Chapter Text
By now Hijikata was used to the aftermath of battle. He was familiar with the burn of adrenaline and the stone-like feeling it left in his limbs once it was gone. The iron smell of blood he knew as well as the scent of sakura trees. These things were all part of his life, a part he held in high regard. And yet, for the first time after a battle he was glad to be alone.
The iron will that had kept him standing was suddenly gone, even the fury blood rushing through his veins couldn’t keep him steady. Hijikata fell to his knees, blood from the ground soaking into his clothing. He knew he needed to move quickly; he knew that if he didn’t move now this would be the end. Yamazaki’s blood was slowly seeping into the ground and if he didn’t get him medical attention, and now, he was going to die right here on a forgotten road.
Something in his gut told him it didn’t matter how fast he moved, how well he bandaged the wound, nothing. He tried to ignore that part of him, though, as he slowly rolled the other onto his back. Yamazaki made no movement nor noise, he only moved as a lifeless doll would as it was forced. The Vice Captain swallowed the rising lump in his throat. He needed to focus.
Between the drying blood and his black clothes, it was hard to see the actual wound.
“Just hold on a little longer Yamazaki, I’ll get you back and we’ll patch you up. I’m not...planning to replace you any time soon.” Carefully, with a steady hand, he found the gaping sword wound and pressed some fabric against it long enough to wrap it as tight as he dared. It couldn’t have taken too long, although his sense of time seemed to have slipped away as soon as he watched those purple eyes fade shut. By now his own skin seemed dark against the smaller, like he had paled with the setting sun. He was running out of time.
Although he’d never paid much attention to it, in the back of his mind the demon captain knew that his personal informant was a little on the slight side. Now, though, that fact seemed to glow. All alone on this quiet, deserted road, he looked so small and so young. How old was he anyway? Hijikata wanted to kick himself for not even knowing. No one should die with no birth date on their grave.
Since there were still no signs of him waking, Hijikata slowly worked the other onto his back. He tied Yamazaki’s wrists so that he wouldn’t slide off as he hefted the other like a living backpack. His own clothing would get covered with blood from the still-bleeding stab but that wasn’t even important enough to note. Instead, he noticed that even despite his fatigue the unconscious body on his back didn’t seem that heavy. It would be a long way so he would happily accept the small favors.
“Just so you know, Yamazaki, replacing you would be too much of a hassle. No one else is quite so dependable, I mean look at the people I surround myself with. So you have to heal up, that’s an order.” He knew that the man, no he felt like more of a boy, the boy on his back couldn’t hear him and wouldn’t respond, yet it felt somewhat comforting to talk out loud. As if his words could change the world.
“I never thought you of all people would do something so stupid. Just throwing yourself in front of me like that…” Ever step made his gut drop even as he got closer to the base he felt like his informant, his friend was getting further away. “A head needs reliable limbs you know. A head can’t function alone.” There were still shallow puffs of air against his cheek, it was a welcome sign of life when there didn’t seem to be any others.
More than anything he wanted to feel the other move against his back, to suddenly wake up and announce he would be okay. Hijikata knew it was impossible but he needed some sort of hope to cling too. They’d all made it through so much together, that couldn’t stop now. They needed to see this through to the end together.
“Don’t you dare die on me…” His own voice faded as the camp started to come into view. His body was screaming at him, he needed to rest his muscles but not yet. Not until he saw someone tending to Yamazaki. Normally the small informant would be the first one rushing over to check on him, to tend to any wounds. But now, who would tend to him?
Once Hijikata was close enough to be seen everything seemed to speed up. He didn’t remember much, everything was a big blur but soon enough he was lying on a temporary bed right next to Yamazaki the bed over. His breathing was still shallow and his bandages a dark brownish red. Someone was mumbling off to the side that he hadn’t woken yet at all.
“You can’t die yet.” He whispered to himself. “That’s an order…”