So here's another re-edited chapter and we're slowly on the upswing on the happiness scale!

Edited February 2021


Kaiya woke to the sound of foots steps in the living area. It was the middle of the night and Kaiya had taken to sleeping in the room Saitou was recovering in, so she might keep a close eye on him over the next couple days, which were crucial to his recovery.

Kaiya glanced over to where Saitou lay; he was as still as a corpse. She grabbed his katana which had been lain down beside him and approached the door. She stood by the door and listened carefully to hear for any more footsteps or other unusual sounds. When she heard none, she slowly opened the door and cautiously looked out into the house. She saw no dark figures, so she crept back into the back of the house where her father's room was and Souji was staying. She opened the door and found his bed empty.

Maybe it was him that I heard walking? she thought. Still though, she cautiously walked back to the front of the house and went into the living area and looked around. Still not seeing anybody, she walked to the front door and peered outside. Initially she saw no one, but when she looked down the road, she saw Souji's figure walking towards the village.

Kaiya returned to Saitou's side and did a quick check on his breathing and his pulse, laying his sword at his side as she did, then returned to her futon. Why is he out at this time of the night? Kaiya sighed trying to clear her mind and slow her heart so that she might get some sleep.

Before Kaiya knew it, the morning sun came streaming though the screens of her room. Kaiya rolled up into a sitting position and rubbed her eyes. Saitou was still lying deathly still but as Kaiya got up to check on him, she found that his breathing was deeper, and he was sweating less. His pulse was still a little weak and he was still very pale, almost grey but it was a major improvement from yesterday.

When Kaiya was done checking on him, she cleaned his wounds and replaced his bandages with fresh ones. Then she left the room and went to prepare breakfast for Souji and her. By the time she had finished making breakfast, Souji still hadn't come out of his room so Kaiya decided to check to make sure he had returned. She walked down the hall and knocked on the door. She heard him groan and sit up.

"Souji, I've made breakfast. If you want some you better get up."

Souji let out a couple deep coughs that caused Kaiya to frown, then said "Just give me a moment, I'll be right there."

He coughed a little more as Kaiya turned to leave. While Kaiya waited for him to come sit down, she dished out the food and put his portion on a tray and placed it across from her. It was several minutes, most of which she could hear him coughing, before he came out and took a seat. She studied him closely while he picked up his chop sticks and started eating his food. After a moment he stopped eating and gave her an annoyed look.

"What the heck, Kai! Why are staring at me like that?"

Kaiya crossed her arms and continued scrutinizing him. "How long have you been sick?"

"I was just choking on my spit, no big deal." He said looking away.

"Bullshit, Souji. You might be able to pull that with Kondou-san but you should know better than to try and it pull it on me. That cough comes from deep in your chest."

Souji tried to stare her down but in the end he caved. "I don't know a couple months. It started as just a small cough ever once in a while. Now, I get fits pretty much every morning when I wake up."

Kaiya got up and sat down again beside him. "Eat your damn food, Kai. I can wait until after."

Kaiya ignored him and started probing his neck, then moved on to his ribs and abdomen. Then she put her ear to his chest and ordered him to take a deep breath and then when to let it out. She did a couple more tests, then got up and went into the room where Saitou slept, to get an ointment. When she came back and ordered him to open up his robe so she could apply the ointment to his back and chest. When she was done applying the ointment, she made him a tea and handed it to him.

"You have a serious infection of the lungs, you are pretty much on the verge of getting Tuberculosis if not, you're already in the early stages of the disease. If you don't take care of yourself, you will die in the next year or so."

Souji was taken aback by her bluntness. Then collecting himself he said, "I won't allow myself to be killed by a stupid disease. It's one thing to die in battle, that I'm more than willing to do but to die because of a cough that is a little…lame."

"Well, if you don't want to die because of a cough, then you'd better listen to me. Does anybody in the Shinsengumi know you're sick?" Kaiya asked as she took her place behind her own tray and finally started eating.

"No. Though I think a couple are growing suspicious. It hasn't been affecting my duties yet." He said as he too resumed his eating.

"Does it bother you when you lie down or just when you wake?"

"So far just when I wake up in the morning. Sometimes I get a bit of a cough during the day but nothing big."

Kaiya studied him a moment then let to subject drop for now and decided to move on to another. "You gave me a bit of a scare last night."

Souji tilted his head to the side with a confused look on his face. "What do you mean?"

"When you got up in the middle of the night and decided to go for a walk in the village."

