You hummed happily as you looked at your little bakery shop. You just opened and sweet milk breads were already almost gone. On your tray remained only a few of them. You were proud of your bakery.

"Oi, missy," you heard from behind you. "Why don't you share with us some of those sweets."

"Of course, if you're willing to pay," you turned around to face the man. He and his friend laughed at your reply and unsheathed their katana. You recognized them as ronins and took step back.

"So, how's it gonna be?" he smiled. You grasped broom and glared at him. For years you run a business and you hated thieves. Ronins were especially dangerous, but those two looked like walking a skeletons. This didn't change the fact, that they still were able to kill you. You silently prayed that maybe somebody would stop them.

"Milk breads are 100 yen each, sir," you answered as calm as you could. You hoped he didn't see your trembling hands.

He laughed loudly once again and put the blade to your neck. Without thinking you swung your broom at the man. Hell no, you thought, nobody is threatening me today! The blow at his head only angered him as he cursed. You yelped. The other one was laughing at his comrade. Suddenly the angry man stiffened and you noticed a blade at his throat.

"Hey, ______, drawing troubles this early in the morning?"

"Souji-san!" Man in blue haori send you a grin and turned to the ronin.

"Is he causing you a trouble?" he said in amused tone as the ronin trembled in fear. After all, he was infamous Shinsengumi, Okita Souji.

"I'd appreciate if you shooed him away?" you asked and glared at ronin.

Okita nodded and hit him with a hilt of his katana. Ronins run away and disappeared in the alley. The victor laughed heartly and turned to you.

"Do I get the milk bread for being brave?"

"If you pay, then sure. I've got business to run," you smiled at him and put the tray away from his reach. He pouted.

"So cruel, ______~," he faked heartbreak. "Oh, look, your kimono is teared."

"Huh? Where?" you examined your sleeves without noticing his hand slipping back to your tray. "Wha-! Souji-san!"

He laughed at your embarrassed expression. You were glaring at him when he munched remaining baked rolls. You didn't notice his companions until one of them coughed. You turned and saw Todou Heisuke and boy you didn't recall seeing around.

"Ah, good morning," you bowed slightly. You examined the boy. He was around your height if not smaller. He was thin and looked rather feminine with big eyes and small blush on his face. "Huh? Since when Shinsengumi accepts little boys to their ranks?"

Both Todou and the boy gave you weak laugh. You looked at them suspicious.

"If I didn't know better I'd say you were a girl!" you continued your rant. The boy squeaked with a high voice and started spluttering that he wasn't a girl. Todou looked alarmed and you heard laugh from behind you. "Oh my, you're a gi-!"

"Shh, we don't want whole street to hear," Souji clamped your mouth with his hand. You felt his arm around your shoulders. He was close, too close. You nodded slightly pink from the contact and he took his hand off your face. You huffed at him in disapproval earning amused look. You hid your face behind kimono sleeve.

"Were are my manners, I'm ______ _______," you smiled at her. "I run this shop."

"Oh! I'm Yukimura Chizuru. Nice to meet you, ________-san," she bowed. You laughed.

"No need to be so formal, just call me with my name."

"O-okay," Chizuru looked at you in relief.

You shared some small talk when she asked you about her father. You recalled that Souji-san asked you once about the man called Kado Yukimura. Your shop was on outskirts of Kyo. Many people came by this street while entering the town. You apologized to the girl. You told her that unfortunately you didn't see a man matching this description.

"Well, we've gotta go," Todou said.

"See you around, ______," Okita said waving at you with a smirk.

"Next time you'd better pay, Souji-san!" you glared playfully at him. "Chizuru-chan? You can come and talk to me anytime you want. And don't worry I'll keep your secret!"

"Yeah, you should, or I'll kill you."

"Stop butting into conversation, Souji-san!"

***

"You and ______-san are close, right, Okita?" Chizuru asked.

"Not really~."

~~*~~

Published also on quotev.com under penname Shuuen

New series. Yeah. It's gonna be drabble-ish something. Not sure really how long the chapters will be, though it's gonna have a plot later! It's going to kind of follow Okita route from the game with twist here and there and be AU-ish (since Reader is main character, not Chizuru.) And well, I still haven't played other routes or watched the anime, so pardon me.

How do you like it? Please let me know in the comments below! :D