Their Light

Sum : She was with them, every step of the way. She was the glue that held them together. She was the light in their darkest hour. But what will they do, their light begins to fade away. Chizuru has been with the Shinsengumi from the start, and acted like a mother and a sister to the orphaned boys. She grew up with them. She became the one thing in their lives that they would never be able to live without. But what happens when Chizuru gets the deadly, incurable disease. Tuberculosis.

"Kondou-sensei, here's your tea." An eleven year old Chizuru smiled as she set the jasmine tea in front of Kondou.

Kondou returned the smile, patting her head affectionately.

"Thank you, Chizuru-chan." He responded.

Chizuru went around to the three other men in the room.

"Inoue-sensei." She smiled once more.

The middle aged man smiled as well, the crows' marks on the sides of his eyes becoming more prominent.

"Thank you, Chizuru-chan." He replied.

She moved onto the youngest of the people in the room, only being eight years old, Heisuke sat, beaming up at his Onee-chan. She handed him his cup of lychee juice, since he had always hated tea.

"Thanks Onee-chan!" Heisuke piped.

Chizuru giggled at the small boy.

"No problem Heisuke-chan." She giggled.

Turning slightly she handed another cup to a bespectacled boy of around sixteen years of age. He grinned in thanks.

"You're welcome, Sannan-kun." She answered.

She moved onto lastly, the serious fourteen year old who sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed. She set his tea down in front of him and gave a huff.

"You're welcome Toshi-chan, you ungrateful bastard. Now quit sulking." She snapped, like a nagging mother.

Hijikata gave a childish huff and grumbled something along the lines of 'Hai, Chizuru-baka.' Her hand reached forward like lightning and smacked him over the head. If you had blinked you would have missed it. Hijikata rubbed the now growing bump on his head and sent a heated glare at the girl who was smiling like and innocent little angel.

"I wanted to announce something today. And I hope you will all keep an open mind about this." Kondou said.

Everyone turned to give Kondou their full attention.

"Starting tomorrow, this little dojo of ours will gain some new members. And by some, I mean a lot. I have made an agreement with the Kyoto capital officials. We are going to become guardians of the emperor, and serve Kyoto. We will help the people of this city as well." He declared.

"Really! So, we'll fight off all the bad guys and save lots of people? That's so cool! We'll be heroes-." Heisuke continued to babble on and on.

"But will we have the numbers?" Inoue asked.

"We have already recruited some men and some orphans. The men will be working with me, while the younger children will train to one day take their place. That means you three, Heisuke, Toshi, and Sannan." Kondou said.

All three smiled, happy that they would be doing something to help the people.

"EKKKKK! Boys! Go clean up! You're getting dirt all over the floor! And I just cleaned it..." Chizuru scolded the small group of teenage boys.

Hijikata smirked while Sannan, Heisuke and the others smiled apologetically.

"Shoo! Shoo! Get going! And if I see one speck of dirt anywhere near the rugs, I'll castrate you all!" Chizuru seethed.

The men ran off quickly, trying to avoid their 'Kaa-chan's' wrath.

"Geeze, Kaa-chan is really testy today." Shinpatchi whispered to Harada.

"Must be one of those womanly days Kondou tried to tell us about." Heisuke answered.

Hijikata sent a stern look at the youngest of the group.

"Ohayo, Kaa-chan!" Shinpatchi yawned as he leaned against the small kitchen door frame.

Heisuke walked in as well and made a bee line for Chizuru, hoping to snatch some food. He hugged her from behind and nuzzled his nose in the space between her shoulder blades, the soft fabric of her deep blue house kimono caressing his face gently. The action always made the young teenager feel safe. When he was near Chizuru, he felt happy, safe and warm. She really was a mother to them all.

"Heisuke-chan, I'm not giving you any food yet. You have to wait til breakfast." She chuckled.

"But Kaa-chaaaaaaan, Shinpatchi always steals mine!" He whined.

"Only 'cause I'm bigger than you, therefore, I gotta eat more!" Shinpatchi rationalized.

"Don't make me give you a tiny portion, Shin-chan." Chizuru warned.

