Author's Note: I hope you guys are enjoying it so far... Sort of, but here's chapter 35. Nothing really happends much in this chapter. This chapter and 31 was difficult to write.
"I hope you feel better," Tetsu said bringing in some tea.
"Don't worry, it's just a cold," Fuyumi said smiling.
"Yeah, but what about your ankle?" Tetsu reminded.
"Damn, I forgot about that," She said nervously.
"Do you forget everything?" Shinpachi asked.
"No, I remember our fun fun date," Fuyumi answered.
"Ooh! Tell me about it!" Heisuke cried.
"You guys sound like a bunch of teenage girls," Fuyumi said laughing, "But I'll tell you what happened."
"What?! Why tell these guys?" Shinpachi asked, "All we did was play in the river and ran through the forest while it was raining…"
"Ooh, sounds really fun fun," Heisuke snickered, "I wish we were there to spy on the two of you…"
"Me too," Sano agreed.
"Shinpachi was all sentimental and like, 'Here, let me carry you…' So cute when I tackled him too! He had this really cute, confused expression!" Fuyumi squealed, "It was too cute and when he bared his toned upper body, so cute!"
"Oh, sounds pretty cute alright," Heisuke said rubbing his chin.
"You disgust me!" Shinpachi exclaimed.
"So how's your ankle feeling, Fuyumi?" Sano asked.
"Like all Hell broke loose," The young lady answered, "It's weird, I always get hurt…"
"That's not good," Sano said then looked at Shinpachi, "I guess Shinpachi will have to be cooking for a very long time."
"No!" Fuyumi exclaimed, "What kind of chef and girlfriend and member am I?! I just can't be a burden to everyone!"
"Don't worry," Shinpachi started, "It was my fault for not slowing down…"
"Aww, this is so sweet," Heisuke said.
"I have to keep my promise, so I must take care of you and do what I can," Shinpachi said.
"You're so kind!" Fuyumi said smiling, "Will we still have our dates?"
"Yeah, here," Shinpachi answered smiling back, "But these bastards aren't!"
"You're being so mean!" Heisuke complained, "I thought we're you're best buddies…"
"Yes, you guys are," Shinpachi said.
"Don't worry about me," Fuyumi said, "ACHOO!"
"Enough," Shinpachi started, "Go get rest; we had a long day yesterday."
"I know," Fuyumi said forming a frown on her face, "But can I at least have a bowl of miso?"
"Whatever helps," Shinpachi said walking to the kitchen.
"Haha-san needs a lot of rest," Soji said, "You're ankle is sprained."
"I know, and it sucks…" Fuyumi said crossing her arms, "I hate being a burden to everyone…"
"Don't worry; it's not that bad," Heisuke said, "You just don't need to walk around for the next three months."
"Are you kidding me?! Three months?!" Fuyumi shouted, "I don't want to stay here for three months! I want to go get some fresh air once in a while… I can't even work my job as a chef."
"At least you taught Shinpachi how to cook," Sano said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shinpachi asked with the miso.
"Oh… You're back," Sano said nervously.
"Yay! Soup!" Fuyumi exclaimed happily, "Thank you."
"Yes," The small captain said handing the soup to Fuyumi, "I hope it's okay…"
"Itadakimasu!" Fuyumi chimed and drank the miso down as if it was sake.
"So how is it?" Shinpachi asked.
"It's yummy!" She answered, "You're cooking is getting better."
"Oh, is that so?" Heisuke asked, "Shinpachi, two bowls please?!"
"Dammit, I'm only serving Fuyumi," Shinpachi said.
"Oh, sounds scandalous…" Sano said, "I knew you were going to say that…"
"You pervert!" Shinpachi and Fuyumi shouted.
"You guys are so funny," Soji said laughing, "I have a question for the lovely couple."
"Ooh, what kind of question?" Heisuke asked, "Because I can always answer them…"
"Yeah, Okita-san?" Fuyumi asked.