Souji looked shocked. "Damn, you heard me? Guess I'm not as stealthy as Hajime-kun."

Kaiya continued to look at him as she waited for him to answer. He sat there scratching his head like he was trying to figure out what to say. "I don't know what to tell you Kai, it's kind of need to know."

"So, recruiting was just your cover story?"

"Mm, not entirely. Have you ever heard of Koudo-san? We were dealing with him while you were still there."

"A doctor of some sort, isn't he? I never met him though."

Souji nodded and continued scratching his head like he was still trying to make up his mind whether he wanted to tell her more. "If I tell you more, you have to come back with me and Hajime-kun. I don't think Kondou-san would or could order you to seppuku, I mean you're a woman. Not to mention you've both saved Hajime-kun's life and are still very valuable to us. Kondou-san would rule your actions justified, and he's now in sole possession of the Shinsengumi."

Kaiya finally looked down, then sighed in defeat. She was getting bored of her life here anyways. "Alright fine. You need me to take care of both you and Saitou-kun still for a while anyways."

Souji gave her a bright smile then continued. "Koudo-san was doing some research for us on something called the Water of Life. That same night we killed Serizawa-san and you disappeared, so did Koudo-san. There was a fire where he was doing his research and no corpse. Hajime-kun and I were trying to find him. He was from Edo, so we went to check to see if there were signs that he'd returned."

"I've heard of the Water of Life before, but father said it was just a myth that our enemies made up to scare us, a bunch of 'hocus pocus' I believe is how he worded it." Kaiya gave Souji a bit of a skeptical look.

"The Aizu charged us with researching it. It was part of the deal in getting their sponsorship."

"Ok, but that doesn't explain last night."

Souji finally put down his chop sticks, "I was looking for furies."

"Furies?" Kaiya collected the dirty dishes and put them in the stone sink.

"Yah that's what we call what the Water of Life turns people into." Souji crossed his arms. "You aren't going to like what I'm about to tell you." Kaiya nodded for him to continue. "You see, when the volunteer takes the serum a change overtakes them. Their hair turns white and eyes turn red but it's not just their appearance. They become substantially stronger and extremely hard to kill. Most turn out insane though. We now think that Koudo-san switched sides and is making furies for the enemy."

Kaiya frowned. "You're right, I don't like the sound of that. Why would Kondou-san or Hijikata-kun condone such a thing?"

"I don't expect you to understand their reasons, Kai but if you really want to know, ask them. Although they may not like it that I told you. They wanted to keep you out of that kind of stuff. Not that I disagreed with their decision, but you deserve to know now."

"I appreciate you telling me." Kaiya frowned again. "Is the village in danger?"

"Well, I didn't find any and I think you would've heard about some strange murders. This village isn't exactly big." He seemed truly unconcerned. "So, how's Hajime-kun been doing anyways?

"He's not out of the woods yet but he has improved quite a bit. I'm sure you're well aware, but Saitou-kun is a fighter."

Souji chuckled, "That I do know. You know, when you disappeared, Hajime-kun was almost more upset than me and I was livid."

"I'm sure he was just as upset as everyone else." As if she meant anything to Saitou.

"No, I'm pretty sure he's got the hot's for you and he was upset that he wasn't able to protect you. Hijikata-kun would probably be in third place in the most upset department but I think he just see's you like a sister type of affection. You really had an impact on the Roshigumi, you know."

Kaiya scoffed. "I had barely become friends with any of them, I doubt my presence had any affected them. You're just trying to tease me."

"Think what you will, but I swear I'm telling the truth." He stood up ruffled her hair then walked outside.

111

Three days later Kaiya was walking through her rounds, checking on her patients when Haru met her as she left one of the farmer's homes. In his hands he carried a bouquet of freshly picked flowers. He came up to her and this time planted a kiss on her lips. Kaiya didn't return the kiss but smiled when he pulled back. Judging from the smile on his lips, he didn't notice her lack of response.

"Good morning, Kaiya-chan." He said with some meekness.

"What are you doing, Haru?" Kaiya asked as Haru handed her the flowers.

"I thought I'd make amends with how I've been acting, over the last day. I just want to take care of you."

"That's sweet Haru but I'm not needing you to protect me from my cousin. He loves me like a sister, and he'd lay his life down to protect mine. You don't need to worry." Kaiya replied then smelled the fresh bouquet of flowers.