Heisuke pulled away from Chizuru slightly and turned his head, sticking his tong out at Shinpatchi. He gave Chizuru a quick peck on the head and darted out of the room. Shinpatchi growled a low menacing growl. He quickly walked over to Chizuru and gave her a kiss on the top of her head, turning and throwing a 'ja ne!' behind him as he ran after Heisuke.

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE-!"

Chizuru giggled lightly.

Those two...

Sannan, Saito, Okita and Hijikata walked into the kitchen to greet their Kaa-chan good morning.

"Heisuke and Shinpatchi seem to be as lively as ever this morning." Sannan yawned, walking over to Chizuru and giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

A gesture all the captains did to Chizuru. She was their special woman after all.

Hijikata attempted to swipe a rice ball from a tray next to Chizuru, but she was too fast and, without even looking away from her current task of making miso soup, she slapped his hand away from the food.

"Wait until breakfast, baka." Chizuru said.

Hijikata grumbled and rubbed his sore hand. Sannan and Okita just laughed at their friend's misfortune. Saito was as blank as ever, but when he was around Chizuru, he did relax a little. She had a calming effect on him, as well as the others.

"Hajime-kun, could you help me please?" Chizuru asked.

Saito was at her side in seconds. He would do anything for Chizuru. His love and loyalty to her was as boundless at the sea surrounding Japan.

"Could you cut up the leeks for me please, my hands are a little full." Chizuru said.

He nodded mutely and set about his task, only wanting to please Chizuru.

"Hey Toshi-chan, Sann-chan. Go get everyone rounded up for breakfast. It'll be ready in fifteen minutes." Chizuru said.

"Hai Kaa-chan." Sannan smiled.

"Whatever, woman." Hijikata said.

"You're getting extra leeks, Toshi-chan." Chizuru said without looking back at him.

"But I hate leeks!" Hijikata huffed.

"Then don't call me woman!" Chizuru reprimanded.

Once again, Hijikata grumbled a string of curses under his breath and then left with Sannan to round up their friends for breakfast.

"Yamazaki-kun, Shimada-kun, your back early from your mission." Chizuru said.

"Hai, it's good to be back!" Shimada Kai yawned.

"Come on, I'll make you both some tea. You both look very tired." Chizuru said.

Both nodded their heads in approval, giving tired grins and followed her to the common room.

Yamazaki stared at Chizuru from behind.

Where would we be without you, Chizuru-kaa-chan?

Hijikata had been in his room almost the entire day, busy with writing his Haiku's, one of his odd little hobbies.

My soul taking wings

Touching the face of my beloved

You absorbed me within

He smiled, in thought of his true inspiration.

"Toshi-chan, I brought your tea." His 'true inspiration' called from the other side of the sliding door, then opening it.

Hijikata jumped and then quickly shoved other random papers over his Haiku's in order to hide them from Chizuru's prying eyes. He would be embarrassed to no end if she were to discover his soft, romantic feelings. He was a man Kami damnnit! Men shouldn't act this way!

Chizuru came inside and set his tea down next to him. She looked up at him. A small giggle escaped her lips. He raised an brow in question. She pointed to his long black hair that was currently out of its usual tie and in a complete mess.

"You're still hopeless without me, huh, Toshi-chan." She sighed.

"Oi! I-." He was cut off as she stood up and took a comb from one of the low tables, coming back to stand behind him.

She was so small, that even though he was kneeling and she was standing, his head reached a little above her stomach, so she didn't need to kneel. She took some of his hair and gently, in a soothing manor began running the comb through it, being sure not to pull at his hair painfully.

Hijikata leaned his head back into her hands, a small happy grin playing on his lips.

They were happy with their life; everyone didn't have anything to complain about. But maybe that's why it had to end. It was all too good, too perfect, it was just too simple. They were so happy.

But it's as they say. All good things come to an end.

"You're looking a little pale Chizuru-chan, are you alright?" Kondou asked with a deep concern laced in his words.

All heads turned to Chizuru.

Okita's eyes narrowed and he studied her more closely.

Now that I look at her, she looks pretty tired. She's really pale. And she's got some dark circles under her eyes.

She waved her hand dismissively and laughed.

"Oh, it's nothing to get worried over. I'm just a little tired. But don't worry, I'm perfectly fine. And you know I never did like the hot weather, I think the heat is just getting to me is all. This summer sure is warm." She said.

