Re-edited February 2021


Kaiya walked up to Hijikata's room and knocked on the door. It was now nearing the end of July and the blistering heat had been continuing. Today was the first day that the heat had finally broke and so far, had been a beautiful day. Hijikata looked over at her from where he sat at his desk and waved her in.

"Good afternoon, Kaiya-chan. What can I do for you this fine afternoon?" Hijikata's mood had improved over the last couple months and Kaiya had a sneaking suspicion with what, or rather whom, it had been responsible.

"I was wondering if I could have an escort to go just out of town to find a particular herb for my research?" She took a seat down beside him.

Chizuru entered quietly bringing a cup of tea and setting it down on Hijikata's desk. Hijikata smiled and nodded his thanks then looked over at Kaiya, while Chizuru's face turned beat red as she looked down and smiled.

"Would you like some?" He asked her.

Kaiya smiled at the cute scene before her. "No but thank you."

Chizuru nodded and got up and left. Hijikata frowned and looked at her as he finally registered what she had asked him. "You want an escort? You rarely have an escort these days when you need things."

"Well, it's more like an armed helper. And where we would be going there's a high likely hood we could be attacked, since there's nobody around to witness anything." Kaiya replied.

"You are probably right. Yamazaki-kun has followed you a couple of times" Kaiya glared at him as he continued "…just to make sure you're safe! Anyways he said that you get followed a lot, but they seem to leave you alone as long as you stick to the main streets, but they may try something if you left town. But why don't you just buy this herb from the market?"

"It is a fairly common herb, I'll admit, but I need it fresh and the market's herbs aren't fresh enough. It shouldn't be too hard to find, so I hopefully it won't take too long or have to venture too far."

Hijikata sighed "Fine but Souji's busy right now."

Kaiya rolled her eyes. "I wasn't asking for Souji, he'd be too much of a distraction anyways. I'd have to babysit him. I don't care who comes with me, as long as they can behave themselves."

Hijikata chuckled. "Alright then Harada can go with you. He's generally helpful just as long a Shinpachi isn't around. And you'll need this." He reached over and pulled open a draw in his desk. He pulled out a sheet of paper with an official seal on it, signed it, and then handed it to her. "There are check points all over the edge of town in attempts to control the rebels, you'll need this to get by them without being harassed. Wear your haori also, it will help identify you as Shinsengumi."

Kaiya nodded. "Thank you."

Hijikata smiled at her. "You're welcome. I'll have Harada meet you at the gate." Kaiya got to her feet and headed for the door. "Be careful, Kaiya-chan."

Kaiya nodded her head and left the room. An hour later Kaiya and Sanosuke were walking down the street together heading for the city limits, dressed in their blues. As they approached a check point, Kaiya pulled out the passport Hijikata had given to her and showed it to the guard.

He eyed them suspiciously as he checked the passport. "Shinsengumi, eh?" He looked Kaiya up and down. "Wasn't aware that Shinsengumi were so desperate that they were recruiting women." One of the other guards laughed.

Sanosuke stepped forward and crossed his arms. "She's the doctor but she could still kick your ass. Let us through or there'll be hell to pay."

Kaiya had never found Sanosuke intimidating despite his height but as he glared down at the guardsmen, he truly seemed scary. The man took a step back, then handed Kaiya back the passport. "Fine go through."

As they walked out of ear shot Kaiya looked up to Sanosuke. "It's strange for me to see you like that, all mean and intimidating. I mean I know you're tough and dangerous it's just…"

Sanosuke looked down at her. "Did I scare you?" He did seem genuinely concerned.

Kaiya laughed and hugged his arm. "No Sano-kun, you didn't scare me. I know that you're that sweet goofball on the inside and are mean only when you need to be."

Sanosuke laughed and rubbed his head awkwardly. Then put a figure to his lips "Shh, that's supposed to be a secret."

They continued chatting with each other as they walked into the nearby forest. Once under the cover of the trees, Kaiya described what they were looking for. After about an hour they had filled the bag Kaiya had brought along. They had only been disturbed once by a couple of ronin but were quickly scared off by Sanosuke.

By the time they had made it back to the check point, there had been a change in the guard but they we equally cynical as the guards before them. These guys weren't so easily intimidated and Sanosuke had to do more than just glare. Kaiya thought for sure a fight was going to break out when both Kondou and Souji walked by on their way back to the compound from wherever they had gone, when they heard Sanosuke yelling at the guards.

Kondou frowned and walked over to the conflict. "What's going on here?" He demanded.

The guards looked shocked at suddenly being noticed by the great Commander of the Shinsengumi. "We-we are just doing our job sir." Stuttered the captain.

Kondou grabbed the passport from Sanosuke's hand, who had been shoving it in the captain's face and looked at it, then looked back at the captain furiously. "What reason do you have to detain my people? This is obviously an official passport, signed by Hijikata Toshiza himself!"

