Chapter 4

As Chizuru neared the gate of the HQ she saw someone leaning against the wall. He had his arms crossed and eyes closed. She hoped she could get past him without him noticing her.

"Chizuru."

Chizuru froze. She really didn't want to talk with him right now. Or later.

Hijikata turned a little, now looking at her. "Follow me." He started to make his way, without her following her. Chizuru stared at his back. It occurred to her that his tall silhouette mirrored his loneliness from all the years he couldn't see his family. She let her eyes follow him until je was out of sight. She took a deep breath and sauntered to the kitchen. She put everything where is belonged, trying not to about Hijikata. After putting the last things away she decided to go to his room.

Once in front of his room, she began to hesitate. She didn't know where to start with apologizing. There were so many thins she's done wrong. Not knowing what to do, she turned around. The sound of footsteps inside the room made her anxious. Just as she wanted to run away she felt long fingers slip around her wrist.

"Will you come inside, please?"

Inside his room, she didn't sit down.

"I'm sorry about what I did after you brought Natsu. I shouldn't have tried to… do that." His eyes were staring straight into hers, pleading her to forgive him.

"I also want to apologize, for running away, twice."

"Chizuru, is it okay for you to just forgive each other?"

"And to not talk about it anymore?"

Hijikata nodded.

"Okay."

Hijikata's tense shoulders relaxed and he let out a deep breath.

"Are you alright, Hijikata-san?"

"Yes, I'm feeling much better now." He smiled at her, making her heart skip a beat. She saw that he wanted to come closer, but he didn't do it. And she knew exactly why. So she took a step forward, as to let him know that it was okay right now for him to approach her. Slowly his hand moved to her face and he whispered her name. But that special moment soon vanished as someone loudly opened the door.

"Toshizou, quickly come." The girl in the door opening was Okimi. Her heavily breathing made her shoulder go up and down. Little blood droplets escaped the bruises on her hands and face.

"What happened, Okimi?"

"Natsu is stuck inside the bushes and he's panicking."

"Lead us the way." He took Chizuru's hand in his and followed Okimi.

"Why do I need to come with you?"

"He might be hurt, just like Okimi."

"Well, I'm sorry for getting hurt," Okimi snarled at him.

They arrived at the place, seeing Rini on hands and knees next to the bushes. She looked up as Hijikata kneeled down next to her.

"Natsu?"

"Nii-chan? I can't get out."

"It's okay, we're going to get you out of there." He turned to Rini and saw fear in her big watery eyes.

Chizuru noticed that Hijikata didn't know what to do, so she also kneeled down. "Rini-chan, could you tell us how he got in there?"

"He ran after a kitten." She started to cry.

Chizuru put her hand on her back and pulled her towards her in a hug. "It's going to be alright."

"Natsu, can you carefully turn to where my voice is coming from?"

"I don't know."

Hijikata took a deep breath and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Okimi asked.

"Nowhere." He took off the belt with his sword in the scabbard and handed it over to Okimi. He got back on his knees, broke some of the twigs and tried to look through the leaves. Natsu laid curled up as a kitten with his feet towards Hijikata.

"Hijikata-san, are you going inside and carry him out of there?"

"Yes."

"But-"

"There is no other way, Chizuru. He's not going to listen to anything I say." Hijikata slowly crawled towards Natsu. Some strands of his long hair got stuck around the twigs. He pulled his loose from the twigs, taking some with him. Just behind Natsu he stopped and touched the boy. "Natsu, look up."

Natsu turned his head a little. "Nii-chan…"

"It's okay. Get on your hands and knees."

Natsu did as he was told. Hijikata sat back on his knees and pushed the spiky branches aside. "Now go to the girls, there is a clear path."

Hijikata and Natsu sat on the stairs of the porch, their upper bodies naked.

"When will Chizuru-nee-chan come?"

"In a minute."

"I'm here," Chizuru said as she put down the band aid box behind them. "Okimi went together with Rini-chan to Toshiko-san, so we don't have to worry about them. I'd also asked you to tie up your hair."

Hijikata put up his hands, palms facing backwards. "They're also bruised." He heard a sigh coming from behind him and smiled secretly. In fact, he could've done it himself, the bruises didn't mind him at all. But he knew she was longing to touch his hair sometime.

Her fingers combed through his hair to get all twigs out. He wanted to see her face, even though he already knew what her face would look like. He also knew she'd get even more embarrassed.

"After this you need to wash your hair, there's still some dirt in it." She made a bun of his hair and moved on to Natsu's hair. After that she put ointment on the bruises and told them not to touch it.

"May it get wet?" Hijikata asked.

"No, if I say that it may not be touched, it may also not get wet."

"So how am I, are we supposed to wash our hair?" He felt her fingers stiffen as she softly touched a cut on the bade of his neck.

"I didn't think about that."

"Can Chizuru-nee-chan wash our hair?"

"Eh?"

"Only if she wants," Hijikata said.

"But isn't it better if Toshiko-san does it?"

"Didn't you say she was taking care of Rini and Okimi?"

"Yes."

"I want nee-chan to do it," Natsu winced. He stood up and crossed his arms, making a pouting face.

"Alright, I will do it."

"Yay!" Natsu jumped around, smiling happily, making Chizuru's heart flutter.