"Okita, you big meanie!"

I sat there on the edge of the bed with Okita sitting in front of me putting my shoes on, while we paid no attention to me and focused on putting my shoes back on I continued to call him names and from time to time move my feet away from his touch.

"Hm~ Chizuru, something tells me you're mad?" said Okita in a mocking tone.

"What gives you that idea?" I said knowing he was just trying to push my buttons right now.

Obviously I can't tell him the whole reason why I was mad, what was I supposed to say? I kissed my teacher and now I want to see him again for an explanation?

No ...

"There, all tied up." Announced Okita with a big smile on his face.

He released my foot and I unconsciously wiggled my toes around inside me shoe to see if he tied it too tight, "Is it tight, Chizuru?" asked Yamazaki who was sitting at Sannan's desk.

I shook my head and answered back, "No, it's just fine."

"Well Chizuru, what do you want to eat today?" asked Okita grabbing my bag and heading towards the door.

I was about to answer back but Yamazaki stopped me, "Wait Chizuru, are you sure you don't want to stay here a bit longer and rest?"

Okita ended up answering for me instead, "Lay off Yamazaki, don't you see she tried running away earlier because she's tired of this room?"

My jaw dropped hearing what he just said to Yamazaki, "O-Okita!"

He raised his hands up admitting he did something wrong, "Okay, okay, I get it. Though it is true that she tried running away, for what that is I don't know." Said Okita leaning down towards me with a smirk on his face.

I felt my face blush a bit realizing how close his face was to mine, I instantly took a step back.

I saw the smirk on Okita's face deepen I knew I was setting myself up for some teasing. I looked at Yamazaki and smiled quickly thanking him for the company and for treating my head, "I'll see you later Yamazaki!"

With that said I ran out of the room forgetting that Okita still had my bag with him.

ooo

"Man, I'm hungry ..." groaned Heisuke as he laid his head on the table.

I was sitting at my desk reading the newspaper when I heard him say that. I looked over the paper in my hands, "Why don't you go get something to eat? You still have time to grab a bite."

Heisuke remained still but answered back, "I forgot my wallet in my room this morning; I'm such an idiot ..."

"That you are." I said turning back my attention to the newspaper.

"W-What!?" Heisuke shot up and slammed his hands on the desk, "That's so mean, Hijikata-sensei!"

"I'm just agreeing with you, it's not like I called you an idiot first."

"Heisuke, if you want I can lend you some money." Offered Saitou who was eating out of a bento box that he brought from home.

Heisuke's face brightened at that moment, "R-Really!? You'd do that for me?"

Saitou nodded his head just barely taking a bite of his korokke.

"Looks like you got lucky ..." I muttered listening to the conversation.

"Just make sure you pay me back." said Saitou pulling his wallet out to give some money to Heisuke.

"Oh man, I'll totally pay you back you don't have to worry!"

Heisuke leapt out of his seat and rushed to Saitou's side his hands extended out awaiting the money.

"Is this enough for you?" asked Saitou.

"It's enough-" grabbing the money from Saitou's hands he rushed to the door looking back one more time before running out of the room, "Thanks a bunch Saitou, you're a lifesaver!"

After Heisuke left, the whole room was quiet. Hmm, I really like it this way, gives me a chance to actually let me hear myself think for once-

"Sensei~!"

Nevermind.

I let out a deep breath and looked over my newspaper, "What is it, Souji?"

Okita has his head sticking into the room the rest of his body outside, "Have you seen Chizuru?"

Chizuru? "No, I haven't seen her since this morning, why do you ask?"

He pulled something out from behind him and waved the bag in his hand around inside the room, "I have her bag here with me, she completely ditched me back in the infirmary." He whined.

"Are you sure you didn't chase her out of the room?" added Saitou who was still eating his food.

Okita smirked at Saitou, "Now what makes you say that?"

So Chizuru's roaming around the school right now? I closed my newspaper and laid it on the desk picking myself up from my chair, "Well as you can see she's not here, so you should continue looking somewhere else."

The smirk on his face disappeared and instead he pouted his cheeks out, "Hm~ That's no fun ...

" he sighed to himself, "I guess I can ask Sanosuke-sensei."

I heard him leave while I looked at the clock in the classroom, it was currently 11:25 right now and lunch doesn't end until 11:45.

"That gives me twenty minutes ..." I muttered to myself. I began heading to the door when I stopped, "I'll be back Saitou, I feel like getting something to eat."