"I-it could be forged." The captain said nervously.

Souji walked over to Kaiya and grabbed her by the hand and Sanosuke and the two of them walked in behind Kondou. "As well as the blue haori's?" Kondou growled.

Souji and Sanosuke stood on either of Kondou, all glaring at the captain and the other guards. From the street that Kondou and Souji had come from, Kondou's normal retinue caught up and also stood behind Kondou.

Inoue stepped up beside Kaiya and bent over. "Are you okay, Ishikawa-chan?" He whispered.

"I'm fine." She whispered back. "I was more worried about something happening to Sano-kun."

"I profusely apologize for the trouble." The Captain said as he bowed.

"Return to your duties." Was all Kondou said as he turned and walked away. Everyone from the Shinsengumi followed in his stead.

"Geez, the lack of respect!" Grumbled Sanosuke. "Sorry for the trouble Kondou-san."

Kondou smiled back at them. "No problem, they need to learn some respect." He suddenly frowned "What were you doing leaving town anyways?"

Kaiya held up her bag of fresh herbs. "I needed as fresh herbs as possible, Hijikata-kun assigned Sano-kun to look after me."

"I see. I hope you found what you were looking for." Said Kondou.

By the time they had gotten back, the sun had begun to set. As they passed through the gate, Kondou and his retinue walked off as Souji remained with Sanosuke and Kaiya.

"Thank you for accompanying me Sano-kun! I'll make you something really tasty tomorrow!" Said Kaiya.

"What about me?" Asked Souji as he made a pouty face.

"Tch, you didn't do nothing!" Sanosuke smiled at Souji as he gave him a light shove.

Kaiya laughed and gave Souji a kiss on the cheek. "Sure, I'll make something for you too and Kondou-san since he was the one who bailed Sano-kun and I out of trouble." Kaiya turned and started to walk away. "I'll see you two at supper!"

"Wait up Kai! I want to talk to you!" Souji called as he trotted after her.

Souji followed her as she went to her room and put her herbs down by her desk that was now full of research equipment. Souji plopped down onto the ground as she sat at her desk. He stared at her with a very serious look on her face.

Kaiya frowned. "Is everything alright Souji?" She asked suddenly concerned.

Souji scratched his head then gave her somewhat of a guilty look. "Now don't freak out when I ask you what I want to ask, okay?"

Now Kaiya was even more concerned. "I'll try not to."

"Okay so you know that I'm sick…obviously but it seems like I'm fighting an uphill battle, eventually my body is going to give out. So, I was thinking; if I took that medicine and become a fury…would it make me better? I mean you're working on a cure, right? You could eventually make me normal again!" As Souji talked, he talked faster and faster so that Kaiya wouldn't stop him, when he finally stopped, he looked at her again with a guilty look.

Kaiya frowned. "I don't think it would Souji, if anything, it would just make the problem worse. You might not feel it, but I think the strain on your body would accelerate the problem. That crap has only shown to heal things like cuts and broken bones. Tuberculosis is a bacterial thing, it's all together different."

Souji sighed. "Are you sure?"

"From what I've learnt, I'm fairly certain. Why are you asking me this Souji? I'm fairly certain you're starting to recover. You're still very healthy Souji, you don't need that stupid stuff." She grabbed his hand and looked at him worriedly.

"I'm fine now but what if something happened to you or I had to go some where's you can't take care of me? What then? I'll die from a stupid cough." He made a frustrated sound.

"I don't know Souji, but I think you'd fine. You're doing way better than any person I've ever treated for tuberculosis before, you don't need that crap! Please Souji don't take it!" Kaiya gave her a pleading look.

Souji sighed as he looked at her. "Fine, I won't. It would be counterproductive, from what you said."

Kaiya grabbed his face. "Promise me!"

He removed her hands from his face and laughed. "I promise." Then hugged her.

111

The next morning Kaiya got up extra early to make the food she had promised to make for Sanosuke, Kondou and Souji. When she got to the kitchen, she found Chizuru and Shinpachi making breakfast. They both turned as she entered and smiled brightly at her.

"Good morning!" They both said in unison.

Kaiya laughed, "Good morning you two!"

"Whatcha doing up so early, Kaiya-chan?" Shinpachi asked as he resumed cutting up some vegetables.

"Oh, I was an extra bit of a burden yesterday, so I promised Sano-kun, Souji and Kondou-san something special!" Kaiya said as she started pulling out the dishes and food that she required.

"What'd they do? I wanna get in on this action!" Shinpachi said as he laughed.

"Well, it was only supposed to be Sano-kun helping me yesterday, but some guards were giving us grief at the check point. Kondou-san and Souji happened to be walking by when things were really started getting heated between Sano-kun and the guards so Kondou-san swooped in and settled things down." Kaiya replied as she continued to get ready.

