Thank you both for reviewing ! I don't get any notifications anymore, I have to look into that. Anyway, this chapter is from Chizuru's point of view, because it is so funny to peek inside her head.

I hoped Hijikata-san wasn't sick; he never overslept. Still, he'd been awake pretty late yesterday night, talking to the cat with Kitsu. I would never dare tell him, but they had looked so beautiful, sitting together with the animal purring in their lap. All contrasts, jet black and fire hair mingling, pale skin over his purple hakamashita, broad shoulders and womanly curves. Them both, illuminated by the moon, so unreal. An Oni and a Kitsune watching over the Shinsengumi.

"Yukimura desu," I called out, setting the tray down.

No response. Kitsu-san had told me, yesterday, that she had reached an understanding with the commander. I wasn't too sure what she meant by that; perhaps they would stop shouting at each other? Her wrath wasn't as impressive as his, but still… Yesterday, they had seemed both at peace with each other, sharing that moment with a purring cat sprawled all over their lap. Almost like… a family ?

Anyway. No matter what this understanding entailed, I would watch over him. Hijikata-san always got lost in his paperwork, and worked himself to the bone. If providing warm cup of tea and breakfast wasn't much, it still allowed me to keep an eye on him.

The absence of response was worrisome, so I squared my shoulders, and chirpily called: "Shitsureisimasu ". Then I slid the door open.

A jointed set of panicked "No!" startled me. Too late. Eyes wide, I watched Hijikata's bare chest as he rose from the futon, the cover sliding down to pool at his hips… But, as strange as seeing Hijikata bare-chested – and lounging in bed – was, it was the set of reddish waves interlocked with pale, smooth skin that moved beside him that caused me to gape.

Uh Oh.

"Don't worry, little lady," Kitsu-san told me with a sleepy smile. "Just leave the tea. I'm awake now."

I gaped, again, then reddened.

An understanding! I'm so so stupid!

They were sharing a bed! I felt the inevitable flush spread over my face as I stammered excuses, but my eyes couldn't help travelling.

She was so beautiful, with her hair tumbling over pale skin, the outline of her naked body suggested below the fire of her loose strands. Curves … she had curves alike to Kimigiku. Did all Gaijin look so exotic? It was little wonder Hijikata had fallen for her charm. Aside from being an incredible blade wielder, the woman had courage, kindness, cunning intelligence that rivalled Sanan-san's … and beauty.

Who else could have snatched the Oni no Fukuchō ?

"Not a word," Hijikata growled, shaking me out of my trance. "To anyone."

His infamous glare pierce me through; my breath hitched in fright. Still, he'd never seemed more human than with his hair tousled, and a naked woman by his side.

"Hai!" I squeaked, closing the shōji behind me. I sat, frozen on the engawa, my heart beating a mile a minute. Faint laughter and low voices came from the Vice Commander's room as I tried to quell the heat of my cheeks. I heard his annoyed tone at having overslept, and her playful retort that he'd needed it.

A smile crept up my lips. Only Kitsu-san would manage the feat of keeping Hijikata-san in bed after dawn! Fukuchō deserved a break, he worked entirely too hard for his own good. Kitsu-san would not shy away from yelling at him for killing himself to the task. As for the means… My cheeks were burning by now.

There was no question about what I'd just witnessed; the beautiful picture of last night had thrown them both in bed. The sight of naked skin and entangled limbs caused another set of feelings in my chest. Retreating, I wondered if Okita would ever allow for more than our hands to touch.

I loved him. This, I knew.

I sighed. Okita saw me like a fragile and frightened child. And as much as I craved for his touch, he'd never desecrate me. His lips had graced my forehead once … and I could count the times his hand had brushed mine. That was it.

Well, good for Hijikata-san and Kitsu-san. They, at least, were free to act outside the bounds of conventions. Or did the code forbid it?

I shuddered; Fukuchō was scary, especially when angry. How Kitsu could handle such a man was beyond me … she was a tamer of beasts. The thought caused me to pause; wasn't Okita scary as well, with the wicked gleam in his eyes, and his threats to kill me?

Perhaps … perhaps it didn't take that strong of a spine to love a man who could dice you into tiny pieces. Perhaps it all came down to trust. I shook my head with a frown. Kitsu-san could hold her own, but my skill left much to be desired. Against Okita, I stood no chance. Did it matter, though? Wasn't his blade at my service, offered to protect me rather than hurt me?

Days passed, tensions grew as the eleventh month progressed. The Chōshū and Satsuma troops now occupied Kyōto freely, and the patrols sometimes bordered on street fights because of them. Hence Hijikata-san's reluctance to allow me to participate. For once in his life, Okita-san had backed him up – in private, of course. Supporting Hijikata-san outwardly was an impossible task that would irk Okita-san to death.

The Shinsengumi still possessed an officious status and meaning – keep Kyōto safe – but unrest was brewing. We all felt the tension at the compound. I kept to my chores, anything to help, really, even if it was just about laundry and cooking. What little free time remained was spent with Heisuke … or Okita.

I knew I was infatuated. He probably knew it too. By now, the naïve little girl had grown; love wasn't so foreign a concept. Okita had become the centre of my world, closer to me than my father ever was. When I'd first learnt of his tuberculosis, the ground had threatened to swallow me whole. I understood, then, what it meant to love so fiercely: if he died, Okita Sōji would take my heart with him.