"Of course, sensei."

I nodded my head leaving the room and started down the hallway. That's one thing I like about Saitou, he never really asks questions ...

I looked at my clock and saw that a minute had passed already, "Tch, where can she be?"

I stopped deeply thinking about where she could be. The library was closed for this week due to renovations, and she obviously wouldn't go to the gymnasium since they were still holding the physical examinations, and if Okita is looking for her right now he obviously checked the cafeteria.

"There's the parking lot, but students aren't allowed near there until the day ends ..."

That doesn't leave many places for her to run off and hide.

"There is the rooftop ..."

She always did like seeing things from up above ...

I should check there first before anywhere else.

ooo

I stepped outside of my house and winced my eyes a bit when I tried looking up towards the hill that was nearby, though the sun was going down it was still too strong for my eyes at times. As soon as my eyes had finally adjusted I looked up to the tree that stood at the top of the hill to see my wife standing under the leaves.

I smiled to myself and slowly made my way up the dirt road ...

"I thought I'd find you here, Chizuru."

Chizuru looked back at me and panic grew on her face as she rushed up to me, "Hijikata-san what are you doing out in the sun, you know you have to stay inside and rest!"

I placed my hand between us to get her to stop while looking down at her with a smile, "It's alright, and look the sun is going down."

She looked back at the sky and then back at me, "You aren't pushing yourself are you?"

I shook my head while wrapping my arm around her shoulder turning her around and bringing her to my side, "I'm not, now shut up and enjoy the sunset."

"Hijikata-san ..."

"That's an order Chizuru." I said jokingly but at the same time serious.

I heard Chizuru giggle for a moment before feeling her press up against me more, "I like watching it with you ..."

"I know ... I like watching it with you too ..."

Majority of the time I'm asleep during the day since the Water of Life still run through my system, it isn't until the sun begins to set that I finally wake up. But I've noticed that from the times that I woke up early while the sun was just about setting that Chizuru would sneak off to watch the view.

"Hijikata-san ...?"

"Hm?" I looked down at Chizuru and saw her smiling up at with me tears in her eyes.

"Thank you for coming to see the sunset with me even though you're supposed to be resting right now." She said closing her eyes causing a tear to roll down her face.

I chuckled to myself and leaned down towards her face, "Anything for you Chizuru ..."

I erased the remaining inches that kept us apart and pressed my lips against hers.

She must have been out here for a while now seeing that her lips were cold. I backed up a bit and looked her in the eye, "How long have you been out here?"

She turned her face to the side trying to hide the blush that was appearing on her cheeks, "Not that long."

I raised my eyebrow at her asking, "Really?"

She nodded her head as she slipped my hand under hers, "Yes, now we should go back inside so you can rest."

I sighed to myself and followed behind her, "We can stay out here a bit longer if you want."

She didn't look back at me as she spoke, "It's okay Hijikata-san ... You've already done enough for me, I don't want you getting a cold because of me."

I grew silent hearing what she said. I looked down at myself and thought of how weary my body has become after many years of fighting and let alone from the fact that I over-used the abilities that the Water of Life gave me.

"Chizuru ..." I stopped myself from walking resulting in both of us stopping. Before Chizuru could turn back to look at me I wrapped my arms around her hugging her tightly.

"H-Hijikata-san ...?"

I pressed my face into her hair inhaling the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, "I love you; you know that right?"

"Y-Yes." Answered back Chizuru her voice sounding surprised.

I don't blame her; I don't usually say those words to her. And majority of the times that I do say it it's because I feel that death is awaiting soon in the days to come.

I squeezed my arms around her a bit more not enough to crush her but enough to get a quiet yelp, "I promise that no matter what happens, we'll be together forever..."

Though I couldn't see the expression on her face I could feel and hear the smile that appeared, "You promise, Hijikata-san?"

I nodded my head brushing my face against her soft hair, "Promise."

The next words that came out of her mouth echoed in my head ...

ooo

Our love will forever be reincarnated

Those were the words that kept me going all of these years.

From the day that I was born to when I first learned about my ancestry I knew that there was someone missing in my life.

And I knew now I finally found her ...

"I thought I'd find you here, Chizuru."

Chizuru was standing at the rooftop railing looking down at the courtyard down below when she heard me call her name.

Slowly turning her head back to see me, she said, "Hijikata-sensei ...?"

"I think it's time we talk." I said walking up to her closing the door behind me which lead to the school rooftop.