"So, what'd Souji do? It just sounded like he was just there." Shinpachi made a face.

Kaiya laughed. "Oh, he was just there, he didn't really do anything other than pull me behind Kondou-san but he's always looking out for me so I figured I should make something for him to."

"What about me? I look out for you sometimes too!" Shinpachi gave her a mopey face.

"You're right you do but I do recall a certain sunburn someone acquired not that long ago, and I fended off Hijikata-kun's wrath for him." Shinpachi gave her a guilty look. "Besides don't you like Chizuru's cooking?"

"No, I mean I do but…oh never mind." Shinpachi gave a sigh of defeat.

Suddenly someone cleared their throat and they all turned to see Hijikata standing in the doorway looking irritated. "'Fended off my wrath' did you?"

Kaiya just smiled at him and said "Yup." The other two looked at her floored.

Hijikata sighed. "Any ways make an extra serving, Heisuke's back."

"What!?" All three of them said in unison.

"You heard me." Hijikata turned and left them.

"That's wonderful!" Chizuru said excitedly.

"I guess." Grumbled Shinpachi.

"Oh Shinpachi-kun don't hold a grudge! He's young and needed to see what else was out there. You should be happy that he realized that we were the better option!" Said Kaiya trying to soothe him.

"That's not what I'm mad about! He never talked to us! He never asked our opinions!" He said angrily.

"Once again, Shinpachi-kun, he's young, he wanted to figure it out on his own! Give him a break!" She patted Shinpachi on the shoulder.

"Heisuke-kun said that the goals from when you first arrived here has changed and he wasn't sure if that's what he wanted anymore. He just wants to protect people." Chizuru said trying to defend Heisuke.

"Heisuke isn't wrong, the Shinsengumi has changed…a lot. You can't blame him." Said Kaiya.

"Yeah whatever." Shinpachi waved them off and continued his chopping.

111

A few hours later Kaiya walked in and served the meal she had made for Kondou, Souji and Sanosuke. They all looked at her brightly and thanked her profusely. When she sat down beside Souji he gave her a one-armed hug and a sloppy kiss on the cheek and laughed like a little kid as he dug in.

The conversation moved around Heisuke like he had never left, which made Kaiya happy as she watched everyone interact. Shinpachi apparently forgot that he was mad as Heisuke as he ribbed him like he always did. Kaiya hadn't realized how much quieter it had become without Heisuke there until today, as the three were as loud as the always had been.

As happy as Kaiya had been to see Heisuke she couldn't help but feel sad that Hajime hadn't joined him. After her last meeting with him, the pain of their separation had only become more acute, she hadn't slept well since he'd left. Each and every night, she'd stay up late to work on her research. When she went to bed, she was exhausted but as she laid there she couldn't help but think about him, worry that something terrible might happen to him and she might not be there to save him.

"What made you come back, Heisuke-kun?" Chizuru's question snapped Kaiya back to what was going on.

Heisuke looked at Kaiya with an expression Kaiya couldn't read, then looked back at Chizuru. "It might sound strange and you idiots don't make it into something it's not!" He looked over at Sanosuke and Shinpachi with a warning look. "Thinking about Kaiya-chan actually brought me back." Everybody looked at him shocked.

"Me?" Kaiya asked confused.

Heisuke smiled at her but it was a sad smile. "Yah you. I just thought all the stuff you'd been through even before you met us and after you met us and despite what made you leave before; you came back and held no grudges against us when we should've been there protecting you. Then Kondou-san, Hijikata-san and Sannan-san all accepted you back without any problem…I don't think Itou-san would do that for anyone."

All the guys looked at their food glumly as Heisuke reminded them of some terrible events that they had forgotten, all but Chizuru. Chizuru looked around confused than looked at Kaiya.

"I don't understand what he means. Why did you leave Kaiya-chan?" Chizuru asked.

Souji was about to get mad and Kaiya could tell that Hijikata was about to tell her to mind her own business, but Kaiya held up her hand to silence them and they both stopped.

Kaiya looked a Chizuru with no expression on her face. "I won't give you any details but to put it plainly, I got attacked and then I left without telling anyone…not even Souji. I was an official member even back then, but they ruled my circumstance…special, so they excused any potential charges against me."

"But…" Chizuru started.

"That's all you need to know!" Souji snapped looking very irritated.

Kondou sighed. "Calm down Souji. Chizuru-chan its best if you don't know any more than what Kaiya-chan has told you and for her sake don't ask about it anymore."

Heisuke rubbed his head and gave Kaiya a guilty look. "I'm sorry I brought that up."

Kaiya's face softened to a smile. "It's alright Heisuke, you meant nothing by it. Besides, that was a long time ago and it no longer matters. I'm just happy you're home!"

Heisuke brightened considerably. "Thanks, I'm glad to be back!"