The men exchanged looks.

"Oh, Kami, I forgot about the other tea cups. Be right back." Chizuru said.

She got up and left quickly, all eyes on her as she left the room.

Chizuru gave a hard cough, placing her small handkerchief to her mouth. Pulling it away, she saw the deep crimson liquid that she had coughed up. She folded the cloth and placed it back on the inside of her kimono and went ahead with collecting the washing.

She took down the clothes from the line and walked them inside and began folding them.

She suddenly felt the urge to cough again. Pulling out the cloth quickly, she coughed into it once again. There was more blood.

"Hey Kaa-chan! You ok in there?" Heisuke called from the other side of the sliding door.

She placed the cloth in her kimono again.

"I'm fine, my throat's a little dry is all!" She answered and continued with folding the washing.

She suddenly went into another coughing fit, blood dripping onto her hands. She once again took out the cloth and wiped them clean of the crimson blood.

It's happening a lot more now. The coughing fits are becoming worse. I can't let them know, I don't want to burden anyone.

Heisuke frowned, concern flooding his entire body. He opened the sliding door, stepping inside.

"Is there something you need Heisuke-chan?" Chizuru asked, once again, her cheery smile present.

Heisuke came up behind her, his arms around her and his head in the space between her shoulder blades. Chizuru felt her smile falter.

He can see right through me. He's really grown up.

She reached her hand down to where Heisuke's were, holding her tightly around the middle. She stroked his hand and upper arms in a soothing fashion.

"It's ok, Heisuke-chan. I'm here. I'm here for as long as you need me." Chizuru whispered softly.

I just hope you won't need me for much longer.

"I'll go make some tea." Chizuru announced as the captains began their discussion on their patrols and making a new schedule.

Once Chizuru was gone, Okita looked over at Hijikata.

"Chizuru-chan doesn't look well." He stated.

Heisuke stiffened.

"Nani? She's just... Nothing's wrong with Kaa-chan. You're just being too observant Souji." Heisuke said, not wanting to believe anything was wrong.

"Oi, Heisuke! Don't just try to brush it off. You've noticed it too. She's been getting slower, she's coughing, she's getting pale ad thin and when I touched her hands, they were ice cold. Something's wrong. You know the way she is, she never tells us if she's not feeling well. She always pushes herself..." Okita sighed cheerlessly.

Hijikata felt worry fill the pit of his stomach. He'd noticed she was pale, and the coughing was very strange. She always brushes it off as her throat being dry, but the way she violently trembles and jolts with each cough. It can't be just nothing.

"I'm going to ask Matsumoto-sensei to have a look at her, just to be safe." Hijikata said.

Saito was frozen stiff, the thought of anything being wrong with Chizuru shook him to his very core. She had to be well, she was his world. She had to be there for him, and he had to stay by her side forever.

"Well, that should be a good idea. Matsumoto-sensei will be able to cure anything!" Harada smiled.

"I'm telling you, Kaa-chan is fine. She's not sick, she's probably just tired from taking care of a bunch of idiots like us." Heisuke joked.

Sannan looked down.

"Come to think of it, she always does all the cleaning, the clothes washing, the cooking. She pretty much does everything for us..." Sannan said.

The men's eyes widened. Suddenly, they felt guilty for just neglecting doing any chores, letting Chizuru do it all.

"Ne, why don't we take turns helping her out? Maybe then, she could get more rest?" Nagakura offered.

Kondou nodded, smiling.

"Ah! That's something we can do. We'll do it, for Chizuru-chan." Kondou smiled.

The men broke out into smiles, agreeing that they would pitch in and help Chizuru, but after saying that, a loud crash, the sound of cups breaking and someone falling o the ground, met their ears.

The men bolted up and ran to open the door. What they saw horrified them.

"KAA-CHAN!" Heisuke yelled.

"I'll go make some tea."

Chizuru had made her way to the small kitchen and boiled some water. After a few minutes, the tea was ready. Picking up the trays, she went to return to the common room with the hot beverages.

As she walked, she suddenly became dizzy, finding it hard to tell where to put her feet. And when she was almost two thirds of the way to the door, Chizuru collapsed, the trays and their contents fell to the floor, the cups shattering as they hit the ground.

