Alright guys, I'm here with chapter 10 :D Please enjoy~ Also, I made a pencil sketch of Aki-chan on my DeviantArt :3 If you wanna check it out, here's the link: art/Aki-Chan-Ready-to-Fight-385396677

'What? Must have been that dream.' She thought, wiping away the water on her cheeks. "It's nothing." She said taking advantage of the grip he took off and pushed him off of her so she could get up. She quickly walked to the door, a hand over her neck where he bit.

"And that hurt you ass! Don't think I'm just letting you off the hook for it!" Aki yelled at him and slid the door close behind her and went to go wash her face.

'Yeah. "It's nothing" my ass.' Okita thought, his face going dark. 'A simple dream would make you cry in your sleep and whimper, little girl.'

The morning came fast and Aki was grateful for it. Hijikata has given her permission to go on patrol today with Heisuke when his turn comes. Aki was happy, no more than that, she was completely full of excitement. It was the first time she could go out since she was brought in here. She could see what's changed in the town, maybe even get some dango. She hasn't had it in so long.

'Yup, definitely getting dango.' Aki thought to herself with a smile on her face as she went to get her money pouch out of Okita's room. She still had some money in there from when she was stealing off the streets. She picked up the pouch and started to count the money inside. 'Alright! Just enough!' The smile on her face got even bigger.

"Hey Aki, ready to go?" Heisuke's voice came from the door to Okita's room. She turned around to him to see Heisuke dressed in his Shinsengumi uniform, headband and all.

"Yup." She said quickly going passed him to the gates where his troop gathered, ready to leave. She could hear Heisuke chuckle at how excited she was.

"Alright men, let's go." Heisuke told them as they got in position and marched out. Heisuke went to the back with Aki, walking alongside her.

"Hey, Heisuke. If we pass a dango shop, can I get some real quick? I haven't had any in such a long time." Aki asked him, holding her money pouch in her hand tightly.

Heisuke placed a hand on her head softly. "Hmph, sure thing Aki." Heisuke replied with a smile on his face. He was happy to be the first one to take Aki out of headquarters, he would be the one who got to see her excitement. The troop walked along, a little slower than usual. Earlier Heisuke told his men Aki would be coming out of headquarters for her first time so he wanted them to go slower so she could take it in and enjoy everything.

"Aki-chan? Is that you?" An elderly lady from the side of the road called. Aki turned her head at the voice to meet the eyes of a little old lady. She was a short person with her white hair pinned up, wearing a light purple kimono.

"Eh? Oba-chan? I've missed you." Aki quickly went over to her and put the old lady in a hug. This woman wasn't her real grandmother but she was like one. Aki never got to meet her grandmother but she always thought of this woman as her own. When she was put on the streets after Rokuro died this lady saw her stealing and asked her what she was doing. Aki told her about her life and became closer with the old lady. She would occasionally help Aki and would let Aki work in her shop for money.

"I've missed you too dear. I haven't seen you around lately, I was getting worried. Did you get yourself in trouble, young lady?" The old lady said putting her hands on her hips.

"Um, something like that. But it's alright, I'm being treated fine." Aki told her, a hand nervously pulling on her scarf.

"Hey Aki, who's this?" Heisuke said, coming up next to her. He was still taller than her, causing the little old lady to look up even more to meet his eyes.

"Oh Heisuke, this is Hana-san, she's like my oba-chan. She owns this kimono shop." Aki told him, a smile on her face. She owed this lady so much.

"Hello Hana-san, I'm Heisuke. Heisuke Toudou." He introduced himself to the lady, bowing to her.

"Now, now. You can just call me Oba-chan. " She smiled at Heisuke. "Aki-chan, is this your boyfriend? He's quite good looking for a young man of his age." She asked as both Aki and Heisuke went red in the face.

"Oba-chan! Even if that's true, It's not like that.." Aki said a little taken off guard, face still red. Heisuke turned his face to hide his blush from the women. "He's a good friend."

"Poor boy." The lady said quietly to Heisuke while Aki was touching her face to calm it down.

"Yeah." Heisuke told her laughing, he liked this old lady, she was funny and spoke her mind.

"Oh, I have something for you Aki-chan. Wait right here." Hana-san told her as she went into her shop leaving Aki and Heisuke there.

"Sooo…. You agree I'm good looking?.." Heisuke started with a big smirk on his face.

"Don't even." Aki said lightly jabbing him in the side. The old lady return, a box in her hand.

"Here, this is for you. I was hoping to give it to you last week on your birthday but you never stopped by. I'm glad I can give it to you now though." She said handing the box to Aki.

'It was her birthday last week? She didn't tell us..' He thought staring at her. His eyes were wide with surprise.

"Go ahead, open it." Hana-san told Aki. Aki took the lid off and was in awe. In the box was a light green kimono that matched her eyes.