"I…I'm working on believing that. He doesn't seem to have done anything so far. He just seems like a cruel kind of character." Haru ran his hand down her arm and touched her face with his other.

Kaiya stepped back from him and frowned. "He's a samurai. They aren't like farmers or regular people; they have to be somewhat cold but that doesn't make him cruel."

"I'm sorry, I'm making you upset again. I'm doing the opposite of what I had been intending." He let out a sigh. "I did come here with a purpose. There might be a better way to do this, but I've been working up the nerve to do this for a while…Ishikawa Kaiya would you honour me with becoming my wife?"

Kaiya stood there dumbfounded for several minutes, too shocked to move or make a reply. Haru sifted from foot to foot suddenly becoming uncomfortable.

"Haru…I'm sorry, no I can't." She finally said, coming out of her shock. "I've made promises to my cousin. I've turned my back on him once, I can't turn on him again."

"So then break them! He's done you no favours. What about your life? You said yourself they'd kill you if went back. You're just going to let them kill you?"

"Souji thinks that they'd make the exception for me, considering the circumstance of my departure. I tend to agree with him. Kondou-san was really good to me and they could use my skills as a doctor." And she genuinely missed the life she had there, and with Serizawa gone, she had no reason not to go back.

"I love you! I can't let you go! I forbid you to go." He started to sound frantic and angry at the same time.

Kaiya crossed her arms and looked at him furiously. "You don't have the right to forbid me from doing anything. You've been good to me Haru, but don't make my angry with you."

"Yah, especially with me right here." Souji came out from behind a tree.

"Souji! You're supposed to be watching Saitou-kun." She glared at Souji with the same intensity.

"Yah I'll get to that," Kaiya tried to protest but he cut her off. "Hey. A piece of scum like you might have the gull to ask her to marry you but she said no. So you got no right to tell her what to do and you have to get my permission which you don't have…ooff." Kaiya had elbowed him hard in the stomach as he was now standing beside her.

"You aren't my father, Souji! I can marry whomever I want!" Kaiya growled, she was only getting more irritated.

"Yah, well your father can't put his opinion in and I'm the only relative left a live who cares what happens to you. You kinda made it my right when you came to me." He gave her a hard look.

"Why are you here?!" She asked exasperated.

"Oh. Hajime-kun's awake or at least he was when I left." Souji said it so matter of factly, that it really pissed her off.

This time Kaiya punched him as hard she could in the gut. Keeling over he wheezed. "Damn Hajime-kun for teaching you how to hit people properly, ugh!"

Kaiya turned on her heels and ran off in the direction of her house. She barely slowed enough to take off her shoes then rushed into the patient room and found Saitou up on one elbow, his face twisted in pain as he pulled back the bandage to look at his wounds.

"Lay down you fool!" Kaiya hissed nearly having a heart attack seeing him sitting up like that.

Saitou looked up shocked by her abrupt entrance but obeyed her order. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she knelt down beside him. When she caught her breath and had settled her heart down, she finally apologized.

"I'm sorry, Saitou-kun. I didn't mean to yell at you like that. Blame Souji for irritating me so much before telling me you were awake." She gave him a repentant look.

Saitou let out a huff of air which she interpreted as a laugh. "That sounds familiar. It's good to see you again, Kaiya-chan…despite the situation." He said in quiet voice.

"I'm sorry…how I left. I'll tell you what happened when you're strong enough to hear it." Kaiya put her hand on his forehead, then checked his pulse.

"How bad are my injuries?" He laid perfectly still while she checked his injuries over again, making sure he hadn't ripped anything open.

"They're fairly serious. You'll be bed ridden for at least another week, possibly two. Once you heal though, I don't foresee them having lingering effects. But full recovery will take you at least two months."

Saitou winced as she applied more ointment to his wound. "Do you have a particularly intense pain in a certain area?" Kaiya asked, now in full doctor mode.

"No, it mostly just hurts when you touch it." Despite the pain he kept his eyes glued on her face.

Kaiya gently put-on fresh bandages. "Well that ointment has a pain killer in it, so the pain should subside soon. Are you feeling hungry or thirsty?"

"I am feeling quite hungry actually."

"Alright, I'll go fix you something. Don't even think of sitting up again or I'll have you unconscious for a week." Despite being serious she still smiled.

A huff of air escaped his lips again and a smile reached his lips. "I wouldn't even dream of disobeying your order, especially when it's in regard to my health."

Kaiya smiled and touched his shoulder before she got to her feet and went to the kitchen.