The sliding door was thrown open, all the men from inside it rushed to Chizuru's aid. Chizuru soon began to fall into the deep dark pit of unconsciousness.

"KAA-CHAN!"

The men waited outside of the small room, each terrified for the well being of a certain brunette. The sliding door opened to reveal an elderly doctor.

"Matsumoto-sensei how is she?" Harada asked.

They leaned forward, wanting to catch everything they heard. A deep, sorrowful frown spread over his lips. It was bad, very bad.

"I can tell you now, that this isn't some illness she caught in the past few days. She's been suffering with this for a long while. My diagnosis is... tuberculosis." Matsumoto said.

And almost instantly, the boy's hearts dropped into their stomachs. They had all heard of the incurable disease that had killed thousands.

"It looks like she hasn't that much time left. Like I said before, she's had this for a while. I'd give her about another seven months, a year at the most. I'm truly sorry." Matsumoto sighed.

Hijikata had to lean against a wooden pillar to keep himself from collapsing.

S-... Seven... Months...?

Saito could barely breath, his head spun and his heart was constricting painfully in his chest.

... At most... A year?

Okita's eyes were widened in disbelief and fear, as were the others.

"But isn't there anything else you can do? Anything at all?! We'll pay you anything you need, we'll do anything you ask, so please, please help her!" Kondou bowed in front of Matsumoto.

Matsumoto shook his head.

"I'm sorry. She's beyond help. Tuberculosis is almost incurable." Matsumoto explained.

"You said 'almost' incurable, so there's still a chance you can help her!" Heisuke exclaimed.

"Only if it is detected early. But even then it is almost impossible. I'm very sorry. But there's nothing I can do to help her. All I can do is give you the medicine she needs to help ease her pain." Matsumoto sighed.

The boys looked down at the ground, all of them, utterly heartbroken.

Chizuru woke up in her room, extra blankets had been wrapped around her so she could stay warmer. She looked around the room, and found Saito resting against the wall, asleep.

"Hajime-kun." Chizuru rasped.

Saito was awake in seconds and by her side, like he always was.

"You're awake. Let me go tell the others you're up, they've been worried. We all have." Saito said.

Chizuru smiled weakly.

"Gomen... I... Never wanted to... Be a bother..." Chizuru said.

Saito narrowed his eyes at her.

"You will never be a bother. Is that understood?" Saito demanded.

Chizuru laughed and nodded.

"I'm going to get the others. Do. Not. Move." Saito growled.

Chizuru once again laughed at him weakly and nodded. Saito got up and went to inform the others of Chizuru's condition.

"KAA-CHAN!" Harada exclaimed.

Chizuru look over at him and raised an eyebrow, continuing with collecting clothes from the drying line.

"Sano-chan, it's not polite to yell." Chizuru chided.

"You can't be outside! It's cold and windy and your hands look so cold! Go inside! Or you'll get even sicker!" Harada scolded, taking the washing from her hands and pulling her indoors.

"Sano-chan! Let me go! There will be some severe consequences for you if you don't!" Chizuru screeched.

Harada brought Chizuru to her room and forced her onto the futon, piling blankets on her and tucking them around her tightly.

"I'm going to die of heat stroke like this Sano-chan." Chizuru sighed.

"Oh! They're too warm! I'll fix it, don't worry!" Harada exclaimed, pulling some blankets off and putting an extra pillow under her head.

"Sano-chan..."

"You don't have to worry about house work, the boys and I are going to split it all between us, so you don't have to worry about it. You just need to rest." Harada smiled, patting her forehead affectionately.

"No, it's alright, I feel fine." Chizuru muttered and attempted to get up.

Harada pushed her down into the futon, his face completely serious.

"Please Kaa-chan... We're all so worried about you. We want you to stay around for as long as you can... So... Please just rest." Harada pleaded softly.

Chizuru sighed and finally agreed, settling down and letting sleep consume her.

New story for my fav anime series! It's going to be a Multi pairing with different endings.

This is the story order.

Hijikata – Pure Love

Saito – Obsessive Love

Okita – Damned Love

Heisuke – Childish Love

Harada – Kind Love

The chapters will most likely be slow until I can finish 'A True Samurai'.