I would grovel forever at Kitsu's feet for offering to save him. I had no clue how she did it, didn't even really care as long as my captain was free to breathe the air again. To think my carelessness had nearly poisoned her, depriving her of the very same air she had granted back into Sōji's lungs! I had deserved every harsh word from Hijikata-san that day, even though they were thrown in anger. How Kitsu-san still treated me with kindness was a wonder.

I'd never hate Okita, but I really disapproved of him nailing her like that. Kitsu was a good woman; she had saved both of our lives without hesitation. Why he kept trying to rile her up was beyond me…

Speaking of which, I'd recognise his voice anywhere… I frowned and hastened my steps; Okita's barbs and quips cut deeper than Hijikata's outright yelling. And from what I heard now, he seemed rather furious.

"You lustful woman!"

What? I hurried when Kitsu's annoyed voice rose in turn.

"Do you really think it has anything to do with his good looks?"

Uh oh. Okita and Kitsu fighting didn't bode well. Hastening, I nearly skidded off the engawa as I took a sharp turn.

"Hey, what else? Not his shining personality!" he retorted, venom dripping from his words.

My heart flip flopped at the rising tension. Okita excelled at antagonising everyone in this compound, and despite my feelings, I really wanted to slap him. Rounding another corner, I stopped in my tracks. There they were! Facing each other outside Kitsu's rooms, fists clenched.

Okita's posture oozed danger. He was a tall man, towering over the lithe lady easily. How Kitsu-san could face him without flinching amazed me; I certainly was shaking in my tabi socks right now.

"Grow the fuck up, Sōji," she growled, jabbing his chest with her finger. "You are behaving like a brat! Neither I, nor any woman could see as a proper companion if you keep it up!"

My heart plummeted; there was truth in her statement. I loved him, but…

"Watch your words," he hissed, his voice dangerously low. Kitsu-san threw her hands in the air in exasperation. Her voice slammed in the courtyard like thunder.

"Then behave, damn it!"

It happened too fast for me to intervene; not that I intended to. Jumping in the middle of a tiger fight was bound to leave scars, and I was even less skilled with my fists than with the kodachi. I yelled, thought, loud and clear, to stop this madness.

"Okita-saaaaaaaaan !"

He didn't acknowledge me as he lunged for Kitsu. She ducked, he swung, she retaliated with both fists and legs. He blocked most of her moves faster than I could make sense of it, going on instinct. Blunt force and cunning against liquid grace. Sweat gathered at my nape, what should I do? What could I do?

Kitsu-san took an elbow to the gut and doubled over. As she dropped backwards in a side roll, hunched over herself, Okita scoffed. He never saw it coming; still crouching, she used her insane flexibility to land a kick that brought him to his knees, holding his private parts.

"Okita-san !", I exclaimed, rushing to his side while Kitsu jumped to her feet and approached with a frightful glare.

"I'll get you for this, Kitsu," he choked, murder in his eyes.

The young woman cocked her head aside, the tree tails of her hair dancing over her shoulder. She seemed … almost remorseful, but still angry.

"What, eye to eye?"

Sōji dramatically fell upon his back, his chest heaving from the short but very intense fight.

"Hai. Fuck you."

Kitsu stared him down, her jaw locked.

"You hate Hijikata because he doesn't take your crap. Hate all you want, but don't go insulting him."

I gasped. How dare she call Fukuchō without his honorific? It was positively shocking … to me.

"Stay out of our business," Okita-san snapped as I approached the two belligerents.

Kitsu scoffed, standing a foot away from the first division captain that had stolen my heart. The tension wasn't gone and I feared he might lunge again. Would my presence keep him in check? I took a few more steps, positioning myself between them while Kitsu-san lectured him.

"You would be dead a hundred times over if he had applied the rules of conduct to you. Can't you accept that both he and Kondō love you, and stop tugging at the damn rope?"

The blow landed hard; I watched my captain's shoulders slump in defeat. I settled beside Okita whose eyes shifted to me. There were hard, unyielding … and hurt. Would he accept the truth in Kitsu's words? Consider how Hijikata-san always gave him more leeway than the others? Endorse responsibility for his own behaviour?

Unfortunately, Okita wasn't one to admit defeat. He only sneered.

"Kuso ! You're more boring than he is. Perhaps I should call you Kaa-chan."

I wrung my hands, unsure whether Kitsu-san was about to explode at the insult. Instead, she just shook her head sadly and walked away. Shyly, I reached for Okita's sleeve, wondering if he was well enough to stand up on his own. The wooden planks were cold, I worried he might catch his death. The memory of his coughing felt like ice in my veins. But the captain of the first division didn't seem inclined to return to his previous activities.

When his warm hand slid into mine, I blushed and caught his gaze. There was a world inside of them, a carefully hidden pit of feelings, of past hurts and hopes. If only he could grasp the lifelines, we kept sending him…

Eventually, Okita rolled over and stood with a wince, swatting my help away. His gesture stung, and I swallowed tears before they overflowed.

"Boring like a mother, but she hits like a man. I'm never having any children, Chizuru-chan."

I blushed; Kitsu had effectively hit him well into the… Well. He deserved it. I huffed my frustration; Sōji's own mother had died years ago. Deep down, I wondered if him callin Kitsu-san kaa-chan wasn't a compliment. A title, because she looked out for him even when he behaved like a wounded child.

Of all those nice guys, I'd had to fall in love with him.

Smart, Chizuru.