After having been lifted into the safety of Souji's arms, Mikoto fell into a foggy state somewhere between sleep and awareness. Time passed in a dreamlike state, the lines between delusion and reality blurred, the only thing she could hang on to for certain was the comforting warmth of the man holding her. First she heard Souji's voice, though his words were muffled and she couldn't quite be sure if he said what she thought he had. She could then make out the relieved voices of the other captains. Soon after there were rushed orders from the chief and commander to get her to her room before Susumu and Sanan, she believed, were summoned for. As soon as she was laid gently on her futon, she slipped completely into a deep blackness, losing all consciousness. This only lasted for what seemed like a moment. The next thing she recognized was a soft breeze moving over her face, carrying on it a comforting, familiar scent. Her head was pounding, and her whole body was stiff and aching. Despite this, she could move freely, no rope had her painfully bound. She opened her eyes, but between blurry vision and the darkness that blanketed the room, she couldn't make out much. She tried to move to sit up, but her muscles were shaky and weak, making it a struggle. She slowly adjusted to the dim lighting, realizing that she was in her own room in the Shinsengumi compound. She was clothed in one of Souji's casual sleeping yukatas and all of her wounds had been treated and wrapped. As she looked around, She noticed someone leaning up against the wall beside her. He was seated, arms loosely crossed, and head lolled to the side in what looked like an uncomfortable slumber.

"Souji…?" she murmured, in part trying to register that that was truly who she was seeing. "Souji…" His sleep was clearly not a deep one, as her soft voice was enough to cause him to begin to stir. He let out a quiet groan and slowly lifted his head. His eyes blinked open and he looked at Mikoto for a moment, clearly trying to focus.

"M-Mikoto?" he questioned drowsily. Then, realization flashed across his features, and he jumped to sit straight up. "Mikoto!" In an instant, he was by her side, pulling her into a tight embrace. Though it hurt, she ignored the pain and threw her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. "I'm so glad you're awake…" Being in his arms after her ordeal brought every emotion bubbling up to the surface, and before she knew it she broke into uncontrollable sobs. He held her quietly as she shook in his arms, allowing her all the time she needed to let everything out and settle herself down. "After being out cold for almost two days, I thought you would be happy to see me," he teased lightly, trying to lighten the mood. She was shocked to hear just how long she had slept, but said nothing. A few more sobs wracked her body.

"I love you, Souji," she finally got out, her face still hidden. "I love you…" Her words took him by surprise, but he was thrilled by them nonetheless. He nuzzled into her hair.

"I love you, Mikoto." They held one another in a comfortable silence after her crying slowed. At last she looked up at him, her face blotchy and wet.

"What are you doing here? What about Hijikata?" He chuckled, running his thumbs under her eyes to dry her tears.

"I don't care about that. We can go back to our act when the sun rises. For now, I just want to be with you like this," he explained, his tone sweet and gentle. "I almost lost you, you really think I wouldn't be by your side the moment you woke up?" A soft smile graced her features. "Besides, I think Hijikata may be catching on to me after everything…" he stated sheepishly. "I told him that I don't need to like you to feel responsible for you, but who knows if he bought it." They both laughed at this. "I'm glad I can still make you smile," he murmured softly, resting his forehead against hers. "Now, I think we should both get some more rest, at least until morning." She nodded, and he helped her to lay back down before laying down beside her and pulling her to him once more.

"Thank you, Souji," she said softly. He said nothing and in moments his breathing had become deep and rhythmic. Seeing her awake at least and knowing for certain she was okay had allowed him to finally fall into the first comfortable sleep he'd had in days. Mikoto laid awake a while longer watching Souji's chest rise and fall softly, admiring the peaceful look that was painted across his features. She gently brushed his bangs out of the way so she could see his face more clearly. She took some time to convince herself that the moment was real, and not some fever dream that would come crashing down at any minute, before succumbing to her own exhaustion.