"Heisuke, can you hold this?" She asked, putting the box in his arms before he answered. She then took out the kimono to completely see its design. Around the chest area there were white butterflies that trailed all the way down to the bottom, fading into a dark green. It was lovely, Aki really liked it. She neatly folded it back in the box and turn to Hana-san.

"Really for me?" She asked and Hana-san nodded her head. "Thank you so much, it's beautiful." Aki told her and she gave the old lady a nice hug.

"Take care of it." She said to Aki. "I'm sure you need to be on your way, looks like you guys are here on business. Take care Aki-chan, stop by sometimes." She waved as they started to walk away.

"I will. Thank you Oba-chan!" Aki said a big smile on her face, waving at the old lady. She clutched the box to her tightly, she couldn't wait to wear it.

'I couldn't tell her. Not today, she seemed so happy.' Hana-san thought as she watched them disappear in the distance.

The troop walked on, throughout the town, by this time it had gotten a little late.

"So, Aki. What's all this about it being your birthday last week?" Heisuke started.

"Um… Yeah. It was last Wednesday." She said a little nervously. She didn't tell anyone when her birthday was, only Hana-san knew about it.

"You should have told us. We would have done something. Sano-san and Shinpach-san love when it's someone's birthday. How old are you now?" Heisuke said as he playfully pushed her shoulder.

"That's ok and it was my 18th birthday. But my birthday isn't something to bother others about." She said looking at the ground.

'Oh, now she's gonna get it…' Heisuke thought to himself, planning something later.

"Alright guys, stop." Heisuke ordered, they eyed him strangely. "You guys can go ahead back, there's something I have to do." He told them and they started to walk to base. "Come on, Aki." He said. She followed him along to a little stand. "Here ya go."

"Hey, I said only if we passed one." Aki told him noticing they were now at a little dango stand.

"Yeah but earlier it seemed like you really wanted it soo…" Heisuke started. Aki took out her money and bought some dango from the man.

"Here, you earned it. Thanks Heisuke." She said, handing him a stick of dango and they made their way back to the headquarters. When they got back, Aki-went to Okita's room and placed her box with the kimono in the corner where she kept most of her things. She also placed down her swords and put the rest of the dango down for a second. She went to take her scarf off but people barged into the room and she could feel arms around her.

"Aki-chan your so cruel!" Nagakura said loudly and he and Harada came in. "You shoulda told us!"

"Let's go. Better late than never." Harada said lifting her up and over his shoulders.

"W-What?!" Aki said caught off guard. Last thing she remembered was putting her stuff down and next thing she knew she was over Harada's shoulder being taken out the room. She squirmed around but Harada's grip was too tight.

"I'm not putting you down since we know you'll run away." Harada laughed as he ignored the protests from Aki.

"Don't what us. Everyone deserves to celebrate their 18th birthday!" Nagakura said happily walking in front of them.

'Heisuke is gonna pay.' Aki thought thinking of a way to get the captain back. She wasn't paying attention to where they were going but heard them getting closer to other voices.

"There you guys are." Heisuke said from the gates. Heisuke, Harada, Nagakura, and Okita all decided to go out with Aki to celebrate her birthday, even if it was a little late.

"Hey, Harada-san. Turn around so I can face them…" Aki said quietly.

"Uh, sure.." He said at her strange requests. As soon as Harada turned around so Aki could see Heisuke she stopped moving and put on a calm look. "Heisuke come here." She said with a fake smile.

"Sure, Aki. What is it?" He said walking up to her form that was draped over Harada's shoulder.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" She yelled and threw her arms forward to try and grab him as she started thrashing her whole body.

"Woahhh there, don't move around so much." Harada piped up, tightening his grip so she wouldn't fall. She continued to try and grab Heisuke who dodged her arms.

" Now, now guys. We must not fight, we need to party!" Nagakura yelled, already out of the gates, ready to go. Aki stopped, her arms in the air and glared at him.

"You just want sake." She quickly turned back to Heisuke who turned to leave and as he walked forward she was able to grab his pony tail. He let out a little noise from his hair being pulled and was pulled toward Aki.

"I'll get you back." She said lowly to him, pulling his hair one more time and then letting it go.

"Someone must really not like birthdays~" A voice came out from near the gate and Aki looked up to see if her guess was right. Sure enough, there stood Okita, ready to go with them.

"Oh god. Not you too.." Aki said, giving up and letting her body go limp against Harada's shoulder.

"Alright, everyone. Let's go!" Nagakura said walking ahead of them all, eager to party. The followed him down the street. A Heisuke rubbing his head from the pain off getting his hair pulled. Harada with the birthday girl over his shoulder who was trying to kill Okita for making faces at her as they walked knowing she couldn't reach him.