Asuka bolted up, gasping for breath. Her hand immediately reached for her throat, heaving for air only to realize that she wasn't being smothered by water. As Asuka slowly regained her senses, she now felt a hand rubbing her back warmly and a voice that was slowly getting louder and making more sense.
"-kay, it's okay. You're safe now," the voice reassured her. "Momoe, you alright?"
Asuka froze. Momoe? And this voice. How much she longed to hear this voice again. His voice. Asuka slowly, hesitantly, turned to face the other person. Her eyes widen in shock and recognition. Tears already brimming at her eyes, just about ready to spill. Impossible.
"Ani." Asuka wasn't even sure if he heard her.
"Momoe?" His face was clouded with a mix of concern and relief. Asuka stayed silent. She didn't know what to say nor did she want to say anything at all, afraid that even a small movement would disturb this dream. Asuka just gazed at him, taking in his features. That deep brown hair. Those eyes. Those emerald green eyes. She slowly gazed down, just now feeling his warmth clinging to her hand.
It feels too real. Asuka tightened her grasp. Souji responded in the same way and placed his other hand on top of hers.
"Momoe?" He called her again hoping to hear her voice clearer, this time. His attempt, unfortunately, failed. Asuka tried to speak but no words formed. All she could do was let her tears fall one by one.
"Momoe, what's wrong?"
But all Asuka could whisper was, "Ani." She buried her head into the crook of his neck and hugged him. Clung to him so that he couldn't go anywhere. Souji froze. His head pounding with confusion but at the same time blank. He didn't know what to do or what to say. The only thing he knew was his concern for his little sister heightening by each passing moment. Souji wrapped one arm around her small figure and gently ran his fingers through her hair in hopes to give some comfort. Asuka tried her best to calm herself with deep breaths and small sniffles but the shock and disbelief that she was once again in these familiar arms, feeling the ever so real warmth made it hard for the tears to stop.
The two sat in silence in each other's embrace before they heard steady footsteps come to a stop in front of the door.
"Souji," a man's voice softly called out before the door opened. Asuka was still in her brother's arms facing away from the door and all she could feel was a small lookup from Souji, acknowledging the presence of the man.
Souji faintly shook his head and buried his head into the crook of her neck once again as he tightened his arm around her. Asuka could hear the door close and the man leaving to much of her relief for she didn't want many to see her in such a distraught state.
Asuka once more tried to recollect herself, this time having more success than the last. She released herself from her brother's warm embrace and wiped her tears as she took more deep breaths.
"Here's some water." Souji grabbed the wooden polished cup that was placed next to the futon and held it before her. He continued to comb his fingers through her long disheveled black hair as Asuka gripped the cup and let the cool water soothe her throat before asking.
"What happened?"
"You...don't remember...?"
Asuka shook her head.
"You've been unconscious for two days."
Asuka furrowed her brows. "Why?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. That night I was on patrol with Heisuke. When I came back, they said that you had disappeared without saying anything. We went searching for you everywhere until we found you at the lake. You would've drowned if it weren't for Sano-san. And ever since then, you've been unconscious without any sign of waking up."
"Oh…" Asuka trailed off. "What year is it?"
Souji's fingers halted as he creased his eyebrows in utter confusion. "1864."
"'64…" Asuka whispered. She looked down at her hands, rubbing her fingers together to feel the touch of her skin before glancing around the room. Am I really...back? Asuka tried to think back to her most recent memories. I was on the boat with Mom and Dad. Shinji-kun. That's right I was looking for Shinji-kun. And then…
"Momoe?" Souji broke through her train of thoughts. He paused. He had so many questions jumbled in his mind all wanting to be answered, but his first priority was his sister's wellbeing. "Are you feeling alright?"
Asuka nodded.
"Hajime-kun came in early so I believe that by now everyone knows that you're awake."
Asuka again nodded absentmindedly as she was back in her train of thoughts. 1864. What was going on in 1864? Around this time...Sannan-san had probably hurt his arm. And...and what else? Wait, but I don't ever remember falling into a lake and being unconscious for two days. Asuka sighed in frustration as she tried to rub a creeping headache away.
"It's okay. You should rest some more," Souji patted her head and gave her a small smile.
"Souji, Momoe" a voice called out before opening the door to reveal the commander and his vice.
"Momoe, how are you feeling?" Kondou-san asked with worry.
Asuka smiled, feeling the tears arise but determined to not let them fall this time, she swallowed. "Kondou-san. I'm feeling better, thank you."
"Kondou-san called the doctor to check up on you, just in case," Hijikata-san said and moved aside to let the doctor in. "The others are all worried about you, but decided against visiting you for now in hopes to not overwhelm you and to let you rest in peace."
I guess Hajime-san said something.
"Thank you," Asuka smiled before the three left the room, leaving her with just the doctor.
Asuka began to stir awake from her slumber as she opened her eyes. She stretched her arms and body, warding off the stiffness of her bones before she got up and walked around her room. It's not a dream. Asuka walked out as the cool nightly breeze seem to welcome her with kisses. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smelling the faint sweet scent of cherry blossoms that were blooming in the back yard. She smiled. Oh, how much she longed to smell those flowers. Asuka walked out towards the tree as the petals gracefully fluttered down like fairies before grazing the pond so softly that Asuka would have believed that they were floating if not for the small ripples. Asuka crouched down to look at her reflection that seemed to be familiar but not at the same time. Her jet black hair was longer than the self she was in present-day Tokyo. She looked down at her hands to see that they were a lot more calloused than she remembered. She wrapped her arms around herself to feel that her body was a lot more toned as well. The only thing that was familiar to her was her eyes. Her emerald green eyes. Like her brother's.
"Momo-chan?" Asuka slightly startled by the sudden voice got up and looked behind to see who it belonged to.
"Sano-san," Asuka smiled.
"I heard that you finally woke up. How are you feeling?" Sanosuke gently walked towards her.
"Better. Thank you."
"What are you doing out here in just your nightly gowns? It's chilly," Sanosuke took his haori off to place on to Asuka's shoulders to provide some warmth.
"Just getting some fresh air," Asuka wrapped herself tighter with the new piece of clothing, just now feeling the coldness of the air. He must have been out on patrols with Shinpachi-san. "I heard that you were the one who saved me from the lake. Thank you."
Sanosuke turned from observing the tree to Asuka as she spoke. He paused in slight confusion that he hid under his smile as he studied her face.
"Sano-san?"
"Ah, no worries! I just can't believe you don't know how to swim," Sanosuke joked as he patted her head. "But what were you doing out there anyway? We were all really worried about you y'know."
Asuka looked down. "I...don't really remember. I don't know why I left without telling anyone. And I DO know how to swim. I guess I was just caught off guard that time."
"Excuses, excuses," Sanosuke teased with a grin. "It's okay, Momo-chan. You don't have to good at everything."
Asuka swatted his head away and combed through her now slightly tangled hair due to Sanosuke. "But I am. And I really DO know how to swim. I'll prove it to you next time."
"Okay, okay." Sanosuke felt relieved by the lightness of Momoe's mood. Especially after how heavy it has been due to everyone's concern and notably Souji's all too silent state. "You should go back inside. I wouldn't want you catching a cold."
Asuka nodded as she returned the haori.
"Good night, Sano-san."
"Good night, Momo-chan."