"If it's something about expecting babies, then no," Shinpachi sighed.
"I'm not going to ask about that," Soji said laughing, "I'm just wondering about-"
"SOJI!" Hijikata called out.
"Oh snap, gotta go!" Soji said running off.
"That doesn't sound good," Sano said nervously.
"That was scary…" Fuyumi said.
"I wonder what Okita-san was going to say…" Shinpachi said rubbing his chin, "Hijikata-san is being a stick in the mud, and I wonder how he would react when you sprained your ankle…"
"Stick in the mud?" Hijikata repeated, "Is that what you think of me?"
"H-HIJIKATA-SAN!!!" The "Comedic Trio" screamed.
"No, Shinpachi is just drunk… Again!" Fuyumi lied.
"Is that so?" Hijikata asked, "Well I don't know if you should be the chef around here anymore. Since you're always getting hurt…" He said then ran off searching for Okita.
"Fuyumi…" Shinpachi started, "Hijikata-san is just…"
"No, he's probably right," Fuyumi said setting the bowl aside, "I think I should be getting rest now."
The three men watched Fuyumi as she crawled into a ball and slowly fell asleep. Shinpachi frowned and walked out of Fuyumi's room with the miso bowl.
"I hope she'll be okay," Sano said getting up.
"Me too," Heisuke agreed, "Where you going?"
"I'm gonna go spar, what else?"
"Hmm… You're right," Heisuke said following Sano.
"But why?!" Soji whined, "Haha-san is not only our chef, but our member too…"
"Yeah, but she's always getting herself hurt!" Hijikata shouted back.
"Calm down, Toshi," Kondo said nervously, "I know Tachibana-san hasn't been cooking as she should be, but it's not her fault."
"Yeah, Hijikata-san!" Soji agreed, "Haha-san is always making the meals."
"But that's her job," Yamanami said.
"Well… She's very tired! She's a cook and a member, how is she supposed to balance everything out? And they're expecting a baby," Soji said crossing his arms.
"A child?" The commanders asked.
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" Shinpachi screamed.
"Oh, Nagakura-san," Soji said laughing.
"So that's false?" Kondo asked.
"I'm glad it is," Hijikata said in relief.
"So what brings you here, Nagakura-san? Kondo asked.
"I just happened to past by..." Shinpachi answered, "And quit assuming Fuyumi and I are going to expect a child!!!"
"I'm sorry," Soji apologized, "But it would be wonderful though, I want to be the nanny!"
"Since when were the two of you married?" Hijikata asked.
"You're so slow!" Okita said, "They're just close lovers… Even though it's only been a month or something."
"You two are a fine couple," Kondo said with a fatherly chuckle, "You can be like Yamanami and Akesato."
"Is that so?" Yamanami said with a warm smile, "There's a lot of depth to a woman's heart."
"You guys are mean," Shinpachi said walking out.
"No wait!" Soji called out then flopped to the floor, "Ow…"
"They seem to have a bright future, they're adorable," Yamanami said happily, "Speaking of this, I think I'm going to go to Shimabara…"
"Have fun!" Kondo said laughing.
"I'm back," Shinpachi said quietly. He looked at Fuyumi then sat next to her. He pulled the sheets towards her a bit more, but suddenly felt her palm on his.
"Welcome…" Fuyumi sluggishly greeted, "Why are you here?"
"I just… Want to check on you," Shinpachi said lying next to Fuyumi.
She turned her head and looked at Shinpachi who was looking at her. Fuyumi smiled at him then turned her head to look at the ceiling, "They're mad at me, aren't they?"
Shinpachi gave Fuyumi a concerned, "No, they're just… A little worried about you getting hurt a lot."
"I guess I would feel the same way…" Fuyumi said sadly, "Am I too troublesome?" Multiple beads of tears streamed down her face.
The small captain smiled and wiped each tear away from her face one by one.
"No, you're not…"