Chapter Text
Thorny
In the heat of the summer, Hijikata struggled to walk on the dusty road, feeling even more drenched by sweat with each movement. His feet were dirty and his medicine package was getting heavier and heavier. He wanted to spend some time at the dojo and had walked all the way from the last village of his delivery round. His breaking point was near but then, he spotted a couple of trees ideal for shelter.
Under the vast branches full of leaves, his exhausted mind wandered again to the last alcohol-filled night, where Kondo had shared his naive dream of making it to the capital. Hijikata had dismissed the whole thing but that stupid idea was growing on him and soon he found himself wanting more than ever that Kondo would ask him again. He felt suddenly sad, having the feeling that his new friend and his brother would've got along well.
Why was he thinking about that now?
"Tch..."
Although he had been a stupid pain in the ass for most of his short existence, recently his life seemed to be taking a new turn, for the best. The desire to prove himself worthy of something had been encouraged and apparently his stubborn personality and fighting spirit matched well with Kondo. He realized however that he wasn't as skilled as most men at the dojo, even if he could still defeat all of them with his wild strength and because he had sworn to never lose again.
Of course that excluded Kondo... and the brat.
The spoiled little sadist was the most naturally talented swordsman he ever saw, sometimes during practice or a fight he even wondered how the kid would fare against city trained samurais and intuition was telling him that the little prick could surely hold his own.
He watched the leaves moving slowly, a small breeze brushed his face, a welcomed break from the heavy and suffocating heat, and he closed his eyes.
"Toshiro-san?"
He woke up with a start. He hadn't heard them approaching, two pairs of red eyes and sandy hair. Still dizzy from his semi consciousness he stared at the siblings who stared back strangely, surprise and bemusement all over their faces. He frowned and spoke before the situation could get awkward.
"What are you doing here?"
The spell was broken and Mitsuba laughed her light and warm laugh, "I think we could ask the same question."
He sat and looked around, slightly embarrassed, "I fell asleep."
"Obviously." She was smiling now and had her cunning air that made him so often uncomfortable. He stood up, rearranged his yukata and put his medicine pack on his shoulder.
"We're going to the dojo too, shall we walk together?"
She was still looking at him and he felt even more scrutinized, finally he mumbled a vague yes. When he glanced at the brat, the red eyes shot him the usual death glare.
"Go ahead I'll join you."
He felt dirty and wanted to wash his feet and face, not even looking at her he walked through the grass down to a small pond he had located before. The water was murky and greenish and he only dipped his feet. The sun was burning his skin again, he dried his face with his sleeve and wiped the mud off his legs. When he turned around he already knew who had followed him, but having nothing to say he didn't bother and the brat didn't either. He let the sun dry his feet before putting his sandals on.
The brat seemed oddly fascinated by what he was doing and Hijikata knew that it wasn't a good sign, the kid was creepy, nothing like his sister and yet he just looked like a smaller version of her. He splashed some water on Sougo's face and, as expected, curses just flowed out of his mouth.
"Bastard...stop that..." But he calmed himself rather quickly only to stare down at him, "You better have worked on your footwork."
"I'm quick, cancels it."
"That's not the way to do it!"
"Shut up."
Hijikata stood up and reached back the road, the other following at a safe distance. Mitsuba was walking only fifty feet away, waiting for them to catch up. The harsh sunlight facing him made her a hazy flowing silhouette.
"You can't beat me, you never will."
He didn't have to look at him to know the crimson eyes were burning and suddenly he blurted it out without thinking, "I've killed before."
The initial intention was to only shut him up but Hijikata immediately regretted the brash words. That wasn't something he was proud of, he had no reasons to brag about it and certainly not before a child. That was stupid and immature and when he glanced at Sougo he felt ashamed, he might be a sick kid but some remaining innocence still filled his eyes.
"Sou-chan, Toshiro-san… It's not nice to make sensei wait!"
She was smiling again, all kindness and innocence too. And Hijikata sensed is chest tightening when she looked at him, because he was a fool. A fool for even having dared thinking he could have someone like her.
Him, a killer.
Okita Senpai
She had cried her heart out, probably the whole night. Sougo was certain because usually she could hide almost everything when her spirits were low. Today was different, for both of them, and for the first time in his life he felt like killing someone. In fact he knew exactly who he wanted to cut into pieces because he was glaring at that person right now. Cold, indifferent, unreachable.
Hijikata you heartless bastard.
They were going to Edo and she was staying here. He couldn't stand it. Why was this guy always stealing his happiness, yesterday they were all on cloud nine and now it was all gone. The worst part was that he would've accepted it for her sake, he would've accepted his presence at her side.
Hijikata had avoided him during the whole practice, refusing each fight or contact and hiding his face behind the protective mask. No doubt because the man was aware of how fired up Sougo was, like everyone else in the dojo that afternoon.
There was a succession of violent, quick strokes and then his voice shouted.
"Next.”
Again his favorite combination, fast on the left shoulder then the right then his shinai two centimeters from whomever throat was in front of him, all while reading the fear on their faces. Whatever, it could be worse, he was able to crush them without blinking, it was that easy.
Now Sougo was contemplating his work, men hurting, panting and sweating, exhausted and bruised bodies displayed on the wooden floor. He scanned around searching for him, then pointed his shinai to the bastard’s chest.
"Next.”
But Hijikata didn't move or say anything, he just pulled out his mask and for the first time that day Sougo could see his eyes, even barely, and they were hollow just like hers.
Before leaving the bastard locked those grey eyes on his, "You are a great swordsman."
If it was possible Sougo hated him more, because this was the first time he had ever acknowledged him when all the others had already recognized his superior skills years ago. And because those eyes just told the truth, that Hijikata wanted her happiness but ended up ruining all her hopes.
He couldn't stand it, he wouldn't.