain said.

"'Pervert?!" Heisuke screamed out.

"Well to me, I find me carrying your girlfriend a violation," Sano said proudly.

"Is that so?" Shinpachi asked, "'Cause if not, I'd beat the shit out of you."

"Aww, that's so sweet," Fuyumi said cuddling closer.

"Quit that!" Nagakura said bashfully, "It's so weird…"

"Ooh, Shinpachi is uncomfortable about-"

"Don't go there," Fuyumi warned Heisuke.

"You guys are pretty rowdy in the morning," Soji said laughing.

"And plus I can't help it, I'm a lady," Fuyumi said laughing.

"Can we get off of this subject?" Shinpachi asked, "And take a break?"

"Sure," Fuyumi said and pushed herself off.

"If you want, I can always carry, Fuyumi," Heisuke said to Shinpachi.

"Hell no!" Nagakura said smacking the back of Heisuke's head, "You pervert…"

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because you're probably an ass grabber too," Fuyumi said crossing her arms.

"'Ass grabber?'" Heisuke repeated, "Wait so does that make…" He paused there and slowly turned his head towards Shinpachi with a strange look.

"Shut up!" Shinpachi exclaimed, "I can't help it, I'm small and she's like a giant."

"He can't," Fuyumi said laughing, "But he's so cute when he's mad!"

"Shinpachi really is. Just like a raccoon having its food taking away," Heisuke compared.

"RACCOON?! DAMN YOU!" The small captain exclaimed and strangles Heisuke.

"Nagakura-san!" Soji said trying to pull Shinpachi off of Heisuke.

The small man finally lets go and hits the back of Todou's head again, "Damn you… Calling me a raccoon and Fuyumi a vixen…"

"No, she's more like a wolf," Heisuke said tapping his chin.

"Wolf? And why the Hell is that?" Fuyumi asked.

"Because wolves are cute, but big and scary too," Heisuke explained.

"'BIG AND SCARY?!" DAMN YOU!" Fuyumi shouted and strangles Heisuke.

"N-not you too," Heisuke coughed out.

"Haha-san!" Soji said pulling Fuyumi off of Heisuke, "Anyway, shall we head back then?"

Fuyumi lets go of Heisuke and looked at Shinpachi, "Fine, carry me."

"Sano's big, he can carry the both of us," Nagakura said stretching.

"Aww, but I thought you loved me…" Fuyumi said in a sympathetic tone, "I thought you liked carrying me, even your heart tells you."

Sano and Heisuke both busted a laugh when Fuyumi said that.

"Shinpachi you better do that if you wanna prove your love!" Sano exclaimed.

"Very well then," Shinpachi said bending down.

Fuyumi smiled and crawled on his back, "A-ri-ga-tou, Na-ga-ku-ra-san," Fuyumi breathed out.

Shinpachi blushed then rose up with Fuyumi on his back.

"That's the spirit!" Soji said.