After having returned, Mikoto's days felt longer and passed slowly. At first, they were the happiest she could remember having in a long time. The day after she had woken up, the men had decided to hold a small celebration to welcome her safe return. The captains had all chipped in on cooking her a large meal before they spent the evening eating and drinking to their hearts' content. She had been showered endlessly by affectionate words and hugs, and her hair had been tousled more times than she could count. Everyone had been thrilled to see her safe and proud to hear how she had handled her captors so fearlessly. Even Hijikata, who was not one to hand out praise freely, held nothing back in commending her actions. However, once the initial excitement of her rescue had passed, everyone quickly became highly protective of her. While they waited for her injuries to heal, the men of the Shinsengumi treated her as though she was something fragile. None of them would allow her to lift a finger, even for simple tasks, and she had been ordered to stay at the compound until further notice. At first, she appreciated their kindness. It made her feel that she really belonged with the Shinsengumi, as though she truly had a home there. Before long, however, they were beginning to become overbearing, annoying even. Though he wouldn't allow most to see it, when they were alone, Souji was the biggest offender. Many of her wounds were deep, especially in her legs, causing her to walk with a limp, and few of them had become infected bringing with them more pain, but thanks to Susumu's tireless care, she was healing quickly and saw no reason that she should still be out of commission, but he saw it differently. Currently she was laying in a shady spot of the inner courtyard, a heavy sigh leaving her. Souji had been enjoying the afternoon with her, but she had made the mistake of mentioning that she was hungry. He had wasted no time getting up and hurrying to the kitchen, casually dropping the threat to kill her if she didn't wait patiently.

"What's wrong Mikoto-chan? I haven't been gone long, no need to start missing me so soon." She looked over to see him approaching, his lips curved into an impish smile. She sat up, shooting him an unamused glance before noticing the tray of cubed watermelon in his hands. He chuckled, noticing her perk up at the sight of the succulent red fruit.

"Nothing better on a hot day like today, yeah?" he questioned, taking a seat beside her. She smiled and shook her head. "Now, what's wrong?" She ignored his prying and reached for a piece of melon. He pulled the tray away, holding it out of her reach and using his free hand to take hers, lacing their fingers. "Talk to me," he insisted. Her expression became sullen.

"I'm just so bored," she grumbled like a pouting child. "None of you will let me do anything, and I'm tired of just sitting around her uselessly." His brow creased as he gave her a look of sympathy.

"You still need some time to heal." He put the watermelon down beside him and cupped her face. "You can't even walk properly right now, how would you defend yourself if something were to happen?"

"I'll be just fine," she said, her tone taking on a bit of a whine. "Can I please just go on patrol with you tonight, Souji?" she begged. "I'm a member of the first division, I need to be pulling my weight." Her gold eyes became wide and pleading. He looked away, knowing the power that look had over him.

"You know I can't let you do that, Mikoto. Just give it a few more days, and relax." She huffed, but didn't argue the matter any further. He picked the tray back up. "Here, the watermelon will cheer you up." He picked up one of the cubes and held it out. She reached for it, but he pulled away. "Ah, ah, ah. Open up." He grinned, his eyes dancing playfully. She scowled.

"Souji…" He opened his mouth to demonstrate what he wanted. She held his gaze for a moment, one of her eyebrows raised. With his mouth still opened, one of the corners of his lips quirked up in a smirk, and at last she gave in. With an exasperated eye roll, she opened her mouth and allowed him to give her the chunk of watermelon. She bit happily into the sweet fruit, a smile once again gracing her features as the flavor washed over her tongue. Souji watched her lovingly as she enjoyed the snack, taking a few pieces for himself. She glanced up to see him looking at her and her cheeks flushed.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it?"

"I'm not a kid," she muttered, now feeling a little embarrassed. He snickered and pushed the tray towards her.

"I need to start getting our men ready for patrol, so you can enjoy the rest of this without me." Her frustration with being left behind was clear without her even having to say anything. "I know you're a little stir crazy, but just bear with it a little longer." His attempt at comfort had little effect, but she tried to force a small smile. "I'll see you after we get back tonight," he promised, giving her a quick kiss before getting to his feet and walking away.

The moon had been hanging in the sky for at least an hour, providing enough light for Mikoto to wait comfortably near the gate until her unit returned from patrol. The calico cat that liked to visit the Shinsengumi on occasion sat on her lap, purring contentedly. The cat had been coming around much more often since Mikoto had been confined to the compound. She stroked that cat absentmindedly for a while, her patience starting to dwindle, until she saw the gate opening. She watched for a moment until she saw Souji leading a handful of men through the gate. Her brow furrowed. She didn't recognize any of the men as being from the first unit, but figured they were perhaps new recruits, and brushed it off. Once everyone was in, she got to her feet, sending the cat slinking off, and made her way over to greet Souji. As she approached, she was stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide. His clothing, face and hands were all splattered a deep red that glistened in the moonlight.

"Souji!" she rushed to him as quickly as she could with her bummed leg. He looked up at her, his expression grim. "What happened? Are you hurt?" she asked frantically.

"No, this isn't mine," he assured her.

"Then whose-"

"Before I tell you anything, I need to have a discussion with Kondou and Hijikata."